A Halloween Quad for your Nails - OPI Rock Goddess

Is it just me, or does Halloween seem more popular in Australia than ever before? I've always been a fan of a little trick or treating over the years, and now that we've got our own place I have a pumpkin basket full of sweets ready for any little ghouls that pass my way. OPI have sent me out a 'Rock Goddess' mini pack* which I thought was perfect for the 31st of October, so I decided to use all 4 shades (and the cute black and silver skull bracelet!) in a spooky manicure.

The bright creme yellow 'Yellopalooza' is something I'm really happy to have in my stash even though I'm not sure I'd rock a whole mani with it. Perfect for nail art (think flowers etc.) it's nicely pigmented and I think a yellow like this is a necessity in most nail lovers collections.

The citrus 'Stand in Lime for Days' is right up my alley shade wise, but I was a little frustrated at the streaky marks I was left with after 2-3 coats. I think it's a lovely shade though, so I would still persevere to enjoy it but wouldn't rush out to buy a full sized bottle.

'Rolling Bones' definitely wins the title of best shade name in this mini kit, and I love the spliced shimmer style of a colour like this. I did find it quite sheer though, so if I were to use it for a whole manicure I would definitely layer it over another dark shade so as not to waste it. I thought this would be my favourite shade from the set, until...

'The Drummer is Hot' came along! Despite kind of despising the name, this one-coater (yes! so impressed!) really wowed me. A tomato red with an orange kick in the pants, it was almost too easy to wear and any polish this pigmented deserves a stack of love.

So what do we think- does this rock music inspired nail kit fit in with the Halloween spirit (if we even call it that?) I think it's a bit out there and has a bit of attitude, which is what Halloween is all about for me!

Which shade is your favourite?
What do you do to celebrate Halloween?

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

NYX is at Target!

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this pristine NYX stand while browsing at my local Target! I have tried a few things from the brand (their powder blush in Peach is my top pick!) and have always wanted to have a good swatch of the whole line, so I over them moon to see them in Target! I adore the gloss in Beige (which is really a lovely pink colour) and really like the look of those butter glosses too!

The prices are quite high compared to NYX online and overseas, and the range isn't as extensive either (a handful of blush shades as opposed to the whole range) but having a new brand in the market is still a lovely thing to see.

I've got the jumbo eye crayon in Milk (a plain white shade) but overall I've heard some pretty negative reviews of that so i don't think I'll get another. I do like the look of the softer coloured eye crayons that I've never seen before, so perhaps they will make their way into my stash instead.

I think the first things on my 'to try' list will be the cream blushes, another powder blush, the Love in Paris palette and some of the lip glosses. I'm going to try not to dive in too fast though, I have so many other things in my stash that are sitting unloved. All in all though, I am elated to see that we now have access to a brand like NYX! Hopefully these stands will roll out across all of the Australian Target stores so that we all have access to the new products! I also love that their are testers for every product, it means I can really look at the colours when I'm deciding to buy. I have my fingers crossed that the stands stay well stocked and neat, but we'll just have to wait and see.

What would you pick up first from this stand? Have you tried any great NYX products you would recommend to other readers?
Emma @ emmabovarybeauty x

Going Bare

I am not embarrassed to admit that I quite like a full face of makeup on a daily basis. Sure, there are days when I lounge around the house with redness bared and pores aplenty, but generally I enjoy having a nice bit of slap on my mug (foundation, under eye concealer, blush and eyeshadow are regulars for me!)

I had a bit of an rare experience recently, when I decided to wear quite light makeup to a night out! I was invited out for a dear friends birthday celebrations at The Merrywell at Crown, and instead of going the whole hog I embraced my 'good skin day' and reached for my Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream* and Maybelline Age Eraser concealer instead. I felt like the BB coverage was enough for a good skin day, and the age eraser gave light to my undereye area and was tapped on any old blemish scars for a bit of extra coverage. I still swept on a bit of blush, because I am a true blush fiend!

