Black Friday Shopping Haul

Black Friday shopping is becoming more popular in New Zealand and while a lot of brands and stores have good deals I didn’t actively go seeking anything out. The weekend before Black Friday I’d gone shopping and the products I ended up buying during the Black Friday sales were impromptu purchases. Earlier in the day I commented on an Instagram post saying I hadn’t caved and bought anything… I tempted fate. Let’s get on with the haul!

Starting with The Iconic:

1. Alexis Fluffy Knit – I already know jumpers are one of my weaknesses but fluffy jumpers I love even more! This white jumper is super soft, has long blouson sleeves and doesn’t feel heavy. I do think I could have got away with sizing down as it is a relaxed fit, especially around the neck, but having it slightly bigger allows me to tuck it in or wear layers underneath.

2. Missguided Chunky Sole Trainers – The Spice Girls are back and so are chunky trainers! I saw a friend post a picture of trainers similar to these and instantly fell in love. These will look nice with jeans and the metallic silver detailing breaks up the white. I originally ordered a UK size 6 but also ordered a size 5 to see which was the better fit. I kept the 6 as there is more room around the toes. Because these are white I don’t think I’ll wear them all the time, I want to keep them clean.

Onto xoBeauty:

3. Radiant Glow Highlighting Powder – Lucent – I purchased the pink, champagne shade, Aurora, a few months ago and I’ve been loving it; I knew I wanted to pick up Lucent as well. Lucent is a glowing, sandy golden shade and the more pigmented of the two, but both suit any makeup look. The powders are soft, easy to blend and can be built up if you want a more intense highlight. These also double as all over face powders to give your skin a natural radiance.

4. Detail Face Brush – I picked up this brush because it will be perfect to use with the xoBeauty highlighters as well as my others. This brush lets you pinpoint exactly where you want to highlight. The bristles are lovely and soft and I see myself reaching for this brush often. It reminds me of the Setting Brush from Real Techniques, a small, fluffy, multi-purpose brush.

5. Philocaly Lipstick – This lipstick is one of xoBeauty’s best-selling products and I can see why! It is in a similar vein to Brave by MAC – a mauve toned down pink – with less of a satin formula. The lipsticks all have a creme brulee scent which doesn’t linger if you don’t like scented lip products. This shade also looks pretty with a light pink gloss dabbed over the top to make lips look fuller and less matte.

6. Kairos Lipstick – I have eyed this shade up a few times when I have browsed the website and I finally took the plunge and added it to my cart. Kairos is described as a medium, muted peachy-pink but it looks like a bright coral on me. I like the colour and it will be fun for summer, I’m excited to experiment with toning down the boldness and wearing this shade muted. xoBeauty has a similar liquid lipstick shade called Nam Jai which is more pink and one I can see myself picking up in the future. The liquid lipstick formula is creamy, comfortable to wear and doesn’t dry completely matte.

xoBeauty swatches:

Top to bottom: Philocaly, Kairos and Lucent.

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Leave a comment with what you picked up in the Black Friday sales!

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End of Year Haul (Beauty & Fashion)

To celebrate my new job I decided to treat myself. I definitely go through stages with buying and most of the time I’m good but it’s getting close to Christmas and that’s a good excuse to treat yourself, right?! For Christmas this year mum and I are considering not buying presents and everyone buys something nice for themselves with the money they’d spend on others. I didn’t want to miss out so I got in early!

MECCA:

1. Stila 3D Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow Set 

Rachael from Helpless Whilst Drying absolutely loves the Stila Magnificent Metals and this set is a great way to introduce myself to the product. The set features 3 x 2.25ml tubes in the shades Kitten Karma, Perlina and Golden Girl. These seem perfect for simple, easy eyeshadow looks. I don’t like to spend a lot of time on my eyes if I don’t have to.

