Review: Black Milk Clothing

So I must admit, I've always been a little bit apprehensive about Black Milk Clothing. I'm not the biggest fan of tights or bodysuits (on myself, anyway... some of you ladies look so freaking perfect in them though and I am forever jealous!), and I was also incredibly apprehensive about the swimsuit-looking material. I've loved the crazy, unique designs for forever though, and once I saw the Game of Thrones Black Milk release, I couldn't help myself.
   Now, I must make it clear that this review is based on my first ever Black Milk purchase and so please don't take my words as gospel... although I doubt anyone would, anyway.

So this was my thought process:

1. EVERYTHING IS SO MAGICAL AND PRETTY AND I NEED IT
2. $95 for a very small piece of material, really?!?
3. ugh it's so pretty though
4. okay I'm just gonna buy it
5. yep. done. sold. 

  So I bought the Westoros Reversible skater dress, and I have to say, I am in love with this dress. I'm a pretty standard size 8 and so I purchased a small, and it fits me perfectly. It's not too short, either. The material isn't actually hideous like I thought it'd be, either. I actually kind of like the material, to be honest. Thin, but not too thin, and it kind of has a shine to it which is nice. It's also a bit stretchy. But yes. I'm glad I took the risk, because the dress is my new favourite thing and I will happily be buying from Black Milk again.

Pros: 

• Super fast shipping. My item came within 48 hours of purchase. Be warned, though, if your item is "made to order", it can take up to several weeks before you receive.
• Wide range of sizes, and true-to-size.
• Super pretty and unique and funky styles and patterns.
• Free shipping Australia wide, yay!

Cons:

• Not everyone is going to like the nylon material. It's not my ideal material of choice, but it does really suit the prints.
• Not a wide range of styles - you can choose from skater dresses, tights, catsuits, bodysuits, swimsuits, skirts... okay so that seems like a wide range, but I'd appreciate maybe some longer skirts and dresses, too.
• Definitely not in everyone's price range. Most items are between $60-$120. Most skater dresses are around $95, which does seem difficult to justify for a skater dress, buuuuut the unique prints are too hard to resist. 

I can honestly say, my first experience purchasing and receiving something from Black Milk was definitely a very good experience. I had no issues or problems, although it would be nice to see some cheaper items or possibly more sale items.

Link? blackmilkclothing.com

Any questions, feel free to ask!
Peace,
Lucy.
xo 

Tiger Mist Boutique

Hey Guys, sorry for being a little slack lately.
For this post I've decided to do a review of online fashion retailer, Tiger Mist Boutique. I first discovered Tiger Mist about four or five months ago, after randomly stumbling across one of their sales via instagram.  I have to say, I was a pretty big fan from that point on. Since then, I've purchased a total of five items from them, and not once have I had any issues with the website, delivery or my items. So I will definitely be heading back there soon! Tiger Mist was created by two Australian sisters who own and run pretty much everything. They also design their own clothes under their own label Rise of Dawn, which has items available for purchase via Tiger Mist. If online shopping isn't really your thing, they also have a store located in Victoria (Australia). Both the actual store and online store sell a wide range of items, from party dresses, casual clothes, high-fashion labels, shoes, accessories, swimwear and Limecrime Lipstick. If that's not enough, they also ship worldwide, too!

 The stuff you need to know - 

 Shipping - (within australia) free on orders over $100, otherwise $9.50.  Everything is express-posted and I've always received my items within 2-3 days of purchasing.

Pros: 

• Super quick delivery. I've always received my purchases within 2-3 days of purchasing.
• Lots of unique styles that can't be found on other online boutiques and retailers.
• Really good sales! Every now and then (like on a public holiday or holiday weekend), they'll have big sales off absolutely everything. I managed to score an amazing pair of Windsor Smith shoes at 30% off on the Australia Day weekend... I was incredibly happy about that! 
• Prices are fairly standard (between $40-$100 for a party dress)

Cons: 

• Having to pay for shipping if you spend under $100 
• They only stock sizes 6-12
• Personally, I'm not a fan of the product images they use. The models are amazing, the clothes are amazing... but I just really don't like the super bright images with large "Tiger Mist" watermarks over everything... but hey, that's just me being fussy.

Website: http://www.tigermist.com.au/ 
Instagram: tigermist
 

Here's a few of the items I've purchased from Tiger Mist over the past several months:
 

If you have any further questions or anything, please don't hesitate to send me a question!
Also, please check me out on instagram! Username is: perksofbeinglucyrose



Peace and be kind,
Lucy Rose.

