The Week #144
2/27/2015

The Week #144





Rosamund Pike's Oscars makeup: I'm a big fan of the understated, elegant look at red carpet events. Simplistic dresses and minimal makeup are fabulous. Throughout awards season I've been following a few makeup artists on Instagram, my favourite being Melanie Inglessis. She's looked after Rosamund Pike for all the major events and I loved this makeup the most. You can find out what was key to the look here. Just be warned, Chanel's Mademoiselle lipstick may make its way on to your wishlist as it did mine. #whoops

Blogger's Block: It's a legitimate thing, and it sucks. For me though, sometimes I'll come up with ideas then get to the nitty gritty of a post and decide to abandon it. Many of us find ourselves in similar situations from time to time, including Angela from The Sunday Chapter. She's generously compiled this list should you ever find yourselves in a similar boat. You're welcome. 

A new thing to love from Nars: Nars' Sheer Glow is a staple in many a girl's makeup arsenal. Their newest offering might have a similar effect. The Luminous Weightless Foundation comes in a heap of shades and does what it says on the tin. It offers medium to full coverage yet your skin still looks like skin. It's magic! I've been trying a little tester pot in the shade Mont Blanc and I am obsessed. I may have to invest in this one..

Nirvana White: Mary Kate and Ashley were on to something when they debuted their Elizabeth and James fragrances at Sephora last year. After receiving some fragrance cards and sniffing Nirvana White, I've become smitten with it. It's said to be similar to Stella, which I've not been able to find for ages in NZ. Side note: Does anyone know if it's been taken off the shelves here? Whenever I look for it, it seems MIA. One of my lovely friends picked up this rollerball for me in Sydney this week so I shall keep you posted.

Activewear from Nike that gets my 'tick' of approval: Call me a brand snob but I think Nike does the best activewear. It's relatively inexpensive and is always so comfortable. Let's be real, we want exercise gear that is comfortable yet doesn't look daggy. Nike's latest drop made its way into my inbox this week and it's looking pretty snazzy. I love this set (pictured). There's also some shoes with dotted soles, which I cannot find online but these are similar.

*As always, have the most raddest of weekends everybody! There's been a lack of life updates lately and I feel like I owe you all a little explanation, which will come in good time. If I've seemed a bit...off colour in posts or elsewhere online, know there is a reason for it. On a more positive note, I'm finally watching Boyhood tonight, can't wait to see it! I've also got a couple of friend-dates planned this weekend, including a day trip to look forward to. Have a good one! xo
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February Favourites
2/25/2015

February Favourites





I'm sounding the monthly favourites klaxon, reference c/Anna . This month's been a bit of in with the old and the new when it comes to beauty. I've rediscovered just how good a certain concealer is and found my new favourite bronzer. There's also my monthly book favourites and a DVD which I am sure will come as no surprise to many of you.. 

Beauty

Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes, #100 and #300-My brushes are dirty so yep, I have not cleaned them. *taps wrist for being a bad blogger* On the other hand, that just shows how well loved and used these gems are. I've already written about these here but in short, the powder brush is amazing for setting makeup down. Its density means it doesn't pick up too much product so you aren't left looking caked in powder. The blush brush is ideal if you find application scary. Its tapered edge fits perfectly into the cheekbone area. Lovelovelove. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla-My concealer of choice for blemishes and whatnot offers great coverage but I find the heat just makes it slip off my face way too fast. I rediscovered this Nars one this month and haven't looked back. I love that I don't really need to touch up concealer with this on because it just stays put. The colour range is fantastic as well and it provides decent coverage without being too thick. 

Soap and Glory Solar Powder-Aside from its cardboard packaging, this bronzer is perfect. It's matte so there's no shimmer if that's something you like to avoid. These two shades are perfect for paler complexions as there's no orangey tones to them whatsoever. If you can get your hands on this bronzer, get one asap. 

Mac Lip Pencil in Soar-This seems to be sold out everywhere online but try in stores because they may be floating around there. You've probably already seen this liner online a lot. According to Kim K, it's little sister Kylie's liner of choice. This mauve-pink liner is such a flattering colour. It'd complement a range of skintones. It makes your pout look fuller, regardless of whether you overdraw your lips. I like to wear this on its own or under my more brown based nudes. 

