Aloha, happy Monday and welcome to another installment of The Beauty Files. This month we have a few beauty gems; Lisa Eldridge and Alexa Chung made me do it, some rediscovered products, a collection I'm really quite excited for and of course a product that has me a bit perplexed. 

Something(s) New: This month I got a new job, more on that later in the week, and to celebrate I treated myself to a couple of new beauty bits from Cult Beauty. First up I finally grabbed one of the Jade Facial Rollers by Yu Ling. This was absolutely, one hundred percent inspired after watching this Lisa Eldridge video. Designed for facial massage, the healing properties of jade are said to be transformative to the skin. I will keep you updated once I've had a chance to use this properly. Also from Cult Beauty I grabbed another of Charlotte Tilbury's matte revolution lipsticks. This time in the shade Pillow Talk. Inspired by her loved liner of the same name, this lipstick is stunning. I also think the matte revolutions are easily some of the nicest matte lipsticks to wear. Not drying, long lasting and gorgeous, even colour payoff. Pillow Talk is a pinky nude that is a favourite among the red carpet lovers. Alexa wore it to the Met Gala and that sold it for me. If it's good enough for Ms Chung... I've only worn this once, it arrived on Friday but I loved it and know it'll become a fast favourite.

Something(s) Rediscovered: MAC Prep+Prime Fix Plus Spray. This mini size is in the limited edition coconut scent that was rereleased earlier in the year, as part of a collection I have completely blanked on the name of. I think it was possibly workout/eighties inspired. Anyway, I'm not sure if the formulation of this has been tweaked slightly but the mist certainly seems to be finer and less..tacky for lack of a better word. Maybe nothing's changed but I am loving it as a setting spray again. The coconut scent helps too. I am also re-loving Roller Lash by Benefit. I was never a fan of They're Real but I have a lot of time for this one. Lengthening, curling and just straight up lash magic. I think the real magic is in the brush more than anything but whatever it is, it works. My only gripe is it seems to smudge a little on me now so if you're prone to mascara smudging, be careful. 

Something Unconvincing: I feel like this product will excite a few people but I'm not totally wowed by it. Maybelline's Brow Tattoo* is a peel off, temporary brow tint enriched with a host of nourishing ingredients and of course temporary colour. For context I naturally have dark eyebrows so tint in them is perhaps not going to show up as effectively. I've used this a couple of times and felt like it really did nothing in the way of colour. I wasn't expecting dramatic results and I'm well aware my brows are already pretty pigmented on their own but I was disappointed by this and feel like it may potentially be a bit gimmicky. Not sold sorry Maybelline. I'll stick to my pencils and pomades for now.

Something Lustworthy: The Lancome x Olympia Le Tan collaboration looks incredibly dreamy. Case in point. There are also lipsticks, shaped like lips. I cannot deal with this level of whimsy and pinkness. I'm trying to not get too excited in case NZ misses out on this collection. We didn't get the Sonia Rykiel one last year, much to my dismay but my bank account's delight. I will keep you posted if I find out any more information about this collaboration.

-What beauty bits 'n bobs have you been loving lately?

*PR Sample

There's certainly no shortage of beauty launches at the moment. It was made all the more clear when I was thinking about what to include in this post. Sometimes it almost feels like there's too many launches. In fact, I read an article the other day saying that MAC releases on average fifty new collections a year. A remarkable achievement for sure but one that makes me wonder if it's absolutely necessary to have that many new collections, products and vice versa on the market. I call myself a beauty blogger eh? Cynicisms aside, there are plenty of fantastic new launches around if you're feeling spendy... 

Something(s) New: Face Case* by Go-To. I'm a keen supporter of anything Zoe Foster Blake does so I was really excited to receive this through my mailbox recently. Insulting box, chocolate sleeping 'pills' and all. Silk pillowcases have a range of benefits; less static hair i.e. no more waking up looking like Hagrid, less wrinkly faces and they won't absorb your moisturiser like it's a decadent dessert. Score! I am yet to try this, as it's being saved for something special** but will keep you all updated on how it goes in silktown. Another newbie is the L'Oreal Colorista* range. Now I have to confess, I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to colours like these. I like them, but half the time I think they'll either not translate to my hair or end up looking like I've coated my head in a fluorescent pen. Irrational dye fears perhaps? Anyway, I've always wanted to add a touch of ginger to my hair so I'm hoping to try this wash-out colour very soon. I've never DIY dyed before so if anyone has any tips, leave them in the comments please.