2. Stila Nude Attitude Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set 

I’ve never tried Stila before so why not buy two three piece sets in the same order?! The Liquid Lipstick sets intrigued me and the one I chose – Nude Attitude Stay All Day – features one matte (Patina) and two shimmers (Illuminaire and Miele). It will be interesting to compare the formula of the matte shade to the two shimmers.

3. Clinique Merry Moisture Set

I have always wanted to try Clinque’s Moisture Surge moisturiser and this set offers a 30ml tube of the moisturiser and a mini lipgloss in Rosewater Pop. The gloss looks like a pretty colour and aims to be hydrating, weightless and not sticky.

The Body Shop:

4. Strawberry Fragrance Mist

I have previously tried and loved the Strawberry EDT from The Body Shop and figured this is mostly the same but there’s more product and it’s cheaper! I am nearly finished both the White Musk and Black Musk fragrance mists so purchased this is a backup. Strawberry is one of my favourite ranges from The Body Shop.

5. Black Musk Body Lotion

I prefer body lotions that come in bottles or squeeze tubes rather than ones with a pump as there it less wastage and it’s easier to get product out. I do like the spiciness of the Black Musk range and this will be a really nice lotion for autumn/winter. The Body Shop lotions aren’t the cheapest but they soak in quickly and the scents are long-lasting.

6. Metal Lip Liquids in Pink Nickel and Plum Titanium

I don’t like matte liquid lipsticks. Granted, I haven’t tried many but the ones I have I didn’t have a good experience with. I’ve been loving the look of metallic lips lately (not full on glitterball but shades with more of a subtle shine). I saw these online and swatched a few in store and they are so pretty! Pink Nickel is a soft pink-rose gold shade (not to be confused with the actual rose gold shade called Rose Gold) and Plum Titanium is a beautiful berry red. I have worn both shades and the formula is very comfortable and lightweight. The formula applies streak free and doesn’t dry down straight away so it gives you time to perfect your application.

Glassons:

7. Oversized Knit Jumper

My name is Chanelle and I’m addicted to jumpers! Jumpers make me feel cosy and if I could wear them year round I would. The colour of this jumper is called ‘Salt and Pepper’ and it is a lovely light grey. I don’t own any other grey jumpers. This jumper is also lightweight so it will be better for the warmer months and in summer I imagine this could be worn with just a bra or a singlet underneath.

8. Axel Bleach Wash Cropped Jeans

I have blue jeans, black jeans, grey jeans and white jeans but something about the light blue wash was drawing me in for summer. I haven’t worn my white jeans a lot because they are quite stark against my skin and I’m worried they will stain easily. I’m considering selling them. The white and black jeans I have are also these cropped jeans from Glassons and on me they are the perfect length! If you’re on the shorter side, try cropped jeans.

What the Glassons pieces look like on:

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I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’ve picked up over the past couple of weeks. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

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Collective Clothing Haul (White Fox Boutique + Glassons)

Does anyone else feel like treating themselves to some new pieces of clothing when they lose weight? I haven’t lost a significant amount but I look slimmer and I’m feeling more confident. I was in need of a few basics and the two crop tops I thought would be really cute for summer with jeans, leggings or a skirt if I’m feeling brave enough to get my legs out! Let’s jump straight in!

Starting with what I got from White Fox Boutique:

1. “I’m So…” Slogan Crop White

I don’t really have any slogan tees and this one looks girly and stylish. White tees are a really good wardrobe staple and everywhere at the moment. I love the calligraphy style writing of the word obsessed on the front and it’s a pretty light pink colour. I ordered a couple of sizes bigger so it will be more of an oversized fit. The sleeves are a good length as well and I much prefer round neck tops to v neck.

2. Smoothie Crop White

This smoothie tee is adorable! The little drink detail reminds of a Starbucks frappucino and strawberries are one of my favourite fruits and one of my favourite flavours. This is basically identical to the obsessed crop top and again I ordered bigger for an oversized fit. These two tees are part of a collaboration with New Zealand beauty vlogger Shaaanxo. She designed them herself and I can’t get over how cute they are!

