Bought in August

Another frugal monthly haul is ready for perusal, I did indulge in some drugstore bits but once again I kept away from the Myer counter and was content to cover my hands and arms in swatches instead.

The new Revlon Shadowlinks were definitely an impulse buy after a bad day, as was the Maybelline Chocolate Chip eyeliner – but I’d had my eye on the latter for quite a while so it was going to be mine sooner or later. I’ve got a bit of an obsession with Essie Mojito Madness after seeing it on Larie’s Twitter header, and I bought an essence polish in an attempt at quashing the lemming until I reach U.S shores where I can pick that shade up. I'll have a full post up on that another time!

I bought quite a few wedding related things this month, namely my wedding shoes (squeee!) and gifts for the bridal party as well as a few jewellery contenders for myself for the big day. Does anyone have an online jewellery store recommendation for me for blingy pieces? Would love some help in that department! As an aside, I’m thinking of posting some wedding related things up here, is there anything you’d like to know about at this point? Less than 2 months to go then it’s honeymoon time!

I saw the Revlon Playful Plum blush in the clearance section of Priceline and even though we’re coming into the warmer weather when I’d hardly wear a shade like this, I’m a fan of the Revlon cheek formula (see my post here) and decided to pick it up anyway. The half price Maybelline sale was the cause of the Colour Tattoo in Edgy Emerald, coupled with my obsession with the aforementioned green shade…green bags, green tops, green shoes, green makeup, greeeeeeen!

Mini set of Antipodes at 40% off? How could I say no!?

Cute jewellery pieces on sale from Colette and Equip

A few things  I picked up with the 30% off NYX sale at Target, and my beloved Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara finally went down to $10 at Priceline.

I splurged on some of my favourite Urban Rituelle Cotton Candy purse sprays while shopping at Forever New (full review is here) and some of the Juicy Couture Dirty English mini’s while buying Dad’s Fathers Day gift (Enrique Adrenaline!) – technically a male scent, this discontinued gem is my ‘signature scent’ for winter. My sister in law was so sweet to buy me this Nicole Richie No Rules bottle while we were out for coffee one day, and looking at it now on the screen I can see it was a scent-centred month indeed!

September might have a few splurges at the shops, but not too many...my second iPhone button just broke but I’m hoping it will hold out until we leave for our honeymoon. The rest of our cash is for wedding related activities – can’t wait for my hens and my kitchen tea!

Did you buy anything exciting this month so I can live vicariously through you?

I can’t wait for a big haul in Vegas, it is well overdue!

Emma x

Sweet Kisses Makeup Look

Popped on some of the shadows from the Models Prefer Sweet Kisses palette I reviewed yesterday, because sometimes you just need to see a wee creation to bring the palette to life!

 I basically just chose some of my favourite shades from this palette and threw them onto m eyelids, which I maintain is the best way to wear bright shadows. The trick is all in the blending and using a touch of eyeliner to anchor down the crazy - this can make almost any eye look wearable! 

Eyes:
Models Prefer Sweet Kisses palette:
*Mint Slice
*Pistachio
*Black Forest
*Butter Cream
*Honey Crunch

Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara
essence Hot Chocolate liner

Lips:
Revlon lipgloss in Crystal Water

Do you dare to wear bright mixes too?
Which of these shades should I throw together next?

 

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty 

Covergirl Clump Crusher // Mascara Review For You!



Trying out a new mascara is something I love to do, as I think my lashes are one of my best features and I’ll take any chance to play that up. I tend to use drugstore/Priceline mascaras as I am on a budget, and would rather spend the big bucks on something like a blush or an eyeshadow palette as opposed to something that I will have to get rid of within a few months. This is only the second Covergirl mascara I have ever tried, and it is definitely one of the best low end mascaras I have come across!

 

The Covergirl Clump Crusher is a rubber wanded fat green tube or eye heaven, which promises not to clump even with a stack of coats atop your lashes. Naturally when a claim like that is made you feel the urge to pile on the mascara, and I am happy to report that the claims are TRUE and you can swipe this bad boy over your lashes over and over without risk of clumping or creating spider lashes. I have naturally long lashes but this still gave me length as well as volume and I love the fuller look it gives to my lashes.

 

I’ve been using this mascara for a few months now and the formula hasn’t dried out yet, so I’m quite pleased and will definitely repurchase this when the time comes. I have fallen in love with a few mascaras over the years (Face of Australia Impact Curl, Lancome Doll Eyes, etc) but this is probably my favourite to date!

Covergirl Clump Crusher retails for $17.95 but is often on sale for $10 at Priceline etc. I personally purchased this tube for myself at $10 from Priceline when it first came out.

What is your favourite mascara? What sort of things do you look for when buying one? Have you tried any great Covergirl mascaras in the past?

 

 

March Favourites

March was a hectic month for me as I began my post graduate degree at university. All of a sudden it all feels real and the pressure is immense, but if anything it made me appreciate the stars in my beauty stash more than ever as I loved relaxing and enjoying them throughout the month.

I did play around with my eye shadows quite a bit this month, I loved a heap of deep chocolate shades (as seen in this look!) I used the Bad to the Bronze Maybelline Color Tattoo as a base quite often, and also on its own if I was feeling lazy. I couldn’t tear myself away from the Australis Curve Ink eyeliner*, jet black, long lasting and goes well with my Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara. I’m still in the habit of using YSL Touche Eclat No.2* under my eyes to brighten, it covers up late nights and energy drink fuelled bad behaviour really well!

Pink lips were it and a bit this month, seriously couldn’t get enough of the hot new Face of Australia shade Peaches & Cream, which isn’t very well named but by goodness it is probably the best shade they have ever released. As soon as I saw it on the shelf at Priceline I was like a moth to flame, and even Mumma Bovary said “Oh that is YOUR colour!” In the basket it went, and I’ve been wearing it a lot this month. Maybelline Juicy Bubblegum is another great pink that I find easy to wear, and since I’ve been favouring a glossy look I've been teaming it with one of my all-time favourite glosses, essence Me & My Ice Cream. Another obsession that I’ve been indulging in is a flashback to my younger days, where lip smackers filled my school dress pockets and I was never without one. This Strawberry/Kiwi Kool Aid scent is so damn good, and it reminds me of a scent from my childhood but I just can’t put a finger on what it is. Regardless, I’ve been loving these lip products silly this month.

 

The Face of Australia Face Base primer has crept back into my daily routine and I don’t really know why I stopped using it. Feels just like a moisturiser rather than a velvety finish primer, and from blog posts I’ve read it is actually the Napoleon Perdis primer repackaged and much cheaper! Surprisingly my most worn and most loved blush for March was Cream Soda from the MAC Archie’s Girl collection. Chris bought me this as I was upset about not being able to find Prom Princess (ended up getting it later) and I’ve worn this one more than PP! Another product that has jumped back into my daily routine is the grungy looking Prestige brow gel, I’d forgotten how much of a difference you can make to your face just by grooming your brows well!

 

Now that my brain is focused on university and all the joys that come along with it, I neglected to include my Dove Body Milk for Dry Skin* and the object of my nail polish love affair. L’Oreal Color Riche in Luxembourg Garden* has truly stolen my heart, it isn’t often that I reapply the same colour time after time but I have been aching to reapply this every single time I do my nails.

What would you love to try from this lot of favourites? What pink lip product do you swear by?

*Marked products were provided for consideration. Honesty, always.