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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GRWM: Metallic Easter Makeup

This makeup look is inspired by the bright, shiny foil wrapping around chocolate Easter eggs. The idea to create a metallic type look came after purchasing Colourpop’s Super Shock Shadow in the shade Slave2Pink. This shade is described on Colourpop’s website as an “electric neon pink glitter loaded up with blue, violet, hot pink, and silver in an insanely metallic duochrome finish.” I didn’t want to go full on tin man shine but I did want there to be visible shine and I’m super pleased with how the look came out! I wore it to work earlier this week as part of a glam, dress up day.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Sensitive Lotion – I am enjoying using this moisturiser and having a break from the Simple moisturiser I used for years. I stuck with Simple for so long because I knew it didn’t irritate my skin but I actually think this Olay one is better. My skin feels more hydrated and it doesn’t soak up the product as quickly.

2. Max Factor Smooth Miracle Primer – This primer is a good combination between hydrating and smoothing. The primer has a slight silicone feel without looking oily or greasy on the skin and makeup applies over top so easily and lasts well throughout the day.

3. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Filling in my brows with this since 2016.

4. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – The demi-matte finish of this foundation is my favourite. I don’t like overly dewy formulas and the coverage of this is also really nice, a good medium that can be built up to medium-full with a second layer.

5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer pairs well with the Max Factor foundation and it’s a great all rounder: good coverage, good colour match, contains SPF 35 and the formula doesn’t dry out in the little pot.

6. Urban Decay Primer Potion – A staple in my makeup routine since I started using it.

7. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Light – I recently bought this from Beauty Bay after being intrigued and wanting to try contouring to give my face some shape. I have been using this for just over a week now and the shade is good for my skin tone. I’m still determining which brush applies it best but I haven’t looked like I’m wearing a stripe on my face which is a good start!

8. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I have officially hit pan! I love this bronzer for adding a nice bit of colour to my skin but I also treat it like a setting powder. I don’t use setting powder unless it’s warm or I need my makeup to last extra well. I also find with having drier skin I don’t like a lot of powder products sitting on top of my foundation and concealer or else it looks cakey.

9. I Heart Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter – To go with the pink metallic theme I decided to wear my pink-purple highlighter. This was the first highlighter I ever bought and it’s such a beautiful, versatile shade. Goddess of Love can be worn lightly for a natural, everyday look but can also be easily built up if desired.

10. Colourpop – Slave2Pink – This is the product that inspired the whole look! I applied theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer as a base shadow before applying a light layer of Slave2Pink all over the lid with a shading brush and using my finger to apply more eyeshadow to build up the colour and shimmer.

11. Tanya Burr Selfie Lash Mascara – The more I use this mascara the more I like it. It’s not as dramatic and doesn’t give as much volume as my favourite from Rimmel but it’s still good. It gives a lengthening, separated, natural effect that compliments any look.

12. NYX Cosmic Metals – Fuchsia Fusion – I have been wanting to wear a fuchsia lip colour with the fuchsia Colourpop eyeshadow since it arrived and this look was the perfect opportunity. This is my most metallic looking lipstick and it’s such a comfortable formula. There’s shine and pigment but no gritty glitter. This product is long-lasting and one that always makes me happy when I wear it.

The Finished Look:

Clockwise from the top: Eyeshadow closeup, makeup at 7am, makeup at 5pm, highlighter/contour closeup.

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What do you think of this makeup? Do you like to create themed makeup looks?

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[CLOSED] 1,000 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway has been at the forefront of my mind for a long time and over the past couple of months I have been so excited to launch it!

Before I get into the rules and what you could win, I want to say the BIGGEST thank you to everyone that reads my posts and takes time to like and comment. Over the past four years my blog is one thing that has remained constant and I am incredibly proud to reach 1,000 followers.

I am equally as excited to run this giveaway as I am for the winner to receive their prize! I have put together a mixture of beauty, skincare and lifestyle bits. In regards to the makeup items I opted for shades I think will suit a range of people and products I like and enjoy using.

The giveaway is open internationally for 3 weeks from 06:00am (NZST) September 26 2018 until 23:59pm (NZST) October 17 2018. THIS GIVEAWAY IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT FOLLOWERS OF MY  BLOG AS AT THE COMMENCEMENT DATE. Anyone who follows my blog after this date will be eligible for future giveaways but I wanted this one to be special for my existing followers and readers.

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The Prize:

(I will list each item and the reason I have included it in the giveaway).

