September Favourites
9/29/2013

September Favourites

September is one of my favourite times of year. Not only do we get to marvel at all the fabulous Spring collections but here in New Zealand we get to break out the more Spring appropriate makeup. I had two weeks holiday this month so a lot of the time I wasn't even wearing makeup. When I did though there were definitely some standout products that I loved and wanted to use a lot..


Beauty Favourites

EOS Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm Winter seems to leave my lips a dry, chapped mess which obviously isn't ideal. A combination of this, this lip butter and a little bit of this lip scrub all seem to be doing the job. Anyway, this lip balm is fantastic. It's not overly thick but has just the right amount of moisture to leave your lips hydrated.

Mac Eyeshadow in Nylon This eyeshadow is the perfect inner corner highlight. Applying shadow to the tear duct area (inner corner) of the eye really brightens them up and makes your eyes appear wider and further apart. This shade in particular is shimmery but is more wearable for daytime than some other highlighting shades. I like to wear this over the lid with some neutral shades as well.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak Coral and orange lipsticks are not something I usually head towards but they're the kind of shades I am obsessed with at the moment. This lipstick is super pigmented and moisturising. Some brands seem to bring out moisturising lipsticks but have sheerer finishes and vice versa so Urban Decay are ahead of the pack with this one. Next on my wishlist is Bang, a bright orange-red.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla Let's get straight to the point. Is this concealer worth the hunt and the hype that follows with it? Absolutely. It's like nothing else I've used. Most full coverage concealers I've tried usually go cakey or feel drying once applied. This one is creamy and has a velvet texture. There's a wide range of shades available as well so you should find something to suit your skin tone.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Rollerball, limited edition. I love Marc Jacobs perfumes, I don't think there's ever been one I haven't particularly liked. I've had this in my handbag all month to apply once my other perfumes start to wear off. These are great to take traveling as well, especially as most perfume bottles can be quite bulky.

Urban Decay 'Chill' Makeup Setting Spray There's nothing particularly new or revolutionary about setting sprays but Urban Decay's are pretty good. You spritz this over your face like a mist and it sets your makeup helping it stay in place and also last longer. This setting spray is fantastic. I just wish it was available in a smaller size like Urban Decay's other setting sprays.
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The Week #73
9/27/2013

The Week #73


The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *I'm easily drawn to Hello Kitty and Peter Alexander Sleepwear, more so when they are on sale. *The long-awaited hqhair stash arrived-post coming next week. *Britney and I visited Kikki K this week and left wanting all the duck egg blue things. *A new phone case from Iconemesis featuring the one and only Fifi Lapin. *Lush Bath Ballistics are my favourite. *The best kind of Friday morning.

Must-Watch of the Week: I don't know if it's just because a lot of my friends have been overseas recently, or perhaps I'm just missing Sephora a little bit too much, but I am loving watching Sephora hauls at the moment. Estee was recently in Canada and vlogged about her drugstore and Sephora finds. Beauty lovers start grabbing pen and paper to make note of things for when you visit overseas.

Product of the Week: Quite a few products could have made their way here this week but one has definitely stood out. Here's looking at you Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. The lighter shades went out of stock at Mecca for a long time so I quickly picked up my shade whilst it was still around. I use Vanilla which is a perfect match for my skintone. This concealer is pretty long lasting once set with powder as well and it is creaseproof. Nars, I'm impressed.

Must-Read of the Week: Frankie magazine, better known as the ultimate traveling companion. I often take Frankie magazines and my iPod on the train. It's entertainment and de-stressing all in one package. My ode to Frankie here best explains why I love it so darn much.

Added to the Wishlist: Lush has their Christmas range coming out next month. Yes it's early. Too soon? Definitely not, especially when you can stock up on your favourites. I had a look at some of the new products this week and there are some gems. I'm most looking forward to restocking on Snow Fairy, what lollies would smell like if they were bottled. Too tempting!


*Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Apologies for the lack of 'life' photos this week. I've been back at University and into assignments and things. No time for adventures sadly! xo

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Icon As Muse: Elle Fanning
9/25/2013

Icon As Muse: Elle Fanning

There's something about Elle Fanning. Not only is she an incredibly gifted actress, she also has a knack for creating outfits that send the fashion world into an excitable frenzy. The likes of Burberry and Marc Jacobs certainly seem to be inspired by her outfit choices. Elle loves to dress girly. She wears a lot of vintage inspired pieces and at times adds some masculine influenced pieces, a la Alexa Chung, into her wardrobe. I love Elle's style. She really cleverly constructs outfits and doesn't take fashion too seriously, she does like to have fun with it. Today I thought I'd show you how to recreate some of Elle's fashion and beauty looks. Enjoy!

