March Favourites + Highlights 2021

I didn’t intend to take a blogging break… it just kind of happened. I didn’t really feel like writing and over the years I’ve come to be more at ease with posting when I feel like it. Also, for the past month I haven’t had much to say, occasionally I have struggled with my emotions and I’m still getting my head around everything following the breakup. I’ve been enjoying quieter weekends mostly filled with reading and listening to music, I love that I can always fall back on those hobbies. I also had a couple of deliveries and shared photos on Instagram if you’re interested to see what I picked up.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Nike Club Fleece Joggers – When I’m at home I love to wear comfortable clothes and with winter on the way I love being cosy and warm. In October last year I purchased a hoodie and joggers from Nike and a few times this month I have got the joggers out. The joggers are plain black and are incredibly soft and warm. They are actually men’s joggers and when I looked up the size guide the measurements for this pair were similar to a women’s pair but the women’s joggers were more expensive. I’m only 4ft 11 and the length is perfect on me. I’m not sure how men who are average height would get on but I’m not complaining!

2. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – This setting spray is one of the most talked about in the beauty world. I had always wanted to try it and purchased a 30ml size last month. I have heard people say they don’t get the hype around this and it’s overrated but I also wanted to find out for myself. The fact this has ended up in my favourites indicates I like it. The mist sprayed is nice and light which I like, I don’t like setting sprays that drench the skin and make the face wet. There is a slight scent but nothing offensive or overly perfumed. I like how this melts makeup together, it’s not too glowy and doesn’t make skin look greasy. If you have dry skin like me I think you would also enjoy this.

3. Rimmel Brow Pro Micro in Soft Brown – I was getting low on my trusty Rimmel eyebrow pencil and I couldn’t find one in store. I did see this product and decided to give it a go. It has a spoolie at one end and product that winds up at the other. It’s very easy to use and my brows look natural, you can apply as little or as much product as you desire. The one great thing about this is I don’t have to sharpen it. The colour is also a good match for me. Depending on how long this lasts I might have found a replacement brow product I like more than Rimmel’s regular eyebrow pencil.

4. Ana Luisa jewellery – I have been wearing jewellery a lot more regularly the past six months or so and I have had some beautiful pieces come into my collection. At the end of February I purchased two pieces from Ana Luisa after spending an age browsing their website and often hearing Arna Alayne talk about the brand on YouTube. The pieces are very reasonably priced and if you’re into ethical brands Ana Luisa is also carbon neutral. I purchased two gold pieces; an adjustable ring with a rope twist pattern and a gold horn necklace that reminded me of a dupe for the famous Missoma horn necklace. If you’re interested in taking a look at the site and want to purchase something for yourself you can use my referral link to get $15 off.

March Highlights

• I’ve enjoyed playing with Pat McGrath’s Mthrshp Mega Celestial Divinity palette. Still a little overwhelmed when it comes to pairing shades together but the colours are so pretty.
• I’ve made good progress on my project pan items, a handful of products have been finished up and other products have been swapped in.

March’s Spotify Playlist

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February Favourites + Highlights 2021

February has been the strangest month I’ve had for a while. The first half I was upbeat and the second felt like everything came crashing down. At the time this post is published it’s been about 10 days since my boyfriend broke up with me. It feels like I only just told people I was in a relationship again. To say the break up wasn’t expected is an understatement, two weeks before the break up we had such a lovely night together and we spent Valentine’s Day in each other’s company. I don’t know what changed and maybe I never will but after sharing THIS photo and caption on Instagram everyone online and in person has been so kind and supportive. I didn’t like the decision and I can’t change it but I know I’ll be okay and I genuinely wish him happiness.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Silver stardust 15mm hoop earrings – These earrings were a gift for my birthday in January and they are beautiful. They are lightweight and dainty with a bit of an edge at the same time. The ball on the hoop is textured and designed to have a star dust effect. I love how pretty these look on, they go with everything and can be worn dressed up or down, I’ve been enjoying wearing them to work to add a touch of glam.

2. New bed – During the time I had off between Christmas and New Year I went bed shopping. I don’t think I’ve had a new bed since I was a kid and I was hesitant to switch from my previous bed as it was so comfy but I don’t regret my decision. The mattress took about a month to arrive as they are made to order and I chose a plush chiropractic model so it will be soft and good for my back too. I don’t have back problems but I did read plush mattresses are good to provide support for petite people and I didn’t want a medium mattress in case it wasn’t quite soft enough. The bed was delivered at the start of February and I have been sleeping well, most nights I don’t wake up at all (that’s quite normal for me) and it’s been easy to adjust. A practical purchase that will last for years.

3. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Prismatic Amethyst – The lavender duo-chrome shift to this highlighter is stunning! Purple works really well with my skintone and I see myself reaching for this a lot when I’m wearing pinks and purples on my eyes and lips. I tend to stay away from pink highlighters (apart from Rose Quartz also by BECCA) as they can emphasise redness, purples don’t do that. The formula is up to the usual dreamy BECCA standard and I’m even more pleased I purchased this with the news that the brand will be going out of business later this year.