January's Lust Have It Beauty Box

So a few weeks ago, I decided to sign up to receive a monthly subscription to Lust Have It's Beauty Boxes. For those of you who've read my previous post, Lust Have It Beauty Boxes are very similar to Bella Box. Each month, you pay a small fee and in return, receive a parcel containing 5 or so new and popular beauty products to test out. I've heard many mixed things about both Lust Have It and Bella Box, so I decided I'd sign up to both, test both out, and then just keep my subscription to whichever beauty box I prefer.

Now, since I signed up very last-minute to Lust Have It, I only received my January Box today. I figure it'll take me a good week or so to properly test out all the products, so I'm not going to be doing a proper review for this month's box. By the time I do, my February box will have arrived, so I'm just going to do a very quick mini-review of Lust Have It, and then my proper reviews will start in a few weeks, where I'll be comparing Lust Have It against Bella Box at the same time.


Things to Note:

• There's many different Lust Have It boxes to choose from. The one I chose to subscribe to is the classic Women's beauty box. It's $20 a month, cancel anytime. Usually contains over $60 value.
•  The website is very easy to understand, and is also where you sign up! http://www.lusthaveit.com.au/womens-box-page/ 

Personally,

•  I love the packaging! Your beauty items come in this super cute Lust Have It box. It's a decent, sturdy box to. It even has a little magnetic strip to hold it closed.
• This is only my first Lust Have It box so I can't judge it too much, but I must say, the samples appear to be bigger than the samples from Bella Box? I guess we'll have to wait and see how the February boxes compare. 
• It's $20 a month, whereas Bella Box is only $15 a month... but if the samples are bigger (which they appear to be), and I like the products more, it's well worth that extra five dollars... but once again, we'll have to wait and see what February holds!

Super Cute Packaging

January's items - Benefit Mascara, a zinc cream, cleansing wipes, moisturising hair oil, a facial moisturiser/toner, and hair treatment for damaged hair. 

 Overall, I was very pleased with what I received in this box. I'll be giving a detailed review of the February box when I receive it, and will also be comparing it to Bella Box's February Box.

Peace,
Lucy.

January Bella Box Review

In December 2013, I signed up to Bella Box's monthly subscription service on a whim. For those of you unfamiliar with Bella Box, basically what it is, is that you pay $15 a month, and each month you receive a parcel in the mail containing 5-7 different samples of new and popular beauty items. The idea is that if you can try all these new and popular beauty items, so you get a good idea of what's currently available, without having to pay $$$$ to test an item out. Then, if you do really like the item, you can purchase it from the Bella Box website. You tend to get one full-sized product each month, along with five or six sample-sized products. The products range from makeup items (mascara, lip gloss, makeup brushes) to face masks to skin moisturisers and tanning products.
I was going to do a review for my December box, but I was a bit lazy and forgot about it. So I thought I'd start with my January box that I received last week.


Extra Info:

• Your Bella Box will generally arrive closer to the end of the month. I received my December box on December 24, and my January box on January 20.
• There's no subscription contract, so you can sign up or end your subscription whenever you like.
• I have found (and so have other users, according to reviews I've found on social media) that you tend to get a lot of moisturisers. 2 out of your 6 samples will generally be face/skin moisturisers. This might be an issue for some people. I, on the other hand, love moisturisers and I use them daily, so I can never have too many.
• Not everyone will receive the exact same box each month. Your items depend on stock availability, and sometimes they alternate products. So you and your best friend might get 3 or 4 of the same products for the month, but whilst she gets a nail polish, you might get a face mask.

Without further ado, here is my February review: 

February Box

Product One:  ModelCo Fat Lash Volumising Black Mascara

 

 

 

Love love love!

 So this mascara was this month's full-sized product. This is the first ModelCo product I've ever used, and let me just say, I LOVE it! It's a volumising and lengthening non-flaking/non-clumping black mascara, and it is amazing. It really does add a whole lot of length and volume to your lashes, and my favourite part is that it doesn't clump. There's nothing I hate more than mascaras that make you look like you have 3 giant clumpy eyelashes, rather that lots of lovely individual lashes. I definitely recommend this product if you're looking for a mascara that gives you that bigger, bolder look. They're retailed at $20 each, but thanks to Bella Box, I got mine for $15 with a whole lot of other samples, too.
My Rating: 8.5/10. I would've gone for 10/10, but unfortunately the mascara is not waterproof. I never wear non-waterproof mascaras, but I'm willing to make an exception for this one.


