I'll be honest, the only real time I make somewhat of an effort with makeup in Summer is when I go to work. Even then I don't always do a full face of makeup daily. There are some budge-proof, foolproof and MVP's of my makeup stash that I reach for though. I've also included some miscellaneous beauty things that have become my ride or dies this Summer...

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray & Breathe In, limited edition size: These minis were part of a trio released at Christmas time. So naturally I took them away when I was housesitting and staying with family but I actually use them all the time. The humidity makes it more of a struggle to sleep in Summer and these are a godsend. It could just be a very crafty placebo effect, but spritzing this spray and applying the rollerball to pulse points always seems to instate a sense of zen and calm. Both things I need a lot of. 

Colourpop Take Me Home Palette: You might hear about this again later in the month. Ahem, most definitely will. I love this slimline, compact palette. Mattes, shimmers, high pigment, long-lasting. I love 'em. If I've been wearing eyeshadow at all lately, it's been this palette almost exclusively. 

MAC Fix+ Coconut Spray, mini size limited edition: This mini was released as part of the Work It Out collection last year. That name's possibly wrong. I think it was geared towards people who glam for the gym aka not me. Anyway, this is my go-to setting spray and I love it. I don't know if the formulation has changed but I'm not a fan of sticky, heavy face sprays. This one is a fine mist which lightly sets down your makeup and adds a touch of glow as well. At the moment MAC have it available, as well as the lavender and rose versions. I'm not sure if it's limited but I may have to go back and grab the full size.

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation: I can't remember exactly why I stopped using this foundation because I love it. As the name would suggest, it is long lasting and provides medium coverage. It blends like a dream and the finish is more satin-y. Although I always set it with powder anyway, especially at this time of year. I'm curious to see what the new NARS foundation is like, although I suspect it will be too glowy for me. 

Byredo Mojave Ghost EDP: A luxe love but a good'un. I describe this as a fancier version of Daisy x Marc Jacobs and I won't riddle you with my questionable perfume review skills. Go have a nosy at the Mecca Cosmetica description. Just know I love it and it's one of the few perfumes that don't evaporate from my skin in Summertime. 

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray*: An oldie but a goodie. I seem to have accumulated a few of these. The mini size lives on my desk at work and is a lifesaver on the really hot days. Ok, every day just about. I'm sure some people will say this is just glorified water in a can. Perhaps it is. I don't care, it's refreshing and it makes such a difference. Sprays like this are great when you step out of the shower too. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer: I give this quite a workout in Summer. It's such a flattering bronzer for paler people, I have the shade Luminous Bronze Light. A little goes a long way with this so I just sweep a blush brush in the compact and apply the slightest amount. I'm actually hoping to try a new (ish) bronzing product soon so stay tuned. This one though is my Summer bff. 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick: Pillow Talk is such a brilliant lipstick. Yes it does make me think of a certain Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid video on every application. For a matte, it's super creamy and long lasting. I barely need to reapply this yet despite that it doesn't feel drying in the slightest. It sells out quite regularly and I can easily see why. 

NARS The Veil Cheek Palette, limited edition: There's probably not much point saying a lot about this, seeing as it was from the Man Ray collection that is no longer available. It's a dreamy combination of NARS blush, bronzer and highlighter though and I love the colours. They can be a tad intense if you aren't careful but I like that if you're using a finer brush, you can build them up to the intensity you are after. 

-What are your Summer beauty must haves?

*PR Sample

I used to do beauty reviews of sorts over on my Instagram fairly frequently but admittedly I've been a bit slack with that lately. So today I decided to round up five of the products I've been loving and probably need to talk about more. You will have seen some of these products before so apologies for any incoming deja vu. For those of you who aren't familiar with the above enjoy. If you're feeling like some new beauty, might I suggest one of these make their way into your basket?

