November Favourites + Highlights

My mood feels like it has been a little up and down this month. Compared to October I have slowed down on the reading front which is a little disappointing but there have been a couple of books I have taken longer to get through. New Zealand has had a few mini heatwaves which I’m not a fan of, give me cold, sweater weather any day! Lately I have also been feeling discouraged when it comes to dating and I want to take a back seat for a while. Dating is something I never want to half ass and do because I feel like I have to. I want to go back to having a more relaxed approach and not thinking of it as a chore.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. The North Face Venture 2 Jacket in Collar Blue – I was on the lookout for a lightweight jacket to wear to and from work and something more casual for wearing at weekends. I instantly fell in love with this light blue colour as I didn’t want black or khaki like most people seem to have. Technically this is a rain jacket but it’s also windproof and made from a DryVent fabric making it breathable. The jacket has an adjustable hood, zipped pockets, a front zipper with Stormflap velcro closure and adjustable velcro straps around the wrists. I am surprised how much I have worn this since I bought it – it’s so easy to throw on and goes with everything.

Better picture of the jacket.

2. Colourpop Super Shock Shadows in Nillionaire and I Heart This – I am still loving the Super Shock Shadow formula since I tried it at the beginning of the year! The shadows are so pigmented, easy to apply and last all day. Nillionaire is a light bronze with pink and gold ultra-glitter and is one of my favourites, it’s a very Chanelle colour that goes with any makeup look – especially a bold lip! It takes a couple of layers to build up but it builds up quickly. I Heart This is a taupe with silver ultra-glitter. Whilst it is a lighter shade I love pairing it with theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter as a shimmery base shadow and bronzer in the crease for a super simple look.

3. The Body Shop Moringa Body Yogurt – When The Body Shop released their body yogurts I was curious to try one and see how they compare to the body butters. They are fast-absorbing moisturisers with a lightweight, gel-cream texture and suitable for all skin types. The texture is runny and jelly like compared to a body butter and the body yogurts come in fewer scents. Where the body yogurts have the advantage are in size and price. The tubs still contain 200ml of product but they’re more compact and are $15 (NZD) cheaper. I put this product on after a shower and it feels nice and cooling on the skin. It doesn’t feel any less moisturising than a body butter and a little goes a long way. I will definitely consider trying more scents in future, perhaps the Strawberry or the British Rose.

4. YSL Black Opium – I have only had this mini bottle of Black Opium for a couple of weeks but perfume is one of those products you know after a handful of uses whether you like it or not. I have worn this perfume almost every day during the past two weeks and I really appreciate the warmth to the scent and the longevity the perfume has. The scent is not overpowering and I can easily pick out and distinguish different notes (vanilla, coffee, pink pepper etc.) This smells very similar to Prerogative by Britney Spears but this has more lasting power. I don’t think this will become my holy grail perfume but after I finish this sample I will consider purchasing a bigger bottle.

November Highlights

• A long overdue catch up with an old work colleague.
• I made a couple of online orders including a four piece set of mini YSL products and the new xoBeauty Heaps of Sweets eyeshadow palette.
• Halo celebrated her 2nd birthday.

November’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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Updated Perfume Collection

In 2017 I shared my fragrance collection and looking back at that post quite a bit has changed in the two years since then. I have acquired a handful of new perfumes over the past couple of months and thought it was time to do an updated post and share what scents currently sit atop my dresser.

When it comes to perfume I know the type of scents I like and they tend to be warm, sweet and contain vanilla. Strong, woody scents give me a headache and I find they don’t sit on me or match my personality as nicely as sweeter scents.

Kicking off with an EDT and a sample sized perfume

1. The Body Shop Shea EDT

I’m sure you all know how much I adore The Body Shop and the Shea range in particular. I’ll cut straight to the point and say this isn’t my favourite Shea product by any means but it’s pleasant enough. This EDT isn’t the best one from The Body Shop (I prefer Strawberry and Moringa) and it isn’t very long lasting but it’s fine if you want a quick spritz of something. The scent has the usual shea nuttiness and I’d class this as unisex, it’s not overly feminine.

Best for: Spritzing on to run errands.