• NYX Intense Butter Gloss 3 Piece Set – Bright lip colours are my jam and this is such a pretty set. The three shades included are Pink Macaroon, Summer Fruit and Cherry Custard.
• Rimmel 103 Lipstick – Rimmel is one of my favourite brands and they do lipstick well. 103 is a lovely light pink shade.
• MAC Satin Lipstick in Craving – MAC lipsticks are beautiful and the Satin finish is a perfect cross between comfort and long wearing colour. Craving is described as a neutral plum and it looks similar but slightly darker than Syrup by MAC which is one of my all time favourites.
• MAC Sized To Go Pigment in Naked – I did a poll on Twitter asking if people would prefer to win Naked or Melon and Naked was the winner. Naked is described by MAC as a fleshy beige with pearl.
• L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara – I purchased a tube of Lash Paradise earlier this year and holy cow it is amazing – the hype is real! I purchased Lash Paradise online but New Zealand stores sell Paradise Extatic so you’ll be getting a bronze tube instead of a pink tube.
• Zoeva Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette – When I made my Beauty Bay order I picked up two of these mini palettes, one for myself and one for the giveaway. You get a mix of mattes and shimmers and this is a great little palette if you haven’t tried Zoeva or the original Cocoa Blend palette before.
• Zoeva Voyager Travel Brush Set – This set contains four mini makeup brushes housed in a little travel pouch: Concealer Buffer brush, Luxe Crease brush, Luxe Smoky Shader brush and Brow Line brush.
• The Body Shop English Dawn Gardenia Body Lotion – This scent is gorgeous and feminine and after using the body butter and loving it I wanted to pass my adoration for the scent onto someone else. ‘Lose yourself in a sumptuous blend of enticing tuberose and hundreds of English white gardenias.’
• The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin Hand Cream – I admit I was going to keep this one for myself but I have plenty of other hand creams and if the scent doesn’t return this year you’ve got your hands on it!
• Boohoo No Snag Hair Bands 4 pack – Who doesn’t love cute hair ties?!
• Stationery (mostly from kikki.K) – Pen, sticky notes, stickers, notebook elastic with pen loops, cat notepad and cable tags to keep cords tidy.
• Various product samples
• PLUS some extras! (not pictured)
  

All items are new and unused. Where possible I have opened the items to check they are not broken or damaged, e.g. the Zoeva palette and the MAC lipstick.

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To Enter:

Blog:

• You must be following me via WordPress or email.
• Leave a comment on this post with which platforms you have entered the giveaway on alongside your Twitter and Instagram usernames. Let me know how I can contact you if you win.
• In your comment also tell me which item you’d be most excited to receive and why you enjoy reading my blog.

Twitter:

• Follow my Twitter account and ‘Like’ this tweet.

Instagram:

• Follow my Instagram account and like this photo.
  

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The Rules:

1. All entrants must be aged 18 or over at the start of the giveaway.

2. Giveaway is open worldwide.

3. Entries solely through Twitter and/or Instagram don’t count. You must be a follower of the blog as well. Twitter and Instagram entries are bonus entries ONLY.

4. Winner will be chosen by me based on adherence to the rules and general blog engagement.

5. A shortlist of my 5 favourite entrants will be drawn up and from there each entrant will be assigned a random number/numbers based on the date they comment on this blog post. For example, if someone comments on this post on September 30 and I shortlist them they will be assigned number 1. If someone comments on this post on October 2 and is shortlisted but they also follow me on Twitter and ‘Like’ the linked tweet they will be assigned numbers 2 and 3 as they follow my blog and are eligible for a bonus entry. I will then use a random number generator to determine the winner. If all 5 entrants on the shortlist enter across all 3 platforms the number generated will range from #1 to #15.

6. The winner will be announced on Monday October 22 2018.

7. After the announcement the winner will have 7 days to contact me and claim their prize. If the prize is unclaimed a new winner will be chosen.

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If you have any questions regarding the rules of the giveaway or want to clarify something, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Good luck everyone and thank you for all the support over the past four years! ❤

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Redhead Rambles #32

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.

