Showing posts with label This Works. Show all posts
Showing posts with label This Works. Show all posts
1/22/2018
Summer Beauty Must-Haves
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
12/10/2017
Giftmas #5: The Beauty Gift Guide
Here we are, just over two weeks away from Christmas and showcasing my last gift guide. This mightn't be the last you see of gift recommendations. I am definitely sharing book suggestions over here for instance. Today though it's all about the beauty loves. I've mainly gone for products I already use and love, or ones I have gifted or will be gifting this year. The great thing with beauty is there's so much choice nowadays so it's a lot easier to choose something people will love...
Stella+Gemma Makeup Bag, not pictured: When in doubt, makeup bag it out. In seriousness, to a beauty lover, I don't think a snazzy new makeup bag will be sneered at. Even better, you could load it with some of their favourite minis, or a product you love and think they should try. Presents within presents are the best.
NARS The Veil Cheek Palette: Here we have an early Christmas present to myself, which now I've photographed and kept pristine, I can start using it. Huzzah! Self celebrations aside, this palette is beautiful. Combining a bronzer, blush and highlighter, it's slim and reasonably compact. The powders certainly pack a punch in the pigment stakes and it truly is a thing of beauty.
This Works Sleep Tight: I've gifted products from the Sleep range x This Works before and they are always well received. This set was packaged in an ornate, cardboard bauble and contains two miniatures of the Pillow Spray as well as the Stress Check, Breathe In. I usually take these away traveling with me but also keep them by my bed and the calming lavender scent helps to bring a sense of ambience before sleep. That and despite not really liking the smell of lavender, I cannot deny its calming effect. A++ would recommend.
Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge: You all know by now of my love for Lisa Eldridge and all her talent+brilliance. I couldn't not include her coffee table book, crammed with everything beauty history and so many wonderful anecdotes. It is beautifully presented and written and makes for fascinating reading. I've been dipping in and out of it all year but I will be picking this up to read on my Summer break.
Preciosity Ombre Blackstar x By Terry: I don't own this set, I wish and it is a spendy option but would make an absolutely exquisite gift for someone. Containing three of the Ombre Blackstars, including Misty Rock and Bronze Moon it really is stunning. These eyeshadows are like nothing else and they are the most long-lasting formulas around.
Go-To Sweet Sleeps*: Zoe Foster Blake, queen of all things awesome has bundled some of her brilliant, peachy-decorated products into sets for us to nab this festive season. This set is my pick; combining a makeup bag (yass), the Face Case (DOUBLE YASS, also mini musings here. I love this though), Super Handy (lives on my work desk, parties on my work desk) and Lips (keeping that pout in check). All in all it's a good time and sweet dreams are made of these.
Stila Written In The Stars Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow Set: This set is sold out online and I am not one hundred per cent sure if Mecca will be getting more in. I know it definitely wasn't around in Mecca Maxima Auckland last week but I could be wrong so do not quote me there. This set of what have easily been some of the most sought after eyeshadows this year is bound to be well received. I've gifted these to people but if you don't want to split them up and again want to treat a sparkle lover, I am sure they will love it.
Kenzo World Fragrance*: You probably remember that crazy but brilliant advert for this fragrance. If not, YouTube it now. I realise it's not a particularly festive fragrance but it's pretty fail-safe, I think at least. Fresh with a hint of floral and fruitiness, it's the perfect Summer scent. I also love Gabrielle x Chanel and have spritzed+liked the idea of Orange Bitters Cologne x Jo Malone London.
-What beauty gifts are on your radar for Christmas?
*PR Sample
12/12/2013
The Best in Beauty
It's that time of the year again, favourites time but not as you know it. I took some time out last week to go through my makeup bag and think about what products have stood out, earning themselves a place in the holy grail/daily staples category. As it is 2013 I tried to choose thirteen standout products and this streamlined edit have all been well-loved this year.
