January Roundup
1/31/2015

January Roundup




It's the last day of January and I'm looking back on the month in blog posts. I cut back on posting and videos a bit in January and a few of you commented in my survey that you want me to post more. For now, I find three posts a week more manageable and don't feel as creatively stunted if that makes sense. Don't get me wrong I love blogging but at the end of last year I found myself tired and not wanting to write which is very unusual for me. As for videos, I'm feeling a bit uninspired with that but I'm going to try to get back into it next month. Anyway, without further ado, here's some of what went up on my blog this month..

The Kylie Jenner Lip-Kylie's quite the makeup maven and over the last few years, her beauty looks have been taking the world by storm. I've been loving her lipstick hues of choice in particular. That browny-pink toned nude? Swoon. Soar from Mac and Nars' Audacious Lipstick in Anna is my favourite combo at the moment.

My 2015 Beauty Resolutions-While I like to keep my personal resolutions to myself, I'm happy to share my beauty ones with you all. At the end of this month I can tell you it's going relatively well. I'm not doing so good at wearing less makeup. My skin's been a bit problematic recently so I've been piling the concealer on. I've also been quite slack with skincare too which probably explains my former dilemma. I'm now getting back into the latter though and noticing how much of a difference it makes.

12 Blogs To Read In '15-A new year calls for new 'reads and this post rounds up some of my new favourites and longtime blogging loves. There's a bit of everything in there so get comfy, grab a cup of tea and find a blog or two to discover.

Glitter & Inspiration | My Blogcademy Experience-Blogcademy seems like a lifetime ago now and looking back it was definitely one of my favourite moments of 2014. This post is photo-heavy and features some of my favourite anecdotes that I took away from the two day workshop.

The January Reading List-Books and beauty, the two B's that I love. I introduced a new feature where I share books I've read/am reading every month with you all. This month there was two brilliant non-fiction books from women writers and also two fantastic novels. Keep an eye out for February's installment on Monday.
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The Week #140
1/30/2015

The Week #140




Acai Bowls for Breakfast: Muesli is one of my favourite breakfast foods. I'd probably eat it for lunch too if I could. Acai Bowls however take breakfast cereal to the next level. How delicious do they look!? I'm yet to try one but will be scouring the web for recipes. If you have any recommendations, leave 'em below.

A New Read: I'm always on the hunt for new things to read and I recently spotted Kiera Cass' books over on Maria's Instagram. She recommends them highly, and you can guarantee once I have Book #1 in my hands, I'll be unreachable for the next few days. Not really, but I do zone out to the next lev with a book.

Alexa Chung for AG: A denim piece of clothing, no less a denim dress!? I have to say my lack of enthusiasm for denim has been missing this Summer. I basically live in denim cutoffs right now. Anyway, my favourite style queen Alexa has recently collaborated with AG. I won't link the collection, as most of it's long sold-out. Britney did some pretty rad illustrations of the pieces though which you should check out.

I Got Spendy (ish): I'm going to blame YouTube, Pinterest, current decor trends etc for my ongoing obsession with rose-gold themed everything. I spotted this gorgeous rose gold bowl in a shop in Ponsonby Central. I've been looking for something like this for a while to store my palettes so they're not all over the place in my makeup drawer. It fits all the ones I have fine, I can actually lay my Mac one flat in it and I love having them all out in full view.

Simple's Micellar Water: It seems like here in NZ we've gone from not being able to access micellar waters at all to having two arriving on the market in March. On Tuesday I went to the launch for Simple's Micellar Water at the Sofitel. Side note: the Sofitel is the most beautiful hotel in Auckland. I'm looking for excuses to stay there. I've been really impressed by this micellar water but more on that next week..

*Have utterly rad weekends everybody! In between hiding from the crazy heat I'll be going along to #BloggersBrunchClub with Ellen and an engagement party for one of my friends. Oh and blogging of course. x
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Summer in Pictures, so far!
1/28/2015

Summer in Pictures, so far!


Summer is one of my favourite seasons and whilst I whinge a little bit about the heat, I secretly love it. January's been a somewhat busy month, and while I didn't take my camera with me everywhere, I tried to document some of my adventures+activities where I could. If you enjoy this I might try to make it a seasonal thing. Anyway, here's some of what I've snapped in Summer..



*I've started using my visual journal to document my inspiration again. I've really enjoyed doing this so I might make a post about it if you're interested.

*Gingerella on the side of a building in Wellington. I tried finding a bottle of it whilst I was down there but couldn't. The packaging is pretty darn rad though.