4. MOR hand cream in Juicy Blooms – I purchased a MOR hand cream trio in 2019 and after recently finishing up a hand cream I selected one of the scents from the trio to use next. I tend to use scents that match seasons and this one seemed nice and summery. Juicy Blooms has citrus notes blended with sweet almond oil and cocoa seed butter. The hand cream is incredibly soft and soaks in quickly whilst still feeling hydrating and being non-greasy. I haven’t painted my nails for a few weeks and they look and feel strong which I think is partly down to the formula of this hand cream.

February Highlights

• February 5th. Everything about this day was wonderful; I had a day off work, I slept in, I wore a cute outfit (including a skirt which I rarely do), I spent the night with my boyfriend singing along to music and he said he loved me which was a big step as he told me he hadn’t felt that or said it to anyone before.
• I purchased the Pat McGrath Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity palette. I’ve used it a few times but I’m excited to play with it more.
• Again, I’m impressed with my strength and ability to bounce back when I’m faced with adversity. Every day I’m getting stronger and more resilient.

February’s Spotify Playlist:

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Function of Beauty Experience

This post is not sponsored. I purchased these products myself and all opinions are my own.

Over the past year or so I have heard the name Function of Beauty crop up numerous times in the YouTube and blogging world. Function of Beauty allows individuals to decide what goes into their own custom hair products.

The site quizzes you on hair type, hair structure, scalp moisture and allows you to select up to five hair goals that you’d like your unique formula to deliver. You can choose a fragrance and how strong you’d like the scent to be but there is a fragrance free option too. You can name your formula, choose the colour (there is a dye free option) and the size you want to purchase. Shampoo and conditioner comes in 8oz (236ml) and 16oz (473ml) bottles and you can purchase a product individually or as a set. Pumps are included but if you re-order you can opt out of getting new pumps each time and re-use your existing ones. Before the checkout process there is the option of adding custom hair treatments like a mask or a serum to your order and you can even choose how frequently you’d like to receive your formula. I chose the one off option as it takes me a while to get through shampoo and conditioner and if I like the service I can re-order later on. I decided to try Function of Beauty when I was beginning to get low on my previous shampoo and conditioner and it sounded fun to be able to choose what was going into my formula and tailor it to my needs.

Function of Chanelle

Unique formula number: 2984668
Hair profile: Coarse + Wavy + Normal

The hair goals I chose:

1. Deep condition – Moisturise and deeply condition dry damaged hair from the inside out, restoring hydration lost from heat and/or chemical processing.
2. Fix split ends – Smooth and coat your split ends for a sleek hair surface while building moisture content to minimise future split ends.
3. Straighten – Relax and style unruly hair with a biolipid complex that leaves a sheathing film which naturally disciplines hair even in humid conditions.
4. Anti-frizz – Hydrate and soften hair texture while protecting strands from frizz, static and breakage.
5. Replenish hair – Replenish damaged, nutrient-depleted strands and protect your hair from environmental stressors.

Size: I purchased the 8oz shampoo and conditioner set without any additional hair treatments. I basically just wash my hair and let it air dry. Occasionally I’ll dry it with the hair dryer or straighten it but I don’t mind my natural hair and tend to keep things simple.

Fragrance: I was going to get a fragrance free formula but Strike a (r)ose sounded nice so I opted for the light strength of that. Strike a (r)ose has top notes of rose, black currant, sandalwood and orange blossom. Function of Beauty describe it as, “a cool, modern rose fragrance with a bit of edge.” When placing the order I selected the peach fragrance by mistake. I got in touch with the customer service team who switched the scents for me straight away. I love the rose scent and I’m glad I went for the lightest strength, I can still smell it the days between hair washes and it’s nice and subtle.

Colour: I couldn’t decide on a colour for the shampoo so I went for dye free and chose light purple for the conditioner.

As the products are custom made, from the time I placed my order to the time it arrived it took about three weeks which is not bad at all. When my order arrived it was well packaged, there were no leaks and everything matched what I ordered. Inside the box are stickers to decorate the outside of the bottles and a brochure with details about your formula. The box everything comes in is personalised too which is a lovely touch.

I ordered my shampoo and conditioner last August and started using them in November. There’s still about one third of product left in each and I wanted to share my thoughts once I’d had a chance to use them for a decent amount of time. Do I think it’s the best shampoo and conditioner I’ve ever tried? No, but I do like using these and my hair feels clean without feeling stripped and dry afterwards. I got my hair cut at the end of November and I do notice quite a few split ends, one of the hair goals I chose was to help with split ends. I will see if I notice less when I finish this shampoo and conditioner and go back to Wella. I also don’t think the products by themselves provide as much anti-frizz as I would like. I have been using a hair mask from Toni & Guy after conditioner and massaging in a hair oil when my hair is almost dry. That’s what I think actually makes my hair look straighter without having to reach for my GHD. My hair is naturally a little wavy but the frizz is more noticeable if I don’t use the hair mask and oil.