Fairydrops Quattro Mascara, a gift-Fairydrops is notoriously difficult to find unless you're in Japan or can easily access a BeautyMart. One of my friends bought this back for me from her travels recently and I'm not gonna lie, I was quite excited. The wand on this one is quite bizarre, google it to see what I mean. The effect it has on the lashes however is stunning. It's not the most dramatic of mascaras but it really separates the lash and holds a curl.

Extras

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven*-This has to be one of the best young-adult novels I have read in a long, long time. The way it presents mental illness, dealing with grief and the multi-faceted role that is being a young adult is fantastic. In no way does this book romanticise any of the serious issues at hand which some YA books/films tend to do. I found this book really touching and beautifully written. Read it. 

New Girl Season One-As always, I'm a bit late to the bandwagon with this one. I freakin' love New Girl though. It's one of those shows that never fails to put me in a good mood. The hilarity and awkwardness of Zooey's character, while a bit too relatable at times, is brilliant. Not gonna lie, I think Schmidt is rather fit as well. 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell-I couldn't pick one book this month so you're getting two. Again, Eleanor and Park deals with some heavier issues. It also unites two outcasts who bond over pop culture and their different upbringings. It's a sweet story but be warned, it will make you feel all the feels. 

-What have you been loving during February?


*PR Sample
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New in Beauty
2/23/2015

New in Beauty




Another week, another lineup of beauty goodness. Many of these products are either out already or set to be released within the next month. Start saving those pennies! There's some good'uns here from a mascara that's taking over the beauty world, to an eyeshadow quad that won't break the bank.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour*-March is a good month for beauty and at the end of the month we have this new contour stick from Clinique landing on shelves. There's a highlighter stick too which I've heard is amazing. It's early days but I really like this contour. It looks scary orange when you stripe it on, but once blended out with fingers or a brush it becomes less frightening. I'm not sure I'll be able to pull this off in Winter but for Summer and Autumn, this is a great option to sculpt your face.

Essence Quattro Eyeshadow in To Die For*-I've never actually tried any Essence products before, but I was excited to be sent some of their things. Wow, these shadows are buttery soft, super pigmented and blend like a dream. The lighter shades are perhaps not as pigmented as I would like but that bronze shade (bottom left) more than makes up for it. It's rare to find a quad with all the colours I'd use in it but this one delivers. It's under a tenner too which adds to the selling factor.

Soap & Glory Solar Powder-Soap & Glory's not an accessible brand here in NZ but I spotted this on a makeup sale page over on Facebook and had to nab it. If your complexion sits more on the paler side of things you will love this bronzer. You can layer it up and things don't look too orange or Oompa-Loompa esque for once. I'm obsessed with this bronzing duo and know it's going to become an everyday staple in my collection.

Mac Lipglass in Nude Awakening, limited edition*-What we have here is essentially Patisserie lipstick in liquid lipstick form. It reminds me so much of one of my favourite Mac lipsticks and for that reason it's amazing in my eyes. Mac's lipglasses are super pigmented and don't have too much stick to them which means they sit comfortably on the lips. They also tend to leave behind a sheerer stain of colour when they do eventually wear off so top-ups become less of a worry. If you get one thing from the Mac 'Isabel & Ruben Toledo' collection, consider grabbing this.

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara*-This mascara was one I wasn't expecting to like, seeing as I'm really not a fan of They're Real. Thankfully, I love Roller Lash. The packaging is fun, but sophisticated and I love the colour scheme. As for the mascara, the wand is packed with tiny plastic bristles which are supposed to 'hook' onto your lashes. The wand really gets right into the lash root so you get the best curl. I do find myself still reaching for my curlers first, just to give my lashes some extra oomph, but you could skip this step. I love how this mascara looks on my lashes and may just have to repurchase. Keep an eye out for this one when it launches next month.

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud Mask-My SuperMud mask ran out a while ago. While I loved it, I did want something a bit less intensive so I added this mini size to a recent Sephora order. Thirsty Mud is designed to rehydrate and calm the skin. Lately my skin's been a bit dull looking and this mask promptly revives it. GlamGlow's masks are pricey but they're totally worth the splurge.

-Which of these products will you be keeping an eye out for?

