Redhead Rambles #14

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

  • I got to see my boyfriend and spend more time with him over Easter weekend which was nice. We giggled and laughed a lot, had cuddles and treated ourselves to Dominos last Friday night. I normally go for thin crust pepperoni with BBQ sauce but I felt like a change and went for cheesy garlic instead.
  • The clocks went back which means winter is getting closer.
  • When I got back home on Sunday mum surprised me with Easter eggs. I told her not to get me any but she was cute and did anyway. She got me a packet of Mini Creme Eggs and a Rolo egg.
  • I started reading another ebook on Sunday and finished it on Tuesday. Predictably, another Poirot!
  • I painted my nails using Bahama Mama by Essie and did a glitter top coat using Glow Your Own Way also by Essie. Inspiration for these nails came from this post by Mrs Strawberry Blonde.

  • On Tuesday I felt irritable and was in a horrible mood.
  • Also on Tuesday I lost my bookmark at work. I left it inside a book I returned. Luckily the next morning I searched the book and found my bookmark!
  • At the supermarket I picked up a box of hot chocolate sachets and they are delicious. They are sweet enough without having to add any sugar. I just need to buy marshmallows.
  • Halo had a vet appointment to get desexed so she can’t have kittens. She is very good with her cage, she doesn’t put up a fuss like other cats I’ve had. Apparently everyone loved her and had lots of cuddles.
  • Mum and I were in town on Thursday afternoon. I bought a pair of Adidas trainers and I love the colour scheme, they’re not straight black like 99% of my other shoes.
  • I haven’t been able to read as much as I would like this week.
  • The weather is still very warm for this time of year. There was one small rain shower during the week and the rest of the weather has been clear and hot.

What I’ve been listening to:

Kylie Minogue – Raining Glitter – This is the third promotional track from Kylie’s 14th studio album ‘Golden’ (out today). The beat and the lyrics are very catchy.

Una Healy – Never See Me Cry – Una’s debut album was one of my standouts of 2017 and this track is the first of her follow up material. The song has a great message behind it.

How was your week?

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Autumn Beauty Edit

In September 2017, I published a Spring Beauty Edit which featured a handful of products I wanted to use during New Zealand spring time! I did find myself using those products in spring and I thought it would be fun to do another post for autumn. In autumn I tend to gravitate towards berries, darker lip shades and warm, musky, non-fruity fragrances.

LIPS

L – R: Rimmel – 107, Revlon – Raspberry Pie, Revlon – Sugar Plum, Urban Decay – After Dark

Autumn is when I tend to wear berry and red lipsticks more. Rimmel’s 107 is a classic berry shade in the blogging world and the pigmentation is really good. Sometimes these dark, berry shades can be patchy but not this one. Revlon’s lip butters are perfect for cooler days if you want a pop of colour, the formula is so moisturising and won’t leave the lips dry. Raspberry Pie is a pretty berry-red and Sugar Plum is a perfect pink-mauve everyday shade. The names are the cutest too! After Dark is more of a purple berry and it’s such a beautiful shade.

NAILS

L – R: Essie – Bahama Mama, Rimmel – Bestival Blue, OPI – Tiramisu For Two

I have a number of neutral polishes which work all year round but I only selected one for this edit. Tiramisu For Two is one of the newest shades in my makeup drawer and I want to wear it more which is why I chose it. Bahama Mama follows the berry theme and Bestival Blue is a lovely pastel blue that doesn’t look summery and suits the cooler vibe of the weather.

Fragrance & Body

Cooler weather can be harsh on the skin so I’d really like to try The Body Shop’s Almond Milk & Honey shower cream. I have sensitive skin and I have been hesitant to try this so far but my skin is in an okay place at the moment. I got the small size so if I react to the shower cream I’m not wasting product and I may be able to pass the product along. The black musk fragrance is one I first tried last winter. Black musk is spicier and warmer than white musk and less floral, making it a good match for the cooler months. I always have a tube of hand cream on the go and this frosted plum scent from The Body Shop’s 2017 Christmas range is my pick. The purple tube is a neat colour and the scent isn’t overly fruity.


What’s your favourite berry lip colour? Do you associate any particular products with autumn/fall?

