SOTW: The Pull

The Pull // Now, Now

Rose Passion

From Rimmels Lasting Finish line, Rose Passion is a really pretty raspberry red. This is a really good colour for my pale complexion- I find the orangey reds looks a little off on me. I find reds to be hard to apply neatly, so I use my Real Techniques Detailer brush and apply a light layer of this to my lips and it lasts really well. This gives more of a stain, so it wears better throughout the day and doesnt come off as you talk, sip a drink, etc. This is probably my favourite red shade I have and actually have the guts to wear. Plus finding it on sale for $2.50 makes it even better! 

Haunted Heart

top - Forever 21 // shorts - Garage // flats - Ardene // sunglasses - Surf n Sport

This Week Im Loving.. #12

This has been a busy week so I havent been doing been doing anything intersting with my makeup really, hence why theres nothing all too exciting this week. Ive been using my trusty Annabelle Eyeshadow in Cloud as an all over colour a lot this week. Its a beautiful champagney shimmer, and as you can tell by the amount I have left, I really do like this colour. Ive been applying that with a Sigma E60 Flat Shader brush, which is really great because it applies the colour to my whole lid easily. I dont use this brush too much but I think im going to start to now. A slightly boring thing, but I picked up the Sephora Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner just a few days ago and it has made my life a lot easier. Im really bad at brush cleaning. I need to invest in more than one of each brush, but a cheaper alternative is a daily cleanser. Just a few spritz's of this and then swirled onto a tissue and majority of product residue is removed, allowing use for another colour, or just a quick clean for use the next day. It has a nice smell also which makes it nice to use. 

SOTW: Breaking My Bones

Breaking My Bones // From Indian Lakes

Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser

Dark under eyes are the bane of my existence. Ive had them since I was a kid so im used to them being there, but with the lack of sleep I get, they can make me look like I have black eyes. Ive been trying to find a really good under eye concealer for a while and so many people have only good things to say about the Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser, so had to try it.

I like the twist up packaging because it ensures you use up all the product, rather than having to cut it open when you cant scrape it out with the applicator anymore, or throw away probably a quarter of the product. The consistency is light, unlike say Benefits Erase Paste, which is thicker and creamy and ends up creasing because of this. This has very minimal creasing, and covers pretty well.  I got the shade light which is a perfect match to my skin, but I wish id gotten fair as it would offer more of a brightening effect to the eyes. This is of course my own fault, I just wasnt sure it was going to end up being too light and be unwearable. I do like the coverage it gives. I wouldnt say it "erases" my dark circles but it definitely makes me look more alive. I like to apply a little bit of my Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Hilighting concealer over it to brighten the area a little bit, and the combination has been workng well for me. If you have an under eye darkness problem, I would say this a pretty good affordable option for you. 

Prehistoric

dress// H&M

I havent done an outfit post in months and I miss them, so I thought id do one for you today. I got this dress about five years ago so you wont be able to find it, but I just love the print and colours. Also, I gave myself a full bang the other day and im still trying to get used to it. I forgot to get a shot of the sheos but they were just black flats. 

This Week Im Loving.. #11

Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser
Ive been trying this out for a week or so. Im liking it so far. It covers pretty well but the colour could have been a bit lighter so for. Post coming on this.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barely Branded
This is just a really easy all over the lid champagney colour. Ssmetimes ill use it with a brown shadow or even tough as taupe on the outer portion of the lid for more definition. It makes me look more awake and I think everyone needs this colour.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator
I forgot about this mascara because I started using the Maybelline Rocket and loving the fullness that gives, but its a real pain in the ass to get off so I went back to this one and if I want a bit more drama ill layer the other one of top. alone it goves great length and a more natural look to the lashes- it never clumps, but sometimes I just want more oomph.

Marc Jacobs Honey
My mum got me this for my birthday and im in love with it. The scent is fruity and very me. As you may know from other posts I hate the scent of honey so I was surprised I liked this, but its so far down in the scent notes thats you cant really decifer it. Again, post on this coming with all notes and a proper description but definitely my favourite thing lately. If you havent already, go take a sniff of this.

