Why hello, Happy Tuesday and happy (almost) end of the year. So crazy to be typing that, yet alone thinking it. Today we have November's favourites. On the beauty side things there's a few tried and tested loves, plus of course some music and literature in the mix as well.

Patti Smith prose: Meditations on life, art, music, literature, artists and the smaller things. All so beautifully compiled and woven together like a tapestry by Patti Smith. Earlier in the month I read and underlined M Train to pieces and I am now doing the same with Just Kids, though the latter is a reread. I lovelovelove Patti's writing immensely. She's currently working on a new book too. Can I get an amen?

Coco Mademoiselle Intense: Honestly, I'm too much of a fragrance flitter to really declare one scent a signature but Coco Mademoiselle x Chanel has been my ride-or-die for a while now. Yes it's luxe but it lasts an age. My original bottle from three Christmases ago is still going strong. And now I have this lil' lovely. Well actually I've had it for most of the year but seemed to have neglected to sing its praises. Think of Mademoiselle Intense as a stronger version of the original. It packs more of a punch but not in an overpowering way. If anything it lingers a lot longer on the skin which is fine by me. If you're a fan of the original but want something with a bit more oomph, I highly recommend this.

MAC Tan Pigment: This. Pigment. Though. I am so glad I finally caved and treated myself to this earlier in the year. I'd literally been lusting after it for years and it's easily one of my favourite beauty products of 2018. It's a soft, rose-gold pigment with a slight metallic but sparkly finish. You can use it wet or dry, I apply it wet to amp up the colour more. It pairs so beautifully with shimmers but also more sepia and bronze-y toned shadows. I love using it to layer as it really adds another level to eyeshadow looks and always looks stunning. MAC Pigments are one of those products you'll have for years and because you need hardly any per application, they last a lifetime. If you're looking for a cute Secret Santa gift for a makeup-lover, I highly rate this. 

Bioderma: Over the years I've tried many a micellar water but none of them compare to the cult classic. In my opinion at least. Now we can finally get it in New Zealand too, from Chemist Warehouse. Again, can I get an amen? I've even bought a bottle of this for my friend's advent calendar to get her hooked as well. It doesn't have that tacky feel, no scent and just removes makeup like nobody's business. It's a bit more expensive than the micellars lining the supermarkets but I honestly think it's worth every cent. 

Queen: Ever since seeing Bohemian Rhapsody, twice, Queen has been on high rotation on my playlists. I actually have the greatest hits compilation in my car right now. I'm terrible at reviewing music but I love it and it brings back nostalgic memories of driving to school. It seemed to be in the family car stereo for a while there and I just remember thinking their music was so clever and brilliant. I still think it's brilliant. I mean Bohemian Rhapsody is an anthem, don't @ me.

-What did you love during November?

Well it's been a while since beauty blogging has made any sort of an appearance around these parts. I feel like I say that every time now when I share anything remotely beauty-related but it's true. Beauty and all its goodness are definitely still things I love, but it's just not what I want to write about all the time. Anyway, this month I have some new things to show you-actually this whole post is essentially about newness. If you're feeling indulgent, or in the mood for a good ol' #treatyoself2018 sesh, keep reading...

Something new: L'Occitane x Rifle Paper Co*. When one of my favourite stationery+designer paper brands gets their floral goodness all over L'Occitane delights, it's bound to be dreamy. I was kindly sent the two hand creams; Shea Butter and Rose Shea Butter and they smell so good. I always have hand cream on me at work because the sanitiser I use can be a tad drying so these'll be put to good use. I kinda have my eye on the mini set too-I can't help myself! I think there'll be more products in this collaboration launching in the coming months so stay tuned. 

Something loved: Miu Miu L'Eau Rosee*. A new extension to the Miu Miu family is this delightful offering. Forget what you expect of rose scents as this is far from the heavy, overpowering kind of thing I was anticipating. Instead we have something softer, with notes of blackcurrant, lily of the valley and musk. So really it's far from your standard rose scent. It reminds me a lot of the Baies candle scent from Diptyque, albeit slightly softer and I love that about it. It's very wearable and not too intoxicating. 

Aka the ride or dies, the ones I would pretty much never be without. It's been an age since I did a post like this, curating a bunch of the beauty bits 'n bobs I have repurchased and will continue to do so. I honestly don't try a ton of new things now and don't feel obligated to follow all the new launches as much as I did so I am gravitating towards what I know and love nowadays. I get by with a little help from my makeup friends or something like that hey...

Bourjois Healthy Mix Powder: Ah interesting, this has been repackaged, possibly reformulated too. I am not entirely certain. This is my go-to setting powder and has been for ages. It gets the job done in terms of mattifying without being too matte. My only qualm is the shade I use, #1 seems to be near-impossible to find here in NZ. I only ever see the darker shades which is disappointing. Otherwise I like this and its relative inexpensiveness.

Fairydrops Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara: I seem to go through phases with mascaras but I know what I like and this mascara ticks many of those boxes. This must be my third or fourth tube of this mascara now and I honestly love it. Lengthening, volumising, holds a curl and stays well put. It really puts those Western mascaras to shame. 

Glossier Balm Dotcom: I love Balm Dotcom, I use it every morning to prep my lips and also always have one in my bag. I use it during the day at work, when I remember, ahem chapped lips central. It's also great to use as an eye gloss when you can't be bothered faffing around with beauty. Oh and it smells divine. My favourite is this birthday cake scented one pictured. 

