July Favourites
7/31/2013

July Favourites

It's that time of the month. Beauty bloggers and vloggers everywhere gather up their beauty stash and start thinking about what products have really stood out. I just made that decision making process sound a lot more dramatic than it really is. Formalities aside, July saw a bit of a mixup to the beauty and skincare lineups for me. There's nothing wrong with a touch of variety and I tried quite a few new beauty and skincare bits this month.

Here's what's made its way into my July favourites..



The Makeup

Benefit The Porefessional* This product had me a little bit uncertain at first. I found it a little drying but since I've changed up my skincare routine (more on that soon)  I haven't had a problem with this primer. If your skin is drier then I'd suggest getting a sample of this first to try out. This primer dries matte once on the face and is supposed to help your foundation last longer on the skin. Judging by the amount of foundation my Bioderma-soaked cotton pad picks up I'd say this is definitely doing its job.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette This wax to powder formula pencil is foolproof and long lasting. The pencil itself is quite hard so it is pretty difficult to go overboard when using this on your brows. I find this shade quite subtle yet it still manages to leave my brows looking much tidier.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent  I've had this powder for a while but haven't really been using it properly until this month. This powder is great for on the go touchups or applying over foundation if you just want a light layer of powder. It doesn't go cakey over makeup and because this is the transparent shade it isn't too noticeable. Like the name suggests this leaves you with a matte complexion, eliminating shine. While this powder may not be as long lasting as some of its higher end counterparts, it does the job and lasts pretty well.

Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation in Petal* I love this foundation, evidence here. It doesn't go cakey and offers lightweight, buildable coverage. It's also oil free so you aren't left with any unwanted shine and as an added bonus it has SPF 25, perfect for Summer. It definitely sits better on the skin than some heavier foundations and it lasts nearly all day.

Mac Paint Pot in Eclair  (limited edition) This pigmented pot of gorgeousness has made its way into the favourite selection, again. During the semester break I was a bit lazy with eyeshadow application and often reached for this shade and Let's Skate to quickly apply across the lid. It's easy to apply and blend with your fingers and lasts all day. You can't really fault these.

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Icon As Muse: Alexa Chung
7/29/2013

Icon As Muse: Alexa Chung

Hi everyone! Today I bring you a new feature to the blog. This was inspired by Sam+Nic and Tanya who regularly vlog celebrity looks on their YouTube channels and also watching the X Factor trying to guess the celebrity judge's makeup looks each week. Each month I'll be bringing you a famous face who has fabulous style and beauty looks that I love. I thought I'd start with Alexa Chung. I love Alexa's style, it's so effortless and chic yet her ensembles always look artfully planned. Her makeup is never anything too over the top. She tends to favour flawless skin, winged eyeliner and either a bold red or neutral lip. Simple, yet effective.

Read on to find out how to achieve Alexa's makeup and style..

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar, Mac All That Glitters and Amber Lights eyeshadows, Mac Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger.


I love this dress from Topshop. It's so pretty and it reminds me of something Alexa would don walking the streets of New York with her signature Chanel bag. I can't see Alexa walking around with her book anytime soon. Maybe she'd do it ironically? Nevertheless I had to include it because I can't wait to read it. It's out next month. 


*Which famous face should I feature next month? Leave your suggestions below! x

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The Week #64
7/26/2013

The Week #64


The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *A quick-stop at Mecca last Friday. Items were added to the lust list.. *Cupcakes at my friend's 21st-delish! *The fairy-fied face of the day *Party time=glitter time *The bold lip *New semester, new stationery *A gorgeous fifties dress at the California Design exhibit currently on at the Auckland Art Gallery *Hourglass pretties *Kiwis take note; the new L&P Slabs by Whittakers are pretty darn good *X Factor finale-viewing, I'm going to miss this.

Must-Watch of the Week: I don't have any particular videos this week that stood out but I am loving Zoe's channel at the moment. Her videos are always so positive and uplifting. Zoe always shares the best of all things fashion and beauty so her channel is well worth subscribing to.