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Christmas Nails & Makeup Tutorial

The Christmas countdown is on, there’s only 4 days to go! Personally I really enjoy doing my makeup on Christmas Day and making myself look nice. I knew this year I wanted lots of glow and sparkle and that’s exactly what I got! I’ve included a step by step guide as to how I achieved my Christmas look, how I applied each product and a list of the tools I used. Enjoy!


First I want to show off my Christmas nails! I wanted them to tie in with my makeup so I went for a neutral shade, Tiramisu For Two by OPI and did an accent nail (ring fingers) using Glow Your Own Way by Essie.

Makeup Products and Tools Used:

Step By Step Guide:

  1. Moisturise. My go to everyday moisturiser is the Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser from Simple.
  2. Fill in brows using Rimmel’s Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel.
  3. Apply a pea sized amount of primer. I am currently loving the Ultra Face Base Primer from Makeup Revolution. This has been sitting in my collection unused for a while and I decided to give it another go. It has been helping my makeup stay on longer and aids with application of foundation.
  4. Next I apply Max Factor’s Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I dot the foundation over my face then blend it in. I tend to go in with a little more product on my chin and around my nose as I suffer from redness in those areas.
  5. Using my middle finger I pat concealer onto my nose and chin, again to cover any redness, or any blemishes I have. For this look I used the Studio Finish Concealer from MAC. I have the shade NW10. It is so creamy and blends like a dream. I also run my finger over my eyelids so the concealer can act as a primer for eyeshadow.
  6. *For eyeshadow I used the Iconic 1 palette from Makeup Revolution. Starting with a Real Techniques Oval Shadow Brush I apply the first shade in the palette all over the lid. Taking a Real Techniques Tapered Shadow Brush I blend the darkest matte brown into the crease and outer corner of the eye. The fourth shade from the left is applied all over the lid with a Real Techniques Shading Brush. The second and ninth shades are applied in the centre of the lid with my finger to complete the look.
  7. I used Rimmel’s Scandaleyes Lycra Flex in Black on my lashes. This mascara in the shade Extreme Black 003 is my holy grail. It gives volume and length and makes the lashes look fluttery.
  8. Dipping my Real Techniques Tapered Blush Brush into Dainty Doll’s Powder Blush in You Are My Sunshine I dab lightly over the apples and tops of my cheeks to give a nice flush of colour. This is my favourite blush and a great dupe for Orgasm by NARS.
  9. Using the other side of the same Tapered Blush Brush I apply highlighter to the tops of my cheeks. I chose Mary-Lou Manizer from theBalm.
  10. Fuchsia Fusion from NYX was an easy lip colour choice! Fuchsia is my favourite colour to wear and the sparkles add extra glitz to the look.

*Shades used in eye look:

The Finished Look:

I love this makeup so much! Before I commit to a Christmas Day look I always trial the makeup look beforehand. I wore this makeup out for an evening of shopping and I felt beautiful. It’s not the most traditional look but I didn’t want to do the usual red lip and gold eye.


Do you wear makeup on Christmas Day? If so, what will you be opting for this year?

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Seventeen of ’17

Previously I have written Sixteen of ’16 and Fifteen of ’15 so it only seemed right to continue this theme! There have been some extremely special moments throughout 2017 and also moments that have been difficult but this post focuses on the positives and sees me discuss what defined my year.


#1. Steps reform + release new album

Steps are my favourite band and on January 1st 2017 they announced they were back. The band originally split up in 2001 and got back together briefly in 2012 for a #1 Greatest Hits album, a Christmas album and two tours. In March 2017 the band announced new music and their long awaited fourth studio album Tears On the Dancefloor was released the following month. The album was re-released in October. I have had the album on repeat since April and it is my favourite album of 2017!

#2. My 22nd birthday!

22 isn’t a milestone birthday but it was special for me as I got to celebrate my first birthday with my boyfriend. I had a massage in the morning as a gift from my mum and in the afternoon my boyfriend picked me up and we went for a walk. We ate pizza for dinner down at the lakefront before he took me on a drive. It was a lovely, relaxing day.

Related post: My 22nd Birthday!

