July Colourpop Haul!

One Saturday in July I spent hours browsing the Colourpop website and added a bunch of eye products (and one lipgloss) to my cart. I have been impressed with the quality of products since my first Colourpop haul and knew it would only be a matter of time before I did another order. A few items I’d seen and heard about before but others I bought simply because I liked the look of them!

The items took around two weeks to arrive which is pretty standard for mail from overseas. I wasn’t charged customs when the package arrived in New Zealand but there was damage to one of the Super Shock Shadows. I contacted Colourpop about the damage and was given credit but I am a little bummed because the broken shade is the one I was most looking forward to receiving. The shade has been discontinued so I can’t use the credit to repurchase another one in my next order. The product is still usable but I’ll have to be careful how I store it and I won’t be able to travel with it.

Let’s get on with the haul!

Super Shock Shadows x 3

Colourpop are known for their Super Shock Shadows and after picking one up in my previous haul and enjoying the formula I wanted to try more. I picked up the shades Bouncy (cool toned bronze with gold and violet duo chrome), Nillionaire (bronze with pink and gold ultra-glitter) and So Quiche (soft olive with violet and gold sparkles). Seeing the shades written like that makes me realise how similar they sound and whilst they do look similar in real life there are subtle differences.

Bouncy – This is the shade I was most excited for and the one that arrived damaged. On the eyes the colour comes through as equal parts bronze and pink and the duochrome is prominent.

Nillionaire – I heard Emily Noel mention this shade in her Colourpop Top 5, Bottom 5 video and Googled it instantly. It’s such a pretty everyday shade. Nillionaire has the sheerest colour payoff and is the most golden of the three I purchased.

So Quiche – The olive tones in this shade make it the coolest toned out of the three but also it’s the only shade I picked up that leans slightly towards green-violet on the colour spectrum. This reminds me of a more shimmery version of Smokey Rose by Teeez Cosmetics (both products will make a great pairing).

Left to right: Bouncy, Nillionaire and So Quiche.

Group Hug Supernova Shadow Bundle

Top: OG
Bottom: Bellini

I saw this bundle when Zoella’s collaboration with Colourpop was revealed at the end of February and I was always curious about it. After trying some mini Magnificent Metals from Stila and not loving them I half expected not to love these but, spoiler alert: I do! The formula is more like an eyeshadow once product has dried down and the glitter/shine is a lot more pigmented and long-lasting. The texture is smooth and unlike the Stila product these don’t flake off my eyelids and wear away throughout the day.

Looking at the two shades online, OG and Bellini look similar to each other but they are different. OG is a golden champagne with silver glitter and Bellini is a metallic rose gold. OG is more glittery (still with good pigmentation) and Bellini is comparable to a foiled eyeshadow. This kind of product is great for a quick and easy eye look and the milk carton packaging is the cutest! I knew this product wouldn’t be around forever so I wanted to grab it while I had the chance!

Snow Day Ultra Glossy Lip

I purchased this lip gloss because I thought it would make a beautiful lip topper and it does! Snow Day is described as a prismatic champagne but it’s more like a very light pink with flecks of gold glitter. The gloss does look pretty on it’s own and will be nice for simple makeup days but I wore this over MAC’s Kinda Sexy lipstick and it was super pretty! The formula isn’t overly sticky and goopy and is comfortable to wear. The one thing I don’t like is the applicator, it’s a small brush with individual hairs and isn’t the best at spreading product. The brush works well when using the gloss as a lip topper as you only need a small amount of product but if I want to wear the gloss on it’s own I have to dip the brush back in to the tube a few times to get even coverage.

It’s My Pleasure palette

Purple is a hard eyeshadow colour to get right but people I follow online have been singing this palette’s praises. Purple is a colour that suits my skintone and complexion and that’s what excites me about this palette. I get to play up my love for bold colours with the shimmers but there’s also lighter shades to compliment the shimmers and create more wearable everyday looks. Smaller palettes like this are good as I find it overwhelming when there’s lots of shades to choose from in a palette. I prefer limited combinations that work and mean I don’t have to try hard to come up with looks. It’s My Pleasure contains four mattes and five shimmers and is a nice combination of purples and pinks that lean towards purple.

