June Favourites 2018

Not going to lie, June has been up and down for me. On the whole it hasn’t been too bad, I had some time off work and got to sleep in lots and catch up on things I wanted to do but on the other hand I thought I was getting sick again and there are still days I get emotional over the breakup. Makeup has been something I’ve enjoyed spending more time applying this month and trying some new looks and products.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Anti-Flamme – I am sure other countries must have creams similar to this; they provide relief to sore, tense muscles and they contain herbal ingredients. Any bad headaches or tension I’ve felt in my neck and shoulders I have been applying this lately and it works so well. It smells like peppermint but the smell isn’t strong and a little goes a long way. This kind of product helps with injuries, joint aches and strained muscles too.

2. xoBeauty Liquid Lipstick in Carpe Diem – I haven’t had this liquid lipstick very long but already I can tell it is a shade I want to wear a lot! I’m not a fan of liquid lipsticks but the formula of this one by xoBeauty is creamy as opposed to matte and it’s very comfortable to wear. Carpe Diem is described as a muted wearable lilac and on me it looks like a light purple/nude all in one.

3. OPI – The I’s Have It – This nail polish is another product that I have purchased in the last month. I tend to gravitate towards blue nail polish (and blue jumpers) and this is the most beautiful blue polish I have tried. The I’s Have It is a lovely, creme polish from the Alice In Wonderland collection released in 2016. This is more of a baby blue rather than a pastel blue. I can’t wait to wear it again soon!

4. The Body Shop Moringa EDT – I got this eau de toilette last year and I bought it because I really like the convenient travel size of these scents from The Body Shop. I previously had the strawberry eau de toilette and I went for the moringa scent this time round because it’s fresh and floral and at the time of purchase it was spring and summer was coming up. I highly recommend the moringa range at The Body Shop if you haven’t tried it.

5. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush – I have had this brush for a couple of years now and over the past couple of months I have been loving it for cleaning up around the eye and blending out any harsh lines. I haven’t tried using this brush to apply shadow or used it to apply crease shades – it’s funny how we don’t always use brushes the way they’re intended and how we come up with our own ways we like to use them. This brush isn’t available on it’s own, I bought it as part of a five piece eye set.

June’s Spotify Playlist:


What were your favourite things in June?

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Discount Beauty Haul

The Brand Outlet sell fragrances and cosmetics and regularly travel around New Zealand with their sales. Products are 100% genuine and prices can be up to 70% less what you’d pay elsewhere. The company also has a website so you can order from the comfort of your own home anytime you like. The best part about online shopping is you don’t have to deal with crowds!

I placed my order on Saturday 26 May, the order was shipped on Monday and arrived on Tuesday 29 May. Everything was packaged well and I’m super impressed with the speedy service.

On with the haul:

1. OPI – Two-Timing the Zones

You’d think as pink is my favourite colour I must have lots of pink polishes but I actually don’t! Two-Timing the Zones is from OPI’s 2017 Fiji collection and is a pink creme polish. The polish is very Barbie pink, not fluro or hot pink and it’s the kind of pink that is warm and cool at the same time. I can’t wait to wear it!

2. OPI – The I’s Have It

The I’s Have It was released by OPI in 2016 as part of their Alice In Wonderland collection. I don’t remember hearing about the collection but after a Google search I discovered one of my favourite bloggers Rachael reviewed this polish and sang it’s praises. The I’s Have It is a gorgeous light blue creme polish and the formula applies like a dream. I shared a picture on Instagram if you are interested to see what this looks like on.

3. Bourjois Rouge 12 HR Lipstick – Cherry My Cherie

I have fallen a little out of love with red lipstick lately. Ruby Woo by MAC will always be a classic, true red but I’ve been thinking something deeper with more cherry in it would be nice on me. Bourjois’ Frambourjoise is a beautiful raspberry-red and is one of the shades I would use if I could only wear five lip colours. Cherry My Cherie doesn’t disappoint quality wise either. I wore the lipstick on Wednesday and it barely budged all day (I know my lips hold pigment extremely well but still…) The formula is creamy without being slippy and comfortable to wear.

