Empty Products #16

I feel like this is the empties where a few discontinued products feature which sucks a little as I enjoyed those products and wouldn’t rule out repurchasing them. I am going to try to be on a low buy in 2021, I’ve bought a few things in January as it’s my birthday month but other than that I’m aiming to keep spending to a minimum. I have products in my collection I’m close to finishing and want to focus on those as much as I can.

Haircare

1. Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Shampoo

I finished the matching conditioner in my last empties but the shampoo took a bit longer to get through as it contains more product. The shampoo is clear, has a lightweight texture and it lathers up well, you don’t need to use a lot to make hair feel clean. The scent is a mix of white tea extract and camelia and it sticks around after hair has been washed which is nice. The bottle of shampoo contains 250ml and it lasted me about six months. Overall this range is lovely.

Repurchase: I can see myself using this again.

Makeup/Beauty

2. GlamGlow Glowsetter Setting Spray

I’ve seen so many people singing this setting spray’s praises and I kind of get it. I purchased the 30ml bottle which was a mistake, the nozzle on my bottle didn’t work properly and I had to use a dozen sprays each time to get mist onto my face. I wish I had spent more at the time and got the full size because the effect of the actual mist on my skin is nice and the smell is as delightful as everyone says! Unless the full size is on sale I don’t know that I’d repurchase as $60 for a setting spray is a lot of money.

Repurchase: Don’t think so.

3. The Body Shop Rose Dewy Glow Face Mist

In comparison to the previous setting spray I can get away with four-five sprays of this and I find they have similar effects. This mist is not too wet and smells lovely, the rose fragrance isn’t too strong at all. Less is more with this spray, too much and makeup can cake up around my nose area but it’s great to add a dewy glow after powder products have been applied.

Repurchase: Yes, but it’s been discontinued.

4. bareMinerals Lashtopia Volumising Mascara

I got this as a free sample with an order from Mecca but it’s the mascara I’ve liked the least in a long time. The brush does have proper bristles which I prefer but I found this mascara performed better when it was first opened and the formula was wetter. When it started to dry up (maybe two months after I opened it) the formula would not layer well, it became sticky and tar-like. I also found this more lengthening than volumising. This is a nice, natural everyday mascara but doesn’t pack the punch I personally want.

Repurchase: No.

Skincare & Fragrance

5. The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter

I had heard so many good things about this product before trying it and if you like cleansing balms for removing makeup I urge you to give this one a go! You only need a coin sized amount for the entire face and if you rinse off your hands after the initial rubbing and rub the skin again while your hands are slightly damp you will see even more makeup melt off. The packaging is lightweight which would also make it a good travel option and the scent is lovely and soft. If you don’t like fragrance in products I don’t think you’d be put off by this. I would use this again but not having The Body Shop in my city any more makes it harder to get hold of.

Repurchase: Maybe.

6. Juicy Couture – Viva la Juicy La Fleur

Apart from the original Viva la Juicy this is one of the nicest Juicy Couture fragrances I’ve tried. I love the soft subtle florals mixed in with the gourmand and fruit notes and this is a wonderful perfume for work. From memory I purchased this in August 2019 and it was finished by December 2020. The bottle contains 150ml of perfume which is more than usual and I used it up quickly. I didn’t need a lot of sprays, most days I would have used around four or five, I just really enjoyed it as an everyday fragrance. The lasting power is decent too.

Repurchase: Definitely – I already miss this!

Body

7. Nivea Invisible Anti-Perspirant – Clear

You know the drill by now, this is my favourite deodorant and it does what it’s meant to.

Repurchase: Yes.

8. The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Body Scrub

My skin is extremely sensitive, especially on my legs. I had bad eczema as a child and whilst I don’t get it now I know to stay away from soap like products or products with lathering ingredients. I wash my hands with soap and they’re fine (thankfully) but other parts of my body react. This body scrub I purchased to use as an exfoliator before shaving my legs and it worked a treat. This scrub lasted me a good couple of years for that purpose and my legs didn’t get irritated. The scent is more of a smoky, spicy vanilla as opposed to sweet but it’s lovely. I would consider repurchasing this scrub if The Body Shop bring it back.

Repurchase: This was a limited edition Christmas fragrance a couple of years ago but maybe if it returns.

9. The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter

The fragrance of this body butter is DIVINE! I have tried my fair share of body butter scents from The Body Shop and I’m putting it out there that this is definitely in my top three. This is one of the body butters with the slightly higher price point but it feels ultra luxurious and it’s worth it! The texture is super soft and moisturising and the smell is gorgeous and feminine; a lovely mix of sweet magnolia, blooming cherry blossom and hinoki wood accords.

Repurchase: Yes.

10. Zoella Reach For the Moon Hand Cream

I was sent this hand cream by one of my best blogging friends and it was such a delight to use. The tube contains 90ml of product which is huge and the vanilla-mint scent was a lot nicer than I imagined. I hadn’t tried anything from Zoella Beauty before this and if the other hand creams were of similar quality I missed out. The hand cream soaked in quickly and kept my hands soft and supple.

Repurchase: Yes, if it hadn’t been discontinued.

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What was the last product you finished up?

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February Favourites + Highlights 2020

I didn’t find January to be a slow month but February has zoomed by! I was on leave from work for the first week and absolutely loved it, I spent time listening to lots of music, completed a jigsaw puzzle, slept in, ate when I liked (I find this makes me less hungry as opposed to having structured times to eat and being in the ‘work routine’) and did some online shopping. I’ve been back at work for the past three weeks and honestly I am really tired. The heat is so draining and I cannot wait for the cooler, autumn weather.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Zoella Reach For the Stars hand cream – One of my closest blogging friends, Dannii, sent me this hand cream along with a few other goodies at the end of 2018. I started using it recently and I’m really enjoying the scent which is a mix of vanilla and peppermint. The hand cream was released as part of the Cosmos Collection but Zoe announced the end of Zoella Beauty so I wouldn’t imagine it’s readily available unless you try eBay or somewhere like that. The cream itself is lovely, it feels very moisturising and the tube contains 90ml of product which will last me ages! I love the iridescent shiny tube as well.

