Anniversary Weekend Away : The Makeup Bag

I have to say, this may just be the proudest I've ever been of my weekend away packing efforts! If we take a look back to the ridiculousness that was 2011 in Rye, a family trip in 2012 and the pink craze that happened mid-June 2014, I think it's safe to say I've toned down my packing and am happy to report that I used almost every piece that came into the city with me for my wedding anniversary! I brought the foundation/base basics, some easy to wear eye colours, my current favourite highlighter, a good selection of lip shades and the most impressive part? Only one blush!

We were out and about for the 4 days we were away and I wore neutral eye shades the whole time, sometimes topped with a glitter or a duochrome to add a bit of pizazz to make me feel dressed up. I felt it worked well because I didn't have to think too hard about what lip colours I wore with everything, I had some pinks to layer, nudes to throw on and the 'showstopper' shade in the form of Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Frambourjoise for our anniversary dinner on Saturday night.

The staple blush I brought along was also the only shade to come on our honeymoon last year, the gorgeous and very wearable Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Jersey! I brought along the Colourpop Highlighter in Wisp primarily for our special dinner, it never fails to make me feel just that bit more glam than I otherwise would!

If you have any questions about the contents of my makeup bag or would to know specific shade names/how I feel about a certain product, feel free to ask in the comments as I'd love to chat makeup with you!

How do you think I went with packing this time around?
-Emma

Anniversary Nails; Rose Cashmere with Razzle & Dazzle

When it came to choosing a nail colour for our anniversary weekend away, I knew I wanted to choose a feminine looking shade that would push me outside of my comfort zone a little bit. As soon as I saw Michele1218 wearing a chic neutral in this video I decided to go down that route...what I eventually decided on was much more pink in tone but I was still happy with the dusty nature of the shade and how the glitter made it a little more festive for our mini-break!

I'm definitely happier with how this looks on my newly applied acrylics, my nails are too weak to polish so I like to get clear acrylics and be able to enjoy my nail polish collection properly! I chose L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Vernis in Rose Cashmere, which is a dusty pink mauve crème that screams chic to me, almost like a grown up Barbie colour? It's pulling a bit more purple in these photos than it looks in reality, I definitely recommend checking out this L'Oreal range in store as most of my favourite shades come from this line and can be hard to capture on the fly!

I topped my last two fingers with a coat of Savvy by DB's Razzle & Dazzle which is way prettier on the nail than the bottle would suggest (check out this full mani I found online, it's stunning!) I love the way the fine gold shimmer and pink hexes tie in with the base shade perfectly, I can't wait to see what this topper looks like on top of other manicures, too!

When you wear a glitter accent, which fingers do you paint?
What is your favourite feminine nail shade?
-Emma x

Anniversary Weekend Away : Curated Travel Skincare

Mister Bovary and I returned last night from a long weekend in the city to celebrate our first wedding anniversary - it's amazing to think it was a whole year ago that I walked down the aisle and celebrated with all of our family, and so funny to think that I've not yet posted any wedding snaps/details here on the blog! I wonder if that is something you would find interesting? But I digress; I wanted to share with you the curated travel skincare I brought along with me for our 3 night stay in Melbourne, as I am quite proud of all of the travel-sized and mini products I saved up for the occasion!

Quite a simplistic routine was on the agenda for a busy weekend of sightseeing, romantic dinners and the like, so I brought along a few bits for makeup removal and the basic staples for everything else.

• Neutrogena Make-Up Removing Cleansing Towelettes
• Bioderma Crealine H2O 20ml
• Bioderma Sebium H2O 10ml
• Chanel Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover 10ml
• Bioderma Cotton Rounds
• Dermalogica Precleanse 30ml
• Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel
• Bioderma Sebium AKN Purifying Corrective Care
• Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask (decanted into pot)
• OPI Avojuice Coconut Melon Lotion

I had been squirreling away my baby skincare bits for this trip and another we have mid-November, and it made such a difference to the weight of my overnight bag! Mister was very impressed with my restraint and thought the stash very cute, and I was pleased that I used everything I brought with me bar the Chanel remover (used Bioderma instead!) and the Bioderma Crealine (the 10ml Sebium sachet lasted the whole trip so I didn't need to reach for it) I have another post detailing the makeup I brought along with me forthcoming and I must say I did very well with packing for this weekend away.

 

How do you fare when it comes to packing for short trips?

What is the most romantic date you've ever been on?

-Emma

The Grey Nude

I don't need much of a push when it comes to buying new lipsticks, and when the one you're lemming comes in at a measly $4.70 it's hard to feel guilty about the whole situation. I initially saw essence Come Naturally from the new nude lip collection on Angela's blog, and after subsequently spotting it on Sleep and Water I was sold hook, line and sinker! I had already purchased Cool Nude from the Nude Longlasting Lipstick release (seen in this favourites post) but I didn't think I would be able to pull off the purple and grey tones of Come Naturally....



