Redhead Rambles #10

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 am really proud of a new page in my Bullet Journal. I want to watch every episode of Poirot so I created an episode tracker. I wrote each series up and will cross off episodes as I watch them. Even though I have seen a lot I am planning to re-watch them. I also drew a moustache on the page to represent Poirot.
• I am thinking of doing a part two YouTube video about my bullet journal showing the pages I have created since my first video. Let me know if you’d be interested.
• During the weekend I pre-ordered The F Word by Lily Pebbles. Lily is my favourite YouTuber and I can’t wait to read her book. It is about friendship which I can struggle with. I’m expecting tears but I’m also hoping to laugh and learn something new.
• My boyfriend’s mum did some baking when I visited at the weekend. She made meat pies, raspberry muffins, scones and bread.
• I mowed the lawns and didn’t hit my head on a tree branch this time.
• If you’re looking for some of the best inexpensive makeup products or something new to try, check out THIS VIDEO from But First, Coffee. The L’Oreal mascara has finally launched in NZ and I will pick up a tube in the near future.
• On Tuesday afternoon I was very grumpy and hot and tired, not in a good mood.
• By Wednesday I was feeling better and I washed a handful of makeup brushes; three eye brushes and my foundation brush.
• I made myself a couple of berry smoothies for breakfast again this week.
• I painted my nails using Bahama Mama by Essie. Berry for autumn, groundbreaking! (My take on a quote from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’).
• I watched Murder On the Orient Express starring Kenneth Branagh and Johnny Depp among others. I know the story and I enjoyed the film.

What I’ve been listening to:

I haven’t listened to much music this week. I’ve put my phone on shuffle a few times but haven’t listened to certain artists or albums.

How was your week?

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New Makeup: First Impressions

I’m a firm believer that first impressions count and I try to trust my gut instinct as much as possible. Makeup is different as it can take a few tries and techniques to apply products before you get a feel for them… or not. Being a makeup fanatic is a double edged sword, you’re excited to try new products but at the same time you hope they’re good and a worthy investment.

I picked up some new makeup on Feel Unique and wanted to put it to the test. I used the new products alongside some of my old favourites to give a true representation and opted for a classic Chanelle look; neutral eyes and a bold lip. Read on to find out how the new products stacked up!

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Products Used:

• MAC Studio Moisture Cream
• Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – 002 Hazel
• Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair *NEW*
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair
• Max Factor Wild Shadow Pot in Feral Brown *NEW*
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara
• Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Opal
• Tanya Burr Blackberry Fudge Lip Cream *NEW*

New Product #1:

Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – I have been using the Ivory Beige shade of this foundation for a while now and I really love the formula and coverage it gives. I apply Ivory Beige with a light hand as applying too much gives an orange tinge. I always blend it well so I can get away with it but I was always curious to try the ‘Fair’ shade. This particular shade isn’t sold in New Zealand and when I saw it on Feel Unique for half of what I paid for Ivory Beige, in the basket it went! The packaging has been updated but thankfully the formulas of both foundations perform the same. The formula is comfortable, long lasting and can be worn dewy or matte depending on your preference. Fair is pretty much a perfect match but we are going into summer so I’ll still be wearing Ivory Beige as well.

Face with only foundation applied.

I am pleased to say this foundation is everything I hoped it would be! I am super happy with my purchase and I will go as far as to say that the Lasting Performance foundations have overtaken Rimmel’s Match Perfection as my favourite. I’ve fallen out of love with the Rimmel lately and have been preferring the coverage of my Max Factor bases.

New Product #2:

Max Factor Wild Shadow Pot in Feral Brown – Neutrals and browns are definitely the shades I wear most and are the shades which I think suit me best. I love colour but prefer that on my lips and a nice shimmery or neutral shadow on the eyelids. Feral Brown is a warm copper with slight shimmer and it looks so pretty on. The colour applies evenly and has good pigmentation. This will be a great shade to throw on when I want something simple but pretty and for taking with me when I’m away from home. The pot is small and won’t take up hardly any space.

Freshly applied eyeshadow.

The eyeshadow did last throughout the day but I will try applying a cream coloured base shadow underneath to see if it makes a difference or alters the colour payoff. I have been looking for a copper coloured shadow for a while so I’m glad to have found this.

