The Sephora + Feelunique Haul
8/31/2015

The Sephora + Feelunique Haul



How do I explain this? My friend and I wanted to make a YouShop order (Sephora round one), then I wanted to do a birthday order because if you can't treat yourself then, when can you (Sephora round two) and then Feelunique had a couple of sales. Sorry not sorry. This was a thing that happened over a couple of months and today I thought I'd show you some of my new favourite beauty things...

The Sephora Stash

Clinique Cheek Pop in Melon Pop-Let's start off with the obvious here, the Clinique Cheek Pops are just so aesthetically pleasing to look at. Who doesn't want a blush that has a flower embossed into its powder? Melon Pop as the name would suggest is a peachy pink shade. As it isn't too warm toned it's the perfect blush for porcelain beauties and it looks really natural on. I love that these are travel-friendly as well. 

Peter Thomas Roth Mini Mask Magic Kit-When I'm on a skincare kick, it's masks that I love to work into my routine. Peter Thomas Roth masks are pretty pricey on their own so when I saw this mini mask kit for sale it went into the virtual basket. Inside you get the Pumpkin Enzyme mask, Rose Stem Cell mask and the Cucumber Gel mask. All three are included with different skincare concerns in mind so you could always buy something like this and split the masks up among friends as gifts/party favours. Or if you are like me and don't want to share them, you have three different masks for different occasions. Winning. My favourite has to be the Cucumber Gel mask but the Pumpkin Enzyme mask is up there too.

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Black Honey, limited edition-I spied this mascara a couple of times over on Jane's blog and it really intrigued me. Coloured mascaras are all the rage at the moment and this burgundy black follows that trend without being too garish. I've not opened this one yet as I seem to have a fair few mascaras open but I will keep you posted once it is cracked open. Side note: This shade isn't being ranged in New Zealand as far as I know but the black mascara in this formula will be available.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Hand Cream-This fragrance has to be my favourite of the year, hands down. It's a subtle floral with a hint of musk and I am obsessed with it. So when I saw they'd released a hand cream in this formula I added it to my basket and didn't look back. It's silky smooth, dries down fast and doesn't leave your hands feeling sticky or greasy. Ain't nobody got time for handcreams that act that way. 

The Feelunique Frenzy

Rimmel Lasting Finish Cream Concealer-As far as I know this concealer hasn't been released here in NZ. Given it looked similar to my long-missed, Corrector from Bobbi Brown, I had to try it. It's opaque enough to conceal dark circles (yass!) but it blends out nicely and doesn't look too cakey. It's also long wearing too. A plus to Rimmel.

Bourjois Aqua Blush in Cocori Corail-To be honest I've not experimented with this product much yet but on the occasions I have worn I've loved the way it looks. This creamy cheek stain gives you the perfect amount of tint with a bit of dewiness thrown in for good measure. I recommend using fingers or a duofibre blush to blend this in for the most natural looking effect.

Topshop Beauty Lipstick in Rio Rio-First things first, how stunning is that rose gold embellished lipstick tube? It was a limited design to celebrate 5 years of Topshop beauty recently. While it may not be around now, this colour is part of the permanent lineup. It's the perfect orangey red and gives me major Lady Danger x Mac vibes. It's also matte too so you know it's not going to disappear in the nick of time like creamier formulations tend to. If you're looking for a vibrant red going into the warmer months, this may be the lippy for you.

Bourjois Colorband Eyeshadow+Liner in Mauve Baroque-When Anna dubbed this a dupe for Misty Rock x By Terry my ears pricked up and I made a note to test that theory out. Feelunique had a good sale on Bourjois things recently so that was my excuse to grab it. Now it's not identical but it is very close. Mauve Baroque leans ever so slightly more purple but it does look very similar on the lids. It's also not quite as budge-proof as its higher end counterpart but it does still last a decent time before it fades. I'm going to have to get some more of these for Summer because there's some other pretty shades I need must have in my life.

Zoella Beauty Tutti Fruity Fresh Fizz Bar-Zoe's added a tropical touch to her beauty range and it's bound to be just as popular. I grabbed this fizz bar along with the makeup bag, which I'm actually using as a pencil case. As opposed to the original chocolate bar style fizz bar, this one is made up of bigger squares to break off and use. I think there's four or five so you get a decent amount of use out of this one. The scent is tropical but it definitely has hints of florals and muskiness in there too.  