I had a little Golden Globes viewing party for one. Basically all of my picks to win left award-less but it was fun watching it anyway. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler's monologue was worth the two/three hours alone.

A window display that I loved in Wellington and a card from my Kikki K set. 



A little snippet inside my 2015 diary. Those shadows are from my hair (I think) which looks insane! Bed head ftw.

The gorgeous sunset outside my bedroom window one night last week. I've always loved shadows and silhouettes so I had to include the bushes in this picture too.



Unity Books in Wellington. One of my favourite bookstores in New Zealand. There's also one in Auckland too. While I don't always buy books when I'm there, I always visit it for a browse if I am near one.

Inside the Yvonne Todd exhibition at City Gallery Wellington. Loved those beaded gowns! She also had her collection of Sweet Valley High books on display and journals which I loved seeing.


*I hope you've enjoyed this little look at what my lens has been documenting over the last month or so. This week's been loverly so far. Yesterday I went to a launch for a new micellar water from Simple. I'll report back in a post next month. Today I'm heading out to mini golf and one of my besties gets back to NZ today! She's been gone for six months and I have missed her a ridiculous amount so I am looking forward to seeing her at the airport. I hope your week's are going awesome. x

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January Favourites
1/26/2015

January Favourites







I'm sounding the monthly favourites whistle for the first time in 2015. There's a surprisingly minimal amount of makeup in here for once which can be attributed to the humidity. Who has time for makeup when it's just going to slide off your face anyway? There's also some reading material and an organisational favourite for the month year. Enjoy! 

PS-I always try to put links to everything in the description box of my video so if you're interested in anything you can click those.
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The Week #139
1/23/2015

The Week #139




Stay inspired: At the start of the year, I feel like it's easy to fall into a bit of a funk if you've not achieved everything you wanted the previous year. Although, tbh, I am my own harshest critic. Well I found these cards in Kikki K the other day and if you need a little visual motivating then I suggest you get them. This one above is one of my favourites at the moment. I do get distracted by things that happened in the past and can zone out so being more present is something I'm mindful of.

Tavi meets The Coveteur: You're probably well aware that I'm a cheerleader for Tavi Gevinson. This isn't an official nor payable job title. Well now one of my favourite blogs on the internet has gone and interviewed her and photographed her space and worldly possessions. I was really happy when the images of this story started appearing on my Instagram. If the idea of these two worlds colliding excites you too then head on over here

Blogger Success: What makes a successful blog? It's the ten million dollar question really. Well, some of the raddest British bloggers including Anna (above), Kat, Suzie and more have shared what they think is behind it all. Bloggers, if you want some inspiration then give it a read.

Inject Colour into your Makeup: When it comes to colour, I only get a bit daring in the lip department. I'm not gonna lie, I am often umming and ahhing over red eyeshadow and navy liners. How bold haha. While I may not be rocking yellow eyeshadow any time soon, Anna's certainly had me inspired to play with colour a bit more after her fun beauty video.

Miley Cyrus for MAC Viva Glam: Ahh Viva Glam. The one and only purchases I have made from this range were Lady Gaga's baby pink numbers of 2010. Oh gosh they looked terrible on me but I loved Lady Gaga and Mac at that time and it supported charity so it wasn't a total loss. Well now they've got Miley on board to front their campaign and I am obsessed with the lipstick she's put her name to. It's a bright, amplified pink, one of my favourite Mac finishes and I am looking forward to grabbing it. NZ readers, pencil February 12th in your diary if you're after this.

*Have the most radtastic weekend everyone! It's Auckland Anniversary weekend and while I didn't nab Laneway tickets *sad face*, I'm hoping it'll still be a fun one. A beach trip looks set to be on the cards, and perhaps a movie sesh. Have a good one xo.
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The Kylie Jenner Lip
1/22/2015

The Kylie Jenner Lip




For those of you who want to see what colours look like on, I am wearing Anna in the photo on the left and Soar in the photo on the right.


Whether you like the Jenner+Kardashian clan, or loathe them, you cannot deny that their makeup is always on point. Yes they have a team of makeup artists to help make them look beautiful but throughout the show* Kylie has often been the one to get daring with her makeup. The girl knows her stuff! Unless you've been under a rock you'll have seen her nude, nineties-esque lip online and in the beauty pages of our favourite glossies. Today I thought I'd share some of my favourite products for achieving the Kylie Jenner lip-look. Luscious pouts are where it's at..