New Product #3:

Tanya Burr Blackberry Fudge Lip Cream – This lip cream was one of the products I was most excited to receive. The colour is unlike anything else I own, the packaging is gorgeous and the scent of the product is like a cupcake (think NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Creams). I tried Blackberry Fudge on the day it arrived and swatched it for Tuesday’s post, My Recent Purchases #2. When I went to apply it two days later it did not go well at all. I had to apply it five times! To say I was disappointed is an understatement. The colour didn’t take well to multiple coats either. I took a picture to show the uneven application then removed it and went for a different lipstick altogether.

Full face complete with patchy lipstick. *sob*

Sadly, I’ll be passing the set of lip creams along. It shouldn’t be that difficult to apply a lip colour and it didn’t meet my expectations. It’s a shame because Blackberry Fudge was such a beautiful, unusual colour. I have already replaced it with Black Cherry by Revlon as I loved the colour so much. It’s not the same but it’s similar.

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To quote Meatloaf, “two out of three ain’t bad.” I didn’t quite hit a home run but the eyeshadow and foundation make up for the lip disaster. I’ve got plenty of other lip colours to keep me going and I learned that I probably wouldn’t be a fan of matte liquid lipsticks (despite owning two).

Have you bought new makeup lately? How did it perform?

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Halloween Makeup Tutorial

I’m not really one to celebrate Halloween but this year I wanted to create a cat inspired makeup look! I didn’t want the look to be difficult to achieve and I had a couple of ideas in mind to get the look I wanted: smokey eyes and a berry lip. Let’s jump right in!

Products Used:

Face

1. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – This foundation is my favourite when I want more of a matte finish. It doesn’t have SPF so I also knew it would look nice in pictures. This foundation has good coverage, for this look I applied two light layers and blended them out using my Expert Face Brush from Real Techniques.

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – This is my holy grail concealer and it blends so nicely with the Max Factor foundation.

3. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10 – I applied a smidge of this on top of the Collection to further eliminate redness and to even out my skin tone.

4. Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder – I wanted my skin to look more on the matte side so I applied this to the tops of my cheeks, my forehead and my nose and chin, basically any area that gets shiny.

Eyes

5. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel – I am still using this to fill in my brows. Enough said.

6. Maybelline ‘The Nudes’ Palette & Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 – I used a combination of shadows from both of these palettes. I started with two matte base shades from The Nudes before using a dark, plum shade through the crease from the Iconic 2. I then applied a darker shimmery brown from The Nudes on the centre of the eyelid and finished with a dab of shimmer from two shades in the Makeup Revolution palette. I also applied a little bit of the brown shade from The Nudes under my lower eyelashes to complete the look.

I have included a diagram and marked which shades I used on both palettes with a diamond.

7. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – Another of my holy grail products! This mascara lengthens and adds volume to my lashes which I love. The lashes look beautiful and fluttery and compliments the eyeshadow shades well.

Lips

8. Rimmel 107 – This is one of my favourite lip colours and I instantly knew it would be perfect for this look! The berry shade looks stunning with smokey eyes.

The Finished Look:

(I know the whiskers aren’t straight and nose shape isn’t perfect but I still had fun creating this look!)

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Are you dressing up for Halloween this year? What do you think of my cat makeup?

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My Recent Purchases

I thought it would be fun to do a haul post and show you what I’ve bought recently. I haven’t done a haul post for a while and they are some of my favourites to read and write! I tend to go through phases where I’m good and don’t buy anything for ages then end up buying in a cluster. I’ve got music, makeup and beauty bits to share. Enjoy!

 

1. Shania Twain – Now (Life’s About To Get Good Package)

Shania has been one of my favourite artists since childhood. Now is Shania’s first studio album in 15 years and to celebrate I ordered one of the special packages available on her website. I chose the Life’s About To Get Good package which contains the deluxe version of Now, t-shirt, journal and pen, poster and a patch set. I love band t-shirts, I always feel inspired when I wear them and I love sharing my musical tastes.

2. Steps – Tears On the Dancefloor (Signed “Lisa” Edition)

Steps released their first album of new material in April 2017 and I have had it on repeat ever since! A Twitter friend has planned to get me a signed copy of the album and post it over. The album is getting a re-release with extra tracks in October and the band are releasing covers signed by each individual member. Lisa has always been my favourite so I ordered a copy signed by her.

3. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10

Whilst I do love Collection’s Lasting Perfection concealer I’ve wanted to branch out and try this concealer from MAC for a little while. All I’ve ever tried from MAC previously are their lipsticks and if the rest of their makeup is as good it’s money well spent. I went in store to get colour matched and it was between W10 and NW10. I went with NW10 as it blended into my skin quicker and I am starting to think my skin tone has neutral tones to it. I hope this lives up to Collection!

4. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara

This is my holy grail mascara! I love the volume and length it gives my lashes and how beautiful and fluttery they look. I like the size of the brush, it’s not overly big but still gets into the corners and coats those lashes too. Bristles rather than a silicone wand work well for me and are my preference when buying mascaras. I normally buy this mascara in Extreme Black but the store I was in only had Black.

5. The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter 50ml

Strawberry is the range from The Body Shop I have tried the most from. It’s a popular line and I’ve heard good things about this body butter – I hadn’t tried it but I always wanted to. The 50ml travel sizes are cheaper compared to a couple of years ago and I love being able to take one to my boyfriend’s. I’ve got a few uses of my Shea one left but I will be starting this straight after.

6. The Body Shop Moringa EDT 30ml

I am extremely close to finishing up my Strawberry EDT and wanted to pick up a back up. I also like to take these when I stay with my boyfriend as the bottles are travel friendly and fit perfectly in my handbag. I wanted something spring-y and the floral Moringa scent hit the spot. The floral scent is light and feminine.

7. Juicy Couture – Juicy Couture 100ml

This fragrance is the original one by Juicy Couture and was first introduced in 2006. Out of the three Juicy Couture perfumes I purchased this is the strongest and the least sweet. I hadn’t smelt this scent prior to buying it and when I first sprayed the perfume I found it very strong. I did do the first spray on my wrist and it does smell better on the neck. It’s different to my other perfumes and I like that. Viva la Juicy is still my favourite but Juicy Couture is a nice everyday perfume if you’re wanting one that lasts and something bold.

“Juicy Couture begins with sweet fruit notes of watermelon, mandarin, and passion fruit over a floral bouquet of gardenia, hyacinth, marigold, lily, and tuberose. Juicy Couture finishes on warm, sweet base notes of caramel, crème brulee, vanilla, patchouli and woods.”

8. Juicy Couture – Viva la Juicy 100ml

I purchased my first bottle of Viva la Juicy in 2015. I was nearly out and wanted to repurchase so I hopped online to see where I could find the perfume for a good price. I discovered I could get three 100ml perfumes for the price of one 100ml Viva la Juicy in store! I class Viva la Juicy as my signature scent, I love wearing it and it is my favourite perfume. It is the only fragrance I’ve ever repurchased which says a lot.

“Viva la Juicy opens with notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin. The heart encompasses a floral blend of honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine, while the base notes await us with a gourmet rhapsody of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and pralines.”

9. Juicy Couture – I Love Juicy Couture 100ml

I purchased this bottle of perfume after Rachael mentioned it in the comments of my Fragrance Collection post. This perfume is quite a recent addition to the Juicy line, released in 2016. I tested this in store before I made the perfume order and instantly loved it. It’s a little lighter than the previous two but it’s lovely and fresh and will be nice for spring/summer. The bottle is stunning, especially the leopard printed glass. I’m very thankful to Rachael for letting me know about this!

“This fruity and vanilla oriental scent will have every Juicy Couture girl radiating confidence. The fragrance opens with an irresistible combination of taffy apple, lively red currant and sparkling mandarin. The heart is bright with beautiful jasmine petals and pink honeysuckle. It finishes with smooth, addictive notes of patchouli and captive musks.”

All three perfumes contain some of the same notes but they all smell different. The quality and lasting power of each is spectacular!

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What was the last thing you purchased?

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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:

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What were your favourite things in July?

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Autumn Shopping Haul

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

Top Row:

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

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

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

Middle Row:

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

Bottom Row:

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

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Have you been shopping recently? What have you purchased?