*PR Sample
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The Week #143
2/20/2015

The Week #143




Makeup and Fashion join forces: I'll be honest, Mac's past fashion collabs, the ones I can remember at least have always left me a bit underwhelmed. Their latest, with Isabel and Ruben Toledo however is a totally different story. If you saw my Instagram yesterday you'll know the packaging had me mesmerised. Those illustrations are just too cute. I'll keep you updated on the lip products I was sent and possibly the blush if I manage to track it down. If you're tempted, mark down March 2nd in your diaries.

A Mint Bag: Back in the day I used to be notorious for my ridiculous collection of handbags. Nothing fancy, just Roxy and Billabong numbers which I thought were amazing. I have one handbag which I've worn to death and is really on its way out so I'm on the hunt for alternatives. Zara's City Bag holds a place in my mental wishlist, as does the Chanel 2.55. I'm also liking the look of this one from Cambridge Satchel Co. It's so pretty and you can personalise it with some embossing too so it's extra unique. 

Blemish Busters: Yep, I am 22 and I still get blemishes. My skin's not really responding to any of the spot treatments I have at the moment either. The ones with high alcohol content just dry my skin out and create awful under the surface blemishes. So, I need your help. Which spot treatments do you recommend and love? 

Masks for your Lips: *Resisting the urge to use one or two dreadful advertising puns*. Last month I picked up a mini set from Bite containing their popular Agave Lip Mask and also a lip scrub. The scrub is a bit 'meh'. It's not amazing, and I definitely prefer the Fresh Sugar one. The lip mask is as amazing as everyone says it is. Thick, but not too thick and it drastically improves the appearance and texture of your lips.

Pretty Sweet: Kikki K, oh how I love thee and your tempting new collections. Their latest, Life is Sweet has recently landed in stores. Think pinks, mint greens and plenty of metallic foil accents. It's just gorgeous and Kikki K are constantly lifting their game. Go check it out this weekend if you're in New Zealand or Australia.

*As always, I hope you all have amazing weekends! This week's been good and bad. I had to pass over an opportunity which I was disappointed about, but on the plus side I feel like I got a fair bit done this week...behind the scenes at least! This weekend's looking a bit chill (as always) and will be filled with some spontaneous plans which I like every now and then. See y'all on Monday with a mystery post (ooh). Ciao xo.
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Mac SS15 Trends
2/18/2015

Mac SS15 Trends




Last week I was lucky enough to attend Mac's annual Spring-Summer trends forecast for the beauty world. It was so much fun last time and so was this year's. Leigh and I finally met-she's awesome btw, go follow her Instagram. Kiekie Stanners and James Molloy, the global artist for Mac Australasia talked us through the key trends they saw on the international runways at fashion week. They also talked through how we can incorporate some of the more crazy trends into our looks, making them more wearable which is always helpful. Today I thought I'd talk you through some of the key ideas they were reiterating. Yep, I took notes because I'm a little bit nerdy studious like that..

Minimalistic Chic: Minimalism has been having its moment, in both the decor and fashion worlds. It was only a matter of time before it made its way into the beauty realm as well. 'Enlightened' was the name Mac gave to this trend. It's all about the light highlights and giving skin a subtle sheen. The smallest amount of highlight will be used and it won't be sparkle-heavy.

As for eyes, a simple touch of eye gloss gives them a subtle, healthy sheen. Y'know the dewy glow, fresh-faced look we're supposed to have after exercising? That seemed to be the vibe of the makeup here, without the red cheeks of course. Skin will look flawless with lighter bases and next to no concealer or powder. Side note: Mac look set to be releasing a new, liquid foundation which could be perfect for this. Think along the same lines as the Giorgio Armani Maestro one. 

Glitter Eyes: When I saw the table covered in Mac's eye glitters and pigments I was quite excited. Glitter in makeup is always beautiful. I'm not biased here or anything. Anyway, another strong trend was focusing the makeup around one dramatic feature and then keeping the skin very pared back. A glitter or metallic eye would become the focal point and then everything else would just be flawless but not overdone. This was one trend I really liked so I'm going to try it out. It'll be great on the days where a little bit of procrastination in the mornings occurs.

No Makeup-Makeup: This was everywhere last season. Whether it really was no makeup whatsoever, or just prepped skin made to look makeup free. The point is, it looked natural. Again, the eye glosses or clear lip glass seemed key to this look along with products from Mac's Prep & Prime range. The Lightful Softening Lotion was one product that got a few mentions. James and Kiekie also touched on faux-freckles. It's a trend I find baffling, given I have freckles already but nonetheless it does look great when done well. They recommended coffee eye pencil and the lingering brow pencil for freckles that look realistic.

