The Photo Diaries #1: Christmas Week

What I got for Christmas & What I bought in the Boxing Day Sales!

As you may know for all of us who celebrate, Christmas was during this past week and I've had a lot of fun. I'm going to show you what I got for Christmas (not being braggy but I do love these posts, it's really fun seeing what other people got!) and also what I bought in the Boxing Day sales, although it's more the "after Christmas for a whole week sales" these days. 

 

I got a coffee machine because I drink a lot of coffee and spending $30-$50 a fortnight on coffee is a bit ridiculous so Mumma got me this one! It tastes pretty good and she also got me a mug which is the cutest thing ever. The present I was the most surprised about was when my sister handed me a present so I started opening it and I saw the word *BENEFIT* and I kind of shouted "what the hell?" and very quickly opened the rest and saw she got me the feelin' dandy lip and cheek kit thing. I honestly didn't think she would get me anything like this and I was so happy and grateful, I love Benefit so getting to test out highbeam, benetint, dandelion blush and lipgloss made me so happy. She also got me the Essence Beauty Beats Blush (yes, the Justin BIeber one) which is really pigmented, a bit too pigmented but if I'm careful with it I really like it! She also got me a box of roses (which I kind of ignored for a while because it was in the package with the Feelin' Dandy box.) My other sister got me a mirror for my room so that I can do my make up in there so that I don't have to brave the hot bathroom, it's really good and I like the way it looks in my room. The last thing I received was the Real Techniques Eye Set thing, which I was surprised about too! I haven't used them yet because it's been a bit hot for make up but they feel really nice. We also get the Cadbury stocking thing every year, which is nice but they changed a lot of the chocolates this year so it wasn't as nice! (I'm not a fan of the creations line and it has that in it.)  My Grandparents gave me $50 for Christmas as well so I could use it on Boxing Day. 

(The mug I got for my coffee.)

I went out on Boxing Day just to our local shops and there was actually hardly anybody there! I was really surprised. I didn't take a picture of what I bought but I bought the L'Oreal Youth Code Eye Cream and the Simple Age Resisting Day Cream which also has SPF in it which I'm happy about. I was going to go to the city on Boxing Day but when Priceline were having their 40% Cosmetics sale, I almost had a panic attack being so close and crowded to all those people. I left the store shaking so I thought I might as well just leave it and go to the local one and skip Myer & Target for a few days. 

Today I went into the city because I needed to go to Mecca Maxima, Myer, Target and Priceline and it was a pretty good day, there wasn't too many people there so I could look around without feeling like I'm in anybodies way. 

I went into Priceline looking for the TRESemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner (they were both sold out at my local Priceline!) and there was only one of each left so I was really happy that I got there when I did! I tried my sisters bottle of these and they make my hair less frizzy and are great, so I had to get them for myself. I also bought the Biore Blemish Clearing Scrub and also the Ice Cleanser. All skincare is 40% off for the past few days so I bought these because I was running out of my normal face scrub and wanted to try something different. 

I made one more purchase today. It was a big one. Especially in Australia, it was a BIG one. 

I got the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and Powder. The lady who worked there was so nice and helped me with my colour and explained everything in detail which I really enjoyed. I had 20% off pretty much anything at Myer so I used it on this MAC purchase and I'm really glad I did. I got both of them for $80 which is pretty good because I don't remember the last time MAC has ever had a sale by themselves without the Myer Christmas Voucher. 

All-in-all, I spent a bit of money but I feel like I saved a lot of money by getting everything with a percentage off. I really enjoyed Christmas this year and being able to browse the shops without any anxiety, although there was a bit of sweat because it has been hot. 

If you've made your own post about what you got for Christmas or what you've been getting in the sales recently, link them below or just tell me in a comment! 

I hope you've all had a wonderful holiday season! 

Paw Paw Lip Balm Review | December 11th

My mum bought me this lip balm a week or two ago because the weather was acting crazy and it was quite cold at nights last week so my lips were confused and chapped. It's not cold any more. The cold has gone. Forever. (Until probably March or April.) I had to get a new one because my Nivea one ran away. I don't know where it went. 

First thing about this lip balm I fell in love with was the smell. It smells so delicious. There are these lollies by Starburst and it smells like those but a little more natural than that. I guess it smells like paw paw but I don't really associate with paw paw that much. Or ever. Aside from the smell this did wonders for my lips. They were smooth within a day of first using it. It's also really good because it's a natural balm, which is usually better for you, or so I've heard. Another thing I think would look really nice is if you applied a matte lipstick onto your lips and then put this over the top I think it'd look really nice because it has a "hint of gloss." Your lips would also appreciate the layer of moisture. 

Overall this lip balm is great. I wish they had a body wash with this scent as well because oh my, I would die for it. Sometimes I sit here and sniff it. I probably sound like a complete whack job right now but it smells great. Also it's an Australian company so, feeding the economy of the country that I recently became a citizen of is probably a plus. 

What lip balms have you recently tried and fell in love with?

Two New Obsessions | December 10th

Time is going really fast and it never really occurred to me how much actually goes into daily blog posts. I mean I know you gotta have an idea but this is my 10th blog post and I'm starting to talk about my obsessions and less beauty-related-stuff. I will have more beauty posts but I think I will do beauty every second day while I'm posting everyday because my brain isn't a never ending source of beauty reviews and hauls and tricks and tips. Although I will do an everyday make up post thing soon when I wax my eyebrows. 

But anyway, my two new found obsessions are Jelly Splash (By obsession I mean I'm on level 70 and I started playing 4 days ago), I also have fallen in love with Scandal. I'm a  bit late on that band wagon but man. It's pretty good. Although I really hate Cyrus and what makes it worse is he won't go and adopt a baby with his boyfriend/husband/I'mNotSure. HE WANTS A BABY, GIVE IT TO HIM DAMMIT. 

In regards to Sephora stopping parcel forwarding, I don't understand their reasoning. Honestly, just ship to Australia. They'd make a lot of money from us. Stopping international buyers is a really poor business decision in my eyes. 

What are you obsessing about at the moment?