March Favourites 2017

Hi all! It’s crazy to think we are at the end of March and a quarter of the year has passed already! I have been doing my best to get back into a better blogging routine. My work hours increased a significant amount last month and I’m still adjusting and learning what works best with them. I am slowly getting there and I thank you for bearing with me. I’ve got a few things that I’ve been loving throughout the month to discuss and as always, I hope you enjoy this post!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara – I won this mascara as part of Stashy’s HUGE two year giveaway and I finally cracked this open! I have read a number of glowing reviews about this mascara over the past year or so and for the most part it doesn’t disappoint. A couple of times I have smudged mascara onto my eyeshadow but I think that’s me not wiping the brush properly before I apply. This mascara coats pretty much every lash and gives a lovely full, fluttery effect without being clumpy. The formula is still quite wet at the moment so it will be interesting to see how it fares if it dries out. This is currently my only open mascara as I don’t like to have multiple on the go. I have the washable version which doesn’t flake and lasts all day on my lashes.

2. Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow Quad – Addictive – When I first mentioned this item in my First Impressions: Revlon Cherished Love Gift Set post, I wasn’t the biggest fan. I decided to give this little palette another go and for one of my favourite eye looks it is perfect. I like to apply two to three shades as a base before sweeping Max Factor’s Excess Shimmer in Copper over the top for added sparkle and glam. This palette is the travel friendly version of Maybelline’s The Nudes which I also use to create the same look. These shadows apply best with fingers rather than a brush.

3. Belkin MIXIT Metallic Lightning to USB Cable – I saw these cables at work and thought they looked cool but now I own one I know they’re cool. A couple of months ago I was staying with my boyfriend and forgot my iPhone charger and didn’t want to go all the way home to get it so I picked up a spare cable. I chose a silver/grey to match the colour of my phone and I keep the cable in the bag I take to my boyfriend’s so I’m never without my charger. These cables are braided so they’re extra strong and they come in pretty metallic colours. The little Belkin man logo is adorable too.

4. Perfume atomiser – I received this as a present from my boyfriend’s parents for my birthday in January. It is filled with Viva la Juicy by Juicy Couture which is one of my favourite perfumes, if not my favourite. I carry this atomiser in my handbag when I stay at my boyfriend’s as it is much easier than lugging around an awkwardly shaped perfume bottle that could smash or leak. I even got a pink one because they know my favourite colour is pink!

March’s Spotify Playlist:

Unlike other months where my playlists seem to have an underlying theme, these are just a few songs I’m loving lately.

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What were your favourite things in March?

Empty Products #3

This is only my third Empties post in a year and a half. I published my first ‘Empties’ in November 2015 and it is one of my most popular and most read posts. I find it astounding how slowly I go through and use up products compared to other bloggers but in some ways it shows how economical I am. I like to amass empties until I have a decent number of them to share, I would never have enough to warrant monthly posts. Let’s get started!

Makeup

1. Rimmel Glam Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara

I purchased this mascara for $10 in March 2016. I didn’t start using it until a few months later but as with most Rimmel mascaras I was impressed. The mascara has two different wands and formulas depending on whether you prefer volume, length or both. I like the bright pink packaging and how secure this closes. I especially love the smaller length brush for my bottom lashes, it doesn’t smudge and get everywhere and adds a nice natural definition.

Repurchase: I can see myself picking this up again although it’s not my holy grail. At the moment I have a couple of other mascaras to use first.

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair

I frickin’ love this concealer! As you can see from the image the writing has completely rubbed off the packaging but that’s a small flaw. This concealer is the perfect match for my fair skin and the formula is so creamy and high coverage. A few dots of this on my red areas and blemishes is all I need.

Repurchase: I already have! I think they may have changed the packaging because so far no writing has rubbed off.

3. Rimmel Super Curler Mascara

This is my least favourite Rimmel mascara that I’ve ever tried. I was so excited about this when I saw it on Instagram but it didn’t last as long as my other Rimmel mascaras and it didn’t curl my lashes. The only thing I liked about this mascara is the bristle brush as opposed to a plastic one – that’s the reason Rimmel mascaras are my favourite.

Repurchase: Nope.

4. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer

I don’t know what to say about this product because it’s been so long since I used it. I do think this product prolonged my makeup wear time and it didn’t react badly with my skin. It made my skin soft and a little bit went a long way, this primer lasted me over a year. This had a really nice smell to it as well.

Repurchase: Possibly. I’m not sure if this exact product is available anymore, I know Rimmel still do a Fix & Protect primer but it might not be the same one.

5. Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

I dislike this product so much I didn’t even keep it for the picture, it went straight in the bin. In the beginning I liked this mascara, it gave good length and the brush was really good for wiggling mascara onto the lashes. This was such a pain to remove though, I’ve had waterproof mascaras before but nothing as stubborn as this. This became such a pain to remove I didn’t want to wear it so I chucked it out.

Repurchase: No, not even the washable version. Maybelline mascaras are expensive for what they are in New Zealand.

Body & SkinCare

6. Derma V10 Strawberry Body Sorbet

I picked up this for roughly $3 and considering the price it is a decent product. This tub lasted me ages and the strawberry scent is scrumptious! I do prefer body butters from The Body Shop as they are more moisturising and they have a range of scents to choose from. If you have normal skin (I have dry/sensitive) I’d say this would be a great budget alternative for you.

Repurchase: Maybe.

7. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

When I first started using this product I didn’t see any real benefits and as a result I would only use it now and again. This product featured in the Project Pan collaboration I did last year and when I was using it more often I started liking it a lot more. I use face mist after moisturiser and before foundation to give my skin that extra bit of moisture.

Repurchase: I’m undecided at the moment. I’m using a Vitamin C Face Mist and once I’ve finished that I can determine which I preferred or if I want to go back to primer instead of face mist.

8. The Body Shop Hand Creams: Wild Argan Oil and Vanilla Chai

I love hand cream, I like to have a stash of two or three at a time so I don’t run out. The Body Shop’s selection is incredible and their formulas don’t react with my skin. There are certain scents I prefer to others and out of these two it would be the Vanilla Chai. Vanilla Chai has a nice spiciness to it and a hint of milk chocolate. The Wild Argan Oil felt slightly less hydrating than the Vanilla Chai and had an almost medicinal scent.

Repurchase: Vanilla Chai  – yes (but it was a Christmas scent), Wild Argan Oil – no.

9. Simple Moisturisers: Light Hydrating and Replenishing Rich

I’ve mentioned numerous times on the blog that I have used Simple moisturiser for years and I continue to do so. I was trialing which one of the two I prefer and the Replenishing Rich was the winner.

Repurchase: Yes to both but I prefer to buy the Replenishing Rich moisturiser.

10. The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter

I bought this body butter in my 2016 Body Shop Birthday Haul and finished it in mid 2016. I love the scent and how soft this made my skin. It had a nutty, kind of cocoa scent and I imagine this would smell really nice on a guy too, it’s one of those gender neutral scents that’s not overpowering.

Repurchase: The Body Shop have discontinued the Brazil Nut range but if they bring it back, I’m buying another tub for sure!

11. Olive Pomegranate Hand & Nail Cream

This product has one of the nicest scents I’ve ever come across, it literally smells like bubblegum. Olive is a New Zealand based beauty/skincare brand but this is the only product of theirs I’ve tried. This hand cream contains more product than those from The Body Shop but overall I feel like The Body Shop hand creams are more moisturising.

Repurchase: I don’t think so.

Other

12. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover

This is probably my favourite nail polish remover that I’ve tried. It doesn’t smell like alcohol like most of them and it removes nail polish really well. The formula contains Vitamin E which also helps strengthen nails and keep them looking and feeling good.

Repurchase: Yes! I couldn’t find this when I purchased a replacement, so I had to settle for a Sally Hansen one.

13. Britney Spears Radiance Perfume

For some reason it takes me ages to go through a perfume. I got this bottle for Christmas in 2013 and finished it some time in 2016. This perfume has a similar scent to Juicy Couture’s Viva la Juicy (which is my favourite) which is probably why I liked it. I couldn’t find an affordable bottle of Viva la Juicy so I got this instead. The bottle looks like gem stones and is very pretty.

Repurchase: I want to buy another bottle but I can’t find it in store so I may have to resort to online, it makes a nice everyday perfume.

14. Revlon Fire & Ice Perfume

This perfume was an item in a gift set I got for Christmas a couple of years ago. This scent is difficult to describe. It’s very different to the type I go for, it’s more mature and not so sweet and doesn’t contain vanilla. This perfume does smell pleasant and again it’s a nice, cheap everyday one for work.

Repurchase: Probably not.

15. Nivea Invisible For Black and White Deodorant

I have used this deodorant for years and I still enjoy using it. I know I won’t start smelling throughout the day and it’s not sticky and doesn’t get all over the armpits of my clothes.