Something Rediscovered: Exposed Blush x Tarte. In my opinion the best blush ever. It's a nude-pink that flatters my complexion like nothing else. It seems to really complement paler skin tones well but I have friends with deeper skin tones than me who can work with this colour too. I know some people think the Tarte blushers are overrated but I have no issue with them and find them really long-wearing. 

Something Unconvincing: I know one of the key things the beauty world obsesses over is solving a problem. Sometimes however I think they take things a bit too far. As is the case with these. I can't speak for the formula etc of these but I have seen them at a friend's house and they just seem unnecessary. Are women really in need of a product that essentially assumes they do not know how to apply eyeshadow? I also think the way the colours are split would end up making things messier and maybe in a sense more difficult to blend. This is just me speculating but they seem kinda pointless. 

Something(s) Lustworthy: As previously stated, there's certainly a fair few new releases around at the moment. I'm currently getting all heart-eyed over; Pillow Talk lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury. I love me a good nude and Charlotte's Matte Revolution lipsticks are one of my favourite formulas. Seriously they are so comfortable and long lasting for a matte it's kind of ridiculous, in a good way. Cloud Paint by Glossier. I'm definitely not the hugest cream blush advocate, I find them difficult to work with and oftentimes unflattering but Dusk looks absolutely exquisite. It also seems like this product leaves you a bit more time to work with it which I love as well. Now for something a bit more local, Loose Eyeshadow x Nude by Nature. Annoyingly I can't remember which of these colours I liked and this is by no means an essential, but they are cheaper than some similar products on the market and seemed pretty impressive on swatching. Don't be intimidated by the fact they're not a pressed shadow. I found on swatching that they didn't make too much of a mess and wouldn't be too difficult to work with on the lids. Lastly, less of something I'm lusting over but more a PSA. Oskia's beloved Renaissance Cleanser is now available in a larger size. Now they just need to release a mini for traveling and we'll all be set. 

-What are your current beauty go-to's?

*PR Sample

**Semi fake news/clickbait lol. 

There seems to have been a few rather exciting bits and bobs making their way into my letterbox lately. It'd only be polite to share them with you all, right? There's a bit of variety here, from high-end to the more affordable pieces. There's even a mask that I love and am fast becoming obsessed with. Here's what's made its way into the beauty stash...

Benefit Dew the Hoola*-Benefit's Hoola Bronzer is a cult favourite for a reason. The matte bronzer seems to flatter a wide range of skin tones and it's a staple in many a girl's makeup bag. Dew the Hoola is a liquid bronzer designed to be applied under, or on top of makeup to add a hint of warmth and subtle glow to the complexion. I apply this after my primer and before foundation. It adds the subtlest of tints, no Oompa-Loompa vibes in sight.

Beauty Blender-I finally caved and bought a Beauty Blender. It's only been something I've deliberated for the last year or two but it's happened and I am hooked. I wanted to get the nude one, mainly because I thought it'd mask the foundation and concealer stains a bit better than some of the more brighter colours. I'm sure you all know how a Beauty Blender works by now so I'll skip the description. Compared to other sponges, this feels a lot softer and bouncier. It's hard to explain but it makes such a difference to blending in products like concealer and foundation. I have only used this once but I can see it becoming a firm favourite.

Benefit Hoola Zero Tanlines*-There's also a body bronzer in the expanded Hoola lineup. It comes with a twist-off sponge applicator that you apply the product to and then blend in circular motions. It sounds intriguing, and products like this do tend to intimidate my paler self but I have seen positive reviews from porcelain babes online so I have high hopes. This tanner novice will keep you posted...

Australis Banana Powder-These yellow-hued powders seem to either only come in contour palettes, or as a loose powder, the latter which I'm not a huge fan of. So when I saw Australis, one of my favourite budget brands had bought out a single powder version I had to grab it. Again, I have only used this once-to be fair it arrived a day prior to me writing this. I'm a bit undecided about this one, the powder's a bit too thick for my liking and I felt like it settled under my eyes a bit. This could be because I've been forgetful with the eye cream lately though so I'll keep playing around with it. 

Ardell Glamour Lashes & Demi Lashes*-In an attempt to push myself out of my narrow beauty comfort zone, I was sent some Ardell lashes. I think lashes are a thing a lot of us avoid because they are fiddly and require practice+patience. I have worn some Ardell lashes before though and found them really comfortable to wear. If I have an eyelash win, you'll spy it on the 'gram. 