(I’m sorry about the dirty mirror, I really need to clean it!)

Moving onto Glassons:

3. Linen Blend Pleat Back Shirt – White

Like the crop tees from White Fox Boutique this top gives me summer vibes. The colour and linen material make it light and breezy and as with everything else in this haul will go with so many things. I’m a fan of the rolled up sleeves because full length is too long on me and it gives the shirt a more relaxed, casual feel.

4. Long basic legging

Leggings are so comfortable and one of my go to pairs of pants. I haven’t bought a new pair in a while. My mum has a pair of these ones from Glassons and says they’re really good because they’re thicker than pairs she’s tried from other brands. They are not too long at the ankle either which is a bonus when you’re short!

5. Cotton Blend Scoop Neck Tank – White

I have a basic white tank top but it’s very low cut so I have to be mindful when I wear it. I bought this one as a backup. Tank tops are great for layering under blouses when the weather starts changing or on their own under cardigans on cooler summer evenings.

6. Ribbed Tank Top – Navy

This tank top was on sale for $7! I really like navy as similar to black, white and grey it goes with most things and you can mix and match with lots of outfits. This tank top has a ribbed pattern giving it a point of difference from the white one.

Wearing the white shirt, white tank top and black leggings from Glassons. I apologise for the creases in the shirt as it had been folded and I tried it on straight away.

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Which item is your favourite? Have you splurged on any new clothing lately?

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Shop With Me: Glassons

Over the past year or two Glassons has become one of my favourite places to shop! I purchase in store and online and their delivery service is great. Glassons have a quality mix of stylish and affordable pieces. All of the items in this post are tops, I tend to buy those the most and mix and match them with different pants. The first two blouses were bought in store and the two t-shirts and hoodie were ordered online.

1. Frill hem blouse – milk

I fell in love with this blouse on the hanger. 3/4 sleeves are what I personally like to wear and the sleeves are beautiful and flowy – I feel a bit like a fairy. I am short so the length of the blouse is perfect and it emphasises curves in all the right places without clinging. There is also a cut out detail on the back but it’s only small so nothing is on show. This blouse would be lovely to wear on a casual day out or in the evening if you’re going out.

2. Frill Blouse – Black

This blouse is similar to the first one but there are some differences. The sleeves on this are long and not as flowy and have cut out detailing with a button at the wrist. This is a peplum blouse so it’s slightly more fitted around the middle but like the first blouse doesn’t cling and shows off curves. This also has the same back cut out detail. This top could be worn casually too or would look nice for a job interview.

3. Slim Fit Crew Tee – Fairy Bread

T-shirts are an essential, they are nice to wear on their own in summer and can be layered up when it starts to cool down. I have a small criteria when it comes to t-shirts: I don’t like v necks and I don’t like the sleeves to be too short. The material of this tee is super soft and the colour is unlike anything else I own, it’s a pretty peachy-rose pink.

4. Crew Tee – White

This t-shirt also has a crew neck but the material is slightly different, it’s thicker and not as soft (not in a bad way). You can’t go wrong with a classic white tee, it goes with everything!

5. Waffle Crop Hoodie – Blue Me Away

I don’t know what it is about blue jumpers but they always sucker me in. I wanted a casual hoodie and liked the look of this one. The length is cropped but I find lots of cropped things are the correct length for me. The material is light with a waffle pattern and the hoodie sits nicely on the body. You can definitely layer up underneath or even wear a coat/jacket over top.

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What was the last clothing item you purchased?

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March Favourites 2018

My March favourites are very beauty oriented, I have been using some great products and purchased a few new ones too! I love putting on my makeup, creating looks and seeing the final result. I’ve got a couple of fashion bits to share as well. This month compared to some others really made me think about what I’ve been using and what would warrant being included. It’s not always easy to include new things that I haven’t previously mentioned if I haven’t acquired anything new.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara – I have had this mascara for a fortnight now and I blimmin’ love it! All the good things people say are true and I highly urge you to pick this up if you get the chance. I’m not normally a product pusher but this is a really great mascara. I’m not sure how long the formula will stay ‘good’ for but I can see myself repurchasing this if it continues to impress me as much as it already has. It may even knock my favourite Rimmel mascara off it’s perch if it lasts as long as that one does.