2. The Body Shop Warm Vanilla body butter – Warm Vanilla was one of the Christmas scents released by The Body Shop last year and I’m a sucker for vanilla so I wanted to try something from this range. When the body butter arrived I was a little overwhelmed at how sweet and sickly this smelled and wasn’t sure if I’d like it. After using this for a while the scent has grown on me a lot, when the body butter is applied to the skin the scent isn’t as intense and it’s more subtle. It does have a warmth to it and I thought this would be more suitable for winter but it’s summer in New Zealand and I’m a fan! The texture is soft and luxurious and spreads very easily over the body.

3. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Fair – If you’re curious to try this product I highly recommend you do! The coverage of this CC Cream is amazing and the texture is lighter than most regular foundations. I squeeze a little line out onto my hand and dab product over my face and that is enough for me. I find most days I don’t need to go in with additional product in the areas I have more redness. Product blends like a dream and feels good on the skin too. If you read my Testing Four New Foundations post you’ll know this came out on top and got a glowing review!

4. Natio Renew Radiance Night Cream – I have been using this night cream for about a month now and a combination of this product and the heat has meant I haven’t needed to apply my facial oil as my skin hasn’t been dry. A little goes a long way and the cream soaks in quickly and leaves my face feeling soft through the night. My face doesn’t feel greasy and my makeup has been applying nicely the following day. The key ingredients are pomegranate and vitamin C.

5. Louise – Heavy Love – I can’t remember how I first heard about Louise as she hasn’t had chart success in New Zealand but she has such a beautiful, pure tone to her voice with a slight R&B edge. Heavy Love is Louise’s first album in 20 years and is a great pop album! Louise co-wrote the majority of tracks and a lot of the lyrics talk about heartbreak which is to be expected after splitting from her ex-husband. Pop music with a catchy beat and heartfelt lyrics is right up my street. Standout Tracks: Stretch, Not the Same, Hurt, Straight To My Heart, Settle For Nothing and Wrong.

February Highlights:

• I am ahead with my Goodreads goal for 2020 which is exciting!
• I started my one palette, one month challenge where I aim to use one eyeshadow palette each month in an attempt to use all the palettes in my collection more. Each palette is paired with a different highlighter for the month as well.
• At the beginning of February mum and I went out for a belated birthday lunch (our birthdays are three days apart). I had pancakes with bacon, banana, maple syrup and cream.

February’s Spotify Playlist:

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

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Yearly Highlights + Signing Off For 2019

Usually towards the end of each month I round up my favourite things but in December there hasn’t been anything new that I’ve come across that I haven’t talked about before. In lieu of December Favourites I’ve rounded up my favourite products of 2019. I will also be sharing some  highlights from the year. This is my final post for 2019 as I want to give myself a break from posting between Christmas and the New Year. Thank you to everyone for taking time to read and comment and for showing support. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I hope you have the best day with your loved ones!

Base

1. Trying higher end foundations from YSL and MAC – 2019 is the year I stepped up my foundation game and ventured away from the drugstore options slightly. I got a sample of MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid Foundation which applied beautifully each time I used it and made me start looking into other high end foundations. After finishing the MAC sample I purchased a bottle of YSL’s Le Teint Touche Éclat in B10 Porcelain and it is such a perfect colour match for me. A little goes a long way with this foundation and like the MAC foundation it applies and sits beautifully on the skin. I have still got a couple of drugstore foundations in my collection and once I’ve used those up I can see myself heading more towards bases that are slightly more expensive but perform better. It takes me so long to finish a foundation that I’d rather it be one that I really like.

2. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Light – I heard The Anna Edit talk about this product numerous times and I’d been curious to give contouring a go so I bit the bullet and purchased it. I wanted one shade that suited my skintone rather than purchasing a palette where most of the shades would sit untouched. This product is lovely to work with, the powder is soft and easy to blend and I don’t need to use much at all. I tend to use this over bronzer on days I want more definition.

Eyes

3. xoBeauty Heaps of Sweets Palette – This palette is a relatively new addition to my makeup collection. The layout and the number of different colour combinations excites me and makes me want to experiment with the palette. The pigmentation, formula and the combination of matte and shimmer shades is great and since the palette arrived I have not put it away, it’s sitting on top of my dresser within easy reach. Palettes like this that can be used for wearable everyday looks but also contain fun pops of colour are so versatile.

4. Zoella x Colourpop Group Hug Supernova Shadow Bundle – If I had to pick my favourite brand for 2019 it would be Colourpop! I hadn’t tried anything from Colourpop before and I remember asking on Instagram for product suggestions and someone mentioned that they didn’t like the Supernova Shadows. I didn’t purchase the Group Hug bundle in my first order but I am glad I picked it up in a subsequent order. The bundle contains the shades OG and Bellini and both are packed full of shimmer and glittery goodness. The pigmentation is stunning, especially Bellini, and they apply so smoothly and last all day. They are what I thought the Stila minis I have would be like but 100x better. Unfortunately this set has now been discontinued.

5. Colourpop Sol Palette – This is one of my favourite eyeshadow palettes in my collection and every time I use it I’m never disappointed, there’s not one bad shade. The warm, orange tones work really well with my hair and complexion and this palette is surprisingly versatile. If I had to pick one palette to travel with it would be between this and The Remix Palette from Shaaanxo and BH Cosmetics. One of the best nine pans Colourpop do in my opinion!

