Current Faves

Sorry for that massive break AGAIN!! I seriously don't know why I haven't had my ish together for the last couple of months. Maybe because second year uni is way more difficult that first year {thats what I tell myself anyways to make myself feel better for neglecting the blog}. I'll try my very best to post often, but the end of the semester is in my sights which means 10000x more assignment deadlines and the exams are close. I'LL MAKE IT WORK *snaps in window wiper fashion*

I thought that everyone would appreciate a good ol' faves post because I know that I love them. I've had some time to experiment with both old and new makeup that have literally been on my face most of the time. I like to stick to what I know, ya feel?

MAC "Mocha" Blush
omg. this blush tho. It's a matte pinky-plum blush that just looks incredible on my face. It's one of the blushes that I like to refer to as a "sculpting blush" as it works to chizzle my cheekbones without the whole contour thing. Heart eyed emoji all up in here!

Bare Minerals The Magic Act Palette
gah I know I mentioned palette in my last faves post but I couldn't leave it out. My go-to everyday eye makeup involves most of the shades in this palette. I use the pink on the lid to brighten the eye and then go in lightly with the last shade on the outer V and crease. yes, me likey. Paired with a subtle wing too? YAS GIRL YAAAASSSSSS.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil
If there has been one hair care thing that I have been using religiously, it's been this baby. I use it after I wash my hair so it absorbs into the strands while my hair dries. It makes my hair feel SO soft, like a soft teddy bear! My hair feels so much healthier after getting da big chop, and this oil is helping maintain that healthiness during the visits back to the hair dressers.

Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Volum' Express Mascara
I picked this mascara up on a whim during the price line 40% off sale and I have two words. Me Gusta. It is everything that I love in a mascara and I am so picky when it comes to how my lashes look. This mascara gives phenomenal volume at the base while making the ends a little longer. I'm not too keen on length, I'm all about that volume and the curl holding all day. And it's waterproof which is pretty much a requirement in mascaras for me these days.

L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Color Riche Nude Couture Lipstick "Julianne's Nude"
I am so late on the bandwagon with this lipstick line from L'Oreal. I had my eye on Julianne's nude lipstick for ages so I waited for the price line sale which was a total risky move. To my delight, I saw the last two shades hiding above an essie stand so I also picked up "Eva's Nude" because it was beautiful too! I love the sheer, sheeny finish on the lips. I always feel like they make me look alive. Super comfortable on the lips, perfect nude for me, well worth the hype imo!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner "Trooper"
This liner is almost as good as my Maybelline Master Precise Liner! They have identical thin felt/brush hybrid tip which allows for sharp wings. The Kat Von D liner is very pigmented, very black which is what I love in a liquid eyeliner as I love that bold pin-up cat eye! You do have to work quick with this liner but it lasts ALL DAY without fail! It doesn't budge on my eyelids even in the hotter months or if my eyes get watery. I really love this eyeliner but the maybelline one is a good alternative if you aren't willing to fork out the dough.

I hope you enjoyed my current faves as much as I have, I would love to know what you are loving at the moment so I can trial some new things! :)
xx

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Holy Brows, BATMAN!

It was only around this time last year, where I really got into my brows and actually started putting effort into how they looked. It's been a long and stressful journey, but I got there in the end and I love the way my brows look on my face {a sentence I never thought I would say}. I have been lucky that my brows are quite thick and bushy which is both a blessing in terms of shape and a curse in terms of upkeep however, I do find that I need a little help with sparse areas on the head and the tail of the brow.

To achieve natural and polished brows, I found two budget friendly products that work a treat together. After I brush my brows through with a clean mascara brow wand hybrid thing, I use the L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist brow pencil/wax duo in "Dark Brunette". I know powder is supposed to make your brows look more natural, but I find I have more control when I use eyebrow pencils or crayons. I draw little lines to mimic "hairs" and fix up one of my wonky brows and then fill in the ends. The other end of the pencil is a wax crayon so you can lock the colour in, however I skip this side and move straight to the next product.

