YouTubers Made Me Buy It

Let’s face it, we all have those purchases someone else has convinced us to buy! We hear about a product and want to try it for ourselves. I watch a few beauty YouTubers and recently there have been some items I’ve wanted to give a go. I am on a low buy for 2020 and I’m not doing badly so far but a couple of these items were on sale and I was sick so I decided to treat myself!

1. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara – Black

I have never tried anything from Benefit before because their products are pricey! I picked up Roller Lash as it was on sale on Makeup.co.nz for 20% off and while it was more than I usually pay for mascara it’s more justifiable than the regular price. Roller Lash is a mascara I’ve always been interested in trying and it seems to be a firm favourite in the beauty community. The packaging is cute and the mascara aims to grab, separate, lift and curl lashes. The formula contains provitamin B5 and serin, ingredients known for their lash-conditioning benefits. The mascara is also said to be water resistant and easy to remove. Roller Lash has a plastic wand which usually isn’t my preference but I’m hopeful the mascara will deliver.

Who made me buy it: Zoella and Shaaanxo

2. Australis Metallix Foiled Shadow – Guns ‘n Rose Petals

I am very much a single shadow girl. I love quick, easy looks that can be done in a couple of minutes. I’m also not afraid to use my fingers which is my preferred method to apply shimmery, metallic shadows as they appear more pigmented that way. Single cream shadows are not something I have a lot of but I was drawn to this shade because it looks super shiny and bright and will make my eyes pop. Guns ‘n Rose Petals is is a cool toned champagne pink and this will be pretty on it’s own or layered over powder shadows for a little more depth.

Who made me buy it: Arna Alayne

3. Colourpop Lilac You a Lot Palette

When this palette was released my first thought was It’s My Pleasure volume two… definitely don’t need it. When I watched the launch video for Makeup.Just.For.Fun’s No Shrinking Violet bundle made up of her Colourpop favourites and this featured I started to see the palette in a different light. Lilac You a Lot is much more lavender and cool toned whereas It’s My Pleasure is more warm toned. It’s My Pleasure is a beautiful palette but it’s my least favourite of the nine pans I have (I haven’t tested this palette out yet). The cooler tones of Lilac You a Lot will work really well in conjunction with It’s My Pleasure and hopefully make me enjoy it more.

Who made me buy it: Makeup.Just.For.Fun

4. Colourpop Still Crazy Lux Lipstick

This lipstick also features in the No Shrinking Violet bundle and it is described as a mauvey pink on the Colourpop site which is right up my street! I did consider picking up the entire No Shrinking Violet bundle to show my support for Amanda but I have similar products to the other three items and these were the two I was most drawn to. When I was reading reviews and looking at pictures, Still Crazy sometimes came across as brown-pink and other times just pink. I think it depends on skin tone to be honest, I am very fair so how a lipstick looks in the bullet is generally how it looks on me. I saw this labelled as a dupe for Craving by MAC which I included in my 1,000 Followers Giveaway in 2018. Craving also looks like a colour I would enjoy and this way I am getting a similar colour to Craving for half the price. I have another of Colourpop’s Lux Lipsticks in the shade Scorpio Moon and the formula is so comfortable and creamy on the lips.

Who made me buy it: Makeup.Just.For.Fun

5. Wella Oil Reflections Luminous Trio and Luminous Reboost Mask

Last month I got the layers cut out of my hair and got it cut to one length. The salon I went to had a stand full of Wella products and I’m assuming that was the brand of shampoo and conditioner used on my hair. Afterwards my hair felt so soft and lovely and I jumped online to research Wella products. I remember Melanie Murphy mentioning her love for Wella in the past and after looking online I was intrigued by the Oil Reflections range. The range is suitable for all hair types and is light and moisturising with white tea extract to leave hair cleansed, luminous and smooth.