#3. Winning Stash Matters giveaway

I was over the moon when I saw I had won this giveaway! There were so many brands and products I had never tried before and I still use lots of the products on a daily/weekly basis. (I will admit I haven’t tried the eyelash curlers yet though, sorry Stashy!)

Related post: Stashy’s Giveaway Prize + First Impressions

#4. First Valentines Day

This was another super special day as it was the first Valentines Day with my boyfriend and the first time I’ve ever had a valentine. We gave each other soft toys as presents – great minds think alike – and the card he gave me was so sweet. We went for another walk, this time around a lake and I can still remember how beautiful the sky was afterwards.

#5. Winning a polaroid signed by Vanessa White

Vanessa White is one fifth of British girlband The Saturdays (my favourite band after Steps) and on Valentines Day she held a Twitter competition where she was giving away signed polaroid pictures. I was lucky enough to win one of 40 I think it was. A signed Post It also arrived with the picture.

#6. Fit Bit Zip in Magenta

I found my Fit Bit on sale for $29 in March and I have been wearing it most days since it arrived. It is interesting to see how many steps I walk each day and how that equates into distance and calories. My Fit Bit is basic and doesn’t have a sleep tracker or heart rate monitor but I like that I can clip it on and don’t have to wear it like a watch. I’ve heard so many stories about the bands snapping and having to be replaced. The battery life is good too, I’ve replaced the battery once in nine months.

#7. Going to the cinema

Up until this year I hadn’t been to the cinema since about 2007. It got expensive and most movies end up on TV anyway. I have been twice this year and I really enjoyed the experience both times; I saw Logan and IT. Maybe I should go more often?

#8. Saying ‘I love you’ for the first time

I was the one to say ‘I love you’ first and I felt so brave when I did it. Technically it was written not said aloud but I meant it. I didn’t know if my feelings were those of love as I had never felt that way before but I have said those three words countless times since!

#9. 3 years of blogging

In June I celebrated my third blogging anniversary. Three is my favourite number so it felt even more legendary.

Related post: My Three Year Blogversary!

#10. Trip to the MAC counter

I don’t have a MAC counter in my city but ended up at one unexpectedly in July. I got two items, a lipstick in the shade Show Orchid and a travel sized Studio Moisture Cream. I actually didn’t end up paying a cent as I had gift cards and my boyfriend paid for the rest.

#11. Buying a DSLR

Also in July I took the plunge and purchased a DSLR camera. I settled on the Canon 700D as it has a flip out screen so if I ever wanted to try videos or use the screen for difficult, hard to reach angles I can. I love practicing with the settings and using my camera when I can. I’d love to snap some festive, Christmas photos and share them after December 25th.

#12. Essie Glow Your Own Way

This nail polish is one of the most photogenic products I have worked with. I bought it on a whim back in August and it is subtle and glamorous at the same time. It’s easy to apply (a pain to remove) but that doesn’t detract from how nice it looks on. Essie polishes are some of my favourites!

Related post: Essie Nail Polish in Glow Your Own Way

#13. Job at the library

In August I changed jobs. I’ve loved reading and going to the library since I was a child so it’s nice that I am able to work in a place that makes me happy. I am part of the customer services team and believe or not the majority of my days are not spent putting books away. Since I started this job I have been in a much more positive place.

#14. One year anniversary with my boyfriend

Quite a few of these highlights are about me and my boyfriend but they are truly some of my most memorable and happy moments of 2017. At the beginning of September it was one year since we first met in person. We didn’t spend the day together but I did receive a cute text message.

#15. Boyfriend’s 25th birthday

I think I was more excited about my boyfriend’s birthday than my own! I jokingly thought about doing 25 presents as he turned 25 and then as I began coming up with gifts I realised it wasn’t actually a stupid idea. He didn’t know what I had planned and I had a lot of fun buying all the gifts, wrapping them and revealing the surprise.

Related post: Boyfriend’s Birthday Surprise!

#16. NYX Cosmic Metals – Fuchsia Fusion

Hands down this is the prettiest lip colour I own! I have a few fuchsias but this takes the crown. Pink – check, sparkles – check. This is so sparkly and pretty without looking unnatural. The formula is not sticky and comfortable to wear. The pigment is outstanding!