Product of the Week: It's pure coincidence that another Rimmel product has made its way into this category again this week. Their Stay Matte powder always comes with me when I'm out. It's great for on the go touch-ups. This powder is quite finely milled so it doesn't go cakey on top of foundation and powder. The transparent powder is my favourite. Pick it up here.

Must-Read of the Week: Those of us in New Zealand who watched X Factor, particularly the ladies often were captivated by the makeup looks, particularly modeled on Melanie Blatt. I'm not going to lie, I tweeted my beauty questions about looks to Kath Gould, the head makeup artist on the show a couple of times. Anyway, Leonie of The Style Insider found out how to get one of Mel's looks recently. Be sure to have a nosy if you were regularly admiring her makeup. 

Added to the Wishlist: My jewellery collection definitely needs a bit of a cull given I mainly rotate the same pieces and neglect the rest. Regardless, there is always room for another silver ring and this flower ring by Karen Walker is so gorgeous. The perfect special occcasion gift or maybe even a treat for yourself, just because..

I hope you all have fabulous weekends! I've got some last-minute things to work on for my birthday party next weekend, Uni work to catch up on and of course blogging! xo


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The Bold and Beautiful Lip Hues
7/24/2013

The Bold and Beautiful Lip Hues

Winter is traditionally the time for the red lip, whether it be vampy or neon. For the record I do love that trend but reading a lot of Northern Hemisphere beauty blogs has me leaning towards a different hue. Lately I've found myself reaching for the bold lipsticks. Vivid pinks, corals, oranges and reds are all so vibrant.  As shallow as it sounds I find bold lipstick a real mood raiser and (sometimes) confidence boosting.

So what's made the bold and beautiful lineup? Read on..


Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Apocaliptic* This is the purse-friendly liquid lipstick which ranges in colour from sheer nude to the bold red. These have the pigmentation of a lipstick with the texture of a lipgloss, sans stickiness. I love the doe-foot applicator these come with. It makes them nice and easy to apply. This berry-red hue is gorgeous. While it may not be as long-lasting as some of its higher end counterparts it does a darn good job. I've also ordered Stellar, the neon pink shade to add to my collection. These will definitely be popular in the Summer beach bag.

Mac Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger The cult cherry red with phenomenal staying power. That more or less sums up my favourite red. I also love that you can choose whether you want the lipstick to look more orangey-red or siren red depending on what lip pencil you pair it with. For a matte lipstick it also feels surprisingly non-drying on the lips. As always though with any matte lipstick you should apply a lip balm a little while before you apply the lipstick so it feels more comfortable on the lips.

Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Impassioned In the past I've been on the fence about this colour but as of now I am in love with it. This raspberry pink is so pretty. Even though it is quite a creamy lipstick it is still very long-lasting. I reapplied this once on a night out recently and it managed to more or less stay put all night long. This shade would flatter a wide range of skin tones but if you're unsure go to the Mac counter and try it on/swatch it first.

Mac Matte Lipstick in Scarlet Ibis (limited edition) I won it The true, fire-engine red. I don't have anything else like this in my collection and I love it. This is such an old Hollywood glamour shade and I hope they bring it back into collections sometime soon because it is fabulous. Like Lady Danger this is quite a creamy matte lipstick but it still lasts really well on the lips.

So that's my pick of the bold lip hues. I've got Hourglass' liquid lipstick in Riviera on my wishlist at the moment but until then my bold beauty needs are well and truly covered. 

♥ What are your favourite bold lip colours?

*PR Sample

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The Photo Diaries #2
7/22/2013

The Photo Diaries #2

Hi everyone! I hope you all had fabulous weekends. My holiday sadly came to an end yesterday so I thought I'd put this post up quickly before I head off to classes. I'll be back Wednesday with a beauty-related post.

Today I thought I'd share with you some of life's moments that I've documented with my proper camera over the last few months. If you're wondering what camera & editing tools I've used you can read up on that here.


The cutest hot chocolate ever at the Hello Kitty themed cafe.
Journalling. 


