Last Colourpop Haul For 2019

It has only been a couple of weeks since I shared my most recent Colourpop haul and I’m back with another one! I have vowed to make this my fourth and final order for 2019 as I’m getting spoilt for choice when I apply makeup lately. I feel guilty when I buy makeup sometimes that I don’t need it but I do constantly evaluate what I have and if I no longer reach for a product I will try and pass it along or sell it, it won’t go to waste.

Let’s get started!

Fantasy Super Shock Pigment

You can see some mess where the shadow was damaged and I had to press it back together.

Fantasy is an electric neon red-violet topped with multi-dimensional glitter. Fantasy is a cross between Slave2Pink and Dare (I also own both of these) but this shade is more magenta than Slave2Pink and not as cool toned as Dare. I wanted to purchase Fantasy in my previous order but the product was sold out. Fantasy was part of a ‘Last Call’ sale and it has disappeared from Colourpop’s website so it looks like it has gone for good now – I’m glad I was able to get my hands on it! This shadow did arrive smashed but I was able to press it back together. Fantasy does stain the eyelids but that’s nothing Clinique’s Take the Day Off balm can’t fix.

Blending Sponge

I have declared in the past brushes are my favourite way to apply foundation but that doesn’t mean I detest sponges. I prefer brushes as they give more coverage and I haven’t been able to achieve a flawless, airbrushed finish with a sponge in the past. This sponge is part of the Pretty Fresh line which launched recently and I heard someone describe it as “the same shape as the Real Techniques sponge with the softness of a Beautyblender.”

Scorpio Moon Crème Lux Lipstick

Scorpio Moon is a plummy rose shade released as part of Kathleen Lights’ zodiac collection. I bought this as I thought it would be similar to my all time favourite MAC lipstick, Syrup, but Scorpio Moon is darker. It is still a lovely shade but it looks different in real life than how it appears online. When I swatched this shade the crème lux formula felt very smooth and moisturising due to the blend of acai, jojoba and pomegranate seed butters.

BYOP: 4 Eyeshadows & 2 Highlighters

Top row: Dreamscape and Made Me Do It
Bottom row: On a Whimsy, Beam Me Up, Quantum Sleep and Feathered

I had so much fun curating my own eyeshadow palette a few months ago but one shade it was missing is a deeper, darker brown. I was looking through other eyeshadow singles and I didn’t have enough shades to justify another 12 pan palette so I got two pressed powder highlighters to go along with the four eyeshadows.

Eyeshadows:

• Feathered (matte rich chocolate brown) – This is a classic transition shade perfect for the crease and adding depth to an eye look.
• On a Whimsy (vivid metallic silver) – Silver is one of my favourite eyeshadow colours to wear and it will be nice to have a pressed shadow to travel with instead of having to transport my MAC pigment which could get messy.
• Beam Me Up (icy blue-silver) – This has such a unique blue, lavender tone and it will pair well with On a Whimsy as well as looking good on it’s own.
• Quantum Sleep (metallic cobalt) – This shade is a bit risky but I want to pair it with Brunch Date from Zoella’s eyeshadow palette and I’ve been enjoying wearing bolder colours on the eyes lately.

Highlighters:

• Dreamscape (icy vanilla) – This is a shade that will go with any makeup look. I didn’t have a highlighter with this light beige tone that isn’t champagne or silver or white. It looks like a lovely shade for fair skin.
• Made Me Do It (champagne pink) – This highlighter looks like a cross between Royal Glow and Parisian Lights from Becca with it’s pinky peach tone. The champagne element stops the highlighter pulling too warm or cool.

Swatches:

Left to right: Scorpio Moon, Fantasy, On a Whimsy, Beam Me Up, Quantum Sleep, Feathered, Dreamscape and Made Me Do It.

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Have you tried any of these products? What was the last makeup item you purchased?

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Shopping My Stash

I don’t know about you but whenever I purchase new makeup I always reflect and analyse what I have in my collection. I think it’s a way of me trying to justify the purchase and evaluate what I really need. The more I use makeup and experiment I come to know what I like and what I’m missing. I was rearranging products in my makeup drawer and I put some aside that I haven’t worn in a while that I want to pull out and use again.

