It's that time of month again. What is this sorcery!? In seriousness, I feel incredibly out of practice with blogging and writing in general. More on the latter later in the week. Anyway, September has somewhat sneakily flown by and I've been loving a whole lineup of things. It's been a good month for music. Since downloading Apple Music to my phone a few months ago I've really got back into mixing up what I listen to. I know, Sophie joins the 21st century. I also have read a few books and loved 'em and then there's some tried and true favourites in the mix...

zoe & morgan ring, similar here: This ring holds a lot of personal meaning for me, meaning which I'll leave in a corner of my mind. I guessperhaps it's that sentimentality I like about it more than anything. I do really love the design though-stars and moons feature in a few of my favourite pendants and earrings already. Unfortunately you cannot get this exact design anymore as it was part of an end-of-season sale but I highly recommend you check out Zoe and Morgan's extensive range. 

dodie clark: So I've been listening to a lotta music all month but the one artist I keep coming back to is Dodie. Her music is confessional, relatable and gives me Zooey Deschanel of She & Him vibes. I'm terrible at describing music I'm sorry. It's catchy and brilliant and I'm a Dodie fangirl anyways but I recommend you give her a listen. I love Human and Secret For The Mad atm. 

my year of rest and relaxation x ottessa moshfegh: Given I've been thinking about this book all week since finishing it and asking myself what my own personal year of rest+relaxation would look like, I'd say this left an impression. What a book. The main character is incredibly unlikeable yet I found myself understanding why she did what she did. She largely withdraws from New York city life and instead escapes c/o prescription drugs, watching a lot of Whoopi Goldberg and Harrison Ford films, surfacing for the occasional shopping spree. Her and her best friend Reva act as mirror-images of one another. Seeing what they want to see in themselves and in turn each other-bringing out their best and worst sides. It explores topics of escapism, addiction, celebrity worship and of course the questioning of identity that seems to go hand in hand with twenty-something life. It's darkly funny and brilliantly written. 

colourpop palette, similar here: I won't say too much about this palette because it's no longer available but I take it away with me all the time, including my recent travels to Melbourne and it is so useful. I don't know how I used to have one of those 15-pan MAC palettes because honestly I can get away with six shadows like this, maybe a couple of cream ones and be done. Anyway, Colourpop's eyeshadows are cheap as chips, deliver on the pigment stakes and are just bloomin' lovely. I can't fault 'em. 

anais anais x cacharel: I recently bought a bottle of this for my friend when I was on holiday and I decided to get myself one too. One because I'm a copycat and two because I wanted a small perfume to throw in my bag. I feel like smaller perfumes are harder to come by/really expensive here in NZ. Anais Anais is a classic and according to Pretty Iconic, it was to teens of the eighties what Daisy Marc Jacobs was to my generation. Its scent is floral and has base notes of amber and sandalwood. I think I like it though because it reminds me of Glow x jLO which was one of my first perfumes and pre-teen me used to spritz that around on special occasions. Side note; how great is Chemist Warehouse? Cheap fragrances and Bioderma. Yes ploise. 

expert concealer brush x real techniques: If Priceline is anything to go by, Australia love themselves a bit of Real Techniques. Seriously, I have never seen so many of their brushes in one place. When I was over they were on special so I nabbed the concealer brush. With Real Techniques brushes you are guaranteed brushes that will do the job and then some-you could use this with cream eyeshadows too if you really wanted. It makes blending concealer an absolute dream though and I love that. 

bone x yrsa daley-ward: Another book, this time poetry. A purchase enabled by the one and only Tara. Also indirectly enabled by Florence Welch who selected it for Between Two Books back in the day. I've not read anything quite like it. Poetry and storytelling that feels so truthful and in turn powerful. I deliberately drew out the process of reading this book because I wanted to make the experience last but I know it's one I will be going back to and annotating to oblivion. Daley-Ward's memoir is unsurprisingly at the top of my wishlist right now. 

-what have you loved during september?