2. MAC pigments in Tan and Silver – I bought both of these off of New Zealand’s eBay equivalent. Tan is the type of shade that would suit most people and has hints of pink, bronze, gold and brown. Silver is pure silver, no grey or blue tinges. The colour payoff is incredible and my favourite way to apply these is with a finger. If you want a hint of sparkle brush application is good but not as good as a finger in my opinion. I haven’t tried applying either of these wet but that is something on my mental makeup to do list.

3. Glassons Black Cropped Jeans – These jeans arrived on the same day as the L’Oreal mascara and they are just as wonderful. The jeans are 97% cotton so they are comfortable and stretchy. They are a skinnier fit but they’re not tight. Black pants go with everything and these can be dressed up or dressed down. Even though they are cropped they are the perfect length for short girls like me. I have already worn these a bunch in the two weeks I’ve had them.

4. The Body Shop Mango Hand Cream – I know in my Autumn Beauty Edit I mentioned I would be reaching for The Body Shop’s Frosted Plum hand cream but I have had this mango one longer than some of my others and I wanted to use it up first. I’ve had it open for a couple of weeks now and when I opened it the weather was still very much warm and the fruity scent suited the weather. I haven’t tried anything else from the mango range but I will take a closer look at it in future.

5. ASOS Grey Fluffy Twosie – I made my first ASOS order of 2018 back in January and I am still in love with the fluffy twosie I got. The material is super soft and cuddly and I have found myself wearing the jumper quite a lot already. This will keep me toasty in winter and I look forward to putting it on on chilly evenings after work.

March’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in March?

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Beauty Bean + Glassons Haul

Hi everyone!

I have been on an unintentional makeup low buy this year and have barely purchased anything new… until last week. I first heard about Beauty Bean through a work colleague. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular at the time and it wasn’t until I was Googling foundations that the website popped up again.

Long story short, I made an order and purchased three items. The prices are really reasonable and if you buy three or more items shipping is free. Everything is stocked locally in New Zealand and shipping was a breeze, my order arrived within days.

1. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup W1-2 Porcelain Ivory

If you saw my recent post about Rimmel’s Match Perfection foundation you’ll know that I used to adore it until the formula changed and my shade was discontinued. I’m not a fan anymore and I am simply using it up because it’s not bad enough to throw away and I don’t like wastage.

Buying foundation on a whim isn’t something I normally do but I know a lot of people enjoy L’Oreal’s True Match and I’m guessing this is meant to be the more dewy, luminous version. According to the ingredients the foundation is 40% water for all day hydration and contains antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E for improved clarity. Sounds like a dream for dry skin, right? I was a little worried about the colour match but I looked up swatches online and they don’t look any darker than my Max Factor foundations which I’m a big fan of.

First Impression: The shade doesn’t look dark for me at all. The formula feels light and blends easily. It seems to layer nicely as well. I’m impressed!

2. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara (Blackest Black)

Ever since this mascara launched I have heard nothing but rave reviews for it! The mascara goes under the name Paradise Extatic if you live in The UK and it has gold packaging. I recieved the American version of the mascara in a gorgeous, metallic light pink tube which I am glad about – I love pink! This is supposedly a dupe for Too Faced’s Better Than Sex and while I haven’t tried that, this L’Oreal mascara is half the price of Better Than Sex (in NZ). The wand isn’t plastic and is big which I like – I am used to working with a similar size wand on my favourite Rimmel mascara. I ordered the washable mascara and opted for blackest black because I love my lashes to be super dark.