Swatches:

Left to right: Kittenfish, Do Or Dough, Pretty Cruel, Bare Minimum, Earthshine, Chick Lit, Mr Sandman, Fan Fiction and Sleeper.

Custom 12 Pan Eyeshadow Palette

This palette is what I was most excited for because I curated it and selected the shades myself. I was also nervous because I only had myself to blame if any of the shades ended up being similar and if I didn’t like it. My inspiration for this palette was gold. It’s hard to find nice gold shades so I ended up purchasing four for this palette and they’re all unique. From there I came up with a mix of warm toned mattes and shimmers with a hint of pink and mauve thrown in. When the shadows arrived I organised them in a specific way, the top row is classic base and transition shades, the middle row is pinks and mauves and the bottom row is golden goodness.

Top row: Hear Me Out (matte white peach), Wake Up Call (matte warm sand), Side Tracked (matte terracotta with gold flecks) and Bel Air (matte cool taupe).

Middle row: Liar Liar (metallic pale pink), Ringer (metallic champagne), Chic Happens (matte cool mauve) and Goody Two Shoes (metallic gunmetal).

Bottom row: The Game (antique gold), Baby Lights (metallic green gold), Karat Cake (metallic chartreuse) and Night Show (metallic yellow bronze).

Swatches:

Left to right: Hear Me Out, Wake Up Call, Side Tracked, Bel Air, Liar Liar, Ringer, Chic Happens, Goody Two Shoes, The Game, Baby Lights, Karat Cake and Night Show.

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Have you tried any of these products before? Is there anything from Colourpop currently catching your eye?

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My First Colourpop Haul! Review + Swatches

At the end of February I placed my first ever order with Colourpop! Colourpop is a brand I have seen and heard a lot about but the reason I hadn’t placed an order in the past is because the brand constantly releases lots of new products and I’ve never known what to order.

For my first order, the experience was positive. I qualified for free shipping and wasn’t charged customs when the package arrived in New Zealand. The products took one week from the order date to be shipped out but once I got the shipping notification the products were at my door within four days – that’s a quick turn around! No products arrived damaged and everything was well packaged.

Onto the haul:

Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Palette

When I saw Zoella announce her collaboration with Colourpop I checked out the products and the more I looked at the Brunch Date palette I knew I wanted it. Yes, it is a relatively neutral palette but I can’t see this palette being around forever and I do wear a lot of neutral eyeshadow. I did also buy this with the intention to declutter a couple of my Makeup Revolution palettes but after trying this the palettes are all different enough to warrant keeping them (for now).

Three out of the six mattes are easy to blend: Mimosa (warm red-brown), Maple Syrup (milk chocolate brown) and Americano (cool matte brown). The other three, French Toast (burgundy), Brunch Club (blue) and Extra Slice (dark brown with glitter) take a bit more work. The light satin pink, Sunny Side Up, takes some building to get the pigmentation to show on my pale skin. It’s the shimmers in this palette that are the standout shades. The first two shades Champagne Toast and Pancakes Please may look ordinary in the pan but once applied they pop and look really lovely. Cinnamon Sugar is a gorgeous bronze that has the right amount of bronze and gold. Sundae Funday is a more pink version of NARS Orgams for the eyes and Skinny Latte is another good shimmer.

A few people have commented this is ‘just another neutral palette with a pop of blue’ but I can see why Zoe chose these colours. Neutral shades will appeal to more people and suit a wider range of skintones. The brunch theme of the palette and the shades names are fun. When you look at all the shades swatched together there is versatility to create different looks. One thing I find this palette lacks is a lighter base shadow colour. A couple of the lighter brown mattes could be used but those are my favourite transition type shades and what I normally use in my crease. I am a little intimidated by the blue if I’m honest, I tried using it lightly one day in my crease but I didn’t use the right brush and I had to cover it with one of the darker browns. It’ll be trial and error but I would like to find a way to incorporate it. Certain shades last better throughout the day than others but overall I like the palette and I’m glad I picked it up.

Standout shades: Champagne Toast, Pancakes Please, Cinnamon Sugar, Mimosa, Maple Syrup and Americano.

Swatches:

Left hand side, top to bottom: Champagne Toast, Pancakes Please, French Toast, Skinny Latte, Cinnamon Sugar and Mimosa.

