xoBeauty Haul + Mini Heaps of Sweets Palette Review

xoBeauty was my favourite brand discovery of 2018 and The Remix Palette from Shaaanxo and BH Cosmetics is what I currently enjoy reaching for most. I have tried to keep myself on a low buy in 2019 but there have been certain products I can’t stop thinking about – the Heaps of Sweets palette is one of those!

This is xoBeauty’s first palette and Shannon describes it as “the perfect blend of warm and cool tones, colourful shades and every day neutrals, a one stop shop palette for day and night.” On first glance a few shades look similar to those in The Remix Palette but Shannon describes Heaps of Sweets as The Remix Palette’s cousin and it’s nice the two palettes compliment each other. I can already tell this palette has more of a purple focus and the formula of the shimmers looks a lot more intense than those in The Remix Palette.

Heaps of Sweets is vegan, cruelty free, talc free and comes housed in light purple cardboard packaging adorned with gold foil detailing and cute illustrations of sweet treats. The palette contains a mix of 12 incredibly pigmented, super soft, blendable mattes and shimmers and also features a mirror. I don’t mind if a palette has a mirror or not but it does add to it being travel friendly along with the fact the palette is compact, lightweight and promises versatility.

Shades & Swatches:

Top row:

Gumdrop – A matte medium, warm purple with bright undertones. A fun pop of color for the lower lash line or crease.
Sugar – A pale champagne shimmer with pink undertones. Perfect for highlighting or brightening any look.
Brownie – An essential matte chocolate brown. Use this to darken the outer corners or to create a smokey eye.
Vanilla – A light cool toned neutral matte that leans purple. Perfect for an all-over look or in the crease.

Middle row:

Lollipop – Shannon’s dream purple. A medium/deep purple shimmer with slight cool undertones.
Bonbon – A medium/deep indigo matte purple. Perfect for smoking out any eye look.
Pretzel – Shannon’s dream copper shimmer that makes any eye color pop! Apply all over the lid for a gorgeous look.
Caramel – The perfect all-over matte to make your eyes pop. Apply in the crease and outer corner to deepen your look.

Bottom row:

Macaron – A light warm neutral matte. Perfect for in the crease or all over for a simple look.
Cupcake – The perfect taupe shimmer that goes with any skintone. Gorgeous all over the eye lid for a smokey look.
Apricot – A medium coral shimmer. Gorgeous paired with warm shadows and a bronzed complexion for a summery look!
Hokey Pokey – A bright yellow shimmer with warm undertones. Gorgeous on any skin tone for a golden finish!

In addition to the eyeshadow palette I picked up two lip colours and three makeup brushes.

1. Luxe Liquid Lipstick  – Aroha

I have spoken in the past about my love for this lipstick formula and if like me you don’t like matte liquid lipsticks I can’t recommend it enough! The formula is soft and feather light and dries down to a comfortable cream finish. If colour needs to be reapplied the product layers easily and doesn’t cling to any dry skin. You easily get 4-5 hours wear before reapplication is needed, more if you avoid greasy foods. Aroha is a muted deep plum and is a cross between a berry and a red, it’s got more of a pink tone which I like. This is the fourth liquid lipstick I have purchased from xoBeauty and I think these are even better than their regular bullet lipsticks.

2. Creme Lipstick – Rescue Me

The regular lipsticks come in two finishes; matte and creme. Rescue Me is a creme which I prefer out of the two and is a wearable soft pink. I was looking at my lipstick collection recently and I was missing a pure pink, I have bright pinks, mauve pinks, brown pinks but not a lot in the way of soft pinks. The best thing about this lipstick is that for each sale 50% of the profits go to HUHA which is an animal shelter. HUHA stands for Helping You Help Animals and is a charity close to Shannon’s heart.

Lip colour swatches:

Left to right: Rescue Me and Aroha.

3. Crease Detail Brush

This brush is perfect for precise application of powders, creams or liquids. The brush is tapered to allow for more precision when applying colour and the small size means application can be more concentrated. I have small eyes so I also thought this would be great for packing colour onto the lids rather than a flat eyeshadow brush which is too big to use on my eyelids.