SOTW: Autumn Tree

Autumn Tree // Milo Greene

Empties #10

The Body Shop Shea Sugar Scrub
I loved this stuff. It wasnt one of those oily scrubs, nor is it really abrasive. The shea on it helps to leave the skin feeling soft and smooth. I will be picking this up again soon, maybe in a different scent next time.

Nuxe Micellar Water sample
I got this in a travel set and was really excited to have a mini micellar water to bring with my when I go to my boyfriends, etc. Unfortunately I didnt really get along with this one. Micellar waters are supposed to feel like water, but this leaves a tacky feeling under my eyes and actually kind of burns. When I used it, I would have to rinse my eyes off because it made my skin uncomfortable and tight. The rose scent also wasnt for me.

La Roche-Posay Effeclar Micellar Solution
Another micellar water, but this one I actually like. Its gentle on the skin and doesnt irritate my eyes or leave a sticky feeling on the skin. It removes makeup easily and is an overall great product. Ive already repurchased.

Naturelle Biotera Colour Care Intensive Reconstructor
I got this forever ago for a mere $2.99 in a beauty supply. Id never heard of the brand but thought for the price I couldnt go wrong. I dont know why I stopped using this, it is a nice 5 minute conditioning mask that helps to repair and protect the hair, aswell as prolong colour. It smells lovely and leaves the hair silky soft. I was on a mission to use it up but im kinda sad that I did because it was really nice to use.

Matrix Keratin Dose Shampoo and Conditioner Samples
Ive never been a fan of matrix shampoos on my hair but this one I actually got nice results from. It made my hair feel suoer soft and hydrated and I probably will eventually purchase when I use up some of the shampoos I have.

Alpen Jasmine Bath Salts
I uses another box of these bath salts. Nothing amazing really. It makes the bath smell nice but I cant say they do anything.

St Ives Mini 24-Hour Body Lotion
I was using this as a hand cream and it was a great little product. It isnt greasy and absorbs really quick, which was good for applications between clients at work. The shea butter and almond oil leave the skin soft and is a nice subtle scent.

Abonne samples
Nothing much to say about these I just wanted to use them up rather then throw them away. The eye cream was creamy, and  nice to apply but I prefer my This Works. Moisturiser wasnt that great and the toner I got about 2 uses out of so what can you say about that. The mask felt very tight on ther skin and uncomfortable to the fact I couldnt even keep it on the full 5 minutes. It was also hard to remove, especially those little exfoliating beads.

Tresemme Straightening Gel 
Nothing to say about this. Im getting rid of my old drugstore haor products because I dont plan on ever using them and theyre kinda old too.

Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil
This claims to be 100% pure argan oil but it comes out sticky and can actually lather in my hands(!?) which I dont quite understand. It never felt like it did anything to my hair and was just adding product for no reason. Time to throw it out, dont buy this.

Lipsmackers Ice Creamies
Ive had this a long long time and keep forgetting to add it in my empties posts. This didnt last long but it smelt good- like cookie dough- and was smooth on the lips.

SOTW: Wings

Wings // Birdy

Battle of the Foundation Brushes

When it comes to applying your base, brushes play a big part in the impsct the foundation is going to have. On a lazy day ill just apply a BB cream with my fingers, but ive found that brushes work better at giving a flawless coverage to the skin. Ive been using the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki for years and absolutely love it. Its dense, soft bristles make application super easy and fault proof. Ive never had a problem with this brush, although because of its density it can be a pain when it comes time for its cleaning. 

A new favourite, as ive talked about a few times already, is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. This brush is rounded and fluffier than Sigmas, and also not as dense. Its shape makes applying in areas such as the sides of the nose, chin, etc a lot easier and blends foundation in super quick. However I do find that it gives a lighter, more skin like coverage to the skin. I have been using this one only the past few weeks and while I do like the look it gives my skin, I think I might prefer the Sigma brush. Also, the buffing brush is not sold on its on, which is a bit annoying although the price point for four good quality brushes is a steal. 

What is your opinion on these brushes and whats favourite foundation brush? Id love to hear back.

Pre-Birthday Pamper

 

Today is my 21st birthday! Since I was off yesterday I decided to give myself a pre-birthday pamper so when I woke up today id feel clean and refreshed.