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer: I feel like it's hard to find a concealer that can actually be used for everything. This one though covers all bases, literally. Its velvety finish means it is seamless to blend and despite being higher coverage, it never looks cakey or heavy. I have the shade Creme Brulee and I love it. Honestly this is one of the best products I've purchased this year and I might even favour it over the Radiant Creamy Concealer when it comes to heavy-duty concealing. 

Colourpop Get Paid Creme Gel Eyeliner: Honestly this is without a doubt one of my favourite liner pencils. Creamy, twist-up (no sharpening yass) and gorgeous colour. Get Paid is a metallic, rose gold that looks stunning along the lashline for something a bit different. I love how inexpensive it is too. Next time I do a Colourpop order, I'll definitely be grabbing another of these.

Tartelette In Bloom Palette x Tarte Cosmetics: So this palette has sat unloved for a while, as my preference for the Modern Renaissance palette really set in. Fiona loves this palette and uses it so often on herself+clients so I was reminded to revisit it. Thanks Fi! My favourite shades are the shimmers for sure but I love how complementary all the colours are to one another. The darks aren't too pigmented as well which I like. Side note: I have maybe had a fun morning blending like crazy with the Anastasia palette when I underestimated the intensity of one of the shades. Anyway, stunning palette. Their new Toasted palette looks rather dreamy as well. 

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo: When beauty brands empower women, I do tend to take it with a bit of a grain of salt. That being said, I love the message and names behind these Hourglass lipsticks. I have the shade Leader, a vivid fuschia. These are so easy to apply and stay put for hours. You barely need to touch up with them, so if you're like me and have a bit of a blase attitude to makeup touchups, you will like these. They're extremely comfortable to wear as well. Four for you Hourglass, you go Hourglass. 

Byredo Mojave Ghost: If Daisy x Marc Jacobs had a grown-up, older sister, this would be it. It's floral, fruity and a bit woodsy too. I've done a more in-depth review here but I love this. I seem to oscillate between more intense fragrances and those that are a bit lighter and fresher, like this one. I'm not going to lie, its design is aesthetically pleasing too. 

-What beauty things have you been loving lately?

"No post on Sundays" cries Vernon Dursley enthusiastically in Harry Potter. He obviously wasn't thinking about blogs though. The form of "post" if you will that never sleeps. July has vanished in a flourish and it's been quite the month. That aside, there's been some absolute beauty and non-beauty gems that I've loved all month long. From the cream blush that has me converted, through to a book that left me on the verge of cry-laughing. July Favourites, you rock...

Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk: I'm copying this from my Instagram post so apologies if you've read it already. When it comes to cream blush, I'm the first to run in the opposite direction. It's fiddly, usually results in Clown makeup and subsequent, self-inflicted tantrums. Cloud Paint however is as dreamlike as you would expect. I use a stippling brush to apply this and it leaves the most natural, flattering tint to the cheeks. You can even use the shade Dusk to contour, which I've not tried but Arden does in her video and it looks beautiful. 

MAC Painterly Paint Pot: Why I let my makeup routine go so long without a paint pot to keep eyeshadow in place and swipe on for "can't be bothered but want to make an effort-ish" days, I do not know. They're the perfect primer/base for any colour applied over the top and dry down quickly.  One thing I will say is if you're super pale, make sure you apply a crease colour if you're wearing this on its own because it can look a tad...strange all on its lonesome. I learnt that the hard way and thankfully overpack so I could remove it with wipes. Otherwise, you cannot go wrong.

Made Earrings: These were an Instagram find, after spying them on Fiona's Instagram story. These starry earrings have been my go-to all month. They're individually made from resin and can be customised to suit you. Mine for instance hang longer because that was something I requested. The custom-order shop is closed at the moment but I am totally eyeing up some of the stars. They'd make lovely gifts too. 