-Have you hauled any beauty products recently? Tell all..
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My Week in Pictures #6
8/28/2015

My Week in Pictures #6



It's the end of another week, and almost another month for that matter. I'm quite pleased for Spring and warmer days to be honest. Not to mention being able to abandon tights and all the extra layers. While I will miss wearing my navy trench coat, I won't miss the tights and socks. I really am a tshirt/light top girl at heart. This week's a bit short on imagery and rather than riddle you with excuses, I'll let you know that this week just wasn't that..exciting. Sure there were things happening but nothing worthy of cameras, unless you wanted to see artistic shots of my 'Sophie' badge from work. Ha. Anyway, here is the week that was...

(Above)-Two of my favourite makeup products; the Tartelette blush in Celebrated and Topshop's lipstick in Rio Rio.


-I gave my pinboard a bit of a makeover on the weekend because I wanted to see some more vibrant colours and a touch of flora and fauna on my wall. I love the way it looks. Those cushions you see are from Freedom Furniture and Kmart. 



-A little sneak peek at my first Nouvelle Daily haul. Btw, this took just over a week to ship to New Zealand which is pretty dang fast in my books. It was all so well packaged too and I even got a lil' note from Kate, Jordan and Mouse.

-Some books I'd requested from the library recently. A couple of these are going to be on my September Reading List so you'll hear more about them soon.

*Have the raddest weekend guys and if you're off to Fashion Weekend have fun. I went last year and it is a good time. I highly recommend you check out the Lonely Lingerie stand if they're there because their pieces are a bargain at the Designer Garage Sale. This weekend I'm not too sure what I want to do tbh-I kinda want to go to the Zinefest though and also on a bit of a second hand bookstore spree. Speaking of, if you have any recommendations of second hand bookstores I should check out please let me know! Have a good one and I will see you all on Monday with a haul, or two x.
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August Favourites
8/26/2015

August Favourites




August has been a month of awesomeness. Aside from being my birthday month, which inevitably tends to make it that much radder, I also got to hang out with some brilliant people, watch fantastic films and even soak up a bit of sunshine. It's the little things right? Today though it's all about the beauty and non-beauty things I have been loving throughout August. There's some rediscovered favourites, some new things and one of the most inspiring books I've read ever...


Parks and Recreation-So I am a little bit late to the Parks and Rec bandwagon, but now I've arrived and I am lovin' it. Admittedly I felt like Season 1 took a little while to find its feet but it is hilarious. Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope is just comedy gold. Parks and Rec is probably going to be one of those shows you'll either like or loathe, but if you are a fan of The Office or The IT Crowd then I think you'd appreciate it.

L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation in Vanilla*-I'm not sure why this foundation is only just making a favourites appearance because I've been loving and using it for a couple of months now. It's one of the only drugstore foundations that actually matches my skintone and while it does dry down pretty matte it still lets a little bit of a natural sheen through which is okay in my books. As for the lasting power, I wouldn't wear makeup for twenty four hours (who would?) but it definitely does stay put for a decent amount of time. It also gives great coverage too. I highly recommend this one.

Mac Men Love Mystery Lipstick* and Heroine Lip Pencil-I loved this lipstick Mac sent me but I wanted something to amplify the purple tones and the Heroine lip pencil does the trick. Given this lipstick is matte I wouldn't say it feels overly drying on the lips, in fact I find it applies really creamily and still stays put. If you want a purple lipstick that's a bit subtler this one is fantastic. It is limited edition though I think so if you're after one you'll have to be quick.



Life and Love: Creating The Dream by Lisa Messenger-Collective has fast become one of my favourite magazines and so when I saw its creator and editor, Lisa Messenger had written two books I ordered them both from the library. This is her most recent one and it's all about surrounding yourself with positivity, ambition and a whole lot of GSD (get shit done) attitude. She seems like such an amazing person and her can-do attitude is infectious. I mean, Collective magazine is only two years young and I feel like everyone is talking about it. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants something that'll get their motivational mindset going or just wants a whole lot of good vibes.

theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer-I am not sure how I'd neglected this highlighter for so long because it is awesome. This is one of those highlighters that isn't made up of a tonne of chunky glitter particles so it leaves a less disco ball-esque sheen on the cheeks. Let's be real my explanation isn't going to do this highlighter justice. It is beautiful and worth all the hype it gets. If you can get your hands on one or can swatch it in store, do it.

Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara-Okay, I partly bought this one because the campaign for it with Katy Perry made me smile, but also because I had read positive reviews about it from fellow beauty bloggers. This is one of those does-it-all mascaras. It lengthens and makes your lashes look thicker and fuller. It also holds a curl really well on its own which I feel like a lot of mascaras aren't great at doing. One con with this is it's a bit of a 'mare to remove but I'm willing to let that slide because it's that good. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, limited edition*-Confession time: I'm always a bit skeptical about oils because, for me at least, they don't seem to do an awful lot. Maybe I'm using them wrong, but they don't seem to work really well for me. This tea tree oil though, wow. My skin's had a bit of a freakout this month so I've been taking this on some cotton buds and applying it to blemishes. It's not a quick fix but it definitely helps to calm them down and make them look less angry and planet-like. If you want something for blemishes or scarring, this is the one. The 20ml size was limited edition but the regular size is available year round.


-What have you been loving August?



*PR Sample
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My Top 5 Reads of '15 (So Far!)
8/24/2015

My Top 5 Reads of '15 (So Far!)



Given two-thirds of the year are almost gone I've begun to think about favourite books, and beauty products for the year. With that logic in mind, I decided to round up my five top reads of 2015 so far. Side note: These are in no particular order because I can't rank things. That just makes life more difficult. Anyway, here's my top five...

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven-I won't be surprised if this book ends up in my favourite reads video for the year because it was fantastic. It tells the story of Violet and Finch, two teens whose paths cross at school one day when Violet talks Finch down from the ledge he is contemplating jumping from. Both these characters have troubling backstories but it is through working together on a class project that their friendship develops and they both save one another to an extent. It's a bit of a heavy read but it explores the topics of mental illness, depression and feeling like an outsider so, so well. 

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen-Believe it or not until this year I'd read nothing by Sarah Dessen. Despite her books often being bought out during SSR in English, my curiosity was never piqued. Sydney lives in the shadow of her brother Peyton whose past mistakes haunt her family. She moves to a new school and falls in with a new crowd who she really gels with. It's a little bit sad but I really did enjoy this book. If you have any recommendations of other Sarah Dessen titles I should look for let me know.

The Book of Joan by Melissa Rivers-Side note: I just read online that Fashion Police is returning to tv again soon and it will not be the same. Anyway, this collection of essays by Joan's daughter Melissa provides a heap of insights into the treasured comedian. There's stories which will make you laugh and even some which might make you a bit teary. Joan's speech to Melissa's graduating class was one of my favourite anecdotes but if you love a good memoir/life-essay then you'll like this.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell-One of my cousins recommended this book and Fangirl to me, both by Rowell but this one has to be my favourite. It's about two teenagers, both outsiders who meet one day on the bus and bond over mixtapes and comic books. It's a cute story but it does have elements of darkness to it. I really loved this book even though parts really had me feeling all of the feels.

This Star Won't Go Out by Esther and Lori Earl-This book follows Esther Earl as she documents her life as an average teenage girl living through not so average circumstances. Esther has cancer and she keeps a diary about her experiences as well as sharing encounters with Harry Potter fans online and the Nerdfighter community. In fact, she befriends John Green. Perhaps this is where he got the inspiration for Hazel Grace Lancaster? Hmm.. Throughout her parents and siblings contribute their thoughts and musings as well. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did but it was so well put together and really inspirational. It did make me feel all the feels too, like many all of the other books on this list.

-What books have you read and liked so far in 2015?
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My Week in Pictures #5
8/21/2015

My Week in Pictures #5




Another week, another opportunity to get camera happy. This week's been slightly hampered by the rain, mad props to Mother Nature for that *ahem* but nonetheless I did still manage to get a few pictures over the week. Although, in all honesty this week I've been doing more writing than photography. It's funny how things shift like that sometimes. Anyway, here is what I have been up to and seen...

(Above)-The lovely folk at Mac sent me two of their new Giambattista Valli lipsticks this week and the cutest little posy of roses to go alongside them. How pretty is that campaign image by the way? I usually don't keep press releases but this one's so stunning it'll definitely be heading to the mood board.



-On Wednesday I had my hair cut and then I went for a walk in the Auckland Botanical Gardens. I headed straight for the cacti and succulent section on this trip and I could almost pretend I was in the Californian desert. Almost. Next time I visit, weather permitting and all, I'm gonna take my proper camera along for the ride.