1. Chi Chi Metal Foil Eyeshadow – Spice

This range from Chi Chi is described as, “highly pigmented shadows with brilliant metallic shine that are super moisturising, long lasting and enriched with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil.” I agree with the claim that Spice is highly pigmented and moisturizing but I find the product slippery and it has difficulty adhering to the eyelids. Eye primer and applying a powder shadow as a base first helps but the product occasionally creases and is affected by heat/sweat. I don’t reach for this often because I’m not sure how the product works best which is a shame as the eyeshadow is a gorgeous shimmery cranberry-pink.

2. Teeez Cosmetics – Smokey Rose

This single eyeshadow is one I know I like, it’s just a case of it being tucked away and not in my line of sight as to why I haven’t used it for a while. Smokey Rose really is an appropriate name as this shade is a beautiful duochrome with hints of pink, grey and green. When this shade is on the eyes they look stunning and the pigmentation and buttery smooth texture are lovely. My favourite way to apply this is all over the lids with my finger.

3. Covergirl TruNaked Roses Palette

Naked 3 dupe alert! I’m not going to lie out of the three original Naked palettes from Urban Decay I find the Naked 3 least appealing. I don’t tend to be a fan of light pinks and mauves on my eyes as I have fair skin and personally I don’t find they look as nice as browns or neutral colours. This palette is very pretty though and it seems Covergirl picked the best shades from Naked 3 and did their own interpretation of the palette. The pigmentation of these shades is nice but I find the formula almost a little too soft and product can blend away easily. There’s not much variety between shades either. Each time I use this palette I can’t bring myself to part with it though as I won it in a giveaway.

4. xoBeauty Radiant Glow Highlighter Powder – Lucent

This highlighter is in no way bad and in fact it’s a lovely, light gold for fair skin tones. The powder is finely milled and gives a beautiful lit from within look. The highlighter can be built up to make it more blinding and the product can also be used as an all over face powder – I have been using the other xoBeauty highlighter in the shade Aurora this way recently. Lucent sits in my drawer and theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer sits in my everyday makeup bag so I tend to reach for that one more often. Both shades are different however, Lucent is more golden and Mary-Lou is more on the champagne side.

5. The Body Shop Metal Lip Liquid – Pink Nickel

I actually forgot I owned this! I purchased Pink Nickel along with Plum Titanium (a berry red) towards the end of 2018 and when I tried this shade on again I was pleased the formula was still mousse like and hadn’t dried up. Pink Nickel is a very wearable shade with a subtle metallic finish. A lot of you know by now I don’t like liquid lipsticks but this formula is an exception to the rule. This is a pretty nude that goes with a range of looks and I really need to pull this out more.

6. xoBeauty Kairos Lipstick

Kairos is described as a medium, muted peachy-pink which I think is slightly incorrect – Kairos is more of a muted coral-red. The matte formula is comfortable but not as comfortable as MAC’s matte lipsticks. I find with xoBeauty matte lipsticks lips have to be super smooth or else product sticks to little flakes of skin and gets into any lines. I will try this with a dab of Dainty Doll’s Wonderbalm underneath to see if that makes any improvement. Not my favourite lip colour that I own from xoBeauty.

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Funnily enough most of the products mentioned are pink. Pink isn’t my favourite colour to wear on the eyes being fair skinned and that’s possibly why I have neglected some of these. Pink tends to be my go to lip colour and that’s usually how I incorporate it into a makeup look.

Are there any makeup products in your stash that you’ve neglected lately?

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March Favourites + Highlights

March has zoomed by, I swear each month gets faster! March has felt busy and I feel like I haven’t had much time to take it easy but I have been reading more in March which makes me happy. My mood has mostly been good and I’ve made some new purchases, namely fashion items. I also caught up with an old workmate and had such a good time.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Schwarzkopf Extra Care Hair Treatment Leave In – Whilst I am a proud redhead my hair is very heavy and thick. It doesn’t always look as sleek as I would like and I was in the market for a product to help with that. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money in case I didn’t notice any difference and the idea of this leave in treatment appealed to me. The product is suitable for all hair types and aims to be nourishing and add shine. It contains liquid keratin to repair damage and straighten hair. It is advised to apply this when hair is 90% dry and comb/brush it through. I have been using this for the past month or so now and I like how smooth and sleek my hair feels. The smell is pleasant too.