• The weather last Friday was absolutely stunning!
• I tidied my room, rearranged my desk and got rid of some clutter.
• Saturday marked the first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and I created a simple, pretty makeup look which I shared on Instagram.
• On Saturday afternoon mum and I went into town. I had a craving for Burger King and then we looked in a couple of shops. I bought a pair of pyjama pants, a shirt and some earrings.
• After being in town I went for a drive in a new spot that enables me to go straight for a decent amount of time and there’s also a couple of roundabouts which is good to start getting used to those. I drove my car and I didn’t panic this time.
• I was very tired on Saturday night and Sunday night. (Not sure why).
• My nail split at work on Monday and I had to pull a chunk of it off. Luckily it wasn’t too far down and didn’t hurt.
• Mum cut my fringe and it always takes a week or so after it’s cut before I like how it looks again.
• On Monday evening I ordered two things from ASOS – this dress and this scarf. I saw the dress in one of Fleur De Force’s recent videos and I commented on a photo of her wearing it on Instagram saying how pretty it looked. The scarf was a bit of an impulse buy but I really like the red-pink colour of it. A couple of my other scarves are dark so the colour will pop against black clothing. Coincidentally both items are from Miss Selfridge which is a brand I have never purchased from before.
• On Tuesday I texted a school friend for her birthday and we both agreed to catch up soon.
• I entered Rachael’s 500K Views Giveaway. Rachael is one of my favourite bloggers, not only is she beautiful and creates stunning makeup looks, she is a machine at finishing up products and is one of the hardest working bloggers.
• On Wednesday I felt like sparkle so I wore Fuchsia Fusion by NYX from their Cosmic Metals range on my lips. I’m still adamant this is the prettiest lip colour I’ve ever seen!
• I sang along to some of my favourite Delta Goodrem tracks and caught up with YouTube videos on Wednesday evening.
• Thursday I spent chilling, and most of the day consisted of reading. I finished an eBook and started my next novel.
• I joined Goodreads. My challenge to read 50 books in a year ended last Friday (I managed 45 books btw) and I want to try recording what I read on the site so myself and others can see what I enjoy or what I don’t finish. It’ll take a bit of learning to get used to how the site works but it’s an easy way to track things.
• Thursday’s dinner was Chicken Kiev with boiled potatoes. I don’t have Chicken Kiev very often but I do enjoy garlic and felt like one when I saw them in the supermarket a couple of days earlier.

What I’ve been listening to:

• My ‘good vibes :)’ playlist on iTunes – This playlist contains songs that I never get tired of listening to and songs that always make me happy.

How was your week?

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Beauty Joint Experience + Haul

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

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

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

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

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

2. Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter – Molten Rose Gold

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

3. NYX Eye Shadow Base – Skin Tone

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

4. Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick #12

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

5. Revlon Lip Butter – Cotton Candy

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

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

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

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

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

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Christmas Nails & Makeup Tutorial

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

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

Makeup Products and Tools Used:

Step By Step Guide:

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

*Shades used in eye look:

The Finished Look:

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

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

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Seventeen of ’17

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

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#1. Steps reform + release new album

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

#2. My 22nd birthday!

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

Related post: My 22nd Birthday!

#3. Winning Stash Matters giveaway

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

Related post: Stashy’s Giveaway Prize + First Impressions

#4. First Valentines Day

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

#5. Winning a polaroid signed by Vanessa White

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

#6. Fit Bit Zip in Magenta

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

#7. Going to the cinema

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

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

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

#9. 3 years of blogging

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

Related post: My Three Year Blogversary!

#10. Trip to the MAC counter

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

#11. Buying a DSLR

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

#12. Essie Glow Your Own Way

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

Related post: Essie Nail Polish in Glow Your Own Way

#13. Job at the library

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

#14. One year anniversary with my boyfriend

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

#15. Boyfriend’s 25th birthday

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

Related post: Boyfriend’s Birthday Surprise!

#16. NYX Cosmic Metals – Fuchsia Fusion

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

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

#17. Music

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

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What have been your favourite moments of 2017?

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November Favourites 2017

November’s favourites are all beauty items! I have been using a few new products recently and I’m pleased to say they have left good impressions. All of these products could be used together and I will definitely try a look with them in the coming weeks. In my October Favourites I mentioned I had been suffering bad headaches and this month it has been the polar opposite, I’ve barely had a headache.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. MAC Studio Moisture Cream – I bought the travel size of this moisturiser in July after reading about it on Stashy’s blog and I am a big fan! I am still on the first 30ml tube but I have already purchased a back up for when this one runs out. This moisturiser makes my skin feel smoother and softer than any other I’ve ever tried and it doesn’t irritate my skin or break me out. The scent is also really nice. MAC boasts a super-rich creamy moisturiser boosted with skin-nourishing extracts including passionfruit, spinach leaf, green tea, algae, wheatgerm and coconut.

2. Mary-Lou Manizer – I’ve owned Mary-Lou for a month now and I have been reaching for her on a regular basis. The colour is subtle but I like a light glow and not too much shimmer. I also like using this as a base shadow on the eyelids, it’s got good pigment as a shadow and I am guessing it would help cream shadows set quicker and stay in place longer. Honestly, I don’t think Mary-Lou is my favourite highlighter but I will be using it a lot.