Real Techniques Brushes. This time a year ago I was the girl going "What is with these colourful brushes? What is a buffing brush?", yes really.. Now at least half of the brushes I own and use are from Real Techniques. They're incredibly soft, just like luxury brushes and blend product like a dream. They're also multi-use as well and can often be used for more than one product or texture.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, limited edition. While this has only been in my possession for just over a month or so it is being used an awful lot and will no doubt continue to be a favourite next year. This trio of powders add a soft-focus effect to the complexion which helps to dull down and blur any imperfections. The highlighting and bronzing powders are both quite subtle, you won't notice an obvious orange tinge or disco ball sheen to your face. All in all this is a stunning palette.
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. A transparent setting powder that helps to set makeup in place and eliminate any unwanted shine. The powder itself is quite fine so you aren't left looking chalky or caked in powder. While this may not be the most long-lasting it is fairly compact so you can add it to your handbag easily enough for touch-ups.
Diptyque Philosykos Eau De Toilette. This fig, fresh scent is what I reach for when I'm not wearing a floral perfume. There's something about this scent that just feels sophisticated and classy without being overpowering like Chanel No. 5 for instance.
Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara.* They're Real combines all the qualities in a mascara that we love and throws in a dose of longevity for good measure. The plastic wand makes it easier to separate your lashes without creating clumps or spidery lashes. Is this the best mascara ever? No, but it is worth trying out at least once.
12/03/2013
Christmas Beauty Gift Guide
Beauty brands really up the ante and deliver the goods at this time of the year. You just have to take a wander through any department store's beauty hall to realise that. Here is my streamlined edit of all things beauty for Christmas this year from stocking stuffers to the more luxurious offerings. Enjoy!
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette I'm sure you've seen this palette doing the rounds on lots of the beauty gift guides. I even wrote about it. While this is certainly a luxe present you get three powders that take care of setting makeup, highlighting and bronzing. Hourglass have also thrown in a mini sample of their veil primer for good measure. All the powders are incredibly subtle as well and leave you with a photoshop perfect complexion. This palette is getting harder to get hold of so if you want to purchase this for yourself or someone else then you'll have to be quick.
Benefit It's A Love Fest Set The Benefit advent calendar sold out ridiculously fast but there are plenty of awesome gift sets on offer to keep everyone happy. This one contains a great combination of products including my favourite Benefit blush, Coralista. Sets like these are perfect if you're already a Benefit fan or even for a teen girl who's just getting into makeup. Not to mention that tin would look so adorable on display.
Lulu Guiness Glitter Lip Makeup Bag Like nail polish, most girls seem to appreciate a gorgeous makeup bag. This Lulu Guiness offering is sparkly, features rainbow glitter and a perfect pout on the outside. The perfect makeup bag in other words. This is something I'd be happy to see in my stocking..
Alexa for Eyeko Set One for the Alexa fans. If you already own Alexa's book then you should think about adding this Eyeko set to your list. It comes with a liner to perfect the cat flick and a mascara. I'd buy this for an eye makeup enthusiast, Alexa fan, or..myself.
5/22/2013
To Bed #2
If you read Part 1 of this post you'll know already that I love the luxury that is sleep. Spending the last few moments before bed relaxing can make such a difference. Thanks to this powerful quad of bedtime essentials, the highly important pre-slumber relaxation is all taken care of..
This Works Deep Sleep Stress Less is a rollerball oil that can be used to de-stress and aid peaceful sleep. It contains Eucalyptus and Frankincense essential oil which do make this oil quite a potently scented one, but in the best possible way. The scent certainly won't be for everyone but if you can overlook it then you will really benefit from this product. I apply this to my pulse points, under my nose and sometimes on my sheets if I'm particularly tired. Whatever's in this bottle certainly works, I am instantly relaxed once this is applied and find drifting off to sleep that much easier. This'll definitely be repurchased in the 10ml size but if you want to try it out, you can purchase the set I did here.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye has been on my wishlist for a while having made my way through several of the testers Kiehl's so generously give you. The texture is halfway between a cream and a gel, so if you don't like overly heavy eye creams then this is for you. There are definite notes of lavender in its scent, given it contains Lavender and Evening Primrose oils but it isn't at all overpowering. This eye cream is designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and dark under eye circles which it successfully does. This product leaves the under eye area smooth as well and it also seems to reduce dullness. If you're after an eye product geared towards more younger skin then definitely head to the Kiehl's counter and pick up a sample.
