Without sounding like a stuck record, it's been a long time since a beauty post has graced this corner of the interwebs. So it was high time that was remedied. I haven't bought a ton of new beauty bits recently, although I have my eye on a couple of things. Namely skincare. Who have I become... In seriousness, I'm pretty happy with what's in my metaphorical beauty cabinet, more like dresser drawer and bathroom cupboard. That and I'd rather spend my money on books and coffee. No really. Anyway, enough waffling, on with the beauty...

Hair x Sam McKnight, 'Lazy Girl' dry shampoo: I've wanted to try Sam McKnight's products after hearing some of my favourite British beauty vloggers singing their praises but it was this post of Liv's that sold it for me. Side note, lazy girl+dry shampoo=the epitome of my attitude to haircare. That's not a secret by the way, I openly discuss that laziness with my hairdresser. Anyway, god I love this. No white cast, beautiful scent and it just gives your hair a bit of a zhoosh. Can you tell I have been watching Queer Eye. Anyway, Lazy Girl dry shampoo-a++ recommend. 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater: These facial sprays are the quintessential Mecca Maxima staple here in NZ and Aus. No really, I feel like they're what everyone gravitates towards because they are so cheap and cheerful. Anyway, I decided I needed a new facial spritz and a friend of mine recommended this one to me. Apparently you can use it as a setting spray for makeup too but I like to use it morning and night for a bit of a hydrating pick-me-up. It helps that it smells lovely also but I'll definitely get the larger bottle next time. 

Makeup Revolution XSoph Eyeshadow Palette*: Farmers are killin' it in the high-street priced beauty department right now, with Makeup Revolution joining their ranks recently. Biased slash narcissistic but I love the name of this palette. At 24.50 it's friendly on the wallet too. The palette itself contains 14 matte and ten shimmer eyeshadows. The mattes are fantastic. I found them a dream to work with. They didn't have a ton of fallout and were strong in the pigment stakes. The shimmers were a bit disappointing. I had to really dampen my eyeshadow brush in order to intensify the pigment and they just took a bit too much work for my liking. Apart from that, I have no real qualms with this palette. The mattes in particular are up there with more highly priced palettes. 

Makeup Revolution Conceal+Define Concealer*: Ok admittedly this is the one product I haven't used enough to form a concrete opinion on but I have switched it into my makeup bag to have a lil' experiment with so if it delivers, I shall report back.

MAC Powder Kiss lipstick in Fall In Love: I seem to go through phases of loving matte lipsticks. Right now I am loving them so when I saw MAC had a new formula out, one that promised comfort and longevity, I was intrigued. Rather than opt for my usual, staple nude, I decided to go for the fuschia. I do love me a bold pink lipstick and this one doesn't disappoint. It is also beverage-friendly, i.e. I can drink my coffee and it won't vanish. Yes that's a priority nowadays... Anyway, lovelovelove this shade and formula. 

Makeup Revolution Renaissance Lipstick*: Yass, I love this luxe packaging. Rose gold is a winner too. Packaging aside, I love this lipstick. I did find it a little bit drying but it's nothing a quick swipe of balm cannot fix. I love their affordable price tag too. I feel like here in NZ there aren't many lipsticks around that are this inexpensive. 

-What beauty products have you loved lately?

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While I feel like I don't write about beauty as much these days, it is still a pivotal part of this blog and I couldn't let the opportunity to write about my favourite products pass me by. These are all beauty items that were new to me in 2017 and were ones I continually reached for and returned to. They're also what I opt to take if I'm away and are fail-safe options if I am time pressed. The latter, an often likely occurrence. Whoops. Anyway, 2017 beauty favourites incoming...

Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow: I'm sure these have had several mentions on the blog this year. In fact I know they have. Yes they're incredibly sparkly and I do like to wear them with abandon to brighten my mood. That and they look simply stunning on the eyelids. The longevity is fantastic and they're so easy to apply. Lovelovelove. 

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer: So much to love about this concealer. It's long wearing and conceals (ha) a multitude of sins. Dark circles? Check. Blemishes? Check, check. Some days I just throw this and a bit of setting powder on and be done. I don't think I'm going to run out of it, ever but if that day should come, I will definitely repurchase it.

Glossier Cloud Paint: The cream blush that I can actually work with. Success! The shade Dusk works as a blush+contour colour on my pale mug and I love it. For a cream product it's surprisingly long lasting and it blends out seamlessly. If you do go overboard, it's easily fixed with a foundation brush. I might have to get the peachy shade this year because I love this formula. 

Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara: If it's good enough for Zoe Foster Blake, it's good enough for me. This mascara is brilliant. Due to the fibres it lengthens your lashes like nothing else and holds a curl so well. It doesn't smudge or flake and is so easy to remove with a bit of warm water. I'll definitely be grabbing myself another of these soon as mine is on its way out.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion: Yes, I really only knew about this product from Kylie Jenner's Snapchat story. No shame though because this is such a lifesaver. You dab a cotton bud into the solution, apply to blemishes overnight and hey presto. Your blemish is either gone completely or way less angry in the morning. If there was a Fairy Godmother in a bottle, this would be it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette: After months of deliberating, I finally grabbed myself this palette and honestly, it's what I use 95% of the time I wear powder eyeshadows. The colours are amazing, adaptable and blend like a dream. As you can see I get a fair bit of wear from the first six shades but the whole palette is divine. Worth the splurge and the hype.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser: I'm sure my inclusion of this over the Oskia Renaissance Gel will shock some people. Or perhaps not. Either way, I've preferred this lighter cleanser in 2017. Again a little goes a long way. Maybe I'm too sparing with my products because I swear some beauty bloggers do empties every five minutes. If you're from NZ and wondering how I got Glossier without entering the States or the Big Apple, YouShop. You're welcome.

Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighter: To be honest, highlighting isn't really my jam. I love it but I'm not going to feel lost without it. When I do reach for a highlighter though, it is usually this. It gives the dewy effect without looking too insane or unflattering. Not gonna lie, that heart shaped compact is pretty dang cute too.

MAC Next To Nothing Face Colour*: Honestly, none of the bases I've used this year have totally wowed me but the one I find myself returning to most frequently is this one from MAC. It's definitely not something that'll give you a ton of coverage, as the name would suggest but I kinda like that about it. I love lightweight bases. I have the shade Medium so it's spot on for Summer but I wore it in Winter and it didn't look too dark so maybe it's a good all-rounder. Either way, I like it. 

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo: I love this vibrant, watermelon pink. I have the shade Leader. It's so easy to swipe on, doesn't feather and fades out to a stain of colour on the lips. So if you're like me and cannot be bothered to reapply sometimes, this is for you. I always feel confident with a bold lip on and this colour is no exception. 

-What beauty products did you love in 2017?

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September has slipped away like that *clicks fingers*. It's been quite the month for lack of a better word. September saw many things; housesitting, goodbyes, a newfound love for diary writing and an appreciation for the return of flowers and more hours of sunshine. This month's favourites selection is a bit of everything; music, perfume, literature and of course some beauty to round it all out...

Kenzo World EDP*: Fragrance has definitely been something I've been drifting between during September. This new scent from Kenzo is one I keep coming back to. Floral, light and rather lovely if I do say so myself. That gorgeous eye shaped bottle is difficult to resist too.

Ring Cone x Claybird Ceramics: Isn't this exquisite? I've been eyeing up ring cones for a while, usually online and haven't wanted to buy one. Simply because the idea of one arriving in the post, crushed to smithereens by less than gentle post staff crossed my mind one time too many. Anyway, this month Claybird Ceramics had a pop-up stall inside Ponsonby Central and given this combined many of my favourite things; dots, gold, navy, it would have been rude to ignore it. I don't know what to say other than it is beautiful and it keeps my rings in one place. 

Mecca Max The Illuminati Shadow in Showbiz: Glittery, cream shadows are my weakness. That's no secret around these parts. I decided to give Mecca Max's own brand ones a go to see how they deliver. They definitely do not disappoint. What I will say though is because these go from a cream to a powder finish quite quickly you do have to be quite fast applying them. That being said, it's the kind of formula that is easy to apply and layer on top of. Showbiz is a coppery, rose gold piece of perfection. I reach for it several times a week now when I'm deciding what makeup to wear.

Stardust Sunglasses x Glassons: I've only just discovered the name of these sunnies and I love it. I don't usually go into Glassons but I wanted some cheap eyewear I can just throw on when I go out on my breaks and vice versa. I like that they're a bit oversized, have a slight yellow-y tint to the lens so everything looks a bit more sunny and make me feel cooler than I am when I wear them. They also give me John Lennon vibes too which I am never going to complain about.