Maybelline Super Stay Concealer & Powder | Review | December 9th

A while ago I purchased the Maybelline Super Stay Concealer and Powder. I didn't bother with the liquid because it doesn't have a pump. It's 2013, you'd think all liquid foundations would have pumps by now. This is a relatively new collection in Priceline so I thought I would give it a go. The whole "waterproof" label is what made me want to buy it especially for the summer. As you know, I live in Queensland, Australia, it gets so humid and hot - sometimes it feels like my face is raining sweat. So I thought I would give this a try so here is my review on it.

The concealer costed $14.95 and the powder costed $18.95. These are just standard prices here but I do think the concealer is in weird packaging. 

 

The concealer is very thick, the picture above is just me slightly dabbing the product onto my hand. It's too thick in my opinion, especially because the tiniest bit when I try to blend it it kind of gets all over a really large area of my face and if I don't blend it all around it just kind of won't blend. As it thins the colour gets really light and it's way too light for my face, although on my hand it looked pretty similar to my foundation. 

I don't like it, it's too thick and it doesn't cover blemishes for very long at all. 

 

I really don't like this powder. This is a bit of a negative post but I feel like I tell you guys what you should buy so I think I should do one of something you should not buy. This powder feels actually really nice if you just rub your finger in it. So if you were buying a powder because it has a pleasant texture for your finger then this one is a good one. After a while after I've applied this all over my face it starts to look like you've only applied it in certain spots and it becomes an orangey colour as well after a while. I don't like it and neither of these two products are waterproof at all. They're just kind of thick and clay-like which I really do not like.

So that's my opinion on these two products - Have you tried them and did you have a different experience than I did with them? 

My Favourite Thing About Christmas | December 8th

This is just a quick post so that I can begin my week with a refreshed brain and lots of post ideas. My favourite thing about Christmas is honestly the Candy Canes, if I could just live off of Candy Canes I probably would. They are delicious sticks of goodness.

Benefit the Porefessional Primer | December 7th

 

As I've said in previous posts I won two Benefit products from the Two Truths and a Lie Facebook game competition and the second product was the Porefessional Primer.

Honestly, I would never spend this much money on a primer not matter how good it is. I don't care how good it is, I ain't ever repurchasing this stuff. I mean, it's $53 where I live. 
This is the way my brain works in regards to make up purchases
Eyeshadow Palettes? Yes I can spend over $50 no problem thank you
Blushes? Yes I can spend $45 for that NARS blush when I've saved up for it that makes sense
Primer - NO WAY YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE IT

So that's a little glimpse at my thought process. I will admit, I do really like this primer and it does make my foundation look a bit nicer and also stay a bit longer. My pores aren't as noticeable which is really nice as well so it does what it's supposed to and it does it well. I'm just not a fan of the price tag, that's my only problem with it. It reminds me a bit of my Bourjois Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer. The Bourjois one is a little bit harder to spread  because it's more of a gel thing than a liquid but they do similar things to my face.

So that's my review. If you have $53 to spend on a primer I would recommend it, if you don't go for the Bourjois one. 

Half-Price Models Prefer Brushes | December 6th

 

Okay guys, I honestly cannot believe it's December 6th. I know the year has gone fast and we've all been saying it.. BUT IT'S DECEMBER 6TH. Aside from the fact that it feels like my life is going at the speed of light and I can't slow it down... Priceline is having half off of the entire Models Prefer range. I had one Models Prefer eye shadow brush which I really enjoyed so I was like, it's half off why not? 

Extra Large allover brush - MPP103
I lost my powder brush months ago and to be quite honest I was using a really small blush brush. I really wanted a giant brush that I could use to just powder my face really quickly and efficiently and this brush does that. I bought it yesterday and used it today but it's really nice and I quite enjoy it.
Full Price - $24.99

Airbrush Foundation Brush - MPA101
I needed a new foundation brush because I've been using a really cheap one that's kind of falling apart. To be honest I've been lusting after the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush but it's sold out everywhere.. so I settled, but this brush actually is really nice. 
Full Price - $16.99

Round Smude/Crease Brush - MP23
I just wanted a crease brush but I haven't used it yet because I bought it today. So we'll see how it goes. 
Full Price - $11.99

I'm probably going to go back for the contour brush and maybe a new blush brush.. and also a new blush. Are you taking advantage of the half off models prefer range? 

Favourite Television Shows of 2013 | December 5th

I don't have a beauty post for you today because I haven't had the time to take pictures and I've been a bit frustrated with my photos because they're taken with an iPhone and I don't know how to make them look better and the iPhone lets in too much light into the lens and it distorts the colour which makes me annoyed. So, I will be doing a review tomorrow I just need to get myself sorted a little bit.

I thought I would do a little post about shows that I have been loving over 2013. They didn't necessarily start in 2013 but they are current shows.

Pretty Little Liars
I love Pretty Little Liars. I started watching it this year and I've been completely hooked from the first episode. It does get repetitive but it's okay I love it anyway.

Nashville
This is one I recently started watching - as in at the end of November recently - but I am so hooked on it. It's not a show for everybody because it's essentially about country singers and their lives when they're famous or when they're trying to get recognition by the industry but I really like it.

The X Factor US
I am a huge sucker for the X Factor US. I never really liked the Australian version because I feel like the judges are annoying as hell but the US version, I can't get enough of. Although, I will say, they're eliminating my favourites every week and I'm really starting to get irritated about that.

My Mad Fat Diary
This is a British show which is only 10 episodes long for the first season I'm pretty sure but I loved it. It's about a girl with depression and some form of binge-eating-disorder-problem, so it's not for everybody but I don't mind a tale about mental illness.

Breaking Bad
Let's just say, I'm still mourning the end of this series. I loved it. I could have kept loving it.

Homeland
I thought I was getting bored of it.. and then season 3... and now I just.. feels.

New Girl
Zooey Deschanel is the cutest thing on earth. I absolutely love this show and I think the new season has gotten even funnier. Although the whole aspect of 4 30 year olds who haven't found love or stable jobs or had children makes me frightened for the future.

Orphan Black
I think season one recently ended but man, this show. You need to see it, really, right now. It's about clones but it's done in such a way that it's intense, sad and sometimes funny so I really enjoy it. I really admire the actress as well, who knew one person could play over 4 characters... at one time.