Product Two: Tuscan Tan, Wash Off Bronzing Mousse 

So this product is a tanning mousse that is perfect for if you want an instant tan to wear to a party or an event, and it washes off easily with a bit of soap. It was difficult for me to review this product, as I don't ever wear or use any kind of tanning product. Not ever. Honestly, I'm just too pale. It's incredibly difficult for me to use tanning products because of how pale I am, as the product almost always looks too dark and too fake. It doesn't matter how carefully or thoroughly I apply the product, you can always notice the slightest streak or imperfection in the tan against my naturally very very very white skin. So usually, I just don't bother with tanning or tanning products at all. I thought I'd give this product a go, but sadly it was no different. It made my skin look way too dark for my complexion, and honestly, I just look a bit silly with a dark tan. I think this product is more suited for those with bit of a natural tan already, as it would enhance your tan's appearance.
My Rating: 5/10. I couldn't really properly review this tan because tans and me do not mix. I did love the smell of the product though... mmm coconuts!


Product Three:  Aveda Dry Remedy for hair

So this product is a daily moisturising oil for dry and damaged hair. I was a bit cautious with this product, as the word "oil" just instantly made me think "oily and greasy". So I only used the tiniest little bit of product, and applied it mainly to the ends of my hair. It's a leave-in product, and you can use it daily. Now, I'm not trying to be nasty towards this product, but I really, really hated everything about this product. Even though I only used the tiniest amount, it made my hair so greasy and oily, and just left it with a greasy wet look for the entire day. My hair even felt wet to touch, several hours after applying the product. My hair is never greasy or oily, but it was a greasy oily mess thanks to Aveda Dry Remedy. I literally used the smallest spec of oil, too. If you've had a good experience with this product, please let me know. But yeah. Never again.
My Rating: 3/10, and that's being nice.

Product Four: Vaselin Total Moisture 

I really liked this product. It's a light daily skin moisturiser, that also has an SPF 15, which is also really handy. There isn't much else to say about this. It's really light and non-greasy, it smells wonderful, it can be used all over to give your skin a moisture kick and it aids in sun protection. It's that simple.
My Rating: 9/10. Easy, handy, wonderful.

Product Five: Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

This product is an all-purpose skin cream. It can help dryness, sensitive skin and irritation. It's rather a thick cream, and doesn't have any smell. It claims to be a secret, magical cream... but yeah I'm not entirely convinced. I did really like it, as it wasn't oily, and it made my hands and feet nice and soft. I haven't really used it thoroughly enough or long enough to give you much more help than that, but yeah. It was a nice cream, and it did its job.
My Rating: 6/10. Decent cream, am yet to discover it's magical healing secrets.


Product 6: Sukin Facial Moisturiser

Yes, another moisturising product... see what I mean? I'm not going to write much about this product. It's a facial moisturiser, suitable for all skin types. My face can be quite sensitive sometimes, but I didn't have any issues using this. It was light and lovely and made my face nice and soft and helped ease dryness. Would I use it again? Yes. My only issue is the smell. I really do not like how this product smells at all. It almost has a lavender-type smell to it, and I hate lavender. But apart from the weird smell, it's a good product.
My Rating: 7/10.


There's a seventh product, it's a sensitive skin mask. I am yet to use it, as I'm currently already on a sensitive skin mask regime, and I don't really want to use a different product until I've finished using the one I'm currently on. It smells nice though. I'll probably give it a go next week.

  *  To find out more about Bella Box or to start a subscription, go to their website! www.bellabox.com.au



So until then,
be safe and happy!
Lucy Rose.
xo

Keeping with my "summer favourites" themed posts I've been having for the past few months, I thought I'd share with you a few pictures and a (rather brief) review of my summer holiday this year. We always try to go somewhere for a few days each year around the start of the New Year, and this year we stayed in Cairns, North Queensland for a few days. Perhaps this isn't interesting to you fellow North Queenslanders who've undoubtedly been to Cairns before, but I just really like Cairns and who knows, maybe it'll help you plan your next weekend getaway!
So firstly,
Where I stayed: Rydges Tradewinds, Cairns