Elle in Miss Vogue, Australia


♥ I love the combination of the pencil skirt, printed shirt and the loafers above. It's very preppy but you can always make this less serious with fun accessories and chic glasses which Elle often wears. I love that ring as well, it's so cute!
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The Holiday Reading Pile
9/23/2013

The Holiday Reading Pile


The Help By Kathryn Stockett, available here. I've been wanting to read this book for the longest time and I am so glad I finally did. I don't read a lot of novels but this is easily one of the best I have read in a long time. The Help tells the story of Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan, a young writer from Jackson Mississippi, and her quest to challenge 1960's thinking. The novel is written from three perspectives, Skeeter's and two coloured maids Minny and Aibileen. The stories all intertwine and all three voices are relatable. You'll find yourself connecting to aspects of their stories when you read this. I really don't want to give an awful lot away here but this book really is fantastic. I could not put it down and will definitely be rereading this over Summer.

It by Alexa Chung, available here. A couple of years ago now Alexa joked to Teen Vogue that she'd love to pen a book about all things Alexa, aptly named the 'Alexicon'. That never happened but now we have It instead. The book itself is like a visual, inspirational diary of sorts. Alexa reminisces on the Spice Girls and how they influenced her style, who exactly are her style icons, heartbreak, how to achieve her effortless makeup look and more. Throughout you will find candid snapshots, personal pictures of Alexa and her friends as well as her own illustrations. If you're already a fan of Alexa Chung's style and want an insight into her world then you will love this book.

*Have you got any book recommendations for me? Leave them in the comments below!
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The Week #72
9/20/2013

The Week #72


The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *The current contents of my skincare shelf. *Watched This Is Us, with some fellow directioners. *Some of my visual inspirations. *My new quilt combining my love of spots and florals. *KiwiYo goodness with friends. *Some of yesterday's purchases. 

Must-Watch of the Week: I'm sure by now you'll know I love Lorde and her music, I have that in common with the girl population of New Zealand the world. Anyway one of our local current affairs shows did an interview with her. It was really good and if you didn't think Lorde was a genius before you will after watching it. The full interview can be watched here. To my overseas readers, sorry if this doesn't play for you. I'm not sure if it'll work outside of NZ. 

Product of the Week: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak, available here. I do love creamy lipsticks but sometimes they can be a bit sheerer and therefore aren't as long lasting. This lipstick is creamy, pigmented and super long lasting. It does dry to a near-matte finish but it doesn't feel drying on the lips like some matte lipsticks can. In short, I love this lipstick.

Must-Read of the Week: I was feeling a bit down yesterday when I stumbled upon this post on Kate of Ghost Parties blog. I'll let the post do the talking but basically if you're feeling a bit down this will cheer you up or at least inspire you to make positive life changes.


Added to the Wishlist: Origins Make A Difference Plus Toner. This hasn't been released here yet but after reading Kate's review I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it once it lands in stores. Origins have really been a brand that's impressed me this year in terms of skincare. Have you tried any of their toners? Let me know your thoughts. 



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Skincare Staples: An Update
9/18/2013

Skincare Staples: An Update

In truth, skincare was never something I took very seriously until this year. 1) I didn't have the money to buy decent skincare bits when I pleased and 2) The expensive products I did try, usually recommended by beauty therapists didn't really do their job, and at times aggravated my skin's problems. I think forming a skincare routine really comes down to you. You know your skin better than anyone else and you eventually work out what is effective and what is not. I have combination skin so I try to look for products that are designed to be gentler on the skin and sink into the skin rather than sitting on the surface. My current routine ticks almost all of those boxes. If you do like any of these products go in store and try them for yourself first. What works for me may not be as effective on someone with dry skin for instance. Ramblings aside, here's what is currently sitting on the skincare shelf..


Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cream Cleanser* If you've got sensitive skin then this cleanser will be perfect for you. As the name would suggest it is extremely gentle. It is scented but it is barely noticeable. Your skin is left a lot smoother after using this and it really removes all the grime well.