Modern Family
Modern Family is hilarious. I will never not love it.

And there is one show I don't know how I feel about quite yet..

American Horror Story: Coven
The first two seasons I mean, I liked the first 6 episodes of each season and then it just got really weird and kind of uncomfortable and was a bit nonsensical. I mean aliens, really? But so far Coven has impressed, although it is weird.. and uncomfortable.. I've been enjoying it. But we've hit the 6ish episode mark of the season so who knows where it could go from here?

I have a tv problem, I know, but I love it so much and I was only studying 3 days a week for most of the year.

What are your favourite tv shows of 2013?

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award | December 4th

Thank you to thatgracegirl who has nominated me for the 'Very Inspiring Blogger' award, she has a lovely blog which you should check out! For this you need to state facts about yourself and then tag 10 people who you think is an inspiring blogger (I probably won't tag that many people).

1. I've had an extreme case of addiction to vloggers on youtube since I was 11. I used to wait an hour for a 50 second video because we had dial-up.


2. I've been playing the Sims games since I was 9, it was one of the first things I ever did on a computer. I used to wake up at 4am so I could play for 4 hours before school started.


3. I was born in New Zealand but recently became an Australian citizen although I lived in Australia for half of my life and New Zealand the other half.


4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson is one of my favourite books and I got to meet one of the authors David Levithan when I was 16 and it kind of made my whole year.


5. I get sad every Christmas because it always dawns on me that we're not going to have a white Christmas we're going to have a heat wave for a Christmas.


6. I spent more time in the library during High School than I did in class.. (I went to one of those "modern" schools and we were basically allowed to do whatever we wanted..)


7. I start university in February 2014 and I couldn't be more excited!

The people I nominate are:

Eat Read Glam

Tried and Tested Blog

Lemon Mel

(A few of the other people I wanted to tag have already done it so that will be it for now I hope you have a great 4th of December!)

Benefits They're Real! Mascara | Review| December 3rd

 

Last month I was a runner up in Benefits Facebook game '2 truths and a lie' competition. I won the Porefessional Primer and They're Real! Mascara. This post is my review of They're Real! which I have never tried before simply due to pricing but I would probably repurchase when it runs out.

I actually really enjoy the packaging of Benefit products as well, there is plenty to read and they look really nice. This mascara has been the most raved about mascara I've ever known about to be quite honest (besides the falsies but I feel like the falsies is... not great).

 

This is what the mascara looks like on my lashes and I absolutely love it. It has a completely different effect than my other mascaras on my lashes and it makes them look so long! It's not the most voluminous mascara in the entire world but everyone has their issues. It's quite a.. wet mascara though so sometimes it does get on the top of your lids so you just have to be a bit careful about that. The product also doesn't seem to dry and crack (you know when it starts falling off your lashes) but after application my lashes look the same throughout the day and don't lose their curl. The thing I will say I don't like is that when you put it on your bottom lashes I feel like it makes them look a little bit sad so I just don't use it for my lower lashes which I'm fine with.

Overall I think this mascara is fantastic. It's a great product itself (which is the most important part!) but it also has really nice packaging 

Children & University | December 2nd 2013

Today is a non-beauty related post because I still want to blog everyday but today I have been quite preoccupied. One of my friends has gone into labour. Which, I think, terrifies me more than it terrifies her. She seems so calm and collected about everything and I don't know how she can cope with it! The baby should be here at some point tonight which is very exciting so I'm going to bed early so I can meet her baby tomorrow hopefully. It's so strange how seemingly quick it is for somebody to create life and then bring it into the world. My sister is pregnant too so I'm going to be surrounded by baby girls come February but it's so scary. It's a human being that you have to create and then help raise into the kind of human being that people appreciate and love who is nice and caring to everyone. It's so terrifying to me and I'm not pregnant haha. 

Another exciting thing that happens in life is University. For me - University has been something I've been striving for since I was 13. It hasn't been easy or "traditional" for me because I've had a few troubles throughout my adolescent. I refused to go to school for a few years because of depression - which I'm not ashamed of any more because it's a part of me and it's something that I can now deal with. It's also something I could never control and it's like any other disease, you gotta treat it! - and when I went back I was really far behind so I ended up going to TAFE after high school which was a lot of fun but I'm graduating now and I get to do the whole "university" thang. I think I'm lucky because things could have never gotten better for me, I mean I worked for it I really did but I'm so excited to get far into life because I didn't think I would ever turn 19. I'm studying the Bachelor of Law/the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice as a double degree and I'm so excited. I absolutely love learning. It's a five year degree but I'm going to plan on travelling every summer and then working my butt off during the school semesters. I'm also excited about meeting a whole lot of new people that want to do the same thing I do.

So this is my ranty-personal post-thing where I shared a lot probably too much but.. I'm tired, I've been waiting for a child to be born all day!

What are you excited for?

 

Lipstick Favourites | Maybelline & L'oreal | December 1st

So it's 8:01pm on December 1st 2013 and I have no idea where my year has gone. When/if I have children they'll ask me what it was like when I was 19 and I'll say I have no idea because the year went way too quickly! So my plans for this December is to post everyday until the 1st of January. I want to do this to keep my mind occupied while I'm not studying and also help me write reviews a lot better. I'm used to writing fiction and I would classify a blog as non-fiction so it's a bit of a change but I am really enjoying it so far and have talked to a few lovely people in my short blogging time. I will also be reviewing Benefits They're Real! Mascara and the Porefessional Primer, which I won in the 2 truths and a lie competition and I'm very excited about. 

So I'm going to be reviewing the two lipsticks I have been wearing the most over the spring and will continue to wear over the summer.

 

Top - L'Oreal Colour Riche Intense in Pink Passion
Bottom - Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipcolor in Coral Pop

Out of the two formulations I think that L'Oreals comes out on top. It feels really nice on the lips and isn't drying. Both colours are absolutely fantastic although I will say... when I purchased Pink Passion it looked like more of an orange pink in the store, I don't know if it was the lighting or if I was y'know.. drugged that day (I don't do drugs - stay in school) but it's pink. I love both of these colours, even if I was looking for another orangey colour! The Maybelline one, although the formula isn't as good as the L'Oreal one.. it's cheaper and the colour is fantastic. I think they both stay quite a good amount of time on my lips, especially considering the amount of water I drink. I also am so in love with corals right now and have obtained a few coral lipsticks but the Maybelline one is so pretty!