6. Colourpop Super Shock Shadows – One of the Colourpop products recommended to me were the Super Shock Shadows. This product is what the brand first started off with and having a creamy, highly pigmented texture with no fall out it’s easy to see why they are so popular. Across the four Colourpop orders I placed this year I purchased eight shades in total. My top picks are Slave2Pink (neon pink glitter loaded up with blue), Bouncy (cool toned bronze with gold and violet duo chrome), Nillionaire (bronze with pink and gold ultra-glitter), Dare (shockingly neon purple with hot pink and violet glitter) and I Heart This (taupe with silver ultra-glitter).

Lips

7. Revolution Jewel Collection Lip Toppers – These sheer, non-sticky glosses are packed with stunning shimmer to switch up your favourite lipstick. I have two out of three shades; Fortune (iced silver shimmer) and Exquisite (duo chrome sheer pink with cool silver shimmer). They can be worn alone or layered over lipstick for a high shine finish and colour shifting duo chrome effect. Fortune is my favourite!

8. L’Oreal – Bois De Rose Lipstick – A work colleague gave me this lipstick and the colour reminds me a lot of Syrup by MAC which I completely finished a couple of months ago. Bois De Rose has more of a rosy tone whereas Syrup has more of a purple-berry tone. The formula of this shade is lovely and creamy and it is such a lovely colour for everyday wear.

Accessories

9. YSL Black Opium – The 7.5ml perfume sample of Black Opium did not last me long at all, it’s finished already! I instantly fell in love with the scent and in the near future I definitely want to pick up a full sized bottle. The combination of warm, sweet vanilla and coffee with a hint of spice is extremely sexy.

10. Daniel Wellington Petite Melrose Watch – I purchased this watch last year and whilst it was an investment piece I love wearing it! My wrists are tiny (which I have a weird fascination with) and Daniel Wellington watches accommodate that. When you order from Daniel Wellington you can customise your watch by choosing the size of the dial, the colour of the dial and the colour of the strap. I chose the Petite Melrose in rose gold with a white 28mm dial. The watch goes with everything and looks dainty and elegant.

Top 5 personal highlights from 2019:

1. A personalised signed album from Claire Richards – Claire Richards has one of my favourite voices in the music business and she released her solo album in February 2019. Through Claire’s website fans could pre-order personalised signed copies of her album.

2. Securing tickets to So Pop 2020 – Speaking of Claire, Steps were announced as one of the acts for the So Pop 2020 series of concerts alongside The Pussycat Dolls, Jesse McCartney, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and others. It hasn’t properly hit me yet that I’ll be able to say I’ve seen my favourite band in concert even if they aren’t the headline act – 10 year old Chanelle never thought this would happen.

3. Finding a denim jacket – I knew that when I purchased my denim jacket from Pagani it is one of those timeless pieces that goes with everything. I often pair it with leggings for simple, casual outfits when I’m not sure what to wear and it’s a great layering piece that can be dressed up and dressed down.

4. Purchasing new perfumes – Halfway through the year I purchased a couple of new perfumes and I’m really pleased with all the scents in my collection at the moment. Girly, vanilla based scents are my favourite and you can’t go wrong with Juicy Couture in my opinion. The fragrances next on my list to buy are Viva la Juicy Rosé and a full size of Black Opium.

5. Being more social – I am by no means a social butterfly but I have been on my fair share of dates, attended a few quiz nights and been out to dinner with work friends this year.

December’s Spotify Playlist:

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I hope you are able to look back on 2019 and the decade with fond memories. If 2019 didn’t go the way you planned I hope 2020 will treat you better and bring plenty of happiness ❤

I will still be reading posts and commenting but this is me officially signing off – see you in 2020!

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GRWM: Girls Dinner

On Monday I went out to dinner with some of the girls from work. If you saw my post on Instagram earlier in the week you may be aware I was worried about the dinner. Social situations make me nervous and not being a very adventurous eater magnifies the nerves. Evenings out aren’t something I do as I don’t usually have company and part of me feels like I don’t deserve it. I knew I wanted to go because I felt grateful to be included and it was a big deal for me. I made everything out to be worse in my head than it was but when you worry so much it’s a natural instinct. If a similar situation arises again I will be less nervous which is a positive.

Not only was I nervous about the food/dinner – I stepped out of my comfort zone with my outfit. The restaurant had a dress code so it meant I had to get a little glammed up. I wore a dress AND heels and wanted to do nice makeup. This look features some newer products in my collection and products I’ve been reaching for a lot recently.

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

Base

• MAC Strobe Cream – Pinklite – I applied this kind of like a primer and to give my skin more glow. I wanted this look to be soft and dewy.
• Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – One of my favourite foundations that I’ve tried to date; good coverage and a satin finish.
• Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer  – 1 Fair – The pigmentation and creamy consistency pairs so well with the Max Factor foundation. I had a bit of redness I wanted to cover up and also I wanted my skin to look glowy and this concealer isn’t as matte as my MAC one.
• The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist – This smells good, feels lovely on the skin and keeps makeup looking fresh. This was the last product applied before my lip colour.

Cheeks/Eyes

• Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Used this to fill in my brows.
• Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder – Light – I hadn’t used this for a few weeks and I missed it. Often in the morning when I’m getting ready for work I skip contouring as I’m short on time but I do really enjoy how this product looks.
• Urban Decay Primer Potion – This little 5ml sample has lasted me over a year and is still going strong.
• The Body Shop Honey Bronzer  – 01 Light Matte – This was dusted over the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose and across my chin. I also applied this in my crease as my transition shade.
  