Once I finish these up I am on the fence as to whether I’d purchase from Function of Beauty again. Doing the quiz is fun and perhaps I’d change the hair goals a little bit to see if that made a difference. The products can be pricey if you don’t find a good offer or coupon but if you pick the right hair goals it’s worth it. I’m glad I tried the brand and I’m not disappointed, the shampoo and conditioner are pretty good. My mind will be made up about whether I’d repurchase or not once I try the Wella Elements products I’ve got waiting in the wings to use next.

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Would you be interested in making your own shampoo and conditioner and trying Function of Beauty? What hair goals would you choose?

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My Birthday Round Up! 🎉

My birthday falls towards the end of January and if you follow me on Instagram you may have seen a few pictures I already shared from the day. I intended to write a blog post as well sharing what I treated myself to throughout January. There were a few items I wanted to get my hands on and I totally used my birthday as an excuse!

A couple of days before my birthday I booked in for an hour long therapeutic massage and it was lovely to be pampered. My muscles were a little sore the next day but thankfully the day after that on my birthday the aching had subsided.

My birthday was very chilled out. I woke up at 4:30am and couldn’t get back to sleep. I got up around 6am to feed Halo, tried to go back to sleep for a little while but wasn’t able to. At 8am I got up properly and started the day with a coffee in my favourite cup. Mum and I went out to get a chocolate sponge cake and for the majority of the day I did chores around home. I showered, listened to music and did my makeup in the afternoon ready for my boyfriend to pick me up in the evening. We’d decided to do an evening treewalk through the local forest and it was magical, all the lights are beautiful! My favourite section was one that looked like the lights were specks of glitter. I took plenty of photos and videos and loved the experience. I’m not worried about heights so being up in the trees didn’t scare me and because it’s dark you can’t see the ground and it doesn’t feel like you’re up high.

I don’t expect presents from other people and it’s truly the thought that counts. People say that I’m hard to buy for but I joke in response they don’t know me well enough! I don’t mind spoiling myself anyway, it’s the whole independence thing. My mum gave me money and my boyfriend got me a beautiful pair of earrings. My brother is giving me a Sephora gift card which I plan on putting towards the Pat McGrath Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity Palette.

Here’s what I treated myself to:

Bras from Triumph

I find bra shopping difficult as I have very narrow shoulders and I’m petite but curvy. A lot of straps are too wide set and slip off my shoulders. I purchased two bras from Triumph last year and they fit incredibly well, they’re stylish, comfortable, good quality and the straps don’t fall down. I purchased three bras at the start of January and the order came to less than $100 which is very reasonable for lingerie. Understandably I’m not going to share pictures of me wearing the bras but the collage above shows the styles and colours I chose.

BECCA Highlighters

BECCA highlighters have the most beautiful formula, they’re soft, buildable and blend like a dream! Pretty much all of my highlighters are BECCA and it’s fun to mix and match which shade I wear based on my makeup look that day. I purchased the BECCA x Barbie Ferreira set from Sephora which contains three mini shades: Vanilla Quartz, Rose Quartz and Champagne Pop. I already own a mini of Champagne Pop so I will gift this to someone. Vanilla Quartz is stunning and a great one for day to day.

I also purchased the full size of Prismatic Amethyst (not from Sephora). I love purples on me and the duochrome shift in this shade is surprisingly wearable and doesn’t look too intense. This can be applied with a subtle hand or really built up to intensify the purple, it looks great with all purple makeup too!

BECCA Lipgloss Trio

I actually made two Sephora orders in January and this lipgloss set was the basis behind the second order. This set is also part of the Barbie Ferreira collaboration and the glosses are absolutely stunning. There are three shades Sparkle (a sparkly gold), Facet (a sparkly purple and my favourite shade in the set) and Foiled (a sparkly pink). Foiled is the most pigmented in the set but honestly all shades are wearable and are great as lip toppers. The gloss is not sticky at all and the small size is great as it won’t be difficult to use these up!

Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow

I’m having a moment with lipgloss lately. I’m loving wearing glosses on their own on no makeup days to keep my lips nice and plump and applying glosses as toppers over lipsticks. Fenty Glow is the original gloss bomb shade and it’s supposedly universal and suits everyone. On first impressions I did find the shade a little warm but it’s still nice. I look forward to wearing it more and finding lipsticks in my collection to pair it with.

Benefit Pencil Sharpener

This is the most basic item to purchase but it’s a necessity. My old pencil sharpener from school days is cracked and everytime I’d go to sharpen my Rimmel brow pencil the lead would snap and I’d end up wasting a lot of product. This sharpener caters for three different sizes and it even comes with a handy little cleaning tool. This sharpener is also baby pink so it’s totally my aesthetic.