2. MAC – Velvet Teddy – I purchased this mini lipstick at the end of 2018 before my lipstick ban kicked in after seeing Cleia talk about it. The first time I used it I didn’t love it but the more I have been using it the more I like it. This is incredibly comfortable for a matte and doesn’t feel drying whatsoever. (Not sure whether that’s all of MAC’s matte shades or just this one!) I love applying a light layer of gloss over top to make the shade more pink but it is pretty on it’s own as well. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else with MAC’s mini lipsticks but the bullet has lines in it like it is moving and pushing up against the tube when I apply it. I’m guessing that’s because of the smaller size but I hope the lipstick doesn’t snap!

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick #55 My Nude – In February a parcel from an extremely close blogging friend arrived and this lipstick was one of the items inside. Funnily enough this shade is a little similar to Velvet Teddy and I love this one too! Rimmel lipsticks are some of my favourites, they’re affordable without compromising on quality or pigmentation. This lipstick is one of six shades released as part of a 15th anniversary celebration with Kate Moss. The collection features three of Kate’s favourite nude shades and three of her favourite reds. #53 Retro Red is my favourite of the reds and I’d love to pick it up at some point after my lipstick ban is over.

4. Married At First Sight Australia – I don’t watch a huge amount of trash/reality TV but this show has got me hooked! It is literally what it sounds like, a couple meet for the first time and they get married – they don’t know anything about the other person and have been matched by a team of ‘experts.’ The couples are eight weeks into the experiment now, they’ve been on their honeymoon, they’re living in an apartment together and they’ve done home visits. At the end of each week there is a commitment ceremony and each person has to choose to stay in the experiment for another week or they can write leave. If both people write leave they leave the experiment and end their marriage. If only one person writes leave the couple stay for another week. This show has cat-fights, drama, shit stirrers and isn’t always believable but it’s addictive!

March Highlights

• I placed my first Colourpop order! I bought a few eye products and a haul post will be up at some point – I want to use everything and form opinions first.
• I found a pair of wide leg black trousers that look nice on me and aren’t too long.
• I caught up with an old work colleague and good friend. We ate, went shoe shopping and generally had a blast!
• Speaking of shoe shopping, I bought the cutest pair of toffee coloured boots. Normally I always buy black shoes (because they go with everything) but these are pretty and still neutral enough to work with a bunch of outfits.

March’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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February Favourites + Highlights

February has been a bit of a whirlwind, there’s been a few different things happening and a few different emotions to contend with. I haven’t read as much as I would have liked, I picked up a couple of books that I couldn’t get into and it slowed down the good progress I was making towards my yearly goal on Goodreads. I should be able to catch back up again though. I have started exercising on the exercycle again and my current goal is to ride 10km three times a week.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Melanie Brown – Brutally Honest – I was a little a young to remember the Spice Girls in their hey day but I started listening to them in 2007 when they reunited. I have always liked Mel B’s deep Leeds accent and fierce personality. I’d read her first book Catch a Fire a number of years ago and over the past few years I have heard stories about her second husband and their marriage in the media. Until I read this book I didn’t know the full extent of what went on and the amount of adoration I have for what she put up with went up tenfold. The title is clever, not only is Melanie blunt and honest but it also reflects how much she had to endure to come out the other side. This was a gripping read and there was a lot going on that people didn’t realise.

(The book doesn’t appear in the main image as I borrowed it from work).

2. Tanya Burr Selfie Lash Mascara – This mascara was sent to me by Dannii and I really like it! I’m not usually a fan of rubber wands and prefer natural bristles but this one isn’t flimsy and the bristles really get into all the lashes. One coat of this is perfect for an everyday look but two coats is what I like to go for. This mascara reapplies nicely as well and doesn’t make existing coats that have been applied earlier in the day look clumpy. The formula is not smudgy and wet which I like and it’ll be interesting to see if the formula stays like this or if it changes. The shiny gold packing is pretty too.