4. Crease Blender Brush

This is a dense, less fluffy version of the next brush which makes it great for applying eyeshadow through the crease and blending it out. This brush can also be used to apply shades in the outer V and on the lower lash line.

5. Blender Brush

This brush is good for adding a soft wash of colour over the eyelid or through the crease. The bristles are longer and fluffier than the Crease Blender Brush which means it will give a more diffused, blown out look. All three brushes are made using synthetic hairs and feel super soft.

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Share one of your favourite makeup brands in the comments below! Also, let me know if you like the look of anything in this haul and if you’d be interested to see me create a couple of looks with the eyshadow palette!

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Battle of the Bronzes

I’m a neutral eyeshadow fan and recently I noticed the amount of bronze shades in my collection. I have a couple of single bronze shadows and in almost each of my eyeshadow palettes there is a bronze shade. I can appreciate a good bronze but there are different tones and I thought it would be fun to compare my bronze shades side by side to see how similar they are. Spoiler alert: I was pleasantly surprised at all the little differences between the shades.

There are a total of 10 bronze shades in my collection across six palettes and three single shadows.

Shades will be discussed individually in the order they are swatched.

Left to right: Bronze (from Maybelline’s The Nudes palette), Pure Ganache, Cinnamon Sugar, Hotel and Beach Babe.

1. Maybelline – Bronze (‘The Nudes’)

This is the darkest bronze out of the 10 shades and leans towards being a cool toned brown-bronze. It’s not a shade I reach for all the time but it is one of my favourites from the Maybelline palette. It is a satin formula and has micro-shimmer. It’s nice and soft and blends easily.

2. Zoeva – Pure Ganache (Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette)

From one of the darkest shades to one of the lightest! Pure Ganache is without a doubt a metallic shadow, it has quite a bit of shimmer and is a light-gold bronze. This shadow is really nice for a natural eye look and applies best with a finger.

3. Zoella x Colourpop – Cinnamon Sugar (Brunch Date)

Cinnamon Sugar is such a cute name for this shade and it describes the colour perfectly. This shade is one of my personal favourite bronzes and it reminds me a lot of my hair colour which is why I like it. The formula is metallic and slightly more gritty than Pure Ganache but it also applies best with a finger.

4. Colourpop – Hotel (Sol)

My Brunch Date and Sol palettes were purchased at the same time and when they arrived I compared Cinnamon Sugar and Hotel straight away. Hotel is a warmer bronze and more orange which fits perfectly in the Sol palette. Both shades are comparable in terms of formula and pigmentation but out of the two my preference is Cinnamon Sugar.

5. xoBeauty – Beach Babe (The Remix Palette)

Beach Babe definitely swatched the smoothest (the entire Remix Palette is excellent quality) and to me is the most pure metallic bronze. It doesn’t have orange or gold tones, it remains entirely neutral and goes with any makeup look.

Left to right: Two bronzes (from Makeup Revolution’s Iconic 1 palette), Copper Sparkle, Nillionaire and Feral Brown.

6. Makeup Revolution – Bronze #1 (Iconic 1)

This shade is quite similar to Pure Ganache as it is a light gold-bronze but this has more shine when swatched and looks more metallic. From memory this takes more building up on the lids than Pure Ganache to get colour pay off but this shade swatched better than I expected.

7. Makeup Revolution – Bronze #2 (Iconic 1)

In the Iconic 1 palette the two bronze shades are next to each other and this one didn’t swatch as well as the previous shade, you can see it’s not as pigmented. Colour wise this shade is a cross between the bronze from The Nudes palette and Beach Babe from The Remix Palette.