Flowers from the Shiseido launch a couple of weeks ago
Sneak peek at a pretty special dress.
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The Week #63
7/19/2013

The Week #63


The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *Cleaning day *It's a brow thing *I have some brand new shoes. They're so pretty and sparkly *Cat pretending to be the big bad wolf *The DVD to-watch list before Semester 2 starts *My brother's birthday cake, made by moi *Journalling and thinking about happiness, gratitude and Audrey Hepburn *My 'if I was a rich girl' wishlist *On the go essentials *My new favourite thing, this journal from Kikki K's new range. 

Must-Watch of the Week: I really loved this 60's makeup tutorial that Sam of Pixi Woo vlogged this week. I know it probably looks easier than it is to achieve but I really love this makeup look. Flawless matte skin, smoky and sultry eyes. Love.

Product of the Week: Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara*, in stores August. I like to alternate my mascaras so it's very rare for me to wear one all week. That's exactly what's been happening with Lash Accelerator though. This mascara lengthens and curls my lashes really nicely. You can really layer this mascara on without looking like you've got spidery lashes. I love it. It's very similar to Chanel Inimitable which I used to use a few years ago so if you like that one then you'll like this.

Must-Read of the Week: Maria blogged an outfit post this week featuring the prettiest statement necklace. She also shared her thoughts about happiness and it more or less echoes exactly what I feel about happiness right now. This time last year was quite a challenging time for me and as trite as it may sound I feel like a completely different person, in a good way.

Added to the Wishlist: When I was in Newmarket earlier this week I paid a quick visit to Mecca and went straight to their Diptyque corner. Top of my lust list is their Figuier candle. It's similar to their Philosykos scent and its fragrance fills the room long after it has finished burning. This one doesn't come cheaply but we all deserve a little luxury every now and then..

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! I'm off shopping+chilling with Britney today and making the most of my last moments of freedom before I go back to classes on Monday. 

*PR Sample
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On The Go Makeup Bag
7/18/2013

On The Go Makeup Bag

No matter how big or small your handbag is there's always the place for the essential touch-up items. C'mon, if you're anything like me, your handbag will be a bottomless pit. There is always room for something. As I'm often out and about in the city, rushing home to touch up my makeup isn't a realistic option for me. Bring in the on the go makeup bag, the miscellaneous beauty bits and bobs that I carry around with me to take care of touch ups, scent top ups and more...

My little makeup bag is from a shop called The Yellow Brick Road in Ponsonby.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume vial (almost empty) and Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin cologne (part of a Christmas gift set last year)- I'm not too sure why there's currently two perfumes in my makeup bag but sometimes when a scent wears off I like to apply a different one during the day. Mini perfumes and rollerball fragrances are great to have handy as they don't take up much handbag space. They're also great for holidays as well.

Benefit They're Real sample size mascara-This is my favourite mascara of the moment and this is perfect for touch ups during the day. This size isn't sold separately but Benefit are bringing out a new set with the full sized mascara and this one soon. I wish all makeup brands had miniature versions of their mascaras available. 

The Body Shop  blotting paper-Admittedly I only use these on the days where I forget to put a makeup brush in my bag but they are great if you just need to blot particularly shiny areas of the face. They aren't as effective as reapplying powder but if you are brushless or carrying a smaller bag then they get the job done.
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Indulgent and Decadent Berry Brownies
7/16/2013

Indulgent and Decadent Berry Brownies

Aside from loving all things beauty and fashion I also really enjoy baking. Desserts are my specialty. My friends and family often like to recruit me to provide sweet treats and I'm more than happy to oblige. Today I thought I'd share with you one of my favourite recipes at the moment. These berry brownies are so tasty and super easy to make. I hope you don't mind the interruption to normal beauty programming but these just had to be shared.

Let me know if you'd like to see more recipe posts in future!