3. MAC Viva Glam II – Some days you can’t beat a beautiful nude lipstick. Viva Glam II has a satin finish and is described as a pinky mauve colour which is accurate. Pink nudes suit me better than brown and this particular shade is like a cross between a few other MAC shades in my collection; it’s like Blankety, Hug Me and Brave rolled into one. If you like any of those I’m sure you’ll like this! As this is part of the Viva Glam range, money from these lipsticks goes to the Aids Fund. Viva Glam shades also have a distinguishable red band around the middle of the casing so you can tell them apart.

4. Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace Body Lotion – Body lotion is one of my favourite products to apply on a daily basis. I usually buy lotions from The Body Shop as I find their scents last all day and don’t irritate my skin. I do however prefer body lotions that come in a squeeze tube like this or in a bottle with a flip top lid. I have used lotions from The Body Shop in the past that have a pump but some of the product tends to get wasted. I hadn’t tried Victoria’s Secret body lotion before, this scent is a mix of vanilla and musk and it smells really lovely on my skin. It is similar to the Vanilla Chai scent The Body Shop released a few years ago which I also loved. I would like to try more lotions from Victoria’s Secret in future so if you have any suggestions, let me know!

February Highlights

• I purchased a baker boy cap. I tried one on in a shop as a joke but I really like how it looked. Can’t wait to wear it properly!
• My signed copy of Claire Richard’s album ‘My Wildest Dreams’ arrived.
• On Valentine’s Day I picked up a parcel Nadine sent me. Everything is so sweet!
• One of the girls I work with brought me back a gift from her travels.
• I had a really lovely dinner date during the last weekend in February.

 

February’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share something you have been loving or one of your highlights in the comments!

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First Impressions: MAC and More!

In my last blog post I shared the makeup products I hauled at the end of 2018! Seeing as they all arrived at similar times I thought it would be fun to try a few of them out at the same time and share my initial thoughts. I have already used some items more than once.

1. MAC – Strobe Cream – My plan for this product was to use it like a primer and apply it on top of my moisturiser prior to my foundation. The glow when the product is squeezed out of the tube is subtle and pretty but once on the face there’s no mistaking it. After trying this for two days as a primer I don’t think I will continue using the product this way. I tried this under the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation which is quite dewy but I will try it with my Max Factor one which is slightly more matte to make up my mind. I think the strobe cream will be better as a highlighter or worn on it’s own to give my skin a healthy glow on no makeup days.

2. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation – 010 Light Porcelain – This foundation has quite a pleasant smell and the colour is a good match for me. I haven’t worn this foundation without the strobe cream underneath yet so I’m looking forward to trying it with my usual combination of everyday products I wear to work. This foundation contains Vitamin C and SPF which is beneficial for the skin. Like Match Perfection foundation (also from Rimmel), I found one pump to be sufficient.

3. MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ – I like that the mist sprays slowly and doesn’t cover the face with too much moisture. I definitely used fewer sprays of Fix+ to set my makeup as opposed to my Strawberry Face Mist from The Body Shop – that one tends to spray less product at a faster rate. I used Fix+ on one of my eyeshadow brushes before applying a MAC pigment and it intensified the shade a little. I will try the same thing with a few of my other eyeshadows but this spray will primarily be used to set makeup.

4. Little MAC – Velvet Teddy – Prior to purchasing Velvet Teddy I was aware of it’s hype as one of the most popular nude lipsticks. I would classify this as a nude lipstick but it definitely pulls a little more brown on me than what I’ve seen online and it is darker than I expected. I am glad I didn’t purchase the full size but I will definitely use up the mini. The lipstick is long lasting and pigmented and the formula for a matte is extremely comfortable. I want to try wearing Velvet Teddy with a gloss over the top and mixing it with one of my lighter lipsticks to see if that makes the shade pinker.