We were lucky enough to be treated to some of Mac's trend-setting products and the new seasonal lip+cheek palette (above). Keep an eye out for some reviews of these runway gems next month.

*Which Mac trend appeals to you?
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Another Book Haul
2/17/2015

Another Book Haul






I'm back on good ol' YouTube. It's been a while, and there's a little bit of an explanation in the video about that. Today I thought I'd kick things off with a book haul. I'm a bit awkward on camera in this one (soz guys) but hopefully I'll get back into this vlogging thing soon because quite frankly, I have missed it. If you have any recommendations at all please leave them in the comments on my video or under this post. I find coming up with video ideas much harder than I do writing blog posts so your suggestions are always helpful. Enjoy, and I'll see you all tomorrow with another beauty post.
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Real Techniques Bold Metals
2/16/2015

Real Techniques Bold Metals





By now you should know I'm rather fond of the Real Techniques brushes. They make up a good 90% of my brush collection. Well when I saw their Bold Metals collection on Instagram, it was safe to say I was the heart-eyed emoji cat personified. They're so luxe looking and feeling and I love the metallic handles. They're a bit hard to come by at the moment, but if you're in the US or UK you can get these fairly easily. 

My lovely blogging babe Jess sent these over for me from the States and I've been obsessed with them ever since..

100 Angled Powder Brush-Firstly, this brush was a lot bigger than I was expecting. It's also crazy soft which is a major winner for me. Scratchy brushes suck amirite. It's perfectly sized for applying setting powder to keep your base makeup in place. As the bristles are so densely packed, it means you don't end up with too much product on the brush. I know some people like to use this with a light dusting of bronzing powder but I am yet to try it for that. I do really like this brush and prefer it to the larger powder brush.

300 Tapered Blush Brush-For blush, I typically use the Multi-Task brush and I've been after something a bit smaller for a while. This fit the bill perfectly. The rose gold handle was a bonus selling factor. Its tapered edge means it perfectly fits into the contours of the cheeks so applying blush becomes so much easier. I really want to get the contour brush from the rose gold colour way now as well.

Now I know some people have been moaning about the higher price tag that comes with the Bold Metals brushes. That price hike is reflected in the quality and more targeted performance of these brushes though. To be honest, even with the price rise these are still much cheaper than buying higher end brushes in New Zealand or even Australia. Keep an eye out for these when they're more readily available in May.

*Have you tried any of the new Bold Metals brushes? What did you think of them?
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The Week #142
2/13/2015

The Week #142






Happy Mail: I'm so thankful that Hannah got me on the A Beautiful Mess bandwagon because it means I can learn about awesomeness like their Happy Mail. It's a monthly subscription service where you receive an assortment of things like cards, stickers, art prints and more to keep or share around. I've been watching their monthly unboxings and finally caved and bought the February collection earlier in the week. If you're a stationery lover, this'll be your cup of tea. Check it out here

Floral Fantasy: Whenever a new Karen Walker collection drops into my inbox I can't help clicking through to have a browse. Her latest collection, Garden People is stunning. Think water garden-esque florals (above) in earthy tones and also some abstract prints. I love this dress and pattern. There's also some stunning accessories too. The gold filigree wallet and flower ring are calling my name at the moment.

New in Beauty: It's been a good week in beauty and some exciting launches are headed our way soon. First up we have the ArtDeco High Performance Eyeshadow Stylos*. They're available from April in a diverse range of shades, from out there silvers to wearable bronzes. So far I'm liking them but I will keep you posted. Some would say that Benefit are the bosses of the mascara world. They're Real sells like hotcakes. Well now they're launching a new mascara, Roller Lash*. I'm not entirely sure of its release date, but it's available towards the end of the month in the US so international dates will follow that I imagine. I'm yet to try this but the reviews I've seen so far have been positive. 

DIY Lap Desk: Some of you will have misread that title. Get your minds out of the gutter ;). Another gem from the A Beautiful Mess ladies this week is this DIY laptop desk. It requires no sewing, just a handy staple gun and some crafty supplies which are easy enough to get a hold of. I'm seriously considering making this because it looks so simple. If you're feeling crafty you can check it out here.