Nosy Charlie wanted to know why I was taking so many photos of a tube of lipstick!

One thing I really like about the essence nude lipstick release is the packaging - the different tube colours make it easy to identify a shade in my overflowing stash and I think the embossing on the bullet itself warrants a higher price tag than the small sum these actually cost. The finish is satin and wears well, and being nude it doesn't give me any hassle as it wears off throughout the day, making it a wonderful work day shade for me. The thin black band around the tube is quite chic and the closure is really secure, which is worth noting if you often tote your lipsticks in a handbag pocket as I do.



essence 'Come Naturally'
essence 'Cool Nude'
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine 'Boy'
Lancôme Shine Lover Lipstick in '212 Twisted Beige'*
Colourpop Lippie Stix in 'Lumiere'

As in order above

to show the difference in finish and pigmentation

As it turns out, Come Naturally is a very wearable trend shade! The purple tones mix in nicely with the grey cast and I find the overall colour quite flattering on my pale complexion - it's neutral enough to wear with most any look, but is different and interesting at the same time. A lot of my nude lipsticks lean brown and the 'my lips but better MLBB' shades lean quite pink, so I feel like having this taupe shade really rounds out my neutral lip stash quite nicely. It's definitely a nice affordable way to dip a toe into the trendy pond of Kylie Jenner-esque/90's lips, that is for sure.

What do you think of neutral shades like this?
What neutral lippy is your all time favourite?
-Emma x


*Marked product was provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Laid Back Sample Project - Update 5



Feels quite good to have finished some larger sample sized products for the fifth instalment of my Laid Back Sample Challenge - sachets are nice to use up but getting to toss a larger product always brings a bigger sense of satisfaction for me!

Marc Jacobs Oh Lola!
I have this in a solid ring form and love it, but for some reason the actual perfume disappears on me almost immediately! Such a shame as the scent is seriously lovely, and the bottle is stunning.

Thierry Mugler Angel EDT (travel size)
This reinvention of the classic Angel fragrance sat so well on me that I'm lusting over a large bottle of this one, perhaps as a Christmas gift? It's gourmand and has an edge to it that I adore, and the fact that it lasts on my skin is a rare treat for me.

Benefit Foamingly Clean Facial Wash
I went in expecting to hate the foaming aspect of this, but it actually puffs up and lathers rather than foaming, and it feels so decadent on my skin that I actually enjoyed using this! It wasn't as gentle as a milk or balm cleanser but I felt like it really cleansed my skin well.

Kiehl's Orange Flower & Lychee Skin Softening Lotion
I mentioned in my empties post that this was one of the nicest lotions I'd ever used, and I stand by that! I can't seem to find this particular scent on the website though, which alarms me slightly...has this been discontinued?!

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A few future purchases were noted from this round of samples, but I'm content to have a running list of quality products to lust over while I continue to churn through my collection, donating or using up products I no longer need in my stash. I know it may seem like decluttering is a bit of a trend at the moment but I think learning to love (and use!) what you have is always a good thing, trend or not, so I'm all up on that wagon and riding it towards a neater house and neater mind!

 

Previous updates!
Original Project Post
Update 1ft. Versace, Lush, Dior and LaGaia
Update 2 ft. Balenciaga, Biore, Mario Badescu and Missha
Update 3 ft. Benefit, L'Oreal, L'Occitane and Smashbox

Update 3 ft. Aveda, Lush, Estee Lauder and YSL

 

Emma x

Kryolan Event Recap @ Emporium + Jazz Lip Stain Swatch

Kryolan have always been a brand I take a peek at when I'm attending IMATS and other trade shows (like Salon Melbourne when the brand teamed up with Rachel Montgomery!) but the crowds have always stopped me from really learning more about the high quality and world renowned makeup brand. Lucky for us Melbournians a new store has opened up at the flash Emporium in the CBD, so we can now access the famous Kryolan anytime it suits us! (I've heard whispers that Sydney-siders will be gaining a store soon, too!)

 

Earlier in the week I went along to the official media launch and snapped some pictures to share with you. Make-up artist Becca Gilmartin was on hand to share some Kryolan-centric tips with us and I was really impressed with how warm and funny she was! I've got my eye on the customisable palettes now (like a fancier Inglot perhaps?!) and possibly a blush because we all know I'm a #blushfiend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a really lovely time at the Kryolan event, it was nice to catch up with blogging friends and spend time learning about the 70 year old brand. I'm quite an introvert and don't attend as many events as I used to, so I was glad to come out for a brand like Kryolan. Nowadays I'm selective with brands overall and stay true to my interests and it makes for a much more enjoyable blogging experience for me. I'm looking forward to testing out the samples provided on the night too, I wore the above Jazz Lip Stain* for a grocery shopping trip and thought I'd snap a quick picture to share before I really test it out and decide how I feel about it.