I love this photo and it shows the colour/sparkle.

#17. Music

2017 has been a whole lot better for me music wise than 2016. There were some musical comebacks from 90s artists: Steps, Martine McCutcheon and Shania Twain as well as great original material from Una Healy, Dua Lipa and Vanessa White. The majority of artists I listen to are female but a special mention goes to Shane Filan who released his third album in 2017. His voice is beautiful and so easy to listen to.


What have been your favourite moments of 2017?

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Nail Colours You Need

My nail polishes received the biggest culling in September’s makeup declutter. Two were sold and a few went in the bin. I kept the polishes I wear frequently and polishes I’d forgotten about and want to wear more. Decluttering made me evaluate which shades I need. This post is a guide to the different shades you might like to go for if you’re a nail polish newbie or if you just want a good base selection of colours.

NB: The polishes mentioned in this post are examples of shades and are colours I personally own.

Minimalist – Take It Outside by Essie

Take It Outside was one of the first Essie polishes I purchased and it is also one of my most worn. The colour is a taupe/grey that looks good all year round and will go with any outfit. It’s not a super girly colour and would appeal to those who like dark colours or have a monochromatic style. The polish applies smoothly and streak free.

Neutral – Ladylike by Essie

If you like nude lips chances are you also like neutral nail colours. If you want something girly, fuss-free and a colour that is work appropriate, Ladylike is it! Ladylike can also be worn all year round and suits a range of skin tones.

Red – Mon Cherry by Revlon

Red nail polish is like red lipstick, classic! Depending on your skin tone you might want a blue, cool toned red like Mon Cherry or you might prefer something warmer and fiery with more of an orange tone to it. Red looks classy and would be the perfect shade to accompany a LBD.

Berry – Bahama Mama by Essie

If you like to match your nails to seasons you will love a berry nail polish come Autumn/Winter. Bahama Mama has a hint of plum in it and it’s a gorgeous shade. Like the other two Essie polishes I’ve already mentioned it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats.

Bright – Can’t aFjörd Not To by OPI and BubbleGum by Revlon

Can’t aFjörd Not To is not for the faint hearted, it is bright orange and this colour looks even better if you have a tan or have a darker skin tone, it really pops! Bright pink is one of my favourite colours to wear and call me stereotypical but I love to wear bright colours in summer. Bubblegum is a scented polish and the scent has an air of summer about it too.

Pastel – go Wild-er-ness and Bestival Blue by Rimmel

If you’re not a fan of brights but still like to wear colour, pastel shades might be more your thing. These polishes from Rimmel dry quickly. They are from the 60 Seconds line but I always leave the polish a couple of minutes longer to be safe.


What nail polishes are your essentials?

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Makeup Declutter

I have been wanting to have a clear out of my makeup for a little while and I finally did so last week. I had been harbouring unnecessary products and everything was much neater afterwards. I didn’t get rid of too many products and had a fair idea of what to cull before I started. As you will see I decided to sell some items that had barely been used and give a few bits to my mum.

Let’s get started!

Face

1. Chi Chi Real Minerals Bronzer – MUM

I got this bronzer years ago when I first started getting into makeup. I’ve never really used it as I don’t find it shows up on me at all. The product looks pretty in the pan and that’s really the only good thing I have to say. I don’t know even know the product performs, I received it as a present and it was just sitting in my drawer. I think I held onto it for so long due to sentimental reasons, it’s time to let go.

2. Australis Mousse – Buff Beige – MUM

I used to use mousse makeup before I started wearing liquid foundation. After I bought my first bottle of Rimmel’s Match Perfection I never looked back and this got pushed to the side. My mum has also used this product – albeit in a different shade – and offered to take it off my hands.

3. Australis Concealer – Light – BIN

Stick concealer is what teenage Chanelle used. I had a stick concealer I absolutely adored (unfortunately the brand name faded so I never knew what it was to repurchase) and when that ran out this was the closest shade to my skin tone I found. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as creamy and I soon ventured into liquid concealer which I have used ever since. This concealer didn’t conceal or cover up redness, a regrettable purchase.