4. Max Factor Masterpiece Eye Shadow – Icicle Rose

Liquid eye shadows seem to be a trend right now and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try this beauty out for $6.00. The colour may be a little light on it’s own but it will be nice as a sparkly topper or inner corner highlight. I have a powder eyeshadow that is a similar colour so I will see how well this works in combination with that. The doe foot applicator isn’t too big or small and is the perfect size for my eyes. It picks up a good amount of product and the product spreads easily.

5. Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick – Mauve It Up

This lipstick is not pictured as I didn’t buy it for myself. One of my work mates mentioned she had been looking for this lipstick and couldn’t find it so when I saw it I instantly thought of her. I gifted it to her on Tuesday (before the photos were taken) and she loves it!

Swatches:

Top: Bourjois – Cherry My Cherie, Bottom: Max Factor – Icicle Rose.


Do you have discount makeup stores or outlets near you? Have you ever bought anything from them?

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Redhead Rambles #12

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 woke up on Friday morning with the most horrible headache, pain rating 9.5/10. I stretched my neck the previous day. I took ibuprofen, rubbed Anti-Flamme (a herbal massage cream) on my neck, downed a few glasses of water and had something to eat and as the afternoon went on I felt better. However, later on Friday night my headache returned so I took more ibuprofen, rubbed more Anti-Flamme on my neck and went to bed. I woke up on Saturday feeling fine.
  • My copy of The F Word by Lily Pebbles also arrived on Friday. I finished The F Word within a few days.
  • The underwire in one of my bras snapped on one side. I don’t know how it happened and how long it took me to notice. I’m a little sad because that is one of my best fitting bras and they aren’t sold anymore.
  • On Sunday my brother and I had curry for dinner. One of our traditions is to have curry when he’s down or if we go out shopping. I don’t have curry often so I always look forward to it.
  • I mowed the lawns after work on Monday. It’s one of the last times I will have to do it before winter sets in which I’m looking forward to.
  • My mood hasn’t been the greatest. I’ve felt a little frustrated and anti-social.
  • I painted my nails using Tiramisu For Two by OPI.
  • I made myself a berry smoothie on Thursday for breakfast and macaroni cheese for lunch.
  • On Thursday afternoon I went to Kmart. Kmart opened last Friday (March 16th) and there has been a lot of hype and excitement around my city finally getting a store. I purchased a pink and grey dressing gown with stars, a round placemat for my bedside table and two cook books. One of the things on my 30 By 30 list is to expand my cooking knowledge and $5 each is a bargain.
  • My favourite YouTube videos this week: *THIS* full face of first impressions from Fleur De Force and *THIS* empties and declutter from Cosmetic Chaos.

What I’ve been listening to:

Alexandra Burke – The Truth Is – Alexandra won The X Factor UK in 2008 and I have taken an interest in her music ever since. This is my least favourite album of hers. There is no denying how good Alexandra’s voice sounds but there aren’t any stand out tracks for me.

Girls Aloud – After finishing Kimberley Walsh’s book I felt like listening to all of the Girls Aloud albums. It’s been a while since I listened to all of them in full so I played a different one each day.

How was your week?

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Autumn Beauty Edit

In September 2017, I published a Spring Beauty Edit which featured a handful of products I wanted to use during New Zealand spring time! I did find myself using those products in spring and I thought it would be fun to do another post for autumn. In autumn I tend to gravitate towards berries, darker lip shades and warm, musky, non-fruity fragrances.