Let's talk Eddie Redmayne: That dreamboat stole our hearts in My Week With Marilyn and Les Miserables. He's also an amazing actor. I saw him in The Theory of Everything yesterday, a biopic charting Stephen and Jane Hawking's relationships and the many trials they went through. Amazing film, so inspiring and moving. Take tissues if you get a bit weepy at the cinema like I tend to. Eddie is totally amazing as Hawking. Seriously, his performance literally blew me away he totally owned that role. He has to win the Oscar.

*Have the best weekend everybody! I'm off to the beach tonight with some friends for a fish & chips sesh. Tomorrow, good ol' V Day, I will no doubt be indulging in some of the following. I'm also hoping to film some videos this weekend because I'm finally out of my filming funk (I hope!). See y'all on Monday with a rather exciting beauty post xo.
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10 Ways To Enjoy Valentines Day | The Single Ladies Edition
2/11/2015

10 Ways To Enjoy Valentines Day | The Single Ladies Edition





Before we start, might I suggest you set the mood with this tune or this.  I think if you're a single girl or guy on V-Day, it can be a bit easy to get down. This is not helped by the presence of Instagram, #blessed #mine #love, you get the idea. Well this year I decided to approach Valentines Day a bit more positively. There's no reason you can't have fun on Valentines Day, even if you aren't taken. This Saturday, I'm gonna pledge to have fun and enjoy myself by partaking in some of the following activities...

Have a girly film 'fest: Chick flicks are fun and upbeat, just stay clear of anything based on Nicholas Sparks or John Green books if you don't want to feel all the feels. My go-to's are 13 Going On 30, Mean Girls and Easy A to name a few.

Treat yo'self to a pink lippy: More specifically, Viva Glam's new Miley Cyrus* lipstick from Mac. It's a vibrant pink which you'll love if you were a fan of Impassioned, also from Mac. It's an amplified formula too so you get incredible colour payoff and it also has crazy good lasting power. The matching lipglass is pretty rad as well. Oh, and all the proceeds go towards Mac's AIDs foundation. A treat for you that does some good. Sounds pretty fantastic to me. 

Have a pamper session: Whether it be a manicure or a relaxing facial+bath, pampers are relaxing and the perfect way to indulge yourself. Pick up one of Lush's Valentines Day products to set the mood. I liked the look of this Love Locket bath bomb. Its scent reminds me of a Lush store, sweet with a little bit of fruitiness. Delish. 

Buy yourself, or someone else some decadent chocolate. Devour it: It's no wonder that many holidays involve chocolate. It's just too good to ignore! We don't really have Valentines sweets here in NZ but these strawberry Lindt balls are perfect, and they're pink on the inside. 

Catch up on some neglected reads: If it's a sunny day, head outside. If you have a hammock or one of those egg chairs take advantage of it. Side note: If you have either of those, I'm envious. We all get so busy during the week that sometimes we just don't have the time or energy to read. Take advantage of your downtime. 

Go online shopping, for real or just pretend: There's so much to love about virtual shopping, especially the fact that you're getting something in the mail that isn't a cellphone bill or credit card statement. Amirite guys? Online shopping is a good time, and if you're not feeling spendy you can always make a Pinboard of things for your wishlist on Pinterest. Here's mine

Make a playlist that'll make you smile: You know you're doing a good job if it's making you want to sing along, regardless of who else hears you. Mine will be a blend of good old 1D, some She & Him, songs from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack and perhaps some musical theatre tunes. 

Go out on an adventure. Document it: Head out to a nature spot, a weekend market, or even just to a local city. Explore somewhere you haven't been before. Have your coffee from a cafe you've not been to yet. Hit up that lunch spot you've been meaning to head to. Visit a secluded beach. Take pictures, write down your thoughts and share if you wish.

Smile: Being single doesn't have to suck! You're an independent woman who doesn't need no man *clicks fingers*. Have an awesome Valentines Day, however you choose to celebrate it. 


-How will you be spending Valentines Day?

*PR Sample


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The New Glow
2/09/2015

The New Glow




Now I've never been one to join the glow-getters in the past, with my combination skin. Lately however things are looking a lot more balanced so I'm embracing the luminising products a bit more. One thing missing from my collection was a highlighter so I added The Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer to my basket during a recent sale and haven't looked back since..

Admittedly I'm a bit late on the Mary Lou train, but after seeing many of my favourite beauty enthusiasts singing its praises over the last year I had to see what the fuss was about. The champagne-hued powder is stunning. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's not shimmery and doesn't contain any huge glittery particles, which tend to just accentuate flaws. Instead, Mary Lou-Manizer adds more of a subtle sheen to the cheeks.