Ingredients

-200 grams dark chocolate, chopped.
-250 grams butter.
-205 grams brown sugar.
-4 eggs.
-200 grams plain (all-purpose) flour.
-1/4 teaspoon baking powder.
-1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted.
-1 1/2 cups raspberries, fresh or frozen. *I used frozen blueberries that we had but you can also buy bags of frozen berries at the supermarket if raspberries aren't in season. You don't need to defrost them first if they're frozen either.

Method

*Preheat the oven to 180C (350 F).

*Place the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and smooth.

*Place in a bowl with the sugar and eggs. Sift over the flour, baking powder and cocoa and mix to combine.

*Pour into a 23cm (9 in) greased square cake tin lined with non-stick baking paper.

*Top the mixture with the berries and bake for 45 minutes or until set.

-Brownies should be very fudgey in the middle, I like to slightly undercook them to achieve this. Makes 16.

The result!

*Original recipe from the Donna Hay Chocolate book
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It's A Brow Thing
7/15/2013

It's A Brow Thing

Pardon the exhausted cliche, but if eyes are the windows to the soul then the frames also need to be perfect. By frames I mean eyebrows. They're often neglected or abused by some, over-pluckers and bleachers I am looking at you. You would be amazed at the difference these tools of the trade can make on those pesky frames..


The Service

A good brow shape and tint can work wonders. I'd recommend the Benefit Brow Bar or Lucy and the Powder Room if you're in Auckland. These are my favourite places to get my brows taken care of. They actually listen to what you want and won't go to town with the tweezers if they don't need to.

The Tools

Tweezers The tool for brow maintenance. Mine are from QVS and they do the job. They aren't too sharp and are easy to use. I've heard Manicare's tweezers are also great.

The Spoolie Brush Essentially this is the same as those disposable mascara wands that makeup artists use. These are perfect for combing hairs into place and making sure brow product is evenly distributed. The brow comb (pictured) acts in the same way. Pick one up like this from Real Techniques.

Mac #266 Brush This multipurpose brush is great for filling in brows. Its angled tip means you can use short, sharp strokes to accurately fill in your brows. This brush is great for powder or gel eyeliner as well.
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The Extras: Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation
7/13/2013

The Extras: Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation

I have been on the search for a great foundation for a while. Many a sample from beauty counters has been carted home but none have been quite right. Then I met Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation..*



Hello Flawless is Benefit's foundation that has its own hydrating complex which works to leave you with a flawless, radiant complexion. It contains SPF 25 and is oil free so you are left with healthy, luminous skin without the greasy sheen. This foundation is quite light and gives buildable coverage. Denser brushes like the Expert Face brush by Real Techniques and the Flat Top synthetic brush by xo Beauty are great for working this foundation in. It is easy to blend, it doesn't apply streakily and you are left with a flawless finish. 



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The Week #62
7/12/2013

The Week #62



The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *The top five lipstick selection *A night in the city *Face of the day; The X Factor edition *Pinning pictures of Alexa Chung is completely justifiable. More on that later.. *Sunshine last weekend *I bought my first piece of Karen Walker clothing last week *We're in! At X Factor HQ *My desk on Tuesday *The best mail of the week *In my happy place at Mac *Flowers for me *The best of British beauty blogging.

Must-Watch of the Week: Anna of Vivianna Does Makeup has been running a series on her blog this week of sensible beauty packing for holidays, festivals and the last minute city trips. I don't know about you guys but I always overpack beauty-wise and find myself not wanting to use as much product as I usually do. Anna's videos break down everything you need and she's even provided a handy PDF checklist to download to keep you on track. I do love a good list, and organisation. Watch them next time you're needing to be organised.

Product of the Week: This week I've been loving lipstick in general, in particular Patisserie by Mac and also Lady Danger. I seem to enjoy wearing it more in Winter and as cheesy as it sounds I find it a bit of a confidence booster too. Both those shades are so gorgeous and the formulas are pretty spot on as well (see yesterday's post). 

Must-Read of the Week: I really enjoy reading people's memoirs or autobiographies, particularly of people who have been involved in the fashion industry. At the moment I'm reading Blow by Blow which is an autobiography about the late Isabella Blow. She introduced the world to the likes of Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen, she worked with Anna Wintour at British Vogue and was quite the eccentric woman. I'm really enjoying this book so far and would highly recommend it if you're into fashion biographies.