I also fell back on my favourite lip pairing of late, my Carmex Pink Sheer Tint* and Dior gloss in Princess. I've been obsessed with a glossy lip look lately and this two work so well together for me! I feel glam anytime I wear Dior, it's a great feeling.

I am happy to report that I was dancing my feet off to old school r'n'b and had a great time with my 'bare' face all night!

Do you have the confidence to head out at night with minimal makeup? What 'bare' products do you love?

Le List - The Tuesday Poll

Sometimes a poll is a nice way to break from routine, and I felt like chatting about makeup using Le List from Makeup and Beauty Blog. Feel free to tag yourself and post your responses in the comments or on your blog, I'd love to read them all!

a pretty blush photo, Sunday Riley 'Blushing'
unrelated to le list, but I wanted to share it with you anyway

1. Do you have a diary?
I have thousands of those little secret keepers! Sadly, the secrets within are nothing to rave about, but Mister Bovary is still itching to crack one open and have a read.
*writes fake diary entry*
Dear Diary. I wish Mister would bust out the Lush Magic Wiccy massage bar more often, I have some knots in my shoulders that need work...
Do you think it would work?!

2. Best makeup lighting in your house?
In my new place? Definitely in the lounge during the afternoon, but I am yet to test out my beauty room so I am not sure how the light in there is during the day. Can't wait to have my Ikea Alex and some polish racks in there, with a little sitting area for reading a book with a cuppa.

3. Which do you wear more often, lipstick or gloss?
Lately, it has definitely been gloss. Barry M Toffee has been getting quite the workout, the sweet scent and wearable nude colour is just hitting it out of the park for me at the moment. I've also got my eye on some of the new nude Kardashian Beauty lip glosses - nude lips for summer, that is something different!

4. With whom do you talk the most about makeup offline?
Beauty blogger events are always a great chance to blab about beauty with likeminded ladies, but I also love chatting to the chicks at Kit Cosmetics (always so lovely, and honest too!) My dear friend Carly is beauty mad as well, so we often lose half our study sessions to musing about beauty YouTube channels and what new eyeshadow palettes we are gunning for. Nothing better than chatting about beauty!

5. Does the color of a room affect your mood?
The bedroom at our new place is all warm tones, rich chocolate with taupe and latte tones mixed in for good measure. It makes me feel cozy and stylish, despite not having our new bedroom suite in there just yet. I suppose having a say in the colour does affect my mood, I know I want some bright pops of colour in my beauty room so that will be a mood lifter for sure!

6. Do you have any plants around you at work?
When I'm working from home I'm not really surrounded by nature - I do break for an hour during the day to walk alongside our local lake, so I suppose that counts as plants (and ducks, swamp hens and swans!) I like being able to indulge in nature, but it can get messy so we have a ultra low maintenance outdoor area and use the surrounding parks instead!

7. Are there any shadows you love except for the fallout?
There are a few Too Faced shades that drive me mental with fallout, but because I apply my eye makeup before the face it doesn't really bother me all that much. MAC Retrospeck is a bit chunky and can sometimes have fallout, but it remains one of my favourite eye shadows regardless!

8. How do you feel about nude nail polish?
I think it can look really lovely if the tone is right, I have some great essence nude polishes that I quite like. They can be a bit bland sometimes, but generally they give a nice polished, lady-like look to your hands.

9. If you could be invisible for 2 hours, what would you do?
If I said I would sneak into the drawers at Chanel to see if they have the new holiday collection hidden in there, would you think less of me? I want to swatch it so badly! That being said, does anyone have a launch date for Australia? Accent blush be mine!

10. What’s your current favorite face product?
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, my skin has had it's monthly tantrum and I'm nursing it back to health with this miracle tube. In terms of pretty face products? Tarte Exposed still has it goin' on- I'm boring and predictable, I know!

a blush photo featuring Tarte Exposed, as always

Now it's your turn! Tell me what your current favourite face product is in the comments, I would absolutely love to know!

