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Australia Food Guide, Greatly Terrific Food Outing, Sponsored

Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Spice Theory, Turramurra

July 28, 2018 Talyssa 6 Comments

THE VERDICT

Setting & Atmosphere
Food
Service
Value For Money

3.9

OVERALL SUMMARY

Modern Indian Cuisine

With no other cuisine using more spices than the Indian cuisine, it’s quite fitting that Turramuurra’s new kid on the block Indian restaurant is named “Spice Theory”. So what can you expect from Spice Theory? A sensory experience that celebrates Indian culture, flavours and hospitality. The exotic menu aims to showcase the very best of Modern Indian Cuisine, so let’s see how the experience was!

SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE

Stepping inside Spice Theory, the first thing I noticed is how incredibly modern and chic it is – very sleek and minimalist in style. The restaurant is relaxed, cosy and not too loud, making it perfect for an intimate dinner for two and some good conversation!

To add to the cultural experience I would have loved to see a little more culture in the decor!

FOOD

Spice Theory’s menu is extensive and exotic filled with traditional dishes I’d never heard of, to fan favourites (like butter chicken mmm!) all with notes of modern twists. Not knowing where to start, Kailash happily suggested some of the restaurants signature dishes. I had brought my boyfriend with me – who is vegetarian – and we were very impressed with the variety of vegetarian options on offer.

To start we were served the Dahi Poori Chaat, the Mini Masala Dosa and the Mini Keema Dosa. Living up to ‘providing a sensory experience’ the dishes were a treat to the eye as much as they were to the tastebuds. The presentation of dishes at Spice Theory is one of the best I’ve seen amongst the Indian restaurants I’ve been to and all three dishes were flavoursome. The Dosa’s were perfectly crisp with a flavoursome filling and the accompanying chutney’s really made the flavours sing.

The Dahi Poori Chaat was definitely a highlight. It was a really unique dish and reminded me of a traditional Indian streetfood I’ve had. It was great to see how Spice Theory transformed this traditional Indian streetfood into a modern, restaurant-worthy dish.

For main, the vegetarian curry Paneer Saag was definitely a highlight and I absolutely loved Kailash’s suggestion to pair it with a Peshwari Naan – something I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. The sweetness of the Naan worked with the vegetarian curry beautifully and I am a definite fan of this combo! We were also served the Chicken Tikka Masala, which was missing the ‘wow’ factor for me in terms of taste, but I appreciated that Spice Theory did not hold back on the heat for this curry! (And for non chilli fans, don’t worry, you can ask for your curries to be non spicy).

Too cool the palette we finished with two deserts; the Rose Panna Cotta and the Payasam. These deserts were the perfect way to finish the meal being tasty and light for our already full bellies. The Panna Cotta was perfectly creamy with a light rose fragrance and the Payasam was subtly spiced. Both beautifully presented and delicious!

I would also like to make a special note about the house wine – I’m not a huge wine fan and I loved this one!!

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Dahi Poori Chaat — Dahi Poori Chaat (V) – Small crispy puffed bread mixed with boiled potato, chickpeas and topped with chilled yoghurt and various chutneys | $10.90

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Mini Masala Dosa — Mini Masala Dosa (V) – Crispy pancake filled with a traditional potato masala served with lentil broth, fresh coconut chutney and tomato chutney | $11.90

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Mini Keema Dosa — Mini Keema Dosa – Crispy pancake filled with minced masala lamb served with lentil broth, fresh coconut chutney and tomato chutney | $12.90

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Main Dishes — Peshwari Naan (back) – Desiccated coconut, sugar and sultanas | $4.00 Garlic and Cheese Naan | $4.50 House Wine – Bud Burst Barossa Valley

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Paneer Saag Curry — Paneer Saag (V) – Cubes of Paneer in purée of English Spinach | $16.90

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Chicken Tikka Masala — Chicken Tikka Masala – Tender morsels of boneless chicken marinated in a blend of freshly ground herbs, baked over charcoal, then cooked in the chef’s special masala sauce | $19.50

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Rose Panna Cotta — Rose Panna Cotta – Rose-infused panna cotta | $6.00

Review: Spice Theory Turramurra - Payasam — Payasam (V) – Traditional south Indian rice pudding | $8.00

Service

The staff at Spice Theory were extremely welcoming. The floor manager in particular (I’m sorry his name has escaped me! ), was wonderful, if not one of the best floor managers I’ve come across. He instinctively knew the delicate balance between being attentive without being too attentive. He was extremely friendly, polite and provided excellent service. He knew who I was straight away when he welcomed me in to the restaurant and was really passionate about educating me on the menu and the restaurant. For this alone I would have rated the service 5/5 stars!