4. Rimmel Good To Glow Liquid Highlighter in 003 Soho Glow – SELL

My first foray into liquid highlighter. I purchased this on ASOS in 2016 to get my purchase over the threshold to qualify for free shipping. I like the idea of the product and the shade itself is nice but I don’t find myself wanting to use it. I’ve only used it a handful of times in the past year and would rather see it go to a worthy home to someone who wants to use it.

Eyes

5. LA Colors Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pool Party – SELL

Last year I was on the hunt for a blue eyeshadow and picked up this pencil for a couple of dollars. I’ve used the product once and found a similar colour in powder form in a palette and tend to go for that instead. This is in near new condition so it is good enough to sell. It could also double as an eyeliner.

6. Thin Lizzy Liquid Precision Eyeliner – SELL

I cannot apply eyeliner and I don’t wear it. To my knowledge I have never worn or tried this product. Straight to the sell pile!

7. Maybelline Colour Tattoos in Barely Branded & Inked In Pink – BIN

In my opinion the Colour Tattoos are over hyped and not worth buying. I was so excited to wear these two gorgeous shimmer shades but they felt and looked dry in the pot and weren’t easy to apply. They dragged across the eyelid and don’t apply precisely. The only good thing about these is they do stay in place and don’t budge. I was really disappointed.

8. Revlon Diamond Lust Eyeshadows in Plum Galaxy & Neptune Star – MUM

I picked these up for a couple of dollars each but rarely reach for them. Plum Galaxy was used a few times to create a smoky purple eye look with Max Factor’s Pink Opal but the blue is not very pigmented at all. These look pretty in the pan but don’t perform that well. They are ok for the couple of dollars I paid but nothing special.

9. W7 In the Nude Palette – BIN

One of the worst products I have ever bought. I know dupe products won’t match the quality and standard of the original but this was terrible. The shades were all so dry and didn’t apply well. I hated using this palette and was actually happy to throw it in the bin.

Lips

10. Avon Glazewear – Celebrity Plum – BIN

My mum gave me this years ago and I used to love it! I only threw it away because of its age. It was a lovely purple gloss with a slight hint of neutral colour.

11. Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquer in 102 Nova – SELL

I bought three of these lip lacquers at the beginning of 2016 and decided to keep the two brown/nude shades and sell the pink. It’s a very warm pink and one I don’t find looks that great on me. I have plenty of other pink shades to keep me going!

12. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – Buenos Aires – BIN

I had heard so many great things about NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Creams but this shade was a poor choice on my part. Buenos Aires is a light peach/coral that is very patchy to apply. This colour wasn’t flattering on me at all and I can’t think of any skin tone it would be flattering on. This experience has put me off trying other shades of soft matte lip cream and NYX products in general.

13. BYS Pretty Little Thing – BIN

Why wasn’t there someone who told Chanelle not to buy coral lipsticks?! This shade looks so pretty in the bullet, it’s almost like NARS Orgasm in a lipstick but the shade isn’t for me and I only wore it once or twice. The formula wasn’t great either which is odd because this brand also makes my favourite ever lipstick which has such a creamy, pigmented formula.

14. LA Colors Glossin Go in Sherbert – BIN

A friend gave me this lipgloss as a birthday present a few years back and I used to wear it a lot! It smelt like vanilla which is one of my favourite scents and the shade was a lovely neutral colour that went with everything. Much like Celebrity Plum, I’m throwing this away because of age not because I don’t like it anymore.

Nails

15. Essie Chillato – SELL

I think I first heard this polish mentioned in a Lily Pebbles video. The first (and only) time I wore it I knew it was too pale for me. The shade itself is gorgeous, I just think it would be better suited to those with warmer, darker skin tones than mine. This isn’t very old so it’s still good enough to sell.

16. OPI – Pink Yet Lavendar – BIN

This used to be my favourite nail polish but sadly it has dried up and can’t be applied anymore. I loved the pink glitter and how subtle and lovely this looked on the nails. Compared to other glitter polishes this wasn’t too difficult to remove either. Maybe I’ll see if this is still around and repurchase.