LIPS

L – R: Rimmel – 107, Revlon – Raspberry Pie, Revlon – Sugar Plum, Urban Decay – After Dark

Autumn is when I tend to wear berry and red lipsticks more. Rimmel’s 107 is a classic berry shade in the blogging world and the pigmentation is really good. Sometimes these dark, berry shades can be patchy but not this one. Revlon’s lip butters are perfect for cooler days if you want a pop of colour, the formula is so moisturising and won’t leave the lips dry. Raspberry Pie is a pretty berry-red and Sugar Plum is a perfect pink-mauve everyday shade. The names are the cutest too! After Dark is more of a purple berry and it’s such a beautiful shade.

NAILS

L – R: Essie – Bahama Mama, Rimmel – Bestival Blue, OPI – Tiramisu For Two

I have a number of neutral polishes which work all year round but I only selected one for this edit. Tiramisu For Two is one of the newest shades in my makeup drawer and I want to wear it more which is why I chose it. Bahama Mama follows the berry theme and Bestival Blue is a lovely pastel blue that doesn’t look summery and suits the cooler vibe of the weather.

Fragrance & Body

Cooler weather can be harsh on the skin so I’d really like to try The Body Shop’s Almond Milk & Honey shower cream. I have sensitive skin and I have been hesitant to try this so far but my skin is in an okay place at the moment. I got the small size so if I react to the shower cream I’m not wasting product and I may be able to pass the product along. The black musk fragrance is one I first tried last winter. Black musk is spicier and warmer than white musk and less floral, making it a good match for the cooler months. I always have a tube of hand cream on the go and this frosted plum scent from The Body Shop’s 2017 Christmas range is my pick. The purple tube is a neat colour and the scent isn’t overly fruity.


What’s your favourite berry lip colour? Do you associate any particular products with autumn/fall?

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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!


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.


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

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Christmas 2017 Wishlist

Christmas is not far away and while I’ve got most of my Christmas shopping done I was thinking about what I’ll be receiving this year and what I would like. Some people might say I’m fussy but I don’t think so at all, if someone has reason behind a gift that means more than the gift itself. I love surprising people and really thinking about what they like, I enjoy giving gifts. I’d be happy to receive any of the items in this post!

1. OPI – Tiramisu For Two

I heard this nail polish mentioned in a beauty chat with Rochelle Humes and Sam and Nic Chapman. Tiramisu For Two is one of Rochelle’s favourite nail polishes and when I Googled it, I instantly loved the colour. It’s one of those nudes that suits a number of skin tones and I love the name! OPI describe Tiramisu For Two as “a sweet coffee cream” and I definitely don’t have a polish like this already. The shade was released as part of the Venice collection in 2015.

EDIT: I purchased this polish myself on December 5th. I popped in store to see if they had the polish and the store only had a couple of bottles left. I didn’t want to miss out!

2. Jigsaw puzzle

I absolutely love jigsaws and have done since I was a kid. There’s always a jigsaw on the go at my boyfriend’s house and earlier in the year I was given double ups of ones they already had. I’m quite good at jigsaws due to my eye for detail and I can’t resist dong them when I visit. I saw a couple of WHSmith branded ones which are postcards from different cities and the Paris and London ones look fun.

3. Me To You Teddy

These are my favourite teddies! The Me To You brand is super sweet and they always have themed teddies or teddies for special occasions. I have given these teddies as gifts in the past and they go down so well, I want one of my own! How cute is the teddy dressed in a giraffe onesie?! I have also seen a panda onesie and a unicorn onesie – adorable.

4. Agatha Christie dvd sets – Poirot and marple

Two of my favourite TV series have been released on DVD and there are a number of episodes of both I haven’t seen (particularly Poirot). I would love to say I’ve seen all episodes of both series. My one slight gripe with detective stories is that once you’ve seen the episode you know who the murderer is so how likely are you to re-watch all the stories.

5.Cute Mug

I don’t have a lot of hot drinks but I have been using Nesca instant coffee sachets over the past couple of months and I love getting my mugs out. I’ve got one with cats on it and another one that’s white with metallic gold spots. I’ve also got a personalised takeaway coffee cup my brother bought for me. What I mean by cute is a mug with a quote on it, an illustration like the mug in the picture or a nice pastel pink or blue colour.