 

Have you tried any Kryolan products?

What is your favourite brand to check out at beauty trade shows?

- Emma x

 

*I attended this event as a media guest, thanks to the PR for having me along. Honesty, always.

The Current Bedside Situation + Routine

One of my favourite parts of the day is winding down with a book and a cuppa in bed, and the lazy girl in me also likes to combine the end of my skincare routine with this ritual. I have a little one-drawer bedside table from Kmart that Mister put together and it's filled with my nightly skincare options; some anti-acne bits to deal with the breakout I'm currently struggling through (Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion + La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+*) my eye cream (Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye*) and the new moisturiser I'm trialling (Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Dry*)

I keep my room mists and pillow sprays on my bedside table to remind myself to use them, they're both from L'Occitane and my favourite is most definitely the Lavande cologne* which settles me into my PM routine nicely. Every night I bring a steaming hot mug of Madame Flavour Mint Choc Rooibos into bed with me (or a Jarrah Coconut Hot Chocolate if I'm feeling crazy!) and either watch some YouTube videos with my headphones in (planner videos or nail polish ones like this are my favourite at the moment!) or read a good book. Right now I'm reading The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop which is a 2015 release and so far I'm really enjoying it - her way of writing is very beautiful and feels quite melancholic to me, so I'm glad I picked this one up at my local library for something different.

I'd love to know what you keep in your bedside drawer and what your nightly rituals are? Is it common for people to apply their nightly creams in bed? Do you watch TV or YouTube before you sleep or does that hinder your sleeping?

Emma x

*Products provided for consideration. Honesty, always!

Mojito Madness

I'm currently in the process of decluttering my overwhelming nail polish collection, and never before has it been more evident that I have a wicked obsession with all manner of green nail polish shades. I'm not entirely sure why I'm so drawn to the grassy fields of green these days, but I do know that the shade makes me happy and tends to suit my pale complexion with ease when other colour families take a lot more work and effort, so there's that...

 

I seriously hunted all over for this gorgeous green Essie shade before coming to the realisation that it was a limited edition shade from the 2012 Summer Collection, the same collection that saw me miss out on Bikini So Teeny! Blinded was I by the hunt that I neglected to research properly! I then popped it onto my mental Honeymoon wishlist (because we travelled to the States where I had a better chance of finding it) and lo and behold, it was the very first beauty product bought on that holiday! Husband and I walked into a corner store in LA for some snacks, I saw how big their beauty section was and the rest, my friends, is nail polish history.

 

I present to you - Mojito Madness!

 

Essie describe this colour as a fun-loving lime green and I can definitely appreciate the lime in it, but it also looks Kelly green to me and in this post I learnt that it is the Starbucks green, too! I love how the crème finish looks chic, even on my short and unkempt nails, and the fact that I can now mentally connect the shade to coffee makes me fall even harder for it. I love everything about this colour and am so glad to have snagged a bottle for my collection, it's definitely one of the best Essie shades I've tried and I commend the brand for pulling off green tones so damn well!

 

What is your 'kryptonite colour'?

What lengths have you gone to in order to procure a bottle of nail polish?

-Emma x

2015 Empties - Third Quarter

I'm definitely beginning to see a trend with my product usage since beginning a quarterly empties post cycle - I always seem to finish a hair mask every 3 months, a few dry shampoos, hairspray, a heap of Original Source and minimal makeup products overall. For the first and second quarters I finished off some skincare as well but seem to have failed on that count this time around, most likely because I've been using up a few half-used bottles before I start using fresh cleansers and lotions again. I'm hoping that the final 2015 quarter will see some moisturisers, cleansers and perhaps a body lotion or two in preparation for my big Bath & Body Works haul in January.

Let's get on with the empties, shall we?!

 

HAIRCARE

Garnier Sensitive Anti-Dandruff Shampoo - They seem to have discontinued this and to say I'm disappointed about that is an understatement!

Schwarzkopf Moisture Gloss 10 Days Shine Mask - I'm going to go into detail in a full post for you guys, but this is not something I would repurchase in the future.

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Normal Hold Travel Hairspray - Still remains the best hairspray I've tried and I love using it to hold my fringe in place each day.

Girlz Only Hazy Days Dry Shampoo - A nice and affordable dry shampoo, but it's true that it leaves more of a white cast and has a stronger scent than other options out there.

Batiste Tropical Travel Dry Shampoo - I love the tropical scent of this and find it works really well in my hair, plus I love the cheery packaging!