5. xoBeauty Liquid Lipstick – Nam Jai – I have found an absolute gem in this shade! Nam Jai is a gorgeous watermelon pink and I have worn it six times already since it arrived. (Technically three but I reapplied it at work after lunch on three occasions). This shade also reminds me what it is about bold, bright colours I love – they make me feel good when I wear them and they portray a sense of youthfulness and fun! Everyone at work always notices when I don’t wear a bold, bright lip colour.

Wearing the products over two separate days:

Velvet Teddy on the left and Nam Jai on the right. You can see my skin looks a little too glowy in the picture on the right, that is partly from the light coming in my window and partly from the strobe cream/Wake Me Up foundation combo.

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Overall, I am pleased with everything and will enjoy using these items! What was the last new makeup product you tried?

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MASSIVE Beauty Haul

One thing I want to be more conscious of in 2019 is how much I buy makeup. Not only have I set a goal to try not to buy any lipsticks this year but I want to use up what I have before buying more and only buy something if I run out. In the last week of 2018 I took advantage of Boxing Day sales and used up a few gift cards before the low buy/no lipstick buy began.

1. xoBeauty Luxe Liquid Lipstick – Nam Jai – xoBeauty was most definitely my favourite brand discovery of 2018! I have two other liquid lipstick shades and if all liquid lipsticks had this formula I would be a happy girl! Nam Jai is described as a muted warm pink and in pictures I’ve seen it looks like a lovely watermelon pink. In the last xoBeauty order I made I was tossing up between Nam Jai and Kairos. I knew if I didn’t buy this shade it would have been tempting me all year.

2. xoBeauty Tulip Crease Brush – A standard Chanelle eye look usually involves a base shade, a transition shade in the crease and a shimmer all over the lid. I know the importance of blending and having a small enough brush to fit in my crease so the transition shade stays where it is supposed to. This brush reminds me of the Pointed Crease Brush by Real Techniques but this one can also be used to buff base shadows all over the lid.

3. Face Halo 3 Pack (White) – I have seen Shannon use these a lot in her vlogs and while they aren’t made by xoBeauty they are available to buy through the website. Each pack comes with three makeup removers that can simply be used with water. These pads are made up of extremely fine fibres to ensure a deep clean and they are also machine washable. I plan to use these instead of a facecloth to wipe my face after I have applied Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm. A black Pro version of the Face Halo was released recently but the pads didn’t look as soft and with the white you can easily see when they need a clean.

4. Britney Spears Prerogative EDP 30ml – Britney Spears fragrances have been a staple in my collection for the past 10 years. I have tried a handful of different ones in that time and when a new one is released I always pop in store to see if I like it. I didn’t do that with Prerogative so I took a bit of a risk ordering online without smelling it first. I bought the smallest size to be on the safe side but it smells amazing and I can already imagine myself repurchasing this scent.

5. MAC – Velvet Teddy (Little Mac) – Ever since Cleia used the mini version of Velvet Teddy in this makeup tutorial I knew I wanted to try it for myself. I think it’s a great idea that MAC do smaller versions of some of their popular shades, it means it won’t take as long to use up and if for some reason a shade is not right for me I haven’t spent as much money on the full size.

6. MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ 30ml – I like the idea of Fix+’s versatility. I’m interested to try it as a setting spray (especially with the hot summer we’re having) and to spray it on my eye brushes to get a foiled/metallic eye look. I got the 30ml size because I figure it will take a while for me to use based on the rate I go through products – I’m like a snail.

7. MAC Strobe Cream 30ml – I have been looking at the Strobe Cream ever since I made my MECCA Beauty Wishlist. I have now managed to pick up everything on the list except Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara which I’m no longer worried about trying. My plan for the Strobe Cream is to use it on top of my moisturiser like a primer for a natural glow. The travel size comes in the shade Pinklite.

8. Max Factor Smooth Miracle Primer – I kind of picked this up on a whim but seeing as Max Factor Lasting Performance is my favourite foundation and there are a few other Max Factor products I enjoy I thought I’d try this to see if I like it. I got it as a back up in case the MAC Strobe Cream doesn’t work for me as a primer and because I am almost out of my current primer. I like how you can see exactly how much product is left and it has a pump.

9. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation – 010 Light Porcelain – Last month I finished up a bottle of Rimmel’s Match Perfection foundation and after falling out of love with it for a while, using it in conjunction with a good primer and concealer made me realise why I loved it in the first place. It has good coverage for everyday wear and it caters for my fair skin. A couple of years ago Rimmel discontinued some shades of Match Perfection (including the one I used) but in 2018 they released a few new ones. I have never tried the Wake Me Up foundation before but I have seen it in New Zealand, albeit not in the Light Porcelain shade. From what I have seen online the Light Porcelain shade of Wake Me Up is slightly darker than the Light Porcelain of Match Perfection, which isn’t a bad thing. I actually find the Match Perfection version of Light Porcelain can look pale if I don’t use bronzer – another reason I’m glad new shades of Match Perfection were released. I’m excited to try Wake Me Up to see how it compares and if it becomes my everyday foundation.

10. MAC Viva Glam II – I actually didn’t realise until after I bought this lipstick that it wasn’t what I thought it was! Six months ago I saw a swatch of Viva Glam V online and thought it looked so pretty, when I saw this Viva Glam lipstick on Fragrance Direct I thought this was it. I’m not completely disappointed, Viva Glam II (originally released in 1997) is still a nice shade, a pink-mauve beige brown and it has one of my favourite MAC finishes, satin.

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Did you buy anything in the sales after Christmas?

Have you tried any of these products? Would you like to see some of these in a makeup tutorial or first impressions soon? Let me know which products I should use!

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December Favourites 2018

December has been another fast paced month! I’m settling in to my job and I have been able to read a little bit more. I get a one hour lunch break so I take my book and get to read it most days. We’re keeping Christmas lowkey this year and it’s nice not to have to worry and enjoy the time off I get. December has had some really special moments and I’m ending the year on a high. I feel a lot better mentally and I’m hoping 2019 will bring more joy!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Rita Ora – Phoenix – I have listened to Rita’s music for a number of years and I was happy to get my hands on her long awaited second album last week. I tried to pick up the album earlier but there’s only one shop that sells CDs in my city and they didn’t have it so I had to wait until I went to Auckland for the Shania Twain concert. This album is catchy pop with an emotional R&B edge. Phoenix sounds current and the majority of tracks would not be out of place on radio. Standout Tracks: Anywhere, Lonely Together, Only Want You, For You and Cashmere.

2. Daniel Wellington Petite Melrose Watch + Cuff Set – Whilst I love having small wrists it makes buying watches difficult. The best thing about this watch is that the clasp can be moved to suit a range of wrist sizes. It’s also useful if your wrist size fluctuates. I was drawn to the Petite Melrose because of the rose gold colour and how dainty and elegant the watch looked. The watch face comes in two different sizes (28mm and 32mm – for reference I got the 28mm) and you can also choose the colour of the face: white or black. The black looks striking but I chose white as it looks more classic. The watch straps can also be swapped out so if you don’t want to have more than one watch you can change the strap for a different look. If you don’t want to order a cuff with your watch you can order a second strap or simply buy the watch on it’s own. This is the nicest watch I have ever owned – it’s the perfect fit and so lightweight to wear.

3. Shania Twain concert – December 18th 2018 is a day I’ll never forget; the day I got to see Shania Twain in concert. I have been a fan since 1998 and I never thought all these years later I would get to see her live, let alone have her touch my hand as she made her way to the stage. Shania is one of my biggest inspirations, her life story is so interesting and she’s had her share of ups and downs. The show itself was spectacular, the band are talented and Shania is such a professional, she knows how to work the stage and the crowd and treats her songs with respect. She doesn’t oversing or try and create new versions of the hits she’s known for. I was up singing and dancing all night and I feel blessed to have been in the same room as her.

4. Rimmel 107 Lipstick – I wore this to the Shania Twain concert and my love for this shade has been reignited. This lipstick has been in my collection for a few years now and I really should wear it more. The lipstick is pigmented, easy to apply and lasts well throughout the day. 107 is a gorgeous berry red and one of the best reds I own. This lipstick is lovely all year round but it’s especially beautiful around Christmas!