I apply this with my Real Techniques Setting Brush and tap off the excess powder. It is extremely pigmented so you only need the smallest amount, which I learnt the hard way. This is also gorgeous as an inner corner highlight to brighten up the eyes.

So is Mary Lou-Manizer worth the hype? Yes, and then some. This is such an affordable highlighter, given how much product you get. The fact you need barely any per application means this will last you quite a while.


*What is your favourite highlighter?
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The Week #141
2/06/2015

The Week #141




Acting Out: If you're familiar with Rookie Mag, in book or pixel form, you'll know that each month has a theme assigned to it. This one's based around the idea of acting out; interruptions, nuisances and causing a commotion. It's about being yourself, wearing that uber glittery eyeshadow and having no apologies or regrets about it. Still confused? Read it in Tavi's far more eloquent words here

Namaste from Antipodes*: Earlier in the week I went to the parcel delivery place to pick up a rather hefty box. I had no idea what this was so I was really excited to open it and see Antipodes had sent me their relaunched handwash to try. Who gets excited by handwash? Only the girl who doesn't want to fork out $$ when her one's just run out. Anyway, beneath its luxurious, Aesop-esque packaging its scent is a blend of lime and black pepper+a whole host of other delicious smelling things. I love it and I'll be quite sad when it's run out. 

A YouTube Channel I'm Addicted To: Lately I've been mixing up my YouTube watching a bit more. I still love the odd beauty video, but I'm more drawn to vlogs these days than anything else. Current faves include The SacconeJolys and Gabby, pictured. I love Gabby's videos and her straight-up personality. She's so honest and open with her viewers. Her vlogs and regular videos are well worth the watch. 

Who's That Girl?: New Girl is my current obsession which you may know already if you follow any of my other Social Media platforms. It's hilarious, and I can relate to Jess' character in more ways than one. There's also her three flatmates, Schmidt, Nick and Winston to entertain as well. Jess' wardrobe is pretty on point too! I'd love to invade her closet. The best part? I have three+ more seasons to watch when I'm done with the first season. 

Into The Woods & Out Of The Woods: I do love a good musical theatre soundtrack and the Disney cast recording for Into The Woods has been my go-to for the past month. Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and the entire cast kill it. It's a great one to blast when you're home alone and feel like singing loudly, as I do. Sorry neighbours, not sorry.

-Have the best weekend guys and apologies this post went live a little bit late! This morning I've been busy tidying the house as Amy is coming over later on for dinner+a movie sesh. I'm having a relatively quiet weekend actually-I'm a bit behind on blog things so there's that to catch up on. Oh and I have another dentist appointment. The joys of wisdom teeth. See y'all on Monday xo.

*PR Sample, but even if it wasn't I'd be raving about this handwash because it smells so good and has cleared up the weird dryness on my hands so well. Overshare but whatevs, it's Friday!
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New Beauty Releases
2/04/2015

New Beauty Releases





It's been a while since I've done one of these posts but they're some of my favourites to read and put together. January was a bit quiet for new beauty launches but come February and everything starts going crazy. There's plenty to keep everyone happy, from a body moisturiser I'm a little obsessed with, to the lip pencils that rival a fan favourite from Nars. 

The Body Shop Body Sorbet (Grapefruit), Limited Edition-These body sorbets sold out super fast here in NZ but you can still find them online here. I was attracted to this because #1 it smells like grapefruit and I needed a new body moisturiser. These moisturisers are super lightweight and absorb into the skin crazy fast. You're not left with slippery limbs and your skin's left feeling silky smooth. If you can still get your hands on one I'd highly recommend you pick one up.

Taylor Swift Incredible Things Fragrance*-Confession hour: This is the first celebrity fragrance I've owned, with the exception of Glow by JLo. Slightly tropical, slightly musky, this is a much more grown up scent compared to Taylor's other perfumes. This fragrance has been my go-to throughout Summer. In fact, it's barely left my handbag. I love the bottle design as well and its rectangular shape means it fits into the depths of your bags much easier. It's super affordable too so if you're after a new fragrance, check this one out.