I then brush through my brows again with the mascara wand to blend it all together and then I go in with the Maybelline Brow Drama sculpting brow mascara in "Dark Brown". This brow mascara has been life changing for me, something about it just works so well in my brows. It's dark, but not black. It's tinted so it gives the effect of fuller brows when you brush through them and it stays put all day - no smudges. I also love the wand because it has a little sphere mascara wand to get all the hairs on the brow without getting any product on your skin. I rarely use this product on it's own as it doesn't really "sculpt" the brows, it just provides extra colour to sparse areas.

Overall, I have been loving these two products to do my brows. What I love the most is that the colours are just on point for my brows which is usually a struggle with most products having red undertones. If you have dark brown brows like me, check these products out and you might love them as much as I do.

What prodz do you use to fill in your brows?
xx

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Summer Blushin'

The summer weather has me all cooped up in the house with the air con on and I rarely go out with a full face of makeup. You would think that I would go outside to get some rays but the cold is where my heart lies. Is that weird? Even though my makeup has been pretty minimal during the day, I had noticed that I was reaching for the same blushes over and over again.

TheBalm Frat Boy Blush
I can't believe that I didn't put this into my 2014 faves as this blush has been my most used blush since I bought it! Frat Boy is a gorgeous peachy pink which looks incredible with every lipstick I own. It's pigmented, looks natural and lasts ages on the cheeks! An all around great blush that you should definitely swatch next time you are at TheBalm display!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in "Fearless"
This is the blush that has been used the least out of all of them but still used!!. This is because this baby is SO PIGMENTED for this shade so if you put too much, you'll definitely look like a clown. That's probably the reason that it looks like that I haven't put a dent in it! I use the tiniest amount on a duo fibre brush and it gives such a nice warmth to the face for summer.

Josie Maran Watercolor Cheek Gelée in "Pink Escape"
This blush tint thing is one of the newest blushes that I own and I took it out for a spin a couple of weeks back and I have been wearing it ever since. Pink Escape looks like a bright hot pink in the pot which looks really scary, but when swatched, this shade is a sheer watermelon shade which is so gorgeous. I really love the look of this against my skin tone which is saying something as I rarely find nice bright blushes that suit me. I don't know if it is me but I feel like my cheeks look more plump and healthy when I wear this blush! Either way, LOVIN' IT!

What are your favourite blushes for the summer weather?
xx

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Orange Reds To Spice Up The Summer

Burnt orange is by far one of my favourite colours! Something about the orange undertones adds a freshness to the classic staple red which I personally love. Just thinking about the shade is making me feel giddy, so I have collected some of my fave hot orange red products that put a smile on my dial and a tap to my finger nails.

Rimmel 60 Second "Sun Downer"
This polish is the truest burn't orange you ever did see. The application isn't the best in terms of the brush creating dented streaks {possibly coming down to the way I apply it + it being kinda old}. BUT if you are looking for a nail polish that won't break the bank and gives bombin' pay off, this is it.

Essie "Geranium"

oh man, I have been on the hunt for this shade for a while and I could never justify paying full price for Essie Polishes here in Aus {$17AUD?!}. You wouldn't believe that I finally tracked it down and it was half price! What are the odds?! Looks amazing on your hands as it provides a fresh alternative to red. Anyways, you guys should know by now that I am a fan of the formulation of Essie polishes and this one doesn't quite hit the nail on the head as it is a little thin but they can't all be perfect right?

MAC "Lady Danger"
ah, my fave! You guys know that lady danger is a staple in my collection. I'll keep it short and simple. The prefect orange red to be honest! It has a matte finish that I will admit that can be drying at times but for the most part, it is creamy on application and is only drying towards the 4/5 hour mark!  Perfect dupe for this baby is further down, keep reading ;)

Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick in "Femme Fatale"

I purchased this baby during boxing day sales and I resisted to wear it as it was a matte formula that I thought would be soooo chalky. Nope, I couldn't have been more wrong. The formula is incredibly creamy on application, feels so comfortable on the lips {for a matte formula} and  it wears beaut-i-ful-ly, leaving a lovely stain with no lip liner effect, heck yeah. I managed to go through pasta and ice-cream without reapplication! Also I bought it on sale and it was quite affordable! What more could you want?!