17. Revlon Red – SELL

There is nothing wrong with this shade. A good red polish is classic and the reason I’m selling is because I have another Revlon polish in a similar shade and don’t need both.

18. Klean Color – Love Madness – BIN

I only used this a handful of times and didn’t enjoy it. It didn’t coat the nails with glitter very well and didn’t fare much better as a top coat over other polishes.


Have you had a makeup clear out lately? Did you throw anything away or pass on products to someone who might use them?

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Spring Beauty Edit

September signals the start of Spring in New Zealand which I know could be difficult to get your head around if you live in the northern hemisphere. Spring is probably my favourite season; flowers blossom and the sun’s out more minus the summer temperatures. You still get cooler, wet days so it’s a nice balance. I went through my stash and selected a handful of products to use over the coming months that give me a spring feeling.

Lips

L – R: Dainty Doll – Material World, Revlon – Peach Parfait and Revlon – Softsilver Rose

Spring is all about peachy pinks. They aren’t strictly the only shades I wear but I do reach for them more. I have reserved my bold shades since starting at the library, I wanted to ease the other staff in! Over the past few weeks I have been loving the warm tones of Material World and Peach Parfait. Softsilver Rose is a shade I’ve had for more than a year but only recently started enjoying. It has a slight frost finish and a formula that’s super comfortable on the lips. In fact, these formulas are all lovely and creamy to wear.

Nails

L – R: Glow Your Own Way, Ladylike and Romper Room.

Coincidentally these are all Essie polishes. Over the past two years I have become an Essieaholic and purchased a number of polishes from the brand. Glow Your Own Way is a beautiful bronze-gold glitter. The sparkles make me think of spring and I plan on wearing it a lot over the coming months. Glow Your Own Way also has a dedicated blog post of it’s own. To read it, CLICK HERE. Ladylike was one of the first Essie polishes I bought and it is one of my favourites. This elegant, soft mauve is the ideal shade for any situation and applies like a dream! (At the time of writing this post I had it on my nails). I associate spring with pastels and Romper Room is the perfect example of that. This pale tea rose pink can be a little streaky to apply but three coats achieves an opaque finish.

Skincare

I use numerous products from The Body Shop on a regular basis and one of my latest favourites is the Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Mask. The face mask smells good enough to eat and I tend to use this if my skin is feeling drier than usual or is in need of extra care. The moisturising ingredients make for a gentle mask and honey and oats do wonders for the skin. A little goes a long way so this 100ml pot will last a while.

Prior to using the Vitamin C Face Mist I was using the Vitamin E version but I much prefer the Vitamin C. The scent is citrus fresh and I love how the mist feels on the skin.

Body

Unlike most people, I don’t have a weakness for coconut. I’m not a fan of the scent, I don’t like eating it and I would never buy a coconut product for myself. I did however receive a travel sized Waikiki Beach Coconut Fragrance Mist from Stashy in her giveaway and I like it. There isn’t a strong coconut scent and there’s a hint of beach/sea air mixed in. I’ve never tried anything from Bath & Body Works before but I’ve heard other bloggers rave about their products.

Every morning before I dress I apply body lotion to my arms. One of the lotions on the go at the moment is the Cocoa Butter Body Lotion from The Body Shop. The Body Shop lotions are my favourite as they are super moisturising, last for ages and smell divine! This doesn’t smell as good as the body butter – it’s less chocolately – but the scent isn’t unpleasant enough to put me off using the product. This particular range is known for keeping skin soft and supple and it certainly delivers.


Do you associate products with certain seasons? Let me know in the comments what you have been enjoying recently!

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Essie Nail Polish in Glow Your Own Way

Nail polish is another of my beauty weaknesses. Today’s post is all about the latest addition to my nail drawer; Glow Your Own Way by Essie. Essie is one of my favourite nail polish brands, the shade range is extensive and the quality is excellent!

I purchased Glow Your Own Way a fortnight ago and painted my nails with it that very night – I was so excited to try it! Glow Your Own Way is part of the Luxe Effects Collection along with two other shades (In the Mood Ring and Disco Doll). These shades can be worn on their own but have also been designed to pair well with existing Essie shades and act as a glitter top coat. Glow Your Own Way has flecks of gold and silver confetti glitter and looks the same on the nails as in the bottle.