Overall, I love both of these lipsticks. I love the colours and the way they look. I would recommend them to anyone who likes bright lip colours like I do. 

What have been your favourite lipsticks recently?

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation | Review!

 

If you've been following my blog, I've done a few hauls lately! This is a foundation I bought once my Max Factor Liquid Illusion foundation ran out a while ago. It claims to be a primer, concealer and foundation all in one and has SPF 20. It's in 825 buff beige and costed me $10 although usually retails for $19.95 at Priceline. Covergirl ALWAYS is having a sale at Priceline and even Big W or Target, so you never really need to buy it full price unless you want it ASAP. Just wait a week or two and usually someone is having a sale. Okay, onto the reviewy part of this post! 

I've used a lot of different types of foundations over my 19 years. From L'oreal to Maybelline to Max Factor. I've never really found one that I absolutely fell in love with though, I mean I liked them, but I was always on the hunt for something that I absolutely love and would repurchase. I'm a really indecisive person, so repurchasing the same foundation is actually a big thing for me. I think I'm nearly done this bottle but I can't actually tell.. but I'm going to be repurchasing this.

I live in Queensland so sweat is an inevitable thing that happens. During the winter months, this foundation stays on my face and it looks the same at the end of the day as it does the start of the day. Although during the summer it does come off a little bit but it's better than so many foundations I've used and it doesn't ever look streaky or patchy. I just can notice my freckles a bit more. 

It really does prime and conceal as well. I'm not really a big primer user, I own two but not really on purpose they came in sets but I do use it for eye shadow. I find that with this foundation I'm putting on a lot less concealer on imperfections. Which, sometimes, I can overload my face with concealer when I'm having a bad skin day. I also have dark circles under my eyes and this does really help with that as well. 

Overall, I love this foundation and it when it goes on sale for $10 again (I'm hoping) I'm going to buy two. Considering the price, this is really amazing foundation. I really love it.

Have you tried this foundation and what do you think? 

NP Set Day-to-Night Palette | Review

A few weeks ago now I went to the Gold Coast (I was going to write a blog post about the trip but my mum has been quite sick due to having an emergency operation so I've been a bit busy with that) and at one of the Westfield shopping centres they were having a "spend $80 at any fashion, jewellery or cosmetic retailer and receive an NP set eye-shadow palette free" offer. I didn't purposely spend $80 so I could receive this but my mum did so she let me have it. This palettes RRP is $29 so I was more than ecstatic to get it for free. What I would describe the NP Set brand as is Napoleon Perdis in cheaper packaging. This is my first NP set product and I'm really glad I was able to try it.

Included in the palette is 8 eye shadows, 6 shimmery ones and 2 matte ones and in the middle is a bronzer and a blush.

I swatched the four eye shadows that I tend to like the most which is the golden one, the 2 white ones and the purpley grey one on the right side. They are very pigmented which is what I love about them and there is a great variety to choose from. The thing I will say about the golden kind of one is that is scares the crap out of me. I've never worn it out because it's so... gold. I love the shade - don't get me wrong - but it's scary. I'm more of a natural eyes and bold lips kinda person. But I will wear it outside the house at some point - when I get a little more comfortable with eye shadows! 

The bronzer is really good for people with more pale skin because it's not too brown like a lot of bronzers tend to be. By that I mean I feel like some people who are quite pale when they put bronzer on look like they have dirt on their face. Dirt is not a look that I'm wanting to attempt to try so I found this bronzer worked really well with my skin. The blush is also really nice but I find I don't absolutely love it - it's just okay. 

I would definitely recommend this palette or other eye shadows by NP set. They're an okay price, I wouldn't say it's a complete bargain but I do think because of the quality the $29 price tag is okay. I'm assuming it's cheaper on other countries though. You can pick it up at Big W and Target. 

Have you tried this palette or similar ones in the NP set range? Do you like NP set? 

University Stationery Wishlist! | Typo & Kikki.K

As you may or may not know, next year will be my first year of University. I'm really excited because stationery is one of my favourite things to buy! So I've put together a little wishlist/things I'll buy between now and Feburary when I start! 

The first thing is a yearly wall planner! 
I really like these so that I can write down important dates for things like exams and assignments. It's a lot easier when you can see the entire month so that you know when you should start something and how long you have to do it. Especially because my course is a double degree so I'll have a lot of work to do!
This one costs $24.95 and is a white board. 

2014 A6 Weekly Diary
Just a cute A6 diary that costs $24.95. As you may notice, when it comes to school work organisation is my main priority. As soon as I'm not organised, I freak out. This diary I've seen in there for a while and I think it's really adorable.

A6 Buffalo Journal
At the start of the school year I always buy at least 3 of these! They're good for writing lists down in and are light and easy to carry around. They're also really pretty.

Magazine Holder
I really like to get a magazine holder for each unit that I'm doing so for next year it will be 4 or 5 classes. I use them for extra notes and assessment guides to put on my desk. They're really good for staying organised and on top of your workload! These ones are $12.95 each.

Rainbow Gel Pen 10pk
Pens! Obviously. I like to write all my notes in different colours for different sections so that when I'm looking over my notes for exams and assignments it's more fun and easier to read. I also buy just plain blue black and red pens for exams. 

For notes I just buy Spirax Lecture books and Marbig Display books from Big W to store any loose paper that I need for class. I also just buy a standard 5 pack of highlighters.

So that is my stationery wishlist/buy list thing. There are a few other things I'll pick up as well - I'm a sucker for stationery - but these are the main things on my priority list right now. I'll probably get a few of these for Christmas because they are on the pricey side.

Are you at Uni? Is there anything else I could use to stay organised?
What are you studying? 

Garnier BB Cream oil free | Review!

