New to the Beauty Bazaar: The International Offerings
4/30/2013

New to the Beauty Bazaar: The International Offerings

There's something about the beauty products that are hard to find but worth the effort. Naturally living in Sephora and Boots-less New Zealand this can be the case a lot of the time but it definitely does make the find all the more satisfying.

Here's a few of the harder to find gems that I've added to the stash recently..



Benefit World Famous Neutrals Palette in Most Easiest Nudes Ever *Someone bought this back for me from Australia. Firstly this palette wins for its gorgeous design and packaging. It is compact, lightweight and resembles a vintage book. Each of these kits contain six eyeshadows, two creaseless creams and four longwear powder shadows. In Most Easiest Nudes Ever you'll find the cream shadows; rsvp and no pressure. These are both super creamy in formulation. When applied with a flat shadow blush they glide on like silk. The other four shades in this palette are; call my buff (pale gold with shimmer), thanks a latte (golden brown with shimmer), pinky swear (soft matte pink) and quick, look busy (matte espresso).  I love the colours in the palette in particular the creaseless cream shadows as they are such gorgeous colours by themselves and they last really well. This would be a great palette for eyeshadow beginners or anyone on the go who wants to create simple but effective eye looks.

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April in Pictures
4/28/2013

April in Pictures

Well April, you have been awesome and awfully fast! Maybe it was the never ending stream of deadlines this month but I swear it feels like it was just last week I was making Creme Egg hot chocolates.

Here's a little look at what my Instagram (@nanawintour) captured this month. Apologies for the collaged pictures. Emailing them from my phone was easier this way than sending them all one by one.

 
 
 
-Divine Macarons made by this talented lady.
 
-My Printstagram order arrived! This works out really cheap and they arrived exactly a week after I ordered them.
 
-The makeup brush lineup at Mecca Cosmetica Ponsonby *insert rays of light*.
 
-A beauty lust list of sorts that was blogged about here.
 
-Paper stars at one of my younger cousin's birthday parties.
 
-I saw, I swatched, I walked away with this YSL lipstick. With money off vouchers and YSL discount that day it would've been simply rude not to.

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What I Love Weekly #51
4/26/2013

What I Love Weekly #51

1. Rainy nights indoors watching movies, drinking hot chocolate and reading blog posts equal my perfect Wednesday night this week.

2. This article about The Circus of Fashion makes for some interesting reading. Street Style photography at local fashion weeks is nowhere near what it is like overseas so it was interesting to learn about the spectacle that is. It also raises some interesting questions about the evolution of bloggers and our increasing accessibility as outsiders to fashion week.

3. Listening to songs from the Singstar games with friends and still knowing all the words. We're quite good at memorising lyrics, just don't ask about our Call of Duty skills.

4. Product of the week #1: YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks. Anything matte just seems to not mesh well with my lips and these are about as far from matte as a lipstick formula can get. The colours are sheerer than opaque lipsticks-perfect for everyday, they're creamy and last pretty well. I've had one of these in my bag at all times this week.

My Autumn Pinboard
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The Reading Pile
4/25/2013

The Reading Pile


I do love a good recommended read. There's something reassuring in knowing someone else has enjoyed a book and that you are likely to as well. I'm often scribbling down book titles to investigate from blogs, magazines, even Instagram. A good book can also have me reaching for a notebook to jot down future post ideas. Here's what has been on the reading pile as of late..

The Notebook has sat gathering dust for some time, particularly as the movie had a rather lasting effect on me. This is a story of a lifelong romance, retold through the pages of a notebook kept by a woman who wanted to remember it all. This is such a beautiful but sad story, it is a Nicholas Sparks novel after all. Fans of the film will love this as will anyone who likes a classic love story without the sappiness. 

Cupcakes and Cashmere was spotted on Lily Pebbles blog and after a flick through Emily Schuman's blog this was being searched for among the depths of the library catalogue. The books is inspired by Emily's blog Cupcakes and Cashmere and is split into seasonal chapters. Each section contains a checklist of fashion pieces to have, beauty for the season, how-to's and recipes for seasonal parties. This book is beautifully presented and reflects Emily's blog fantastically. If you're already a fan of Cupcakes and Cashmere then this is definitely worth tracking down.
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The Extras: Delectable & Dazzling Mac Collections
4/23/2013

The Extras: Delectable & Dazzling Mac Collections

When word of a new Mac collection reaches my ears, usually thanks to my friend M, I drop everything and start searching for all the buzz, and sometimes make a mental note to keep an eye out for bits and pieces as they land in store. Well the lovely folk at Mac have some new collections hitting counters soon and they are rather gorgeous if I do say so myself.

First up we have the Baking Beauties collection inspired by cupcakes and other sweet treats. Face powders that look delicious enough to eat, soft and tempting lip colours and the highly sought after Lustre-Drops all make an appearance. The powders are stunning as are the pigments and the pastel hued lipsticks. With names like Raspberry Swirl and Cheery Cherry the people who go weak at the knees for all things sweet and beauty-ful (pardon, the bad pun) are bound to be tempted.