-Last week I found this book and discovered the work of artist Beth Hoeckel. Her collages are just so cool and now I want to buy all the things from her Society 6 shop but I am trying to be good.



-Mini beauty things are just the cutest aren't they? I'm most excited about those mini Nars pencils from Sephora but also the Ren samples because I love their skincare.

-The lovely Kate from gh0stparties is a curator of all things lovely, especially stationery and decor. She recently opened an online store and it is awesome. Marbled notebooks, Rifle Paper Co gems and an abundance of washi tape are just some of the things you'll find in here. I highly recommend you check it out if you like beautiful things.

*Have the best weekends ever guys! I just want to take the opportunity to remind everyone to not compare your behind the scenes to someone else's highlight reels, that goes for carefully curated Instagram feeds and all. For example, I have things going on behind the scenes that I don't talk about online, anywhere for that matter and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we all deserve to have as much of our lives kept private as we so wish. Where was I going with this...I don't know but yeah just don't think people have 100% wondrous lives because chances are they face the same struggles you do. I'll see all you cool cats on Monday with another book post x.
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My Go-To Accessory Staples
8/19/2015

My Go-To Accessory Staples



Back in the day I was a magpie. If it was oversized, extravagant and bold, it was around my wrists, on my fingers or adorning my neck. Seriously, I was a jewelry queen and there was many a day where I went to town with jewelry for school, regardless of the dress code. Nowadays my taste in accessories are much more simplified. I still like fun pieces, but they're nowhere near as intense as I used to have them. Today I thought I'd share with you my go-to accessory staples. These types of pieces are what I tend to reach for year round and rotate on the regular..


Karen Walker Wreath Ring-This is my favourite ring at the moment. My photo does it no justice but it really is stunning. I have some other statement rings but if I'm wanting something with wow-factor that's not too crazy, this is the one I reach for.

Emma and Roe Cubic Zirconia Stack Ring*-Stacking rings is only something I've really explored before with midi rings but I love the way these silver bands from Emma and Roe look together. I particularly like stacking this one with the hearts and also some midi rings.

Colette Daisy Ring-How cute is this ring? One of my friends got this for me as a birthday present and I was excited because it reminded me of the Daisy x Marc Jacobs flower. I've also not really worn statement rings like this in a while but I'm liking wearing this and the Spring vibes it's giving me.

Emma and Roe Three Daisy Stack Ring*-Can you tell I like flower rings? This was one of the rings I had to choose from Emma and Roe because it just looked so pretty. Mine is slightly too big for me so I have to wear it with the other stacking rings but I like the way it looks layered up.

Karen Walker Daisy Ring-This seems to be only showing up online in the midi size which is not cool KW. This has to have been one of the most popular fine jewelry rings of hers. Anyway, rants aside there's not much to say here other than I like this a lot and wear it to death.

Emma and Roe Sterling Silver Running Hearts Stack Ring*-This design is a bit more interesting than just a plain silver band but it's still simple enough that you can match it with other pieces and not have too much of a clash. Side note: I mix metals often. Is that some kind of jewelry/fashion sin? Stacking rings is definitely my new favourite way to wear rings.


Crystal on Chain and Clear Quartz Pendants, Matchbox Studios-If you're yet to visit Matchbox in Auckland or Wellington and like crystals and other crafty fare, get a move on. I wear these pendants all the time and think they're so rad. I may have to pick up another one next time I'm visiting their stores...

Semi-Precious Pendant, purchased in a sale from Lovisa-From memory this was super cheap, two or three dollars I think. Again it is one of my favourite pieces because it works with everything. Let's be real though, my wardrobe isn't that outlandish so it's difficult for accessories not to work with most things haha.

Colette Turquoise Statement Necklace-This was another gift from my friend for my birthday earlier in the month and I love it. It's one of my favourite colours and is so bright and Summery. Expect to see this in a lot of OOTD's and videos in the future.


-What are your go-to accessories?


*PR Sample-I did receive these pieces to feature on Nana Wintour but as always all thoughts, musings and love of pretty jewels are my own.
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The Purse-Friendly Eyeshadow Brushes
8/17/2015

The Purse-Friendly Eyeshadow Brushes




When it comes to beauty and fashion, I'm always on the hunt for bargains that are just as good as their higher end counterparts. To be honest, that can often end up being easier said than done here in New Zealand. The quality of products might not be as good or things that are traditionally much cheaper overseas end up with a ludicrously high markup once they make it to our shelves. 