(Left - No make up
Right - Make up)

As I said in my haul that I posted yesterday I wanted to try a BB cream that I can wear on really hot days when I hate full coverage foundation. I bought the Garnier BB cream for Oily skin (I bought the one for oily skin because I find that BB cream gets quite oily itself so my thought process was "if it's for oily skin - it can't be oily, right?").  I got really bored being at home by myself so I tried it tonight with a few other products just to see the coverage and how it feels.

It's definitely a really lightweight BB cream - it almost feels like there isn't anything on my face. It covers a little bit of redness and spots so if you're a bit self conscious about pimples and things then I don't think it would provide enough coverage. When I'm having a good skin day - I wasn't today - then I think this would be perfect for summer days! I definitely would recommend this BB cream and I am glad I bought the one for oily skin.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it's a little bit runny - when I first opened it I got a bit of a shock when product kinda fell on my pants and inside my christmas mug.

The product retails for around $12 - I bought it from Big W - but I got it on sale for $10. I really do like this product and I will probably be wearing it until the heat subsides.

Other products on my face in the photo
One-by-One Maybelline Mascara in Brown Black (review here)
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Jet Black
Maybelline Color Sensational in Shocking Coral (my favourite right now)
Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in 34 Rose D'or

Mini Haul | Big W & Priceline!

 

Today I went into the shops with the intention of getting the Simple Light Moisturiser.. but I got all of the products shown in the above picture, including the cup. So this is my spring skincare & Christmas haul.

Christmas Mug
A few days ago I saw these giant Christmas mugs in Big W and I just had to have one. It costed $4.97 which is pretty good and it's adorable.

Garnier BB Cream for Oily Skin
I don't actually have oily skin but I tried a BB cream a few weeks ago and it was super oily and I didn't like it so I bought one that is designed for oily skin in the hopes that it would be y'know, less oily. I needed a BB cream because it's getting into the summer time now so it's super hot and I can't stand wearing full coverage foundation in really humid weather. I'll definitely do a review on this product considering I haven't really boarded the BB train yet. It costed me $10 at Big W but usually costs around $12. 

Simple - Kind to Skin - Hydrating Light Moisturiser
I bought this moisturiser just because when I use normal moisturisers my skin doesn't absorb all of it - even when I use a little bit - so I thought I'd try a light one. It usually costs $9.99 but I got it on sale for $8.49.

Simple - Kind to Skin - Soothing Facial Toner
I needed an alcohol-free toner because the one I have really dries my skin out. I got away with using it for a while there but it just hasn't done much good in the long term for my face. I love Simple - I don't think I've ever disliked one of their products before so I thought I'd buy the 50ml Toner for $3.39 on sale but usually it's $3.99. I bought the small sizes of this toner and the eye make up remover just so I can have a try of it. 

Simple - Kind to Skin - Eye Make-Up Remover
My sister has this eye make up remover and I loved it so I bought it because I can't just keep using all of her product. It costed $3.39 on sale but usually it's $3.99 for the small 50ml bottle. 

 

Another thing I noticed at Priceline this week was the infamous Bioderma range! I'm not 100% sure whether or not I'll be buying anything yet - if there is an introductory offer I will but if not I'm not sure. But just posting this so that if you aren't aware, they are starting to sell Bioderma in Australia at Priceline. If I do buy anything it will be the Micellar water though. 

What skincare products have you been loving and are you excited about Christmas? 

One-by-One Mascara Review | Maybelline

So I've been using this mascara non-stop for the past few days now and I love it. It's a great mascara for when I want to add a bit of volume to my lashes and I don't need to apply more than one coat for me to get my desired look. It makes my lashes look long yet doesn't make them feel spidery and weird. So far it hasn't clumped at all since I've been using it. The wand itself is nice and it really does apply the product to your lashes "one by one" as the product suggests.

 This mascara retails for $19.25 at Priceline but there is always sales for Maybelline at Priceline and if there isn't, maybe just wait a catalogue or two! I would definitely recommend this mascara over other Maybelline mascaras like the Falsies!
I would rate this product 8 out of 10. 

What is your favourite Maybelline mascara? 

Nominated for the Liebster award!

I was nominated for the Liebster award by HeyIKnowThatGrace, which was completed unexpected and amazing! The Liebster Blog Award is an award for blogs with under 200 followers, and apparently  Liebster is German for “beloved” and a blog nominated for this award is “worth watching”.

~ The Rules ~

• 1. Recognize the nominator(s).


• 2. Nominate 10 other new bloggers.


• 3. Answer the 10 questions that the nominator asked you.


• 4. Create your own 10 questions.


• 5. Let the nominees know you’ve nominated them.

My answers :)

1. What's your favorite lip colour for autumn?

It might be a sin of beauty but I like bright pinks and oranges all year round.

2. Favorite candle?

I don't really buy candles - I smell them and love and appreciate them in store but I find it hard to buy something that's $40 when all I'm going to be doing with it is.. destroying it. In saying that I like to sniff the candles at Dusk and my favourite is the Mint Mocha Chocolate one but I think it's been discontinued for the summer but I think it will probably come back.

3. What’s your ‘Holy Grail’ skincare product for Autumn/Winter?

Nivea lip balm in Soft Rose. I don't have a lot of skincare products because my skin isn't usually dry or oily it's just normal. I find that less is more for my skin so I just love lip balm because I do get chapped lips in winter.

4. Favorite snack/comfort food?

It really depends. I've been addicted to Mochas lately but I don't know if that counts as food?

5. What is one high end product that you would love to have?

Any Chanel foundation probably.

6. What is your signature hairstyle?

Just out or in a ponytail.

7. Go-to autumn accessory?

I don't have a lot of jewellery because I've never really been a big fan but I do have a very bracelets so those I guess.

8. Halloween costume?

I live in Australia and I don't celebrate Halloween. I had a bad experience as a kid. My friends and I knocked on the door and said 'Trick or Treat' as you do.. and the lady screams "WE DON'T CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN HERE" "WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOUR PARENTS?" and then she went into her kitchen and it sounded like she was getting a knife... so we kinda just ran.

9. Why did you start blogging?

I've always loved writing and I wanted to start writing about make up so I thought why not?

10. Favorite time of year?

Winter. Definitely. I was a winter baby born in Auckland and I can't handle the heat very well.