Right hand side, top to bottom: Maple Syrup. Sundae Funday, Sunny Side Up, Americano, Brunch Club and Extra Slice.

Sol Palette

The Sol palette is one I have lusted over since I first saw Rachael showcase it on her blog. The warm bright oranges and reds are completely different to anything else I own but the colours are surprisingly easy to wear and create looks with. The palette used to come in white packaging but it has since changed to fit with the theme of Colourpop’s other monochromatic palettes.

This palette would make a great one for travel, it has a mixture of mattes and shimmers and isn’t bulky. You can create neutral everyday looks with the mattes or add a touch of shimmer for some evening glam. If you want a pop of colour, this palette delivers in spades! The mattes in the Sol palette (New Digs, Dynamite, OOO and Unwind) are easier to work with than the darker mattes in Zoella’s Brunch Date palette. The bronzes in both palettes are similar but I prefer the one in Zoe’s palette slightly more, Hotel is more orange and Cinnamon Sugar is more golden-bronze. A few shades in this palette also have a pink tinge depending what they are paired with. Anthem and B+B have hints of rose gold and Motel is a stunning coral pink-red. Sol does have the edge over Brunch Date in regards to how well the shadows last throughout the day.

Standout Shades: Anthem, Dynamite, B+B and Floaties.

Swatches:

Top to bottom: New Digs, Anthem, Dynamite, Hotel, Motel, B+B, Floaties, OOO, and Unwind.

Super Shock Shadow – Slave2Pink

Before I made the Colourpop order I posted an Instagram story asking for product suggestions and one of them was the Super Shock Shadows. I have seen these on a number of blogs but never in the shade I purchased. Fuchsia lipstick is my absolute favourite and I thought, why not buy an eyeshadow to match? I stepped out of my comfort zone with colour for this order as I wanted to experiment.

The shimmer and pigmentation of Slave2Pink is gorgeous. The texture is soft and bouncy and this shade works best by applying a light wash of the shadow with a dense shading brush then layering and topping up the colour with my finger. The colour is vibrant (the photo above captures the shimmer effect perfectly) but there’s very little fallout and the lasting power is superb! This colour does stain the eyelids but it’s nothing Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm can’t fix. The glitter and shimmer doesn’t feel scratchy or irritate my eyes – the texture of the shadow itself is smooth. I’m planning a post dedicated to using this eyeshadow for a themed makeup look soon.

Swatch:

This is only a light swatch as I didn’t want to stain my arm.

Where The Light Is Super Shock Shadow Set

Last up is this set I purchased as a gift so I can’t review it. The colours are up my alley but I have enough shades similar to these. I decided to buy the set for a friend who hadn’t tried Colourpop before either.

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I have a second part to this post coming to showcase some looks I have created with the Brunch Date and Sol palettes next week.

What Colourpop products have you tried? Have you got any on your wishlist?

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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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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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Beauty Joint Experience + Haul

Three weeks ago I placed an order on BeautyJoint.com. I haven’t been able to find my holy grail Rimmel mascara in New Zealand for about a year now. I wear and love the Extreme Black shade (003) and I have only seen Black (001) in stores. I purchased a tube of Black in September 2017 but it’s just not the same. I hunted high and low and this site was the only one I found that had Extreme Black in stock so I purchased two tubes! I browsed the rest of the site and ended up adding a few other items to my cart.

This was the first time I had ordered from Beauty Joint but the experience was a good one and I would definitely consider shopping with them again. The website has a variety of brands, mostly drugstore but there is Korean beauty as well. I really have no complaints. I received a shipping notice 1-2 days after placing my order and in total the package took two weeks to arrive from the date I ordered. That impressed me because I know packages from the US can take longer and New Zealand only gets mail three days a week. The items arrived bubble wrapped in a bubble bag, nothing arrived broken or damaged and everything I ordered I received. If I purchased all of these in New Zealand I would have paid $30-$40 more – the prices are so good! If you’re looking for some great discount drugstore makeup, check this site out!

NB: All opinions are my own. This post is not sponsored by Beauty Joint and all items were purchased by me using my own money.

1. Rimmel London Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – Extreme Black x2

Rimmel is one of my favourite brands and I have been using this mascara for almost four years. I’ve tried other brands and other mascaras from Rimmel but this is the one I always go back to. The formula is great from the get go and when it dries out it’s even better! The brush is big but I’m used to working with it and this mascara gives length AND volume.

2. Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter – Molten Rose Gold

I love highlighters that give more of a subtle, natural glow and have less of a warm tone. I could not go as warm/golden as Becca’s Champagne Pop. This is only my fourth highlighter and honestly I feel that’s all I need. Highlighters last a long time and I’d rather have a couple that I regularly use rather than 20 that sit in my makeup drawer and get used every once in a while. I don’t wear highlighter everyday and I tend to go for blush or highlighter but I feel like this shade could double as both.

3. NYX Eye Shadow Base – Skin Tone

Eyeshadow seems to apply on one eye better than the other and I thought it was about time I tried an eye primer or an eyeshadow base. Katie from Kate’s Vanity has talked about an Essence eyshadow base before but Essence isn’t sold in my city. I needed an item to add to my order to qualify for free shipping and this was it. I chose the skin tone shade to create a good foundation to apply eyeshadow over. The base aims to intensify the impact of eyeshadow and help colour last longer.

4. Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick #12

I bought this shade of lipstick after Nadine from Ladies and Lace mentioned it was a dupe for Morange by MAC. I previously had a Revlon Lip Butter in the shade Tutti Frutti but this lipstick is everything I wanted Tutti Frutti to be and more. The lip butter was sheer which made the colour look strange on my lips – I love how opaque this Rimmel lipstick is. The formula is not drying and not patchy. Rimmel do lipstick really well in general. I tried this lipstick on when the order arrived and I’m a big fan! I’m sure you will see me wearing this soon.

5. Revlon Lip Butter – Cotton Candy

I have eight of these Revlon lip butters in total. I don’t think they are made or sold in stores anymore but as far as formula and pigmentation are concerned you can’t go wrong. I have a mixture of bright and everyday shades in my makeup drawer. Cotton Candy is such a cute name and as it suggests it’s a girly, pink shade. Cotton Candy is a light pink with golden shimmer and leans more towards the cooler side of the spectrum. This reminds me of Nivea’s Pearly Shine lipbalm which I love.

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As well as showing you what I purchased I wanted to do a little first impression try on with some of the products.

• NYX Eyeshadow Base – Skin Tone – I used this and applied MAC’s Tan pigment over the top. The pigment didn’t last longer than usual but maybe I didn’t apply enough of the eyeshadow base. Perhaps I need to let it set for a minute before applying eyeshadow over the top. I will keep experimenting.
• Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter – Molten Rose Gold – I applied this using a fluffy blush brush but didn’t like how little the highlighter showed up on my skin. I switched to a more densely packed tapered blush brush which worked better. The glow was very pretty and not too pink or too golden.
• Revlon Lip Butter – Cotton Candy – I like how natural this looks on the lips. I can see myself reaching for this when I want to apply something and I’m not sure what lip colour to wear.

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Have you ordered from Beauty Joint before? Have you tried any of these products?

P.S. This is my last blog post for a little while. I’m not sure when my next one will be but I still plan to share my monthly favourites and daily happiness highlights at the end of May.

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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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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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BIG Body Shop Haul: Birthday Edition

Hello, how are you all doing?

I have been a member of The Body Shop’s Love Your Body scheme for almost two years now and this is the second time I’ve been able to take advantage of the one time 20% off discount during my birthday month (January). I absolutely adore The Body Shop and sometimes I shudder to think how much I have spent in the past 24 months! This haul is even bigger than last year’s but I have been so good lately and haven’t bought any makeup/beauty products. This is a real treat to myself!

I made an online order but also purchased a couple of things in store as I had a $10 off voucher to use and they can’t be used online.

A quick side note: The makeup ban was broken! I haven’t really gone into The Body Shop’s cosmetic territory (apart from a bronzer last year) so I’m interested to see how it fares.

In store items:

1. Vanilla Chai Scented Candle

You can’t go wrong with a classic vanilla scent! I like the subtlety of vanilla and I have a few vanilla based perfumes so I know I don’t get sick of the smell. I don’t know that I will burn this candle straight away as I have another one to burn first but I wanted to pick this up while I had the chance.