Thankfully, when it comes to makeup brushes at least, finding a cheap, awesome alternative is no longer a total 'mare and that's all down to the brilliance of Shannon Harris aka Shaaanxo. I already owned one of her face brushes but decided to pick up some of the eye brushes to try recently. Given I got two brushes for $30 as opposed to double that price *cough Mac, cough* I was pleased. These brushes are really good so read on if you're curious about my new faves..

Angled Top Synthetic Eyeshadow Brush-This brush is great with cream shadows if you want a sheerer wash of colour. It also works well with powder shadows across the lids too and its tapered edge means you can even get a bit of crease definition happening as well. It's super soft and despite being densely packed with bristles, it dries up really quickly. This is such a plus if you're like me and don't like waiting for brushes to dry. 

Synthetic Eyeshadow Brush-This paintbrush style brush is also great for using with cream eyeshadows for a more even, concentrated layer of colour on the lids. I know some people prefer using their fingers with cream products but with eyeshadow in particular I find brushes easier to use. It's also extremely soft and I love it. 

-Have you tried any xoBeauty brushes before? What did you think of them?
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The Week #161
8/14/2015

The Week #161



Amy: Earlier in the week I went and saw Amy, the documentary about the late Amy Winehouse's life. As a fan this was fantastic. It really offers an in-depth insight into her life as an artist and of course showed where a lot of the inspiration for her songs stemmed from. She never wanted to be famous and just wanted to make great music. It was also interesting seeing the power of the media and music industry at play and just how destructive those two forces can be combined. It is quite a sad one to watch but I highly recommend you see it-just take tissues and opt out of mascara for this one.

Budget-Friendly Decor: As I said on Instagram last week, Kmart have really been bringing it in the homeware department lately. They've recently done a new drop of homeware goodness in store featuring a range of coppery bits and also some Scandinavian inspired designs there. Pops of colour throughout the range will be perfect going into Spring and Summer. I love the copper baskets (pictured) although I have no justifiable use for one. There's some cute gold foiled cushions in this line too. Everything's so inexpensive, it'd be rude to not have a gander at the collection if you've not yet done so..

Alice in Wonderland: Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co's illustrations have been favourites of mine ever since I discovered them. They've recently debuted their calendars for 2016 and while it's a little too early to be thinking about another year, I'm absolutely smitten with this Alice in Wonderland calendar. It's just stunning. Shipping for this one is a little bit on the pricy side to NZ but I may just have to make an exception.

Be Brave: My other favourite longtime stationery love, Kikki K have recently released their stunning new Be Brave collection and it is stunning guys. The soft, watercoloured hues combined with that foiled detailing makes for a dreamy range of goodness. My pick from this collection has to be these notebooks which I picked up last week. If you can find them, the vision board cards are worth looking at as well.

*Have an awesome weekend everybody! As I write this it is bucketing down outside, #raincanyounot. This week's been pretty rad though-the highlight being a makeup and cake date with the lovely Fiona from @fionaclarebeauty. This weekend I don't have any overly extravagant plans on the cards so I guess I will just see where Saturday+Sunday take me. See you all on Monday with another beauty post! 

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Books I Read & Liked, Vol. 1
8/12/2015

Books I Read & Liked, Vol. 1



It was quite recently that I realised that I don't write about books on my blog as much as I thought. These days I seem to get through a lot of them and I often run out of time to talk about everything so in an attempt to combat that I thought I'd start a new ish feature of books I have read, liked, but may not have had the chance to natter on to you lovely lot about just yet. Most of these I have read already or am currently reading just for reference. So yeah, here is what I have read and enjoyed...


Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas*-I think it was in one of my videos recently that I talked about how this book had taken me a little while to get into but now I have and I am hooked. The first book of five tells the story of Celaena, an assassin who is selected as the prince's candidate to fight in a to-the-death tournament against other assassins from across the land, all in the name of her freedom. A few people have dubbed Celaena as a modern-day Buffy Summers which I do kinda agree with. I really like this series and can't wait to read the rest of these books. I was actually sent the fourth book, out in September yesterday so I really need to get a move on with the rest.

Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery-Considering how much I loved the film-length version of these books back in the day I am surprised I'd never read the book until last year. Anne Shirley is such an iconic character in literature and I loved her fiery nature, kindred spirit and love of good literature. I need to start reading the other books but I'm waiting until I go to a secondhand bookstore as I am sure there'll be some hiding there.