6. kikki.k Vases

I often get given roses by boyfriend/his mum and I’ve got a couple of vases I put them in but not one that is desk worthy. I love the boldness of the black vase, you don’t often see black vases and the gold spots are a nice touch. The set of four are mini vases and I love the pops of colour! My mum would love these too as she loves minis so we could share.

7. Mac Melon pigment (travel size)

MAC pigments are so gorgeous. Melon is a peachy-gold colour all in one and I don’t have any colour like that in my makeup collection. I watched a video of Shaaanxo using the pigment in a neutral eye look and it looks stunning. You don’t need to use a lot of pigment so the travel size would be perfect to try.


What’s on your Christmas wishlist?

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Nail Colours You Need

My nail polishes received the biggest culling in September’s makeup declutter. Two were sold and a few went in the bin. I kept the polishes I wear frequently and polishes I’d forgotten about and want to wear more. Decluttering made me evaluate which shades I need. This post is a guide to the different shades you might like to go for if you’re a nail polish newbie or if you just want a good base selection of colours.

NB: The polishes mentioned in this post are examples of shades and are colours I personally own.

Minimalist – Take It Outside by Essie

Take It Outside was one of the first Essie polishes I purchased and it is also one of my most worn. The colour is a taupe/grey that looks good all year round and will go with any outfit. It’s not a super girly colour and would appeal to those who like dark colours or have a monochromatic style. The polish applies smoothly and streak free.

Neutral – Ladylike by Essie

If you like nude lips chances are you also like neutral nail colours. If you want something girly, fuss-free and a colour that is work appropriate, Ladylike is it! Ladylike can also be worn all year round and suits a range of skin tones.

Red – Mon Cherry by Revlon

Red nail polish is like red lipstick, classic! Depending on your skin tone you might want a blue, cool toned red like Mon Cherry or you might prefer something warmer and fiery with more of an orange tone to it. Red looks classy and would be the perfect shade to accompany a LBD.

Berry – Bahama Mama by Essie

If you like to match your nails to seasons you will love a berry nail polish come Autumn/Winter. Bahama Mama has a hint of plum in it and it’s a gorgeous shade. Like the other two Essie polishes I’ve already mentioned it applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats.

Bright – Can’t aFjörd Not To by OPI and BubbleGum by Revlon

Can’t aFjörd Not To is not for the faint hearted, it is bright orange and this colour looks even better if you have a tan or have a darker skin tone, it really pops! Bright pink is one of my favourite colours to wear and call me stereotypical but I love to wear bright colours in summer. Bubblegum is a scented polish and the scent has an air of summer about it too.

Pastel – go Wild-er-ness and Bestival Blue by Rimmel

If you’re not a fan of brights but still like to wear colour, pastel shades might be more your thing. These polishes from Rimmel dry quickly. They are from the 60 Seconds line but I always leave the polish a couple of minutes longer to be safe.


What nail polishes are your essentials?

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Makeup Declutter

I have been wanting to have a clear out of my makeup for a little while and I finally did so last week. I had been harbouring unnecessary products and everything was much neater afterwards. I didn’t get rid of too many products and had a fair idea of what to cull before I started. As you will see I decided to sell some items that had barely been used and give a few bits to my mum.

Let’s get started!

Face

1. Chi Chi Real Minerals Bronzer – MUM

I got this bronzer years ago when I first started getting into makeup. I’ve never really used it as I don’t find it shows up on me at all. The product looks pretty in the pan and that’s really the only good thing I have to say. I don’t know even know the product performs, I received it as a present and it was just sitting in my drawer. I think I held onto it for so long due to sentimental reasons, it’s time to let go.

2. Australis Mousse – Buff Beige – MUM

I used to use mousse makeup before I started wearing liquid foundation. After I bought my first bottle of Rimmel’s Match Perfection I never looked back and this got pushed to the side. My mum has also used this product – albeit in a different shade – and offered to take it off my hands.