Marc Jacobs At Lash’d Mascara

I added this mascara to my order on a whim so I could qualify for free shipping. I have really enjoyed trying sample mascaras this past year and this sample was $24 for 8.4g of product which was a lot fairer priced than sample mascaras from Tarte or Benefit. I haven’t tried anything from Marc Jacobs before but this mascara sounds good, it aims to lift and volumise which sounds great for my lashes. The black and gold striped tube is neat too!

Body butters from The Body Shop

Ever since The Body Shop store in my city closed down I have missed it greatly. I now am strategic when I buy and try to make a bigger order as I can’t pop into town for a look anymore. I wanted to utulise my 20% off birthday discount and I was running low on body butter so purchased two in scents I hadn’t tried before. I purchased a 50ml of British Rose as I didn’t know if the scent would be too strong (it’s not on first sniff) and a 200ml of Japanese Cherry Blossom Strawberry Kiss. I finished up the regular Japanese Cherry Blossom a little while ago and it’s one of the best I’ve tried. I love the strawberry range too so the combination of both scents is a match made in heaven.

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Do you treat yourself for your birthday? Have you tried any of these products?

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January Favourites + Highlights 2021

We are already one month of 2021 down, hope you’re doing okay! January is a time I enjoy as I feel it’s a good chance to take stock of the previous year and reset and put things in place for the year to come. January is also my birthday month. I have treated myself to a few goodies for my birthday but would like to keep spending to a minimum for the rest of the year. I plan on doing a separate post dedicated to my birthday and will share what I treated myself to in that.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Pixi Rose Oil Blend – I received this facial oil in a package from a blogging friend who sourced two MAC lipsticks for me. The timing couldn’t have been better as I had been without a facial oil in my collection for a little while and I enjoy the benefits they have on my skin. Rose is a lovely ingredient for the skin and I do like how this makes my skin feel when I use it. During summer my skin still gets dry so when I need more nourishment I have reached for this. The one negative is you can’t see how much product is left in the bottle but it’s easy to get past that.

2. Maybelline Face Studio Pore Minimising Primer – This reminds me a little bit of the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer in that they both have a slightly slippery texture. My dry skin doesn’t mind that and foundation applies and blends out easily over the top as a result. If you are oily skinned I’m not sure you’d like this as much but it’s one to keep in mind if you’d like to try a cheaper alternative to the Hourglass primer. This doesn’t erase my pores but it does blur them so they don’t look as noticeable and makes makeup look smoother overall.

3. Silver heart pendant necklace – My boyfriend bought me this necklace for Christmas and it’s so cute! I love simple, elegant pieces of jewellery and this fits the bill. The heart sits on an angle which is also cute and the necklace is a lovely length, I find some necklaces don’t sit right and I’m less likely to wear them if that’s the case. Jewellery is a very personal gift but he did such a good job picking this out and I’ve been wearing it a lot.

4. Leuchtturm 1917 journal in Berry – My previous bullet journal lasted three years but towards the end of 2020 I knew there wouldn’t be enough pages left for another year. I enjoy the Leuchtturm 1917 dotted pages and knew I wanted another journal the same, it was just a case of choosing a colour. I almost picked a bright yellow to represent happiness and positivity but then I saw this gorgeous berry pink which reminds me of my favourite lipstick shade. I have loved getting my creative juices flowing again and setting up spreads throughout the month. When I journal I feel more calm and like there’s less clutter in my mind.

January Highlights

• Getting to set up my new bullet journal.
• Decided on the first 10 products for Project Pan and made a list of backups to rotate in as I finish products up.
• Enjoyed an evening treewalk with lights with my boyfriend on my birthday.

January’s Spotify Playlist:

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Empty Products #16

I feel like this is the empties where a few discontinued products feature which sucks a little as I enjoyed those products and wouldn’t rule out repurchasing them. I am going to try to be on a low buy in 2021, I’ve bought a few things in January as it’s my birthday month but other than that I’m aiming to keep spending to a minimum. I have products in my collection I’m close to finishing and want to focus on those as much as I can.

Haircare

1. Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Shampoo

I finished the matching conditioner in my last empties but the shampoo took a bit longer to get through as it contains more product. The shampoo is clear, has a lightweight texture and it lathers up well, you don’t need to use a lot to make hair feel clean. The scent is a mix of white tea extract and camelia and it sticks around after hair has been washed which is nice. The bottle of shampoo contains 250ml and it lasted me about six months. Overall this range is lovely.

Repurchase: I can see myself using this again.

Makeup/Beauty

2. GlamGlow Glowsetter Setting Spray

I’ve seen so many people singing this setting spray’s praises and I kind of get it. I purchased the 30ml bottle which was a mistake, the nozzle on my bottle didn’t work properly and I had to use a dozen sprays each time to get mist onto my face. I wish I had spent more at the time and got the full size because the effect of the actual mist on my skin is nice and the smell is as delightful as everyone says! Unless the full size is on sale I don’t know that I’d repurchase as $60 for a setting spray is a lot of money.

Repurchase: Don’t think so.