How beautiful is this picture? 

*Click through for my picks from the collections!
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Everyday Makeup Routine
4/22/2013

Everyday Makeup Routine

There is nothing quite like the ritual that is gathering up the tools, the makeup bag and propping oneself in front of the mirror. Beauty arsenal at the ready, makeup brush in hand, let the regime begin.

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The Extras: Benefit They're Real! Mascara
4/21/2013

The Extras: Benefit They're Real! Mascara

The hunt for the perfect mascara has been one I've pursued since my teens. Most have delivered in one way or another but none quite had the power to do it all...and then I discovered Benefit They're Real! Mascara.


They're Real mascara had been on my radar for a while and I know Hannah swears by it so I was one happy girl when a friend gave me a sample she received and then Hannah bought me back a tube from Sydney. They're Real is designed to; lengthen, volumize, separate and curl the lashes. By horizontally wiggling the mascara wand through the lashes you can amp up the volume. Holding the wand vertically and using upward strokes will curl and separate your lashes. Sound simple? It really is. This mascara is the most smudge proof and it is also easy to reapply during the day. Your lashes aren't left feeling dry.

So is They're Real mascara worth the hype? Absolutely! I love this mascara. It really is the perfect multitasker and I'll definitely be heading off to repurchase this in six months time.

They're Real mascara will be available in New Zealand from next month.
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What I Love Weekly #50
4/19/2013

What I Love Weekly #50

1. It is officially the mid-semester break! This seems more exciting given the week of back to back deadlines I've just had. You get the idea though, basically I am really looking forward to some time off, catching up on some sleep and getting a bit more blogging in than usual.

2. That moment when you get out of a rut and suddenly have a list of plentiful ideas and inspirations sitting in front of you.

3. This interview with the delightful Carey Mulligan on her upcoming performance in The Great Gatsby and her acting career so far is well worth a read this week. It's also worth having a look at those beautiful, Gatsby inspired pictures Mario Testino captured of her as well. They are stunning.

4. Diptyque's Ofrésia Eau De Toilette was spritzed yesterday and I love it. The fragrance contains notes of Black Pepper and of course Freesia. It smells amazing but has a sadly hefty price tag. Diptyque also do beautifully scented candles too. They're on the 'when I win the lottery' shopping list as of now.


♥ This is one of the pictures I took for a photography assignment recently. It's one of my favourite pictures and features Britney in her delightful ModCloth frock. 
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Beauty Lust List
4/17/2013

Beauty Lust List



Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base Regarded as the holy grail product for preventing eyeshadows from creasing. This'd be a dream product for an eyeshadow lover and oily-lidded girl like myself.

Bobbi Brown Blush in Nude Peach Peach blushes are usually something I avoid so when one of the makeup artists at Bobbi Brown applied this on me I was surprised to see that the colour suited my skintone. This colour is perfect to give skin a bit of a natural flush during Winter.

Benefit World Famous Neutrals Palette in Most Glamorous Nudes Benefit is coming to town soon and this collection of palettes is one of their newest product offerings. Complete with four powder and two cream eyeshadows this would make a lovely addition to anyone's makeup collection.

Stella by Stella McCartney Confession: I love perfumes. They're one of the first things I head towards when I'm in a department store. This scent consists of notes of Rose, Peony Flower, Mandarin, Rose Absolute and Amber. It smells like no other fragrance I've owned and I love it. One for the duty free list perhaps?
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To Bed #1
4/15/2013

To Bed #1

Ahh sleep, an activity that is such a luxury. Sinking under a pile of blankets with a book in hand and then later dazing off with an eye mask on=heavenly ♥. Recently though I've found it harder to doze off so I headed to the beauty blogs to see if there was any offerings around to aid sleep and stumbled upon these two gems. 

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What I Love Weekly #49
4/12/2013

What I Love Weekly #49

1. "Being powerful is like being a lady, if you have to tell people you are, you aren't." That quote is from the late Margaret Thatcher, a truly inspiring leader. If you haven't seen Meryl Streep portray her in The Iron Lady that could well be worth a watch this weekend.

2. Kids birthday parties! They have the best food, ahem, lolly tables, decorations & games. Attending one makes me want to make a kid's themed cake just for fun & also Marshmallow Pops from this post.

3. Kate Sylvester's 'The Last Sitting' collection shown at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Sydney on Tuesday. The collection was inspired by Marilyn Monroe & some of the men in her life; white shirts (Arthur Miller) & baseball caps (Joe Dimaggio). I loved the floaty silhouettes, in particular a salmon pink dress & some classic floral print black & white button-down shirts. Mac also did a gorgeous bright pink lip for these looks using their Candy Yum Yum lipsticks & two fuschia lip pencils. Click here to see some pictures of the collection.

4. A new blog discovery. This one's called I Covet Thee & is penned by British beauty & fashion blogger, Alix. She posts fantastic reviews, beauty & fashion looks to recreate & more. If you're looking for product reviews her extensive product directory is also fantastic, check it out!