3. Australis Concealer – Light – BIN

Stick concealer is what teenage Chanelle used. I had a stick concealer I absolutely adored (unfortunately the brand name faded so I never knew what it was to repurchase) and when that ran out this was the closest shade to my skin tone I found. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as creamy and I soon ventured into liquid concealer which I have used ever since. This concealer didn’t conceal or cover up redness, a regrettable purchase.

4. Rimmel Good To Glow Liquid Highlighter in 003 Soho Glow – SELL

My first foray into liquid highlighter. I purchased this on ASOS in 2016 to get my purchase over the threshold to qualify for free shipping. I like the idea of the product and the shade itself is nice but I don’t find myself wanting to use it. I’ve only used it a handful of times in the past year and would rather see it go to a worthy home to someone who wants to use it.

Eyes

5. LA Colors Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pool Party – SELL

Last year I was on the hunt for a blue eyeshadow and picked up this pencil for a couple of dollars. I’ve used the product once and found a similar colour in powder form in a palette and tend to go for that instead. This is in near new condition so it is good enough to sell. It could also double as an eyeliner.

6. Thin Lizzy Liquid Precision Eyeliner – SELL

I cannot apply eyeliner and I don’t wear it. To my knowledge I have never worn or tried this product. Straight to the sell pile!

7. Maybelline Colour Tattoos in Barely Branded & Inked In Pink – BIN

In my opinion the Colour Tattoos are over hyped and not worth buying. I was so excited to wear these two gorgeous shimmer shades but they felt and looked dry in the pot and weren’t easy to apply. They dragged across the eyelid and don’t apply precisely. The only good thing about these is they do stay in place and don’t budge. I was really disappointed.

8. Revlon Diamond Lust Eyeshadows in Plum Galaxy & Neptune Star – MUM

I picked these up for a couple of dollars each but rarely reach for them. Plum Galaxy was used a few times to create a smoky purple eye look with Max Factor’s Pink Opal but the blue is not very pigmented at all. These look pretty in the pan but don’t perform that well. They are ok for the couple of dollars I paid but nothing special.

9. W7 In the Nude Palette – BIN

One of the worst products I have ever bought. I know dupe products won’t match the quality and standard of the original but this was terrible. The shades were all so dry and didn’t apply well. I hated using this palette and was actually happy to throw it in the bin.

Lips

10. Avon Glazewear – Celebrity Plum – BIN

My mum gave me this years ago and I used to love it! I only threw it away because of its age. It was a lovely purple gloss with a slight hint of neutral colour.

11. Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquer in 102 Nova – SELL

I bought three of these lip lacquers at the beginning of 2016 and decided to keep the two brown/nude shades and sell the pink. It’s a very warm pink and one I don’t find looks that great on me. I have plenty of other pink shades to keep me going!

12. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – Buenos Aires – BIN

I had heard so many great things about NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Creams but this shade was a poor choice on my part. Buenos Aires is a light peach/coral that is very patchy to apply. This colour wasn’t flattering on me at all and I can’t think of any skin tone it would be flattering on. This experience has put me off trying other shades of soft matte lip cream and NYX products in general.

13. BYS Pretty Little Thing – BIN

Why wasn’t there someone who told Chanelle not to buy coral lipsticks?! This shade looks so pretty in the bullet, it’s almost like NARS Orgasm in a lipstick but the shade isn’t for me and I only wore it once or twice. The formula wasn’t great either which is odd because this brand also makes my favourite ever lipstick which has such a creamy, pigmented formula.

14. LA Colors Glossin Go in Sherbert – BIN

A friend gave me this lipgloss as a birthday present a few years back and I used to wear it a lot! It smelt like vanilla which is one of my favourite scents and the shade was a lovely neutral colour that went with everything. Much like Celebrity Plum, I’m throwing this away because of age not because I don’t like it anymore.