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Napolean-This was totally an Estee Lalonde inspired buy after watching her March Favourites video. I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the original Butter Glosses but I thought I'd give the revamped ones a shot. This colour reminds me a lot of Impassioned lipstick x MAC, it's a vibrant, coral pink. This gloss feels a lot less tackier than some, which is a major plus and I love this colour.

Oasis Beauty Fruit Smoothie Exfoliating Face Mask*-Correct me if I'm wrong but exfoliating face masks don't seem to be a common thing so naturally when this one turned up I was very curious. The fact the name also contains the words fruit and smoothie further enticed me. What we have here is a mask combined with a scrub. You apply this like you would any face mask and then dampen your hands to work the scrub in. It smells amazing and it works wonders, especially on uneven skin and somewhat angry, blemish prone skin. It's organic, and all-natural, the microbeads are actually jojoba ones. This mask is a new staple in my routine and it's one of those products I look forward to using each week. I'm not sure if Oasis Beauty are available outside New Zealand but kiwis, you should definitely check them out.

-What beauty products have you been trying lately?

*PR Sample

First things first, if the letters of this post start evaporating it's because it's thirty plus degrees as I write this. I'm not sure how Australians survive with this humidity, it's not a fun time! Anyway, weather complaints aside, today I have a rather hefty monthly favourites post for you all, nearly double digits! There's a lot of beauty, a book and even an accessory which I've loved in the mix this month...

It's that time again! March's Favourites are here and for once I didn't have to think too much about what I was going to include. These beauty and body products have all been standouts for the last couple of months and I can imagine many a repurchase happening when they do eventually run out. There's also a token book in there for good measure and a giveaway! The general gist of that is in the video but I'll write it out again.

Giveaway Details:

-Open to NZ residents only. If you're under 18, please get permission to enter this first as I'll need your postal address if you win.

-Be in to win either the Raspberry Harvest Shower Gel* or Raspberry Harvest Body Butter* from The Body Shop. 

-To enter, leave me a comment down below telling me which you'd like to win. Be sure to leave a Twitter handle/email address so I can contact you if you win.

-This giveaway will remain open for one week and will close next Wednesday 01/04. Good luck! 

*Giveaway prizes provided.

'Tis the season for feeling spendy and of course giving, whether it be for yourself or others. Let's be real, everyone deserves to treat themselves every now and again. Over the last few months I've done a little bit of shopping so I rounded it all up into one lil' haul video for you. Enjoy!

Side note: See those Christmas decorations? I kinda forgot to film them but if you are interested, they're from Bed Bath & Table. 

It's now November and that now gives me a justifiable excuse to start talking about Christmas. As you can see above I even felt the need to dress for the occasion. I've filmed a video of some of my picks for Christmas from the beauty world. There's something for a range of budgets so hopefully it'll please you all. If you want to see reviews of anything in this video please let me know. I've linked anything that's already been blogged in the description box. Enjoy! 

July has almost been and gone, bringing with it a rather mixed selection of favourites. Makeup wasn't high on the agenda this month, given I spent some of it in bed and when I did reach for it I just headed for the products I knew and loved. As well as makeup I've also been loving a musical, a rather inspiring book and even some chocolate..

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette-Last month was all about the Dipbrow, which is great, but if you're in a rush to get somewhere it can slow things down. I've had this pencil for over a year now and it's still going strong. It's so easy to achieve perfect, precise brows without an awful lot of effort. 

Laura Mercier 'Radiance' Primer-My Hourglass primer is still numero uno, but to try and make it go the extra mile I've been testing a few other primers recently. This was one I picked up in Summer from Melbourne and it was slightly too glowy for my skin then. Now, however it is perfect. My foundation veers more on the matte side of things so this helps to inject a bit of glow back into my complexion. It's also great at keeping your makeup in place too.

Whittakers 'Hundreds and Thousands' Chocolate-Now it's probably a bit crazy including this in my July Favourites, given it only came out a week ago but it is so good! People seem to be divided on this one, some claim it just tastes like white chocolate but I love it. If you're familiar with the hundreds and thousands biscuits, this tastes just like the pink icing on them. I'll definitely be picking up some more of this soon.

Benefit 'They're Real' Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover*-If you saw my review of this earlier in July, you'll know that I was expecting it to be quite gimmicky. It's the total opposite. If you like to wear a lot of eye makeup, and particularly sturdy mascaras then you'll love this. The creamy product works in a similar way to a cleansing balm and gently breaks down your eye makeup. It won't irritate your eyes and makes sure every trace of product is gone. 

