GRWM: Luxurious Makeup Look

I am lucky enough to have some really beautiful makeup products that aren’t exactly on the lower end of the price spectrum. Before I purchase a product I always look up reviews and do my research, especially if I’m considering parting with a substantial amount of money. I definitely feel comfortable splurging in some areas and saving money in others. I know what works for my skin and how I want my makeup to turn out.

I wanted to be a little boujee and create a look using as many luxury products as possible. I didn’t doubt for a minute the look would come together well and I’m so pleased with it!

Products listed in order of application:

Products marked with an * means I didn’t have a luxury alternative

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive*

2. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – I sampled this primer last year and fell in love with it straight away. I purchased a full size during lockdown. It makes my skin feel silky smooth and foundation applies beautifully over the top. A little goes a long way as this spreads really easily over the skin. It feels moisturising but it’s not at all greasy.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel*

4. YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation in B10 Porcelain – This is as close to a holy grail foundation that I have discovered so far. The shade is such a perfect match for my skin – it’s the right amount of warm and cool and like the primer, a little goes a long way. One layer is enough and the consistency of the foundation is light but blendable. Product is very easy to move around the face. This foundation makes your skin look like skin but enhances it and gives a dewy, healthy glow. I’m so impressed every time I wear it!

5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer blends nicely on top of the YSL foundation. It can be layered up and covers redness and spots well. This can sink into lines if my skin is feeling dry but using a good primer and foundation combats that. Studio Finish also feels lightweight and doesn’t clog my skin or make me oily.

6. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder*

7. Milani Eyeshadow Primer*

8. xoBeauty Heaps of Sweets Palette – This palette cost around $55 (NZD) which compared to lots of other palettes on the market isn’t expensive. Ever since trying xoBeauty a couple of years ago I have been impressed with the price points of products in relation to quality. I tend to use drugstore eyeshadow palettes as I don’t have any high end ones but this is a good in-between. I went for a cool toned eye look, I used the shade Vanilla (light neutral that leans purple) as a base shadow all over the lid, Brownie (chocolate brown) to deepen up the crease and Cupcake (shimmery taupe) for a wash of shimmer.

9. YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils The Curler Mascara – I have been using this little mini since the end of February and it has lasted well! This has a rubber wand which I’m not usually a fan of but this mascara is really pleasant to use. The formula has stayed the same since it’s been open and it gives a bit of length and volume which I love. (Technically this mini wasn’t expensive as I got it as part of a set but if I purchased a full size it would be the priciest mascara in my collection).

10. MAC Double Gleam Extra Dimension Skinfinish – This highlighter literally melts into the skin. A little goes a long way and it gives the skin such a beautiful gleam. The cream-powder formula is flattering and doesn’t accentuate pores. This shade is versatile and one I see myself reaching for a lot as it will go with everything!

11. MAC Warm Soul – I was opting for a rosy-nude lip and knew this blush would be perfect on the cheeks to accompany it. Warm Soul is one of MAC’s Mineralize blushes so it has a baked formula and a gorgeous speckled marble effect that translates onto the skin. Like the highlighter, this blush is such a versatile shade and the combination of this and Double Gleam is a winner.

12. MAC Fix+ Magic Radiance – After setting my base with powder I knew a few sprays of this would re-hydrate the skin and make it look lovely and glowy again. Magic Radiance is even more hydrating than the regular Fix+ and it is packed with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and essential oils which are all great for the skin. This smells amazing too!

13. Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy – Intense Nude – A work colleague gave me this lipstick as it wasn’t the right shade for her and it was the inspiration behind creating this luxury look. Estée Lauder is a brand I haven’t tried before. The bullet is navy and gold with a magnetic closure – it feels satisfying when the lid snaps back into place. Intense Nude is number 130 in the Pure Envy range and it is described as a moderately warm-toned light plum. This shade isn’t a true nude as it has hints of pink, brown and red but it is one of those shades that is a great everyday colour. The scent is lovely and the lipstick glides over the lips like butter. It’s incredibly comfortable to wear.