It's becoming quite a busy time of year for beauty launches, especially with the approaching holiday season. Perhaps it is the changing of the seasons that inspires a bevvy of new beauty releases. Either way, I am not complaining. Today I have a few new products that I've bought and liked myself to share, as well as some new releases that I've received myself. There's some scents to love, the body range that smells good enough to drink, a complexion fixer and more. Read on if you're intrigued...

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Obscura**-These eyeshadow palettes have been out for a little while now but I haven't read or seen very much about them online. When I had the opportunity to grab this one I could not resist. When free Hourglass is on offer, how could you? The idea behind these palettes is they're designed to offer new twists on the smokey eye, although honestly you could use these colours for a range of looks. You don't have to take things to dramatic lengths if that's not what you are after. My favourite colour is that rose gold hue, smack bang in the middle. It's a gem. These eyeshadows are all beautifully pigmented too. They do have a fair bit of product that comes up when you place your brush into them but it's nothing a tap off of the brush can't fix. Go give these a swatch when you're next near somewhere selling Hourglass. They're stunning.

Bobbi Brown Retouching Wand in Light*-Touching up makeup on the go has never really been a priority for me. I might powder and touch up my lipstick but anything beyond that I usually cannot be bothered with. That being said, when a product like this, designed for touch-ups comes along and makes everything very easy I am swayed. This is one of those twist-up pens and the brush is designed to quickly swipe on the product. I wouldn't say it's the best brush for blending necessarily so I have a concealer brush in my bag to apply it, or you could just use fingers. I love that there's a range of colours for all skintones too. That's something Bobbi Brown really do well with their base products. 

Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm-New Zealand, well Auckland specifically is getting with the times and has finally opened its first Aesop store. While it is in no way the biggest retail space, it is well stocked and beautifully designed so when I paid it a visit there was no way I was going to leave empty handed. I was intrigued by this product after seeing it on Chloe's blog and while it was a bit of a luxe buy, it's going to last forever. That tube is huge. Obviously if you have drier skin than me you will appreciate this more than I do but even for me I find it so nourishing and hydrating. My hands are prone to getting dry as are my elbows so I've been slathering it on there to keep them looking top-notch. It sinks in so quickly and doesn't feel tacky or heavy on the skin, which I love. It is scented with vanilla, cedarwood and tangerine so it smells divine. I'm so glad I picked this up.

Stella McCartney POP**-Two perfumes in one post? What can I say, I am a fragrance fiend. This is my first Stella McCartney perfume, as her scents seem to always be a bit difficult to track down here in NZ and I am loving it. It contains notes of; Tomato leaves, Violet leaves, Green mandarin, Violet, Tuberose, Plumeria, Sandalwood, Cedarwood and Musks. It definitely has a youthful, fresher edge compared to the original Stella fragrance and something more floral like L.I.LY. Its lightness is refreshing, especially after a Winter spent wearing typically more heavier, muskier scents. 

YSL Mon Paris*, available October 17th-Like Stella, this is my first foray into YSL fragrances. I remember their Baby Doll fragrances being particularly popular back in high school but they never seemed to have won me over. Anyway, YSL's newest fragrance, Mon Paris is inspired by the city of love and the dizzying heights and feelings we experience in love. It combines fruity notes with florals and has a white musk and cedarwood base. Now I am rubbish at writing about scents so I am not going to attempt anything prolific here but it definitely does have a sense of comfort to it. What I mean by that is it reminds me of fragrances I have been drawn to previously, yet it still remains unique. It is a beautiful scent and is really long-wearing too. Definitely go give this a spritz and prepare to be entranced when it lands on counters.

Real Techniques Mini Eraser Sponge-Sam and Nic have been bringing it with their new launches this year, as well as revamping their original brushes so they are much more vibrant. These new sponges are a miniature version of their popular complexion sponge and are much cheaper than the higher-end alternatives. I love this for patting in under-eye concealer and concealer in general actually. I prefer the finish from using a sponge to blending with a brush these days, although I do still use both. The flattened side is great for getting into the contours of the face as well. 

Pinita Colada* x The Body Shop-TBS are back again with another tempting, luxurious range for the Southern Hemisphere Summer. When I saw this popping up on Anna's Instagram it immediately caught my eye. I love tropical scents, especially at this time of year. The standout product for me has to be the body sorbet, pictured. Pro tip: Stick it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. I have to give mention to their scrub as well because you all know how much I love their scrubs. 