The Luminous Trio contains shampoo, conditioner and a light reflective oil. I haven’t used a hair oil before but the oil in this set sounds like it adds a healthy shine without weighing the hair down. I opted to get the hair mask from this range as well as I read it can be used in place of the conditioner to deeply nourish hair and restore moisture and hydration. The conditioner comes with 50ml less product than the shampoo so this way I’ll be more likely to not to run out of one before the other.

Who made me buy it: Melanie Murphy

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What have you been influenced to buy either from YouTubers or other bloggers?

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If I Could Only Wear 5 Lip Colours

It’s no secret lips are my favourite part of any makeup routine and lip products take up the most space in my makeup collection. I love bold, bright colours and am not afraid to wear them! I was scrolling through a list of blog post ideas recently and this one immediately jumped out. It honestly wasn’t difficult to pick only five and I didn’t um and ah over any of these. Let me clarify, all of my choices are lipsticks, no lip balms or lip stains.

The lineup!

1. MAC – Show Orchid

Let’s get the semi-obvious fuchsia lipstick out of the way first! Fuchsia is my absolute favourite colour to wear, it works so well with my skin tone and hair colour and it isn’t a shade that ages me – it makes me feel youthful. The reason I labelled this semi-obvious is because my favourite fuchsia of all time is by a brand called BYS but I went with this great alternative from MAC because it’s a more well known brand and the packaging is more luxurious. MAC is easier to get a hold of so if BYS discontinued their fuchsia shade I’m covered. The formula of Show Orchid is also less slippy than the BYS alternative though both are comparable in terms of wear time.

2. Australis – Gangsta Rap

Gangsta Rap was one of my very first lipstick purchases a couple of years ago and it is still a shade I love to wear often. Again, this is a shade that makes me feel youthful and purple suits redheads. The formula of this lipstick is so comfortable to wear and the pigmentation and wear time are outstanding. I’d say the formula of this is similar to MAC’s satin lipsticks; creamy lipstick with a soft cushiony feel and buildable coverage.

3. MAC – Brave

I had to include a more neutral, everyday shade in this list and it’s another offering from MAC. I won Brave in a giveaway and it has become one of my favourite lipsticks in the short time I’ve had it. I say short because I haven’t had it as long as the other shades mentioned. You all know how Syrup from MAC is my jam and holds a special place in my heart because it was my first MAC lipstick. The reason I opted for Brave over Syrup is simply down to wear time. Brave is a satin finish whereas Syrup is a lustre meaning it is more sheer. Brave is Syrup’s slightly darker, more pigmented cousin.

4. Rimmel – Asia

I included this nude as well because every time I wear it I’m reminded how beautiful it is. This is more of a brown toned pink compared to Brave. Asia is similar to a few other MAC shades (Mehr, Twig and Faux) at a fraction of the cost. This lipstick has a lovely demi-matte finish and the wear time is decent too.  It’s one of those shades that fades discreetly and can be re-applied with ease.

5. Bourjois – Frambourjoise

I have fallen a little bit out of love with red lipstick lately but this shade I always come back to and can rely on to look good. Frambourjoise is more of a raspberry red and has pink undertones as well as red. The formula is like a mousse and not like a liquid lipstick. The mousse formula allows you to perfect your pout as it dries down slower and the formula doesn’t feel drying as it wears throughout the day.

Swatches:

Top To Bottom: Show Orchid, Gangsta Rap, Brave, Asia, Frambourjoise.

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Did any of these choices surprise you? What lip products would you choose if you only had five?

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December Favourites 2017

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all had a lovely day and got spoiled with lots of presents. Best wishes for the rest of the holiday season!

It’s time for the last monthly favourites of 2017! December and 2017 have zoomed by and I can’t believe we are at the end of another year already. December’s favourites are more of a mixed bag than November’s; I’ve got beauty, skincare, fashion and music.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Dua Lipa – I can’t recall where I first heard of Dua and listened to her music but I have been listening to her songs since 2016 before she released her album. On first listen I wasn’t a big fan of the album apart from the singles but I decided to listen to it again a few months ago and something just clicked. Dua’s voice is deep and gravelly and very distinct. I started listening to the album more and more and purchased a physical copy at the end of November. Her songs are catchy and make you want to sing along – one of my top albums of 2017. Standout Tracks: Genesis, Hotter Than Hell, Blow Your Mind (Mwah), New Rules, Begging, Homesick and Last Dance.