The Finished Look:

Close up of my eye makeup using xoBeauty’s Heaps of Sweets palette. Also wearing “The Romantic” lashes by xoBeauty.

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Do you own any luxury makeup products?

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Trying False Lashes For the First Time

In February I purchased two pairs of false lashes from xoBeauty. xoBeauty is New Zealand YouTuber Shaaanxo’s brand and a brand I have purchased quite a bit from over the past couple of years. I have watched Shannon apply lashes numerous times in her videos and recently I was curious to give them a go myself. I’ve read glowing reviews praising how easy the lashes are to apply and how affordable they are for the quality.

Along with the two pairs of lashes I purchased lash glue and special xoBeauty tweezers. The tweezers are nicely weighted and have a non-slip grip. The prongs are shaped in such a way to aid application and really let you get the false lashes to sit flush with your natural lashes and clamp the two sets of lashes together.

xoBeauty have a range of different styles of lashes on their website from natural to long and fluttery as well as faux mink styles for when you want extra drama. xoBeauty’s lashes are cruelty free and are 100% handcrafted with soft, synthetic hairs. Pairs of lashes can be purchased individually or in value packs of five. There are also sets of mixed styles available if you want to try more than one. I purchased two individual sets of lashes; The Heiress and The Innocent.

“The Heiress” lashes are beautifully natural and are a medium length. They give a fluttery effect to your lashes, and have a gorgeous curl to them. Perfect for adding volume and subtle length!

“The Innocent” were designed for the utmost natural girls in mind. These are lightweight, natural, and not too long. They have a criss-cross pattern in order to blend with any natural hairs you already have and this pattern will give the perfect amount of volume! If you already have semi long lashes, these will amp up the volume of your lashes and they look almost undetectable.

Close up of “The Heiress” lashes I applied

Application

I kept my eye makeup simple to balance out the effect The Heiress lashes would give. I applied two coats of mascara prior to the lashes and didn’t go in with another coat afterwards in order to prolong the life of the lashes. I want to be able to reuse this set as much as possible. I held the first lash with the tweezers and checked the size of the lash band against my eyelid to make sure it wasn’t too long and to see if I needed to trim the end. No trimming was required so still holding the lash with the tweezers I applied Duo’s clear, latex-free eyelash glue to the band and let it set for 30-40 seconds. I guided the lash into place and managed to place it correctly on the first go which I was very impressed with! I used the tweezers to adhere the centre of the lash band first before making sure each end was also attached. I then clamped the false lashes and my own lashes together and I was done! From applying the glue to the lash being on it would have only taken 90 seconds. The other lash went on just as easily and I couldn’t believe how little time it took.

How they feel

The outer lashes are curled and beautiful and the lashes do look natural and fluttery. The lashes are incredibly lightweight and it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing anything. The length is perfect and the lashes don’t touch my glasses which is what I wanted. I can’t see a shadow from the lashes when I’m going about normal activities, they seem like my normal lashes. The glue doesn’t weigh the lashes down and I can’t feel it on my eyelids. The glue doesn’t have an odour which is good and it dries down clear. The Heiress lashes have a clear band so they blend in effortlessly and look pretty much invisible.

Left: Just mascara vs one lash applied
Right: Full face of makeup 

Other products used:

• Olay Complete UV Sensitive Lotion
• Becca First Light Priming Filter
• Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel
• YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation in B10 Porcelain
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10
• Milani Eyeshadow Primer
• Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Eyeshadow Palette
• YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils The Curler Mascara
• theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
• Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 10 Nude Mauve
• MAC Viva Glam III Lipstick

I am extremely happy with my first lash trying experience! I didn’t anticipate it would be such a simple process from start to finish and how light the lashes would feel once they are on. The lashes don’t look dramatic, they add a lovely curled effect and natural length. The quality of these lashes is outstanding and they are super affordable. I will reach for these on special occasions or when I want to feel extra glam. I can definitely see myself checking out other lash styles from xoBeauty in the future too.