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty x

The New Moisturisers

The often overlooked but important part of the routine – the moisturisers! Here is what is making up the bulk of my nourishment at the moment. (This post was directly inspired by Tiffany's post over on Will Work for Makeup!)

Suvana Paw Paw & Honey Balm*

This newly packaged all-purpose balm seems to have been reformulated a touch, as the honey seems less overpowering than my old school tube was. I use this on dry patches such as cuticles and dry patches, and use a really thin layer over my lips overnight (too much and the honey sort of burns my throat, but less so than it used to) The new packaging is super cute and something that is perfect for throwing in your handbag on windy days.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

This is such an amazing product, it is perfect for lazy nights where I don’t want to apply a sheet mask and sit up for a while or I can’t be bothered painstakingly rinsing off a messy mask. You apply it as you would a night cream in place of all of your other products after cleansing, and wake up the next morning with bouncy happy skin. It smells incredible and doesn’t leave a residue on pillows so there is seriously no stress involved.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream*

I’ve mentioned this previously here and here, and have returned to using it as my night cream as I ponder my beauty cabinet for a new one to try – I’m thinking Olay Regenerist or Kiehl’s Ultra Facial will be next, any thoughts on those? Any other night cream recommendations?

L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Beauty Milk*

This is light and fast-absorbing with a delicate floral scent as the name would suggest. I adore the packaging as I do with much of L’Occitane products, and I find that this does a nice job on balmy nights when I want smooth skin without the weight of body butter.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion +*

I much prefer this version to the previous formulation, and I had a wonderful time at the Melbourne launch event which was held at the divine Mecca Maxima Highpoint earlier in the year (giant yellow balloons, delectable finger food and a chance for a private shop with a voucher from Mecca along with quality time with beautiful beauty bloggers – yup, it was pretty amazing) This is my dear friend Carly’s favourite lotion, and I like the way it does the job without a fuss and without breaking me out.

 

What new moisturisers have you been using lately? Anything new I need to investigate? I would love to hear YOUR routine in the comments below!

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

 

*Marked items were provided for review, but this is an honest overview of what I am currently using.

On my nails : Natio Denim

 

If you are a fellow beauty lover (and you must be, because you are reading this!) you know that reading beauty blogs is a rather dangerous pastime.  Every time I flick through my blog roll (right hand side of this page, check it out!) or my Feedly roll, at least one new beauty product jumps onto my wishlist. I’m sure that it is not just me, right?!

When the captivating BeautyReductionista posted about an unexpected Chanel dupe that she received in a swap with an Australian (Making Up 4 My Age for those playing at home) I dived into the post with much excitement.  I am yet to explore the realm of high end polishes, and though Dior will probably be the first to come home with me once I land a full time job I was interested in seeing what affordable Australian polish shared similarities with the big brand Chanel.

Natio Denim is said to bear a striking resemblance to Chanel’s Blue Boy, a long discontinued denim inspired blue crème polish, and for $5.95 AUD is a wonderfully cheap way to treat yo self! The comparison swatches are definitely worth a squiz before Natio Denim hops off the shelf (I have a feeling it may be discontinued…) and I quite like pretty but not pastel shades of blue like this one.

 

Have you been tempted into buying a beauty product from a single blog post?

How often do you succumb to little treasures like this affordable polish?

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

 

 

An American Saint

Had a glorious day off last weekend, and caught up on some reading as Mister Bovary and my Dad continued painting our house. Even though I wasn’t planning on leaving the house (and only got as far as a wander in our garden!) I decided to pop some makeup on, and ended up creating a classic makeup look that was heavily inspired by the new ‘American Flag’ scarf that Mumma Bovary bought me. Though it isn’t my typical style, seeing it in a few videos from my favourite U.S/U.K YouTubers (such as in this video with Tanya Burr + Ingrid Nilsen) sealed the deal for me!

the all important elements

The Models Prefer Sweet Shadows palette (review + swatches here) has really impressed me! I used Adorable all over the lid with Cute through the crease, and Innocent to highlight my brow bone. The colours blended really easily and didn’t crease all day (I used MAC Painterly paint pot as my base) I’ve worn a variation of this look a few times, substituting some of the shades for Sweetened and Graceful for a more dramatic look.