Mecca Cosmetica Sunbrella Invisible Superspray-If this were an episode of Friends it would be the one where Sophie sees something on Instagram, reads the praise and then seeks it out in Mecca. That's more or less what happened in a nutshell. Now this is a product I'm still rather unsure about. In theory it sounds fantastic. Sunbrella is a spray that you spritz onto the hands and then pat onto your face and body, offering four hour sun protection. What I am not liking so much is how chemical it smells. Honestly it's quite potent and products like that can wreak havoc on my skin if I am not careful. I will keep you posted as to whether or not this product exceeds expectations or is just a bit of a gimmick. 

A few of my friends have been converting to using solely cruelty free beauty+body products recently. While I'm not too sure I could entirely commit to that, I am trying to use more cruelty-free beauty products when I can do. Recently, iHerb had a sale going where there was discount across many of their beauty brands. It was a pretty good deal from what I can remember so I decided to do a little haul and pick up some products I'd been wanting to try out..

Deep Steep Brown Sugar+Vanilla Foaming Handwash-After ordering this handwash I received one for review in the post so I'm actually yet to open this one. It was an Alix inspired purchase and I know she loves it so I have high hopes for it.

Physician's Formula Lash Boosting Eyeliner+Serum-A liquid liner isn't something that I'd typically go for, but after hearing Tamira raving about it in one of her videos, I had to try it myself. The pen reminds me of the Tom Ford liner which Anna uses. This is ridiculously easy to use and that's coming from someone who usually ends up with black smudges in their crease. It's crazy long-wearing too and if you find liquid liner a pain, you should check this one out. As for the lash boosting properties, I feel like it has made my lashes longer. I'm not sure how that works, magic perhaps. I love this and will definitely repurchase it.

Hurraw Grapefruit Lip Balm-I loved my Coconut lip balm from Hurraw but it had recently run out so I decided to try a different scent this time. The grapefruit is even more divinely scented than the coconut one. I love these lip balms and how conditioning they are without feeling too heavy on the lips for daytime. 

Deep Steep Foot Stick-This was totally a 'what the heck' purchase. I think I was intrigued by the peppermint scent and the fact it was a stick for your feet. Again, what the heck. Basically you roller this on to your feet, put some socks on and wake up with ridiculously soft feet in the morning. Currently, it is far too hot for donning socks so I tend to massage it into my feet instead. It smells amazing and it certainly makes my feet softer. 

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge-Now this was a repurchase as I managed to break my first sponge. Props to me. I could've replaced it with the beauty blender but let's be real, that is one expensive sponge. This one's so inexpensive and does an amazing job of blending concealer in seamlessly. I use the flat side around my face and then the pointed edge under the eyes. Gently of course! If you don't own one of these yet, get one. You will not regret it.

*Have you tried any of these products before? What did you think of them?

-I hope your week's going great so far! Mine's been a bit low-key. I'm actually not studying this semester, so I am on the job hunt at the moment. Basically I spend a lot of my time on Seek. Not gonna lie, it's a bit of a frustrating process but oh well. One plus side is it means I can blog a bit more frequently and hopefully film too. Have a great Wednesday and I'll see you all on Friday with another installment of The Week xo.

I'm sounding the monthly favourites klaxon, reference c/Anna . This month's been a bit of in with the old and the new when it comes to beauty. I've rediscovered just how good a certain concealer is and found my new favourite bronzer. There's also my monthly book favourites and a DVD which I am sure will come as no surprise to many of you.. 

Beauty

Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes, #100 and #300-My brushes are dirty so yep, I have not cleaned them. *taps wrist for being a bad blogger* On the other hand, that just shows how well loved and used these gems are. I've already written about these here but in short, the powder brush is amazing for setting makeup down. Its density means it doesn't pick up too much product so you aren't left looking caked in powder. The blush brush is ideal if you find application scary. Its tapered edge fits perfectly into the cheekbone area. Lovelovelove. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla-My concealer of choice for blemishes and whatnot offers great coverage but I find the heat just makes it slip off my face way too fast. I rediscovered this Nars one this month and haven't looked back. I love that I don't really need to touch up concealer with this on because it just stays put. The colour range is fantastic as well and it provides decent coverage without being too thick. 