Lime Crime "Suede Berry" Velveteen
Suede Berry looks more corally than hot orange red through the tube, but I assure you this the brightest red orange that I have ever seen in my whole life. If you want to make a statement, this is it! It is a liquid lipstick that dries matte and it lasts 5eva. Seriously, it stains your lips and doesn't transfer when it's dry! I'm still iffy about if I like the formula or not. Some times my lips are fine if I prep them hardcore but most of the time, it makes my lips feel a little tight and dry. oh well!

I love dedicating posts to specific colours, especially if it happens to be my absolute fave colour in the WORLD. I don't wear the lipsticks during the day unless I'm going fancy but for every day, I find nails is the best way to rock a bold colour without looking over the top!

Do you have a thing for orange reds too?!
If not, what is your favourite go to shade when you are feeling bold and daring?!
xx

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January Faves 2015

Although January has been exciting month with all the new beauty products that I received and bought for Christmas, I haven't really left the house and makeup has been pretty minimal and repetitive. I had heaps of spare time to get some blogging things done and I hope you guys have liked the new blog design, photo layout and regular posts! I am STOKED with my blog right now!! :D

Bare Minerals The Magic Act Palette
Aside from my mono shadow from The Body Shop, the eyeshadows in this holiday palette have been my go-to. I am literally obsessed with the last three shades in the palette as they look amaZING together. The quality is superb, they blend like a dream and they last all day. I will admit that I haven't used the blushes to their full potential this month as I have been using others. But I have used them each once and I really like how they have a sculpting effect to them. I have to build up the lighter shades but all around, great blushes!

Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray
Ever since I cut my hair short, I have to put more effort into how it looks as some days it looks great and others, not so much. I love using this spray after I pop out of the shower and let my hair air dry more than using it to add texture when it's dry. For me, this works best as my hair is out of control wavy and curly and it needs a bit of somethin' somethin' to tame it while making the curls look like nice waves. I hope that made sense.. Either way, wonder product dad-daa-daaaaaa.

Mecca Cosmetica To Save Eyes SPF 30 Hydrating Eye Cream
I got this product in one of the Mecca Beauty Loop boxes and it was pushed away to the sample drawer. As it is summer in Aus, I thought I would whip it out for a little sun protection under my eyes. I love this thing. It has a roller ball application which feels sooooo lovely under the eyes. The coldness makes my eyes feel soothed, moisturised and more awake. I haven't gone a day without using this eye cream!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser
I actually haven't used this concealer for ages and brought it out again when my under eye bags were not up to chanel standard. I like how it conceals like a boss and then brightens the area for faking awake peepers. Fave drugstore concealer for under my eyes!

MAC "Lovelorn"
Again, every time I have worn makeup this month {like twice a week} I have reached for this one majority of the time and other times I have worn a bold lip. I think this lipstick is what I would describe as a toned down barbie pink. Perfect for every day as it has a lustrous finish.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Dark Brunette
I have been obsessed with this brow pencil like no tomorrow. The lightest touch and BAM, instant brows! The colour is a perfect match and the spoolie is the perfect firmness to make my brows look incredibly blended and natural.

Yaaaaaahoooo! First favourites done and dusted for the year!! I had heaps of spare time to get some blogging things done and I hope you guys have liked the new blog design, photo layout and regular posts! I am STOKED with my blog right now!! :D
xx

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The Christmas Splurge

Mecca. Mecca. Mecca.

I promised myself that I would save my Christmas money, but that all went out the window when I placed an order with a few treats. Everything that I bought were things that I have had my eye on for a VERY long time, but didn't see the need to purchase it at the time. But lo and behold, I was like "new year, new makeup" and bought all the items on my wish list.

