GRWM: Trying New Makeup #2

Over the past six months or so since mask wearing became mandatory in New Zealand I haven’t been wearing a lot of makeup. It’s a double edged sword because I miss the chance to create and play with products before work but at the same time I don’t need to get up as early and it has made my morning routine simpler. As a result I haven’t been looking to buy new makeup but there are a few things that have caught my eye recently that I was excited by.

Authored Push Kit

Authored is Tanya Burr’s new makeup brand and I didn’t take much notice of the products at first until I started seeing some reviews and a few bloggers/YouTubers I follow sharing their thoughts on Instagram. In December I purchased the Push Kit which contains all four products the brand makes so far: tinted moisturiser, brow gel, mascara and lip balm. The idea of simple, effortless beauty drew me in and the products are good basics if you’re on the go and want something quick and easy or you want to look polished without putting on a full face.

1. Tinted Moisturiser – Shade 1 – Shade 1 is the lightest shade intended for those with light skin and neutral undertones. Not only did the shade description sound accurate for my skin tone but I figured if it was too light I can easily apply a bit of bronzer, better that than having a shade too dark. The formula is lightweight, on the runny side (I store my tube with the cap facing up) but very easy to blend into the skin and can be built up for more coverage. The product claims to give a soft matte, slightly dewy appearance and I agree, my skin looked like skin but with a healthy, natural glow. The product didn’t cling or settle into lines and other makeup applied nicely over the top.

2. Brow Gel – 1 Light Brown – I had never used a brow gel before so I had to look up how to apply one before doing my brows. Safe to say I needn’t have worried as it was very easy to apply and there was no excess product needing to be cleaned up. The colour is good, my brows are darker than my hair so it’s not hard to get a decent colour match I find. My brows still look natural which is what I like. Big thumbs up!

3. Mascara – When it comes to mascara I prefer natural bristle wands, a formula that is super black and gives length and volume. I don’t believe mascaras give an accurate representation of how they perform after one use so I tend to properly make up my mind after I’ve been using a mascara for a week or two. On first impressions this ticks the natural bristle wand, super black formula and length boxes but I would have liked more volume. Again, that may come once I’ve used it a bit more and the formula has got some air in it – I’m not disappointed by any means. The formula is on the drier side straight off the bat (which I also don’t mind) and it didn’t smudge or flake. It seems to layer nicely and not coat lashes with too much product at once. Looking forward to using this more to see if my thoughts change.

4. Lip balm – This was the product I was least excited to try but it worked out more worthwhile getting the kit and trying all products rather than buying two or three other items separately. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like this. Normally I don’t need to wear lip balm often and my lips don’t get dry but I can see myself reaching for this to pop on around home or dabbing over top of my lipstick which is what I did for this look. The lip balm isn’t thick or sticky. I’m not a fan of cherry but the scent doesn’t bother me and disppears after a minute or two.

Max Factor Creme Bronzer – Light Gold 05

Is this bronzer still a favourite in the blogging world? I would see this everywhere a few years ago and I don’t know anyone who isn’t a fan! I’ve owned this bronzer for a year or two now but wanted to pull it out as I’ve only worn it a handful of times and it is very pretty. I’m loyal to my Body Shop bronzer as that was in my project pan last year (which was abandoned due to Covid) but this is also a winner and one I’m happy to reach for. Despite having creme in the name this is a powder bronzer and creme refers to the Max Factor range the product is from. The flecks of shimmer don’t make the face look shiny and it’s the type of bronzer that is hard to apply too much of, which is a good thing. I was doing a quick Google search whilst writing this post and I don’t know if this is available anymore. I’d urge you to get in quick if you’ve been wanting to try this in case it’s gone!