 

2. Colour Crush Lipstick 205 Passionate Pink

My name’s Chanelle and I’m a pink lipstick addict. There’s something about bright pink lipstick that draws me in and I couldn’t say no to this beautiful shade. Passionate Pink is brighter than fuchsia but darker than coral, I have shades similar to this but not exactly the same. I tried out this lipstick as soon as I got home and the formula feels very moisturising. The lipstick also has a beautiful soft rose scent.

Wearing Passionate Pink.

3. Mango Hand Cream

The Body Shop’s hand creams have become a staple in my nightly routine and I know they work well for me and don’t irritate my skin which is why I continue to buy them. I haven’t tried anything from the Mango range before but I wanted a more tropical, fruity scent. If I enjoy this scent I’m sure I will try more from the Mango range.

Online Order:

1. Eye Palette Swinging Silver

I really don’t own a lot of eyeshadow palettes and the ones I do have mostly contain neutrals. This quad eyeshadow palette was released in 2015 as part of the Christmas range and it has caught my eye on numerous occasions. I haven’t seen the palette in person but it was still available online and the swatches I’ve seen look super pretty! Swinging Silver combines metallic silver tones, smoky blues and coral hues. The palette comes with it’s own mirror and brush which will be handy for going away or traveling.

2. Vitamin C Energising Face Mist

I purchased this to replace the Vitamin E Hydrating Face Mist I currently have. The Vitamin E mist featured in Project Pan and I now realise I was harsh on the product. It wasn’t until regular use I began to like it and really discovered it’s purpose. I like to spritz my face to add extra moisture before applying foundation and the rest of my makeup. I thought I’d give the Vitamin C spray a go to see if I like it any better and if my skin has more of a glow.

3. Vanilla Chai Softening Body Gel-Lotion

Now I know when I purchased the Vanilla Chai hand cream I commented it wasn’t my favourite vanilla scent and I wouldn’t purchase anything else from the range but after using it more and my boyfriend telling me, “it smells like milk chocolate,” I’ve really come to like it. It’s more of a spicy vanilla due to the cinnamon, cardamom and brown sugar. I imagine this body lotion will be lovely to use in winter as the warm, spiciness of the scent will shine.

4. Cocoa Butter Body Lotion

Body lotion is one thing The Body Shop does extremely well in my opinion. I use their body lotions as a daily moisturiser for my arms and they normally last a good few months. I picked up the Cocoa Butter as well as Vanilla Chai because the Cocoa Butter range is being discontinued and I want to try it while I have the chance. I am nearly finished my White Musk body lotion and I plan to use this one next. I got the Cocoa Butter body butter for Christmas which I will also be starting soon. I use body lotion in the morning and body butter after I shower. It will be a VERY cocoa buttery few months!

5. Vanilla Chai Exfoliating Sugar Body Scrub

We’re breaking boundaries with this haul, three Vanilla Chai items and my first ever body scrub! The lovely Rachael seems to be a fan of The Body Shop scrubs and I can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about. I have stared clear of body scrubs in the past because I have sensitive skin but I’ve read sugar is a much more gentle exfoliant so my skin might be fine. This doesn’t have SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) in the ingredients list which I have reacted to in the past so I’m quietly confident I will be ok. I can always pass this on to my mum or a friend.

6. Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Moisturising Scrub Mask

This product is one I have seen mentioned in the blogosphere before and the reviews I’ve read have been favourable. Honey does wonders for the skin but I’ve actually never tried anything with honey in before. My current Natio face mask is on it’s last legs and I purchased this mask as a replacement.

7. Colour Crush Nails 680 Blue Abyss

Navy is one of those colours that goes with everything. I’ve been curious to try one of the nail polishes from The Body Shop after seeing different shades on Stashy’s blog. When someone owns as many polishes as she does and says something is decent, you trust her! This colour choice was inspired after seeing Rachael review an OPI shade called Russian Navy on her blog. I don’t own a lot of dark nail colours but I’m excited to wear this one! In pictures I’ve Googled it seems the polish contains hints of glitter making it even more stunning.

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So, that’s everything I got! What do you think of the items I purchased? Have you tried any of them yourself?

Auckland Shopping Haul

In Friday’s post I mentioned there would be a haul featuring all the bits I purchased when I was in Auckland last week and I thought what better way to kick off a new week than with said post! A couple of items in this post have been on my wishlist for a while and I’m really glad I was able to pick them up. Let’s jump straight in!