Added to the Wishlist: M and I visited the Mac Pro store on Monday. I behaved and left with nothing, she escaped with two lipsticks. Tsk, tsk. Anyway, after a lot of swatching and falling in love with far two many things, their pigment in Tan was added to the wishlist. Pigments can be worn a number of the ways but I think they look best layered over eyeshadows. This colour is so sparkly and gorgeous. I love it!
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My Top 5 Lipsticks
7/11/2013

My Top 5 Lipsticks

Lipstick is an interesting thing. Some people love it and others seem to hate it, instead reaching for clear lip balms. Again, like eyeshadow I think lipstick is a great way to experiment with colour in a makeup look and it always adds a bit of something-something to the face. I have about ten lipsticks and I always like to throw one on if I'm not wearing much eye makeup. Like last week this was another hard decision, mainly because my entire lipstick collection is more or less Mac lipsticks. I'm thinking of doing a post similar to this but with all Mac lipsticks so let me know if you'd like to see it.



As always, in no particular order..

Mac Amplified Creme in Impassioned Mac's Amplified and Cremesheen lipsticks are my favourite formulas. This lipstick is a combination of the two so you get a lovely creamy and pigmented lip colour in return. This shade is a bright, raspberry pink. It is a great Summer lipstick and it definitely complements a tan well.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in #6 I really love the formulation of these lipsticks. They're creamy and a little bit sheerer so they aren't a hassle to reapply throughout the day. This shade is probably the closest one I have to being a nude in my collection and it is more pink-toned than brown. Being pale I find it hard to find a nude that doesn't make me look washed out or give me the zinc lip effect. This one is so natural. While YSL lipsticks are expensive I really love the formula and colour selection of these lipsticks. They're the perfect handbag essential.

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Brilliant Blogs, Edition 12-The British Beauty Bonanza
7/09/2013

Brilliant Blogs, Edition 12-The British Beauty Bonanza

Up to last year I read a fair few blogs religiously. I don't know if my tastes have changed but that number has definitely dropped. What makes me go back to a blog is a story for another day but these four are definitely revisit-worthy. Today I bring you the fantastic three, the best of the British beauty blogs.


Vivianna Does Makeup This blog penned by Anna is crammed with all things beauty. Occasionally she dabbles in a bit of food and fashion blogging but for the most part she is a dedicated beauty blogger. Anna updates her blog daily with fresh posts so there is always something new to read. Vivianna Does Makeup is definitely one of my favourite blogs. Her reviews are fantastic and she always covers a nice range of products. Some of my favourite beauty products were first spotted on VDM, and these other blogs actually. Thanks for that Anna. I'm not sure my bank balance is as thankful..

I Covet Thee Alix's blog was actually recommended to me by a friend of mine and I'm so glad she told me about it. Alix blogs mainly about beauty but she also shares a lot of lifestyle posts including her fashionable finds and snippets of her life captured on Instagram. Alix shares blog posts a few times a week but she also makes YouTube videos as well which are well worth the watch. Alix is a similar age to me and she always shares beauty products+fashion purchases that are within my price range which I like. Sometimes when people talk about their designer bags in videos I can feel a bit disconnected. Anyway, definitely check out I Covet Thee. Alix has fabulous style and is always in the know about the best of all things beauty.
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The 50 Random Facts About Me Tag
7/08/2013

The 50 Random Facts About Me Tag

This tag has been floating around YouTube and various blogs a lot recently and I thought it might be fun to do. I'm one of those people who can never think of something to tell people about themselves in icebreaker situations so at least now I have a list of fifty things on hand! Hopefully you'll learn something new too. If you're a blogger or YouTuber reading this then I tag you to do this. It's a lot of fun thinking of things. On with the revelations..