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Have you tried false lashes before? Do you have a favourite brand or set that you use?

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GRWM: Mexican Quiz Night

At the end of May I went to a Mexican themed quiz night with four work colleagues. We didn’t have to dress up but I knew I wanted to do bright, glowy makeup and incorporate colourful flowers into the look. The week prior to quiz night I purchased a headband with coloured flowers attached and it topped my makeup off beautifully. I kept my outfit simple wearing black pants and a black top and a black and white striped blanket wrap over top to look like a poncho. I absolutely adored the makeup I did and I hinted in a previous post about recreating the look and sharing it on the blog – I had a few requests to do so.

(Products have been categorised and listed in order of application under each cateogry).

Base

• Simple Radiance Brightening Moisturiser – At the moment I’m working on finishing up this travel sized moisturiser from Simple. This particular moisturiser is lovely on my dry skin and it would be great if this was more readily available in New Zealand and came in a full size.
• Max Factor Smoothing Miracle Primer – Smoothing and moisturising, a pea sized amount of product is all that’s needed.
• Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – My favourite foundation that I’ve tried to date, good coverage and a satin finish.
• Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer  – 1 Fair – The concealer that works best for me! The pigmentation and creamy consistency pairs so well with the Max Factor foundation.
• The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist – Not only does this smell good but it feels lovely on the skin and it keeps my makeup looking smooth and soft. This was the last product applied before my lip colour.

Cheeks

• Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder – Light – I wanted my cheeks to look sculpted and chiseled, this shade is a perfect match for fair skin such as mine.
• The Body Shop Honey Bronzer  – 01 Light Matte – This was dusted over the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose and across my chin. I also applied this all over my eyelids to set the eye primer and act as a base shade.
• Dainty Doll Blush – 004 You Are My Sunshine – A dupe for NARS Orgasm. I need such a small amount of this blush as it is very pigmented but it gives a lovely flush to the cheeks. I applied this with a big fluffy brush and really concentrated application between my highlighter and contour.
• BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed – Opal – I have always been a fan of this highlighter but over the past few weeks I’ve been having a real moment with it! The glow it gives in combination with the blush makes my skin look super glowy and healthy and the formula is like butter.

Eyes

• Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Used this to fill in my brows.
• Urban Decay Primer Potion – This really does make a difference to the longevity of my eye makeup.
• Colourpop Sol Palette – OOO was applied through the crease and lightly over my eyelids before using my ring finger to apply Floaties all over.
• MAC Melon Pigment – Melon was applied over top of Floaties to add extra sparkle and to tie the orange tones from the Sol palette in with the peachy-gold blush.
• L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara – I tried Lash Paradise last year and loved it! I picked up Paradise Extatic (The European/NZ version) to compare the two and so far so good. Lashes appear dark and fluttery and the mascara provides good coverage in one coat but I still apply two!

Lips

•  NYX Cosmic Metals Lip Cream – Fuchsia Fusion – My favourite shade of lip colour to wear and all the glitz and glam I needed!

The Final Look:

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What do you think of this makeup look? Have you created any looks recently that you can’t get enough of, if so what products did you use?

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St Patrick’s Day Makeup 🍀💚

I haven’t ever created a makeup look for St Patrick’s Day specifically for the blog before but 2019 is the year! It’s not a day I personally celebrate but I do enjoy coming up with themed makeup looks and wanted to incorporate green in a ‘Chanelle’ way. I’m all about natural looking skin, a simple eye look (but simple I mean three or four eyeshadows), dark fluttery lashes, a pop of shimmer and 90% of the time a bold lip. However, for this look I knew a bold lip wasn’t the way to go.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – I like this as my daily moisturiser. It doesn’t sink into my skin too quickly and make it feel dry a few minutes later like some moisturisers can.

2. Max Factor Smooth Miracle Primer – This primer is quite new to my collection but I’m liking it a lot! It feels moisturising and smoothing on the skin and foundation is a breeze to apply over the top.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – The only brow product I use but it’s easy and the colour is natural, it’s very similar to the actual colour of my eyebrows.

4. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation – 100 Fair – When I want coverage and flawless looking skin this is my foundation of choice. I find this doesn’t wear away throughout the day around the areas of my skin that have natural redness and wears evenly everywhere. It’s not too glowy either.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I am a total convert to this eye primer! It really does make a difference to the longevity of eye makeup.

6. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – This concealer pairs nicer with the Max Factor foundation than my MAC concealer for some reason. Maybe it’s because this concealer is more creamy which is better match with a demi-matte foundation.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I am getting close to hitting pan on this – I can see the outline through the product which is really exciting! This bronzer is a staple in my makeup routine now and I wear it each time I do makeup. I apply it to my cheeks, chin, nose and temples.

8. Revolution Re-Loaded Iconic Fever Palette – This palette was sent to me by Nadine and I have been looking for an opportunity to use orange matte shade in the third row. I applied the orange shade in my crease after applying the second shade in the top row all over the lid as a base.

9. Qianyu Eyeshadow palette – Green eyeshadow is an obvious inclusion! I have had this little palette for a few years, I originally purchased it for the blue shade but I wear the green more. It’s a lovely shimmery green that is pigmented and doesn’t have a lot of fallout either.

10. MAC Silver Pigment – I wanted to add a little something to the green eyeshadow so I applied a small amount of silver on the inner corner and inner half of the eyes to make them look more cool toned and add extra sparkle!

11. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – 003 Blackest Black – I had to use my favourite, holy grail mascara – even the tube is green! This mascara never lets me down, the big wand is so easy to use and my lashes always look long and voluminous.

12. MAC Soft & Gentle – This highlighter is one of my favourites in my collection and really does go with anything. The shimmer ties in with the shimmer in the eye look nicely. I hadn’t used Soft & Gentle in a while before creating this look and it was nice to bring it out again.

13. MAC Velvet Teddy – I wanted a neutral lip colour and something that would pull on the orange tones used for the eye look. Velvet Teddy looks more brown than pink on me but the more I use this shade the more I like it.

14. Rimmel Oh My Gloss! – Glossaholic – This is such a lovely lipgloss, it’s not overly sticky and it always looks nice applied over other lip colours.

The Finished Look:

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Will you be incorporating green into your makeup? Do you celebrate St Patrick’s Day?

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Shania Twain Concert Makeup

Today is the day I get to see Shania Twain in concert, and not only that but it’s her FIRST EVER concert in New Zealand! I became a fan when I was three years old and heard ‘From This Moment On.’ To be able to say I’ve seen Shania will be an absolute dream come true. Not only does she have a beautiful voice and incredible song writing ability, her story is one of strength and grace. Her life hasn’t always been easy but she refuses to give up and she continues to succeed.

Choosing an outfit for the concert was easy. I opted for my Shania Now album cover t-shirt with a pair of black leggings. Casual and comfy but concert appropriate.

Makeup wise I wanted to do a Shania-esque look so I drew inspiration from two of her music videos. I incorporated a berry red lip from ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ and a dark smoky eye from ‘I’m Gonna Getcha Good.’

Products listed in order:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – This moisturiser works really well with my current primer and skincare routine. It soaks in quickly without leaving my skin dry or greasy.

2. Too Faced Hangover Primer – I like this primer and ever since I started using it my makeup has looked really nice.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Even with this being as small as it is it still applies how it always has.

4. Max Factor Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 Fair – When I want a flawless finish and good coverage this is my foundation of choice! I previously used this in 101 Ivory Beige, but think this shade is the better match out of the two.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I want my eye makeup to last the night so this was a no brainer.

6. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – I used this concealer rather my MAC one as it’s easier to reapply without ruining the base underneath.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I like to use a light dusting of bronzer to act sort of like a setting powder and take off any major shine. I apply bronzer to the tops of my cheeks, my chin, my temples and in a ‘w’ shape over my cheeks and nose.