3. Chi Chi Metal Foil Eyeshadow – Spice – Spice is best described as a warm, shimmery pink, and is a shade that would not be out of place in the Naked 3 palette. Despite pink being my favourite colour, I don’t have many pink eyeshadows as they don’t look as good as neutrals/browns on me. I was drawn to Spice because of the slight berry tinge to the pink and thought it would be easy to use due to it’s formula. I have only tried applying this with my finger so far and boy does a little go a long way! This eyeshadow can be a bit slippy so I want to try applying a base shadow underneath to see if that prolongs wear time.

4. NYX Cosmic Metals – Fuchsia Fusion – This lip cream has to be one of the most amazing products I have ever seen! If you didn’t already know, fuchsia is my favourite lip colour to wear and the addition of glitter/sparkle drew me in instantly. The pigmentation is outstanding and the doe foot applicator isn’t too big. One coat of this is enough to last a work day including eating and drinking and there is no transfer onto teeth. The formula doesn’t feel sticky like a gloss and glides onto the lips upon application. The shimmer is noticeable but there isn’t so much that it looks like a disco ball on your lips.

I had to include a close up of the tube so you can see how beautiful the colour looks and the sparkle and shine.

5. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – I wanted to try this foundation in the shade Fair ever since purchasing the second lightest shade Ivory Beige in 2016. New Zealand doesn’t sell Fair so I ordered it from Feel Unique and the colour match is perfect! It’s everything I love about Ivory Beige but one shade lighter and a better match for my skin tone. This foundation has good coverage and makes my skin look flawless. The formula is lightweight and doesn’t emphasise lines or dry skin.

November’s Spotify playlist:

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What were your favourite things in November?

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5 Disappointing Beauty Products

Disclosure: All opinions are my own and don’t reflect how a product may work and benefit the majority of people.

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We all like to spend our money on worthwhile products and it’s always a shame when you try something that doesn’t live up to the hype or you don’t get along with a product for whatever reason. I try to research and read reviews before I commit to buying products but sometimes no matter how many glowing reviews a product has there will still be people it doesn’t work for. I love reading these types of posts and I haven’t talked about products that disappoint me before so I thought it was time to change that!

#1. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – Buenos Aires

I was super excited when I saw NYX in New Zealand and even more excited to buy/try one of their Soft Matte Lip Creams. In August I purchased the shade Buenos Aires which is a soft coral. Because this is a light colour it doesn’t apply smoothly and applies patchy. I find blotting in between coats helps slightly but this colour doesn’t live up to what I thought it would. I have heard other shades in the range are hit or miss when it comes to formula and application and it has put me off purchasing more colours. I have barely worn Buenos Aires and I’ve come to the conclusion that orange tones don’t suit my lips (apart from I Found Nemo by Tanya Burr).

#2. Simple Moisturising facial wash

Fellow bloggers are always talking about the importance of skincare and I purchased this facial wash in an attempt to get into a skincare routine. I started off well, I would wash my face with this in the morning before applying my trusty Simple moisturiser but I quickly began to notice a difference to my skin. Thankfully, it didn’t break me out or cause a reaction but it made my skin feel and look greasy and it didn’t feel very moisturising. I still have this product sitting in my beauty basket on my dresser. It’s nearly a year old and it’s almost full but unfortunately this will be going in the bin.

#3. Garnier Micellar Water

This is one product that I have a love/hate relationship with. When I first got this I really liked it and even included it in a monthly favourites. It removed makeup well and again didn’t cause my skin any problems but it didn’t do anything for my skin either. This is still in my beauty basket as well and it hasn’t been touched for months. I noticed a six month expiration date on the bottle and I purchased this mid 2015 so I think it’s time to go! It baffles me how quickly bloggers go through one of these big bottles and if I try this again I will opt for the travel size or try one of the other types of micellar water.

#4. W7 In the nude eyeshadow palette

I bought this eyeshadow palette because it was $12 (NZD) and I thought I was getting a decent dupe for Urban Decay’s Naked 3 Palette. Truth is, I have barely reached for this palette since purchasing it in March and that’s down to the formulation of the shadows themselves. I love the pink, bronzey tones of the palette but the pigmentation is dire and a lot of the shades feel chalky and powdery. I’m considering passing this on and perhaps purchasing the Iconic 3 from Makeup Revolution instead.