2. Dannii For Target Tank Top – I bought this top in 2016 and have been wearing it more recently with the hotter temperatures. It’s a gorgeous mint green colour perfect for summer and the top is nice and flowy. The holes for the arms are quite low cut so I tend to layer a light cardigan type garment over the top to conceal that.

3. The Body Shop Honey and Oat 3 in 1 Face Mask – I bought this face mask all the way back in January in a Body Shop haul. In my Spring Beauty Edit I mentioned I wanted to start using this product more and I’m pleased to say I have been. I alternate between this and a Natio face mask. What I love about this mask is not only how good it smells but how easy and gentle it is. A little goes a long way and you only have to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes. It’s simple to remove and leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean.

4. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – I have had this primer for over a year but rediscovered it a few weeks ago. When I first purchased it I didn’t notice its benefits and it sat unused. A couple of weeks ago I tried it again to see if it would make my makeup last longer in the heat. I have been using this nearly every time I’ve applied makeup in December and it makes my foundation apply smoother. It’s a silicone based primer and I have been using it with different foundations – it works in conjunction with all of them.

5. Australia – Gangsta Rap – This was one of the first lipsticks I ever bought when I started properly getting into makeup and it is one of my holy grail colours. I would describe Gangsta Rap (awesome name btw) as a magenta-violet similar to MAC’s Violetta. I haven’t tried Violetta but it’s in that bright pinky purple vein. The formula of this lipstick is lovely and creamy and contains Kakadu plum and vitamin C. The lipstick applies evenly and has outstanding pigmentation.

6. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector – Opal (Mini) – I cannot believe I haven’t mentioned this until now! I have had Opal since February and it is one of my favourite highlighters to wear. The smallest amount of product is all you need and I can see this mini size lasting a while. The gold colour isn’t stark against pale skin and would suit a range of skin tones.

Best of 2017 playlist:

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What were your favourite things in December?

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Shop My Stash: Berry & Purple Lipsticks

Welcome to the second post in my ‘Shop My Stash’ series where I talk you through my lipstick collection by colour. I have already done something similar for my nudes and I will direct you to Nude Lipsticks 101 where I discuss my favourite nude shades based on their undertone. The first Shop My Stash post featured Orange & Red lip products and it was a lot of fun to write so I decided to turn it into a mini-series. Berries and purples follow on from red so it seems logical to talk about them next. Let’s get started!

1. Revlon – Raspberry Pie

Kicking things off with another one of Revlon’s lip butters! At the time of purchase I didn’t have a lot of dark lip shades (and I still don’t really) so I took a bit of a gamble with this one. If I had to describe this shade I would say it’s a cross between MAC Craving and MAC Rebel – it has more purple in it than red so it’s not a bright raspberry but it still packs a punch. Raspberry Pie is a typical autumn/winter shade and I love wearing it then but I did wear it this past summer as well so it is versatile. The formula of the lip butters is incredible and I highly recommend anyone who suffers from dry lips to try them!

2. Urban Decay – After Dark

I have spoken about this lipstick on my blog on a few occasions. I won this lipstick in a giveaway and I was so excited to try out an Urban Decay product. When I won the giveaway I got to select my shade. The matte medium-dark berry pink tones of After Dark called out to me and I knew I was onto a winner! I often refer to this lipstick as Rimmel 107’s more purple cousin. After Dark is just as amazing as it sounds, it’s not drying at all for a matte finish and it applies like a dream. The lipstick doesn’t dry down completely and does have a little bit of transfer but that’s not a problem for me.

Corresponding post: My First Giveaway!