Soap and Glory Solar Powder-Aside from its cardboard packaging, this bronzer is perfect. It's matte so there's no shimmer if that's something you like to avoid. These two shades are perfect for paler complexions as there's no orangey tones to them whatsoever. If you can get your hands on this bronzer, get one asap. 

Mac Lip Pencil in Soar-This seems to be sold out everywhere online but try in stores because they may be floating around there. You've probably already seen this liner online a lot. According to Kim K, it's little sister Kylie's liner of choice. This mauve-pink liner is such a flattering colour. It'd complement a range of skintones. It makes your pout look fuller, regardless of whether you overdraw your lips. I like to wear this on its own or under my more brown based nudes. 

Fairydrops Quattro Mascara, a gift-Fairydrops is notoriously difficult to find unless you're in Japan or can easily access a BeautyMart. One of my friends bought this back for me from her travels recently and I'm not gonna lie, I was quite excited. The wand on this one is quite bizarre, google it to see what I mean. The effect it has on the lashes however is stunning. It's not the most dramatic of mascaras but it really separates the lash and holds a curl.

Extras

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven*-This has to be one of the best young-adult novels I have read in a long, long time. The way it presents mental illness, dealing with grief and the multi-faceted role that is being a young adult is fantastic. In no way does this book romanticise any of the serious issues at hand which some YA books/films tend to do. I found this book really touching and beautifully written. Read it. 

New Girl Season One-As always, I'm a bit late to the bandwagon with this one. I freakin' love New Girl though. It's one of those shows that never fails to put me in a good mood. The hilarity and awkwardness of Zooey's character, while a bit too relatable at times, is brilliant. Not gonna lie, I think Schmidt is rather fit as well. 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell-I couldn't pick one book this month so you're getting two. Again, Eleanor and Park deals with some heavier issues. It also unites two outcasts who bond over pop culture and their different upbringings. It's a sweet story but be warned, it will make you feel all the feels. 

-What have you been loving during February?

*PR Sample

By now you should know I'm rather fond of the Real Techniques brushes. They make up a good 90% of my brush collection. Well when I saw their Bold Metals collection on Instagram, it was safe to say I was the heart-eyed emoji cat personified. They're so luxe looking and feeling and I love the metallic handles. They're a bit hard to come by at the moment, but if you're in the US or UK you can get these fairly easily. 

My lovely blogging babe Jess sent these over for me from the States and I've been obsessed with them ever since..

100 Angled Powder Brush-Firstly, this brush was a lot bigger than I was expecting. It's also crazy soft which is a major winner for me. Scratchy brushes suck amirite. It's perfectly sized for applying setting powder to keep your base makeup in place. As the bristles are so densely packed, it means you don't end up with too much product on the brush. I know some people like to use this with a light dusting of bronzing powder but I am yet to try it for that. I do really like this brush and prefer it to the larger powder brush.

300 Tapered Blush Brush-For blush, I typically use the Multi-Task brush and I've been after something a bit smaller for a while. This fit the bill perfectly. The rose gold handle was a bonus selling factor. Its tapered edge means it perfectly fits into the contours of the cheeks so applying blush becomes so much easier. I really want to get the contour brush from the rose gold colour way now as well.

Now I know some people have been moaning about the higher price tag that comes with the Bold Metals brushes. That price hike is reflected in the quality and more targeted performance of these brushes though. To be honest, even with the price rise these are still much cheaper than buying higher end brushes in New Zealand or even Australia. Keep an eye out for these when they're more readily available in May.

Now I've never been one to join the glow-getters in the past, with my combination skin. Lately however things are looking a lot more balanced so I'm embracing the luminising products a bit more. One thing missing from my collection was a highlighter so I added The Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer to my basket during a recent sale and haven't looked back since..