Olive Hydrating Facial Toner* Using toners was a step I deemed unnecessary, until I read the Queen of Skincare, Caroline Hiron's blog. This toning mist is designed for on the go use. After cleansing you can just spritz this over the skin. I like to spritz this a few times onto a cotton pad and then I sweep it over my face and neck. As this toner is so lightweight it doesn't irritate my skin. I find this quite soothing on my skin so I'm glad I added it into my routine.

Bioderma Micellar Solution, available here The ultimate makeup remover. It's lightweight, unscented and removes makeup like nothing else. I know this product isn't easy to find outside of France and the UK but now we can buy it online. Other brands have done micellar waters too so if you hunt around online and in stores you should be able to find one. 

Origins GinZing Moisturiser This lightweight, energy boosting moisturiser can be applied both morning and night. I usually forget to apply this in the morning but I always use it at night. If you've got normal or combination-oily skin then this moisturiser will be perfect for you. It sinks into the skin well and adds a touch of hydration where you need it.
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Celine Rita Summer 13/14
9/17/2013

Celine Rita Summer 13/14

Last Thursday bloggers were invited to escape the wet weather and step inside the inviting Celine Rita store to view her Summer '13 collection, A Captivating Lady. The collection itself is inspired by Princess Diana and an English Summer. Beautiful floral silks perfect for High Tea or sipping Pimms at a Garden Party. There was gorgeous florals, pastels and tailoring aplenty. I added a few things to my mental wishlist that's for sure.

Here's some highlights from the new collection and pictures that my camera(s) captured..


New season Celine Rita prettiness.
Delicious High Tea, fit for a Princess.


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The Spring Beauty Edit
9/16/2013

The Spring Beauty Edit

I love Spring. It's not unbearably hot or ridiculously cold. Flowers make a reappearance and strawberries start to come back in season. Spring is also the time when wine-red lipsticks and vampier eyeshadows start to disappear. Bring in the Spring beauty edit; pink lips, a touch of pastel and cheeks lit from within. All bases covered..


Benefit Blush in Rockateur This is Benefit's newest boxed blush and it doesn't disappoint. Admittedly the packaging really isn't my favourite but the blush itself is fantastic so that's all that matters. Rockateur is a rose-gold shade. It isn't as shimmery as some of Benefit's other boxed blushes so if you aren't a fan of glittery face powders then you may like this one. The colour itself is quite subtle but it really gives you the most gorgeous glow. I love it!

Mac Eyeshadow in A Natural Flirt (limited edition) This shade is like a lighter version of All That Glitters. Shimmery champagne shadows like this look so pretty swept across the eye with a little bit of mascara. Perfect for low key makeup days.

Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs A floral, fruity fragrance, how cliched of me. I love all of Marc Jacobs' fragrances though. Any of his Daisy perfumes are great to wear in Spring and Summer. I often find myself adding this to my bag when I'm holidaying during those two seasons. It's so lightweight and  it smells amazing.
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The Week #71
9/13/2013

The Week #71


The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *The Melbourne prepping has begun. *Celine Rita's stunning new Summer collection, inspired by Princess Diana. *Spring nails by Lisa at Leah Light Nails and Beauty. *Cereal heaven at Martha's Backyard. *Red lip bonanza. *Saturday mornings are blissful, always.

Must-Watch of the Week: I hope you're sitting comfortably because there's a few videos you must watch: #1-Amelia recently returned from a trip around the States. The good news here is that she made a vlog of her adventures around the country. I have been to New York City before but nowhere else in America so I really enjoyed watching this. Now I want to go to California and Los Angeles really badly! They look beautiful. Check that out here.

#2-As some of you may know, Tavi Gevinson of Style Rookie and Rookie fame was in Australia last month. She was there to talk about her world and touches on topics like fangirling, depression and being creative. Tavi's blog was one of the very first ones I ever read and I've been inspired by her since then. If you want to feel inspired then you should go watch her talk at the Melbourne Writer's festival here. You can download the talk as an audio or video clip, so you can listen/watch it whenever you please.

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The Extras: Rimmel Salon Pro
9/11/2013

The Extras: Rimmel Salon Pro

When it comes to nails, nothing quite beats the gel manicure. They're a lot more chip resistant, have a gorgeous glossy finish and super-smooth texture. Well now they've got a bit of competition from the  Rimmel Salon Pro collection.


The new range is a collaboration with Kate Moss who has also done a lipstick collection for Rimmel which has been incredibly popular, #107 anyone? There are thirteen shades in total and there is something for everyone from these bolds to a gorgeous nude which Hannah featured. 