8. MAC – Copper Sparkle

Let me compare this shade and then I’ll talk about a few issues I have with it. Copper Sparkle has a very warm orange-bronze undertone, even more prominent than Hotel from the Sol palette. It is one of my least favourite bronzes out of the 10 because it fell short when I wore it. I have other MAC pigments and this one looks so gorgeous and glittery online but in real life it has large chunks and it’s not as finely milled as my other pigments. I had to build this swatch up the most and the sparkle of the product still didn’t come out much. When I wore this on my eyes it stayed put all day and was pigmented but it was very warm. I will try this with Fix+ to see if the glitter is more prominent but at this stage I’m leaning towards passing the shade on as I don’t find it as unique as I’d hoped. If I want warm bronze tones I can get them from Hotel or Cinnamon Sugar.

9. Colourpop – Nillionaire

Colourpop describe Nillionaire as a bronze with pink and gold ultra-glitter which is an accurate description. Nillionaire is a Super Shock Shadow so the formula is soft and bouncy. It does take a few swipes to build this up on the eye but it’s not hard work. The fact this can be applied sheer also makes it a great layering shadow. Nillionaire looks lovely over top of a warm brown matte eye look for a pop of shimmer.

10. Max Factor – Feral Brown

In terms of formula, Feral Brown is similar to the bronze from The Nudes palette – a satin with micro-shimmer. Feral Brown is a warm brown-bronze and I don’t find myself reaching for this often. I tend to wear other shades on top if I do but it will only be once in a blue moon. This is another of my least favourite bronzes and I have grown out of love with this shade. It is a unique colour but I don’t see it as essential to my collection.

Top to bottom: Feral Brown, Nillionaire, Copper Sparkle, bronzes from Makeup Revolution’s Iconic 1 palette, Beach Babe, Hotel, Cinnamon Sugar, Pure Ganache and bronze from Maybelline’s The Nudes palette.

My top three shades in no particular order are Cinnamon Sugar, Beach Babe and Nillionaire. These are all slightly different but a little bit of variety is good. They are all versatile and go with a number of looks, especially Beach Babe and Nillionaire as they have a neutral undertone. Cinnamon Sugar is warmer but still gorgeous.

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Do you own any of these shades? Which is your favourite?

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Shopping My Stash

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

1. Chi Chi Metal Foil Eyeshadow – Spice

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

2. Teeez Cosmetics – Smokey Rose

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

3. Covergirl TruNaked Roses Palette

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

4. xoBeauty Radiant Glow Highlighter Powder – Lucent

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

5. The Body Shop Metal Lip Liquid – Pink Nickel

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

6. xoBeauty Kairos Lipstick

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

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

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

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My Favourite Makeup Brushes

When it comes to makeup brushes there are so many out there it can be overwhelming looking at all the brands trying to decide which brushes are right for you and trying to find what you want. I have around 30 makeup brushes which isn’t many in the grand scheme of things but I do notice myself reaching for certain brushes more frequently because I like the way they perform. I have selected the best brushes I own to talk about in this post.

Note: Many brands do similar styles to the brushes mentioned here and at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference and what you want to use the brush for as to whether or not it works for you.

Real Techniques

Real Techniques are known for their quality and affordable prices. Their brushes are made with synthetic taklon bristles which are super soft and wash up well. Real Techniques is fronted by beauty gurus Sam and Nic Chapman who also run a YouTube channel and share loads of makeup tips. The brand has themed brush collections but the original core collection can be broken down into categories based on what they are intended for and the colour of their handle:

• Orange – base brushes
• Pink – finishing brushes
• Purple – eye brushes

I have never experienced any shedding from Real Techniques brushes and these are among the oldest brushes in my collection but still perform exceptionally well.

1. Expert Face Brush

I prefer to apply foundation with a brush and I like this brush in particular because it isn’t too big for my face and it doesn’t leave streaks. I have a small face and the size of this brush is perfect for spreading product, buffing it in and being able to get in around the nose and under the eyes. The bristles are quite dense but the brush works with all liquid foundation consistencies and layers product up nicely if I’m after fuller coverage.