• BECCA – Royal Glow – I used my ring finger to apply this highlighter all over my eyelids as a base shadow and used it to highlight my cheeks as well.
• Zoella x Colourpop Supernova Shadow in Bellini – Bellini is a high-impact, ultra glittery shadow with a metallic rose gold base. This shadow is so easy to use, I swipe product onto my finger from the applicator and transfer it to my eyelid. Product dries quickly and lasts all day, this shade looks a foiled shadow when set.
• L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara – This is starting to dry out and I feel like I haven’t had it open very long. It definitely doesn’t seem as long lasting as the tube of Lash Paradise I had. I’m not ready to let go of this mascara just yet as the dark, thick fluttery lashes it gives are so pretty.
• MAC – Warm Soul – I wanted a hint of colour on the cheeks and I knew the highlighter and strobe cream would give the glow factor so I went for this light pink-beige blush. It gives a lovely natural flush.

LIPS

• L’Oreal – 302 Bois De Rose – I mentioned in my August Favourites I wanted to do a makeup look for the blog with this lipstick and here it is! It’s a great shade for everyday wear and I knew I’d be eating so wanted something that would fade gradually. This shade gives me MAC Syrup vibes, this is a satin finish and more pink but super pretty!

The Final Look:

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Let me know what you think of this makeup look! What type of look do you go for if you’re going out?

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August Favourites + Highlights

Looking back over my mood tracker for the year, August has been a real mixture of feelings. The day this post goes up will be my last day at work for two weeks and I am looking forward to having a well deserved break. I have worked at the library for over two years now (105 weeks to be exact) and minus the two weeks off I have coming up I have had a total of three weeks off work in that time. I’m looking forward to relaxing and sleeping and just taking some time out. I’ve spent most of August counting down and getting everything ready for my last day to be honest. I’ve still been reading and made some online orders too!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Lipstick – 302 Bois De Rose – This lipstick was gifted to me by a work colleague and boy did she choose well! I love how wherever I’ve worked I’m known as the lipstick girl and people gift shades to me they haven’t used or buy shades with me in mind. I don’t own any L’Oreal lipsticks but the satin formula of this shade is stunning! Bois De Rose reminds me a lot of MAC Syrup which is in no way a bad thing. The scent of this lipstick is lovely and the pigmentation and lasting power are excellent. I’d love to do a makeup look for the blog wearing this shade soon.

2. Zoella x Colourpop Group Hug Supernova Shadow Bundle – Products like this remind me why I love makeup. Both of these shades are impressive, have really good pigmentation, last all day and go with any makeup look. These are easy to apply and the shimmer stays on the eyelids and doesn’t get all over the face. I love a bit of sparkle and these deliver in spades! Literally a bit of bronzer all over the lid and through the crease, either OG or Bellini applied over top, two coats of mascara, lipstick and you’re good to go! Simple, no fuss products are my favourite!

3.Silver ring – I purchased this ring over two years ago but I’m really bad at wearing jewellery. I go through phases of wanting to wear it and then won’t wear any at all for ages (minus my rose gold Petite Melrose watch from Daniel Wellington). This ring is stirling silver and features a cubic zirconia stone in the centre with five smaller stones either side. The style of the ring is simple and elegant and I have enjoyed wearing it again this month.

4. NESCAFÉ Gold Crème Brulee Latté – I rarely drink coffee but when I do I tend to go for something milky and not overly strong. I enjoy the Vanilla Latte flavour from Nescafe and when I saw the limited edition Creme Brulee flavour I wanted to give them a go. I haven’t had coffee in a long time and I’m not someone that needs it daily to function. These lattes are lovely and smooth, the coffee taste isn’t overpowering and the sweetness of the creme brulee adds to the pleasant taste. A nice little treat when I need something to warm me up!

August Highlights

• My second Colourpop order arrived! If you haven’t seen what I got yet, CLICK HERE.
• Treated myself to lunch a couple of times this month, it was pie and chips weather.
• Got a haircut and a third layer put back in.
• Ordered three new perfumes online: Viva la Juicy La Fleur, Viva la Juicy Glacé, and Olympéa by Paco Rabanne. All smell lovely.
  

August’s Spotify Playlist:

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

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July Colourpop Haul!

One Saturday in July I spent hours browsing the Colourpop website and added a bunch of eye products (and one lipgloss) to my cart. I have been impressed with the quality of products since my first Colourpop haul and knew it would only be a matter of time before I did another order. A few items I’d seen and heard about before but others I bought simply because I liked the look of them!

The items took around two weeks to arrive which is pretty standard for mail from overseas. I wasn’t charged customs when the package arrived in New Zealand but there was damage to one of the Super Shock Shadows. I contacted Colourpop about the damage and was given credit but I am a little bummed because the broken shade is the one I was most looking forward to receiving. The shade has been discontinued so I can’t use the credit to repurchase another one in my next order. The product is still usable but I’ll have to be careful how I store it and I won’t be able to travel with it.

Let’s get on with the haul!

Super Shock Shadows x 3

Colourpop are known for their Super Shock Shadows and after picking one up in my previous haul and enjoying the formula I wanted to try more. I picked up the shades Bouncy (cool toned bronze with gold and violet duo chrome), Nillionaire (bronze with pink and gold ultra-glitter) and So Quiche (soft olive with violet and gold sparkles). Seeing the shades written like that makes me realise how similar they sound and whilst they do look similar in real life there are subtle differences.

Bouncy – This is the shade I was most excited for and the one that arrived damaged. On the eyes the colour comes through as equal parts bronze and pink and the duochrome is prominent.

Nillionaire – I heard Emily Noel mention this shade in her Colourpop Top 5, Bottom 5 video and Googled it instantly. It’s such a pretty everyday shade. Nillionaire has the sheerest colour payoff and is the most golden of the three I purchased.

So Quiche – The olive tones in this shade make it the coolest toned out of the three but also it’s the only shade I picked up that leans slightly towards green-violet on the colour spectrum. This reminds me of a more shimmery version of Smokey Rose by Teeez Cosmetics (both products will make a great pairing).