My questions:
(I'm bad at thinking of questions)

1. What is your favourite drug-store product?


2. What is your favourite high-end product?


3. If you had to choose one would it be Mascara or Eyeliner?


4. Maybelline or Covergirl?


5. Is there a drugstore version of a highend product that you think is better?


6. What is your favourite skincare product?


7. Do you wear different foundation during the summer?


8. Are you a fan of BB creams?


9. Who do you think does the best eyeshadows?


10. Liquid or pencil liner?

Who I'm tagging (I haven't been blogging for very long so I don't know how  many people I can tag but I'll try.)

1. http://itsonlymakeupjohn.wordpress.com/


2. http://thatgracegirl.wordpress.com/


3. http://fairygodmotherbeautyblog.com/


4. http://bubblesandblush.wordpress.com/

Weekend Holiday Haul! | Gold Coast

This weekend, my family, my mums best friend and I all went to stay at the Hilton hotel on the Gold Coast for the weekend. It was so amazing, I loved it. I spent a bit of time shopping, obviously. I wasn't planning on getting anything from Priceline but they had a few things in the Gold Coast stores that they don't in my local stores so I mean, I had to get some things. I'm going to do a blog post about the whole weekend as well which will posted in a few days but this is some of the things I managed to pick up whilst away.

The first thing I got was actually for free. It is the NP set eyeshadow/blush/bronzer palette. There was a deal at some Westfield Mall which is on the Gold Coast but not at Surfers Paradise which was if you spent $80 in any fashion/beauty/accessory retailer you got a free palette. I needed to buy a new shirt and some pants so I got this palette for free and it's really great! It's the day-to-night palette. Each colour is wearable on it's own - I tried a lot of them out while I was in the hotel. It's $29 in store which is an okay price but I would highly recommend this palette it's just lovely.

On the Saturday my mums friend and I went into Pacific Fair (the monorail was closed so that disappointed me) to look for a Priceline because she lives in New Zealand and she has never been able to find Bourjois there! So we went into the Priceline and I had a look around and found a few things that I did want so I bought them. I got the one by one Maybelline Mascara which I have wanted for a little while and it is really good. It's design is to apply the mascara onto each lash "one-by-one" and I really think it does. It's easy to use and has a nice formula. Mine is in Brownish Black (which was an accident but it's still black). The other thing I saw was the L'oreal Colour Riche Intense lipstick -  I am addicted to lipsticks - and I found the colour 371 Pink Passion which I immediately fell in love with. It's a orangey pink which is very similar to another product I own but I do think the formula is better and it is worth the $20ish I paid for it.

The last stop was Big W where I picked up the Rimmel Scandaleyes Sparkly Black Kohl Eyeliner and the Rimmel soft Kohl eyeliner. They were both on sale for around $6 each! I needed a new Eyeliner because my Australis one was hurting my eye. I have been loving Rimmel products lately so I'm very excited that they were so cheap! The last thing I picked up at Big W was the BOE (it's like a $2 make-up range) Liquid Liner because the lady who worked there said the applicator is quite firm so it's a lot easier than other liquid liners. I picked it up because it's y'know, $2 so either way I won't lose.

I'm really happy with what I bought, I've tried a few of the products and will be doing reviews and things so I will keep you up to date! Are you excited about any new products you've bought lately?

Revlon | Bargain Alert!

I found a really beautiful nude pink Revlon lipstick for $5 in one of the Priceline bargain bins. Usually with the Revlon stuff I find there isn't a lot of things I would wear but today I saw this lipstick. It's $5 and usually Revlon lipsticks are really expensive I mean, it's like the high end side of affordable make-up. I'm pretty sure a lot of their lipsticks usually sell for around $18-$20 full price? I could be wrong but that's what they seem to be when I look.

Obviously I am beyond excited about this, $5 lipsticks that are nice are almost unheard of in my side of Earth.

 

It's in 012 Sky Pink and it's a matte lipstick. I will be uploading pictures of the lipstick on my lips over the weekend and show you some of my new lipsticks (because I've bought a few lately) and one of my favourite ones that I've had forever.

This was probably the highlight of my day because the rest of the day I spent eating M&M's while stressing over an assignment. 

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a lovely day filled with smiles! 

Priceline | Mini Haul + Maybelline BB Samples!

I was in Priceline today before my class started, like I usually am and picked up a few products in the Maybelline buy 2 get 1 free sale and St Ives 20% off products. I also received my free BB cream samples from Maybelline from the sampling competition thing! So I'm a bit excited to try that. 

The first Maybelline products that caught my eye last week when I was in there was the Superstay powder, concealer and liquid foundation. I bought the powder and concealer, it promises to be waterproof and to be honest I'm not sure what to expect from these products. The reason I bought them was because it is so hot and it's getting hotter - so inevitably I sweat like a maniac. I'm hoping that the powder helps my liquid stay a little bit longer through the heat/lotsofsweat. I didn't purchase the liquid simply because it doesn't have a pump - I like my pumps because otherwise a lot of product gets stuck at the bottom which used to be my problem with the Revlon colourstay foundation. If I really like the powder and concealer though I will be buying the liquid though. 

Lately I've been looking for a really nice coral pink kind of colour and I think I found the perfect one! It is a Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipcolour in Coral Pop. It's really nice and doesn't dry my lips out which a lot of lipsticks can do. I tried it on today and the colour is great I love it.

The last thing I bought was the St Ive Apricot scrub because my Clean & Clear Daily Scrub ran out (thanks to my brother) and I wanted to try something new. I've been using the same scrub for 4 years and quite frankly, I'm bored. So because it was 20% off I bought this and I'm really excited to use it. 

So that concludes my little haul and I'm sure I'll probably have another one this month considering... Priceline is like crack to me right now I am so addicted and I can't stop.

What beauty products have you been trying this month?  

ASOS | October Wishlist!

Anybody that knows me knows that I love to save money. Even when I have a lot of money... I'm more inclined to buy something on sale than not on sale. I would probably still buy make-up from the pharmacy even if I was a millionaire (although I would be more inclined to splurge on high-end products...)