3. The Body Shop Rose Dewy Glow Face Mist

In comparison to the previous setting spray I can get away with four-five sprays of this and I find they have similar effects. This mist is not too wet and smells lovely, the rose fragrance isn’t too strong at all. Less is more with this spray, too much and makeup can cake up around my nose area but it’s great to add a dewy glow after powder products have been applied.

Repurchase: Yes, but it’s been discontinued.

4. bareMinerals Lashtopia Volumising Mascara

I got this as a free sample with an order from Mecca but it’s the mascara I’ve liked the least in a long time. The brush does have proper bristles which I prefer but I found this mascara performed better when it was first opened and the formula was wetter. When it started to dry up (maybe two months after I opened it) the formula would not layer well, it became sticky and tar-like. I also found this more lengthening than volumising. This is a nice, natural everyday mascara but doesn’t pack the punch I personally want.

Repurchase: No.

Skincare & Fragrance

5. The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter

I had heard so many good things about this product before trying it and if you like cleansing balms for removing makeup I urge you to give this one a go! You only need a coin sized amount for the entire face and if you rinse off your hands after the initial rubbing and rub the skin again while your hands are slightly damp you will see even more makeup melt off. The packaging is lightweight which would also make it a good travel option and the scent is lovely and soft. If you don’t like fragrance in products I don’t think you’d be put off by this. I would use this again but not having The Body Shop in my city any more makes it harder to get hold of.

Repurchase: Maybe.

6. Juicy Couture – Viva la Juicy La Fleur

Apart from the original Viva la Juicy this is one of the nicest Juicy Couture fragrances I’ve tried. I love the soft subtle florals mixed in with the gourmand and fruit notes and this is a wonderful perfume for work. From memory I purchased this in August 2019 and it was finished by December 2020. The bottle contains 150ml of perfume which is more than usual and I used it up quickly. I didn’t need a lot of sprays, most days I would have used around four or five, I just really enjoyed it as an everyday fragrance. The lasting power is decent too.

Repurchase: Definitely – I already miss this!

Body

7. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant – Clear

You know the drill by now, this is my favourite deodorant and it does what it’s meant to.

Repurchase: Yes.

8. The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Body Scrub

My skin is extremely sensitive, especially on my legs. I had bad eczema as a child and whilst I don’t get it now I know to stay away from soap like products or products with lathering ingredients. I wash my hands with soap and they’re fine (thankfully) but other parts of my body react. This body scrub I purchased to use as an exfoliator before shaving my legs and it worked a treat. This scrub lasted me a good couple of years for that purpose and my legs didn’t get irritated. The scent is more of a smoky, spicy vanilla as opposed to sweet but it’s lovely. I would consider repurchasing this scrub if The Body Shop bring it back.

Repurchase: This was a limited edition Christmas fragrance a couple of years ago but maybe if it returns.

9. The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter

The fragrance of this body butter is DIVINE! I have tried my fair share of body butter scents from The Body Shop and I’m putting it out there that this is definitely in my top three. This is one of the body butters with the slightly higher price point but it feels ultra luxurious and it’s worth it! The texture is super soft and moisturising and the smell is gorgeous and feminine; a lovely mix of sweet magnolia, blooming cherry blossom and hinoki wood accords.

Repurchase: Yes.

10. Zoella Reach For the Moon Hand Cream

I was sent this hand cream by one of my best blogging friends and it was such a delight to use. The tube contains 90ml of product which is huge and the vanilla-mint scent was a lot nicer than I imagined. I hadn’t tried anything from Zoella Beauty before this and if the other hand creams were of similar quality I missed out. The hand cream soaked in quickly and kept my hands soft and supple.

Repurchase: Yes, if it hadn’t been discontinued.

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What was the last product you finished up?

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$1,000 Fantasy Sephora Cart

Last year Lily tagged me to share what products would be in my fantasy cart if I had $1,000 to spend at Sephora. In the couple of years Sephora has been around in New Zealand I have placed a handful of orders and it’s great to be able to get my hands on brands not all stores carry. I think the items I’ve chosen for my cart are practical and there’s a variety of different products.

1. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm | Price = $65 – This is my favourite makeup remover! The texture turns from a balm to an oil when it is touched and it melts makeup off the skin. I understand this way of cleansing with fingers might not appeal to everyone but I always wash my hands first and I’m not a fan of using cotton pads and micellar water or makeup wipes to remove makeup. I have dry, sensitive skin so a balm works best for me and this one is unscented which is even better! I do go in with a facecloth to wash everything off after before applying moisturiser.

2. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Fair Ivory | Price = $72 – I have tried the mini of this in the shade Fair and while I could make it work something a touch lighter would work better, enter Fair Ivory. Whilst I have spent more than this on a foundation I’m waiting to see whether Sephora release this shade in a mini so I can try it before committing to the full size. I love the formula of this CC Cream, it’s easy to blend and gives such good coverage. The hype is real!