3. Bourjois – Frambourjoise

This product is the most recent to be added to my lip stash and it is blimmin’ gorgeous! This is your classic bright pinky-red raspberry shade and I can see it fast becoming one of my favourite lip products. Until this I hadn’t tried a liquid lipstick or any Bourjois products but this shade has got me intrigued and I’m already eyeing up Peach Club. I am a fan of the Bourjois applicator and the formula. The applicator doesn’t pick up too much product at a time and is on the smaller side really allowing you to be precise. The formula doesn’t dry down for a good 5-10 minutes allowing you to build up to your desired effect. One coat gives you decent coverage and looks more pink whereas two coats plus builds into a more vibrant red. I have worn Frambourjoise both ways and adore them both.

4. Australis – Gangsta Rap

This lipstick is always the one I get complimented on when I wear it despite my brother telling me, “they shouldn’t make lipstick that colour.” A couple of years ago I was on the hunt for a bright purple and this is the result. Gangsta Rap is from Australis’ Colour Inject Range which promises long-lasting, moisturising, nourishing lip colour. That is exactly what you get with this lipstick as well as the added benefit of Vitamin C. This is definitely one of the most bold, out there shades I own but it is also one of my favourites! Purple and I just have this connection and this lipstick reinforces the love I have for how much the colour suits me.

5. BYS – Sparkle Baby

Sparkle Baby is one of the most unique lipsticks I own finish-wise. It is described as having a diamond finish and aims to add shine to the lips, not in a glossy, wet way but in a shimmery, iridescent way. This lipstick is a grape shade with flecks of gold throughout the bullet which is where the shine comes from. It’s hard to describe but it’s not quite as intense as the finish of a Frost lipstick from MAC, it’s more subtle and doesn’t look as metallic. Sparkle Baby is such an appropriate name for this shade and the whole diamond thing makes me think of ‘Diamonds’ by Rihanna – “shine bright like a diamond.” This lipstick is also really moisturising and BYS have some great shades.

Swatches

Top To Bottom – Raspberry Pie, After Dark, Frambourjoise (it’s a lot more pink in real life), Gangsta Rap and Sparkle Baby.

Do you like the look of any of these shades? Perhaps you have a favourite berry or purple lipstick of your own?

My Concealer Secrets

In the world of beauty blogging, I don’t tend to read or see a lot of posts dedicated to concealer. Sure, I might read a review about a concealer purchased in a haul but not much along the lines of personal colour selection and application technique. I thought it would be interesting to share my experiences with concealer as well as a few tips and tricks.

As far as concealers go I don’t think they are as difficult to match to a person’s skin-tone as foundation. Most brands tend to offer a handful of shades and there doesn’t seem to be as much difficulty finding one that suits. Fair skinned ladies know to look for words like fair, ivory and porcelain while ladies at the other end of the spectrum are more likely to look for words like sand and beige. If you’re between shades, mixing two together should ideally result in your perfect shade.

My Concealer Story

I thought it would also be helpful to share my concealer story with you and the products I’ve used in the past. Sometimes I don’t consider myself a ‘proper’ beauty blogger as I have only ever worn four different concealers. I have certainly swatched more than that but to me, concealer isn’t something you buy as frequently as a lipstick or an eyeshadow. Once you find one you like, you tend to stick with it. For years I used to use stick concealer but last year I made the switch to cream concealer as I have dry skin and find the consistency better for my skin. Currently, I am using the Lasting Perfection Concealer by Collection and I recently finished up a tube of Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer.

I still keep my stick concealers. One is by Australis and the brand name on the other has rubbed off. The second one used to belong to my mum but she gave it to me and boy did it work a treat! I purchased the Australis concealer as a replacement but it wasn’t as creamy and tended to cling to dry patches. I have found the Australis concealer does come in handing for highlighting on top of my regular concealer though. It blends in beautifully with a sponge.

To recap, the concealers I have used in the past and link to my earlier point about keywords in concealer shade names:

• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair
• Maybelline Fit Me Concealer – 15 Fair
• Australis Concealer – Light
• Unknown brand – Light

How and Where Do I Apply Concealer?