Admittedly I'm a bit late on the Mary Lou train, but after seeing many of my favourite beauty enthusiasts singing its praises over the last year I had to see what the fuss was about. The champagne-hued powder is stunning. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's not shimmery and doesn't contain any huge glittery particles, which tend to just accentuate flaws. Instead, Mary Lou-Manizer adds more of a subtle sheen to the cheeks.

I apply this with my Real Techniques Setting Brush and tap off the excess powder. It is extremely pigmented so you only need the smallest amount, which I learnt the hard way. This is also gorgeous as an inner corner highlight to brighten up the eyes.

So is Mary Lou-Manizer worth the hype? Yes, and then some. This is such an affordable highlighter, given how much product you get. The fact you need barely any per application means this will last you quite a while.

*What is your favourite highlighter?

We're at the finish line when it comes to favourites videos for 2014. This time I've rounded up some skincare, beauty tools, even some haircare. There's also a couple of non-beauty favourites in there too because I just couldn't leave them out. I'm also sporting my current favourite piece of clothing. More on that tomorrow. Oh and if you're feeling fancy feel free to subscribe and leave a question for my Q&A, there's more in the downbar. Other than that sit back, relax and enjoy! I'll be back tomorrow with another installment of The Week.

October, the month of Halloween, sunshine, strawberries and Summer. It also appears to have been the month of shimmer and sparkle. Maybe it's because the end of the semester is approaching and I feel like I no longer need to tone down the glitter eyeshadow for university classes or maybe it's because I want lighter eyeshadows. Who knows. What I do know though is that all these products have consistently delivered for me all month and will no doubt remain stash staples... 

Marc Jacobs Style Icon Eyeshadow Palette in Lolita-Look at all that neutral goodness. Look at it. I am a bit obsessed with this palette at the moment and have been using it most of the month when makeup has made an appearance. If you're time poor, this one has you set for a quick eye look. There's a light pink shade which tends to get ignored by me but the rest are well loved. Its sleek, compact nature means it is perfect for traveling with and won't weigh down your handbag or makeup bag.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipgloss in Cashmere Rose-These glosses have never been released in NZ so when I saw this colour on FeelUnique, a YouTube vlogger favourite, it had to be added to my basket. This peachy pink, fruity scented gloss is pretty darn pigmented and this looks stunning over similar hued lipsticks and also on its own. I love wearing lipgloss in Spring and Summer so this one is going to be on high rotation no doubt.

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium-Cheekbones in one handy little compact sums this gem of a product up. This cool-toned powder won't leave you looking like you've gone a bit wild with bronzer. Instead you'll find yourself with a more sculpted, natural looking shadow. It is a bit on the pricey side of things but you barely need any per use so I can see this one lasting quite a while yet.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge-The whole idea of using a sponge to apply makeup has always perplexed me so when Anna sent this to me it sat unloved for a little while. One day I decided to give this a go with concealer and within seconds I could see what the fuss was about. Now I've never tried the Beauty Blender so I can't compare but I was really impressed with this. It didn't soak up too much product and as I was tapping the product in, it left a more seamless finish. The shape of the Real Techniques sponge is particularly good for getting into the contours of the face and also under the eyes.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Eye Pencil in Bronze*, limited edition-This is the closest I've come to owning a rose-gold hued eyeliner and for that reason alone it is ruling the eyeliner kingdom this month. It's long-wearing, easy to blend and even easy enough to line your upper lashes with and not make a big mess of things. I love this and it kinda sucks that it's limited edition. Hopefully it'll be back on the shelves again soon.

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso-I wasn't expecting to like this blush as much as I did because sheeny blushers just aren't my thing. Applied with a stippling brush though it looks beautiful. It reminds me a bit of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders which is never a bad thing. The packaging could be nicer, I'm not a fan of the flip-out insert which stores a brush, but other than that you can't really fault this one.

Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish in Dream Sequins-These colours have been out for a while and this one had been singing out to** me from the shelves. It's essentially a coppery, rose-gold glitter that isn't too gritty. In fact, it has more of a gel finish than anything else. It was super easy to remove too and we all know glitters usually are the total opposite. I'm impressed!

-What beauty products have you been loving during October?