 I really like Rydges Tradewinds. It's right on the esplanade, and literally a 30 second walk to the beach...so the view from the hotel grounds are amazing (especially at sunrise/sunset). There's a pool and spa, a restaurant and bar, underground valet parking, and an indoor day spa/massage area. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, each with a little balcony that looks out over the swimming pool and spa area. We were lucky enough to have an amazing room right on the top floor, and facing out over the ocean. The above photo was taken from our balcony, so as you can see, we had a pretty good view! The rooms have televisions, air conditioning, a bath... and pretty much everything else you need to have a wonderful time. Rooms are priced from $90 a night upwards, but we were lucky enough to get a cheap special deal through findaroom.com ... findaroom.com is my favourite website to book hotels through, it's super easy to use, and every now and then they have crazy sales on rooms at certain hotels. So if you plan on going away anytime soon, I'd keep an eye on that website for sure.  There were a few negative reviews on the findaroom website for Rydges Tradewinds, such as people saying that the hotel was a bit "old and outdated"... but honestly, I didn't have any issues with anything at all. My stay there was entirely positive, and I'd go back again. I mean, Rydges Tradewinds isn't a 5 star hotel or anything like that, but it is perfect for a weekend getaway.


What I did: 

Kuranda Markets:

 I love Kuranda. I've been there several times before, and every time I go, I seem to love it a little bit more. Kuranda is kind of like a small town/village  in the rainforest, located up in the hills about 30 mins out from Cairns. There's a market that runs during the day, every single day of the week, where they sell a wide range of jewellery and arts and crafts. I think the markets are more aimed at people that are new to Australia, as there are a lot of Australiana souvenirs and things, but I love it anyway. I'm especially a fan of all the handmade jewellery. There's also a bird zoo and a reptile zoo, which is perfect for children and tourists. If you've been to Cairns before but haven't seen Kuranda, I definitely recommend it next time you go.
 

The Lagoon on The Esplanade:
 

I also love the lagoon a lot. The water is always a perfect escape from the humid weather, and it's really nice if you go in the afternoon on a weekend, as they usually have bands playing. So you can pretty much just float around in the cool water and listen to some music and it is the perfect way to relax. The Lagoon is also very close to a whole heap of shops and restaurants, so everything you need is all in the one spot. The Lagoon is open til 9pm every night of the year.

What I ate: 

Fresh Seafood in a coconut broth from the Raw Prawn, located on the esplanade.

Fresh and locally-sourced seafood from Splash, located on the esplanade. Splash is probably my favourite Cairns restaurant. They specialise in seafood, and everything is fresh and from the local ocean and reefs. They also have amazing cocktails.

Burgers from Grill'd, located on the esplanade.

 
What I wore:

Playsuits are a summer must-have. Playsuit from Lucy in the Sky Store, shoes from Therapy, and hat from Cotton On.

Dress from Lucy in the Sky Store

Skirt from Tiger Mist, top from Supre

Dress from Boutique by Bel, flower headband from Lovisa.

That's all for now, hope you're all having a fantastic summer (or winter for my overseas friends!).
Peace,
Lucy.

My Favourites for Summer (Part Two)

My Favourites for Summer - Flower Power!

Floral patterns and prints would have to be one of my all-time-favourite things in the world. The best things about florals is that there's so many different floral print items to choose from (so you're bound to find something that fits and suits you perfectly), and it is so easy to wear most floral pieces for both day and night. I swear almost half the items in my wardrobe are covered in different little flower prints, and I really doubt that florals will ever go out of fashion. Flowers + summer = a match made in heaven. 

So my advice this week is simple: every girl (and guy, for that matter) needs at least one floral piece in their wardrobe. They're perfect for spending time at the beach, going to music festivals, and by just changing your shoes and adding a few accessories, you can easily dress up your floral item to wear out to dinner or a club. If you're somebody that doesn't usually wear a lot of bright colours or crazy prints, you can always start by bringing in a little colour into your wardrobe with a pair of floral-print sunglasses or shoes. Start small and ease your way into the wonderful, colourful world of floral!

Right now, I'm a big fan of the "Striking Dress Mint" from Beginning Boutique, featured in the following photographs. I absolutely love the tie-up halter-neck style of this dress with an open back. The material has a light, silky feel to it which is perfect for hot summer days and balmy summer nights. This dress is perfect in so many ways - you can throw it over a bikini at the beach, or add some heels and gold accessories and it's perfect for summer nights. 

Find this dress on the Beginning Boutique website -  http://beginningboutique.com.au/collections/sale/products/striking-dress-mint

 

Gold Chain Necklace - Colette by Colette Hayman

Flower head piece - Sportsgirl

Keep an eye out for part three of my summer favourites coming within the next week or so.

Have a wonderful summer (or winter, depending where you are!)

xo Lucy Rose

My Favourites for Summer 2013/14 (part one)

For all of us here in Australia, our summer season has just begun! To me, summer is all about the beach. The waves, the sand, the sun - nothing beats hanging out by the beach with friends and family. I try to incorporate that beachy vibe into my summer wardrobe as much as possible. I like to wear things that are not only suited for the hot summer months, but are also inspired by all things beach-related. So, for the next month, I've decided to share with you some of my favourite items for this summer season.