Drying Lotion x Mario Badescu: Apologies for the lack of links here, blame my Internet for being temperamental. This truly is a hero product and I am so glad Kylie Jenner bought it to my attention. During her year of realising stuff if I remember correctly. Thank you KJ and Snapchat. Anyway, this solution, which you apply to a cotton bud and then on to blemishes works wonders. Seriously, it renders most pesky blemishes invisible in twelve hours. I've had to use it a couple of times to banish more planet-like ones but I can't complain when it gets rid of them so easily. Absolute lifesaver if you want to get rid of zits without popping them. Gross but true.

Conversations With Friends** by Sally Rooney: First things first, this is a debut novel by a twenty-something. I'm not sure why that blows my mind so much. The story of Bobbi and Frances, two 21 year olds on the verge of graduating University. Frances is an aspiring writer and Bobbi is her former lover and best friend. The two are profiled by renowned writer Melissa and introduced to her actor husband Nick and a world of adult sophistication and ideals. As the title would suggest, the book centres around conversation. The intimate intricacies, the symbolism in the silence, the way in which lingering on a phrase or talking point can communicate so much. All of the characters are flawed, mistake-makers and discovering their destiny and in turn themselves. It's such compelling reading and I've loved being absorbed in its pages on my train trips this month. 

Something To Tell You x Haim: It took me a long time to listen to Haim properly but now I am fully on the bandwagon. Their latest album reminds me of parties and evenings with friends. Going through all the motions, the changing patterns of the light as candlelight flickers in swirling shadows on the walls, the deep and meaningful banter. It's just a brilliant listening fest all round really. 

-What have you loved during September?

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Disclaimer time: I am no skincare expert. I am just a mere mortal with an above average level of enthusiasm for beauty products. Any knowledge I have has been self-obtained or absorbed from the likes of Sali Hughes' books and countless other sources. These products might not necessarily work for you and as with anything, try to trial something new first before purchasing it and/or assess what will work for you. Disclaimers aside, this is my current skincare lineup. I'm going off what I use at night more than anything else and there are some extras which might be missing. Either because I'm not satisfied with what I've tried or I'm still trialling things. I try to keep things as simple as possible, complex routines are less likely to motivate me to maintain a skincare regime but I do try to use treatments and whatnot where necessary. For context; my skin is combination-oily, the latter more so in Summer than any other time of year. 

Super Pure Serum x Glossier: Before anyone asks, here is how I get my Glossier fix. Super Pure is one of Glossier's three serums, this one aimed at blemish prone skin. It contains niacinamide and zinc, designed to soothe the skin, calm down redness and sort those angry blemishes out. It feels incredibly cooling to apply, which I like and is fast absorbing. Wins all round.

Stress Positive Eye Lift* x Dermalogica: The copywriting for this product is a bit perplexing so I'll just talk about what I use it for. I apply this under my eyes, pat in with my fingers and wake up with things around the eye area looking a lot more hydrated. It actually absorbs too, you aren't left with product sitting under the eyes in the morning which I love. 

Clarifying Toning Lotion x Ren: After discovering the Pixi Glow Tonic didn't agree with my skin-boo, hiss, I went back to this toner which I'd used in the past and forgotten about. It's alcohol free and not loaded with parabens or sulfates. Yass Ren. As it's designed with combination/oily skin in mind, I feel like it's a bit gentler for an exfoliating toner. It definitely does what it says on the bottle, but it feels a bit less intensive than something like Glow Tonic. 

Pep Start HydroRush * x Clinique: Clinique's moisturiser has been in my routine for most of the year now and I still love it. The lightweight, bouncy texture totally sells it for me. I love that it's oil free too. Clinique recently sent me another of their moisturisers, more on that later in the week, so I'll be interested to see how they compare. 

Milky Jelly Cleanser x Glossier: What's not to like with this one? Like the serum above, it's got a lovely cooling feeling. The texture as the name would suggest is somewhere between a cream and a gel. My skin loves it and it definitely leaves things looking a lot better, without feeling stripping. I can see why so many people use and rate this cleanser, Anna probably has a whole backup shelf devoted to it now. It's a beaut. 

Drying Lotion x Mario Badescu: My first introduction to this product was c/o Kylie Jenner on Snapchat when she talked us through her skincare routine. Yes I watched the whole thing. Anyway, it was this product she applied to a cotton bud that intrigued me. Mario Badescu are known for their facial sprays but I hear just as many people raving about this product too. The blend of calamine and salicylic acid are magic. Obviously I don't use this daily, just when I have blemishes that I want to be less visible pronto. It really works fast and if you have an emergency, planet-sized crater on your face you want to banish, this is the product. 

-What skincare products do you use?

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