8. Makeup Revolution Iconic 1 Palette – I did a makeup trial the Saturday before the concert using my Zoeva Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette and the black shade from my Shaaanxo palette but the eyes weren’t intense and dark enough for my liking. I loved the Halloween eye makeup I did *HERE* so I decided to recreate that look on concert night.

9. MAC Silver Pigment – I used a short shadow brush to place the pigment on the inner corner of the eyes. I just wanted a small pop of shimmer so the dark, smokiness could shine through.

10. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – My holy grail mascara! The large wand on this mascara means more lashes get coated at a time and the wand is really good for bottom lashes. One coat on the bottom lashes is enough otherwise I find they detract from the top lashes.

11. NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Highlight Duo – This blush goes with any look and the highlighting shade in the duo is the perfect accompaniment. I chose this product as it’s easy to travel with and contains blush and highlighter rather than having to pack two separate products.

12. Rimmel 107 Lipstick – A red lip is always a good idea and this one from Rimmel is not only similar to the colour Shania wears in the video for ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ but it’s also festive and looks great with leggings and a white tee!

The Finished Look:

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Who is one artist you’d love to see in concert?

What do you think of my concert makeup?

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Halloween Makeup

Halloween isn’t a big deal in New Zealand which I think is due to us being in spring when it falls as opposed to autumn for the other side of the world. I’ve been trick or treating once and personally I don’t go to parties or dress up. Not wanting to be a complete spoilsport I thought it would be fun to create a makeup look inspired by dark, bold colours. I was very much inspired by Rebecca’s makeup in this post.

  Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – Since using this moisturiser I have noticed clearer skin, I don’t get a lot of blemishes anyway but even less now. I really like how this works.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – The last use of this primer was for this look! It’s finally finished! It’s a good primer.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – In all the time I’ve had this brow pencil the colour has always remained the same and the pencil has never dried out or turned crumbly.

4. Max Factor CC Cream – 40 Fair – I have been loving this the past week or so on my sick skin. It applies so smoothly over my moisturiser and primer and doesn’t accentuate dry skin or redness. One layer is enough and the product blends/buffs really easily.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I am a total convert to eye primers but only if they’re as good as this one! It has become a staple in my everyday makeup routine.

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer blends effortlessly on top of the Max Factor CC cream.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – A light dusting of this over my cheeks to add a light wash of colour and make the look slightly more matte.

8. Makeup Revolution Iconic 1 Palette – The two dark greyish-blue shades at the end of the palette stood out to me and are a key element to this look. I used the first shade in the palette all over the lid, the second to last shade in the crease and the last shade on the right on top of the base shade.

9. MAC Silver Pigment – Silver eyeshadow has always been my jam, I find it easier to work with than gold as some golds are patchy. I applied the pigment to the inner half of the eyes to make them pop.

10. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – Further adding to the dramatic, dark overall look. I use this mascara in the Extreme Black shade as I love super dark lashes.

11. Chi Chi Unicorns & Mermaids Cream Highlighter Palette – I purchased this palette earlier in the year and while my mum uses it most of the time I knew the blue shade ‘Rainbow’ would look lovely with the silver-gunmetal eye. The cream formula is easy to work with and you can build it up or keep it more subtle.

12. MAC Matte Royal – The blue lipstick came out! I don’t wear this shade often but it’s good to have on hand for looks like this. I instantly knew I wanted to create a cool toned, blue look and this was one of the key products – it’s perfect!

The Finished Look:

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Do you celebrate Halloween? What do you think of this makeup look?

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Job Interview Inspired Makeup

Many people know me as the bold lipstick girl but there are days and occasions where a bold lip isn’t always appropriate. A job interview is a formal occasion and I still like to wear makeup but a simple, understated look. I opt for soft pinks and nothing too shimmery. It’s nice to pare it back sometimes.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – I’ve been using this as my daytime moisturiser for a few months now and I’m enjoying it. There is no sunscreen smell and the moisturiser feels very light on the skin and soaks in easily.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – I apply primer 5-10 minutes after moisturiser and this primer really helps to smooth out my skin and make foundation apply nicely over the top.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Been filling in my brows with this since 2016.

4. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – Even though my skin leans towards the drier side I don’t always prefer dewy foundations. This one from Max Factor is a nice cross between dewy and matte and the coverage with one layer sits at medium, it can be built up if you like fuller coverage too and it builds like a dream. This is my favourite foundation.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – After trying this eye primer I am a total convert! Some eyeshadows perform similarly with or without it but I do see a difference for the most part. The eyeshadow palette I used for this look has super soft, buttery shades and this primer held them on the eyelids better.

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer has good coverage and a good layering ability. The concealer is not drying on the skin despite not being a liquid cream formula.

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – A light dusting of this over my face helps add a healthy hint of colour and as I have said plenty of times in the past it is extremely difficult to overdo it with this bronzer.

8. Covergirl TruNaked Roses Palette – I don’t use this palette as much as I should but I don’t tend to wear a lot of pink on my eyes. I used three shades from the palette for a soft, blown out natural eye look.

9. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – I am using one of the tubes I purchased from Beauty Joint earlier in the year and now the mascara has been open a few weeks it’s starting to get to the point I really like; it makes the lashes look super black and adds a pretty flutter. The bigger size of this brush makes it easier to coat more lashes and because of this I don’t have to hold it as close to my bottom lashes.

10. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish – Soft & Gentle – I know I mentioned in the intro I don’t wear anything too shimmery but I wanted my cheeks to have a nice glow so I tapped this highlighter onto my cheeks with my ring finger for a lighter, softer application.

11. MAC Syrup – This is the perfect lipstick for any occasion and one of my all time favourites!

The Finished Look:

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What type of makeup would you wear for a job interview?

P.S. My blog giveaway ends TONIGHT at 23:59pm NZST. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

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First Impressions: New MECCA Makeup

In August I shared a post with the items on my MECCA Beauty Wishlist that were currently sitting in my online bag. I culled that down by half and ended up purchasing four of the seven things on my list last week. The items I purchased are all pretty much new brands to me apart from Urban Decay as I won one of their lipsticks through a blog giveaway a few years ago.

The shipping was so quick! I ordered on Monday evening and the order arrived on Wednesday afternoon. I got free shipping and received three samples with my order, one of which I will use and the other two will go in my giveaway pile.

Products listed in order of application:

Products with (N) are new items.

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive

2. Too Faced Hangover Primer (N)

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel

4. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion (N)

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10

7. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte

8. MAC Tan Pigment

9. Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara – 003 Extreme Black

10. NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Highlight Duo (N)

11. MAC Syrup

First Impressions:

• Too Faced Hangover Primer – The coconut scent is faint and fades almost instantly which is good. I’m not a fan of coconut and it’s barely there with this primer. The primer feels very cooling on the skin and is more of a creamy consistency. It doesn’t contain any silicone so it doesn’t feel oily or slippy. The rest of my makeup applied nicely over the top and my skin feels soft. I’ll have to give this a few more tries to see if I like it more than my Makeup Revolution primer.
• Urban Decay Primer Potion – I was surprised to find out this tube has a doe foot applicator inside it, I thought you squeezed product out! I decided to apply this before my concealer to give it a few minutes to sit on the eyelid before doing my eye makeup. I used my ring finger to apply a light wash of The Body Shop bronzer to my eyelid as a base on top of the primer and the bronzer did stick well. I dabbed MAC’s Tan pigment with the same finger over top and the pigment looks more sparkly than it usually does. The pigment didn’t fade throughout the day or sink into creases on my eyelid. Loving this already!
• NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Highlight Duo – I finger swatched these the day before applying them and they definitely show up more pigmented on the face – in a good way. I used one side of my Real Techniques Setting Brush for Orgasm and the other side of the brush for the Orgasm highlighter. I don’t often wear blush and highlighter together but these two are so glowy and beautiful and they give a lovely, healthy shine to my cheeks.

The Finished Look:

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Have you purchased any new makeup recently? Was it a hit or a miss?

Have you tried any of the products I purchased from MECCA before?