The texture is rough when first applied but softens up after a day or so. The texture resembles that of OPI’s liquid sand. The polish applies nicely and the coats aren’t overly thick despite the inclusion of glitter. I actually found three coats of this built up the colour more nicely than two. If being used as a top coat over another polish one/two would definitely be enough. I went for three so the entire nail was covered and there were no gaps.

Upon painting my nails with this shade my first impressions were I didn’t like it. The next day my thoughts changed and I fell back in love with the colour I’d seen in the bottle the day before. The evening light didn’t give a true reflection of the colour and its beauty and shows how different lights can distort colour.

Matching my coffee cup.

After a few days wear.

I’ve received a number of compliments about this polish. The colour looks glamorous and I really like the gold against my skin tone. I’m pale so I tend to prefer silver but I’m beginning to think I have a neutral skin tone as both colours suit me. It’s the same with silver and gold eyeshadow, both work on me.

The polish has good lasting power too. I painted my nails on July 30 and at the time of writing this post on August 8 the colour is still going strong. The polish started to chip around the seven/eight day mark but only at the tips. I haven’t tried to remove this shade with nail polish remover yet but I’m guessing it will be stubborn like other glitters. EDIT: I removed this polish after drafting this post and it was SUPER stubborn – I’m putting that down to three coats and next time will be tempted to go for two.

Overall, I’m really happy and I actually see this being a shade I wear a lot. The gold tones make Glow Your Own Way more of a neutral shade and one that can be worn with pretty much anything. Glitter is always in style and looks beautiful! I also look forward to trying this as a top coat over some of my other polishes. I’m thinking it will look nice over Take Me Outside (also by Essie) which is a mauvey-grey.


Have you seen the Luxe Effects Collection in stores yet? What was the last nail polish you bought?

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July Favourites 2017

This month my favourites are VERY beauty based. I have been enjoying coming up with different makeup looks again for the first time in a while and I think that’s because I have had new products to sink my teeth into. I have been reaching for these products frequently over the past four weeks.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Bold Lipstick – Luscious Raspberry (sample) – I was given this at work (I’m known as the lipstick girl) and it is absolutely gorgeous! Creamy, high impact colour combines the coverage and intensity of a lipstick with the finish of a gloss. This sample has a doe foot applicator which I imagine would be better than the push lever/click pen of the full sized version. The colour lasts all day and doesn’t feel sticky for a gloss finish. I love the colour but I am undecided if I would purchase the full version because of the applicator.

2. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I have been forgetting to mention this face cream. I made a mental note to include it in a favourites post and this month I finally remembered! This face cream has such a lovely texture, it’s lightweight but soaks into the skin quickly and keeps it hydrated. It doesn’t irritate dry patches and a little goes a long way. I started using the Kiehl’s as my night moisturiser when I finished The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Night Cream and this blows The Body Shop cream out of the water! I highly recommend trying this whatever skin type you have. Sometimes I even use this during the day and it works just as well.

3. Essie – Bahama Mama – I bought this nail polish back in January and it is the perfect winter Berry shade. The name is also super cute! Bahama Mama is described as a warm, rich, deep plum which is spot on. This polish is typical Essie quality – good – and is opaque in two coats.

4. MAC Show Orchid – I made my first trip to the MAC counter in nearly a year at the beginning of July (albeit unexpected). The best part about this lipstick is I didn’t have to pay a cent for it. I had gift cards to use and my boyfriend treated me and paid the rest. Show Orchid is a “very hot pink” with an amplified finish meaning the lipstick is highly pigmented and won’t dry out the lips. Show Orchid has a slight shimmer to it which only adds to the beauty. This is such a Chanelle colour and will be worn a lot!

5. Rimmel Scandaleyes Reloaded – This mascara was purchased back in April and over the past month or so I have been using it regularly. The formula has dried out a bit and gives a nicer effect than the wet formula when I first started using it. This is such a good everyday mascara if you want defined natural lashes with a bit of volume. I did purchase the washable version but compared to other Rimmel mascaras I’ve tried this takes a little longer to remove. There’s no harsh scrubbing required though, which is a plus.