I have the shades Jazz Funk* and Hip Hop, two of the more vibrant shades from the collection. For a while I have been more of a glitters, pastals and neutrals girl. Since I've been getting gel manicures I've been wearing a lot more brighter shades so these two are right up my street. These colours are both really vibrant and glossy, perfect for Summer. You could probably get away with wearing just one coat, that's how opaque they are.
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New to the Beauty Bazaar
9/09/2013

New to the Beauty Bazaar

So I've done a little bit of beauty shopping recently. All these things are products I've wanted to try for a long time or were missing from my collection. This will probably be the last haul style post I do for a while as I'm saving for an overseas trip in November but you'll still see new things in my favourites posts and the odd review here and there.

So here's what made its way into the beauty bazaar lately..

That candle in the background is by Citta Design. I'm not sure what scent it is but it smells amazing.

Urban Decay 'Chill' Makeup Setting Spray, purchased from Beauty Bay. My Fix+ spray by Mac has more or less run out. I've been through three or so bottles in the last year and it's not the cheapest of setting sprays so I didn't really want to repurchase it. I'd heard lots of good things about the Urban Decay setting sprays so I decided to purchase this one. This setting spray is a hydrating and cooling spray that fixes makeup firmly into place. It is very lightweight, and it sets pretty quickly once spritzed. I've used this a couple of times already and it definitely does make a difference. My makeup lasts a lot longer before it needs retouching as well. I'm impressed so far!

EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet I've seen these lip balms before at a couple of stores in Auckland but an American grocery-style store had the best selection of flavours so I grabbed this one. It really does smell like strawberry icecream, so good! The EOS lip balms are 95% organic and are formulated without petroleum or parabens aka the nasty stuff. Usually I find drug store lip balms can be quite drying but this one doesn't seem to be. My lips were quite dehydrated before I got this and they seem to be fine again now. If your lips are dry then you should definitely try to track these down.
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The Vogue Factor
9/08/2013

The Vogue Factor

It was once quoted in what is arguably one of the most iconic fashion films of the last decade that; 'a million girls would kill for this job'. That job of course being the Editor in Chief of Runway, a fictitious magazine said to be inspired by events that happened in the Vogue offices. After being completely transfixed by Grace Coddington in The September Issue, I bought her book and had finished it in a matter of days. Vogue Australia is a little bit closer to our shores so I was really looking forward to reading The Vogue Factor, penned by Kirstie Clements. It doesn't seem to have been released here in New Zealand but I found and purchased my copy online here.


Kirstie Clements spent a lot of time at Vogue Australia before being unceremoniously sacked last year. She worked her way up the Vogue ladder starting as a receptionist and worked in the fashion and beauty departments before eventually becoming Editor in Chief of the magazine. This book charts her career at Vogue and includes many a story along the way. The time Karl Lagerfeld guest edited the magazine particularly stands out as does stories of the Fashion Weeks abroad. Fans who remember the 50th anniversary issue with the stunning Cate Blanchett illustrated covers will be pleased to know that gets a mention as well. I also enjoyed the story about Princess Mary's cover shoot as well, despite not knowing an awful lot about the Australian royal.  As a (self-confessed) magazine addict I found the insights into how magazines are made and all the goings-on really interesting too.

I really enjoyed The Vogue Factor. While the book is by no means lengthy Kirstie covers enough of her time at Vogue for fashionistas and aspiring writers alike to be left satisfied. If you've been reading the magazine for a while or genuinely love fashion and beauty magazines then you'll love this book. Now, if only the rest of the Vogue editors would follow suit. Who else wants to see Alex Schulman and Anna Wintour writing their memoirs? I know those would be two books that'd be added to my shopping cart pretty fast..

*Have you read any fashion memoirs? Leave your recommendations below! x
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The Week #70
9/06/2013

The Week #70



The Week in Instagrams @nanawintour: *Pretty blossoms on a sunny Spring day. *A change of season calls for a new pinboard. *The current eye product rotation. *The fruity, fresh and floral Perfume Roster. *Weekend's off are the best. *Nouvelle Daily is a rather rad blog.

Must-Watch of the Week: I'm a fan of flawless makeup. The whole 'no makeup, makeup' look that actually takes a lot of time to get right? I'm all over that. It seems that Alix is also a fan of this minimalistic approach to beauty. She shared this video of a Drew Barrymore inspired look on her channel this week and I love it. If you've visited my Facebook page recently you'd know I am obsessed with glossy red lips at the moment. More on that below..