Huda Beauty Rose Quartz Palette

Cool tones work better on me and they are what I gravitate towards most often. This is my first Huda Beauty product and I purchased a kit from Feel Unique also containing a zip around case, three eye brushes and a Silk Balm as a birthday present to myself. The day after the palette arrived I knew I wanted to play with it immediately. All of the shades are beautiful and for the first look I went for something rather simple and classic. I applied Radiate as a base shadow, used Precious to deepen the crease, went in with Energized on my finger and applied it all over the lid and placed Love Stone in the inner corner.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick – 08 Pink In Confidence

I purchased this lipstick last year and had always wanted to try this formula, I’d heard many good things about how comfortable it is and how easy the shades are to wear. Pink In Confidence is a relatively neutral rosy pink with a subtle hit of colour. I am fair skinned and it looks pretty natural on me so it wouldn’t be the best for those with darker skin tones. I love bold, bright lip colours but wanted something on the neutral side from this formula as it is very soft and shiny and a bold colour would get messy. The lipstick is very balm-like without being thick and goopy and is super easy to apply. If you have dry lips this formula works well. The formula won’t have the longest wear time but it does wear evenly and will give you a decent number of hours before needing to reapply.

Other makeup used:

• Clinique Dramatically Different moisturiser
• Maybelline Pore Minimizing Primer
• L’Oreal More Than Concealer – 323 Fawn
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• MAC Double Gleam highlighter
• Max Factor Creme Puff blush – 10 Nude Mauve
• Pixi Rose Glow mist

The Finished Look

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the finished look?

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January Favourites 2017

Hey everybody! Can you believe we are already one twelfth of the way through 2017?! This year will be my third doing monthly favourites but it feels like yesterday since my first favourites post. This month has been eventful to say the least and as a result I only have a few new favourites. I’m hoping to get back into more regular beauty blogging in February and I’ve already got post ideas in mind.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. kikki.K Gratitude Journal – I purchased this little journal in 2015 to record my happiness highlights in. It has three sections to a page so I plan to record my highlight of the day for the next three years. It’s compact in size and it will be lovely to look back on and read over in the years to come. The fact it’s pink totally didn’t influence me to buy it at all…

2. The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick in Passionate Pink – I mentioned this lipstick earlier in the month as part of my HUGE birthday haul from The Body Shop. Pinks make up the bulk of my lipstick collection but this one is most certainly the brightest! I like the simple packaging with the bright coloured lid and the quality of the lipstick. The formula is not drying at all, the pigmentation is outstanding and the lipstick has a nice, subtle scent to it. This has been popped into my favourite things makeup bag as I see myself reaching for this a lot.

3. Britney Spears Private Show Perfume – This was a Christmas present from my mum and it smells absolutely delicious – I even got told that by a work colleague! I like the circular shape of the bottle and how you can clearly see how much perfume is left. I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is my favourite Britney Spears perfume out of the ones I’ve owned. This is quite sweet and girly, but it still feels sophisticated.

4. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer – 01 Light Matte – This bronzer is a bit of a rediscovery. I purchased it around this time last year and I forgot how much I like it until a couple of weeks ago. I hadn’t been using bronzer throughout spring and summer but I was doing my makeup and felt like my face was missing something, this was it! I use the lightest shade but it gives the prettiest sheen to my skin and never makes me look orange or muddy. Oh Honey Bronzer, how I’ve missed you!

January’s Spotify Playlist:

This playlist has uptempo tracks as well as a little country, folky vibe.

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What were your favourite things in January?

The Purple Makeup Menu

Happy Friday lovelies! This is the last blog post before I fly up to visit my brother on Sunday and I thought I would share a makeup menu. I haven’t done one of these in a while, I think my last one was around Valentine’s Day, and the inspiration for this look comes from a lipstick that featured in my Shop My Stash: Berry & Purple Lipsticks post. Canadian blogger Stash Matters and I were talking in the comments and I told her that I would use Sparkle Baby (the name of the lipstick) in a makeup menu. Voilà!