*PR Sample

**Nail polishes sing, who knew.

It was one rather exciting day last week when this parcel from Anna of Vivianna Does Makeup turned up for me. Anna and I have been exchanging emails and tweets back and forth for a while now so it was really awesome to get mail from her+also put together some things to send over to her as well. There were a couple of products I had requested, sadly Royal Mail destroyed the Barry M polishes, but the rest survived, along with some UK drugstore products that Anna threw in. It's safe to say I was feeling rather spoilt basically! I'll give you the scoop on what I was sent and also some mini reviews. I've not had time to try everything yet but I'll give you an update next month..

Martha Stewart Home Notebook-The bloggers essential basically. As you can see I've divided this up into all the various sections so I can better organise my blog posts and videos, keep track of what products I have to try and want to review etc. Maybe once I start using this properly I'll do a post on blog organisation or something.

Real Techniques Complexion Sponge-You can't really see this, as it's hiding away in the bottom corner of this photo but I was excited to see this as I nearly bought one at a pharmacy here the other day. Dubbed an alternative to the ever-popular Beauty Blender and great for days when you want a light but flawless coverage. 

Indeed Labs Minis-Who can resist mini things!? They're just so cute. I've actually tried Hydraluron before, review here but nothing else from Indeed Labs, as it's only recently launched here so I am looking forward to trying these. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks-Well I gotta buy a vowel because oh my god. I wore the vibrant fuschia, Ole Flamingo last week and it's a beaut. Think Mac's Show Orchid, but less metallic. I love pink lipsticks and the formula of these don't disappoint. They dry matte but don't flake or dry your lips out. You will need an oil based remover to get this off your pout but other than that you can't fault 'em.

L'Oreal Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara-I have heard such good things about this mascara, both the original and waterproof formulas. I am a bit of a mascara fiend so I asked Anna to pick this one up for me. There's a few mascaras on the go in my stash at the moment but once they expire I'll be reaching for this one.

No.7 Precision Lip Pencil in Nude-Again, I'm not 100 per cent on the shade name. Sorry guys! I'm writing this post from Uni as I have no internet at home. I've not actually opened this pencil yet but nude lip liners are often my go-to for accentuating my cupid's bow when I wear one of my daily nude lipsticks. 

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Anti-Blemish Clay Mask-I'm pretty sure we can't get Super Facialist products here but I know a lot of beauty bloggers are fans of this line of skincare so again I'm looking forward to trying this. I love clay masks as well because they really clear your skin of any dirt and nastiness. 

L'Oreal Colour Riche Mono Eyeshadows in Cafe Saint Germain (201) and Breaking Nude (106)- There seems to be both matte and shimmer shades in this range. I love the taupe above all over the lid and then the matte brown for a bit of subtle definition in the crease. Gorgeous combination! If you love the L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows then you should check these out as well. 

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink-Now I thought this was in my collection, as it has been on the blog before but I must've misplaced it. Nonetheless I'm glad to have it in my stash again. If you've been watching Anna's videos for a while then you'll know this is a favourite of hers.

Thank you so much Anna for sending over all these UK gems! I felt so ridiculously spoilt opening up this parcel last week and it totally made my day year xx.

*Have you tried any of these products before? 

Dupe is not really a phrase I like to throw around. For me, it implies you'll be getting an identical product. The truth of course is they probably won't be identical, but instead you'll find they may be either more accessible price-wise or just generally easier to get a hold of. My love of the buffing brush from Real Techniques has been well documented so when I heard Anna mentioning the Sephora brush as a popular alternative to its Real Techniques counterpart I made note of it and added it to my recent Sephora shopping list..

Real Techniques Buffing Brush, sold in this or this set-The buffing brush, my base bff. If you want something that'll take all the hassle out of applying foundation then this is it. It blends product in seamlessly and leaves you with a flawless finish. It's love, in other words. My one and only gripe with this brush is that it isn't sold separately. I'd say it is worth picking up either of the sets above just for this brush though.

It's February favourites time! This month I gave my makeup bag a good old reshuffle and even did a bit of a cull in the packaging, perfume and lip product departments. In fact, every month from here on in I've decided to shuffle products around a lot more-variety is the spice of life after all! Anyway, here's what I've been loving during February..