Product of the Week: After seeing some of the stunning looks Mac have been creating at Fashion Week the standout lip at Zambesi caught my eye. I recreated it yesterday using; Mac Redd Pencil, Mac Scarlet Ibis Lipstick (limited edition) and Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in Riviera. For the glossy finish I just used a little bit of a sheer pink Bobbi Brown lipgloss (also limited edition) but you can use whichever gloss you fancy.

Must-Read of the Week: Most of my reading this week has been of the local Fashion Week coverage. As I write this Day 3's shows haven't even started but my favourite collection so far has got to be the one presented by Twenty Seven Names. The collection was inspired by Surrealist Rene Magritte, hence the bowler hats. Each of the looks are classic, elegant and definitely have wearability factor. Check out Katherine's other nzfw posts as well. She does the best coverage of all the shows and backstage happenings.

Added to the Wishlist: Other than the satchel I take to and from Uni most days I don't really own any other handbags. That's not entirely true. I do have handbags but they're on the smaller, flimsier side and aren't ideal for long days. The Zara City bag seems to be the handbag of choice for the fashion and blogging sets alike. While it isn't the smallest of bags it is more practical and still manages to look chicer than the hobo style handbags that were trending not too long ago. I'm off to Melbourne in November and I'll definitely be heading to Zara to have a look at their bag selection. Check it out here.


*Have an amazing weekend everybody. I am next level tired so I don't have any major plans other than celebrating the fact that it's the holidays! xo
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Brilliant Blogs, Edition 13
9/04/2013

Brilliant Blogs, Edition 13

Longtime readers of this blog will know that I love a good daily read, Rookie, here's looking at you. When I stumbled upon this blog I was rather excited. Fashion, beauty and lifestyle needs are all taken care of. If you love reading about any of those things then you are going to love Nouvelle Daily.



All images via the Nouvelle Daily blog.
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The Perfume Roster
9/02/2013

The Perfume Roster

So there's a couple of things you need to know about my perfume habits. #1-I don't own a lot of perfumes, I have 6 in total. #2-I typically like scents that are quite fruity and floral. #3-I'm not a fan of celebrity fragrances. Maybe it's just me but after a while they all seem to smell the same and they have the worst staying power in my opinion. In general though I love perfumes and I wear them daily. There's no scent that's really my signature but for a while it was Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel. My perfumes tend to get rotated and I wear different ones most days, hence the roster of sorts! Today I thought I'd share with you some of my most loved fragrances..


Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs, a duty free purchase. Perfumes are quite expensive in New Zealand so I usually tend to only buy them from the Duty Free stores at the airport or when they're on sale. This was purchased a couple of years ago when I was going to Sydney. The original Daisy was my favourite perfume at the time and this one is similar but it is fruitier and less floral. With notes of grapefruit, raspberry and pear it smells delicious, good enough to eat! This scent doesn't last all day but if you can get a hand on one of the rollerballs or a travalo then you can always top this up during the day.

Lime, Basil and Mandarin Cologne by Jo Malone, a gift. Jo Malone's scents are divine. The fact they come in boxes tied with ribbon certainly helps but the scents definitely do the talking all by themselves. This cologne is the signature Jo Malone scent. It is quite different to the fragrances I usually like to wear  but I love it for that reason. I love to wear this one in Summer. Jo Malone's scents can often be layered with other fragrances and sometimes I pair this with Daisy ESF and it smells amazing

Daisy by Marc Jacobs rollerball, limited edition. The original Marc Jacobs fragrance that took the world by storm. I'm sure everyone has owned this at some point or at least would recognise the scent. It contains notes of strawberry, violet leaves, grapefruit, gardenia and violet petals among others. It is the perfect blend of floral and fruity that I love in fragrances. This one will always be special to me because it reminds me of high school and conjures some nostalgic teenage memories for me.

Philosykos Eau De Toilette by Diptyque, a birthday purchase. This fragrance is the most recent addition to my perfume collection. It even made its way into my August Favourites post. Like the Jo Malone fragrance this one is quite different to anything else I have ever owned. Its notes of fig leaves, white cedar and wood make this scent fresh and earthy whilst still remaining feminine and elegant. There is something about Philosykos that seems grown up and sophisticated. If you're ever near Mecca Cosmetica then you should definitely go have a spritz of this and the other Diptyque offerings.

*What are your favourite perfumes?

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