Purple is one of my favourite colours to wear in general and a lot of people tell me it suits me. I don’t have a lot of purple makeup but I wanted to create a look using different purple toned beauty products. I love how this look turned out and I didn’t feel it was too dark or too much. I wore this makeup last Tuesday with a black outfit.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser – Recently I have taken to applying moisturiser in the mornings straight after I wash my face to keep as much moisture in my skin as possible. This was applied a couple of hours before the rest of my makeup.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – The smallest amount of this primer goes a long way and I only use a tiny strip for my whole face. I like to wait for five or so minutes for this to sink in properly before continuing on with my face.

3. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel – While I’m waiting for the primer to sink in, I fill in my brows. This pencil looks natural and is so easy to use. I’m lucky to be blessed with quite thick brows so I don’t need to do a lot to them. This pencil makes sure everything looks uniform and makes them look that bit neater.

4. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain – With this look I wanted a nice, natural, glowy base and this is my favourite foundation to achieve that. This foundation never applies harshly or makes me look orange which is what I look for in a foundation. I like traceless coverage and something that blends in easily with my skin tone.

5. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 Fair – I totally understand the hype behind this baby! I have been using it for a couple of months now and this blows Maybelline’s Fit Me concealer, which I raved about last year, out of the water. The coverage and the way this feels on my skin is a winner. I highly urge you to give this a go if you can!

6. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I mentioned I wanted a natural, glowy base but my skin needed a tiny bit of brightening up so I dusted some bronzer onto my cheeks and across my forehead.

7. I ♡ Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter – This is the only highlighter I own and I really don’t think I need any others. This highlighter is so versatile and pretty much goes with any look. The highlighter is a cross between a shimmery pink-purple/silver but it is very natural looking and gives a lovely glow. This can be applied with your fingers but my favourite way to apply it is with my Real Techniques Setting Brush.

1. Revlon Diamond Lust 105 Plum Galaxy – I purchased this eyeshadow a few months back and while it’s not the greatest on it’s own, I do like to use it to create a purple, smoky base to apply lighter shades and other purples on top of it. Pigmentation is best when the eyeshadow is applied with a finger as the glitter is a bit chunky and the finger distributes it more evenly than a brush. I only paid a couple of dollars for this eyeshadow so it’s not a big deal and I have come up with a way to use it which looks really nice so I can’t complain.

2. Max Factor Excess Shimmer in 15 Pink Opal – The name of this may be deceiving but it definitely comes out more purple than pink, lilac is more accurate. I’ve professed my love numerous times for the Copper one of these and while I don’t get as much use out of Pink Opal, it does look lovely layered over the top of Plum Galaxy. On it’s own Pink Opal is a little patchy and doesn’t show up as well as it does layered over other shadows.

3. Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara – I have been using this mascara for about a month now and I really like it. It can be used it a few different ways: just volume, just length or both together. The length wand is nice and small which makes getting into the lower lashes a breeze. The mascara formula is still quite wet but it’s not messy and doesn’t end up all over my eyelids. I haven’t been able to try applying this in the day and then reapplying it later in the evening but hopefully I will get the chance to next week and I’ll let you know how I get on.

(I know it looks like my left eye has more eyeshadow than the right but that’s just the way the light hit my face).

1. BYS Sparkle Baby – This is what  inspired the whole post! I’ll admit I probably don’t wear this lipstick enough but it is so beautiful and creamy and has such a lovely formula. The shine from this lipstick doesn’t look unnatural or feel uncomfortable on the lips and the effect it gives is subtle but beautiful. This colour might seem intimidating but as you know I love my bold lipsticks and my philosophy is, just rock it!

Let me know if you enjoyed this post and if you would like me to do more makeup menus and MOTD posts!

Blogger Made Me Buy It

One of my favourite parts of blogging is discovering new and interesting products and being able to try them out. When it comes to money and spending, 9 times out of 10 I will purchase a product for a specific purpose as opposed to buying it because I feel like it (although that has happened in the past). Today I have a handful of products to talk about that fellow bloggers have convinced me to buy. Keep reading to find out whether they’re as good as they have been made out to be!

1. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail

I don’t tend to do a lot with my hair but I have changed that recently. I’m lucky my hair is in good condition so I don’t need to use a lot of product and I have a simple hair care routine. I apply this to the ends of my hair at night and when I first began applying it I noticed a difference straight away. My hair feels even softer using this product, particularly when I blow dry or straighten it. The best part about this is the smell. The smell is fruity and tropical but not overpowering in the slightest – I believe this scent would make a lovely body spray. Not only is this a nice smelling product, it does live up to it’s claims. It seals split and dry ends, repairs, conditions and nourishes hair and can be used wet or dry. Argan Oil hydrates hair and and helps to create a natural shine.

Blogger who made me buy it: Karen (Confetti and Curves)

2. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – Hazel

My natural brows are thick and quite dark but since buying this brow pencil there have only been a handful of times I haven’t reached for it and that’s normally when I’m having a no makeup day or wearing minimal makeup. I really like the shade hazel because the colour is not too dark, it blends in nicely with my natural brow colour and pulls on the auburn tones of my hair. I have had the pencil for three months now and have only had to sharpen it a couple of times. I do see the difference this makes to my brows even though it is subtle and I like it!

Blogger who made me buy it: Claire (Clarina Beauty) 

3. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 01 Fair

This wee tube of concealer is often talked about in the blogging world and for good reason! I use the lightest shade which is perfect for my skin tone and the coverage and formula of the product is exceptional. This concealer doesn’t cling to any dry patches or crease and I find it really good for my complexion. It doesn’t break me out or make my t-zone oily and it is certainly a product I will be repurchasing!

Blogger who made me buy it: Again, Claire (Clarina Beauty) but there are a number of bloggers who sing its’ praises.

4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream

This is the product I have owned for the shortest amount of time out of everything on this list but it is fast becoming a firm favourite! I purchased this night cream a few weeks ago as I wanted to use something more nourishing and hydrating than my regular moisturiser at night time. I apply this after removing my makeup for the day and it is doing wonders for my skin. The tub contains 50ml which may not seem like a lot but I apply this sparingly and when I wake up my skin doesn’t feel dry and my makeup is applying better and looking nicer. The Body Shop’s Vitamin E range has a rose scent which you may not be a fan of (I am) but that pales in comparison to how good the product is. This soaks in quickly and doesn’t give skin a greasy feel while still keeping it moisturised and supple.

Blogger who made me buy it: Rachel (Rachel’s Beauty Talk)

5. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer – 01 Light Matte

If you’re extremely fair skinned, new to bronzers and looking for a matte bronzer to help contour or just to use all over the face, the honey bronzers from The Body Shop are a winner! I purchased this back in January as part of my Birthday Body Shop Haul and this is my go to when I’m feeling a little pale and just want to add a bit more colour to my face. It is pretty difficult to go over the top with this particular shade as it is so light but I don’t find myself needing to use a lot of product to get a good payoff either. I apply this using my Real Techniques Blush Brush as it is nice and fluffy and sweeps the product over my cheeks.

Blogger who made me buy it: Lauren (Styled By Lauren) and Estée (Estée Lalonde)

6. W7 Power Puff Makeup Sponge

Sponges have taken the makeup world by storm in the last couple of years and I picked up this Beauty Blender dupe at a makeup sale for $6 to see what all the hype is about. After using it I totally get the appeal! Sponges give a light, streak free finish and while I don’t use this sponge all the time it’s good when my makeup brushes have been washed and need time to dry or to apply my Max Factor foundation in the cooler months to ensure I don’t look orange because it is better suited to my skin tone in the summer.