Nails

15. Essie Chillato – SELL

I think I first heard this polish mentioned in a Lily Pebbles video. The first (and only) time I wore it I knew it was too pale for me. The shade itself is gorgeous, I just think it would be better suited to those with warmer, darker skin tones than mine. This isn’t very old so it’s still good enough to sell.

16. OPI – Pink Yet Lavendar – BIN

This used to be my favourite nail polish but sadly it has dried up and can’t be applied anymore. I loved the pink glitter and how subtle and lovely this looked on the nails. Compared to other glitter polishes this wasn’t too difficult to remove either. Maybe I’ll see if this is still around and repurchase.

17. Revlon Red – SELL

There is nothing wrong with this shade. A good red polish is classic and the reason I’m selling is because I have another Revlon polish in a similar shade and don’t need both.

18. Klean Color – Love Madness – BIN

I only used this a handful of times and didn’t enjoy it. It didn’t coat the nails with glitter very well and didn’t fare much better as a top coat over other polishes.


Have you had a makeup clear out lately? Did you throw anything away or pass on products to someone who might use them?

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The Beauty Blogger Tag 2

The Beauty Blogger Tag 2A couple of weeks ago I was nominated for this award by Dannii from A Beautiful Thing. I am ever so grateful to be nominated and to Dannii for thinking of me. Make sure you go over and follow Dannii if you’re not already because she is super lovely!

The Rules:

  • Tag the blogger that nominated you.
  • Answer the questions you were given.
  • Nominate 5-10 bloggers whose blog is about beauty/lifestyle/fashion.
  • Write 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

Dannii’s Questions:

1. What is your favourite nail polish at the moment? (Brand and shade).

I like to paint my nails regularly but I haven’t done so for a week or two now. I will go with Bubblebath by OPI as I have worn that a lot lately.

2. What is your favourite eyeshadow palette?

‘The Nudes’ by Maybelline.

3. If you could only use three makeup items, what would they be?

Concealer, mascara and lipstick.

4. What makeup or beauty release are you most excited about?

I don’t think I’ve been excited for anything since MAC announced their collaboration with Ellie Goulding. New Zealand doesn’t end up getting lots of beauty releases or gets them after everyone else.

5. Your favourite YouTuber?

I have two: Lily Pebbles and Marcus Butler.

6. Where in the world would you like to live, if you could choose anywhere?

I say this so much, England! If I couldn’t live in England, I would happily stay in New Zealand though, it’s pretty cool!

7. What are you most looking forward to this month? (Can be a holiday, beauty, anything).

The shortest day of the year because it’s a work day 😛 I am also excited about my first blog giveaway which launched last week. I had been planning one for a while and it seemed right to doing one to celebrate two years of blogging.

8. What beauty products have you recently found disappointing?

  • Garnier Micellar Water – I loved this when I first got it but I have always been on the fence ever since. It removes makeup fine but I don’t find it the most beneficial for my skin. Maybe that’s down to the six month expiry, I’ve had my bottle for more than a year and am just over half way through. I’m convinced the other bloggers who use up one of these every few months drink it.
  • Simple Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash – I got this back in January and have only used it a handful of times. I found it didn’t do much for my skin and I just don’t reach for this product. Unfortunately, I think this will be going in the bin.

9. Favourite song at the moment?

Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling. This song is so happy and full of good vibes. It makes me want to smile and dance around.

10. What one beauty or makeup item would you recommend?

Max Factor’s Excess Shimmer eyeshadow pot in the shade Copper. I have not stopped using this since I purchased it and it is a shade which I think will suit almost everybody. It’s not too shimmery for an everyday eye look and it’s so easy to wear. Normally I swipe this across my eyelids with my ring finger and I’m done. It also looks nice layered over top of brown/taupe eyeshadows (particularly from ‘The Nudes’ by Maybelline) to create a more intense look.


I know the rules say to nominate 5-10 bloggers but I’m going to be lazy and leave this tag open to anyone who would like to do it or anyone who hasn’t done it before. I’d like you to answer the same questions I did and be sure to leave me a comment if you do this tag!