Life with a Sprinkle of Glitter by Louise Pentland*-I'll be honest, I was kinda worried Louise's book was going to be just another YouTube book but I shouldn't have. I mean it is Louise after all and she wouldn't let that happen. This book really epitomises everything Louise is about-fashion, friendly banter, a touch of sparkliness and of course some humour. There's stunning imagery throughout and I loved how every page has a different design. It's a really positive, uplifting read and would really go down a treat with teens or young adults. 

As If! The oral history of Clueless by Jen Chaney-After reading the writeup about Clueless in Vanity Fair's July issue I almost immediately requested this book from the local library. I love Clueless and reading about how it began, the many inspirations behind it and all the cast's relationships with the story really appeals to me y'know? I'll do a full review over on my Goodreads but so far, so good. 


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

*Review Copy
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Lipliner Lovin'
8/10/2015

Lipliner Lovin'





Ahh the lipliner, an absolute beauty staple if you love a long-wearing lip and aren't a fan of regular touchups. Some of us love them, others choose to leave them. As you can see, when I'm going for a bolder colour I like to have options. I also like to use lipliner to fill my lips in precisely first and then just go over with lipstick. It looks a lot cleaner and any mistakes can be easily wiped away with a cotton tip and some remover. Today I thought I'd talk you through my collection and inform you of my favourites..

Mac Liner Rave: I have tried a few lipliners over the years and Mac's just trump them all. You won't find patchy colour or pencils that feel more like they belong on paper here. Instead you are met with creamy colours that dry to a matte finish and are crazy pigmented. If your lips are in good nick you could wear these on their own. My favourite for a day-to-day option has to be Soar, which is said to be one of Kylie Jenner's go to's. It works well with any nude and helps to build the illusion of a fuller pout. Embrace Me is great with any pinks and while it was limited edition, Candy Yum Yum is very similar. Heroine is my new favourite. I'm having a real thing with purple lips at the moment and I love this colour. I pair it with Men Love Mystery* to deepen up the purple tones in that lipstick. Redd and Ruby Woo* look similar but they're actually quite different. Redd is better for more orangey based hues, think Lady Danger. Whereas Ruby Woo pairs nicely with the lipstick of the same name as well as more true red shades. Currant looks so scary in this photo. It isn't black! Promise. I use this with Rebel which I find tricky to apply neatly without a liner or lip brush. It's perfect for a more vampier lip look. The must-haves? Soar and Redd and if you like purples you cannot beat Heroine.

Charlotte Tilbury Love-The lone ranger, if you will. Side note: the Southern Hemisphere needs Charlotte Tilbury. Here we have one of her lip cheat pencils in the shade Pink Venus. After hearing Alix sing its praises I knew it was going to be a good'un. It's the perfect pinky nude with a slight peach tint to it. I find it really flattering to wear on the lips and it doesn't wash me out in the slightest. While these pencils are noticeably smaller than their Mac counterparts, they're definitely a touch creamier and less dehydrating on the lips. This might affect the lasting power slightly but I don't really notice it much.

-Are you a lipliner lover or loather? Which are your go-to's? 

*PR Sample


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My Week in Pictures #4
8/07/2015

My Week in Pictures #4



Another week, another round of getting snap happy with the camera. This week was my birthday week so it was quite exciting, and filled with delicious food. Shout out to those Belgian waffles I devoured on Monday. On a less than memorable note I managed to get that cold everyone seems to have at the moment, but I didn't think you'd want to see an artistic photo of my mountain of tissues. Anyway, here is what I got up to this week..

(Above)-Delicious birthday cupcakes from Bluebells Cakery. These are chocolate+raspberry and vanilla and they were so good. They definitely didn't hang around for long though unfortunately so I think a road trip to the best cupcake store in Auckland is going to be on the cards soon.



-More train vibes with my essentials: book, makeup bag/wallet and phone.

-I finally used the Golden Wonder bath bomb I purchased last month and it was bliss. If I can still find one in the shops I'm going to get another because they're my favourite thing from Lush. Throne of Glass is really good! I'm really liking it so far. It did take me a while to get into but I think it's one of those books you have to read continuously which is why I've kinda delayed reading it until I have time. #bookloverproblems. 



-Some of my pretty birthday cards hanging out on the windowsill with some daffodils.