Blogger who made me buy it: Karen (Confetti and Curves)

7. Rimmel Asia Lipstick

I had brushed this shade off when I initially, it looked like other light pink-blush shades and I didn’t think I needed one in my collection. When I read it was a dupe for MAC shades like Mehr, Twig, Cosmo and Faux I was intrigued and wanted to try it! I thought why pay $40 for a MAC lipstick when I can get something similar from one of my favourite brands for a quarter of the price. As it turns out, Asia isn’t quite as pink as I first thought and makes a great everyday lip colour which is why it featured in my Nude Lipsticks 101 post. The pigmentation is outstanding and the formula is nice and creamy and long lasting on the lips.

Blogger who made me buy it: Claire (EclairsCares)

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I am impressed with all of these products and I tend to trust the opinions of my fellow bloggers – they haven’t led me wrong here! What products have bloggers inspired you to buy?

P.S. Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE for info!

Birthday Body Shop Haul

Happy Monday – hope you all had a lovely weekend! I’m extremely excited for the week ahead on Chanelle Hayley. It’s my 21st birthday this coming Sunday and to commemorate the occasion I have birthday related posts in store for you this week and next Monday. I’ve got a Body Shop haul, a makeup menu and a few other surprises up my sleeve – stay tuned!

Speaking of Body Shop hauls… Last weekend I popped into my local store armed with a list of goodies I wanted to buy. During birthday month I get a one time 20% discount and I also had a $10 off voucher yet to redeem. Long story short I saved quite a bit of money and it does pay to take advantage of special offers and schemes like that when you can.

What was on my list I hear you ask? My current body butter is almost finished so I wanted to get a replacement, I’ve wanted to try a makeup setting spray for a while and I’ve been promising myself I would pick up a bottle of the Strawberry Eau De Toilette. I also picked up one of the Honey Bronzers in the shade 01 Light after reading about it on Lauren’s blog.

1. Brazil Nut Body Butter 200ml

I have wanted to try something from the Brazil Nut range for the longest time and I can’t wait to get started on this body butter! This body butter is ideal for dry skin and has a decadent caramel scent which will make it perfect in the cooler months when my skin tends to be drier and needs moisture. There are three key ingredients in this body butter: Brazil nut, cocoa butter and shea butter. All three help to keep skin soft and silky. When I took this up to the counter, the sales assistant told me The Body Shop are discontinuing the Brazil Nut range. I’m not sure if that means it won’t be back in the future but if you want to try something from the range, get in quick so you don’t miss out! My only hope is I don’t fall too in love with this body butter.

2. Vitamin E Face Mist 100ml

If you’re not a fan of roses you might not like this face mist as it has a rosewater scent. The scent isn’t overpowering but if you have a sensitive nose you might think differently. This product is designed to be used as a pick me up for the skin and to set makeup. I have been using this for the past week and it is so refreshing. A couple of sprays is all you need and it doesn’t take long to set either. My makeup has been a bit tacky lately due to the heat and something like this is perfect for a quick spritz and instant coolness. I imagine this will also be nice in winter to provide an extra bit of hydration if skin is a little dry. I haven’t had a reaction to this product and it says it is suitable for all skin types.

3. Strawberry Eau De Toilette 30ml

I cannot get over how dinky and cute this bottle is! It may not seem like you get a lot but 30ml is one of the standard perfume bottle sizes. I absolutely love my Strawberry Lip Butter and I’d sprayed this scent on my arm on a previous visit to test whether I’d like it as a perfume and I do. The scent is fresh, fruity and sweet and works nicely as a summer scent. This EDT also contains real strawberry extract so the scent is a true strawberry not fake.

4. Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder 01 Light Matte

Normally I steer well clear of bronzers as they’re either too shimmery, make me look orange or don’t apply evenly. When I read about this product on Lauren’s blog I thought it sounded too good to be true but upon swatching it in store it isn’t. The bronzer is pigmented but not so much that it applies heavily. I have been using it over the past week and I really like it. I have been applying it over my cheeks and forehead using my Real Techniques Blush Brush and it looks lovely and natural. If I knew how to contour I would use it for that but for now I’m happy. You don’t need a lot of product but it’s super easy to layer up if you want a more sun-kissed look.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products!