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pink Venus-Okay so this is not strictly a brown-nude, in fact it leans a little bit lighter than Soar but if you don't want to go overboard, this is the lipliner for you. If you overdraw your lips with this one it looks a lot subtler in my opinion. Pink Venus also sits nicely under most nude lipsticks as well which makes it a winner in my eyes. It can be a tad drying so be sure to use a conditioning lip balm first if your lips aren't looking their best.

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anna-The one and only. I won't rave on about this too much today but to me this is the signature Kylie lip colour. It may not be as matte as the colours she tends to favour but it's pretty close. This lipstick has amazing lasting power too. I've worn it at lunches and it doesn't fade. I love the luxe, magnetic packaging too. 

Mac Lip Pencil in Soar-Now according to Kim K, this is the lipliner Kylie uses and loves. As a result it is notoriously difficult to come by these days. I managed to find mine in Wellington which I think was a stroke of luck and the fact the Mac counters had just reopened after the public holidays. You can see above it makes my lips look fuller, even without overdrawing them. For reference, I did try this on overdrawn and liked how it looked. It'd be easy to get carried away though so be careful!

Buxom Full On Lip Cream in White Russian-These lip creams are designed to have a plumping effect. I wouldn't say it makes a drastic difference but it definitely is a lot more noticeable than some other lip plumping products I have tried previously. Again, if you're wanting something a bit more on the subtler side then you should check these out.

-Have you tried any products to achieve Kylie Jenner's signature lip? Which are your favourites?

*Yes I watch the Kardashians and I have no shame nor regrets about this admission. 
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Nana Wintour Reader Survey
1/20/2015

Nana Wintour Reader Survey



Today I am opening up the floor to you lovely people. It's been nearly two years since I last did a survey around these parts, which is way too long ago, let's be real. If you could take a couple of minutes to fill it in I would really appreciate it. Your feedback helps so much. To my NZ friends, I went through my sample stash & gathered up some things which you can be in to win, just by filling out this survey. I'll close off the giveaway in a week's time.

I think that's everything! I'm looking forward to reading your responses.
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12 Blogs To Read in '15
1/19/2015

12 Blogs To Read in '15




Some people start their mornings with the daily newspaper, I start mine with a scroll through my Bloglovin feed. I have my favourites which I read religiously but I'm always on the lookout for new reads to find and be enchanted by. Today I thought I'd share twelve blogs you should read in 2015. Some of these are old favourites but many are new discoveries for me. I hope you find them inspiring and perhaps add some more to your Bloglovin feed..

-Oh Flower Child: Some of my favourite blog discoveries of late have been found through good ol' Instagram. Emma's was no exception. Her beautiful pictures flow across to her blog as well and she shares a range of posts on art, books, beauty and a whole bunch of inspiring things.

-Nubby Twiglet:Slightly off topic but Shauna has the most aesthetically pleasing, mobile-friendly site ever. I was looking at her blog on my phone earlier and it's just beautiful. Shauna's a graphic designer and her love of design and well-focused, composed images is showcased on Nubby Twiglet. She posts a range of rad content and it never fails to inspire me. Design buffs and lifestyle content lovers, you'll enjoy this corner of the interweb.

-Lovely Rose Petal: Albertine is another babe from NZ who has an incredibly awesome blog. She loves beauty, books and sharing her favourite inspirational finds. She also does pretty fab tutorials over on her YouTube channel which you should check out too.

-Beauty Minded: Belgian babe Katia loves all things beauty and she takes the most stunning pictures. She features the best of the best, whether it be drugstore or high-end and writes such detailed reviews. We have similar taste in makeup and beauty brands so I know when she features something that I am going to be bound to love it too. It's a great blog to check out if you're wanting to do a spot of beauty shopping.

-writing in red lipstick: I found Jess' blog through Caelan last year and I am so glad I did. We did a book swap last year and got to know each other a bit more and have lots of similar interests which is awesome. Anyway, Jess is a very creative person. She loves art, books, Peppermint Mochas and beauty. She's recently converted to using cruelty-free beauty products and I'm finding it interesting seeing what products she loves from these brands.

-The Daily Sass: Caelan's blog was one I stumbled upon after finding her Alexa Chung Eyeko video last year. Her bio perfectly sums up her blog: feminism, fashion and fotography. She's also an excellent writer and I love reading the posts about her life. Seriously, Vanity Fair or the New Yorker should hire her.

-Man Repeller: Man Repeller's team of writers, headed by Leandra Medine upload several times a day. There's rarely a day when there's not at least one or two things that I read and find myself smiling and nodding over as a result. They talk fashion, beauty, pop culture and life, and I love it. It's like reading a transcript of a discussion with your highly cultured, intelligent BFF's. Don't ever change MR.