#Girlboss-I've already harped on about this book enough this month, more here. In short, if you're after inspiration or just wanting to kick-ass then you need to pick this one up. It's such an inspiring, motivating read.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer-Again, when I've not wanted to mess around with multiple concealers, this one's been doing the job. If I had to get picky, I'd say the lightest shade is perhaps slightly too light for me but other than that I like this concealer. It's thick, blends easily and conceals a multitude of sins. 

Les Miserables-Now I'll be honest, I've been quite obsessed with this musical since I saw the movie last year and over the last holidays I often had the soundtrack going whilst I was doing my jobs around the house. Empty house+loud, dramatic music=Happy Sophie. I don't know what it is about this musical, given the various plot points are all quite depressing but I love it. I'm kinda tempted to head on over to Melbourne to see it right now too...

Sebastian Pro Drynamic*-If you're like me and find hair washing a bit of a faff (sorry Mum...) then you need to get yourselves a can of this. Part dry shampoo, part style extender. I don't notice much of a difference in the way of styling, but as a dry shampoo this is awesome. It helps disguise second or third day hair and leaves things looking a lot more glossy. I need to get the mini size of this for my handbag.

-What have you been loving during July?

*PR Sample

When it comes to eyeliner I'm more of a brown, pencil liner girl. I did the whole black liner thing back in high school, no doubt applied too heavily and haven't really ventured back to it since. In the last few years since winged liner took off I came into possession of a couple of liquid liners but found them too much of a nightmare to work with. There's obviously a few of us liner 'noobs around and Benefit know this too. Last month they added two new products to their They're Real family, including an eyeliner said to solve the ultimate beauty dilemma that is lining the eyes...

March, where have you gone!? This month I've been really getting on board with all things pink. You'll notice that trend carrying on into next month's posts as well. It's a bold claim, but many of these products have earned staple status in the beauty lineup this month, and I can imagine myself repurchasing many of these products. There's even some non-beauty favourites for a change too, just to mix things up a bit. So without further ado, here are March's favourites..

Benefit Gimme Brow*-We've seen the hype surrounding this product and I'm here to sell you that Gimme Brow deserves all the love that it gets. A brow gel/brow mascara hybrid, this product leaves you with fuller, defined brows. The tint is incredibly subtle which I love and it stays put until you're ready to take your makeup off. Impressive stuff.

Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Afternoon Tea-If you're a fan of glosses without shimmer then you're bound to love Afternoon Tea. This creamy pink is pigmented, long-wearing and has only the slightest amount of stickiness. Once the gloss wears off the colour leaves a stain behind. These lipglosses also smell amazing too. You can't really go wrong with these.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure-This blush combines everything we love from the Ambient Lighting powders with stunning blush pigments. Mood Exposure has been on high rotation this month. I've had to start reminding myself I have other blushes(!). This shade adds warmth to the face, a touch of highlight and subtle sculpting. It's a stunner.

Mac Eyeshadows-I'm sure this inclusion will come as such a surprise (ahem..) but in the last few weeks since creating my Mac palette I've just found myself using these colours a lot more. Sable is my go-to shade for lazy makeup days but I've also been loving Trax which in my eyes is more of an Autumnal colour. Mac eyeshadows are definitely some of my favourites. The colours are pigmented, easy to blend and have less fallout than some other brands. 

It may be sheer coincidence that the latest cheek tint from Benefit happens to be in line with Pantone's colour of the year, Radiant Orchid. Whatever it is, Benefit's newest lip and cheek stain may just be their prettiest yet. A few weeks ago I was invited to preview Lollitint*. The Benefit girls applied the stain to all the blogger's cheeks and lips, and it suited everyone. Seriously, there wasn't a single person in the room who didn't suit the tint. Impressive stuff! I've been playing around with Lollitint for the past couple of weeks and was surprisingly impressed by it. I've tried Benetint before which I'm not a fan of so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this tint. Anyway, here is what I thought..

Lollitint is a girly, candy-orchid lip and cheek stain. As it is a liquid you can apply the colour quite sheerly to your lips and cheeks or build up the colour as you wish. One thing to note is that Benefit's stains set really fast once you apply them. It's best to apply the product to one cheek at a time so you can blend it properly. You can use either your fingertips or a brush to apply this. I like the Mac #188 duofibre brush as it means you can gently press the colour in without moving it around too much. You can also wear it on your lips but whenever I applied Lollitint to my lips they begun to sting so I had to remove it, which is a shame because it's a gorgeous lip colour!