1. I love glitter! I always have. I'm not sure when this started exactly but I do remember having several pairs of sparkly jelly shoes when I was younger so maybe that's where it stemmed from. I am always drawn to sparkly clothes, makeup, accessories. Probably the only glitter item I don't particularly like are sparkly cards, especially the ones which always shed glitter!

2. I've been wearing glasses since I was three years old. I wear contact lenses nowadays but if I'm just around the house I wear glasses.

3. One time I nearly met Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Nearly

4. My favourite colour is mint green. Not a bright mint, more a pastel, duck-egg blue shade. It isn't a colour I'd necessarily wear in outfits but I like it for accessories, nail colours, stationery etc.

5. I am terrified of rats and mice, this fear has a name, musophobia as Google just told me. This probably started when a family friend's son tormented me with their pet rat. A few years ago we had a problem with mice in our house and I packed a bag and moved out for a week. That's how much I don't like them.


6. I love statement rings and necklaces. Obviously I can't afford fine jewellery so I try to find ones that look almost real. Anything too plastic and shiny looking doesn't appeal to me.

7. I have never understood the appeal of fishnet stockings and mesh tops. This will always remain a mystery to me as I personally think both are hideous.

8. My first pet was a cat called Thomas. She was a girl but I insisted she be called Thomas because I liked watching Thomas The Tank Engine at that time.

9. One of my fondest childhood memories are our trips away to beaches like Papamoa and Whangamata with my cousins and their family. We never got to see them very often so it was always a treat.

10. Sometimes I manage to trip over when there is nothing around for me to lose my footing. Embarrassing for me, amusing for passersby.

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The Extras: Origins GinZing Moisturiser
7/06/2013

The Extras: Origins GinZing Moisturiser

I've tried a few moisturisers in the last few years. Mac's Studio Moisture Cream didn't suit my skin too nicely, Kiehl's Ultra Repair was too creamy and didn't sink into the skin very well. Bring in Origins GinZing, the new energy boosting moisturiser.



The GinZing moisturiser joins the already popular eye cream of the same name. With ingredients like ginseng, citrus oil and coffee beans, skin is revitalised and left with a healthy glow. You aren't left with any excess shine on the skin which can happen with heavier moisturisers. It has a light-weight, almost gel-like texture and it sinks into the skin rapidly. It makes a nice base for makeup as well as it doesn't leave a film behind on the skin. I love that this moisturiser doesn't contain mineral oil, parabens, synthetic fragrances and other nasties too. I am really impressed by this moisturiser. It is lightweight and super hydrating. If your skin's prone to a little bit of dryness or looking lackluster then you will love this. This moisturiser is great for combination/oily skin, sensitive skin or anyone looking for a well performing moisturiser that doesn't have too many extra properties.

Origins GinZing Moisturiser can be purchased in New Zealand from Mecca Cosmetica stores, online here or at Origins counters worldwide.
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The Week #61
7/05/2013

The Week #61



The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *The best organic icecream ever, OOB Mint Chocolate chip *Starting Wednesday right with the latest Frankie magazine and a berry tea *A blast from the past, my very first issue of Teen Vogue *Behind the scenes chaos on this post *Tuesday's fotd *I love this sparkly clutch from Colette. 

Must-Watch of the Week: Daily Mix have been running a series over on their channel all week called Beauty Bootcamp to pick a new beauty star to make videos for their channels. The contestants are all really good and the judges include Tanya Burr, Zoe of Zoella, Sam and Nic from Pixiwoo and more. It's really fun to watch..I'm quite sad it's only one week! Definitely go watch the videos if you haven't already.

Product of the Week: Mac matte lipstick in Lady Danger. This cherry red is so vibrant and incredibly long lasting. Seriously, it lasted on my lips through dinner on Tuesday and I didn't need to reapply it. Unlike other mattes it applies quite creamy and if you're after a new red lipstick I'd recommend having a look at this one.

Must-Read of the Week: I haven't done much reading this week but one website I keep going back to is online magazine Nouvelle Daily. Their beauty section has been well thumbed this week. I really enjoyed the Beauty on a Budget post in a particular. Love that Topshop lipstick! If you love fashion, beauty and lifestyle then definitely check out this blog.