First Impression: The formula isn’t wet which I like and the mascara doesn’t smudge or flake as the day goes on. My lashes look similar if not better to how they do when I use Scandaleyes Lycra Flex from Rimmel.

3. Real Techniques Sculpting Brush

This brush was added to my cart because I needed a third item for free shipping. It was a toss up between this brush and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Since I prefer to apply foundation with a brush I went for this. The brush has really good reviews and like many of the Real Techniques brushes has multiple uses. This brush can be used to apply foundation and also to highlight and contour. The shape of the bristles means the brush fits perfectly under the cheekbones.

First Impression: The bristles on this brush are so soft! It blends foundation quicker than my Expert Face Brush also from Real Techniques and doesn’t eat up product. I haven’t tried to contour or highlight yet but I will.

Onto the Glassons part of the haul:

Glassons is a popular clothing store across Australia and New Zealand and price wise I’d say it’s mid-range. You get stylish, quality items for a good price, clothing isn’t cheap but isn’t expensive either. I have shopped in Glassons for years and have made numerous online orders and in store purchases in the past year. Shipping was also free as I spent over $40 and the order arrived less than 48 hours after I placed it.

1. Seagrass Sloppy Cardi

This is described as a lightweight, sheer cami for the trans-seasonal weather which is exactly what New Zealand is going through right now. The mornings and evenings are cooler but the days can still be warm. I really like the colour of this, it’s almost a light khaki and I love the way it was styled online.

2. Black Flare Sleeve Knit Jumper

I love my cosy jumpers and this reminded me of one Lily Pebbles wore in THIS VIDEO. Black is a staple colour in my wardrobe but I think I only have one other black jumper. I like the flared sleeves and the material is super soft.

3. Black Cropped Jean

I have a pair of these jeans in white already and they are super comfortable. As I am short these are full length on me and the jeans are stretchy and really nice to wear. I bought these to replace a pair of black jeggings I intend to get rid of. Black pants/jeans go with just about anything!

I shared this Instagram snap of me wearing the cardi and jeans:

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Have you tried any of the makeup items?

What did you purchase in your last haul?

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September Favourites 2017

September is the first month into my library job and work wise I’ve been less stressed and happier. Health wise I have been sick all month. I have always had trouble with my nose and my sinuses have been giving me grief. I got antibiotics but after I finished them the problem came back so I tried a sinus rinse which has been helping a lot. As a result of being sick I have felt lethargic and haven’t felt like doing much. Fingers crossed I’m better soon!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Shane Filan – Love Always – I have mentioned Shane Filan a number of times on the blog. He has one of the best voices and is one of my favourites to listen to. He released his third studio album, Love Always, in August and I have had it on repeat the past couple of weeks. My signed copy arrived a fortnight ago and the album is better than I thought it would be. The majority of songs are covers of famous love songs and I was in two minds about buying the album originally as I’m not the biggest fan of cover albums but Shane puts his own spin on each track and the album is cohesive. Standout Tracks: Don’t Dream It’s Over, Beautiful In White, Completely, Unbreakable and I Can’t Make You Love Me.

2. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lip Butter – Being sick my lips have been cracked and dry and this has been my saviour! I bought this lip butter last year and it is perfect when my lips need extra care. It smells like chocolate and smells very similar to my Cocoa Butter body butter from The Body Shop. The little pot is the cutest!

3. Navy Blue Fluffy Jumper – This is my favourite cosy jumper and I seem to have worn it a lot this month. The jumper is very warm and I love the colour, it goes so well with my hair. I wear this jumper casually and to work and it always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling when I do.

4. Revlon – Beginner’s Luck – I had a makeup declutter and almost gave this nail polish away. I had a pile of shades I wasn’t sure about and swatched them on paper. I wasn’t convinced enough to give this shade away and couldn’t wait to try it on again. I am glad I kept it. It is a subtle, shimmery shade that is great for everyday and the formula is dreamy.