Repurchase: Of course!

16. TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner

I purchased these 750ml bottles in June 2016 so that shows you how long I’ve had them. These big bottles are really good value for money, I only have to buy shampoo and conditioner about once a year. I find this shampoo and conditioner decent enough and it smells good but I don’t feel the Keratin Smooth makes my hair any smoother or straighter than before I used it.

Repurchase: I don’t think so.

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That’s everything that I’ve been amassing for the past year or so. You probably won’t see one of these posts for another six months or so, so I hope you enjoyed this one!

Do you enjoy reading empties posts as much as I do? Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products!

August Favourites 2016

Howdy everyone! Month number eight done and dusted! August has flown by super fast and I’ve been crazy busy (but a good busy) with travel, loads of new experiences and starting a new job. I’ve still found the time to round up my favourite things from August and I hope you enjoy!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Alan Carr – Yap, Yap, Yap! – The whole reason I went up to stay with my brother in the first place was to see Alan Carr live. I have loved and watched Chatty Man for years (though I don’t think it’s as good as it used to be) and I’m so glad I got to see him in person. He was very funny and even though I was in Row R, I still had a great view of him and the stage. There was lots of audience interaction and he was so appreciative that everyone had come to see him. I would definitely go to see him again!

2. Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara – I purchased this mascara back in March but I didn’t start wearing it until July. I’ve been using it for almost two months now and for $10, it’s pretty good! Rimmel mascaras are my favourite anyway because the wands have proper bristles instead of plastic, silicone ones. I like the packaging of this mascara, it’s sleek and the bright pink means it won’t get lost in your makeup bag. For daytime, I’ve really been enjoying wearing two coats of just the length mascara, the wand is quite small but it’s perfect for getting into the bottom lashes. If I want volume as well, I will use both formulas but sometimes the lashes can stick together if I haven’t let them dry long enough between coats. To combat this I go in with the volume first because it is a thicker formula. I still prefer Scandaleyes Lycra Flex over this but it is a decent mascara and I wouldn’t rule out buying it again.

3. Iconic 2 Eyeshadow Palette – I ordered this palette in May as part of my Feel Unique & Makeup Revolution Haul and it took me almost two months to start using it, terrible I know! I got it around the time I lost my job at the pharmacy and I wasn’t wearing a lot of makeup for about a month so it sat there for a little while. When I did delve into this palette and start using it I was super impressed! This palette is predominantly shimmers which I like because I don’t have many of them already and I do like a sparkly eye! The pigmentation is really nice, fallout is minimal and the colours are gorgeous. If you’re undecided about getting the Naked 2 palette, give this dupe a go because I’m sure you will love it!

4. Derma V10 Strawberry Body Sorbet – This is another product I purchased back in March which I have been using since finishing up The Body Shop’s Brazil Nut body butter. The packaging reminds me of a yoghurt pot which is so cute and this smells absolutely divine! It’s a sweet strawberry but it’s not too sweet or overpowering, it’s subtle and blends into the skin nicely. The formula of this product is not what you’d expect, it’s light and almost feels whipped like a mousse. Application is easy, a little bit goes a long way and this doesn’t leave you feeling greasy or sticky while you’re waiting for it to soak in. A very well spent $3 in my opinion!

5. Dannii For Target Coated Leggings – Earlier this month I shared a clothing haul and these leggings were one of the items featured. The very first time I tried them on they felt incredibly comfortable, almost like a second skin. The length is perfect and the coated texture gives them wow factor and sets them apart from normal leggings. I have worn these a couple of times now and I’m a huge fan! They can be worn casually with a t-shirt and jumper or more dressed up if you’re going out. I’ve christened these my rock chick pants!

6. Revlon Lip Butter – Sweet Tart – I was meant to be being good and not buy lip products for a while but I just couldn’t resist! I spotted this lip butter and had to take it home with me. Sweet Tart is such an adorable and appropriate name for this Barbie pink shade. Barbie pink may sound scary but it’s really not. Sweet Tart is bright without being in your face and adds a pretty warmth to the lips. It has reignited my love for the lip butters and made me want three more… Oops!

August’s Spotify Playlist:

This month celebrates one year since I started making these playlists and posting them alongside my favourites. This playlist features some of my favourite artists of new and old.

The Purple Makeup Menu

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

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

Products listed in order of application:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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