However…

One thing that made the night a little uncomfortable for me was that one member of staff asked multiple times about whether I would be writing a review, where I would post the review and if it would be published in the Newspaper as well. Asking multiple times throughout my dinner left me feeling like the experience became less about showcasing what the restaurant had to offer and more about what I would be writing in my review.

When invited as a guest, the best experiences are when the chefs and staff can’t wait to talk about how they came up with the idea for a particular dish and their mind is on their food and service so much that they completely forget about me writing a review.

As a suggestion, the PR agency should inform the restaurant who is coming, the style of reviews they write – for example I’ve never written for a newspaper – and also what they can expect from the blogger prior to their arrival. This will mean the restaurant can focus on their service and the passion behind their menu, which is what I really want to see!

VALUE FOR MONEY

Spice Theory is excellent value for money. The prices are really reasonable and the food is delicious overall. I would visit again!

THE DETAILS

Where:

1-3/1259 Pacific Highway, Turramurra NSW 2074

Contact:

(02) 99884242

Opening Hours:

Open 7 days: 5PM til late

Find Them Here:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Please note that this was an invited food tasting

Beauty Reviews, Skincare

Review: Berrisom OOPS! Soda Bubble Mask

May 15, 2018 Siree 3 Comments

The Verdict

Application
Product Design
Brightening
Skin Benefits
Value for Money

3.4

OVERALL SUMMARY

A great mask to add to your cleansing routine

Summer is almost here and it’s time to change up your skincare routine to better care for our skin during the hot sweltering days.

While you might grab your favourite soda to quench your thirst, how about a refreshing soda but just for your face? I try the newest bubble mask trend to see what beauty magic will happen…

APPLICATION

nlike most facial masks, the OOPS! Soda Bubble Mask is a two-step application process to get the full benefits of the mask’s formula.

First, after normal cleansing like with all masks, you will need to apply the sheet to the lower half of your face and wait. After 10 – 20 minutes, the second stage is to massage the bubble foam formula into your face before rinsing off. This acts as a “double cleansing” effect for your skin so it can really “eat” all the nutrients since it requires you to wash off the product unlike leaving it on overnight.

As this “Brighten Fruit” mask version is for a brighter complexion, the double action works great to increase its effects and to get rid of any remaining residue from the day’s activities that can block pores and cause breakouts.

Something I noticed while waiting was the mask is kind of slippery so you will need to apply it a little higher or occasionally adjust the sheet to not let it slide off too much.

PRODUCT DESIGN

f course, being its major selling point, the OOPS! Soda Bubble Mask has a unique formula design that magically transforms watery serum into a bubbly foam without touching.

The bubbles immediately form when taken out of the pouch and over time becomes foamier and builds height. It reminded me of a Santa Claus beard! The foaming action is really incredible, too! It felt like it was continuously making bubbles and didn’t deflate even after 10 minutes. While on your face, the bubble action creates a

soft fizzing type sound making it sound like you’re in some kind of Coke Cola ad. The half-size mask also works to problem shoot the gimmicky flaws of these bubble mask products. By restricting the bubble foam area, it prevents the suds going into your eyes or hairline while the foam created was enough to massage the product into your upper face in the second application stage so it doesn’t get left out.

The sheet has a freckle design on the cheek area which is purely for aesthetic but is a nice design touch.

Brightening

he main extract ingredients in this product are acidic based plants that naturally brighten skin tone including blueberry, tomato, lemon, lime, grapefruit, acerola cherry, and centella asiatica which is said to produce healthy cells for brighter skin.

For the last few weeks, I haven’t been diligently doing my skincare routine so my skin

texture is quite rough and darken at points around my chin due to acne. Although I think using this product more will show better concrete results to its brightening power, after using the mask once I did feel my skin complexion looked a little better than before.

SKIN BENEFITS

esides from natural brightening plant extracts, the OOPS! Soda Bubble Mask also contains carbonated sparkling water. This carbonation has detoxifying effects which are said to rejuvenate the skin and improve circulation. The sensation is a light tingly

sensation and you can feel your skin tighten slightly after the 8-minute point. After washing my skin it felt slippery and smooth, very clean and refreshed which is perfect for the summertime.

Value for Money

he Berrisom: OOPS! Soda Bubble Mask retail roughly at $3 per sheet which is a little more expensive than your usual daily face masks but would be perfect to include for a spa day or in your once-every-so-often skincare routine. It is truly a one-time use only kind of product

as you cannot reuse the product’s serum like other masks as it needs the sheet to activate the bubble effect. However, you can reuse the extra serum at the bottom for another day without the suds effect. All-in-all, it’s an affordable trend product that won’t break the bank and does work as advertised.