Left to right: Bouncy, Nillionaire and So Quiche.

Group Hug Supernova Shadow Bundle

Top: OG
Bottom: Bellini

I saw this bundle when Zoella’s collaboration with Colourpop was revealed at the end of February and I was always curious about it. After trying some mini Magnificent Metals from Stila and not loving them I half expected not to love these but, spoiler alert: I do! The formula is more like an eyeshadow once product has dried down and the glitter/shine is a lot more pigmented and long-lasting. The texture is smooth and unlike the Stila product these don’t flake off my eyelids and wear away throughout the day.

Looking at the two shades online, OG and Bellini look similar to each other but they are different. OG is a golden champagne with silver glitter and Bellini is a metallic rose gold. OG is more glittery (still with good pigmentation) and Bellini is comparable to a foiled eyeshadow. This kind of product is great for a quick and easy eye look and the milk carton packaging is the cutest! I knew this product wouldn’t be around forever so I wanted to grab it while I had the chance!

Snow Day Ultra Glossy Lip

I purchased this lip gloss because I thought it would make a beautiful lip topper and it does! Snow Day is described as a prismatic champagne but it’s more like a very light pink with flecks of gold glitter. The gloss does look pretty on it’s own and will be nice for simple makeup days but I wore this over MAC’s Kinda Sexy lipstick and it was super pretty! The formula isn’t overly sticky and goopy and is comfortable to wear. The one thing I don’t like is the applicator, it’s a small brush with individual hairs and isn’t the best at spreading product. The brush works well when using the gloss as a lip topper as you only need a small amount of product but if I want to wear the gloss on it’s own I have to dip the brush back in to the tube a few times to get even coverage.

It’s My Pleasure palette

Purple is a hard eyeshadow colour to get right but people I follow online have been singing this palette’s praises. Purple is a colour that suits my skintone and complexion and that’s what excites me about this palette. I get to play up my love for bold colours with the shimmers but there’s also lighter shades to compliment the shimmers and create more wearable everyday looks. Smaller palettes like this are good as I find it overwhelming when there’s lots of shades to choose from in a palette. I prefer limited combinations that work and mean I don’t have to try hard to come up with looks. It’s My Pleasure contains four mattes and five shimmers and is a nice combination of purples and pinks that lean towards purple.

Swatches:

Left to right: Kittenfish, Do Or Dough, Pretty Cruel, Bare Minimum, Earthshine, Chick Lit, Mr Sandman, Fan Fiction and Sleeper.

Custom 12 Pan Eyeshadow Palette

This palette is what I was most excited for because I curated it and selected the shades myself. I was also nervous because I only had myself to blame if any of the shades ended up being similar and if I didn’t like it. My inspiration for this palette was gold. It’s hard to find nice gold shades so I ended up purchasing four for this palette and they’re all unique. From there I came up with a mix of warm toned mattes and shimmers with a hint of pink and mauve thrown in. When the shadows arrived I organised them in a specific way, the top row is classic base and transition shades, the middle row is pinks and mauves and the bottom row is golden goodness.

Top row: Hear Me Out (matte white peach), Wake Up Call (matte warm sand), Side Tracked (matte terracotta with gold flecks) and Bel Air (matte cool taupe).

Middle row: Liar Liar (metallic pale pink), Ringer (metallic champagne), Chic Happens (matte cool mauve) and Goody Two Shoes (metallic gunmetal).

Bottom row: The Game (antique gold), Baby Lights (metallic green gold), Karat Cake (metallic chartreuse) and Night Show (metallic yellow bronze).

Swatches:

Left to right: Hear Me Out, Wake Up Call, Side Tracked, Bel Air, Liar Liar, Ringer, Chic Happens, Goody Two Shoes, The Game, Baby Lights, Karat Cake and Night Show.

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Have you tried any of these products before? Is there anything from Colourpop currently catching your eye?

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July Favourites + Highlights

In the second half of the month I really picked up my reading game and the total number of books I finished in July is four, an average of one a week. I’ve been having lazy weekends and I’ve been enjoying curling up on the couch watching movies and TV shows or with a book. Work has been super busy recently so it’s nice to wind down at the weekend and recharge for the week ahead. I’m very much looking forward to having a couple of weeks off at the beginning of September. Towards the end of the month I did some online shopping and as I type this post I am waiting for three orders to arrive… oops! 😛

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Palette – This eyeshadow palette has been a real grower and every time I use it I like it more. I know some people were disappointed with the shades but the colours are really nice and there’s an even mix of mattes and shimmers. I still haven’t been brave enough to use the blue but I do plan on applying it to the lower lash line with a pencil brush when I next feel like experimenting. Having never tried makeup from Colourpop until I purchased this palette I am impressed, the formula of these shadows is lovely and the shades are pigmented and last well throughout the day. Initially a few of the matte shades seemed more difficult to blend but the more I use them I don’t think that’s the case. I find sometimes with makeup it has to be worn in a little and the shades do in fact blend nicely.

2. Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush – I recently mentioned this brush as one of My Favourite Makeup Brushes. It is comparable to the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques. The brush blends foundation easily and the head of the brush isn’t too big for my small face. Product does apply nicely with this brush and it doesn’t cake up or take a long time to blend into the skin. The brush is made with Taklon bristles so it’s super soft and washes up well.

3. Palmers Moisture Rich Night Cream – This is a repurchase and picking it up again has made me realise why I liked it so much the first time. I like this better than other evening moisturisers I’ve tried. The texture of the cream is light and product sinks into the skin easily keeping it soft and well moisturised. The cream doesn’t feel greasy or drying and the slight cocoa butter and shea scent is pleasant. When I use this product alongside Trilogy’s Very Gentle Restoring Facial Oil it’s a dream combination!