#5. Maybelline Colour Tattoos

I can’t speak for all shades of Colour Tattoo but the two I have aren’t outstanding. They don’t feel very creamy and apply patchy on my eyelids. I only wear Barely Branded as a base before applying the gold shade from Maybelline’s ‘The Nudes’ palette over the top. Inked In Pink is such a beautiful rose gold shade but because it feels dry and doesn’t apply smoothly it makes my eye area look red. I don’t know whether I got bad batches or if these shades are patchy for everyone but I much prefer the formula of Max Factor’s Excess Shimmer shadows. There aren’t as many colour options but I haven’t stopped reaching for Copper all year!

Have you tried these products? Were you impressed or disappointed like I was?

First Impressions: NYX – Buenos Aires

NYX is one of those brands that bloggers rave about, especially their Soft Matte Lip Creams. When I was in Auckland a few weeks ago my curiosity got the better of me and I had to pick one up! I looked at all the shades online and narrowed it down to a shortlist. I didn’t want to go down the traditional nude route and decided on Buenos Aires (a soft coral). Read on to find out whether or not I think this shade lives up to the hype!

Product Description + Claims

NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Creams are available in 34 different shades comprising of neutrals, bright pinks, reds and everything else in between – even blue! Described as velvety smooth, these soft matte lip creams aim to deliver a burst of creamy colour which sets to a stunning matte finish. The sweetly scented formula along with durability and a lightweight feel make these a NYX fan favourite.

Packaging

I find the packaging of these simple but nice. The tubes are coloured to match the shade they represent and each shade is clearly labelled on top of the applicator with it’s name and number. Buenos Aires is SMLC #12 for example. Each tube contains 8ml of product and I like that these tubes are quite compact and won’t take up a lot of room in your purse or makeup bag. The soft grip applicator adds to the luxurious feel but I’m not sure how practical it is. I imagine it could get grubby and scuffed if you’re not careful.

Scent

If the scent of a product is important to you, I’m almost certain you won’t be disappointed with this one! The scent is sweet without being sickly and reminds me of cakes, cookies or some other baked goods. The scent only lingers during application so if you’re not a fan, it doesn’t stick around for long.

Formula

Buenos Aires is one of my first forays into the matte liquid lipstick trend and I am impressed. The formula feels nice to apply and takes a few minutes to dry down completely. My lips didn’t feel dry or uncomfortable and I didn’t develop any cracks or areas where the product wore off. I did develop a sort of ring on the inner corners of my mouth but I think that is more to do with this particular shade than the formula.

Colour

Possibly the most vital part of this post is how the colour looks and fares on me. Buenos Aires does look rather light in a few of the swatches I’ve seen online and I think a more accurate colour description would be a pastel coral. The colour of the tube is deceptive and the product comes out lighter than you would think but it is still bright at the same time. I’m a little undecided if I like the colour on me or not. It doesn’t wash me out completely but I wonder if Buenos Aires would look better on someone with a darker skin tone. I will try wearing it with my Max Factor foundation which is slightly darker than my Rimmel one to see whether my thoughts change. Maybe it will look better in summer when I’m not quite as pale?

Application

To add insult to injury, application of this shade isn’t the best either. I don’t know if it’s because this shade is light but it applies patchy and is hard to get an even coat of product. The applicator itself is a good size and picks up the right amount of product but I’ve noticed it looks worse when you try to fill in the patches or apply another coat over the top. I will have to try blotting before applying a second coat to see if that improves anything.*

*I tried blotting for the lip swatch image in this post and it made a difference, the colour is slightly more opaque.

Pros

+ Reasonably inexpensive. NYX is an affordable brand and depending on where you shop a Soft Matte Lip Cream will set you back somewhere between $12-$16 NZD. That may sound like a lot compared to the $6 they retail for in America but it’s justifiable and you are getting a decent product for the money.

+ Each colour is named after a different city making them easy to remember and identify.

+ Good selection of shades. With 34 colours to choose from, you can pretty much guarantee there’s something for everyone.

+ Sturdy, lightweight packaging.

Cons

– I can’t speak for all shades but Buenos Aires has the tendency to apply patchy.

– Actual shade may vary from the packaging.

Overall Verdict

I don’t regret purchasing Buenos Aires. I’m still experimenting with it and my thoughts could change. I would be wary of other light shades in the range and would advise you to swatch to test the consistency and pigmentation before purchasing. I do enjoy the matte formula and don’t find it drying or uncomfortable on the lips. I would consider purchasing another Soft Matte Lip Cream in the future so if you have any recommendations, let me know!

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Have you tried Buenos Aires or any other of the Soft Matte Lip Creams? What are your thoughts?