WHERE TO BUY

HAVE YOU TRIED THE BERRISOM OOPS! SODA BUBBLE MASK?

Review: Peripera Airy Ink Velvet

May 1, 2018 Siree 4 Comments

The Verdict

Pigmentation
Application
Long-Lasting
Packaging and Design
Value for Money

3.5

OVERALL SUMMARY

Great summer #MLBB look

A feather-light feeling with a formula that melts on your lips.

Let’s see why you should be changing your summer pink gloss to a matte earthy rose instead using Peripera’s Airy Ink Velvet series.

Swatch: No. 5 Elf Light Rose (Right)

Pigmentation

With an airbrushed look and feel these Peripera Airy Ink Velvet lip tints are mousy nude-toned mattes that create a soft “cloudy” looking pout just like something you would see from an old Hollywood glam film. It’s a great makeup choice if you are seeking a more subtle and muted look for spring/summer.

Though the colours of this range don’t have a deep or a bright shade range to choose from, the shade No. 5 Elf Light Rose is definitely the fail-proof wearable child in the bunch. Described as an MLBB pink it’s a nice neutral everyday shade that will

compliment all skin types.

If you apply one layer, you can achieve a soft gradient look by concentrating the pigment on the centre of the mouth, blend it out and finish by using concealer applied from the outside in. This single layer will provide enough colour for a light look but I personally prefer applying two layers so you can really appreciate the colour’s true shade. It will take a second layer to build enough pigment to achieve a full lip look.

Application

Applying the product was made nice and easy by just using the doe-foot shaped wand provided. The shape of the applicator made it a lot easier to be able to get into the corner of the lips for a more defined look.

When applying the product, the formula didn’t dry out too fast so I had some wiggle room to be able to spread the product evenly compared to other liquid matte lip

glosses.

The feeling after the lip tint had set was soft and still very moist which looked good even on my dry cracked lips. One thing I noticed after applying was there is an oil base sheen (from the jojoba oil) which was left-over from the formula after applying but it can be removed by patting lightly with a tissue.

Long-Lasting

The staying power of these Peripera Airy Ink Velvet lip tints is amazing!

After removing the oil sheen, some of the pigment did come off however, the pigment still remained like I never touched it at all! No patch spots or budging.

The staining effect also helps keep retouching to a minimum and no

immediate need to reapply after eating a meal or drinking.

Though the colour will fade, eventually the tint can last up to 4 hours and the jojoba oil, olive oil, and arnica extract will still leave your lips soft and not flakey after.

Packaging and Design

The bottle packaging of the Peripera Airy Ink Velvet lip tint is simply adorable!

The inkpot bottle concept is very cute and the frosted hard plastic makes it look like glass and complements the “velvet” theme.

No doubt these were designed to be displayed on a vanity desk and if you are a makeup collector, buying other shades in the range would look great when they are displayed next to each other.

Value for Money

Each pot will set your wallet back 9000 won ($9) which is very affordable for a current trend make-up item. Also being so affordable also means it doesn’t break the bank if you want to have the whole collection.

For a trendy makeup item, the Peripera Airy Ink Velvet lip tint is very affordable only

setting your wallet back 9000 won (roughly $9) per item.

This is perfect for those who love experimenting with lip colour as you can buy multiple tint pots and it won’t break the bank if you decide to buy all the collection!

WHERE TO BUY

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE LIP STICK SHADE?

IF YOU TRIED THE PERIPERA AIRY INK VELVET LIP TINTS LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!

Beauty Reviews, Makeup

Review: Huda Beauty Lip Contour Set

January 22, 2018 Talyssa 6 Comments

The Verdict

Pigmentation
Application
Long Lasting
Packaging and Design

4.4

OVERALL SUMMARY

Great pigment, long lasting

There isn’t a beauty brand I’m more excited about at the moment (okay FENTY came pretty close) than Huda Beauty.

If you love exotic and vibrant colours that are daring, mysterious and dazzling with charm, then this brand is for you.

A Bit about Huda Beauty

One thing you can really tell with Huda Beauty is the personal touch to the brand. Huda Beauty products feel like they are made by someone who loves, lives and breathes all things beauty, but more importantly, someone who wants to share and create the best products for women all around the world.

The personal touch to the brand is so prevalent that I suspected it was made by someone who was previously a beauty influencer!

…and turns out I was right!