Maybelline Color Drama Pencils in Pink So Chic and Minimalist*-These new pencils from Maybelline are being compared to Nars' Velvet Matte and I can sort've see why. They apply just as velvet-like to the lips. I find these are just a tad more drying than their higher-end counterparts though but that is usually the way with most drugstore lip products for me. I love the shade Minimalist, it's a gorgeous nude. Pink So Chic is lovely too albeit deceptively named. It's more of a soft berry red to me than a pink. If you want to see the full range of these check out Liv's video.

Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Copper-This cream shadow fascinated me when I swatched it. It's very creamy, almost mousse-like and it reminded me of the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre cream shadows. These do dry down matte though and stay put well with a primer underneath. Copper is stunning and I know I'll get a lot of wear out of it in Autumn and Winter.

Simple Micellar Water, available March*-As I said on Friday, it seems we had no micellar waters accessible here and then two are being released within the space of a month. I've been using Simple's for the last week in place of my usual makeup removers so I could give it a fair go. The solution itself gets off so much face makeup. It's not as great on the eyes, especially if you're fond of heavier eye makeup+mascara. One thing to be mindful of is that it is scented. My skin's not overly sensitive these days so that wasn't an issue. I did like this, but I'm not sure I'd repurchase it.

Rimmel Wonder'Full Waterproof Mascara*-The original Wonder'Full mascara launched last year and its waterproof counterpart was recently released. I can't compare it to the original mascara but I was sadly a bit underwhelmed by this one. In terms of longevity it was great, but I just felt like it made my lashes look a bit 'meh'. 

Tanya Burr Everyday Flutter Lashes-Can Tanya Burr do no wrong? Her lashes are pretty awesome. Now I've not worn these half lashes yet but next time I make a video I'll bring them out. Half lashes are meant to be easier to apply than full lashes and designed to not appear as dramatic. I'll keep you posted.

Skinfood Cleans All Cleanser*-This was sent to me by Skinfood a little while ago and I found it in my sample stash and decided to give it a whirl last week. I can't really comment on it much as my skin had a bit of a tantrum, thanks to a rather heavy SPF I decided to chuck on my face #regrets. As a result I reverted back to my one and only cleanser love. I'll try this again though now things have settled so I'll report back if anyone's interested. 

-Have you tried any of these products yet? What did you think of them?

*PR Sample

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February Reading List
2/02/2015

February Reading List





Hello February, you Summery, vibrant thing you. This month I've fallen down the YA fiction rabbit hole and I have to tell you, it's a rather impressive place to find yourself. In my continual quest to read nonfiction, there's also a book about well, books in there too. How apt.. 

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell-Now this has been on my 'to-read' list for over a year so I added it to a recent online order. Set in the eighties, without the daggy outfits, we meet two teens, Eleanor and Park. They're both somewhat social outcasts who meet and bond over a love of music, mix tapes and comic books. Eleanor comes from a dysfunctional family and Park saves her to an extent. I won't spoil anything else for you but this was brilliant. It's such a sweet story. Funny, adorable, a little bit cringe-worthy in parts and even a touch sad. I loved it and it was a great introduction to Rowell's writing.

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven*-One of the most highly anticipated YA debuts of 2015 and it really didn't disappoint. As the blurb states, it tells the story of the girl who learned to live from the boy who wants to die. Violet and Finch are in their last year of high school before they depart for college. They work together on a class geography project, make their way around Indiana spots and always leave something behind wherever they visit. This book touches on first loves, mental illness and learning to live again after more trying times. It doesn't glorify or romanticise the issues at all, which was fantastic. This novel is beautifully done. You'll laugh and you will cry. Everyone needs to read this. 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell-Another read from Rainbow Rowell. This one centres around Cath's experiences as she heads off to college. Her first encounters with romance, classes and of course her fan fiction about Simon Snow are explored. The fan fiction in question is very Harry Potter-esque, maybe it was just me that thought that. Like Eleanor & Park this was a sweet, heartwarming story. I did feel like it was over too quickly though so I'll definitely have to go back for a re-read of this at some point. 

Stuff I've Been Reading by Nick Hornby-Nick Hornby's books are probably going to be making their way into these posts for the next while, just a heads up for y'all. Anyway, this book contains Hornby's essays about books that he penned for a magazine/newspaper (I think). It's actually really interesting and I'm loving this at the moment. The majority of books he's featured are ones I've not heard of too so I've been adding to my ever-increasing 'to-read' list.

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

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