2. YSL Black Opium (7.5ml)

The most recent addition to my collection is this sample of Black Opium that came with three other mini YSL products in a set. I have tried this already and it smells absolutely gorgeous, I can understand why people rave about this one! It’s a sexy, warm, vanilla scent and I already know I will purchase a full size when I finish this sample. The lasting power is brilliant but the scent isn’t overpowering and in your face. Prerogative by Britney Spears is a dupe for this but not as long lasting.

Best for: Date nights, work or everyday wear.

Moving on to full sized perfumes; starting with Juicy Couture as they make up half of my collection

3. Viva la Juicy

This perfume is the only one that appeared in 2017 but this is my second bottle. Viva la Juicy is my favourite, it’s what I see as my signature scent and it’s the only perfume to date that I have repurchased. The gourmand sweetness is not over the top for my liking and the lasting power of this perfume is really good, I can smell it on clothes and skin the next day and it only requires a few sprays. Despite this being my favourite perfume it’s not one I reach for day to day, I tend to reserve it for special occasions but I will wear it to work now and again when I want to smell extra nice.

Best for: Those who like girly scents.

4. Viva la Juicy La Fleur

Viva la Juicy La Fleur is lighter than the original VLJ and has more fruity, floral notes. This doesn’t last as long as the original but also doesn’t need to be topped up throughout the day. The floral notes aren’t overwhelming which I like. I like the mix of sweet caramel and the florals together for a fun twist on the original. The bottle is taller than most of the other Juicy Couture bottles and the bright pink flowers printed on the glass are a pretty touch.

Best for: Work, daytime wear and summer (I see myself reaching for this a lot over the coming months).

5. Viva la Juicy Glacé

I haven’t actually used this perfume yet, it’s still sitting in the box untouched. I have sampled the fragrance and I know I like it as I had a rollerball of this scent. I wanted to pick it up a bottle as I heard it was being discontinued. Glacé bears a close resemblance to the original Viva la Juicy but has icy notes of frozen mandarin and pear sorbet which make it less sweet and more fresh. I can only comment on the lasting power of the rollerball but it seems on par with the original.

Best for: Work/day wear.

6. Marc Jacobs Daisy

Up until late 2018 I had never sampled Daisy before. I knew it was well loved but I didn’t think I’d enjoy a floral perfume and thought it would irritate my nose. Daisy is a clean, fresh, light floral that doesn’t overwhelm and has decent lasting power, it will stick around most of the day. The packaging is surprisingly lightweight and not tacky, the lid is secure and the bottle is more compact compared to some other perfumes. Daisy is a scent that seems cross generational, I imagine teenagers through to middle aged women wearing and enjoying this.

Best for: Fans of floral scents that aren’t overpowering and those looking for a good staple perfume.

7. Paco Rabanne Olympéa

Olympéa is the most grown up and sophisticated of the scents featured. This was recommended to me by a lovely blogging friend (Rachael) and it’s easy to see why she’s such a fan. This perfume is probably the strongest out of the ones I own and any more than three or four sprays could be headache inducing territory. This scent is a different take on the usual vanilla I love, it’s salty and contains oriental elements.

Best for: Evenings and special occasions.

8. Delta Goodrem Delta

Hanging around the neck of the bottle is a gold and silver feather charm which dangles down and looks beautiful. However, the gold plastic lid feels a little cheap and could be the kind that could loosen over time. The most prominent notes in Delta are white musk, florals and fruits. I would say if you already have floral perfumes you don’t need this one but as Daisy is my only other real floral it’s nice to have this too. The floral notes are more prominent in Delta than in Viva la Juicy La Fleur. Delta has satisfactory staying power and easily lends itself to being a good option for work.

Best for: Work and daytime wear.

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What perfume notes do you gravitate towards?

Are there any scents you’re lusting after? On my current perfume wishlist is a full size of Black Opium and Viva la Juicy Rosé.

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First Impression Friday: YSL – Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation

Up until a short time ago I had never tried a foundation that wasn’t considered drug store. In the past I haven’t wanted to spend a lot of money on foundation shades that don’t match me as my skin is fairly pale. I’m now starting to think that by investing a little more money into nicer foundation I will be happier with the overall look of my makeup. Often higher end brands have more shades available to cater to more skintones and the quality of product is better.