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Simple, Understated Makeup

Some days I don’t feel like wearing a bold lip (not very often, though) and like to keep the rest of my makeup simple by using the least number of products. I have worn this look a few times over the past month and wanted to share it with you. Because the look is so simple it works well with a bold lip too!

Products Used:

1. Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser – This is my go to everyday moisturiser. It preps my skin for the rest of my makeup and doesn’t irritate it. I have used this for years.

2. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – I bought this pencil in March 2016 and while it is getting smaller I’m still on the first one – value for money wise you can’t go wrong! This pencil lifts my brows, fills in gaps and makes them look that bit neater.

3. The Body Shop Vitamin C Face Mist – I love the smell when I spray this on in the morning, it’s so fresh. I use the face mist to give my skin an extra moisture boost as I can get dry skin and this prevents that.

4. Max Factor Lasting Finish Foundation – This is my go to foundation for those days I want flawless coverage. I only need the tiniest amount – a little goes a long way – and it covers all my redness and smoothes out my skin tone. This looks even more flawless when applied using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

5. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – This concealer has become my holy grail. It works like a dream when used with the Max Factor foundation mentioned above. The shade is perfect for me and the consistency is creamy and moisturising.

6. Teeez Smokey Rose Eyeshadow – I don’t have many single eyeshadows but this one takes the cake for prettiest packaging! The colour can be applied using a brush or fingers and it has a subtle duochrome effect which turns it into an everyday colour. This pulls green with a hint of pink on me and does indeed look like a smokey rose.

7. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara – This mascara has fast become one of the best I’ve ever tried. The shape of the brush allows it to reach the inner and outer lashes making it look like you’ve got more lashes and really opens your eyes to make them look bigger. The washable formula lasts all day on me and is easy to remove. 

8. Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick #45 – I only purchased this lipstick two months ago but I find myself reaching for it a lot lately. This shade is such a beautiful pink nude that is inoffensive and suits a number of skin tones. The pigmentation is great and the formula is super creamy!

The Finished Look:

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What do you think of this makeup look? What are your favourite products for easy, simple makeup looks?

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My 22nd Birthday!

Hello everyone! As some of you might know it was my 22nd birthday this week (Tuesday to be exact) and I wanted to share my makeup menu, and give you a little run down of what I got up to on the day.

This year I was torn between having a lunch/dinner and inviting people along or just having a chilled, relaxing day. I opted for the latter and I did really enjoy the day. As a present from my mum I had a massage. I’d never had one before but the massage therapist was lovely and I felt so relaxed afterwards. I then came home and had lunch before my boyfriend picked me up and we went on a short walk. Later that night we ate pizza down by the lake and he took me on a drive.

Presents:

• MAC Matte Royal lipstick (brother) – I asked my brother to buy this for me. I have been curious to try a dark blue/navy lipstick for a while.
• Massage (Mum) – I had never had a massage prior to this but it felt very relaxing and I’d love to go back again.
• Skechers for work (mum) – For the majority of the time I’m at work I’m on my feet so comfortable shoes are a must. I got a pair of ‘Stellar’ Skechers which are black/grey as well as being lightweight and super comfy.
• Gift card (boyfriend).
• Atomiser with Juicy Couture perfume (boyfriend’s parents).

Outfit of the Day:

Left To Right:

Top: Keira Short Sleeve V Neck Tee (Cotton On)

Shorts: Daisy Cheeky Denim Shorts (Glassons)

Jumper (for the evening): Slouch V Neck Jumper (Glassons)

Makeup Menu:

• Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
• Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist
• Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer  – 1 Fair
• The Body Shop Honey Bronze Matte Bronzer in 01 Light
• Maybelline ‘The Nudes’
• Max Factor Excess Shimmer in Copper
• Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara
• MAC Ruby Woo

Finished Makeup Look

I am a big fan of this look – I used a number of my staple products and paired them with a classic red lip.

Random balloon pictures – who doesn’t love balloons?!?!

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Thank you for reading this post and a big thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to wish me happy birthday!