4. Agatha Christie mysteries – I’m a sucker for an Agatha Christie mystery! Her stories are simply written but they’re so compelling and gripping. It doesn’t take me long to read a Poirot or a Marple because they’re written in a way that makes me want to keep reading. The last story of Agatha Christie’s I read – ‘Nemesis’ – took me less than two days. I understand for some readers her stories may not be super thrilling and action packed but the plot is always good.

5. Cricket World Cup Final – Something not many people know about me as I’m quite partial to watching one day cricket when New Zealand is playing and matches are on free to air television – which isn’t very often. I’d been following New Zealand’s progress throughout the tournament and we did well initially but there was a moment it looked like we might not make the semi-finals. A lot of people thought India would beat us in the semi-final but I felt so proud when I heard we made the final for the second consecutive time. I was even more excited to watch the final which started late on Sunday July 14th as I didn’t have to get up and go to work the next day. I did well to stay up all night and only fell asleep briefly during England’s innings. For the last hour of the game I was nervous and couldn’t sit still, I was literally pacing on the spot because of how close the game was going to be. New Zealand lost by the smallest margin but I personally believe we won the game, we just didn’t get to lift the trophy. The pride the rest of New Zealand felt after that game is amazing. Whilst it was sad not to win, I am extremely proud to be a Kiwi!

July Highlights

• Someone left a KitKat in my pigeon hole at work.
• Went out for wedges on one of my lunch breaks.
• Placed my second Colourpop order.
• Did some online shopping in the last weekend of July; purchased a MAC blush I’ve wanted for ages, a necklace and a couple of clothing items.

July’s Spotify Playlist:

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

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Colourpop Lookbook: Sol & Brunch Date Palettes

Following on from my recent Colourpop haul I promised I would share some looks I have created with the two palettes. I decided to share three looks from each palette and I tried to use a range of shades. Starting with a quick rundown of each palette and a few points of note in case you didn’t see my haul post before showing the looks I created.

Sol Palette

This is one of Colourpop’s nine pan monochromatic palettes with a focus on orange hues. There is a pop of coral-red in this palette and also some great shades for everyday wear. There is an even mix of mattes and shimmers, four mattes and five shimmers. The palette performs well, is pigmented and I’m loving the warm tones – they match nicer with my hair than I thought they would!

Look #1 – Peach Bellini

Shades used: New Digs, Dynamite, Floaties and MAC’s Melon Pigment.

New Digs was applied all over the lid as a base shade before going in with Dynamite through the crease. Using my ring finger I applied Floaties all over the lid as well before topping that off with a light layer of MAC’s Melon pigment.

Look #2 – Sparkle Baby

Shades used: Unwind and Anthem.

Unwind was applied all over the lid and through the crease. Anthem was then applied over the top.

Look #3 – Tropical Sun

Shades used: New Digs, OOO, Motel and B+B.

New Digs was applied all over the lid as a base shade once again. OOO was used as a transition shade in the crease. Motel was used all over the lid below the crease and B+B was applied to the inner third to brighten things up.

Brunch Date Palette

This palette is part of the Zoella x Colourpop collaboration and the item that appealed to me most from the range. It is a twelve pan palette with shades names and packaging based around a cutesy, brunch theme. This palette also has a good mix of mattes (6) and shimmers (5), and also contains one satin shade. The shimmers in this palette are stunning and there is still ability to create different looks with the colours in this palette despite it being mostly neutral.

Look #1 – Pink Ice

Shades used: Mimosa, French Toast and Sundae Funday.

Mimosa was used all over the lid. French Toast was applied to the crease and the outer corner/outer V before using my finger to apply Sundae Funday to the main part of the eyelids.

Look #2 – Bronze Goddess

Shades used: Maple Syrup, Americano and Cinnamon Sugar.

Maple Syrup acted as the base shadow and I blended Americano into the crease. Cinnamon Sugar was applied over the top of Maple Syrup.

Look #3 – Sparkly Taupe

Shades used: Pancakes Please and Champagne Toast.

Pancakes Please was buffed all over the eyelids before using Champagne Toast on the inner half of the lids to create a soft, ombre effect.

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As you can see using three shades tends to be my go to for a simple, put together look; one shade all over the lids, one as a transition shade/to deepen the crease and a shimmer applied over top of the base shade. It’s quite easy but I don’t like complicated eye makeup and having to reach for a half a dozen brushes. The majority of the time I apply shimmers with my finger as it’s more effective than using a brush.

Which eye look is your favourite?

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My First Colourpop Haul! Review + Swatches

At the end of February I placed my first ever order with Colourpop! Colourpop is a brand I have seen and heard a lot about but the reason I hadn’t placed an order in the past is because the brand constantly releases lots of new products and I’ve never known what to order.

For my first order, the experience was positive. I qualified for free shipping and wasn’t charged customs when the package arrived in New Zealand. The products took one week from the order date to be shipped out but once I got the shipping notification the products were at my door within four days – that’s a quick turn around! No products arrived damaged and everything was well packaged.

Onto the haul:

Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Palette

When I saw Zoella announce her collaboration with Colourpop I checked out the products and the more I looked at the Brunch Date palette I knew I wanted it. Yes, it is a relatively neutral palette but I can’t see this palette being around forever and I do wear a lot of neutral eyeshadow. I did also buy this with the intention to declutter a couple of my Makeup Revolution palettes but after trying this the palettes are all different enough to warrant keeping them (for now).

Three out of the six mattes are easy to blend: Mimosa (warm red-brown), Maple Syrup (milk chocolate brown) and Americano (cool matte brown). The other three, French Toast (burgundy), Brunch Club (blue) and Extra Slice (dark brown with glitter) take a bit more work. The light satin pink, Sunny Side Up, takes some building to get the pigmentation to show on my pale skin. It’s the shimmers in this palette that are the standout shades. The first two shades Champagne Toast and Pancakes Please may look ordinary in the pan but once applied they pop and look really lovely. Cinnamon Sugar is a gorgeous bronze that has the right amount of bronze and gold. Sundae Funday is a more pink version of NARS Orgams for the eyes and Skinny Latte is another good shimmer.