December’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in December?

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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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1,000 Followers Giveaway WINNER!

My 1,000 Followers Giveaway closed on Wednesday and today I get the joy of announcing the winner!

Firstly, thank you to those who took time to enter the giveaway! I honestly thought there would be more entries but on the plus side, the entries I did get had less competition and higher odds of being chosen!

AND THE WINNER IS…

Nadine from https://nadineblewett.wordpress.com/ 

As mentioned in the rules of the giveaway post in order to choose the winner I selected my five favourite entries based on adherence to the rules and general blog engagement. From there I assigned each entry up to three numbers (depending which platforms each person entered on) and the date of their comment.

I drew up a page in a notebook and recorded all the entries. The names with the asterisks beside were my five favourites. Further down the page I wrote a list of the five names and their assigned numbers.

The number generated ranged from 1-13 (as not everyone entered across all three platforms). I then used Google’s random number generator to select the overall winner!

I will be in contact shortly Nadine and I aim to package everything up and ship it off as soon as possible!

Thank you to everyone for their support during the giveaway and all of the nice words written about me and my blog. I loved seeing which product everyone was most excited to win!

A big thank you to the other four entrants who made it into my top five; I wish I could send all of you a prize ❤

Congratulations once again to a deserving winner!

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September Favourites 2018

September has been a bit of an odd month if I’m honest. After a mostly positive August, my mood slipped again around the middle of the month and I reached a very low point. It’s a reminder that I still have bad days and to be gentle with myself. The feelings became magnified again because it would have been the two year anniversaries for everything for my ex and I: talking to each other, meeting each other, kissing for the first time and I am an incredibly sentimental person. I keep going and try to move on because I hope one day it won’t hurt anymore.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. MAC – Hug Me – I received Hug Me for free as part of MAC’s National Lipstick Day and it is such a beautiful shade. I will admit I hadn’t heard of it before, maybe because it’s not a hyped up shade that’s often talked about. MAC describe Hug Me as a warm pink with pearl finish but on me the colour has hints of brown as well. Hug Me is a lustre finish which is one of my favourites from MAC, it’s very comfortable to wear and lasts on my lips just as well as other formulas to be honest. A fellow blogging friend, Katie bought the lipstick after seeing me wear it and it’s stunning on her too!

2. xoBeauty Tulip Powder Brush – Before I bought this brush I only had one big, fluffy brush – the Real Techniques Blush Brush – and I tend to use that for bronzer. I really wanted to invest in another one that I can use to sweep blush and highlighter over my cheeks when I want a glowy look or set my face with powder, basically a great multitasking brush that has more than one function. The bristles on this brush are so soft and the tapered end helps to disperse a light wash of product. I love this to apply Soft & Gentle by MAC all over the face or even using it just to apply Soft & Gentle to the tops of my cheeks.

3. Sophie Hannah – The Mystery of Three Quarters – I finished this book in two days and I always think you can tell how much you enjoy a book by how quickly you read it. This is the third ‘new’ Hercule Poirot mystery from Sophie Hannah and she captures the character wonderfully and in a way Agatha Christie would be proud of. I really really hope Sophie Hannah writes more of these!

4. Miss Selfridge Check Scarf – I picked up this scarf on a whim when I placed an ASOS order at the beginning of the month. I ended up sending the item I originally wanted back and keeping the scarf. The scarf is black and bright pink and it is so beautifully warm and soft. My other scarves are neutral, plain colours and this one really pops against black clothing. This scarf is quite long so it can be tied in numerous ways or even worn as a wrap/shawl. It’s good scarf weather in New Zealand at the moment with spring upon us.

5. Goodreads – After almost completing my challenge to read 50 books in a year and sharing blog posts of what I finished, I still wanted to document and keep track of what I read. I’ve heard Goodreads talked about in the blogging community and decided to jump on board and join up. It’s relatively easy to use and I like the organisational component and sorting books into categories/shelves. You can also include the dates you start and finish each book and the website gives you stats about your reading habits. If you have a Goodreads account and want to be friends, add me: https://www.goodreads.com/chanellehayley

September’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in September?

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