For this look I used my Rimmel Match Perfection foundation*, which I am trying to fall in love with in the wake of the brand discontinuing my beloved cream gel formula. The liquid counterpart definitely needs a good powdering after application, and though I like it I still much prefer the old pots which I have in my back up stash. This will be happily used though, because the colour is a nice pale match for me – you might say it is match perfection ;)  

chevron cushions baby!

Nars Laguna often makes an appearance when I rock a red pout, for this looked I haphazardly dusted it all over with a fluffy brush. In these photos I still look uber pale story of my life but in person it made a nice difference to my face. I wore a quick dab of TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer as well, and didn’t wear blush….shock horror! The main player for my Americana look was definitely my Lipstick Queen Sheer Lipstick in Saint Rouge* which is so easy to apply and is a dark enough red for me to pull off nicely I think.

painting mode is on! He had just asked why I had such nice makeup on, hence my facial expression ;)

I really enjoyed this look, it was quite different to what I normally wear and I liked the way I tied the whole colour scheme into my rad new scarf.

Is it just me, or is it a whole heap of fun to match your makeup to your scarf?
What red lipstick is your go-to?

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

New to the Routine

Slipping new things into my routine to spice up this my holidays! A mix of stash shopping and cheeking hauling brings forth this new brood of beauty goodies for me to play with, and I’ve really enjoyed getting out of my makeup rut.

Some of these were in my September Favourites, such as the Clarins Instant Concealer* + Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer. I’ve never been one to use concealer regularly, and having two to use under my eyes seems a tad extravagant to me. That said, I quite like looking more awake than usual, so these have been hanging around my makeup bag and I’m happy for them to stay embedded in my routine. Another surprising addition to my routine is the Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Lolita, which I’ve been using for a sheer tint on my lips which is not something I usually wear. I tend to go for either bright lips or a gloss, but lately a tinted balm has been gracing my lips more often than not and I’m sort of getting used to the pared back look.

Another new lip product to jump into my routine is the Bourjois Color Boost Crayon in Red Sunrise. I’ve been using the Peach on the Beach shade for a while and couldn’t stop myself from buying the juicy red shade from the new collection. These crayons are super glossy and feel really comfortable on the lips, and I adore them.

I’ve been wearing Estee Lauder Modern Muse lately, which is the latest perfume release from the mega brand. I really like the way it sits on my skin and I’ve garnered a few compliments while wearing it at work, so I have to say so far so good with this new addition to my routine. I’ll have a full review up once I finish my sample spray.

Not much more needs to be said about the latest shower gel to jump into my caddy- the Original Source Chocolate and Mint shower gel smells edible and amazing, and I urge you to try it! I’ve also slipped a new blush into my routine, the Jouer powder blush in Blossom which I bought after seeing it on Ingrid from Miss Glamorazzi. Last but not least for the new products in my routine is an old favourite for the eyes- the Face of Australia Liquid Eyeliner. Quite simply the best I’ve ever tried, this is jet black and doesn’t smudge, and I’ve become a little bit obsessed with a slick of dark liner above my lash line!

What new products or old favourites have you slipped into your routine?

 emma @ emmabovarybeauty

Sugar Coated Candies

Sweet as sugar nails aren’t always my thing, if I’m going to be honest about it. You’re more likely to see my tips a shade of orange or a metallic deep blue (like my very favourite polish shade, L’Oreal Color Riche in LuxembourgGarden) than something pastel or baby pink. That said, when I was making a cheeky haul at Chemist Warehouse I saw the brand new Sally Hansen Sugar Coat display, and Cotton Candies leapt out at me immediately.

The perfect medium shade of pink, this definitely needs two coats to get the perfect ‘sugar crystal’ effect that you are going for. This feels a little different to the OPI Liquid Sands for me in that OPI’s formulation sort of glides on as per usual, before drying to a sandy finish. This is more like crystals captured in the polish itself, but ultimately the ideas are quite similar to one another. I really like the sweet and girly take that Sally Hansen has with their collection though, and I have my eye on the white variation which is something I never thought I’d go for.