Added to the Wishlist: My mini sized Tocca candle has nearly bit the dust so I've got my eye on the full sized version from Mecca. I love this scent and it ends up perfuming my house for most of the day after it's finished burning. Sometimes I just get it out of its box so the scent can fill the room. Another product that's on the wishlist at the moment is Nars creamy concealer in Vanilla which is getting a lot of online love at the moment. It also seems to be the shade that seems to sell out everywhere, including here in New Zealand. Hopefully they'll be back in stock by the time my current one runs out. 

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! I've been doing a bit of writing over on my nzgirl account recently and have some more posts coming up. Like them if they're the kind of posts you like to see. I have also been featured in Popbasic's style guide for their Salut collection. Definitely go have a look at that collection because it is fab. That's also on my wishlist actually..
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My Top Five Eyeshadows
7/04/2013

My Top Five Eyeshadows

I love eyeshadow. I think it's the one part of makeup where you can really get a bit creative. A wash of colour swept across the lids always manages to add a glamorous touch to makeup looks. Narrowing my favourite eyeshadows down to five was incredibly difficult. If some are missing know that I probably wanted to include them but didn't want this post to take a day to read. This is part two of a three part series. You can read part one about brushes here.

As always, in no particular order, here are my top five eyeshadows:


Mac Veluxe Pearl eyeshadow in All That Glitters This is my favourite eyeshadow and not just because of its name, promise! The colour is a champagne-pink with fine glitters running through it. It looks so beautiful by itself or layered with a reflects glitter like Pearl (also from Mac). This eyeshadow is shimmery but you aren't left looking like a disco ball. It's love in one shiny black package basically.

NARS eyeshadow in Night Star The first thing you need to know about Nars eyeshadows is that they are buttery smooth. They glide onto the eyelids. The second thing you need to know is that they have darn good staying power. This shade is quite shimmery so it looks stunning layered lightly over other shades. It is quite sheer though so I wouldn't wear it alone unless something like Naked Lunch was underneath.
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Editorials & Pretty Trinkets #2-The Teen Vogue Edition
7/02/2013

Editorials & Pretty Trinkets #2-The Teen Vogue Edition

Hi everyone, I thought I'd mix things up a bit this month and try to do one non-beauty post a week. I do love writing about beauty but I think every once and a while it's nice to step outside your niche and mix things up a bit. Longtime readers of the blog will know I've been a fan of Teen Vogue magazine and the work they do since my teens really, and I still am now. Today I thought I'd do a follow up post to this one from January. These are some of my favourite editorials from their archives. Enjoy!

Elle Fanning in Valentino, February 2012. Benefit Benetint*, ring by Lovisa, hairband from Diva and Figs & Rouge Lemon Berry lip balm.

Click through for more!
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June Favourites
7/01/2013

June Favourites

Oh my, it's July!* Sorry this post is a little late. Choosing June's beauty favourites was no easy task with a lot of products old and new taking my fancy. There's a bit of everything this month and even some honourable mentions. Here's what earned a place in favourite-ville during June.


Benefit They're Real! Mascara The love affair continues. This mascara lengthens, defines and volumises the lashes without clumping or smudging. It is easy to apply, although separating the lashes requires a bit of mastery. Regardless, this is a fantastic mascara and I don't think I'll be without this in my collection for a while yet.

Antipodes Joyful Hand and Body Cream This fruity hand cream is the only one not drying out my hands this Winter. It sinks into the skin so fast, you aren't left with greasy residue and the skin feels silky smooth. If you suffer from slightly dry or sensitive skin then this would be good for you.

Mac Amplified Lipstick in Show Orchid This shade is a bright fuschia with very fine blue glitters running through it which give it a slightly glossy finish. Amplified lipsticks are pretty long lasting but if you want the colour to stay on then apply a lip pencil all over the lips first. This shade seems to flatter a wide range of skintones but if you're unsure about it then go try it on yourself at a Mac counter first.
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