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P.S. Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE for info!

May Favourites 2016

May Favourites 2016

Here we are at the end of another month and I’m already half way through my week off from work. If I could sum this month up in one word it would be exciting! I’ve been looking forward to my time off for a long time, I’ve been doing some online shopping and had a few bits and pieces arrive as well. May has been a pretty good month for me and I hope it was for you too! Onto the favourites!

1. Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner 212 Rich Brown – I’ve really upped my eyeliner game since purchasing this in March. I would never apply eyeliner because I didn’t know how and couldn’t do so confidently. I have made good progress which I think is down to this being a retractable pencil. There’s something about the nib on a liquid eyeliner that scares me. The nib on this eyeliner is almost like a crayon and it glides on easily without being messy and getting all over my eyelid. I find this lasts well, I haven’t experienced any fading or smudging and it’s not a pain to remove. If you’re a newbie to eyeliner or not the best at applying it like me, I’d recommend trying this out!

2. Maybelline Dr. Rescue Top Coat – I have been meaning to include this little gem in my last two monthly favourites posts but I have forgotten to photograph it both times. How cute is the bottle?! You get 7ml of top coat which is about half the amount of product in a normal nail polish but you really don’t need to use a lot of this at all. It looks pink but does in fact apply clear. The product adds a gloss and shine to your nails that is sure to smarten up any manicure and gives them a gel-like effect. This top coat doesn’t feel thick applied over two coats of polish and in my experience does prolong wear.

3. Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder – Translucent – If you had told me that powder would work for my dry skin and make my makeup look better I never would have believed you. I took the plunge and purchased the matching powder to my Rimmel foundation and I have become a convert. I thought this was quite a splurge at $19 considering it’s only a powder but I don’t need to use very much at all and a little goes a long way. I have been applying this all over my face with my Real Techniques Blush brush as it’s big and fluffy and allows me to sweep the powder across my skin. I really do think this does a wonderful job at setting my makeup and holding everything in place. It’s become one of my everyday go to products.

4. DQ & Co. Love Your Skin Balm – This is another product that has taken me by surprise. I got this as a freebie from work and it’s a multipurpose balm that claims to be good for skin, cuts, bites, sun damage and chapped lips to name a few. One thing that intrigued me about this was the claim to help with acne and blemishes. The balm is formulated with Active Manuka Honey and Vitamin A (retinol) to promote healing and minimise scarring. At night I have been applying this balm on my chin and around my nose where I’m prone to breakouts and it has made a big difference. I’m lucky that I don’t get a lot of acne anyway but my skin looks clearer since using this. The skin around my nose can get extremely dry and flaky and that hasn’t been happening either.

5. OPI – Bubblebath – I have barely taken this nail polish off all month and I can fast see it becoming one of my signature colours. Bubblebath is a sheer, neutral, sweet candy pink which gives an almost French manicure look once applied. This polish applies like a dream, lasts for about a week on my nails without chipping and is very much my nails but better! To read more about Bubblebath and see what it looks like on, CLICK HERE.

6. Conor Maynard – ContrastThis album was released in 2012 and I used to listen to it like crazy! I don’t know what got me thinking about it again but I ended up downloading it and have been listening to it all month. I have always thought Conor’s voice is exceptional and very unique. He has this cool R&B/pop vibe to his music which mixed with his tone is proper swoon-worthy, think somewhere between Bieber and Timberlake. His music is sure to appeal to a predominantly female audience but Conor has this cool swagger that makes things feel a bit more grown up. Standout Tracks: Turn Around, Vegas Girl, Better Than You, Pictures and Just In Case.

May’s Spotify Playlist:

This month’s playlist is relatively short in comparison to some of the others I’ve done but things have slowed down a bit on my new music radar. (And I’ve been listening to Contrast all month). This playlist is very male heavy and only features one track by a female artist.

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