I've been browsing the Asos beauty section and it seems that a lot of their products (especially Bourjois) is cheaper online with free shipping than it is at my local Priceline. So I've put together a few of my favourite products that I've found on there since I'm going to be buying a few within the next few days. Not all of them because I found quite a few but I will be buying a few and will update my blog as soon as they arrive on the new products and what I think of them! It's also 10% off for students!

This is in order of Brand as well :)

Bourjois

The first two things I found were the Healthy Mix Foundation and a limited edition vintage Blusher in Rose Amber. I've heard quite a few good things about the Healthy Mix foundation so I thought I'd give it a go. I also own one of the little round pot blushers and I'm absolutely in love with it so I thought.. why not own another? Especially for $11.78, that's a real bargain in my eyes. The last thing from Bourjois that I would like to try is the Bourjois ASOS Double-ended Eyeliner and Eraser. I have heard literally nothing about this product but it seems helpful although I am not sure if I will purchase it yet.

Barry M

I have never seen Barry M anywhere in Australia so I'm assuming you can't get it here but these are the products I would love to try but am still not sure about it since I've never even swatched anything on my hands.

The first thing is the Natural Glow Shadow & Blush Palette which looks quite similar to the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette which I have wanted for a while now but haven't been able to purchase so I think this would be a good alternative to that. The other product from Barry M I would like to try is the Lip Paint in Dolly Pink. I have been looking for a pink like this in stores and I haven't been able to find one that I absolutely loved but this one looks amazing so I'm thinking about this one but again, I don't know the brand so I'm unsure.

Models Own

I love the idea of a Beauty Blender sponge but hate the idea of a $30 sponge. So, when I saw this Model's Own Acorn Sponge set I was intrigued and excited. I don't think the quality of these sponges will be up to the Beauty Blender standard (I haven't seen the Models Own sponges reviewed) but I do think it's a better alternative and it's $20 less and you get 2 sponges.

Rimmel London

I feel like Rimmel is a really affordable brand, even in Australia, but ASOS appears to make it even more affordable so there are a few things I would like to purchase.

There are 2 lipsticks on my list and the first one is the Lasting Finish Lipstick in Nude Pink, I don't have a lot of nudes because throughout the past few years I've really loved bright pinks but I'm starting to like the uh nude side of life. In terms of make-up anyway. The other lipstick I really want is the Moisture Renew Lipstick in Soft Coral, I saw the colour and fell in love and added it to my wishlist - that sums up my decision making process on that specific product. The last thing from Rimmel is just the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner. My Australis eyeliner that I currently use is running out so I'm in need of a new one and the Scandaleyes range is pretty good I have to say so I'd like to try out the eyeliner.

That concludes my ASOS wishlist. I will be purchasing a few products but not all of them because I don't think my bank account would appreciate that very much.

Have you tried these products and what do you think of them?

Asos Beauty | October Wishlist!

Anybody that knows me knows that I love to save money. Even when I have a lot of money... I'm more inclined to buy something on sale than not on sale. I would probably still buy make-up from the pharmacy even if I was a millionaire (although I would be more inclined to splurge on high-end products...)

I've been browsing the Asos beauty section and it seems that a lot of their products (especially Bourjois) is cheaper online with free shipping than it is at my local Priceline. So I've put together a few of my favourite products that I've found on there since I'm going to be buying a few within the next few days. Not all of them because I found quite a few but I will be buying a few and will update my blog as soon as they arrive on the new products and what I think of them! It's also 10% off for students!

This is in order of Brand as well :)

Bourjois

The first two things I found were the Healthy Mix Foundation and a limited edition vintage Blusher in Rose Amber. I've heard quite a few good things about the Healthy Mix foundation so I thought I'd give it a go. I also own one of the little round pot blushers and I'm absolutely in love with it so I thought.. why not own another? Especially for $11.78, that's a real bargain in my eyes. The last thing from Bourjois that I would like to try is the Bourjois ASOS Double-ended Eyeliner and Eraser. I have heard literally nothing about this product but it seems helpful although I am not sure if I will purchase it yet.

Barry M

I have never seen Barry M anywhere in Australia so I'm assuming you can't get it here but these are the products I would love to try but am still not sure about it since I've never even swatched anything on my hands.

The first thing is the Natural Glow Shadow & Blush Palette which looks quite similar to the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette which I have wanted for a while now but haven't been able to purchase so I think this would be a good alternative to that. The other product from Barry M I would like to try is the Lip Paint in Dolly Pink. I have been looking for a pink like this in stores and I haven't been able to find one that I absolutely loved but this one looks amazing so I'm thinking about this one but again, I don't know the brand so I'm unsure.

Models Own

I love the idea of a Beauty Blender sponge but hate the idea of a $30 sponge. So, when I saw this Model's Own Acorn Sponge set I was intrigued and excited. I don't think the quality of these sponges will be up to the Beauty Blender standard (I haven't seen the Models Own sponges reviewed) but I do think it's a better alternative and it's $20 less and you get 2 sponges. 

Rimmel London

I feel like Rimmel is a really affordable brand, even in Australia, but ASOS appears to make it even more affordable so there are a few things I would like to purchase.

There are 2 lipsticks on my list and the first one is the Lasting Finish Lipstick in Nude Pink, I don't have a lot of nudes because throughout the past few years I've really loved bright pinks but I'm starting to like the uh nude side of life. In terms of make-up anyway. The other lipstick I really want is the Moisture Renew Lipstick in Soft Coral, I saw the colour and fell in love and added it to my wishlist - that sums up my decision making process on that specific product. The last thing from Rimmel is just the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner. My Australis eyeliner that I currently use is running out so I'm in need of a new one and the Scandaleyes range is pretty good I have to say so I'd like to try out the eyeliner.

Kardashian Beauty

I was in Myer today and noticed that they had bought in the Kardashian Beauty collection which is called Khroma and I have to say - I'm not impressed. I think I'm quite easily impressed and it just didn't seem like anything particularly special. The packaging was plain and there wasn't a big variety. I'm not entirely sure if they had the whole collection but I didn't see any lipsticks in the form of a lipstick. They had those weird crayon retractable things that I like for eyeliner but not for lips. I also don't wear lipgloss because I don't like the stickiness. The eyeshadow seems okay but I don't think I would bother with the rest. I didn't buy anything and I'm just not entirely sure if I will.