5. Reading – At the start of the month I mentioned I would be starting a new blogging series: What I’ve Been Reading. Working at the library it only seems appropriate I make an active effort to read more and I’m slowly working through a small pile of books. I have been pretty busy this month and haven’t had much time to read but I have been enjoying the moments I have been able to. I love getting lost in a good story. Sadly, I haven’t been hitting my one book a week quota so far.

September’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in September?

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Fashion Haul: Glassons & Boohoo

Over the past couple of weeks I have added some new clothing to my wardrobe and the pieces are all stunning! Glassons is a popular New Zealand and Australia fashion retailer and I quite often pick up items on sale. I check their website regularly and I have signed up to their mailing list. Boohoo is a company I have heard of numerous times but had never purchased from before. Let me show you what I bought!

Glassons

1. Black Chenille Cardigan – 2017 has been the year of the cardigan! I have found a couple of different styles that suit my shape and this one is especially lovely. The fabric is beautiful and soft but also warm and will be good going into Spring for layering. I wore this cardigan to a job interview a few weeks ago and this is a piece that works dressed up or down.

Note: The cardigan in the image is blue, I couldn’t find a picture of the black one.

2. Ponte Pant and Rib Panel Ponte Pant – I have been after this style for a while. I love leggings as they are so comfortable and these are like leggings but thicker. They stretch and have an elastic waist so they are easy to wear. I purchased both pairs for $50.00 (NZD) and both in black. Black goes with anything and these pants are nice for any situation. My favourite of the two pairs is the ribbed pair, it’s a simple detail but it adds interest to an otherwise ordinary pair of black pants.

Boohoo

3. Hollie Denim Dungarees – I have been loving this trend for a while now and I’m glad I was able to pick up a cute pair of dungarees. I went for black as I preferred the look to normal blue denim and if I wear coloured tops over/under the dungarees the colour will pop more. I like the distressed detailing as it makes them more edgy and playful.

EDIT: Since writing this post I received the order from Boohoo and will be returning the dungarees due to poor fit. Denim can be a snug fit so I went up a size but the dungarees still aren’t the right size for me. To prevent this from happening in future I will only purchase dungarees I am able to try on in a shop first.

4. Mara Slinky Wrap Long Sleeve Bodycon Dress in Berry – This was a risky purchase. I have never worn a bodycon dress before and I didn’t know if it would suit me as I’m curvy. I fell in love with the Berry colour which is another risk. I don’t wear red clothing because of my hair but this is deeper rather than a bright red. I’m hoping the ruched, wrap style will hide my tummy. 

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Do you like the look of these items? What’s on your clothing wishlist?

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Autumn Shopping Haul

Last week I went on a shopping spree – my first in ages – and treated myself to some bits and pieces. I wanted to share what I bought as I love reading haul posts and seeing what new items people are trying out or repurchasing. I’ve got everything in this haul: makeup, fashion, craft and beauty. I made a list prior to going shopping and was successful with some purchases, others not so much. Sit back, relax and I hope you enjoy reading this post!

Top Row:

My first purchase of the day was black and white striped washi tape. I wanted a plain pattern as I have a project in mind and the person I am making it for will like these colours. I love washi tape, the patterns and designs are incredible and it is so useful for crafts and decorating.

If there is one fashion trend I love but find difficult to wear it’s cardigans. They are a great layering option but the majority of cardigans I’ve tried on in the past don’t look right. I’m short and curvy so the cardigan is either too long or doesn’t flatter my body shape. I saw a batwing style cardigan and fell in love instantly. I tried it on and it looked really nice. I love the salt and pepper colouring and the style so much I purchased a second one in pink online the next day. The cardigans were my find of the day!

I have a couple of scarfs but I wanted one in a lighter colour to stand out when I wear darker clothing. I picked up one in ‘Milk’ which is a gorgeous cream colour and feels so soft. The scarf is quite long so it can be styled in a few different ways.

