taryn k.

Hello ladies - as promised, here is my recent perfume haul from cheapsmells.co.uk. This is the second or third time I've ordered from them, and although my parcel took weeks to get here, I spent enough to get free shipping and their prices are so good it feels kind of wrong to complain. I mostly placed this order because my SJP - NYC ran out about when I did my last perfume collection, so I mainly wanted to replace that and my much loved Christina Aguilera scents. So everything here I've owned before, bar the Escada Taj Sunset.

Like I said, Taj Sunset by Escada is the only fragrance from this batch that I haven't owned before. It's limited edition, so if you like light, fruity, sweet scents that remind you of summer cocktails I suggest you go out and grab it while you can. I am absolutely in love with it and have been wearing it most days.

I still find the Christina Aguilera scents incredibly sexy, so I tend to save them for a night out. I suppose now that I have a larger collection of perfumes I'm likely to save these two for more wintery weather, rather than warm summer nights. I'm so glad I got them again though, I felt like my collection was incomplete with out them (oh, the problems we face).

I also remember to pick up this Clinique cleanser. I first owned this a couple of years ago when I started really trying to fix up my skin. I've always meant to repurchase, but it is so pricey here in Australia. I remember seeing if for a bargain price on cheapsmells and practically rejoicing. This is my makeup remover of choice - I find it gets off every stitch of makeup with little effort and leaves the skin squeaky clean. I'd recommend another cleanser to actually cleanse the skin afterwards though.

So basically, that's it! I was really happy with this particular order and would recommend every item in a heartbeat. I'm off to get ready for high tea now - I think I might try and wear the bright pink pleated skirt from Sportsgirl I got a few months ago. The weather is finally warm enough for it, but still looks a little overcast. Perfect.

I know this is pretty much a month late, but please see my previous post for my reasons (ie. excuses) as to why I am so late.

So this was my first BeautyBox from the month of October - and I suppose my last, since the brand has now been franchised to the Glossybox company. I haven't bothered to renew my subscription with Glossybox, because to be honest, I'm a little bored already. And I was so excited haha. It's not that I'm disappointed with any of the products or service, but the novelty has worn off already and it seems so much effort to sign up again - read: I'm a lazy so and so. I might sign up again in the future, we'll see.

I was absolutely stoked to receive this box, mostly because the packaging was so much better than LustHaveIt. It's actually pink and pretty. Just how I like it. The box was much better quality as well. It's nice enough to use for jewellery or makeup storage. I'm using mine to keep all my sachet samples from magazines and these sample boxes.

The product samples sit in the box very nicely - it looks full and generous. The box included John Frieda Full Repair Full Body shampoo and conditioner, CK one Shock fragrance for him and her, Shiseido Compact Foundation, Garnier Body Ultra-Softening lotion and Biothem Aquasource Non-Stop moisturiser.

Hands down favourite product this box is the CK one Shock fragrances. I love the female scent. Love it. I may even suggest it as a Christmas gift for myself :) The thing that really impressed me as well was that instead of just getting one little baby sample, the box had two vials of both the his and hers! Well done BeautyBox! I'm not even going to attempt to describe this scent, but the feminine version is very girly and sweet, just how I like it. I'll direct you to this link for a better description beautyhaven.com.au. The male version is also great - my husband really likes it and says he wouldn't mind the full size version once he runs out of hiss Joop Jump and Beckham Intimately. He doesn't do scent depending on mood like I do, he generally will use one scent until it's all gone then purchase another. It's a miracle he has two at the moment, but that is because he got them as gifts.

I've not got too much to say about the body lotion. I'm not really a fan of body lotions in general - not matter how non-greasy they are, I always feel just icky after applying. I tried this one night after my shower and found it okay. Certainly not terrible or anything, but I'm not likely to go out and buy it. But again, that's just me and my aversion to lotions, nothing to do with the actual product itself.

I've never tried anything by Shiseido before, so I was quite intrigued by this foundation sample. I haven't had a chance to properly test this out as, like I said in my previous post, I haven't really been wearing makeup the past few weeks. This product can be applied wet or dry, which I find interesting as I've never tried a powder foundation before. The colour looks like it's not a bad colour match for me, which is good since I may actually end up getting some use out of it. I'll let you know how I go. It's also worth noting that this is quite a good sample size - I can imagine you'd get several uses out of it.

I haven't even touched this product yet, but it does look nice! Again, the sample size is very generous - I'd say at least a few weeks worth if you were to use it every day. It seems like it would be quite cooling on the skin and has an okay scent. I'll probably use it when the weather starts getting warmer and they start cranking up the air conditioner at work - which always dries my skin out.