A few people have commented this is ‘just another neutral palette with a pop of blue’ but I can see why Zoe chose these colours. Neutral shades will appeal to more people and suit a wider range of skintones. The brunch theme of the palette and the shades names are fun. When you look at all the shades swatched together there is versatility to create different looks. One thing I find this palette lacks is a lighter base shadow colour. A couple of the lighter brown mattes could be used but those are my favourite transition type shades and what I normally use in my crease. I am a little intimidated by the blue if I’m honest, I tried using it lightly one day in my crease but I didn’t use the right brush and I had to cover it with one of the darker browns. It’ll be trial and error but I would like to find a way to incorporate it. Certain shades last better throughout the day than others but overall I like the palette and I’m glad I picked it up.

Standout shades: Champagne Toast, Pancakes Please, Cinnamon Sugar, Mimosa, Maple Syrup and Americano.

Swatches:

Left hand side, top to bottom: Champagne Toast, Pancakes Please, French Toast, Skinny Latte, Cinnamon Sugar and Mimosa.

Right hand side, top to bottom: Maple Syrup. Sundae Funday, Sunny Side Up, Americano, Brunch Club and Extra Slice.

Sol Palette

The Sol palette is one I have lusted over since I first saw Rachael showcase it on her blog. The warm bright oranges and reds are completely different to anything else I own but the colours are surprisingly easy to wear and create looks with. The palette used to come in white packaging but it has since changed to fit with the theme of Colourpop’s other monochromatic palettes.

This palette would make a great one for travel, it has a mixture of mattes and shimmers and isn’t bulky. You can create neutral everyday looks with the mattes or add a touch of shimmer for some evening glam. If you want a pop of colour, this palette delivers in spades! The mattes in the Sol palette (New Digs, Dynamite, OOO and Unwind) are easier to work with than the darker mattes in Zoella’s Brunch Date palette. The bronzes in both palettes are similar but I prefer the one in Zoe’s palette slightly more, Hotel is more orange and Cinnamon Sugar is more golden-bronze. A few shades in this palette also have a pink tinge depending what they are paired with. Anthem and B+B have hints of rose gold and Motel is a stunning coral pink-red. Sol does have the edge over Brunch Date in regards to how well the shadows last throughout the day.

Standout Shades: Anthem, Dynamite, B+B and Floaties.

Swatches:

Top to bottom: New Digs, Anthem, Dynamite, Hotel, Motel, B+B, Floaties, OOO, and Unwind.

Super Shock Shadow – Slave2Pink

Before I made the Colourpop order I posted an Instagram story asking for product suggestions and one of them was the Super Shock Shadows. I have seen these on a number of blogs but never in the shade I purchased. Fuchsia lipstick is my absolute favourite and I thought, why not buy an eyeshadow to match? I stepped out of my comfort zone with colour for this order as I wanted to experiment.

The shimmer and pigmentation of Slave2Pink is gorgeous. The texture is soft and bouncy and this shade works best by applying a light wash of the shadow with a dense shading brush then layering and topping up the colour with my finger. The colour is vibrant (the photo above captures the shimmer effect perfectly) but there’s very little fallout and the lasting power is superb! This colour does stain the eyelids but it’s nothing Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm can’t fix. The glitter and shimmer doesn’t feel scratchy or irritate my eyes – the texture of the shadow itself is smooth. I’m planning a post dedicated to using this eyeshadow for a themed makeup look soon.

Swatch:

This is only a light swatch as I didn’t want to stain my arm.

Where The Light Is Super Shock Shadow Set

Last up is this set I purchased as a gift so I can’t review it. The colours are up my alley but I have enough shades similar to these. I decided to buy the set for a friend who hadn’t tried Colourpop before either.

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I have a second part to this post coming to showcase some looks I have created with the Brunch Date and Sol palettes next week.

What Colourpop products have you tried? Have you got any on your wishlist?

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What I’ve Been Reading – Autumn

I am three quarters of the way through my challenge to read 50 books by the beginning of September 2018. At the end of my previous update I was feeling a little disheartened because I should have been halfway through my target of 50 books and I wasn’t. I have picked things up and have made significant progress the past three months and I may be back on track to meet the target!

NB: Items marked with * are ebooks so I wasn’t able to photograph the cover images myself.

#1. Girl Online – Zoe Sugg

I do subscribe to Zoe on YouTube and was curious to see what her books are like. I commend Zoe for knowing her audience and what would be an appropriate book. The topics in this story are very relatable, even to me at age 23 despite the book being a little thin on plot. The social media aspects are relevant and the book confronts trolling and online hate. I don’t feel the need to read the other two books in the series. I don’t feel I’m missing out by not reading them.

#2. Taken At the Flood – Agatha Christie

This was the least action packed Poirot mystery of the ones I have read so far but the last 40 pages were really exciting and the ending surprised me. The way Agatha Christie writes is simple but she creates twists and turns that the reader doesn’t often expect until you think back over everything and realise it all makes sense. I love reading these mysteries and I’m looking forward to my next one!

#3. A Whole Lot of History – Kimberley Walsh

I haven’t read a musical biography in the longest time and this book reminded me why I love them so much. Not only do you learn about the people behind the songs and their personal stories you are told anecdotes about the songs themselves and given a small insight into the music industry. This book showed how lovely Kimberley is and I learnt more about different aspects of her personality. She was frank and honest but never in a nasty, judgemental way.