Middle Row:

Rimmel is one of my preferred makeup brands and when I saw a Buy One, Get One Half Price offer I was happy. Because I also spent over $30 on Rimmel products I was entitled to a free lipstick. I picked up another bottle of Match Perfection foundation as it is my favourite for everyday wear and the new-ish Scandaleyes Reloaded mascara. The orange tube looks funky and vibrant and I’m big fan of Rimmel mascaras. For the free lipstick I opted for one of Kate Moss’ nude shades – #45, a rose nude. I have worn the lipstick already and it is beautiful, the formula is comfortable and the colour looks subtle and natural. This shade is going straight into my everyday/most used makeup bag.

Bottom Row:

It’s been a few months since my last visit to The Body Shop so a trip was long overdue. I hadn’t intended to buy anything specific but I did want to test out the new Almond Milk and Honey scent. There was a multibuy on hand cream so I purchased one in Almond Milk and Honey and the other in Shea. I took advantage of another multibuy which offered a travel size (50ml) body butter and a travel size shower gel; I got Shea for both. I plan to give my mum the shower gel as I have sensitive skin and use the body butter when I stay with my boyfriend.

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Have you been shopping recently? What have you purchased?

February Favourites 2017

Hi everyone! Like January, February has been eventful. I had intended to get back into a more regular blogging routine and write more beauty posts but that hasn’t been the case. I have started planning for March and hope things get back to ‘normal’ soon.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Glassons Cheeky Denim Shorts – Over the past year or so I have gotten into fashion a lot more and have really enjoyed adding pieces that were missing to my wardrobe. I purchased this pair of shorts in January and I have been wearing them ever since. The name implies a slightly shorter, cheeky fit but this style is flattering and doesn’t show off too much skin. I chose an ice blue colour and the fact they’re denim means they will wear well and last. I’m a bit cheeky too so these are appropriate!

2. Max Factor CC Cream – I purchased this CC Cream from eBay in November 2016 but didn’t start using it until this year. I bought the shade 40 Fair which is a perfect match for my skin tone. I think this product has been discontinued but I picked this up for $11 (NZD) including postage! A shop in New Zealand was selling it for triple the price. I do really like this for an everyday base, it feels light and doesn’t clog up my skin. I have a few red areas and I find the colour correcting element works well.

3. MAC – Matte Royal – I mentioned Matte Royal briefly in My 22nd Birthday! post. This lipstick was a present from my brother in January and each time I wear it I come to like it a little more.  When I first tried the lipstick on it was evening and the lighting wasn’t the best, I was a little unsure. A couple of days later I swatched it and tried it on again in daylight and was more confident with my choice. I love bold lipstick and I’m not afraid to wear it! I messaged my boyfriend a picture of me wearing the lipstick on Facebook and he gave it the thumbs up too!

4. MAC – Brave – I won this in Stashy’s giveaway (post coming on Wednesday) and it’s a lipstick that has been on my MAC wishlist. Upon receiving this lipstick I knew it was love at first sight! Brave has a Satin finish which is incredibly comfortable to wear. I hadn’t tried one of MAC’s satin lipsticks before but I will look into them in future. When I first wore the shade I thought of it as a slightly darker, more pigmented version of Syrup which is my favourite MAC lipstick. I can see why Brave is liked by so many people.

5. Una Healy – The Waiting Game* – Una is perhaps best known as being one fifth of girlband The Saturdays. They are one of my favourite bands and I wholeheartedly support the girls together and apart. Una is the first member of the band to release an album and her debut sees her return to her country, folk, singer-songwriter roots. The album gets better with each listen and Una’s voice sounds absolutely beautiful. Standout Tracks: Battlelines, The Waiting Game, Staring At the Moon, Alarm Bells and Craving You.

*My copy of The Waiting Game didn’t arrive before this post was published hence why it wasn’t included in the picture.

February’s Spotify Playlist:

February is the month of luuurve! All of these tracks relate to love in some way.

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What were your favourite things in February?