First into the basket was the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Dark Brunette. I am such a fan of crayon brow products as most of them have a flat, angled thing going on which is so easy to apply. This brow "pencil" isn't really a pencil, it's retractable and reminds me of a more expensive version of my trusty smash box brow pencil. The colour match is pretty spot on for my brows which is a relief as it was kind of expensive and the colour range was a bit iffy. It also has a spoolie on the other side to brush those brows into place and the packaging in general feels so luxe.

I also picked up the NARS Eyeshadow Duo in "Kalahari" which has been on my wish list since before it got really popular with all the in crowd. There is a vintage bronzy gold which reminds me a little of my MAC "Woodwinked" shadow {and you guys KNOW how much I love that one} and the other shadow is more of a brownish shade with plum undertones which looks incredible when swatched. No matter how many times I took photos, the shades wouldn't show true to colour with this one!! D:  WHY UNIVERSE, WHYYY!??! They are more darker in real life!

The next product was an in store purchase which was the Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in "Edition". I walked in and asked the lady about a nice nude with pink undertones specifically from Hourglass as I'm weird like that. She talked through some of them but my eyes kept reverting to this bad boy. She offered to try it on me and I was like "HECK YEAH" and then it was love at first mirror sight. It has micro glitters in it which give with amazing shine on your lips, making them look plump and healthy. The shade suits my skin tone really nicely and it looks GREAT with an attempt of a smokey eye or wings, always wings.

Another lipstick, as if I don't own enough already. But hey, the heart wants what the heart wants. I purchased the Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color in "Calypso" which I would describe as a bright pinky coral. MMMHm, I be loving coral lipsticks at the moment and dang this one is so nice. I haven't had the chance to wear it out yet as I've been either at work or at home {#sociallifelvl9000} BUT I'M EXCITED TOO! I've heard great things!

And lastly Bare Minerals bought out some nice sets for the holiday season and I had been eyeing The Magic Act Palette which has a combination of 6 eyeshadows and 4 large blushers. Holy moly. I haven't tried anything from Bare Minerals before, but every time I go into mecca, the display tries to reel me in. The eyeshadow side is what excites me the most as I'm an eyeshadow gal, the third and fourth shade are so pretty!! They all are so creamy and pigmented and blend sooo nicely together! I love how the shades are more on the rosy side with the darker shades having plum undertones. ohhhyeah. There is also one blush that I can't stop looking at with purple/mauvy undertones and can't wait to brush it all over my cheeks too. PLUS the packaging is pure cuteness, black and white with fold out windows!

This will probably be the last time in a while where high end makeup will be hauled like this. I made a beauty resolution to make a serious conscious effort to get through the makeup in my stash! #savethemonies

Have you done any hauling recently?!
Link me up baby, I would love to read your post! :D
xx

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Caramel Flirt

Lately I have abandoned the big ol' bulky palettes and switched to using mono shadows for every day use. One in particular that I can't get enough of is from The Body Shop and it is one of their Color Crush Eyeshadows in "Caramel Flirt". When I swatched this shadow in store, it was pretty but I honestly didn't think much of it. That was until I took it home and tried it on for the first time and holy moly. It was love at first sight. Gettit, eye jokes. PAAAAh. 

There are a whopping 16 mono shades available from The Body Shop and the packaging is super cute being clear so that you can easily spot the shade you want. Like I said before, I bought the shade "Caramel Flirt" which is what I would call a light bronzy brown shade. The eyeshadow is richly pigmented with first swipe, it also has a pearlised finish and looks incredibly natural on the lid. I use this shade alone {swatched above with a primer underneath} but sometimes I use a dark brown with grey undertones on the outer corner to add some extra dimension. Add some mascara and a red lip. Boom, done.

You can use the shadow wet or dry but I prefer to apply it dry but I'd assume that if you apply it wet, the colour would be more intense. What I was impressed with the most is that these eyeshadows are so silky and creamy when you use them, as a result, they are so easy to blend. I honestly can't fault anything with this shadow, I will be using and repurchasing this shade forever!

Have you tried any makeup from The Body Shop before?
I would love to know your thoughts!
xx

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