#4. The F Word – Lily Pebbles

First of all I want to defend Lily and stick up for her. Some of the reviews on GoodReads state that this book is like a diary and isn’t well written. The cover does say “A personal exploration of modern female friendship” so of course Lily is going to talk about herself and her friendships. I like that she gives examples of things that have gone well and haven’t gone so well in friendships. I did get a sense of Lily reading this book, it feels like you’re having a catch up with her and everything comes across naturally. One of my favourite parts was trying to identify which friend type I am, for example,  the older sister friend, the realist or the work wife, to name a few. The main lesson I took away from this book is to look carefully at myself as a friend and analyse how I can be a better friend.

#5. The Mysterious Affair At Styles* – Agatha Christie

This is the very first novel in which Hercule Poirot is introduced. Out of the Agatha Christie books I’ve read this is one of my favourites. The story is gripping, simple and classic. Death by poisioning, check. Whole host of suspects staying in a fancy manor house, check. Adulterous affairs, check. I finished it in two days. I like how the story is told from Hastings’ viewpoint, it really sets up the relationship between him and Poirot for future novels.

#6. A Talent For Murder – Andrew Wilson

It wasn’t until I picked up this book that I notice I don’t read as many books written by male authors as female. There’s no reason behind that and I really enjoyed this book. The plot centres around the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie in December 1926. The author comes up with a fictional scenario as to what happened (the sentence on the cover gives you a good idea) as the mystery has never been solved. A good read and I am looking forward to the follow up called ‘A Different Kind of Evil.’

#7. Murder On the Orient Express* – Agatha Christie

This is without a doubt one of Agatha’s most famous stories and a few movies and TV specials have been made based on this story. I have seen the 2017 film, the 2010 Poirot episode and now read the book so I know the story well. I found the book the most enjoyable and the least confusing, if you know the ending you might understand why but I won’t spoil it if you don’t.  I’ve got yet more Poirot mysteries lined up to read – I really love them!

#8. Peril At End House* – Agatha Christie

This is one of Agatha Christie’s earlier Poirot novels, #8 in the series. This mystery is also told from Hastings’ point of view. I found this particular Poirot story very clever in the way it played out. I realised what was happening at the end and it really reinforces how talented Agatha Christie is with deception. I have been reading most of the Poirot stories in this seasonal update as ebooks and it’s really convenient, I have the books on my phone and my iPad so I can read wherever I am.

#9. Finding Your Path – A Guide To Life & Happiness After School – Amba Brown

I am thankful this book was only 100 pages. I didn’t find it useful and even though I’m not a recent school leaver I thought I could get something from it. I did like the graphic illustrations and the quotes!

#10. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd* – Agatha Christie

This is one of Agatha Christie’s most popular novels which I think is because of the ending and how Poirot solves the case. In 2013, The British Crime Writers’ Association voted it the best crime novel ever. I have seen the television adaptation of this novel which I recall I found more exciting than the novel. This isn’t one of my favourite Agatha Christie books if I’m being honest. I’m not sure if knowing the ending before reading skewed my perception of the story. I had seen Murder On the Orient Express before reading it and I enjoyed reading that as much as watching it. Despite that, the ending of Roger Ackroyd  is really clever even if you know the story.

#11. And Then There Were None* – Agatha Christie

This is Agatha Christie’s bestselling novel and one of the world’s bestselling mysteries and books of all time. I remember the television adaption of this story and it is written so well and keeps the reader guessing right until the very end. The story is not predictable and there is even an epilogue which explains how all the murders were done. If you like mystery stories and haven’t read this one, I highly recommend it.

#12. Doing It! Let’s Talk About Sex – Hannah Witton

I don’t remember how I stumbled across Hannah on YouTube but I have watched a small number of her videos and have always found her content to be helpful and informative. When I saw Angela (The Life of Angela) talk about this book on her blog I knew I wanted to read it too. I don’t know what I was expecting but I thought there would be more of Hannah’s personal stories. Yes, she probably shares those on YouTube but if you aren’t aware she makes videos you won’t get that information. Not a bad read but not groundbreaking.

#13. Afternoon Tea At the Sunflower Cafe – Milly Johnson

I started reading this book, I got a third of the way through and I put it down and came back to it. I did try to implement my 100 page rule; if I don’t like a book, move on to the next one but the fact I got to page 210 urged me to pick it back up and keep going. When I did pick up the book again I hadn’t forgotten the story and it was refreshing to read something lighthearted after a number of mysteries and a few non-fiction offerings. I’m glad I went back to this book, the story was slow to start but I was satisfied with the ending and I may look into other books from this author.

#14. Letters From Lighthouse Cottage – Ali McNamara

I love the cover of this book so much and the story was just as good! The story takes place over the course of 30 years and is split into parts. Grace (the main character) helped her parents with their antiques business and found a typewriter one day which she keeps. The typewriter adds a whimsical element to the story as it writes her letters and gives her advice throughout stages of her life. Grace goes off to university, travels and gets married but begins to realise that home is where the heart is.

#15. Break-ups & Breakthroughs – Lisa Messenger

This book only took me a day to read and the imagery inside is beautiful, the pages are full of cute designs and inspirational quotes. Lisa shares 50 tips to help people going through a breakup and I found myself identifying with some of the things she was saying and one of the biggest lessons I took from this book is that it’s ok to be sad for a while. You will start to feel better in time and feel like finding love again.

#16. Appointment With Death – Agatha Christie

This mystery started off a little slow but in true Agatha Christie form kept me guessing all the way through. I didn’t have any idea who the murderer was until that person was revealed by Poirot. Not one of my favourite Poirot mysteries but still not a bad read.

Unfinished:

There were no unfinished books this season. Each one I started I finished!

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Books finished in autumn = 16.

Total number of books read = 32.

Other posts in the series:

• New Series: What I’ve Been Reading
• What I’ve Been Reading – Spring
• What I’ve Been Reading – Summer

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Have you read any of the books mentioned in this post?

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