Each person has a slightly different application technique and which parts of the face they use concealer on. Personally, I apply concealer on my nose and chin where I get redness and sometimes I’ll apply it to the outer corners of my eyes or if I have a blemish. I don’t get dark circles under my eyes luckily, so I don’t need to apply it there.

Concealer tends to look more flawless on me if it’s patted into the skin with my finger or applied using a makeup sponge. The warmth of a finger helps concealer to blend more easily.

If I need more concealer than usual I will apply a light layer under my foundation and another layer on top of my foundation so the concealer doesn’t look thick and cakey.

On the odd occasion I feel like highlighting, I will always use a stick concealer for that and apply it in a triangle shape on my cheekbones, down the sides of my nose, on my chin and on my forehead before blending it in with a sponge.

The Best Concealers?

When writing this post, I came across an article on Into the Gloss compiling a list of their best concealers for different purposes ranging from the best for dry skin to the best for a matte finish. CLICK HERE to check out the list!

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Do you have any concealer tips and tricks you’d like to share?

Vanessa White Inspired Makeup

Happy Monday lovelies! Recently I’ve found myself becoming a fan of nude-brown lips. Normally I don’t like brown at all but I have always thought a nude lip looks beautiful paired with a smoky eye or a bright shimmery eye look. Today’s post features a makeup look inspired by Vanessa White. Vanessa is a British singer and member of one of my favourite bands The Saturdays. Vanessa’s makeup is always immaculate and there are a few key points to achieving her look; a matte (or nude) lip, dark smoky eyes and a flawless base.

I don’t wear a lot of smoky browns so it was fun to create this look and experiment a bit with darker colours. Obviously my skin is paler than Vanessa’s but I knew the look I was going for and adapted her signature style to suit me and my skin tone.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser – I squeeze a small amount into the palm of my hand and apply it using my middle finger. Thin, frequent layers soak into the skin more easily and are less likely to clog pores.

2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist – I spritzed this onto my face after applying moisturiser to give an extra bit of hydration.

3. Brown Eyebrow Pencil – I hardly ever fill in my eyebrows but I know Vanessa is a fan of a bold brow. Mine are naturally quite thick (lucky me) so I filled them in slightly to give a hint of definition. I did this first so any harsh lines would be covered by foundation/concealer.

4. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – I opted for this foundation over my Rimmel Match Perfection as this gives a more matte coverage and more coverage in general; adding to that flawless look.

5.  Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 15 Fair – As usual this was applied on my chin and around my nose where I have some redness. I also applied a small amount to the outer corners of my eyes to brighten things up a little so they wouldn’t look too dark with all the eye makeup.

 6. Australis Concealer Stick in Light – I don’t use concealer stick a lot anymore since I purchased Maybelline’s Fit Me but I decided to change things up a bit and try and use this for some contouring. I applied this on my chin, my forehead, down the centre of my nose and on my cheeks in a triangle shape.

 7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I lightly dusted this bronzer into the hollows of my cheeks and up onto my forehead and jawline using a ‘3’ motion.

8. Maybelline ‘The Nudes’ Eyeshadow Palette – This palette had to be it with the gorgeous browns and taupes. Shade 3 was applied as a base all over the lid followed by shade 7 which was used in the crease as a transition shade. Shade 6 was then applied over shade 3 and blended with shade 8 to create the dark smoky look.

9.  Rimmel Supercurler Mascara – This mascara adds a lovely curl to my lashes and the curved brush really allows you to get into each individual eyelash and wiggle the brush to distribute product.

10.  Dainty Doll Cream Blusher 003 Billion Dollar Babies – This blush is literally the perfect everyday, barely there shade. I wanted to use this nude shade to add a little something to my cheeks without going over the top with colour.

11. Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquer in 200 Comet – Vanessa prefers a matte lip to a gloss but this is the closest lip product I own colour wise to her style. What I love about these lip lacquers is that the finish is somewhere between glossy and matte. The formula is not sticky and packs a punch on the pigment front. Comet also inspired this post and this look!