Go-To Super Handy*: When it comes to hand creams, I will dabble with them and think how luxurious and lovely they are for a while. Then they'll inevitably stay in my handbag and I will only think about them occasionally, when riffling around trying to find a lip product in my bag. So it goes without saying that for a hand cream to make it into my bag daily, and then end up on my desk at work, it's left a lasting impression. I probably should have expected no less from skincare sorceress Zoe Foster Blake. It contains a host of hand-loving ingredients like cocoa butter and jojoba esters, among other things and it smells lush. Not to mention it's fast absorbing, you aren't left with greasy mitts and it protects your hands from the pitfalls of air conditioning. I even like to use it when my hands are feeling a bit knackered and paper cut by the stickering and keyboard typing I do on the regular. Go buy this tube of goodness. You won't regret it. 

Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart: Miranda's debut book was recommended to me by my cousin and I really freakin' enjoyed it. It shifted between dialogue of Miranda in the present day and her eighteen year old self interjecting which made it all the more entertaining. That and so many parts I was like "yep, can relate." See: awkward banter at the doctors. What is it about that place that brings me to unleash every single thought on the poor professionals? Honestly though if you want a book that will brighten your day, make you laugh out loud and up the feel-good factor, this is it.

Byredo 'Mojave Ghost' Eau De Parfum: If Daisy Marc Jacobs had an older, sophisticated sister, this would be it. Floral and woody with a touch of musk, it's just exquisite and I cannot get enough of it. Byredo's fragrances are pricey but they're all unique and you can tell a lot of thought and love has gone into their creation. If you want to read more odes to this edp, head here.

Headspace: I'm sure many of you have heard of this app. It's designed to be a guided meditation tool that is simple and well laid out. You go through basic, usually ten minute exercises through to more advanced techniques and can follow courses tailored to more specific needs. For instance there's some on self esteem and anxiety. If you're motivated by being able to visually see how you're doing, each day it shows you how many minutes you've meditated in total. I've been a bit inconsistent the last couple of weeks with it but I do notice such a difference to my days and overall mindset when I have set aside time to do it. 

-What were your July Favourites?

*PR Sample

When it comes to fragrance, I'm a bit of a serial spritzer, not that I spray countless scents at once with abandon. I definitely don't have a signature scent and prefer to dabble in and out of fragrances, depending on my mood and the seasons. Today though it's time to focus on my newest eau de parfum which I've actually owned for a few months now. Byredo's scents have been on my radar for a while and I've spritzed them on many a trip to Mecca Cosmetica. Mojave Ghost has always been my favourite though. Here's why...

Now before we start, I'll spare you the usual disclaimer about the real struggle that is writing perfume reviews. Scent is so subjective. You like it, it stays on your skin and adapts over the day or you hate it entirely. Byredo's fragrances are unique. Biblioteque has the woodsy aroma of a bookstore and the freshness of paper stock. Gypsy Water, a woodsy, amber and sandalwood delight. Mojave Ghost is what I personally describe as the sophisticated, grown up, long lost sibling of Daisy by Marc Jacobs. It's inspired by the Mojave Desert flower, Mojave Ghost, hence the name. The scent itself contains notes of ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, violet, sandalwood, magnolia base, chantilly musk, crisp amber and cedarwood. It's floral and a bit musky+woody. I seem to be automatically attracted to scents that have sandalwood and florals in their fragrance fabric so if you're similar, you'll probably like this one. 

What I do think this Byredo scent has on a lot of other perfumes is that it genuinely does stay on the wearer all day. You could probably get away with one spritz at a time, I usually go for two and I can always still catch its notes on me at the end of the day. Its one of those fragrances where you get to experience the different notes as the day goes on, which I love. I've even picked the scent up on my cat from when I've held her as well as on my scarves and things. It certainly doesn't fade!