3. Zoeva Authentik Skin Foundation | Price = $28.50 – Since this foundation launched I have been curious to try it. I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews and the shades have a ‘w’, ‘c’ or ‘n’ in the shade name so it’s easy to identify who that shade is best for. This foundation comes in 44 shades and aims to give medium, buildable coverage with a weightless, natural-looking, luminous finish. Once I’ve used up some foundations in my collection I’d like to try this.

4. YSL Mon Paris Eau de Parfum | Price = $113 – This is waaaaay more than I’d be willing to pay for a 30ml bottle of perfume but if I had $1,000 to spend at Sephora I would totally indulge and buy it. The bottle is simple and cute and the notes of the fragrance sound really pleasant and like something I’d want to try. If this has the same longevity as Black Opium and is of the same quality you can’t go wrong.

5. Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum | Price = $139 – This is quite a recent launch but the sweet, floral descriptions of this scent make me think it would be right up my street! The design of the bottle is stunning, it’s a very sleek and classic and the pink and rose gold tones are so pretty. Lancôme fragrances are popular and I’d love to try one and see what they’re like for myself, this one grabs me the most.

6. Estée Lauder Pure Envy Lipstick in Dominant | Price = $63 – This is my favourite type of lipstick colour and I tend to go for fuschia shades with a little bit of microshimmer but this looks like pure bright pink goodness! I own a few shades in this vein but they are all slightly different and I get so much wear, it is my go to colour and I must wear it at least once a week on average. I have another Estée Lauder lipstick of this formula and it’s lovely.

7. YSL Volupte Shine | Price = $67 – I don’t have any specific shades in mind that I’d like to try from this range but I have heard a lot about these lipsticks and the bullet and tube are iconic. The formula is creamy and shiny and not opaque, it’s more like a lip butter. Leave any shade recommendations you think I’d like in the comments!

8. Tarte Maracuja Miracle Mist Setting Spray | Price = $23 (30ml) – I haven’t heard of this mist before or tried anything from Tarte but having a good setting spray in your makeup arsenal is a must. I have heard a bit about Tarte’s Maracuja Oil and people seem to like it so this mist sounds interesting. The mist is infused with maracuja, papaya, rose flower and cucumber fruit water. This is supposedly waterproof as well.

9. BECCA Skin Love Glow Shield Prime & Set Mist | Price = $56.00 – Everything I’ve tried from BECCA I’ve liked, their highlighters in particular are my favourite! This mist is designed to prime, set and refresh and sounds like a great multitasker. It is infused with Hawaiian sea water and desert spring water to boost hydration, goji berry, blueberry extract, cranberry extract and Vitamin E to nourish skin as well as being fuelled by glow nectar brightening hydra complex. The  bottle is visually pleasing and would be easy to tell exactly how much is left.

10. Sigma Iconic Brush Set | Price = $95 – This looks like the perfect makeup brush starter set. So often people buy more brushes than they need (sometimes because more brushes means having to wash them less) but only end up using a handful regularly. This set contains three face brushes and two eye brushes as well as a little pouch to house them in. The rose gold colour looks super luxe and Sigma brushes are meant to be really good quality!

11. Pat McGrath Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity Palette | Price = $161 – Compared to all the other Pat McGrath palettes on Sephora NZ this is a bargain! I have seen people talking about this palette all over my Instagram and I agree it looks absolutely stunning and I love all the different coloured shimmer shades. I’m considering asking my brother to give me a Sephora gift card for my birthday so I could put it towards this palette but I’m also on the fence as to whether these shades are different enough to what I already own – it’s a lot to spend on a palette. The palette is $32 cheaper on the Pat McGrath website but annoyingly only US customers can purchase and redeem gift cards there.

12. Tarte Tartelette Tease Palette | Price = $35 – I was tossing up between putting this six pan mini palette in my cart or going for the Tartelette In Bloom Palette. In the end the Tease palette won out due to how gorgeous the two shimmer shades look. In Bloom looks like it would lean warmer whereas I tend to like how cooler, neutral tones look on me.

13. Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara | Price = $40 – I have tried my fair share of new mascaras over the past year and for the most part I’ve been impressed. I enjoy trying new mascaras as you form an impression quickly and know whether you like it or not. Formulas can change as mascaras dry out but usually if I like a mascara when I open it it tends to get better when it dries out. This aims to give length and volume which I like and the splattered effect on the tube is cool.

14. HUDA Beauty Mint Obsessions Palette | Price = $46.20 – This palette is a bit of a wildcard and not something I’d usually go for. The pastel shades and shimmers look absolutely beautiful and I’d be curious to see if these mint tones would suit my fair skin. I haven’t tried anything from HUDA Beauty before but these nine pan obsessions palettes would be a good place to start.

Total of items in cart = $1,010.70

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Have you tried any of these products? What would be in your fantasy Sephora cart?

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Welcome 2021!

By now on the blog it’s tradition that the first post of the year will be wishing everyone a Happy New Year and sharing some words of wisdom.