NYX Powder Blush, pictured are Mocha, Summer Peach and Taupe-These blushers are great quality given how inexpensive they are. They're pigmented, long-wearing and such flattering shades. All of these haven't left my makeup bag this month-Summer Peach is my current favourite and Taupe is great for contouring if you've got a fairer complexion.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara-Mascaras don't tend to smudge on my lashes but during the day mascara on my bottom lashes tends to which is frustrating if like me you don't carry mascara around with you. Bottom Lash will solve your problems. It has a tiny mascara wand, perfect for getting in close to the root of your lower lashes. It stays put and there's no black spots under my eyes by the end of the day. 

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream*-I love this eye cream from Bobbi Brown. It has a lightweight, gel-like formula but it is still incredibly creamy so you know it's going to be hydrating. I'm prone to getting dark circles, more so if I've not been sleeping. Using this nightly makes those much less obvious. You can also wear this underneath makeup as well because it is so lightweight. Love.

It's January favourites time again! Crazy. This month I have been loving a range of products. There's a surprisingly small number of makeup pieces in this post which can largely be put down to the fact I get quite lazy with makeup in Summer. I tend to just slap on what I know, love, and use religiously #fail. Never fear, I have been trialling more American beauty products this month and came into possession of some Mac fashion week favourites yesterday. No doubt you'll be spying those on the blog sometime soon. 

Anyway, without further ado, here is what I have been loving and obsessing over this month..

Real Techniques Buffing and Multi Task Brushes-Ever since these brushes came into my possession I have been obsessed with them. The buffing brush is fantastic for foundation. It blends product in so seamlessly and is my favourite brush for creating a flawless finish. The multi task brush has been my go-to for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. It is very similar in design to the powder brush, also by Real Techniques, just smaller. It is the perfect size for powders like these ones and because of its density, it doesn't pick up too much product. 

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Body Butter, limited edition-Body butters are a great product to be using year round. Whether your skin is noticeably dry or not, an extra dose of moisture and nourishment can make all the difference. I've been alternating between this body butter and the Strawberry one this month. Unlike other body butters these aren't too thick. They sink into the skin really well and don't leave your skin feeling greasy. They also happen to smell divine as well. Wins all round.

Lush Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser*-This cleanser was in our goodie bags at a Lush blogger's event last month and I am so glad it was because my other cleanser just wasn't agreeing with my skin. With this cleanser you take a small amount and let it become an almost milky, paste-like consistency under running water. This cleanser works so well at removing any grime from your skin. It's very gentle as well so you aren't left with your skin feeling tight or irritated. This does have quite an unpleasant scent to it but because it works for me I'm willing to overlook that factor.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Creme Rinse Conditioner-I love the whole beachy, wavy, Alexa Chung-Esque hair, especially if it can be achieved at home and not through salt water. This conditioner is super creamy and after blow-waving my hair it has a nice wave to it. This can be a little drying on the ends of your hair so I use a hair oil on the ends once a week to combat that. I've also been loving the Surf Spray from Bumble and Bumble but more on that another day.

Christmas is now over and if you're in the Southern Hemisphere no doubt some of you will be off right now spending gift vouchers or money in the Boxing Day Sales. I'm sure the fairies behind some of our favourite beauty sites are aware of all this too because a few days before Christmas their sales emails started appearing in my inbox. Well, they've certainly collated some fabulous beauty things in their sales. I've gathered a little edit of some of the best bargains. The best part is you don't even need to leave your house to purchase them. Whether you're looking to treat yourself, or get a head start on gifts for next year, you are bound to find something you're tempted by.

Eyeko 'Alexa Chung' Set-This cutely packaged kit contains an eyeliner and mascara that both have Alexa's artwork and approval behind them. I added this set to my cart and hastily left the tempting Beauty Bay realm, 'nuff said. 

Too Faced 'All I Want For Christmas' Set-This is such an adorable set. I love the case it is all packaged up in. You get everything you need, sans base for a makeup look in this set. If you're looking to try out Too Faced then you should pick this up because there's a well thought out selection of products to try in there. 