What's on my bedside table in the way of reading & nighttime beauty essentials.
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The Makeup Bag: April
4/10/2013

The Makeup Bag: April

April is well under way and the wintery chill is slowly creeping back into the air. Gone are the shimmering gold eyelids and the glossy lips, in come the slightly smokier eyeshadow shades and a pop of colour to the lips. Say hello to some new friends and old favourites, say hello to the April Beauty Bag..


April is a bit of an unusual time seasonally with Summer not quite a distant memory. While it might not be Winter yet I wanted to embrace some warmer shadows and bold lips earlier than scheduled. Lip balm is a lifesaver during the colder months and the new Maybelline Baby Lips in Berry Crush will be perfect on minimal makeup days. Blotting it slightly into the lips acts as the perfect base for Mac Show Orchid and Creme Cup lipsticks. Both are at quite different ends of the colour spectrum, but are great to mix and match from day to night. My lashes are being coated with Benefit They're Real mascara for a little bit of definition and pizzazz. It was just too hard to wave goodbye to shimmery neutral eyeshadows so Mac All That Glitters made its way into the bag along with a rediscovered Trax for a subtle nod to the smoky eye. Winter means warmth and what better way to accompany hot cups of tea than with a spritz of Jo Malone Redcurrant & Cream Cologne. Dessert without the calories? I'll take that.
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Wintour Wishlist
4/08/2013

Wintour Wishlist

Given that the nights are definitely beginning to get a lot cooler and my jumpers have begun to emerge from drawers it seemed appropriate that I started to think about Winter outfits. After a quick glance through my wardrobe it came to my attention that I actually don't possess a great deal of Winter clothing. Before you know it I was hunting around the mecca that is online stores and compiled this list of items I'd quite like to join my wardrobe..


After mourning the end of the now sold out cat themed collection by Twenty Seven Names it seems to have become my mission to find fashion items that reference cats. I do love my tights in winter and these are just the cutest! I am also particularly lovestruck by that dress, the Parka which gives me Alexa Chung vibes and dusky pink shoes a la Kate Middleton.

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The Extras: Bargain Beauty Buys
4/06/2013

The Extras: Bargain Beauty Buys

It's very rare of me to do a weekend post but I just had to share these great little products with you while they were still looking lovely & because I genuinely think they are going to be fantastic.

So let's get on to the bargains in question that I've collected over the last few weeks..

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What I Love Weekly #48
4/05/2013

What I Love Weekly #48

1. Joining the conversation. This week I've been using my blog's twitter a lot more, to chat with other bloggers basically. Twitter's such a great platform for connecting with bloggers & friends overseas, I love it! Do you too want to join the conversation? Follow me here.

2. Winning Top Post this month at #nzgirlbloggersclub. It was an unexpected but exciting surprise & definitely made my day on Tuesday.

3. Fact; I love eyeshadow & NARS so it won't be any surprise that I have fallen head over heels in love with this palette. There are so many shades in that palette I've been wanting to own+try for a long time & I think it'd be a great Winter staple. Should I get it? That's the question..

4. My blogging bible (see below). This little notebook is where I house a list of products I'm trying out, blog post outlines, blog post ideas & then a variety of images & posts from other blogs that I've found inspiring. I love how it is also divided into sections & everything is so easy to find. If you're a blogger I highly recommend keeping a system like this, it really makes organising your content a lot easier.

The blogging bible itself 
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Get fabulously Insta-savvy with Here Comes The Sun Blog
4/03/2013

Get fabulously Insta-savvy with Here Comes The Sun Blog


Hi everyone, it's Amanda from Here Comes the Sun. I'm here today to share with you a few of my top tips for improving and growing your instagram account. Here are some of the tricks that have helped me grow my instagram to 17,000+ and I hope they help you too!

Think before you post: This is probably my number one rule. Not every moment of your day needs to be uploaded to instagram, so just pick the highlights. My personal rule of thumb is no more than two images per day and I space them out rather than posting one after the other. You don't want to overwhelm your followers - if i scroll through my feed and it's completely clogged up by one person, I'll usually unfollow them and I know other people do the same.




Composition and balance: It's important to think about how your image will fit into a square and how to frame it up nicely. White space and balance are so important but it's also good to play around with cropping too. Unless you want every photo to look similar (which is fine, many people go for a 'look' they want their photos to fit with) it's good to play with the cropping and see what works for you. Sometimes a close up of a detail works better than trying to fit the whole image into the frame!
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New to the Beauty Bazaar: xo Beauty Brushes
4/01/2013

New to the Beauty Bazaar: xo Beauty Brushes

It's a well documented fact that good tools, or in this case brushes really aid makeup application. When it was announced that local beauty guru Shannon of Shaaanxo was debuting her own range of makeup brushes I was rather excited & intrigued to say the least. Today I am going to share some thoughts with you about her xo Beauty brushes.


xo Beauty is a brand that provides professional and affordable brushes. They certainly are affordable with single brushes setting you back $26 and a 12 piece set coming in at $100. Beauty products can be more on the costly side for the Southern Hemisphere so this is a very good deal, especially as shipping is free for Australia and New Zealand beauty lovers, bonus!

Now onto the brushes...
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