Beginning with running the bath, I aqueezed a bit of the Bath and Body Works Mignight Pomegranite Bubble Bath into the water to create an amazing smelling, bubbly filled bathtub.While I waited for the bath to fill up, I removed my makeup with Avons Moisture Effective Makeup Remover Lotion, followed by La Roche-Posay Effeclar Purifying Micellar Water to remove any leftover makeup around the eyes as well as foundation. I then cleansed with the Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel and applied Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask for some hydration and into the bath I went.

Between reading on my ipad, I exfoliated with The Body Shop Shea Butter Sugar Scrub and washed away the day with Fruits and Passion Pear Peony Shower Gel. After a good soak, I removed my mask and moisturized with the Fruits and Passion Pear Peony Quenching Butter, which smells devine and leaves the skin feeling soft.

I forgot while in the bath so I then used my pumice stone on my feet to make sure they were nice and smooth. This may not be the nicest thing to talk about but is important for me as I stand alot of the day for my job. After drying my feet and getting in my comfy pajamas , I removed my polish from my toes and went in with Sally Hansens Complete Salon Manicure in Dorien Grey, and Essie Ballet Slippers on my hands. To moisturise those babies, I used Curels Foot Therapy cream and threw on some socks to lock in the moisture. For my hands, Soap and Glory Hand Food. Lastly, I lit a candle and relaxed with a tv show catch up and some youtube videos.

This Week Im Loving.. #10

Ive come to the end of my beloved Revlon Photoready foundation -sob- and have been using Revlon Nearly Naked in its place.The coverage is lighter than Photoready and the colour, although the bottle on both says vanilla, is slightly darker than my skin tone where the other matches perfectly.I have been making it work though. I apply with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush which im still loving for application.
On the eyes ive been using an Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow duo that ive had forever.There is no name on it so I have no idea what its called, but the two shades are beautiful together and im sure you can find similar colours. A peachy champagne and a dark brown, both with shimmer, that make the eyes really pop and just look..wow. I cant help but grab this everyday and ill be sad when its used up as im sure you cant get it anymore.
Lastly is a perfume that ive had for a while but rarely use, Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb. It was an impulse buy- I smelt it and just decided to get it. Probably mainly because everyone always talks about it, but after having it for a few days I wasnt completely sold on it. Its different to the scents I usually wear. I cant stand to see it go unused as it was quite expensive so ive been wearing it everyday this week and starting to really like it. Its pretty potent though so I only use one spritz and can smell it on myself throughout the whole day.

July Favourites

Ive been using a new shampoo, BedHead Urban Antidotes Level 1 Re-Energize shampoo.  It is designed for everyday use on 'normal hair in need of a pick me up'. It makes my hair feel really clean even after only one wash, and has a nice fresh scent. Another BedHead product is the Tigi Catwalk Curlesque Curls Rock Amplifier, a cream product used to enhance curl or wave. Ive been leaving my hair natural majority of the month, which is something I never used to do if I knew id be leaving the house. This has been my hair saviour. It tames my poof ball har, keeping it frizz free while helping my maintain a nice shape. about half a pump scrunched through the hair and im good to go. Easy, fuss free hair. Its been nice to not have to break out the straightener every morning, except for my bangs. To keep those in place, Ive been using the L'oreal Elnett hairspray. This is a great hairspray for holsing in place without leaving that crispy, gross feel on to the hair.

Aside from hair products, this was a month of lip products. Although they all are fairly reserved similar colours, thats what ive been liking for summer. Up first is Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss. This is a great product for me to just throw on as im on the go. It gives the slightest peachy tint to the lips, but makes them feel super smooth and fins myself rubbing my lips together a lot when I have it on. The other two are pinky shades. Rimmel Airy Fairy is a nice pinky nude thats easy to wear. I dont usually go for the pinky shades but this is a good colour for my skintone and is a professional, work appropriate  colour. Second is Maybelline Colour Whisper in Lust For Blush. These lipsticks are fantastic. They feel like a balm but give a nice 'whisper' of colour. Spot on with the name there Maybelline. This has been my most used colour as its really easy to throw on and not have to think about and looks good with everything.

Ive finally found my beloved Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel. Ive been using a Murad cleanser in the meantime but it while it leaves me feeling soft, it doesnt feel like its doing a whole lot of cleaning. The simple one however, makes my skin feel clean but without that stripped and tight feeling. My skin is a lot happier since using this again.