The textured finish can be a little scratchy, particularly if you’ve not tried the OPI Liquid Sand formulas or the other textured finishes on the market yet. I find that this doesn’t last any better on my nails than regular polishes and still flakes off, but that happens with every one of my polishes so I know that it is my nails and not the formula to blame. I’ve heard great nail bloggers mention how hard wearing these formulas are, so I definitely think you should take my experience with a grain of salt. Having a textured finish to the nail is really on trend at the moment (and a little more natural than caviar on your nails…just sayin’!) and is a bit more subdued for those of you who don’t like ‘in your face’ nails and nail art. They are also crazily easy to apply, so they are wonderful for any little girls in your life who adore painting their nails! My nieces would be all over Cotton Candies!

Ultimately I’m a fan of this new release from Sally Hansen, and plan on picking up the white ‘Sugar Fix’ and perhaps the black ‘Lick-O-Rich’ as well. (Okay, I’m pretty much eyeing up the whole range because I really like the look of the minty ‘Sour Apple’ also – I have polish problems!) They are quite affordable at $9.95 a bottle and they are regularly on sale, so I highly suggest you check them out.

What colour appeals to you the most when it comes to textured nails?

 Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

What's On My Face // a whisper of spring

 

I’ve sort of fallen into a nice routine during the holidays, getting up nice and early when Mister Bovary leaves for work before settling in for a day of writing, studying and cleaning the house. I’m at that stage where living in this house is still so exciting and new, and I’m surprised at how much I enjoy the chores that I’ve never had to do before! Having said that, I’ve also been indulging in some guilty television watching (which I never used to do while living at home- I didn’t switch my TV on for 2 years before we moved!) Laverne + Shirley, Happy Days and The Brady Bunch are all on high rotation at the moment – if that isn’t a reason to blush, I don’t know what is!

Keeping in line with the laid back (but studious!) lifestyle I’ve adopted in recent weeks, one of the looks in my arsenal is this easy and fresh-faced look using some brand new products alongside some stash-shopping finds.

A variation of the eyes is something I find pretty easy to come up with my abundance of eye shadows, which is a good thing since this particular combination (Topshop cream eye shadow + Natural Compatibles powder) didn’t hold up as long as I would’ve liked it to. I love the shades and the way they make the green in my eyes pop, but creases are a no-no so I’m going to have to play around to see what makes these work. The new Maybelline Mega Plush Volum’ Express mascara* also wasn’t an impressive new find, I don’t mind the formula but the floppy brush was much too hard for this uncoordinated blogger to work with.

Something new from Maybelline that is definitely impressing me is the Dream Pure BB Cream*, which is specifically made for blemish-prone skin and contains 2% Salicylic Acid to ward off breakouts as it covers them up. I was so impressed with this press sample that I bought a backup when Maybelline was half-price recently (for a beauty blogger that is a serious endorsement!) I reached into the depths of my blush drawer to use my ethically lovely Vapour Organics Aura Multi-Use Blush in Whisper* for this look. I grabbed the product description from their website, in case you were interested in finding out more about this nifty blush stick.

Get a lit–from–within glamour with this multi–tasking superstar. Aura Multi-Use Blush—Radiant will highlight and define your cheeks, lips, and eyes with soft shimmering sophistication. Shades are designed to work with every skin tone and every age. Fun on shoulders and décolletage too.

Aura Multi-Use Blush is made with 70% Certified Organic ingredients and 30% mineral pigments and vitamins. Aura nourishes with Vapour’s face specific infusion of anti-inflammatory Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi and moisturizing and calming Lotus Flowers.

Professional performance with none of the chemicals.

I think I’ll keep this pink shade away from my shoulders and décolletage, but for my cheeks I’m happy with how this makes my skin seem to glow. I'm not normally one to specifically go for organic or natural beauty, but when they perform just as well as any other brand I don't see why I shouldn't! They say that this blush works best when applied with fingertips, but I always prefer to use my Real Techniques Stippling Brush for products like this, as I find it helps the pigment stay vibrant as it buffs the product into the skin.