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is infused with Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Chamomile essential oils which all work to relieve tension, soothe and settle the nerves. Pretty powerful promises and after spritzing this onto my pillowcase and sheets I again find myself much more relaxed when I sleep. Out of all the This Works Sleep products I've used I'd probably recommend the oil the most but when combined with this pillow spray you have the dream team in one lavender scented cloud *bad slumber related puns intentional.
Rounding out this powerful quad we have the Nivea Lip Butter* in Caramel Cream. This is just a little bit heavy for daytime use so I tend to apply this at night right before bed and wake up with softer, nourished lips. The formula is creamy without being too thick and the scent is delicious, like Salted Caramel Macarons. Delectable!
So that concludes my pre-snooze lineup. As always, recommendations are welcome. I promise I'll read them pre-Lavender spritz!
Read More
This Works Deep Sleep Stress Less is a rollerball oil that can be used to de-stress and aid peaceful sleep. It contains Eucalyptus and Frankincense essential oil which do make this oil quite a potently scented one, but in the best possible way. The scent certainly won't be for everyone but if you can overlook it then you will really benefit from this product. I apply this to my pulse points, under my nose and sometimes on my sheets if I'm particularly tired. Whatever's in this bottle certainly works, I am instantly relaxed once this is applied and find drifting off to sleep that much easier. This'll definitely be repurchased in the 10ml size but if you want to try it out, you can purchase the set I did here.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye has been on my wishlist for a while having made my way through several of the testers Kiehl's so generously give you. The texture is halfway between a cream and a gel, so if you don't like overly heavy eye creams then this is for you. There are definite notes of lavender in its scent, given it contains Lavender and Evening Primrose oils but it isn't at all overpowering. This eye cream is designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and dark under eye circles which it successfully does. This product leaves the under eye area smooth as well and it also seems to reduce dullness. If you're after an eye product geared towards more younger skin then definitely head to the Kiehl's counter and pick up a sample.
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is infused with Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Chamomile essential oils which all work to relieve tension, soothe and settle the nerves. Pretty powerful promises and after spritzing this onto my pillowcase and sheets I again find myself much more relaxed when I sleep. Out of all the This Works Sleep products I've used I'd probably recommend the oil the most but when combined with this pillow spray you have the dream team in one lavender scented cloud *bad slumber related puns intentional.
Rounding out this powerful quad we have the Nivea Lip Butter* in Caramel Cream. This is just a little bit heavy for daytime use so I tend to apply this at night right before bed and wake up with softer, nourished lips. The formula is creamy without being too thick and the scent is delicious, like Salted Caramel Macarons. Delectable!
So that concludes my pre-snooze lineup. As always, recommendations are welcome. I promise I'll read them pre-Lavender spritz!
*PR Sample
4/17/2013
Beauty Lust List
Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base Regarded as the holy grail product for preventing eyeshadows from creasing. This'd be a dream product for an eyeshadow lover and oily-lidded girl like myself.
Bobbi Brown Blush in Nude Peach Peach blushes are usually something I avoid so when one of the makeup artists at Bobbi Brown applied this on me I was surprised to see that the colour suited my skintone. This colour is perfect to give skin a bit of a natural flush during Winter.
Benefit World Famous Neutrals Palette in Most Glamorous Nudes Benefit is coming to town soon and this collection of palettes is one of their newest product offerings. Complete with four powder and two cream eyeshadows this would make a lovely addition to anyone's makeup collection.
Stella by Stella McCartney Confession: I love perfumes. They're one of the first things I head towards when I'm in a department store. This scent consists of notes of Rose, Peony Flower, Mandarin, Rose Absolute and Amber. It smells like no other fragrance I've owned and I love it. One for the duty free list perhaps?
4/15/2013
To Bed #1
Ahh sleep, an activity that is such a luxury. Sinking under a pile of blankets with a book in hand and then later dazing off with an eye mask on=heavenly ♥. Recently though I've found it harder to doze off so I headed to the beauty blogs to see if there was any offerings around to aid sleep and stumbled upon these two gems.
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