Despite my experiences with Lollitint on the lips I was really impressed with it as a cheek tint. The colour is long-wearing and lasts for hours with the colour fading slightly as the day goes by.

*Lollitint lands on counters this Saturday. Will you be heading in to try the cheek and lip stain?

*PR Sample

It has been said that it is a crime to not prime. It may not be officially listed as an illegal activity but once you start using a primer of any kind, you won't want to go without it. A primer's key purpose is to make your makeup, whether it be base or eye, stay in place for longer. They can also be skin smoothing, add a touch of radiance or even minimise pores. Primers can change the way your makeup looks and lasts on the skin so they're an essential part of many a makeup routine..

Bourjois Bronzing Primer ASOS seem to have taken this primer off their site so I'm hoping it gets added back because I love this. This primer was labeled as an alternative to the popular Chanel cream bronzer. I know some people like to use this as a cream contour as well. While it is way too dark for me to contour or bronze with, I like to apply a small amount of this after using a regular face primer. It gives your complexion a bit more warmth without leaving you looking orange. I have used this as a primer as well and liked it as one. 

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base This is the best eyeshadow primer that I have tried. It has a wand applicator so you can apply this to your lids and then use your ring finger to gently pat it in. Apply eyeshadow as normal and it will stay put so much better. The primer really stops your eyeshadow from creasing. For extra longevity apply a cream base, like a Mac paint pot first.

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer If you're not so big on dewy finishes, a primer like this one can be the perfect way to make you look more awake. I typically prefer a more matte finish but applying this leaves your complexion with such a pretty natural glow. I've not tried any of Laura Mercier's other primers but this one has more of a cream, almost gel-like consistency. It's really easy to blend and again, your makeup will stay put with this underneath. 

I'm currently in Melbourne as you read this which means I am probably doing a combination of shopping, drinking amazing coffee, taking loads of pictures and behaving like a lovestruck tourist. Today I thought I'd talk you through what is in my travel makeup bag. Believe it or not this is quite minimal for me. Aside from some skincare bits and my eye brushes this will be it. On holidays I tend to wear less makeup anyhow. This is a more streamlined version of what I use daily in other words. 

Palettes and Powders With palettes I try to take ones that are relatively flat so that they fit into my makeup bag more easily. The Hourglass palette and my Mac quad are multi-use. My favourite Benefit blush Coralista is coming even though it's not so travel friendly, it's my go-to Summer blush right now.

Eyeshadows While I have my eyeshadow quad I also packed my two favourite neutrals, All That Glitters and A Natural Flirt. Eyeshadow is something I don't fuss as much with on holidays so these blendable, subtle wash of colour shades are perfect.

Primers Standard. My travel-sized Hourglass primer is coming because it has the best lasting-power and my Benefit one is close to running out. I may be eyeing up the Laura Mercier counter looking for a replacement primer. Watch this space..

Pencils My two Rimmel pencils are so easy for everyday makeup, a quick swipe along the lashline and a little bit of smudging with a brush or finger has you sorted. The flesh-toned pencil is for the waterline and my pink-lip pencil is what I pair with my brighter lipstick. 

Benefit Boxed Blushes Admittedly I don't wear an awful lot of blush but this month I've been alternating between Coralista and Rockateur quite a bit. Both these shades are very wearable. They are quite glittery in the pan but don't let that intimidate you. Once applied these leave you with a sun kissed, radiant glow. 

Tarte 'Lights, Camera, Flashes' Mascara This is the first Tarte product I've tried and it's safe to say I am impressed. One thing I love about this mascara is that it is formulated without parabens or phthalates   and instead contains vitamin derivatives which help thicken the appearance of lashes. This mascara has an almost cat-eye effect once on the lashes which is stunning. If you're after a long-lasting, smudge proof mascara then you will love this. PS-Tarte if you're reading, please start shipping to New Zealand. 

Mac Eyeshadows in Woodwinked and A Natural Flirt (limited edition) I've shelved my bronze eyeshadows for now and replaced them with light golds and sheer champagne shades. Both these colours are gorgeous. If you're after neutral eyeshadows you really cannot beat Mac's.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque The creamy, dark circle banisher. No matter how tired you look this will always make it a little less obvious. This one also works well on discolouration and scars that just don't seem to fade too.

Mac Eye Pencil in Coffee If you're wary of black liner then you will like this. This is subtler than jet black liner and is the perfect shade for adding definition to the lashline.  

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

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

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

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