Last but not least for this fresh-faced makeup look is one of my new favourite lip products, the pigmented and glossy Pink Possibilities Colour Whisper* from Maybelline. I initially picked up Are You Red-dy when they the Colour Whispers launched, and was elated when a giant advent calendar filled with new Maybelline goodies arrived at my doorstep with the rest of the new shades. I find this formula really comfortable and nicely pigmented, and ultimately what I wished the Revlon Lip Butters to be when they first launched.

 

A fresh-faced look for spring? How adventurous! What products do you turn to when the weather warms up?

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

 

Models Prefer Sweet Shadows Palette - a Too Faced Inspired Tin to Delight Your Sweet Tooth!

When word hit the street that Models Prefer were releasing some holiday palettes inspired by Too Faced, I raced to my local Priceline stores to grab them. Sadly they hadn’t reached stores yet (and at the time of writing are only just trickling into stores after being on order, as the lovely Customer Service lady informed me over the phone) but they are available to order from Priceline online! Retailing for $15, the Sweet Shadows Tin is the more affordable option – though I do plan on getting my hands on the Sweet Kisses palette when my store receives the shipment during the week.

the tin, which is so lightweight I thought it had arrived empty!

I ordered this palette after dinner on Wednesday night ($5.95 for regular delivery) and was not expecting to get my hands on it until Monday. Come Friday morning, I open the front door to find the dreaded ‘sorry we missed’ you slip tucked into the door. I was quite frustrated as I’d been sitting writing in the lounge since 6:30am, so it was obvious they hadn’t bothered to knock and just decided to leave the note instead. Thanks Australia Post! Anyway, I was still so pleased as I suspected that it was my Priceline delivery, so I headed in to pick it up before work on Saturday.

set comes complete with dual-ended mascara/brow gel and an eye shadow primer

The tin is very lightweight, and the shadows themselves are affixed to a thin plastic outer which also holds the eye shadow primer (reminiscent of Too Faced Shadow Insurance) and the dual-ended mascara and clear brow gel. This means that depotting is probably a possibility, and the tin could be used for jewellery or other knick knacks if you felt like it. It definitely doesn’t feel as sturdy as the newly updated Too Faced tins, but it is still super cute and I don’t mind since the price is so much cheaper than the real deal.

Innocent, Lovely, Sweetened, Graceful, Kisses, Cute and Sugared

The shadows themselves are all quite pretty and similar to Too Faced in that the majority of them are on the sheer side (with the exception of Luscious, Precious and Enchanting which are the more pigmented of the bunch) As I type I am wearing Adorable over the lid with Cute in the crease, and Kisses to highlight my brow bone and inner corners (I used MAC Painterly Paint Pot as a base) It has held up really nicely all day, and I was happy with the level of pigmentation once the colours hit my lids. I find that the way that colours swatch on your arm/hand isn’t always the best indication of how it will work when actually applied, so it is best to give things a go or look for reviews when it comes to things like this. Just my opinion and this generally works for me! I also have the mascara and brow gel on, and was pleasantly surprised with both of them. I was expecting (and I do apologise to MP…) a crappy lacklustre mascara, but this is better than some Maybelline + Chanel I’ve used in the past. Great job MP!

Sugared, Luscious, Adorable, Angelic, Precious and Enchanting

As I’ve only used this palette once (and am yet to even try the eye shadow primer!) I can’t give a full review for you at this stage. I definitely wanted to show you what the palette contained so that you could have a think about it before it hits stores this week, so this little ‘first impressions’ post (in which I did ramble quite a bit…) could help you decide whether or not this palette would suit you. I have a feeling the sets are going to sell out very fast!

the whole sweet shadow line up

So tell me- does this Models Prefer Sweet Shadows Tin satisfy your sweet tooth?