What do you think about Kardashian make-up? Or are there any great products in the collection that you would recommend?

Twitter | Bloglovin

MyUs.com shipping for American beauty products?

So I've decided that I think I might do a big-ish order from Walmart or CVS or something like that and use the MyUs.com service but I'm not really sure about it. I've never used it and I haven't known anyone who has used it but I really want to get some things that you can't actually buy here and maybe some things from Sephora as well.

Do you recommend this service?  Is it too expensive or unreliable?

What products would you recommend I try?

I've wanted to do this for a long time and I think I might do it next time I get paid. So feedback would be lovely as I'm not really sure about the MyUs service.

One of the products I do want to try is the Covergirl Smoochies!

Maybelline, Revlon & Priceline!

Good afternoon!

Today I went into Priceline to buy a foundation brush as I found that whenever I use a sponge I break out really bad so I've actually been using my hands which I find doesn't provide the greatest amount of coverage for me. I don't know if I just wasn't putting enough on but I did want a brush for a nicer finish anyway. 

So I invested in the Revlon Foundation Brush. It was on sale so I bought it for around $10 which is quite good considering normally it's $14. I haven't used it yet so I don't have an opinion on it but I was wondering if anybody owns any Revlon brushes and are they any good? 

Another thing I bought today was the Maybelline Baby Lips Berry Crush tinted lip balm thing. I put this on in the car on the way home because I was really excited to try it and I must admit I did think it would have more colour. I like it but I don't love it but it will be nice when I don't want to wear lipstick but I do want to add colour to my lips so it's nice for that even if it's just a tiny bit.

Also while I was in my room today I realised that... I have 3 $5 off gift vouchers for October. So every time I spend $35 or more in store I will get $5 off which excites me a little bit. So I was wondering if there was any products you think I should try? I do live in Australia so make up can be a little bit limited but there are always a few stores to try for products and online so let me know in the comments!  

 

 

Clean & Clear | Skincare Products!

I haven't used a lot of different skincare brands in my time but out of the ones I have used Clean & Clear is my favourite. So these are the products I have been using lately and how well they work!

 

Deep Action Daily Scrub
This is the one product that my face is literally in love with. I have used it for the past two years and it actually can work by itself. When I used it without anything else I only break out when I'm y'know, menstruating. It's really nice on the skin and not too rough which is great. It works so well and makes my skin so soft.
It costs $9.99 which is pretty good I think most scrubs are around that much when they're from the grocery store so it's pretty good.

Essentials Oil-Control Toner
I use this twice a day, as soon as I wake up and after my shower at night. It does have alcohol in it which my sister says is something you probably shouldn't put on your face but I mean, I put it in my body so why can't I put it on my face? (That is horrible logic, by the way.) I probably wouldn't recommend it for sensitive skin though, I would recommend an alcohol free toner. This product is really good. It removes any excess oil and makes my skin feel very clean and smooth. I do moisturise straight after using this product otherwise I find my skin gets very dry. 
It costs $6.49 AUD.

Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Scrub
I got this product free as a gift when I re-purchased my daily scrub from Priceline. I don't use it all the time but when I do it is really good. It has lots of beads in it which are quite hard and rough so it is definitely not for sensitive skin. What I find kind of weird about this product is that it does have caffeine in it, I'm not sure what that is supposed to do for the skin but if anybody knows, tell me! It does make my skin feel very smooth and clean. I also love scrubbing it on my face because I think it feels quite nice. I generally use this if I'm planning to be out all day so that when I sweat (because it's hot where I live most of the time ) my skin doesn't get too oily. 
It costs $10.99. 

So all-in-all I do love these products.
What is your favourite skincare brand and are there any products from any brand that you would recommend I try? A product I am thinking about trying is the Milk & Co Light Moisturiser - Have you used it and is it any good?

Covergirl | Clump Crusher Mascara + Thoughts on Smoochies?

I know this product has been reviewed and recommended by so many people on the internet and I know that not everybody likes it but... I absolutely love it. It is so easy to apply because it has a thin applicator so I'm generally less likely to stab myself in the eye which I'm quite prone to doing. Every single time I have applied it, is has been completely clump free and doesn't make my eyelashes feel heavy and kind of like straw which is always good because I can't stand the straw-eyelash feeling.

I've always been a fan of Covergirl because of it's quality and affordability. I think at one point all of the make up I had was Covergirl and that was it. I think it's a great brand and I'm really looking forward to the *HOPEFULLY* release of the smoochies. I was reading their Australian Facebook page and a person from the actual page said that the smoochies were on their way so I'm thinking it's a Summer release like they did in the US and other Northern Hemispherey places.

Do you like the smoochies and are they worth purchasing?

Bourjois | Eyeshadow, Blush & Primer!

Recently, Priceline opened at my local mall which was really exciting because they sell Bourjois! I've never seen Bourjois in real life so when they had their sale I HAD to buy something. I ended up buying the $28 Smoky Eye Trio Eye Shadow in Rose Vintage. These eye shadows are absolutely gorgeous and well worth the price. They are easily applied onto the eye and are very colourful.

With my purchase I received two free gifts inside a cute container that is the shape of a can. Inside the can I got the Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer and the Little Round Pot Blush in Rose D'or.

The blush is my favourite out of the two free products. It smells like a floral candy and is super easily applied and very pigmented. A slight dab with my blush brush and a few strokes on my cheek and I have a slightly flushed cheek. It is a very pretty blush and it smells great. The primer is nice as well although I haven't really owned very many primers in my lifetime so I don't really have that much of a review on it. Except it feels really nice. I just kind of like touching it.

The reason I haven't purchased Bourjois before is because I don't like to buy cosmetics online because I just get very paranoid that the product will be damaged or used. I know that it's kind of limiting the brands in which I can purchase but y'know, paranoia wins. So far though, I love Bourjois. The products that I have are such high quality considering they're technically "drugstore/pharmacy" brands. Although I'm all about the pharmacy brands. I just wish they had a bigger range at my local Priceline.