2. Blush Brush

I very rarely use this for blush but the big, fluffy bristles mean this brush is a great multi-tasker. I love using this for powder as it’s soft enough to sweep powder over the face and I use this brush almost every time I apply bronzer. The tapered bristles help to concentrate application and keep product to certain areas of the face.

3. Shading Brush

Not only do I have a small face but I also have small eyes. This shading brush allows me to do a complete eye look with just one brush, it’s dense enough to apply base shadows, small enough to blend through the crease and also picks up good pigmentation from sparkly and shimmery shadows. I have considered picking up another one of these at some point because of how versatile it is.

4. Setting Brush

This is like a mini version of the blush brush and again this is a great multi-tasker. I like to use this brush to apply my Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder or to focus blush on top of my cheekbones. This smaller sized brush is perfect for more pigmented blushes to ensure product doesn’t go everywhere. This brush is commonly used for blending and buffing concealer into the skin and setting concealer with powder underneath the eyes.

xoBeauty

xoBeauty is the makeup brand and brush line from New Zealand YouTuber Shannon Harris. Shannon’s brushes are manufactured in Italy and like the Real Techniques brushes are made from synthetic fibres. I will say with some of my xoBeauty brushes the bristles stain but this doesn’t have any affect on the overall performance.

1. Tulip Crease Brush

When people refer to a fluffy blending brush this is what they mean. This brush packs on pigmentation and blends everything out in the crease beautifully to create a seamless eye look. I also like to use this brush if I am going for a super simple eye look to apply bronzer all over the lids and buff it in quickly.

2. Firm Blender Brush

This is another brush I like to use for my crease shades, particularly to blend the base shade and crease shade together in the socket. This is thinner than the Tulip Crease Brush and is even more precise. The flat shape of this brush allows you to blend eyeshadows on the lids together too.

3. Shimmer Tulip Brush

This reminds me of the blush brush from Real Techniques as it is another multi-tasker. Recently I have loved reaching for it to apply one of my single powder blushes and sweeping the colour over my cheeks. The brush is big and fluffy and disperses the product nicely, providing a lovely flush of colour. This brush is also beautiful to apply subtle highlighters all over the cheeks.

4. Detail Face Brush

For more concentrated highlight application this brush is perfect. The bristles are a cross between fluffy and dense and allow me to really buff highlighter into the skin. The brush moves over the skin so easily, little effort is required to blend as the brush really does do all the work. This is a relatively new brush from xoBeauty and is one of Shannon’s personal favourites.

Zoeva

As far as quality and price go Zoeva brushes are on par with the other brands mentioned here. I hadn’t tried any Zoeva makeup brushes until earlier in 2019 and I am super impressed. Each brush either comes individually boxed or in a clear plastic pouch depending on whether you purchase brushes from the rose gold line or the original black and silver line.

1. 102 Silk Finish Brush

The brush lives up to it’s name! My skin and foundation look lovely when I use it and in terms of size and performance it’s comparable to the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques which is probably why I like it so much. The bristles on this brush aren’t as dense as the Expert Face Brush but they are longer which I think gives the silk finish effect. Both brushes are made with Taklon bristles.

2. 231 Luxe Petit Crease Brush

Zoeva are very clever for making two sizes of eye brushes and catering to those of us with smaller eyes. This brush is similar to the Tulip Crease Brush by xoBeauty but this brush is even more precise when colour is applied and the brush head is smaller. The bristles aren’t scratchy and don’t stain as much as the xoBeauty eye brushes. The full sized 228 Luxe Crease Brush by Zoeva is one of the brand’s most popular eye brushes and I can see why.

3. 110 Face Shape Brush

This brush could be used for many things, applying and blending foundation/concealer, applying cream blush to the cheeks and what I tend to use it for, contouring. The shape of the brush fits perfectly into the hollows of the cheeks and blends contour powder like a dream! The bristles are dense so only a small amount of contour is needed. This is one of Lisa Eldridge’s favourite face brushes.

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What are your favourite makeup brushes? Have you tried any of these?