1. Forever New Scarlett Quilted Small Bag

One of the things on my list was a little, elegant bag that could be used in the evenings if I go out or if I’m out in the day and don’t need to take a lot with me. I don’t own a lot of handbags and I certainly didn’t have any little evening bags. This instantly reminded me of a Chanel style bag with the quilting and the chain. The chain is adjustable and can be used in two different ways: it can be worn long across the body or over the shoulder or doubled up to form two straps. I used this bag on Friday night and went with the latter. The bag is nice and light and is fully lined with card slots and a zip pocket. Everything fits comfortably and it is the perfect size!

 

2. Forever New Lee Cosmetic Case

I have a few cosmetic cases in different sizes and I find depending on the amount of makeup you’re using or how long you’re traveling for, it’s not always one size fits all. For example, I would likely use this case for a week away rather than a weekend away. I really like the metallic, glitzy look of this case and how it’s structured on the bottom so will stand up. I also like that the material is malleable rather than stiff and allows you to pack contents more than one way.

 

3. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – Buenos Aires

I know NYX has recently arrived in New Zealand and after hearing so many bloggers rave about their Soft Matte Lip Creams, I had to try one for myself! I Googled the shades, watched YouTube videos with swatches and narrowed it down to a few I was going to look for. I didn’t want to go down the usual pinky-nude route and I loved the coral tones of Buenos Aires. The shade makes me think of Tanya Burr’s lipgloss in ‘I Found Nemo’ if it was matte. I can’t wait to try this out!

 

4. Typo Twinkle Lights 1.5m

Another item from my wishlist: copper twinkle lights. I have seen these used by a lot of bloggers lately and I wanted to get my hands on some. I tried looking online and everything seemed expensive or didn’t ship to New Zealand. I haven’t decided whether I will use these for blog photographs or if I will put them in a jar as shown on the box. The lights are bendable so you can arrange them how you’d like and they come with batteries so you’ll know exactly which ones you’re looking for when these run out.

 

5. Typo Mini Marquee Light

I have always loved the look of these marquee lights and I’ve wanted one for ages! This is a mini light which measures 10cms high. Typo do make larger marquee lights as well but I couldn’t find a ‘C’ in the larger size. I do like mini things though and this will look cute sitting on my desk. These feature a hook on the back so they can also be hung.

 

6. Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Polishes

Ever since I purchased Bestival Blue from the same range back in June I have been a fan. Rimmel Polishes aren’t always sold in my city so I always make sure to look at the colours when I’m away. I really liked the look of the lilac tones of Go Wild-Er-Ness, we will be going into spring/summer soon and pastel shades always look so nice. I also picked up Neon Fest because it reminded me of fuchsia lipstick which is my favourite to wear and I don’t have a fuchsia-type polish so I thought, why not?!

 

7. Cotton On Archy Crop Pullover – Airforce Twist

I purchased this pullover on my last day in Auckland. I instantly fell in love with the colour and the style of it. It’s a cropped jumper which looks normal length on me because I’m short but I don’t mind that at all. The pullover features side splits and a high-low hem. The style of the neck is really flattering and sits nicely.

8. Royal Albert Diffuser – Sweet Pea & Hyacinth

I am one of your typical bloggers who loves burning candles but I don’t do it often enough. Sometimes I don’t have a couple of hours spare to let it burn evenly and it seems like I almost have to plan out when I can burn one. Home decor items always look lovely in store and I decided to take the plunge and purchase a reed diffuser. That way, I get the nice scent without having to burn a candle and worry if I’ve forgotten to blow it out or not. I chose the Sweet Pea & Hyacinth scent which is quite sweet but isn’t too floral or overpowering.

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So, that’s everything I picked up in Auckland! I made a list before I left and I managed to cross a few things off it. I didn’t want to go overboard and buy too much in case it didn’t fit in my suitcase but everything did. I was very clever with my packing and put most of the items inside the silver cosmetic case. What do you think of the items I bought?