Too Faced Hangover Primer: I'm not sure why this primer earnt its name but one isn't fussy when it's this brilliant. Packed with a load of friendly skin ingredients, it's also moisturising and keeps your base looking top notch all day long. I've tried a few primers over the years and this is definitely my favourite of the bunch. 

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer: I have it on good (ish) authority that this is finally coming to NZ soon! I don't know when exactly, Maybelline tends to drop a ton of products here all at once so I'm guessing it won't be far off. Anyway, under-eye concealer of choice to cover up sleep deprivation and tired, tired eyes. Whoops. Again, I've been through so many of these that I've lost count but it's a fan favourite for a reason. 

By Terry Ombre Blackstar: So I received a Mecca voucher for Christmas and recently repurchased my beloved Misty Rock. My original was quite old and to be fair probably wasn't really fit to be used on my eyes anymore. These eyeshadows are stunning and do not budge all day. Seriously, I've been wearing this in the midst of Auckland's...unusual heat wave, occasionally in a building with broken air conditioning and it's stayed put. 

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base: If this primer ever gets discontinued I will buy up every last one. Well, perhaps not but it is the only thing that stops eyeshadow becoming a line in my crease come morning tea time. I like that it is clear so it doesn't interfere with the colours of eyeshadow either. I've been using this for five or six years now too-cripes! 

Coco Mademoiselle x Chanel: I haven't had to repurchase this yet as both times I've received it as a gift, thanks 'rents. That being said it is one of the few perfumes I own that I would buy over and over. We all know I am not fond of describing perfumes because I tend to slaughter them. Chanel perfumes are iconic so I am sure you'd recognise this upon spritz. 

-What are your beauty mainstays? 

Hello, happy Friday (TGIF) and yay for a hopefully relaxing, restful weekend. Today we have another installment of The Beauty Files. It's been a little while since the last beauty files post, three months in fact. Today the focus is a bit luxe, a bit sparkly and a bit treat yo'self-y. Let's be real...

It's time for another installment of the Beauty Files. Compiling last month's was so much fun and this month's was equally as exciting. It's a great way for me to get through new products a bit more consistently and also think about what I already have, use and perhaps don't mention as often as I should. Today we have the new body range I'm rather smitten with, a barely there powder to love, some luxury delights that are on my unnecessary necessary wishlist and more...

Something(s) New: Almond Milk & Honey Shower Cream* x The Body Shop & Daily Superfoliant* x Dermalogica. I saw one of the UK bloggers absolutely raving about the Almond Milk & Honey range and lo and behold it turned up on my doorstep a couple of days later. Much to my delight, naturally. I am trying to be frugal with beauty products I keep for review+use so I have only held onto this shower cream and the hand cream but I love them. The scent as I said on Instagram is like fresh linen, in the best way. It's very comforting and lovely. Designed for sensitive skin, it doesn't overwhelm you in fragrance or texture either. I'm definitely going to have to grab another of the hand creams and I might be eyeing up this as well.

Another product of note is Dermalogica's new superfoliant. Admittedly I don't use it daily because I don't think my skin would appreciate that but I do like to use it at least once or twice a week. Infused with Active Binchotan Charcoal, Niacinamide, Red Algae and Tara Fruit Extract, it packs a powerful punch. For something that is more of a scrub it feels pretty non-abrasive and gentle which is a huge bonus. I love that it is also available in a mini size too so you can trial it before investing in the larger size.

Something Loved: Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder, not pictured. When it come to face powders, I want something that is going to be light and provide just enough mattifying without leaving things looking statuesque. I'm having images of my face looking marbled and frozen. Don't ask. This does the trick. According to Amelia it is a good dupe for the Giorgio Armani powders which I conveniently can't find online. It is scented so if that is something that irritates your skin, maybe steer clear of this but otherwise it's a pretty inexpensive, decent face powder. I would be lost without it.

Something Rediscovered: Soba Eyeshadow x MAC. I'm pretty sure every time I pick this up again, it's because of Anna who introduced me to it. In the photos and in the pan it doesn't look particularly special. It's that shade on the top left. On the lids however, it's light golden-bronze goodness that gives your lids a little oomph. It also brings some definition to the crease too without having to reach for an extra colour-a bonus if you're time pressed. Long story short, next time you're near MAC, go give this a swatch and prepare to be wowed. 

Something Unconvincing: The abundance of new highlighters. You might argue that no highlighter is alike but you cannot deny that highlighters have certainly had their day in the sun. It seems like every five minutes a new palette is launched, a rainbow-hued powder is unveiled or a duochrome oddity unleashed. Not to mention the abundance of creams, powders, liquids and whatever other forms highlighters come in. Call me a luminescence scrooge but I am sick of seeing new highlighters. It's like that scene in La La Land where all the girls look and dress identical at auditions. Boring and repetitive. Moving right along..

Something Lustworthy: Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss & Re(cover) Perfecting Coconut Setting Mist x Marc Jacobs Beauty. If you scroll back in the archives far enough I reviewed a Chanel Glossimer that I used to own and loved. Admittedly I've been veering away from the matte liquid lip lately and glosses have been on the brain. These newbies sound ideal. Reformulated to be like a gloss-balm hybrid and in an array of colours, including some topcoats which have me intrigued. I might have to pay a visit to the Chanel beauty+eyewear boutique soon. Also on the wishlist, the Marc Jacobs Coconut Setting Mist. I've only heard brilliant things about their primer and am in the market for a new setting spray. It may seem an unnecessary step to some but all the ones I've tried do make a noticeable difference. They just keep your makeup around that much longer. I'm hoping this makes its way on to Sephora NZ soon. 

-What beauty bits are on your radar at the moment?

*PR Sample