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Soft Valentine’s Makeup

2017 is the only year since I started blogging that I didn’t create a Valentine’s themed makeup look but other than that it’s pretty much a yearly tradition. This is my first Valentine’s Day in three years being single (shoutout to all my fellow single babes!) and I’m okay with that. I’ve been doing much better these past few months and I’m not the kind of girl that relies on a man. I believe things will work out the way they’re meant to… or at least I hope so!

For this look I wanted to create something dreamy and sweet but not overly pink. I opted for base products that would give a subtle glow and look smooth and seamless on the skin. I didn’t go bold on the lips or eyes and kept an almost totally neutral palette, adding pops of colour to the cheeks and lips.

Products listed in order of application:

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Senstive

2. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel

4. L’Oreal True Match Lumi in W1-2 Porcelain Ivory – I haven’t spoken about this foundation on my blog too much. I have had it for almost a year now and it’s the one I am using as my everyday foundation most days and want to finish up next. The formula is light and easy to blend and perfect if you like glowy, hydrating foundations.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion

6. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10

7. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder – I find the L’Oreal foundation slightly too glowy in the summer on it’s own so I set my cheeks, nose and chin with powder.

8. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte

9. Shaaanxo The Remix Palette – I used the shade Clarity as a base shadow all over the lid and the shade Buttercup in the crease mixed with a small amount of The Body Shop bronzer.

10. MAC Naked Pigment – Naked was applied over top of Clarity.

11. Tanya Burr Selfie Lash Mascara – I was sent this mascara by a blogging friend and I have been enjoying using it! The brush is small allowing you to get into all the lashes and the formula isn’t wet and smudgy. This gives a lovely natural look but a second coat really adds oomph.

12. Makeup Revolution Blush Queen Palette – I used the third shade in the top row and applied it using a Detail Fibre Brush from xoBeauty which is my favourite to use with this palette. The brush picks up a combination of colour and shimmer and gives the loveliest finish.

13. xoBeauty Radiant Glow Powder – Aurora – Usually if I’m using a blush with shimmer I won’t apply highlighter as well but this one from xoBeauty has a beautiful pink shift and isn’t blinding so it blends in with the blush nicely.

14. The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist 

15. xoBeauty Liquid Lipstick – Carpe Diem – This is such a unique shade of lipstick; a muted lilac. The colour isn’t too pale for me (but is probably better suited to lighter skin tones) and when it fades a little it looks more pink. The formula of these liquid lipsticks is gorgeous and they have a delicious creme brulee scent!

The Finished Look:

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Are you doing anything to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, whether you’re single or part of a couple? 💕

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First Impressions: MAC and More!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wearing the products over two separate days:

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

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

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MASSIVE Beauty Haul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Did you buy anything in the sales after Christmas?

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

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Best Beauty Discoveries of 2018

2018 feels like the year I mastered my makeup routine. I have experimented and I know what types of products and colours I like and what I find manageable. By manageable I’m referring to how easy a product is to use, the pigmentation and application and how often I’m reaching for it. I don’t like the thought of owning makeup for the sake of it to sit there and not get used. I’m not a big palette lover, I like simple eye makeup 99% of the time and I’d rather jazz up my look with a beautiful lip colour. The majority of these products are all versatile which is another thing I love, they go with so many looks and get worn frequently.

1. xoBeauty – Starting with my favourite beauty discovery of the year – YouTuber Shaaanxo’s makeup line xoBeauty. When it comes to Shannon’s videos and YouTube channel I was late to the party. She’s probably the biggest New Zealand YouTuber and I do really enjoy her videos. Her makeup line is beautiful and the quality is top notch! I have made numerous xoBeauty orders this year and standout products include: The Remix Eyeshadow Palette (I use this a lot and reviewed it *HERE*), a liquid lipstick in the shade Carpe Diem and a matte lipstick in the shade Philocaly. The makeup brushes are very good as well and a few of my favourites are the Detail Face Brush, the Powder Tulip Brush and the Firm Blender Brush.