‘As a beauty influencer, I am very picky with the products that I use and I recommend. Honesty is something I never wanted to compromise with as I feel I have a responsibility towards women….I am putting the same honesty and selection into my own product development. I spend so much time picking up the right color, looking for the best quality and most surprising textures you will ever see’ – Huda Kattan

YASSSS QUEEN. YAASSSS. And most importantly, this dedication to detail and quality shows in Huda Beauty’s products.

Here’s my review for Huda Beauty’s Lip Contour Set featuring Trendsetter Lip Contour, Trendsetter Liquid Matte and Bombshell Liquid Matte.

Colour

These products were so so soo close to getting a perfect score. If fact, I do want to mention that the strength of the colour pigment of the Lip Contour Set is amazing. No need for layering, the colour is impactful upon first application.

The colour lost marks not because of pigment or strength, but because the colour of the lipstick on the packaging misrepresented the colour of the products when applied to my lips. The colour itself is great, it’s just not the colour I thought I bought. The overall tone of the products was a more earthy red/brown rather than the pinky, maroon featured on the packaging.

Application

Huda Beauty’s Lip contours and Liquid Matte lipsticks are incredibly easy to apply. The formula of the lip contour glides on, making it easy to line your lips with a smooth and even line.

The liquid matte formula is even smoother on the lips and has a luxurious ‘light as water’ texture. It’s non sticky and a little goes a long way, so you don’t need a lot of product to get an excellent pigment and even application. The liquid matte is glossy upon application, but intensifies in colour as it sets to a matte finish (it’s a little sticky as it sets). Although it’s matte, the formula is hydrating, so there’s no yucky dry lip feel.

I also couldn’t help feeling a Kylie Jenner-esque look to my lips after…which is big for me, because I’ve always had small lips.

Overall, Huda Beauty’s Lip Contour Set really is a beautiful lip product and my favourite to wear at the moment. It’s easy to use, comfortable to wear, looks great.

Long Lasting

Huda Beauty delivers on it’s transfer-free finish and amazing staying power. I have yet to find a product that stays on better. These lip products have lasted me after eating meals, drinking and even dabbing my mouth with a napkin!

How To: Lip Contour – The SECRET TO THE PERFECT POUT

Each Lip Contour Set also comes with a short (and very handy) tutorial detailing Huda’s secret to the perfect pout. As a person with naturally thing lips, this is exactly what I needed!

1. Line lips using the Trendsetter Lip Contour and fade towards the centre.

2. Apply a thin layer of Trendsetter Liquid Matte to fill in your lips.

3. Apply the Bombshell liquid matte at the center of your lips, and fade towards the edges

Note: Here you can clearly see the colour difference between how the product looked on my lips, compared to on the packaging.

Packaging and Design

I absolutely love the packaging of Huda Beauty’s products. The liquid Matte in particular is encased in sleek, frosted glass bottle, that is simple and chic. It feels expensive and high high quality. Love, love love!

Get it here

Trendsetter & Bombshell Lip Contour Set

As you can obviously tell, I’m super excited to see where Huda Beauty goes. What about you guys? Have you tried Huda Beauty? Let me know what you think below!

Beauty Reviews, Makeup

FENTY Beauty Review

November 16, 2017 Talyssa 11 Comments

The Verdict

Coverage and Pigmentation
Application
Long Lasting
Packaging and Design

3.5

OVERALL SUMMARY

Flawlessly natural

“Makeup is there for you to have fun with, it should never feel like pressure…never feel like a uniform” – Rihanna

A bit about Fenty Beauty

There’s been a whole lot of talk about Rihanna’s new beauty range and it’s overall amazingness so I decided to try it for myself!

The inspiration behind Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty range was to create a make up line where “women everywhere would be included.” It focuses on producing products that perform across all skin types and tones, and she didn’t disappoint. Rihanna’s Fenty range launched with over 80 products including an incredible 40 shades of foundation, 30 different highlighters and contour sticks and a universal lip gloss. Talk about inclusive. To top it all off, Fenty Beauty is also 100% cruelty free.

For this review, I will be focusing on the Custom Match Stix Trio and the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer.

How it works – CUSTOM MATCH STIX TRIO

The best thing about the Fenty range is that it stays true to it’s vision. The Custom Match Stix Trio is the perfect example of this. This product is completely personalised in that you select your choice of two Matte skinsticks for concealer and contour and one shimmer skinstick for your highlight. This means you can pick the best colours for your skin type. I chose the colours Linen, Amber and Stardust. If you find you need some help choosing your skinsticks, Fenty Beauty recommends the handy tips below:

STEP 1 – CONCEAL: Choose your exact skin tone match to conceal blemishes. For under-eye darkness and hyper-pigmentation, go for 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone.