Feel Unique & Makeup Revolution Haul

Hello and happy Friday! At the beginning of May I placed two online orders, one on Feel Unique and the other on Makeup Revolution. I’d heard so many good things about Makeup Revolution and it was only a matter of time before I placed an order. I kept adding things to my cart and taking them out but I finally settled on a few bits to buy. It was my first time ordering from each site and I want to commend both Feel Unique and Makeup Revolution on their efficient dispatch and particularly Feel Unique on their prompt delivery. My Makeup Revolution order took a lot longer to arrive and finally arrived on Wednesday. Thankfully, nothing was damaged or missing.

Kicking off with Feel Unique…

1. Zoella Beauty Tutti Fruity Beauty Pouch | £3.00

I’ve known about Zoella’s beauty range for a while and I’ve started getting into her videos and become a recent subscriber to her YouTube channel. I was browsing Feel Unique and literally stumbled across this wee beauty pouch. I loved the makeup illustrations on the pouch and the light pink colour with pink polka dots. This pouch is pretty versatile too, you could use it for cosmetics or a coin purse as suggested on the tag or you could use it to keep receipts in, as a pencil case or in your handbag as a divider.

2. Tanya Burr Lip Glosses | £9.97 (3 For 2 Offer)

When I was browsing Feel Unique I wanted to look at brands and makeup you can’t buy in New Zealand and Tanya Burr’s is one of those. I’ve heard a lot of praise for her lipglosses in particular and I wanted to try them out for myself! There was a 3 For 2 offer on so I selected the shades, Picnic In the Park (a vivid pink), Afternoon Tea (a light pink) and I Found Nemo (coral). The shade names are super cute! I’ve tried all of the glosses on my lips and the pigmentation and wear time is excellent. The formula has a lovely watermelon scent and doesn’t feel horrible and sticky. The applicator applies the glosses nicely and is a nice size as well. The packaging is beautiful and makes the product look more expensive than it is.

I’ve swatched all three shades and included an image of me wearing each one.

Left To Right: I Found Nemo, Afternoon Tea and Picnic In the Park.

Top To Bottom: I Found Nemo, Afternoon Tea and Picnic In the Park.

Now onto Makeup Revolution:

1. I ♡ Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter | £4.99

I haven’t tried any highlighters before and I couldn’t go past how gorgeous the I ♡ Makeup ones looked. The packaging is adorable and again makes the product look more expensive than it is. Goddess of Love is a gorgeous shimmery pink/silver. The highlight can be applied lightly for a more subtle look or with a more heavy hand for a night out, special occasion etc. I wore this highlighter for the first time yesterday and it looks very natural on my skin and adds the loveliest glow.

2. Iconic 1 Eyeshadow Palette | £4.00

If you can’t buy the actual Naked palettes by Urban Decay you buy a dupe right? This palette is full of gorgeous warm tones and contains a mixture of pearls, shimmers and mattes. One thing that has always intrigued me about the original Naked palette is the blue/grey shade right on the end. It seems like such an unusual colour and I can’t wait to use it. I also don’t think I’ve seen or read a bad review about this Makeup Revolution palette.

3. Iconic 2 Eyeshadow Palette | £4.00

I had only intended to purchase one of the Iconic palettes but ended up adding the Iconic 2 to my cart as well after reading this post of Karen’s. The swatches and look Karen came up with convinced me I needed this palette big time! There seem to be quite a few shimmer shades in this palette which I don’t actually own a lot of already and I am fond of a bit of shimmer! This palette reminds me of Maybelline’s ‘The Nudes’ which I love, but the Iconic 2 looks like it has more shimmer shades giving it a point of difference.

4. Ultra Face Base Primer | £5.00

I bet you were expecting to see the Iconic 3 next and while I did consider it, my W7 dupe will have to do for now! I recently finished up my Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro primer and I haven’t seen that available anywhere for a while so I settled on this one as an alternative. The primer comes housed in a cute, pink tube and contains 25ml of product. The primer itself is clear so I know it won’t alter how my foundation looks and it looks more of a thicker texture than the Rimmel one I was using. It will be interesting to see how both primers compare.

Total (Feel Unique + Makeup Revolution) = £30.96

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Overall, I am extremely impressed with the quality of everything and I am so pleased with my choices! Let me know your thoughts if you have tried any of these items.

P.S. I also ordered a few extra items not shown here which I purchased for a blog giveaway coming next week. Keep your eyes peeled for that!