I purchased YSL’s Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation on a whim after reading a review from a fellow blogger and spending the entire day watching reviews of it on YouTube. This foundation appealed to me through it’s claims and the fact it is ideal for drier skin types.

Claims

• Reduces the look of fatigue and creates flawless, buildable coverage
• Improves skin’s brightness and luminosity
• Weightless finish – foundation feels and looks invisible on the skin
• Conceals imperfections

When it comes to foundation I like natural looking coverage that helps even out redness in my skin and product that doesn’t feel thick to apply. I prefer foundation not to lean too matte or too dewy and sit somewhere in the middle. I believe this foundation does live up to its claims. Keep reading to find out why.

Shade

I purchased this foundation online and wasn’t able to swatch or test shades in store before I bought it which is risky but I am pleased to say the shade I purchased is spot on! The Radiance Awakening foundation comes in 30 shades and I purchased the shade B10 Porcelain.

YSL cater to different undertones similar to MAC; B = neutral undertone, BD = golden/yellow undertone and BR = pink undertone. The lower the number following the undertone, the lighter the shade. I selected B10 as I have warmth and coolness in my skin but I am still on the fair end of the colour spectrum. One shade lighter BR 05 Cool Milk, may have worked for me but I wanted a neutral shade for my skin.

When this foundation arrived I automatically compared it with the sample of MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid foundation in NW13 and this is a touch lighter which is better. I wasn’t able to wear bronzer with NW13 but I think I will be able to get away with bronzer with this YSL shade.

Top: YSL
Bottom: MAC

Application

I used a clean Zoeva 102 Silk Finish brush to apply the foundation and product felt lightweight and easy to blend into the skin. Foundation didn’t drag or apply in streaks and felt silky smooth when being blended/buffed. The foundation blends out seamlessly and it’s not easy to detect where foundation stops and skin starts. The first time using this foundation my skin was drier than usual as I was getting over a cold but the formula didn’t cling or accentuate any dryness or settle into lines. Usually I like to apply one layer of foundation and touch up areas on my cheeks and around my nose if needed. This foundation had decent coverage after one layer and did allow me to build up product where I needed to without disturbing the layer underneath. The brush did soak up some of the product but I was still able to use the brush to really buff foundation into the skin.

Performance

The foundation is a nice consistency, it’s not thick and it’s not runny. Product will stay on the back of your hand between blending out layers. The foundation doesn’t feel heavy and glides over the skin. I’d say initially the coverage with one layer is light-medium which I like but you can build up coverage if you desire. The colour doesn’t oxidise after application and other makeup sits nicely on top. I used MAC’s Strobe Cream as a primer underneath and I didn’t find my face looked too glowy – it was a radiant, healthy glow which again is what I like. I will be testing out other primers to see how they perform with this too.

I had the foundation on for about 12 hours and it wore well during the day. Product didn’t fade or break down. My face didn’t look oily or shiny and the foundation kept my face looking natural and skin like. I do think it brightened up my complexion and made me feel more like my usual self despite the remnants of a cold.

Only wearing foundation and concealer:

Unedited photo taken in natural lighting.

Wearing the foundation with a full face of makeup:

Other products used:

• Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive
• MAC Strobe Cream – Pinklite
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Colourpop BYOP, shades used: Hear Me Out, Wake Up Call, Feathered and Ringer
• Zoella x Colourpop Supernova Shadow in OG
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara in 003 Blackest Black
• NARS Orgasm Blush Duo
• Kathleen Lights x Colourpop Scorpio Moon lipstick
• MAC Fix+

Summary

Pros:

• Shade matches me well
• Lightweight, buildable coverage
• Seamless and natural looking on the skin
• SPF 22

Cons:

• Pricey
• Not as many shades available as other high end foundations (still a fair selection at 30)

Overall, I am extremely pleased with YSL’s Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation after only one use and can’t wait to wear it again! The product lives up to it’s claims and applies and blends like a dream. The formula is extremely comfortable and lightweight and virtually undetectable on the skin. If this is what all luxury foundations are like, I’m a convert!

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Have you tried this foundation? Do you own any foundations you consider luxury?

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