Nobody knows what 2021 will hold but we want it to be ‘better’. I don’t have any expectations so that way I can’t be disappointed. 2020 was challenging for a lot of people (myself included) but there were also good moments. I try not to focus on the bad but realistically it’s not always easy. I applaud myself for getting back up each time something goes wrong and the idealist in me never loses hope that one day everything will be okay and it will all make sense. I don’t want this year to start off on a negative note so, goodbye 2020, I’m not sad to see you go and let’s move on!

The past 12 months were relatively quiet on the blog and initially I feel 2021 will follow a similar pattern. I have post ideas in the pipeline and will write when I get time and feel inspired but gone are the days when I would churn out new posts each week. I turn 26 at the end of the month and I will have been blogging seven (!!!) years in June – it’s understandable that over that length of time circumstances change. Blogging doesn’t hold the place in my heart that it used to but I still enjoy it and don’t want to stop.

For 2021 I need to be more selfish with my time and do what helps me to be happy and stay relaxed and as less stressed as possible. I’m getting better at being assertive and saying no and not feeling guilty for it. Often I feel like I’m letting people down but at the end of the day that person is me 90% of the time. This is me saying I’m done and I don’t want that any more.

Keeping a bullet journal is one thing that fell by the wayside in 2020 and when I’m able to clear my head and have a place to organise my thoughts it helps a lot. I didn’t have many pages left in my current bullet journal so I purchased a new one to begin 2021 and I can’t wait to spend time setting it up. Exercise is another thing that helps me feel good within myself. I got back into a routine during April/May last year and over the past 10 days I’ve started using the exercycle again. I’m going to try hard to keep it up!

2021 is the year I wish to welcome proper happiness. I want to let go of some of the fear I carry with me daily and embrace new things and experiences with people… who knows what the next 365 days will bring!

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What are you excited for this year? Do you have any goals for 2021?

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December Favourites + Highlights 2020

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas Day even if you weren’t able to do what you had originally planned. Mine was very low-key, I was at home with my mum and one of my aunts and we had a big lunch. We didn’t really do presents which helps keeps things less stressful and the food was really yummy! I scored the crackling on the roast pork, was on cream whipping and strawberry cutting duties for dessert and also helped with general prep and cooking.

I’m ending the year strongly and going out with a bang with these favourites! These all make me happy and have brought me lots of enjoyment over the past few weeks.

1. Kylie – DISCO – I was meant to include this in November’s favourites but somehow it slipped my mind. I am a huge Kylie fan and every time I listen to DISCO I love the songs more. The overall sound of the album is very cohesive and Kylie co-wrote on each track as well as engineering vocals and synths at her home studio during the pandemic. The sound is very much in Kylie’s dance-pop lane and it is exactly what 2020 needs, 50 minutes of energetic fun that makes you happy and forget about any worries for a while. This is my favourite Kylie album since Aphrodite. Standout Tracks: Magic, Miss a Thing, Real Groove, Say Something, I Love It, Dance Floor Darling and Celebrate You.

2. Steps – What the Future Holds – Another album that I have not stopped listening to since release! This album is incredibly special as the booklet is signed by all members of Steps and 11 year old Chanelle never dreamed she would own something like this. It’s even more special as I was meant to be seeing Steps in May but because of Covid the show was cancelled. I was heartbroken but I’m determined to see them live one day. Steps represent so much happiness in my life and I’m thankful the album was released this year. Vocally I feel Lisa and Lee shine on this album (they all sound good but it’s clear to see the vocals are shared more evenly and these two have such beautiful voices as well). Standout Tracks: What the Future Holds, Something In Your Eyes, To the Beat of My Heart, One Touch, Under My Skin, Heartbreak In This City and Come and Dance With Me.

3. Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y – This gloss arrived in September as part of a mini set and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned it in a favourites post yet. I’ve really enjoyed wearing gloss this year and found some great formulas that aren’t sticky and feel comfortable. Fu$$y is described as a soft romantic pink, it has a little bit of shimmer and can look quite sheer when worn on it’s own but it’s lovely on no makeup makeup days or applied over top of a lipstick for a bit of shine. The scent of this is amazing, it needs to be made into a fragrance (you can thank me later Rihanna).

4. In the Frow x Edge of Ember Birthstone Necklace and Nova Ring – In October Victoria (known as In the Frow on YouTube) launched a jewellery collaboration with Edge of Ember. I picked up two pieces and whilst I spent more than I tend to on jewellery I don’t regret it! The pieces are dainty and beautiful and the quality is up there too. I’m not a fan of chunky, heavy pieces and prefer things that are subtle and elegant.

The silver Nova ring is lightweight and simple but it goes with everything, the stone in the middle is a white topaz. Usually I prefer silver to gold but what drew me to the birthstone necklace was the simplicity of one stone on the chain. My birthday is in January so my birthstone is garnet and the red and gold work well together. The length of the chain is adjustable which is nice depending on how you like necklaces to sit and what you’re wearing with it.