The Sweet Shadows Tin palette retails for $15 AUD and is available for online purchase here, and in Priceline stores this week.

The Sweet Kisses palette ($25 AUD) is available for online purchase here.

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty x

 

 

*This post is not sponsored and I bought the palette myself. Honesty, always.

 

September Empties ft. Antipodes, A'Kin + Lush

Only 11 emptied products this month, but at least I hit double digits!

 

Rexona Girl Tropical Energy deodorant- A constant repurchase, I adore this aerosol deodorant.

L’Occitane Ravissant shower gel*- A lovely product from one of my favourite body care brands. I wasn’t as enthralled with the scent as much as I am with the almond range, so I’d rather spend my moolah on that line instead.

A’Kin Sweet Orange + Sandalwood body scrub*- My full review is here for this lovely and gentle body scrub.

Garnier Fructis Sensitive Scalp shampoo- A staple in my routine, and the only shampoo my scalp will tolerate.

Kmart Makeup Remover cotton pads- Cheap and nasty, these get the job done with ease.

The Jojoba Company Jojoba Bead and Bamboo facial exfoliant* (3ml)- This made my skin feel smooth, but afterwards it felt sensitised and a little tender to the touch. Wouldn’t repurchase as it just didn’t work for me.

Pantene single dose intensive treatment program*- I used this ‘single dose’ treatment twice after receiving it via PinchMe, and it made my hair feel nice and smooth. Would considering repurchasing if I didn’t have a million other hair products to use up first.

Rimmel Match Perfection Cream Gel foundation- My HG foundation, sadly discontinued. Love the ‘skin like’ finish and ease of application- have backups ready to go!

Lush Honey I Washed the Kids soap*- As much as I love the honey scent of this, this is the second bar I’ve trialled and it just leaves my skin feeling strange. I find it hard to run my hands over my skin after I’ve used this, like it has been stripped (though it isn’t technically drying either…) I’ve no love for this Lush cult favourite, beautiful scent aside.

Clinique Take the Day Off makeup remover- I quite like this bi-phase makeup remover, even though the residue it leaves behind is sometimes a little bit annoying. I would repurchase this (but am going to wait for the next GWP, ‘cause that is how I roll)

 

So now it is your turn to share! How much did you empty this month, and what cleansing oil or balm do you suggest I try next?

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty x

5 Blushes I'm Currently Loving

What need is there to come up with a reason to wax lyrical about my recent blush loves? I don’t need much of a push to chatter on about my favourite beauty product, so I’ve rounded up the five I’ve been wearing in recent months to share with you all.

As I’ve mentioned previously, the bulk of my makeup stash has been packed away and unpacking it has fallen by the wayside as we busy ourselves with house renovations and setting up our first home together. The ‘lazy-day’ cheek shade that I’m sure you’ve all heard me rave about is the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, which is a simply amazing rosy neutral that lasts all day and looks amazing on. If I feel like something a bit brighter that lasts all day, I turn to my Chanel Joues Contraste in Pink Explosion or Frivole. My only two Chanel JC’s, I have fallen in love with the formula this year and can’t wait to pick up the new shade Accent from the upcoming holiday collection. It’s meant to be a really pretty shimmery neutral pink shade, and from the limited promo images out there I just know I’m going to be picking it up when it launches in Australia. Okay, blush swoon over, back to the point of the post! (Moral of that tangent? Go and buy a Chanel JC!) 

The only cream blush I’ve been wearing lately is the newly released Ice Bomb crème blush from essence, the solo cheek shade from the Me & My Ice Cream collection. The gorgeous apricot shade blends like a dream, and though I’m upset that the packaging of mine has cracked, I’m still really happy to have picked up this bargain blush! The last and possibly most random blush shade I’ve been wearing is the MAC Mineralize blush in Gentle, a plummy pink shade with gold shimmer. I use a light hand with this as it has the tendency to make me look a bit too flushed, but the shimmery effect is really flattering on my cheeks.

What blushes have you been wearing lately? Any shades or formulas I need to check out?

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty x