Malin+Goetz - Vitamin E Moisturiser

I got this from an in-flight gift pack, and I can see why it would be good for flights.

It is a thin, very hydrating cream with a faint cinnamon smell.

It is very lightweight, absorbs quickly, and would be a good day cream.

Price: 1/5 ($70.00 for 118mL, about 17 applications)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

Revlon - ColorStay Gel Envy - 440 Wild Card

This is a warm mid to dark blue which I think was the show stopper of the original Gel Envy release.

Two coats.

I just love this shade!
And the brush in this bottle is the best! A nice wide brush that coats the nail easily and evenly.

Price: 1/5 ($16.95 for 11.7mL)
New Name: Lapis lazuli
Effectiveness: 5/5

Favourite Things - Misaligned Chakra Bracelet

I got this from a stall because I immediately thought it was great!

It is made of gemstones, meant to represent the chakras...

But they are in the wrong order! XD

This bracelet puts the sexuality/creativity chakra in the third eye position, awareness at the throat, communication at the heart, love/healing at the solar plexus, basic trust at the sacral, and wisdom/power at the root chakra.

Some may argue that these are a more correct arrangement of my chakras :p

I keep it hanging from my rear-view mirror in my car, it makes me smile when driving.

Ulta3 - Nail Colour - Luck of the Irish

This is a clear nail polish with dark green glitter, both larger circle sized glitter and little specks.

One coat.

It works great over a metallic green colour to add extra sparkle.

Price: 5/5 ($2 for 13mL)
New Name: Forest Sprites
Effectiveness: 5/5

Eau Thermale Avène - Soothing Moisture Mask

You put this mask on as a thick layer, wait 10-15 minutes, then dab off the excess with a cotton pad.

I, however, washed it off. 
It smells like mouldy oats and I don't need that smell staying on my face.

I did try dabbing it off and seeing how my skin felt... you can't just dab this! It leaves a weird residue on your face.

My skin felt a little better after I washed it off, both nothing great.

Price: 4/5 ($37.99 for 50mL, about 10 masks)
Scent: 1/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Essie - Nail Lacquer - Status Symbol

This is my perfect Barbie pink shade!
Its warm, mid-toned, and loud.

Two coats.
Note: all of my polishes are coming up crackled on these swatches.

Price: 1/5 ($16.95 for 13.5mL)
New Name: Barbie
Effectiveness: 4/5

Monoderma Skin Vitamins - Lightening Anti-Aging (C10)

These little capsules in medicine-esque blister packs are quite cute.
When you open a capsule, the serum inside is a cloudy fluid that absorbs super quickly into the skin!
My skin feels so soft after using it!

The serum contains 10% ascorbic acid... and that seems to be the only active ingredient.

There is no real smell but I did accidentally taste it and it was awful! 

Price 1/5 ($49.95 for 28 x 0.5mL capsules)
Scent: 2.5/5 (no real scent)
Effectiveness: 3/5

Ulta3 - Special Effects - Seeing Red

This nail polish is part of the 'water colour' effects range.
It is a transparent red.
I liked the idea, but the execution is lacking greatly.

One coat.

This shade would be better if it was more pigmented.

Price: 5/5 ($2 for 13mL)
New Name: Strawberry Jelly
Effectiveness: 0.5/5

Same Product, Different Scent - The Body Shop - Body Butter - Piñita Colada

This smells so fresh and delicious.
A perfect mix of pineapple and coconut!

Special Post - Samples from Miss Buttons

Once again Miss Buttons has spoiled me by giving me a bunch of samples to try!

Thank you so much!!!!! <3

Stay tuned for posts on these items!

Models Prefer - Nail Enamel - Hot Right Now

This is a slightly orange-toned red that is not opaque AT ALL.

Two coats.

Price: 5/5 ($1.10 for 7mL)
New Name: Racy Negligee
Effectiveness: 1/5

L'Oeal Paris - True Match Concealer - Vanilla

This is a relatively good colour match for me, perhaps a bit too yellow but that is good for hiding purple tones under my eyes.

It really sucks here that it is hard to get light enough concealers/foundations/powders because the derps in marketing think everyone has the same skin tones.
ALSO even when they do make a better range THE STUPID STORES ONLY STOCK A LIMITED PART OF IT! >:(

Everyone in this picture should be able to easily get concealers... except the babies, they would probably just eat it.

Colour match aside, this formula is TOO thin for a concealer.
It's like they just put some foundation in a little bottle and slapped a 'concealer' label on it.
If I have a Mt Vesuvius situation, this won't cover it!

The packaging it comes in is great. 
Small enough for a purse and the doe-foot applicator makes it easy to put on.

Price: 2/5 ($19.95 for 5mL)
Scent: 2.5/5 (no real smell)
Effectiveness: 3/5

Revlon - Nail Enamel - 571 Posh

This is a real Christmas green.
A shade between mid-tone and dark green, not too blue, not too yellow.
A Goldilocks green.

Two coats.

Back lit.

Price: ($14.95 for 14.7mL)
New Name: Christmas Tree
Effectiveness: 3.5/5

Palmer's - Cocoa Butter Formula - Lip Balm

This is a stick lip balm that works so well.

It is great for bed time.
It is easy to wind up and apply, has a nice faint cocoa butter scent, and creates a moisturising barrier.
It is also SPF 15 to protect your lips from sum damage.

PU1 even has one and likes it (and she doesn't like a lot of things).

Price: 4/5 ($3.69 for 4g)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Models Prefer - Nail Enamel - 1207 Skinny Dip

This is your warm, mid-tone blue. A true electric blue.

Two coats give relatively good coverage.

It applies rather streaky, unfortunately.

You can't lie when put under my torch!

Price: 5/5 (~$1.10 for 7mL)
New Name: Electric Blue
Effectiveness: 3.5/5

Same Product, Different Scent - Crabtree & Evelyn - Hand Therapy - English Honey & Peach Blossom

I don't know about this scent combo. The honey 'caramel notes' don't really blend well with the peach blossom.
It smells a bit like something nearby is over-ripe/ rotting.
Unfortunately, the scent is also really strong and long lasting, so you can't just ignore it.

Weaning off Effexor - 50mg to 37.5mg

We are approaching the end of our journey!

6/3/17 - First night at 37.5mg! 
Mood has been stable for a while.

7/3/17 - I had trouble sleeping because of restless leg :( ugh.

8/3/17 - Yesterday and today, my face has pimples and I'm really teary.
Things are resonating emotionally with me more than usual.
It's like I'm having my period but it is the wrong part of the cycle.
But to its credit, I was able to have a sensitive discussion with BP and it didn't trigger anything deeper than some normal emotional responses (no 'coldness' in my core).
*PB is a good egg.

12/3/17 - I have been wearing my mouth-guard to bed to counteract grinding my teeth in my sleep.

The poor memory may be more of my brain than the effexor.
I had half a glass of red tonight (I'm a light-weight), forgot I was chatting to PB online and wandered off.
When I remembered and came back, he didn't even reprimand me.
Poor PB! He really is too good! I love him so dearly.

14/3/17 - I woke up today and I had no emotions.
Just blank.

Looks like I'll be emotionless for a while!

I also went to the doctor and got a smaller medication dose. 
Tonight, I'll step down to 25mg.

Same Product, Different Scent - The Body Shop - Body Butter - Passion Fruit

This smells AMAZING!

Like fresh, tart passion fruit pulp.

The only thing that confuses me slightly is the colour, the body butter is coloured light purple... I would make it yellow personally, but ok.

W7 - Nail Polish - 131 Bronze Debris

This is a clear nail polish with gold, bronze, and black glitter. 
It is a mix of lines, circles, and really fine specks.

Once coat.

I have nail polish swatch sticks now so I will swatch the colours there.
On the underside I will put a black cross, to give you a better idea of opacity.

Science! Because I'm giving you evidence!

While it is a fun idea, I didn't realise it had black glitter in it when I purchased it.
I could do without the black glitter in this one.

Price: 5/5 ($2.99 for 15mL)
New name: Scrap Metal
Effectiveness: 3/5

The Face Shop - Chia Seed - No Shine Intense Hydrating Cream

I got this cream from (the nice, not Melbourne Central) Face Shop as a sample.

It is quite a thin cream, with no strong scent (vauge chia).

As far as 'no shine', no simple cream could do that for me, my skin is 90% oil.

But it hydrates well and would be a nice, light day cream.

Price: 2/5 ($40 for 50mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Manicure - 610 - Red Zin

This is a dark red/ blood red shade that looks wonderfully vampy!

Because it is by Sally Hansen, it is good quality.

Nice colour intensity, dries relatively quickly, and has a good shine.

It does require two coats for opacity.

Price: 1/5 ($14.95 for 14.7mL)
Scent: 0/5 (don't smell it)
Effectiveness: 4/5

Weaning off Effexor - 75mg to 50mg

My doctor has me going from 75mg to 37.5 mg, but I'm not about that big of a jump, so we are going to sneak in a 50mg step, to make it smoother.

DO NOT COPY ME! I AM A PROFESSIONAL AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY HEALTH AND NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURS!

21/2/17 - Well, I'm already hung over so I can't feel much worse! XD
I also found out recently that other people can skip an effexor and not feel like electric death.

22/2/17 - Man, I have a headache. Let's take a little paracetamol.
I didn't take any yesterday because I like alcohol or pain killers in my system, not both.

It's been an hour, I still feel terrible.

I know what will help...

I might be singing this at work tomorrow.

23/2/17 - So tired today! I've been tired all day.

24/2/17 - Still so tired! I sleep enough and still wake up tired.
Eh, better than headaches.

26/2/17 - My memory has been exceptionally poor today!

1/3/17 - I'm less tired, but I'm nauseous again.
My stomach feels like it has shrunk and I can't each much.

3/3/17 - I should see the doctor soon for the 37.5mg dosage. I'm ready to step down again. 
I could just go down to 25mg by myself, but I like the idea of the gently stepping down.

4/3/17 - I couldn't tell if I had a headache from the effexor, a toothache, or teeth grinding in my sleep, so I used a mouth guard last night.
I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep again. Ugh.

6/3/17 - Ok, down to 37.5mg tonight!

Versace - Crystal Noir - Eau de Toilette

This is quite a unisex scent!
It is very heavy in green notes, with green florals, musk, incense, sap, some spice, and lavender.

This is a Autumn night in a well-cared for garden.
This is moths dancing around a street lamp as you move from one great party (for +25 year olds) to the next.
This is that spark of electricity in the air when the weather turns.

It is a strong scent as well.

Fragrantica lists the notes as

Top Notes: ginger, cardamon, pepper. (agree with all of these)
Middle Notes: orange blossom, peony, gardenia, coconut. (agree)
Base Notes: sandalwood, amber, musk. (agree, but it has smokiness)

Price: 1/5 ($140 for 90mL, I have a tiny sample bottle!)
Scent: 5/5
Season: Autumn
Strength: Strong
Time: Nighttime

Crabtree & Evelyn - Nail Lacquer - Eggplant/ Aubergine

This is a great aubergine purple, that is best with two coats.

Two coats.
Note, texture is due to the plastic, not the polish.

Price: 3/5 ($10.00 for 15mL)
New Name: *I can't beat 'Aubergine'
Effectiveness: 5/5

Same Product, Different Colour - Revlon - Ultra HD - Matte Lipcolour - Romance

This is a cooler toned red than the 'Love' shade.

Photo taken in bright sunlight.

I love the colour intensity of this line!

Swatch!

Weaning off Effexor - 100mg to 75mg

We are up to step 2 and taking off another 25mg.
I'm feeling pretty hopeful that this will go well, given how easily the first step was.

7/2/17 - Went down to 75mg tonight.
Ugh, my heart is feeling a bit 'cold' (how my brain interprets it, not a physical temperature drop) and my eyes feel like I may cry.

8/2/17 - I am experiencing Weltschmerz and am having suicidal thoughts (not actively planning, just those thoughts that aren't really yours that pop up in your mind).

9/2/17 - I now only have general disenchantment (and suicidal thoughts), how lovely.
But really I'll take any improvement.

At 1 am I decided I really felt like a drink (and unusual craving for me).
Note: I physically CANNOT drink when I am depressed. I loose the taste for it completely.

It is now 1:40am and I am all about this:

I need his cape.

The main dancer is throwing shapes like there is no tomorrow.
I live for the flamboyance!!!
(If you need proof of my own flamboyance, see the 'Peacock tail' post, I'll wait.)
A huge shout out to PB for showing me this glorious clip!

Also, just a shout out to PB because he makes me so happy just by existing. <3

10/2/17 - And we are back to ennui.

11/2/17 - Someone in my life seems to be melting down, but I honestly can't engage right now, I am too fragile.
Sorry bro, shields are up, especially since you're getting a little mean.

Watching the Game Grumps play-through Pokemon Fire Red and the Lavender Town music is so sad.

12/2/17 -  I'm really bothered by things sticking up/out. I have an irrational fear they will poke me in the eye (Aichmophobia).
I have always had this phobia, but it is usually dormant. 
It is really strong today.
I don't even like my hands being too close to my face!

13/2/17 - Today was a good day, made even better by PB sending me flowers! <3 
I love that man so much!

14/2/17 - I don't know if it is because of the medicine, but I have at least 6 pimples on my face. (Which doesn't phase me too much).
Emotionally I was very happy today, but it was Valentine's day!
I pointed out my pimples to R, he suggested I was going through puberty! XD Hahaha! 

19/2/17 - Someone who I know who is also on effexor complained about the memory formation problems they had as a side effect.
Do I have that too?!
I do keep forgetting things, important things, I just don't encode it. 
And I used to be quite good at encoding information!
I used to remember little things so easily.

I just thought my memory was a jerk or I was just getting older!


21/2/17 - Ok, I have been out and drinking (not getting drunk, but my body still isn't happy) for the past 3 nights... I feel like I'm dying! XD
It's just a hangover though!
I was perfectly happy being out, especially since I had such lovely company!

Tonight we (I) go down to 50mg!