And lastly, the John Frieda Full Repair shampoo and conditioner. I'm not a fan of John Frieda shampoos and conditioners usually (I am a fan of their styling products though, just to be clear), and this range is no exception. I found it did nothing of any note to my hair. It was just the same as always. I didn't notice any extra body, in fact quite the opposite - my hair felt a little limp after two uses. So not a product I'll be purchasing in the full size - I'm glad I got to try it though, since I do like to give things a go before I declare if I like it or not, especially since I don't like the other similar products from this brand.

All in all, I thought the BeautyBox had very generous and interesting samples. I figure with these boxes if there is a least one product you would buy full size then they have done their job. That product for me is the fragrance, so big tick to BeautyBox.

Now that my nose has unblocked, I feel like it's appropriate to post a perfume collection :) Seems fitting. I go a week without being able to smell anything, so suddenly I want to share my favourite smells.

I love Britney perfumes. I love that they're girly and easy to wear, which tends to make them my go to scents for day. I got my first bottle of Curious for my eighteenth birthday and wore it religiously for two years. Until she released Fantasy. Then I wore that religiously. However, my favourite by far is Midnight Fantasy. So sugary sweet. I love it.

The little baby Britneys were a Christmas gift from my sister a couple of years ago. They were selling them in a set, along with a baby Believe, at Target. I hate Believe on me, so I gave it to a friend. These babies are great to throw in your handbag to spritz on throughout the day.

My Sarah Jessica Parker NYC perfume is my absolute, 100% favourite perfume EVER. I love it. I'm not so good at describing scents, but cheapsmells.com describes it as "built around a vivacious wild strawberry accord with a cocktail of feminine floral and creamy sensual undertones". Excellent. Sadly though, I'm all out.

Something that really impressed me about NYC, was the packaging. Whilst I hate the tacky stuck on paper label, the fact that the bottle is completely concealed like a babushka doll means the actual perfume won't get as damaged in the light. Genius.

Covet Full Bloom is probably my least favourite in my collection. I asked for it for my birthday a couple of years ago, but got mixed up - I meant to ask for the original scent, but didn't realise there was two. I don't mind it, but I was really after the original so it disappointed me. Still, it has it's time and place.

Covet is a great scent, but on first spray I thought it was revolting. I smelt it on my friend several times and always thought it was amazing - hence asking for it for my birthday that time - but when I first tried a tester during Christmas 2010, I honestly thought it smelled like pee. It wasn't til I smelt it on my wrist a few hours later that I realise it was the base notes that I loved. So give it a chance.

I've not go much to say about Still. It was a gift and has never been a particular favourite. My sister seems to love it, but it's certainly not a scent I reach for everyday. It is quite a pretty scent though, composed of "pink freesia, honeysuckle, orange flower, and rose" according to cheapsmells.com.

By Night is another of my favourites, along with Christina's original scent (which I've run out of). I tend to use this if I'm feeling a bit too sexy for my shirt. Haha. Cheapsmells describes it as a "fruity, oriental fragrance that opens with notes of tangerine, red apple and freesia, the heart of the scent mixes peach and may blossom and there are bottom notes of amber and black vanilla." Yum.

Intimately Night is my other sexy night-time scent. I always forget how much I like it, and neglect it for months on end. Apparently "this new dimension of feminine sensuality opens with sparkling, zesty tangerine and bergamot spiced with cinnamon. The white flower heart of intoxicating lily, tuberose and orange blossom is enhanced with a hint of clove. The bottom note adds the haunting depth of sandalwood and patchouli warmed with irresistible vanilla, tonka bean and myrrh". Mmm, myrrh. Fancy.

Honestly, I bought Belle De Nuit as a bit of a souvenir. We visited the Fragonard perfumery in Eze, France in 2006 when we went on our Eurotrip. I got the teensiest little bottle they sold, since we were on a budget - and I've still got the teensiest little amount left, because I can't bear to part with it. Fragonard.com describes it as "an original, deep rich harmony of flowers and fruit on a warm velvety bottom note of musk. A precious fragrance, as magical as an Arabian night!"

The sampler was a gift from a friend from her Eurotrip last year. I love the little bottles, I think they are adorable, but I hate the thought of using them up. Oranger is definitely my favourite of the bunch.

Brit is a very subtle fragrance. Again, I haven't really used to much of it, I like to save it for when I'm feeling quite preppy, haha. "Classic, fresh and feminine with the soothing blend of amber, vanilla and the tonka bean."

Orange has disappointed me also. I tried a tester from a magazine and fell in love with the citrus scent. However from the bottle, sprayed onto my skin, I don't really get as much of the citrus. It does seem long wearing though, and I do look forward to wearing it during spring.