2. L’Oreal Lash Paradise/Paradise Extactic Mascara – It takes a lot to rival my holy grail Rimmel mascara but this gem from L’Oreal does. I purchased a tube of Lash Paradise (pink tube) in March 2018 and from the first use I loved it! The only downside is the coating flaked off the tube so by the time it was finished it wasn’t pretty anymore. I purchased a tube of Paradise Extactic (gold tube) in September which I’m excited to use and compare to Lash Paradise.

3. Trilogy Very Gentle Restoring Oil – My skincare routine is simple but when you find something that works you tend to stick with it. I have always had dry skin and this year I wanted to try a facial oil or a facial serum to see if that helped and made a difference. I did a little bit of research and found this oil for sensitive skin from Trilogy (which is a New Zealand brand). Ever since I’ve been using it I’ve noticed a big difference. My skin is softer, I get less breakouts than before (and even then there weren’t many) and my makeup looks nicer. I apply four drops of facial oil every night after my moisturiser. I have been using a day moisturiser for sensitive skin too which I think helps.

4. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle – This highlighter is a firm favourite in the beauty blogging world and it’s easy to see why! I will say this shade is better suited to lighter skin tones but it’s nice to have something that caters for fair-light skin tones that isn’t blinding and can be built up for desired effect. Soft & Gentle is a gilded peach bronze shade and out of all my highlighters, this is the most versatile. I’ve worn this an all over face powder and it also looks lovely. I’d love to try this on my eyes as an eyeshadow base or on it’s own for a more natural look.

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion – Can you believe I didn’t use eyeshadow primer until a few months ago?! I’d been thinking about trying one for a while and settled on the travel size Primer Potion from Urban Decay – I know this is tried and tested. I do notice a difference when I use this, my eyeshadow stays put longer and doesn’t crease. A little goes a long way and I haven’t had any eye irritation. I like to apply this and leave it to sit for a couple of minutes whilst I apply concealer and bronzer before going in with eyeshadow.

6. NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Highlight Duo – I knew when I saw this product online it wouldn’t stick around for long and if I left it I would miss out, so I bought it! I have an Orgasm blush dupe and it is beautiful but it’s nice to own the real thing as well. This blush is such a gorgeous colour and goes with almost any makeup look, it gives a soft flush of colour and can easily be built up, the highlighter is the same. I don’t normally wear highlighter and blush together but when I use this duo I really like how my cheeks look with both. Despite this being a mini product, it will still last a long time.

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How many of these did you guess correctly? 😛

What products were you glad you discovered in 2018?

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Black Friday Shopping Haul

Black Friday shopping is becoming more popular in New Zealand and while a lot of brands and stores have good deals I didn’t actively go seeking anything out. The weekend before Black Friday I’d gone shopping and the products I ended up buying during the Black Friday sales were impromptu purchases. Earlier in the day I commented on an Instagram post saying I hadn’t caved and bought anything… I tempted fate. Let’s get on with the haul!

Starting with The Iconic:

1. Alexis Fluffy Knit – I already know jumpers are one of my weaknesses but fluffy jumpers I love even more! This white jumper is super soft, has long blouson sleeves and doesn’t feel heavy. I do think I could have got away with sizing down as it is a relaxed fit, especially around the neck, but having it slightly bigger allows me to tuck it in or wear layers underneath.

2. Missguided Chunky Sole Trainers – The Spice Girls are back and so are chunky trainers! I saw a friend post a picture of trainers similar to these and instantly fell in love. These will look nice with jeans and the metallic silver detailing breaks up the white. I originally ordered a UK size 6 but also ordered a size 5 to see which was the better fit. I kept the 6 as there is more room around the toes. Because these are white I don’t think I’ll wear them all the time, I want to keep them clean.

Onto xoBeauty:

3. Radiant Glow Highlighting Powder – Lucent – I purchased the pink, champagne shade, Aurora, a few months ago and I’ve been loving it; I knew I wanted to pick up Lucent as well. Lucent is a glowing, sandy golden shade and the more pigmented of the two, but both suit any makeup look. The powders are soft, easy to blend and can be built up if you want a more intense highlight. These also double as all over face powders to give your skin a natural radiance.