Summer Favourite #1: Maxi Dresses

I don't think maxi dresses will ever go out of style. They're so easy to wear and ever so versatile. All it takes is a change of shoes and/or accessories, and you can so simply dress your maxi dress down for the day time, or add some heels and dress it up for the night time. And the best part? They suit ALL body shapes and sizes. When it comes to maxis, it doesn't matter what your height or weight is, you're bound to look wonderful. Especially in maxis with a tight-fitting top with a loose fitting skirt - they manage to simultaneously create shape and hide any unflattering areas.

Dress: Lucy in The Sky Store, Shoes: Therapy (Newport Sandals)

My Advice? Keep it simple. Look for a maxi dress with a minimal and simplistic print. A dress with only one or two colours is much easier to dress up or down, and wear both day and night. I do like maxis with crazy prints too, however, these dresses do become rather limited in where and how you can wear them.

Dress: Lucy in The Sky Store, Shoes: Betts, Clutch: Colette by Colette Hayman

The dip-dyed ombre style is really in-style at the moment, and it's also one of my most favourite trends. It gives everything a boho/hippy vibe, which is another reason why I find it perfect for summer. Ombre basically means that the colour is graduated from light to dark, or dark to light. You can find these styles of maxis almost anywhere, but my favourite online places are: Lucy in the Sky Store, Beginning Boutique and St Frock.

Gold Accessories: Colette by Colette Hayman

Keep an eye out for part two of my summer favourites coming within the next week or so.
I hope you're all having a wonderful summer, or an amazing winter in other parts of the world.

xo Lucy Rose



All photos were taken by the lovely Kristy Hammelswang, leave a comment for details. 

Review #3: Quay Eyeware

Sorry I've been a bit slack for the past few weeks, I've had a rather crazily busy few weeks of work and uni assessment and I haven't had much time for anything in between.




Anyway, since my third pair of lovely Quay Eyeware sunglasses arrived in the mail yesterday, I figure it only fitting that I base this review around Quay. I really like Quay Eyeware.  Their sunglasses are cheap, unique and amazingly good quality considering the price...also, celebrities love them. Especially Gwen Stefani. If you google search Quay sunnies, half of the images on google seem to be Gwen Stefani wearing various different styles of Quay sunnies. Now, I love Gwen. She has amazing style and talent, and if Qwen Stefani can walk around in Hollywood looking amazing in $40 sunglasses from a homegrown Australian brand... well then, I need these sunglasses and I need 20 pairs.

So here are my positive things about shopping/buying from Quay Eyeware:

•  Every pair is around $40... $40 for amazing, good-quality sunglasses? Yes please.
• There's heaps of styles and colours to choose from. I'm fairly certain that even the fussiest of people would find a pair that they absolutely loved. 
• International Shipping.
• Free shipping Australia-wide.
• 100% UV protected shades... The only thing better than having sexy sunglasses, is having sexy sunglasses that actually fully protect your eyes, too!
• Comfy to wear... they're not tight around your nose and they don't fall off your face, either.

Negatives:

• The FAQ page on the website is a little vague. It doesn't specify whether the free shipping is regular or express post... just little things like that that are sometimes very useful to know. That being said, one time I ordered a pair of sunglasses and it took over a week for them to arrive, so I called the number on the website, and their staff are very friendly and lovely and efficient and they managed to track down my sunnies and everything was resolved within an hour. So, I suppose if you had any queries, it'd be best just to call them up from the start.
• The brand name... this doesn't even really count as a negative... I just despise the word "quay" with a passion. In case you didn't know, "quay" is pronounced as "KEY" rather than "kway", and that just really irritates me. I think it's my inner-English teacher coming out or something. 

You can purchase the sunglasses directly from the website ( http://www.quayeyeware.com.au/faq/ ), otherwise, there's heaps of other places that stock/sell them too! So never fear. If the pair you've had your eye on sell out from the website, check out Princess Polly, Beginning Boutique or Lucy in the Sky Store just to name a few... they all sell the sunglasses, too!

So as I said, I have three pairs so far, all in different colours and styles. It's hard to pick a favourite so I thought I'd share them all with you.
Anyway, have a wonderful weekend!
Lucy Rose. 

 "Nakita" in silver

 "Kitti" in tortoiseshell

 "Glomesh" in green