-What Olivia Did: I'll be honest, I don't really look at fashion blogs as much as I used to but when I find a good one, I tend to revisit it often. Olivia's blog takes the cake. Fashion, lifestyle and the odd beauty post thrown in for good measure. Her photos are always amazing as is her writing. She also has rather fabulous style if I do say so myself. Check it out.

-Into The Gloss: I read a lot of international beauty blogs, it's the best way of finding out what's going to be released and ITG has to be one of my favourites. Their Top Shelf feature never fails to disappoint and I always look forward to those posts. Their product round-ups are worth keeping an eye out for as well.

-Views of Now: Izzy and I have been blogging-pals for close to three years now. I know I'm going to sound like such a fangirl, but she has come so far with her blog and her style. Her styling is always spot-on and her pictures look straight like an editorial from a top fashion magazine. She's incredibly good at what she does and I suggest you check her blog out because the girl is going places.

-Scout and Company: Slightly biased here as Britney is one of my friends and all-time favourite people. As well as posting wicked outfit posts, life posts and playlists, she also shares incredibly awesome videos that she makes. Seriously, Britney edits like a boss. Her style is also giving me major Alexa vibes at the moment. Go visit her blog if you need a dose of coolness.

-Tea and Sage: Again, ever so slightly biased as Amy is another of my friends. Tea and Sage is all about wellness, living the life you love and of course a bit of wanderlust. She takes stunning photos of some truly breathtaking places in New Zealand and shares some rather delicious, healthy recipes along the way.

*Which blogs do you read and love?
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The Week #138
1/16/2015

The Week #138




From Bond Girl to Gone Girl-I can't take credit for that catchy Vanity Fair headline sadly but I just had to recycle it here. Vanity Fair's one of my favourite magazines for really darn good writing and also interviews. The February issue has Rosamund Pike as its star and in an editorial with makeup by Charlotte Tilbury *swoon*. The resulting images shot by Mario Testino are stunning as you can see above. Get the issue or track down the editorial online if you can.

Photo Strips-There's something nostalgic and fun about photo strips. When there's a photo booth, and not the one on Apple computers, there's bound to be a good time involved. I ordered these from Social Print Studio using my own Instagram pictures and think they're really neat. They'd look awesome on a pinboard, in a scrapbook, as bookmarks, wherever really. I'll definitely be sharing mine around.

Perfume for your hair?-We had primers for our hair last year and now it looks like it's time for hair perfume to have its moment in the spotlight. I'm not sure how I feel about these and can imagine the scents would evaporate faster in more humid climates. They're also quite a luxe offering, I'm not too sure whether they'll take off. What do you think? I'm a bit skeptical..

The Luxe Foundation Offering-Aka the most expensive of makeup guilty pleasures. I was lucky enough to be given a mini vial of the By Terry 'Terrybly Densilis' foundation in the Shade 5 when I was at Mecca during a treat yo'self naughty moment last year. I really didn't want to like it because it's so depressingly priced but I'm not going to lie to you guys, it was freakin' amazing. It leaves your skin looking so flawless and has impressive coverage, given it is so lightweight on the skin. It's not cakey and you can skip concealer with this one because it does a pretty good job of masking imperfections on its own. It has awesome lasting power too, even in the hot Summer days. I lovelovelove it, and I wish I owned it.

Copper Curios-What is about copper that's so much more aesthetically pleasing than gold or silver hued pieces? Maybe it's the fact that it isn't as showy. Well I've been spying copper-themed storage pieces around and about and have been wanting to incorporate them into my space. I love this basket from H&M Home and will be on the lookout for similar things around Auckland. If you spot any, sing out! 

*Have the best weekend guys! This week's been fab. Last week was a bit 'meh' and this week was the total opposite which was awesome. This weekend I have a couple of catchups with some of my blogging+real life friends (ooh crossover) and one of my school friends planned which should be nice. Ohh and heads up. There will be no video on my channel this Tuesday but I have another important post+a giveaway for my NZ readers instead. See all you cool cats on Monday. 
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The January Reading List
1/15/2015

The January Reading List




Another year, another new feature. Don't be alarmed by the title, beauty isn't going anywhere. I've just made it my mission to inject a bit more lifestyle goodness into NW this year. Variety is the spice of life after all. My Reading Challenge for the year is to read 50 books, so each month I thought I'd share with you some of the ones I'm reading or have read already. At the end of the month I'll let you know which was my favourite in my favourites posts. So here's what I'm looking at in January..