4. Detail Face Brush – I picked up this brush because it will be perfect to use with the xoBeauty highlighters as well as my others. This brush lets you pinpoint exactly where you want to highlight. The bristles are lovely and soft and I see myself reaching for this brush often. It reminds me of the Setting Brush from Real Techniques, a small, fluffy, multi-purpose brush.

5. Philocaly Lipstick – This lipstick is one of xoBeauty’s best-selling products and I can see why! It is in a similar vein to Brave by MAC – a mauve toned down pink – with less of a satin formula. The lipsticks all have a creme brulee scent which doesn’t linger if you don’t like scented lip products. This shade also looks pretty with a light pink gloss dabbed over the top to make lips look fuller and less matte.

6. Kairos Lipstick – I have eyed this shade up a few times when I have browsed the website and I finally took the plunge and added it to my cart. Kairos is described as a medium, muted peachy-pink but it looks like a bright coral on me. I like the colour and it will be fun for summer, I’m excited to experiment with toning down the boldness and wearing this shade muted. xoBeauty has a similar liquid lipstick shade called Nam Jai which is more pink and one I can see myself picking up in the future. The liquid lipstick formula is creamy, comfortable to wear and doesn’t dry completely matte.

xoBeauty swatches:

Top to bottom: Philocaly, Kairos and Lucent.

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Leave a comment with what you picked up in the Black Friday sales!

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November Favourites 2018

November has been a whirlwind! I got offered a new job, began training for the new job whilst I was still working my old job and officially started my new job last week. I have been listening to music and singing most days which is still my most favourite thing to do and similar to last month, I haven’t read much during November. My mind feels very full with information and I’m already looking forward to the Christmas break to have a rest and wind down.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. xoBeauty Radiant Glow Highlight Powder – Aurora – This is the most recent addition to my highlighter collection. (Post on my collection *HERE*). The powder is very finely milled and so soft and easy to apply. This is the most subtle of my highlighters and it can also double as an all over face powder. Applying with a big fluffy brush works best and allows the product to really be swept over the skin. I am considering picking up the other shade of this powder too which is more golden.

2. NARS Mini Orgasm Blush Highlight Duo – I don’t often wear blush and highlighter together but with this mini duo I can’t go wrong. Orgasm is a flattering shade for a lot of people and if you want a blush shade that is versatile and a little glam, you should try it! The highlight looks quite plain in the pan but once it’s on the face it gives a lovely glow. The highlighter is exclusive to this mini, it’s a special Orgasm highlighter which I’d class as a peachy-pink champagne shade.

3. The Body Shop Metal Lip Liquid 018 Plum Titanium – It’s common knowledge I’m not a fan of matte liquid lipsticks but this formula from The Body Shop is super comfortable and velvety smooth. The pigmentation is good, the colour lasts all day and the formula isn’t streaky to apply. This has a slight fruity scent that is nice and doesn’t linger if you’re not a fan of scented lip products. Plum Titanium is a gorgeous deep red, perfect for Christmas! It’s a wearable red that doesn’t look strictly metallic, making it a safe option all year round.

4. Andy Brown – Cedarmont – I feel a little naughty having a copy of this CD. I originally pre-ordered a signed copy from the artist’s official store but the album release got cancelled and my money was refunded. I caught wind Amazon US had copies available and one buyer left a review confirming the CD arrived and is genuine. I ordered a copy myself and it arrived less than two weeks later. In short, the album is really good and I have been playing it on repeat since it arrived! I have loved and listened to Andy’s voice for years (he’s also the frontman of British band Lawson) and this album further proves his talent. The lyrics are heartfelt, catchy and this album makes me happy when I listen to it. I hope it gets the proper release it deserves. Standout Tracks: Talk of the Town, Put That Record On, Hold On, Keeper and Breaking Your Heart.

November’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in November?

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