I haven’t done a post like this before and I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know if you’d like to see more along the same lines.

Lip of the Day – 27.01.2015

This post was inspired by an Instagram comment from the lovely Katie of Plus+ Beauty. The lipstick I’m wearing today is called Gangsta Rap by Australis and she very kindly commented on how pretty the colour looked.

Background information

Australis was founded in 1986 and is unique to the Australasian market. It is “a complete lifestyle brand offering a wide range of products to our ever-evolving consumer.” There are over 1200 distribution outlets across Australia and New Zealand and for almost 30 years they have been inspiring women to create their own beauty style with ranges that reflect the latest looks and colours from runways around the world. Australis are also against testing on animals.

I bought this lipstick a little over a year ago now after being on the hunt for this colour (or one similar) for quite some time. My inspiration for this shade of lipstick came after seeing a picture of Vanessa White wearing a bright purple at the Capital FM Summertime Ball in June 2013.

The day I found Gangsta Rap I was ecstatic! Australis had recently released their line of Colour Inject lipsticks, unbeknownst to me, and the search was finally over.

Australis cosmetics contain ingredients not only to help them last longer but that are beneficial to you at the same time. Gangsta Rap contains Kakadu plum (the world’s highest known source of Vitamin C), Vitamin E, evening primrose oil and Titanium dioxide which acts as a UV filter and absorbs, reflects, and blocks ultraviolet radiation, among other ingredients.

Gangsta Rap is a little drying compared to some of my other lipsticks but this can easily be fixed by applying a lip balm underneath.

Shots of me wearing ‘Gangsta Rap’

Hope you enjoyed reading this post and seeing a peek inside my lipstick collection! Let me know if you own any similar shades!

Chanelle x

Fashion/Beauty Haul

1. ‘Whistle’ Roll-Up Sleeve Shirt – Orange

This button-up shirt has a collar, roll-up tab sleeves, two pockets and silver buttons. The first thing I noticed on the rack was the beautiful colour and I just knew I had to try it on. The shirt is cut in the high-low style meaning the hems finish at different lengths (the front hem is higher than the back hem).

RRP: $49.99 | Sale price: $34.99

2. Diana Ferrari – Onix Slouch Boots

My old boots didn’t even make it a year before they got holes in them and the soles started to split. These boots feature an easy pull on design with contrast stitching and a luxurious suede finish. The inside lining and sock is made out of leather while the sole is made out of rubber. Heel height: 2.5cm.

Boots look great dressed up or dressed down. Weather is warming up in New Zealand so I might not get to wear these for a while but I’ll be ready for Autumn/Winter 2015.

RRP: $179.95 | Sale price: $20.00 – bargain of the century right there!

3. OPI nail polishes

I started off looking for a periwinkle (blue/purple) shade but didn’t see one that I a) thought would suit my skin tone or b) instantly fell in love with. Yesterday, Farmers, (the department store where I purchased all the items in this post) were having a huge one day sale. I heard they were having a 2 for $30 deal on OPI polishes and I couldn’t resist.

No Room For the Blues from the OPI Brights Collection

Can’t aFjörd Not To from the OPI Nordic Collection

RRP: $19.95 | Sale price: $15.00

4. Australis Concealer Stick – Light

Australis is one of my favourite make up brands and I have used a few of their products in the past. My favourite type of concealer is stick concealer because I don’t need to wear a lot and I’m not really a fan of liquid texture. Australis Concealer Stick is a multi-purpose perfecter and correcter that conceals skin imperfections all day long. It effectively counteracts redness and counter balances darkness without the need for excessive, unnatural coverage. It covers up blemishes, under eye circles and any discolouration.

Australis Concealer Stick comes in three shades: Light, Medium and Dark. I purchased Light, which is the lightest shade.

RRP: $17.50. Unfortunately, this item wasn’t on sale.

Overall, I saved a total of $184.85 yesterday. The boots were the biggest bargain, meaning I saved $160.00 on those alone.

Are there any bargains you’ve picked up recently?

Chanelle x