Funny Girl by Nick Hornby-One of my cousins actually got me on to Nick Hornby and after having a look through her selection at Christmas, I left knowing I needed to get onto it. This novel is Hornby's latest and while I'm not finished it at the time of writing this post, I'm very close to it. It's set in the sixties and tells the story of a young woman from Blackpool with her sights set on becoming the next Lucille Ball. She moves to London, captures the hearts of a creative writing team and lands her dream role as the lead in a new TV series. Not everything comes up roses though, for Sophie and many of the characters throughout the novel. I am really enjoying this and kinda hoping we see a movie of it sometime soon. 

Yes Please by Amy Poehler-Before I start this, if you prefer listening to books download the Audio Book of this. Apparently it is brilliant. The book itself did not disappoint either. It's a memoir of sorts but it's so hilariously done and well-written. I was never bored reading this and it was one of those books that really brightened the day if it hadn't been such a good one. Her tribute to BFF Tina Fey was perfect as were the tributes to all her Parks and Rec co-stars. I highly recommend you read this one and also Tina Fey's book, Bossypants

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket-Now these are a re-read for me, but given I read them ten or so years ago I can't really remember much that happens beyond the third book. These books were written for children but they'd appeal to adults as well. The fact that they don't have unrealistic, happy endings and a lifetime of fortune makes them all the more exciting, in a cynical sort of way. I've read 1&2 this month, and have the next two waiting to be read.

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay-This collection of essays by Roxane Gay was brilliant. The fact she constantly referenced pop culture in her essays made them all the more relatable and easier to follow. Gone Girl was referenced, The Hunger Games, Sweet Valley High, there was a lot of references really. There were some ideas that I didn't entirely agree with but everyone's entitled to their own opinions. It was still really interesting and got me thinking. It also emphasised just how far we have to come with women and their representation in the media especially. 

-Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

*I hope your week's have all been great! Mine's actually been quite busy and a bit exciting with some things happening later in the month to look forward to. I saw Into The Woods on Tuesday and it was awesome. My goodness. Emily Blunt & Meryl Streep were amazing in it but to be honest the whole cast were top notch. I've been listening to the cast recording on repeat ever since. What else...oh I picked up a few more Project Life things for my new hobby. Let me know if you want to see a haul post! x
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Confessions of a Re-Reader
1/13/2015

Confessions of a Re-Reader







I read a lot. A lot, a lot so it's hardly surprising that I re-read books. This tends to happen when I'm feeling nostalgic or can't choose which book to read next. In this video I get nostalgic and a little bit analytical. Once an English Literature student, always an English Literature student. Enjoy, and be sure to let me know which books you re-read in the comments. 
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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette
1/12/2015

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette




How anyone can resist the Hourglass palettes is beyond me. I had a little treat yo'self moment in November and wrapped this up for myself as a Christmas present. Hourglass' Ambient Lighting powders and blushers are amazing in my opinion and this palette certainly didn't skimp on the quality.

Due to Mecca's recent price drop this palette was substantially cheaper than this one was the year before. In this palette you get three of the Ambient Lighting blush shades; Dim Infusion, Incandescent Electra (LE) and Mood Exposure. They're all incredibly wearable and super pigmented but I think these shades, with the exception of Mood Exposure, would be suited to lighter skintones. My favourite shade has to be Incandescent Electra, the limited edition shade. It reminds me of Tipsy by Tarte but with a touch of luminescence shot through it. All these blushers are reasonably long wearing, even when the weather's crazy-humid like it has been in Auckland recently.

So, was this palette worth the splurge? Absolutely. While I do have the full-sized Mood Exposure blush, I knew this palette would get so much use whenever I'm on the go or traveling. Even on a day-to-day basis at the moment it's what I am reaching for. Now Hourglass did make this palette limited edition but you can still find it online here. As the powder wardrobe was so popular last year, I would not be surprised if they bring this back as a permanent product as well.

*Have you tried any of Hourglass' Ambient Lighting blushers or this palette? What did you think of them?
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The Week #137
1/09/2015

The Week #137




Luck in 2015-A few weeks back I talked about Shauna's post where she chose the word 'create' for this year and after stumbling upon this card last week I found my word. 'Luck' may seem a bit airy-fairy but I really feel like the luck we receive comes about as a result of our actions and decisions. Well, it seems that way for me at least. I chose this word because I want it to be at the forefront of my mind when I think of what I want to achieve this year, along with a general GSD attitude. Fingers crossed it goes well!