-I had a lil' pre-birthday lunch on the weekend at Miss Clawdy with some of my friends and it was a good time. So good in fact that I kinda forgot to take photos. This was my lunch though. The Popcorn Shrimp Po Boy is amazing and I highly recommend it if you go there for lunch.



-My birthday 'treat yo self' moment came when my Sephora birthday reward appeared in my inbox. I'm doing a post on some recent Sephora treats soon but in the meantime, here are all the samples I acquired. I can't wait to try that Ren mask because it's hella expensive in NZ and I've been wanting to see what all the fuss is about for ages.

*Have the best weekend everyone! This week was awesome because it was my birthday week although then I got sick and it just made me like a walking, human version of Grumpy Cat. I'm sure there were other reasons behind that, in fact there were but I'm not gonna dwell on that now. Today I am off to a Mac Trends presentation which I'm looking forward to and then I have work in the afternoon, which I'm not looking forward to as much haha. This weekend I'll be catching up on the latest episode of I Am Cait, gotta get caught back up, priorities etc. I'm also going into the city to catch up with a friend so that'll be loverly as well. I'll see you all on Monday with a pencil themed post *ooh mysterious* xo.
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August Reading List
8/05/2015

August Reading List



It's crazy that it's already August. Seriously, where is the year going? August's to-read pile is actually looking a lot more ambitious than what I'm showing in this post. Due to an influx of borrowed books (whoops) I'm having to get through a lot more books this month but let's be real, I don't mind that in the slightest. Anyway, here's what is on my reading list this month..


Paper Towns by John Green-Now this is a re-read which is totally inspired by my newfound enthusiasm after watching the film last month. I'm currently reading this and I'm not sure why I was so disinterested by it the first time. It's definitely not my favourite John Green novel but it's not an awful book or story by any means. If you like coming of age novels, roadtrips, literary references and treasure hunts you'll like this.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? & Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling-After seeing this book over on Essiebutton's #buttonbookshelf videos I swiftly added it to my wishlist and ended up buying it whilst I was in Sydney. It's not a big book so I think I'll get through it really quickly. This read is well timed too given her second book is being released in October.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews-I finished this one up on the weekend and really enjoyed it. It earned itself 3.5 stars from me over on Goodreads. Despite the somewhat depressing title I really did enjoy this book. While the main character was a bit of a jerk at times I feel like his behaviour was justified. It's actually quite funny and I liked the loose, diary-entry like structure to each chapter. 



The Second Summer of the Sisterhood + Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares-Some more re-reads. If you saw my library haul last week then you'll know this series was one of my favourites growing up and I am looking forward to diving back into them again. The fact it's told from four different perspectives really appeals to me as well because you get everyone's angle on events.

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee*-The highly anticipated sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird, one of my favourite books from my English Literature days came out last month. There's been mixed reviews about this book given some of the major new plot developments since TKAMB finished off. However I am looking forward to reading it and seeing what's changed in the Finch world, society in general and where they all are now.

-What are you reading at the moment?

*Review copy
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Mascara Enabling
8/03/2015

Mascara Enabling




If the eyes are the windows to the soul then surely mascara has to be the pretty drapes or curtains that deck out those glass panes. Just go with the analogy guys I'm feeling proud of that piece of imaginative prose. Mascara is probably the one makeup product I never like to miss out, even if I'm not that bothered with beauty products that day. As a result it's one of my favourite things to try and I like testing out a lot of different ones. Some of these experiments are usually the aftereffects of some master enabling from fellow friends and beauty bloggers. See below for the evidence...

Fairydrops Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara-Enabler: Anna, the master enabler herself. Until Cult Beauty bought this in stock the chances of owning this mascara were slim as it's very hard to come by outside of Asia. I've not opened this one up yet as I am still using its sister mascara which I love. I am expecting similar results though albeit with a longer lasting formula and curl holding properties. I will keep you posted.

Essence Lash Mania Mascara-Enabler: My friend Jess, confidante and fellow beauty devotee. Jess has extremely good taste in many things, especially beauty so when I literally witnessed her picking up this mascara and a few backups in Priceline I knew it had to be good. Apparently it's amazing for enhancing lashes and making them look ten times more fabulous. Bold claims huh? If you're in New Zealand, Farmers have this mascara available although it's often sold out here. Clearly it's popular across the ditch too. Again, I shall keep you updated with this one..

-What mascaras do you use and love?
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