Diptyque Philosykos Eau De Toilette-A fresh, fig scent that is uplifting and not potent in the slightest. Now that I have the Figuier candle as well this scent reminds me a lot of the fragrance of fresh Christmas trees so it's like owning Christmas in a bottle all year. Who wouldn't want that?

Essie Winter Collection-Festive glittery reds, navy blues and cashmere greys. Love. You cannot fault Essie polishes. They're long-wearing, easy to apply and they have a fantastic colour range. 

If you've been reading my blog for a little while then you will know by now that I love the Real Techniques brushes. They're great quality, super soft and built to take the fuss out of applying makeup. When I saw the Sam's Picks set making its way into the online stores I found myself loving the compilation of brushes included, and knowing that it'd inevitably be added to my cart rather quickly. I picked this set up on iHerb and at $30 it is an absolute steal. The set is currently out of stock there but it is worth waiting for. In the meantime you can check out my thoughts on the brushes included:

Buffing Brush-I'd always put off buying this brush with the Core set as there were other brushes within that set that I didn't really need. I'm not going to be shelving my Expert Face brush anytime soon but it's safe to say this brush has taken over when it comes to base work. Blending foundation in becomes less of a chore with this brush.

Essential Crease Brush-This brush, exclusive to the set conjures Mac #217 vibes. This brush is smaller, has a tapered tip and is just as fluffy so it is perfect for crease work. Having the brush be smaller makes it less difficult to go overboard with crease colours so if you're a bit cack handed like myself then you will find this brush a dream to use.

Fine Liner Brush-Sam and Nic often use this brush in tutorials for gel liner and it makes application look so easy. At the moment I don't own any gel liners but I'm going to have a go using this with some darker cream eyeshadows to line my eyes instead.

Multi-Task Brush-This brush is another fan favourite. If you're familiar with the Powder Brush, this is essentially the same brush but with a smaller head. As the name would suggest you can use this brush for anything from blush application to setting makeup with powder. I've been pairing it with this palette and find it picks up the perfect amount of setting powder without making skin look overly matte.

A Sentence A Day Journal. I've gifted this a couple of times this year and own a copy myself and love it. This really stands out from your traditional blank journal. Each day over three years you answer a question in a sentence. There's a variety of questions on anything from your favourite colour to decisions you regret. I think this would make a great stocking-stuffer for someone, more so if they like writing. 

Sabel Cutout Bra. Pretty lingerie wrapped up in tissue paper and secured with a ribbon seems to get many ladies swooning. Lonely lingerie is so beautiful and can be easily mixed and matched so you're sure to find something you love. 

Glass Ornament. When I spotted this in Typo I was reminded of the cupcake bag from the first Sex and the City movie. Christmas ornaments look cute attached to the outside of presents alongside gift tags. Think of them as an extra present that the recipient can then save and use for their own tree.

Flower Cluster Ring. Karen Walker has an extensive array of jewelry but this flower ring is my favourite. It's simple, not too flashy and a classic piece. This ring is next on my wishlist, it's just so beautiful and I love it.

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. 

As you can tell from the title I went on a little HQHair spree with a friend of mine recently. HQHair is similar to Beauty Bay and Feel Unique, it just specialises in more haircare brands than the other two. Another drawcard of course is that they sell Nars and it is considerably cheaper than it is in the shops here. We were really happy with the affordability of our HQHair purchases. One thing to note though is that orders take around 2-3 weeks to ship, to the Southern Hemisphere at least so if you need to reorder anything then it's better to do it well in advance. Everything arrived safe and sound though so I'm sure I'll use HQHair again in the future.

GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment This is probably one of the more expensive face masks on the market but I'd seen it popping up time and time again in blogs and on bestseller lists so I wanted to give it a go. HQHair is the cheapest place where I have found this face mask so far. This mask is designed to tighten skin texture and pores. It also works to fight against blemishes and breakouts. In all honesty the smell of this mask really isn't appealing. If you're a fan of black licorice though you may like it (!). Once you get past its scent though this mask is amazing. I've been using it as both a spot treatment and face mask and it has made such a difference to my skin. Blemishes are reduced and aren't as prominent. The overall condition of my skin seems to be better as well. This mask is well worth its hype.