December Highlights

• I took some time to reflect on the year that has been and unwind and get ready for 2021. I know lots of people hate January but I really appreciate the slow period and setting things up to begin again.
• Finishing work on Christmas Eve and knowing I have almost two weeks off. This is my first proper annual leave since February that won’t involve hospitals and where I can do things for me.
• My boyfriend finishing work early on Christmas Eve and coming to see me after not being able to see each other for a week. He also came to visit on Christmas Day so we could exchange presents.
• The first bite of pavlova on Christmas Day was amazing!

December’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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2020 Palette Round Up: Part 2

Last week I posted part one of my palette round up so be sure to check that out if you haven’t already! Like that post I will be giving a rundown on what was used each month, sharing general thoughts and mentioning my favourite shades. None of the palettes in this part of the round up will be leaving my collection but I would like to cut down on single shadows, there are a couple I don’t really reach for. Let’s dive in!

May to July – Colourpop 9 pan palettes: Lilac You a Lot & Strawberry shake

Lilac You a Lot is the newest nine pan palette to feature in this challenge. This palette arrived in March and on first impressions I remember thinking how stunning it is. It is different from It’s My Pleasure as it’s got deeper matte purples and the overall tone of the shades is lighter. You can create looks with depth or create something with a light pop of colour. I loved playing with this palette!

Favourite shades: Imagine That, Fluff, Trainwreck, Iffy and Filtered.

Colourpop’s strawberry collection is one of the cutest they have released in my opinion! The outer cardboard packaging is stunning and strawberries are one of my favourite fruits so this palette is right up my street – I like it a lot! Of course all the monochromatic palettes are cohesive but I personally enjoy every shade in this one and think they all mix and match flawlessly. I love how the pops of colour work with the soft, neutral tones and shimmers.

Favourite shades: Whipped, Delish and Berry Fine.

August – BH Cosmetics x Shaaanxo – The Remix Palette

This is one of the best palettes I own, I have talked about it a lot on the blog! One side is full of classic neutral shades and the other side is more playful and colourful. Both sides work with each other and it makes for endless combinations. The pan size is decent too, it would be almost double one of the Colourpop monochromatic palette pans. The formula of these shadows is one of my favourites, the mattes are easy to blend and don’t skip or feel drying and the shimmers are incredibly smooth. The shimmers do have a slight slip compared to some others in my collection but they still build up nicely and the colour payoff is there. I love this as an everyday palette as it covers so many bases.

Favourite shades: Clarity, Buttercup, Beach Babe, Toasted, Avocado, Need U and Babygirl.

September – xoBeauty Heaps of Sweets

When this palette was announced I told myself I didn’t need it as The Remix Palette had some similar tones but the palettes are quite different. These shimmers are more intense and the mattes are a different texture – I do prefer the texture of the mattes in The Remix Palette as they are easier to work with but the tones of the mattes in Heaps of Sweets are beautiful. The mix of warm and cool tones is nice and there’s something for everybody. I can confirm the purple shimmer shade, Lollipop, performs well and looks just as incredible on the eyes as it does in the pan!

Favourite shades: Gumdrop, Brownie, Vanilla, Lollipop, Macaron and Cupcake.

October – Single shadows

Single shadows are probably my favourite way to wear eyeshadow, sometimes palettes overwhelm me and I get confused – I like simplicity. Single shadows are a breeze to work with and when you find a range or certain colours you like it’s easy to recreate go to looks that are tried and tested. I love to swipe on a shadow with my finger and be done, I’m all about simple and quick and the least amount of blending possible. I also find not having a lot of eye space single shadow looks are less complicated. I’ve got a real mixed bag of single shadows; shimmery pigments, liquid shadows, creme-gel like textures as well as creams and powders. You really can’t go wrong with Colourpop’s Supershock Shadows and I’d like to do a rundown (probably on Instagram) of the best shades (in my opinion).

Favourite single shadows: Zoella Supernova Shadow – Bellini, MAC – Tan pigment, Colourpop Supershock Shadows in Nillionare, Weenie, I Heart This and Slave2Pink.

November – Urban Decay Naked 2

This is the Naked palette that always appealed to me most with it’s cool, neutral tones and when I heard it was being discontinued I purchased it because I didn’t want to miss out and regret not buying the palette in future. Of course I have similar shades in other palettes but this is such a classic that inspired a ton of those other palettes and the shades all work together like a dream. The quality of these shadows is beautiful, what an individual likes in an eyeshadow formula is personal but I find these soft and easy to blend and layer up. The shimmers are not chunky, they are smooth and look stunning! If I could only keep a couple of palettes after the end of this challenge this would be in my top three for sure! If you have fair skin and love cool tones, pick up this palette before it’s gone, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Favourite shades: Bootycall, Chopper, Suspect, Pistol and YDK.

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I hope you enjoyed this round up of everything I used on my eyes this year! This challenge was fun and knowing what I was going to use each day made doing my makeup a lot easier.

Throughout 2020 I added a couple of new palettes and single shadows to my collection which I didn’t include as part of this challenge. I’m excited to play with them in the New Year!

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