Hourglass Eyeshadow-Oh Hourglass, you never fail to disappoint. Now they're rewarding us with the Modernist Eyeshadow palettes. There's a range of different palettes being released (7 in total) and they all look gorgeous with a range of matte and shimmer shades. I'm looking forward to seeing some more detailed reviews of these once they're available in stores because if the pictures are anything to go by, they're going to be very popular with many an eyeshadow fiend.

Into The Woods-This time of the year's a good one for my inner-Broadway musical nerd. Last weekend I saw Annie and now Into the Woods, adapted from the Sondheim musical has been released in cinemas. It boasts a stellar cast; Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Lilla Crawford and others. If the trailer and soundtrack are anything to go by this is going to be awesome. I can't wait to see this one.

Grace's Guide-*insert Grace facing action here*. I've read a few of the books released by YouTubers recently and Grace Helbig's has been my favourite so far. It's a guide to life but it's fun and an entertaining read. Grace shares plenty of personal anecdotes, her Mum shares some wisdom and it's just really well done. This would be a great one to gift to the person who has everything and likes to laugh. 

Lisa Eldridge takes Lancome by storm-Lisa Eldridge has to be one of my favourite YouTubers to watch. I don't want to call her a beauty guru because she's such a pro. Well now she's been appointed Creative Director of Lancome! I'll be honest, I've only tried their Juicy Tubes lip glosses which was ages ago, so I am really excited to seeing what Lisa designs and what Lancome bring out. I've heard their mascaras are amazing so hopefully there'll be one of those.

*Have an amazing weekend everybody! I feel like it's ages since I've rambled about life at the end of a post. Nobody's probably noticed they were missing haha. This week's been good albeit ridiculously humid. I've also been trying to film videos but have been stuck for ideas and just not liking what I came up with. I think I've got some ideas I'm happy with now so I'll be filming some more things in the next few days. That's about all that's up really, I've had a low-key week after being away which was what I needed. See you all Monday with another beauty post.
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Glitter and Inspiration | My Blogcademy Experience
1/08/2015

Glitter and Inspiration | My Blogcademy Experience




December was one of my favourite months of last year. Aside from Christmas and Katy Perry, there was two days of utter magic, inspiration and a whole lotta #Girlboss spirit to look forward to. Earlier in the year I made the decision to attend Blogcademy, a two day seminar run by Gala, Kat and Shauna. It was held in Auckland at BizDojo, a cute little space tucked away off K Road and those two days were freakin' amazing.

I initially started my blog for 'fun' and that's something I always want to retain. When it stops becoming fun you have to step away. Anyway, sidetracked there. These three ladies are all hella passionate. They've taken what they love and turned their blogs into a job. All three of them have extra projects, whether it be graphic design, self-love causes, or even a magazine (you go Kat). Aside from their amazing advice, I just loved hearing their stories and learning what their inspirations were. There were many times on Day 1 alone when I had 'aha' moments as Oprah would call them and I had some awesome chats with Shauna. She has such good advice and amazing taste in design, fashion, you name it. I got to watch her put flat lays together and she is a pro

We went through some of the blogging basics which was good to go over, both for beginners and those of us who need a bit of a refresher. We also talked about the importance of branding, just how pivotal good quality images are, why your about page should not suck (note to self, get on that) and a whole lot of information. A lot of it I'm going to keep to myself but I will share four key pieces of advice they gave us which some of you may wish to make use of as well. I can't tell you everything, but if you're thinking of going for the value of information and resources alone, book in now. You will not regret it.

Image c/o Bubblerock

-Know exactly who your ideal reader is. Where does she live? Where does she shop? What does she look like? If you know who you're writing for, it is much easier to express yourself and tailor your posts, imagery etc accordingly. Gala, Kat and Shauna got us to answer these questions on paper and it's such a useful exercise. 

-Cool toned images are attractive-Especially when it comes to Instagram. Maybe it's just because the warmer filters aren't flattering on photos but I always tone down the saturation and warmth in my pictures on Afterlight to make them a bit cooler-toned. This may be something to keep in mind and you can actually go into your statistics for Instagram to see which filters etc are the most popular with your audience.

-When it comes to still lifes, props create consistency-I've been playing around with this a bit recently, which is why you may be noticing a certain pineapple statue making its way into a few photos #whoops. Seriously though, the props you utilise and the way you shoot your photos really helps to hone your style. I've had a few different people tell me now that when they're scrolling through Instagram they can recognise my photos because of the way in which I shoot and compose them. I think that's what you want as a blogger/brand so cohesiveness is key. Check out Gala, Shauna and Kat's Instagrams too guys because they have way more followers than me and are total bosses when it comes to their pictures.