Lastly, the Kenzo. Another gift, and another scent I always forget about. I need to make a point of wearing this more often during spring. Sadly, there's no description of this one one cheapsmells. I will do my best: It's floral. ;)

Well, that seemed to take longer than I imagined it would. Sorry about that, I hope it wasn't too boring! I've just placed an order for a couple of refills (and a couple of sneaky newbies), so I'll show you those in my next haul. Let me know what your favourite perfumes are in the comments - if you've read this far!

Actually, I suppose it has only been a couple of weeks, but I feel like I haven't blogged in forEVER. Happily though, I have a lovely birthday haul for you all. This isn't everything that I got, but a few of my favourites :)

Beyonce Heat perfume - delicious. I'm not much of a Beyonce fan, but I tested this out of curiosity. Not sure I love it as much as I do Sarah Jessica Parker's NYC, but a I feel it's a sexier option for night time.

Want to be my friend? Buy my a gift voucher and I'm yours. I know a lot of people think gift vouchers are impersonal and an easy option, but I look at it as if you're giving me the gift of shopping. And I love that.

You know I love green tea. These are flavoured loose leaf tea, both of which are delicious. The "gen mai cha sencha" has rice-bubbles in it! Okay, probably not actual rice-bubbles, but you know what I mean. It has quite a nutty smell, which I like. The "Gorgeous Geisha" smells exactly like strawberry-and-cream lollies. Amazing. It has dehydrated strawberry chunks throughout, which give a much subtler flavour than I was expecting. I suggest you try these out. You can order on their site T2tea.com, which ships internationally.

This clutch is amazing! I asked the girls from work for this and the watch below (we all pool our money together for birthdays, $10 each, usually gets you a fantastic gift, rather than lots of little gifts, and is a hell of a lot easier). I photographed the clutch with the gift voucher, which is the size of a regular credit card, so you can visualise just how huge it is. I love it. You'll probably see it soon in an outfit of the day. You can get it here

I haven't taken this watch off since I got it. I love it. Now I just need a Michael Kors oversized gold chronographic, and I should be pretty set for a good few years. I love how it's such a classic shape, and I love the black and gold together. Timeless. You can get it here

And lastly, my lovely friend Jade got me this lovely scarf. I love grey, and I love lightweight scarves with a dainty pattern paired with a leather jacket, so this is perfect. She knows my taste so well.

For some reason, I have absolutely no photos of my party. I had my camera all charged ready to go, but I think I got so excited that I just completely forgot about it! One of my girlfriends is usually very good about making sure there is plenty of photos taken at parties, but she was away in Melbourne, so I got nada.

January was a month where, once again, I did barely any actual shopping but did my fair share on online shopping. I swear, online shopping makes me feel like everything is extra special. Especially when it arrives by courier to my workplace - so much excitement. The packages have started to roll in now, so I'll have a few hauls for you in the coming days.

This month was my first experience with CheapSmells.com. Fleurdeforce on YouTube did a video a little while ago about the online stores she uses for discount beauty products. Cheap Smells was one of the sites she mentioned, and the site that stuck out most for me, so I decided to give them a try. There were a few perfumes I'd sampled over the Christmas period that I had asked for as gifts, but not received in my stocking. Then after the sales passed all the prices jacked back up and I couldn't justify paying full price when I knew how cheap they were during the sales. So I conceded to wait.

After browsing the site for a bit and checking out the exchange rate and delivery rates, I worked out that yes, it would be far cheaper for me to purchase my smells on this site (at least for the time being). I remember sitting at my computer with my mouth hanging open, then sprinting to find my debit card.

So I got Hugo Boss Orange 75mL EDT, Burberry Brit for women 50mL EDT and Intimately Beckham Night for Her 75mL EDT. They came all together in a medium sized box, each perfume boxed in their original packaging with cello-wrap, and plenty of packing filler - mostly tissue paper in this case. I ordered my package on Thursday 27th of January and received it on the 7th of February - that's 7 working days! From the UK to Austalia, I'm damn happy with that. Standard postage was GBP14.35, which I believe is calculated by weight. This does sound a little pricey, but once you take into consideration the heavily discounted products, it seems quite reasonable. Excitingly, for you UK residents, shipping is actually included in the product price!

The site also offers discounted makeup, skincare, haircare, bath and body products, as well as fragrance, cologne and aftershave. I had a bit of a peruse through the makeup section, but couldn't find anything that really jumped out at me. From what I can tell, the stock changes regularly, so I'll be checking back from time to time to see if any gems pop up.

So the CheapSmells.com online store gets a big thumbs up from me - especially with the exchange rate like it is at the moment. Let me know if you've had any experience with this store and how it worked out for you. Id be interested to see how shipping times differ country to country.

By the way, my sister gave birth to her brand new little girl the day after the baby shower! Such amazing timing! I can't get over how beautiful she is, and I'm so proud of my sister and her fiance - I know they'll be fantastic parents, and little Caitlin Taryn is so lucky to have chosen them to be her mum and dad.