So my first foray into admittedly indulgent fragrance territory was a good 'un. Mojave Ghost may be a 'treat yo'self' kind of buy but given how little of this perfume you need at a time, it'll last a fair while. To prolong the life of your perfume, store it in a dark place away from sunlight/somewhere where the sun isn't going to hit it. You can also find Mojave Ghost in rollerball and hand cream form if you want to give it a try first. I'd probably go to heaven if it became a candle. Hint hint, Byredo.

-Have you tried any Byredo fragrances before? What did you think of them?

During mid-semester break I've been indulging in one of my favourite pastimes, online window-shopping. Also known as the one where I stare like the heart-eyed cat emoji at the things I'd buy, right now if money were no object. The reality is I may inevitably purchase some of the products on this list but it will be a much more gradual, drawn out process. Unless, I win Lotto in which case all self-imposed restrictions will promptly go out the window. So here's what is on my wishlist this Spring; there's a mix of beauty, some fine paper goods because y'all know how I feel about them and some fashion to round things out. 

Rifle Paper Co Herb Garden Wall Calendar-I loved my Frankie calendar that I have this year but honestly I prefer a calendar that's a bit smaller. Here's where the Rifle Paper Co one comes in. It's small, each page contains a gorgeous flora and fauna, or in this case herb themed illustration. To top it off there's some gold detailing on the pages. Swoon.

Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick-The one or two foundation sticks I've tried in the past have been a bit of a mess basically. The colours have been off but they've also been thick and just generally not a good time, for my face or for applying. This one's full coverage but in the one or two videos I've seen it used in it doesn't look overly heavy. I imagine you could sheer it out even further with something like a complexion sponge if full coverage isn't really your thing. Admittedly a heavier base isn't really what I go for in Spring/Summer but I'm in need of a new foundation so I might have to give this a try. 

Lonely Lingerie Winona Bra-There's something luxe and lovely about Lonely lingerie. I have a few of their pieces and they're just so darn special. I also lovelovelove their campaign imagery and the fact they design lingerie for real, diverse women. Blush pinks and khaki+lighter greens are two colours I'm really digging at the moment. The Winona bra satisfies my yearning for the former colour. It's lacy, strappy and so luxe. I love it.

Tuesday Bassen Erase You Pin-Support the OG designer of these pins, not the Zara knockoffs guys. One of Wellington's indie stores, Madame Fancy Pants is going to be stocking a range of Tuesday Bassen's pins and patches very soon and honestly, I want all of them. I particularly like this erase you pin because let's be real, who doesn't have people or moments they'd happily like to erase from the picture? I also love the Girls flag pin they have too. Get in my life. 

Kikki K 2017 A6 Diary Pistachio-Every year I purchase a Kikki K diary to use. It's been that way for as long as I can remember now. The last couple of years I've bought their 'inspire' diary but I want to go back to the classic diary for 2017. It's a bit simpler but I figured I can always pretty it up with some washi tape and things. I can't resist this new pistachio colour either. So pretty!

Byredo Mojave Ghost Eau De Parfum-This is definitely one of the 'if I won the Lottery' items because I have quite the collection of fragrances. I spritzed this in Mecca when I visited with Emma a few weeks ago and she liked it as well. Byredo's fragrances have a cult following for a reason, their Gypsy Water one seems to be a fan favourite. There's something special about Mojave Ghost though. Its notes include ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, violet, sandalwood, magnolia base, chantilly musk, crisp amber and cedarwood. I seem to be naturally drawn to fragrances that contain sandalwood and floral base notes so maybe that's why I'm so taken by it. What I do know is this is such a unique, beautiful fragrance and I'm going to keep coveting it for some time yet. 

the gentlewoman magazine-The new issue of The Gentlewoman keeps with my preference for longer, more book-esque magazines. This is one that champions women so I'm even more of a fan of it. Zadie Smith covers this issue, on the eve of the launch of her latest novel. Erin Brockovich is also featured, designer Grace Wales Bonner among others. This magazine's quite wordy which I love so this would be perfect to take on my travels later in the year.

-What's on your wishlist at the moment?