-Be consistent-This is something all three ladies repeatedly stressed. Whether it's when you post, what you post, even your branding. Consistency is key. Speaking of, my branding is going to have another overhaul too and my site's front-page will become a bit more user friendly. I made a mammoth to-do list during the two days and I've still not made a noticeable dent in it but hopefully you will start noticing some changes soon and things will be looking more rad.




So I had an absolutely inspiring, mind-blowingly awesome 2 days at Blogcademy. It was pricy, but I felt like I'd earnt my investment back after Day 1 alone. It was so valuable getting to have one-on-one chats with Kat, Gala and Shauna as well. All three of them are so lovely and amazing at what they do. I kinda wish they were coming back to Auckland this year actually so I could do it all again! The Blogcadettes I met were all lovely too and I'm looking forward to seeing where our blogs all go from here on in. If you're considering going to Blogcademy, do it. If you want to take things to the next-level, start a blog or even just get some straight up advice from three ladies who know their stuff and more, you get all that. Just writing this post up has reminded me how inspired and excited I was after the weekend was over and I'm looking forward to putting what I learnt into action.

*I hope you've enjoyed this post! All photos unless specified are my own aside from the selfie and photo of me with my camera, which were taken by Hannah
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The Battle of the Makeup Removers
1/07/2015

The Battle of the Makeup Removers




Makeup removers are a blessing in disguise at the end of a long day when all you want to do is wipe it straight off. Maybe that's just me. Micellar waters, bi-phase removers and just your standard makeup removers leave us simply spoilt for choice. There's plenty available to suit a range of budgets but which really come out on top? I've tested some drugstore and more luxe offerings against one another and here is what I found...

Drugstore


Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water-This micellar water is very popular given its status as a 'dupe' for Bioderma. As a result it seems to be out of stock quite often online and as it is unavailable in NZ, this is where you have to head to pick it up. Now I've been using Bioderma for a while and as you'll see by the cotton pads, there really is not that much difference between the two. It even feels the same on the skin and is super gentle. This is great considering 500ml of Bioderma comes in around $30. If you want something that's a bit friendlier on the wallet I'd consider ordering this online or picking it up in store.

Maybelline Makeup Remover*-Maybelline's recent offering is designed to remove eye and lip makeup. For this post I've only used it on my eyes and as you can see it managed to get a fair amount of my mascara off and also the eyeshadow. I felt like this is not as gentle as The Body Shop remover I'll talk about shortly but it still does a decent enough job at removing eye makeup. You just have to work a bit more at getting it off.

Luxe

Side note: I don't really want to call this high-end because while these removers are more expensive, they're not really products that are outrageously pricy. Moving on..


Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution-Ahh the cult classic, the top dog of micellar waters if you will. Bioderma is notoriously difficult to get hold of generally but it is available on Escentual and I have spotted it in some Asian boutique stores in Auckland. As you can see it took a smidgen more of my makeup off than the Garnier one did. I should also point out I had more concealer on this side of my face than the other. Again, it is ridiculously gentle and I often use this on my lips too to remove lipstick and it doesn't irritate them whatsoever.

The Body Shop Waterproof Camomile Eye and Lip Makeup Remover-Longest name ever!? I suppose we can let this one slide because this eye makeup remover does not disappoint. The fact that it is part oil, part cleansing water means it breaks down makeup with ease and again feels incredibly gentle on the eyes. This gets rid of mascara like nobody's business.

Overall Winners:

Face-This one's hard..because I feel like if I blind-tested these two I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. With that in mind I'd say the Garnier Micellar Water is just as good as Bioderma. It's a lot easier to get hold of and with 400ml of product for $10 you're saving yourself a fair bit of money with this one. If you are interested in Bioderma though, I would recommend getting it when it's on offer from Escentual. They often discount their French pharmacy brands throughout the year.

Eyes-The Body Shop remover is still a winner for me mainly because it feels gentler on the eyes and not like you're being as rough when removing makeup. It's not as affordable as Maybelline's but it's still a lot cheaper than some of the higher-end offerings like Clarins'. 

-Have you tried any of these makeup removers before? What did you think of them?

*PR Sample
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What I Got For Christmas
1/06/2015

What I Got For Christmas






I'm back with the first video of the year. A few of you wanted to see what I got for Christmas last year so here it is. Aside from the mandatory socks (which are useful), I got some rather rad things and felt very lucky this year. I'd love to know what you got for Christmas too so leave me a comment in this post or below the video.