July’s Spotify Playlist:


What were your favourite things in July?

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The Autumn/Winter Nail Edit

AW Nail EditI have been excitedly waiting to write this post for a few weeks and I’m so glad I get to share it with you today! We are already into May and the second month of Autumn. Over the past week or so I’ve been noticing a real change in the weather; it’s no longer a crisp breeze in the morning and the nights are getting colder. One thing I always love to do regardless of the weather is paint my nails. Similar to what I did in my Spring/Summer Nail Edit, I’m going to show you what colours I think are perfect for Autumn and Winter. Again, there is a mix of brights, muted tones and shimmers.

The Lineup:

AW Nail PolishesClockwise, top to bottom: Revlon – Mon Cherry, OPI – Kiss Me At Midnight, Rimmel – Climax, OPI – No Room For the  Blues, Rubi – Rose Gold and Essie – Take It Outside.

1. Revlon – Mon Cherry

Everyone needs a classic red in their collection and this is my favourite out of the two I own. Funnily enough, my other red is also from Revlon but I love how glossy and shiny Mon Cherry looks on my nails. This is quite a bright red but I believe red looks nice all year round and the cherry hues are cooler than a tomato red for example.

Chanelle’s Tip: Team this polish with a red lip and monochrome outfit for a classic look!

2. OPI – Kiss Me At Midnight

Glitter is one of my favourite things in life and polishes are no exception! I got this mini polish in a Mariah Carey Holiday set along with two others and the combination of silver and blue glitter make this a particularly lovely wear in winter. The liquid sand texture is reminiscent of snow, despite the fact my part of New Zealand doesn’t get snow (apart from one time a couple of years ago). This polish only needs two coats but you could almost get away with one. My only gripe is I wish I had this in full size, I might have to invest in it.

Chanelle’s Tip: Don’t wear a top coat as it will alter the liquid sand texture and the polish won’t look as pretty.

3. Rimmel – Climax

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t wear this nail polish a whole lot and I should. The formula of this is so long-lasting and the iridescence mixed in with the dark purple is really pretty. Purple is my colour and what I mean by that is, whenever I seem to wear purple, clothing, makeup etc. I always seem to get complimented. I’m making it a goal to wear this polish a lot more in the near future.

Chanelle’s Tip: I don’t really have a tip for this polish except maybe to be mindful of the brush. It’s quite wide and if you have smaller hands you’ll need to be more careful.

4. OPI – No Room For the Blues

You’re probably thinking, “isn’t this more of a summer colour?” and yes brights are more likely to be associated with summer but I’m the kind of girl who loves brights all year round. Blue is a winter-y colour hence it being on the list!

Chanelle’s Tip: If you don’t like your nails getting stained use a base coat with this shade.

5. Rubi – Rose Gold

I picked up this polish for around $3 last year and briefly mentioned it in my HUGE Me Spree post. I am one of the people who has totally jumped on the rose gold bandwagon and this polish is incredibly gorgeous. The formula is surprisingly good and doesn’t apply streaky or too thick. I included this polish as it incorporates more traditional tones and colours associated with Autumn.

Chanelle’s Tip: This would be especially lovely if you’re looking to brighten up your nails during the cooler months. It’s neutral enough to be an everyday shade but still special enough if you’re dressing up or for an occasion.

6. Essie – Take It Outside

If you’re an avid reader of Chanelle Hayley you’ll know Take It Outside also featured in my Spring/Summer Nail Edit and it must be pretty amazing to warrant an appearance in both posts. The colour is a lovely light grey with hints of lilac and taupe throughout which helps to brighten up the nails and make them look fresh. The formula compared to some of my other Essie polishes is a dream to apply and wears well.

Chanelle’s Tip: Grey has become one of my go-to colours in my wardrobe as it makes a change from black but still has that classic, traditional feel. I like my nails to reflect my style.


My A/W nail polish choices may not be your usual dark berry tones and plum shades but there are a ton of those posts out there if that’s your thing. I like my nail polish shades to be versatile and a bit different and there’s always a purpose behind the purchase of each one. What’s your favourite shade for winter?

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