STEP 2 – CONTOUR: Choose a color that’s 2-3 shades deeper than your natural skin tone.

STEP 3 – HIGHLIGHT: Light up any way you please.

Coverage and Colour

Fenty Beauty boasts a makeup range that is designed to be effortlessly layered, delivering buildable coverage while still keeping skin looking natural.

I was so excited to try the products that when I applied them for the first time, I was a little disappointed. I found that the coverage of the concealer was good but not as good as I’d hoped and the contour blended so well that it seemed to blend to non-existence. I was slightly disappointed because I didn’t notice a dramatic difference in how my face looked normally.

THAT WAS UNTIL…

I saw my boyfriend later that afternoon and the first thing he said to me was “You look very pretty today!”

So I guess it does work. And looking back on my photos, I do look fresh faced and somehow naturally flawless. Reflecting back, I guess that’s the whole point of Fenty’s Beauty range. The formulas are designed to be seamless to the point where it’s difficult to tell where the skin ends and make up begins.

One regret I do have is not selecting a more pigmented highlighter. When applied, the Stardust highlighter is virtually clear in pigment, but produces an amazing shimmer. Although shiny, I felt a little naked without some colour on my cheeks.

Like the highlighter, the Gloss Bomb lipgloss delivers epic shine and shimmer – like diamonds have been crushed onto your face. The gloss comes in one colour called “Fenty Glow” which is a nude rose colour handpick by Rihanna. This colour is supposedly so magical that it looks good on everyone. This lip colour is perfect for a natural looking lip.

Best suited to

Most skin types. I have oily, acne prone skin and this makeup didn’t frustrate me much.

Application

Match Stix

The Match Stix Trio glides on fairly easily, but work better when warmed a little. The concealer and contour blend really well into each other creating a very seamless blend. The highlighter on the other have is a bit more difficult to blend and can look patchy.

The make up itself is really lightweight and doesn’t make your skin feel like it’s suffocating.

Lipgloss

I really didn’t like the feeling of this one at all, but I rarely like the feeling of glosses. Like most glosses it’s sticky. The formula is suppose to also make lips look fuller, however I didn’t notice a significant change.

Long Lasting

Overall I found the Fenty products last quite long. My skin did get a bit oily after a couple of hours which was easy to fix with a bit of powder.

Packaging/Design

Fenty Beauty’s packaging is unique. I particularly love the hexagon design and the fact that the ‘Match Stix Trio’ is magnetic, which makes them super easy to find in your handbag.

I was however expecting a little more glitz and glam from the packaging and overall look of the products, especially because Rihanna is so glamorous herself. The Match Stix themselves feel like chunky crayons to hold, which is kinda cool, but it does make it hard to apply the concealer in the hard to reach places like the nooks and crannies of your eyes.

Have your tried Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty range? Tell me what you thought in the comments below, or leave a “readers rating” above.

Lifestyle, Sponsored

Review: iPhone cases.com.au – 50000mAh Powerbank

September 7, 2017 Talyssa Leave a comment

[better-reviews]

DESIGN

Sleek and lightweight, this powerbank is perfect for when you’re on the go. A great size to fit snug into your handbag, this powerbank comes in a stylish white colour. With two additional USB ports as well as a micro USB output, this is the perfect powerbank if you need to charge multiple items on the go. Best of all, it recharges super fast which significantly helps reduce the likelihood of ever running out of battery!

On the flip side, the powerbank is slightly heavier than other products on the market. It also comes with 2 LED lights which can be switched on and off, however I couldn’t really find a use for that feature.

PERFORMANCE

With 50000mAh of POWAAAA this powerbank is by far the longest lasting that I have ever used, which means longer battery life for me! I have always been quite disappointed with how little powerbanks have actually recharged my phone. More often than not I find the powerbank dies before being able to recharge my phone significantly. I was pleasantly surprised with the performance of iphonecase’s powerbank.

Customer Service and Shipping

Dealing with iphonecases was so pleasant. The staff were friendly and very prompt with their handling as well as email replies. As a result, shipping was super fast and I received my product in two days! Record time!

Value for Money

Compared to in store prices in Australia, this Powerbank is priced around the same as others. To give you an idea of pricing, I bought a 40000mAh Powerbank for around about the same price of $39.90. This Powerbank however is slightly better value offering 50000mAh.

Where can you get one?

Website

Facebook

*Please note this product was provided to The Hidden Thimble for this review.

Run by two travel and lifestyle bloggers, The Hidden Thimble focus’ on creating truthful and in-depth travel guides, food & beauty reviews. Enjoy drool-worthy photography from around the world!