Also, I'm going to attempt to upload one video a week to my channel on Tuesday's this year. Once I go back to Uni this might end up changing but for now this is how it will be.

Have a great day and be sure to check back tomorrow for a beauty post.
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My 2015 Beauty Resolutions
1/05/2015

My 2015 Beauty Resolutions




A New Year inevitably means some reflection and goal-setting for many of us. In the past I have set myself some resolutions which often leave me disappointed if I don't meet them. Instead of letting that happen again this year, I've decided to set myself a couple of goals each month. However, I do have some beauty goals for the year that I thought I'd share with you today...

Avoid getting slack with skincare-After a late night it can be all too tempting to reach for the Bioderma and cotton pads and be done. The aftereffects the next morning though seem to leave me with skin so shiny you could probably see a reflection in it and usually a crater-sized blemish. Even on the not-so late nights I find myself avoiding the cleansers and calling it a night. Whoops. Later today I'll be making myself a star chart. I'll keep you updated..

Wear makeup less-Let's be real, sometimes your skin likes it if you don't wear makeup all week. For many of us though, that isn't an option for a variety of reasons. I'm going to make a conscious effort to not wear as much makeup out and about, unless I need it. For example, a trip to the local shops is not a justifiable excuse to put an entire face of makeup on. I might even just rely on BB cream for Uni this year. Big changes peeps. Big changes. 

Have a strict 'one in, one out' policy-I've already started being more disciplined with the makeup and skincare I keep. As I am lucky to receive samples from time to time, things can very easily get out of hand. Whether I buy something or am sent it, I am going to go through my collection and see if it's necessarily something I need to keep post-review or whether or not it could be better re-homed somewhere else. I'm sure my friends will appreciate the latter. I'm also going to do makeup culls more often because there is no way I need that many lip products. Or eyeshadows. Or blushers...

Step outside my brand comfort zone-Nars, Mac....I'll always love you but it's time to give some love to some more brands. I really want to try more from Marc Jacobs, Charlotte Tilbury and Bourjois at the moment to name a few. There's also some skincare brands I'm keen to check out too and hopefully Nails Inc. If you have any brand recommendations for me leave 'em below and I'll add them to my list.


*What are your resolutions, beauty or otherwise for 2015?
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The Week #136
1/02/2015

The Week #136




Happy New Year! The Week is back for its first edition of 2015 and if I dare say so myself, it's a good'un. There's some new beauty releases, a newfound love for luminescence and I've got a bit of a question for you...

Tanya's new venture-Tanya's videos were some of the first I found on YouTube a couple of years back and I still love her channel to this day. She's done so well for herself in recent years too with several beauty launches and now a book! I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover but look how gorgeous it is. There's not much information about this book out yet but it'll be out mid-February overseas and possibly here too so keep an eye out for it. You can preorder it now here.

Chrome tools from Real Techniques-I would be lost without Sam and Nic's brushes. Seriously, you only need to look at my makeup bag when I'm away to realise that. Well they're bringing out some stunning, innovative new brushes this year-all in a range of metallic hues. Those rose gold 'finish' brushes have my name on them, but I'm also liking the look of the gold blush brush. They're currently exclusive to Boots and Ulta, you lucky US+UK babes, but here's hoping they become more readily available soon. 

Nana Wintour in '15-Can you believe NW has been up and running for just over three years now? I can't. 2015 looks set to be another exciting year for the blog but I want to hear from you. What would you like to see on Nana Wintour in 2015? More beauty? More books? Anything else? Let me know! My pen and paper are ready to note down your suggestions.

A New Lou-Manizer-Fun fact, I've been highlighter-less for at least a year now. Incandescent Light in my Hourglass palette is good, but as it's designed as more of a finishing powder, it doesn't have the luminous property I've been looking for. A few different highlighters have been ummed and ahhed over several times and I decided to go with theBalm's classic Mary-Lou Manizer when it was on sale recently. #1-It was the cheapest on offer and #2-It's the one I have heard the most about. I'll do a review once it's arrived and had a chance to see if it meets my expectations.

GlamGlow's Cleansing Treats-My GlamGlow YouthMud mask ran out last week *sheds a single tear*. I'm still skeptical I'll find something just as good to replace it but in the meantime I can distract myself with this new launch. These two new mud to foam cleansers are a unique addition to the beauty world. They're designed to wipe away makeup and moisturise the skin. I'm very intrigued to say the least. You can grab these now from Sephora but no doubt they'll make their way onto Mecca's shelves in the not too distant future.
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