BODY & NAILS

Norsca Zero Fragrance Free Deodorant - I threw out all of the other deodorants we used this quarter, but kept this in primarily as a reminder not to buy it again.

Manicare Coconut Scented Nail Polish Remover Pads - I loved these little guys, and am now on the hunt for the Black Vanilla version seen in Vita's empties!

Kiehl's Orange Flower & Lychee Skin Softening Lotion* - The formula of this is second to none and the scent was just incredible; this was easily one of the nicest body lotions I've ever used!

SHOWER

Original Source Shower Gels in Tropical Pineapple, Mandarin & Basil, Lime  - Lime is Mister Bovary's favourite from this line-up, but mine would have to be Tropical Pineapple which I loved!

Original Source Daily Scrub in Blood Orange - I would not be inclined to call this a scrub, more of a shower gel with small bits in it. The scent was nice but I was a bit disappointed as a scrub was what I wanted from this product.

L'Occitane Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Shower Gel* - The brand can do no wrong in my eyes, but the scent was a bit too mature for me so I'd be more inclined to choose a different scent if I were shopping for myself. How lovely is the packaging though?!

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Body Polish* - Let's just say that this features in my upcoming disappointing products post...nuff said!

FRAGRANCE

Lancôme Tresor in Love - I finally finished this bottle! It was a gift from Mister Bovary many years ago that I enjoyed, but I'm happy to have moved it out of my collection to make room for new scents down the track. A great tip to use up fragrances is to decant them into a Travalo atomiser - being able to touch up during the day is wonderful and means you work through the scent much faster, too! 

 

Perfume samples (L'Occitane Sun Verbena, Balenciaga Rosabotanica, Flora by Gucci and Marc Jacobs Oh Lola) - I was really sad that Oh Lola didn't smell as lovely on me as it does in my solid perfume ring of the same scent. I don't have any strong lemmings from this lot of samples so I'm counting it as a positive for my bank balance, but I did enjoy trying them out for my sample project.

 

MAKEUP & SKINCARE

Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correction Adjust Foundation Primer sample - This was lovely to use and I liked the way it minimised the appearance of my pores before I applied foundation. It's something I could see myself buying in the future once I get a hold of my beauty stash. 

 

YSL Shocking Faux Cils Mascara sample - This was a wondrous product for me, and made me understand just how good a mascara can be (and why some people pay over $50 for a tube!) 

 

Benefit They're Real Mascara sample - This was at the other end of the mascara spectrum for me, doing absolutely nothing positive for my lashes at all. I think it still had some use left but it was useless to me so I'm counting it as empty by default.

 

Clinique High Lengths Mascara sample - The brush was a bit strange to use but this gave me decent separation and I generally like Clinique mascaras. Not the best I've tried from them so I'd rather go for another from their mascara line over this one.

 

Benefit Foamingly Clean Facial Wash sample- Truth be told, I went in expecting to hate this purely for the word foam in the title (and I've never had much luck with Benefit skincare!) but it really turned my opinion around! It was a creamy lather rather than a foam and though it left my skin a bit 'squeaky clean', I didn't mind that too much and it felt really good to use.

essence Long Lasting Liner in Hot Chocolate - My very favourite liner, I loved using this on my upper lash line for definition each day and have already repurchased (and have back-ups, too!)

MAC Slimshine in Missy - I could never really vouch for the authenticity of this one (bought it from a cosmetics store in Melbourne Central back in the day) and the formula is too squishy and soft anyway, so out it goes!

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Phew, if you made it to the end of that I applaud you! I've really enjoyed showing my empties in a quarterly format but would love to hear more about what style of 'empties' you like to read - mini reviews like this? products grouped into 'would/would not buy'? I would love your input to guide me with my 2016 empties in the coming year!

Emma x

 

*Product provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

September Lifestyle Favourites



I have a feeling that this is the first time you would have seen a lifestyle favourites on my blog, but I figured that since I love watching them on YouTube it made sense to share my own favourites with you all. The majority ended up being beverages but overall it highlights how chilled (read:boring) my life really is outside of the beauty realm!

writing with my new Kikki K pen // sunny spring days // my planner and favourite pen // my library stack

Kikki K Pen
This pen makes writing about 80% more enjoyable for me, and for that it's a definite lifestyle favourite this month! I hate how it smudges when you highlight over it but the glide is so addictive and I've just seen that they possible have this pen in a Christmas design - be still my heart! I wrote with it to show you what it looks like above and then snapped it sitting on my 2015 Personal Planner* which I'm also loving at the moment!

Sunny Spring Days
My mood has definitely been elevated since the nice weather took hold of Melbourne - it's still light when Mister and I return home from work and we've been enjoying sitting out in the backyard enjoying the sunshine as we wind down from the day.

My Library Card
I'm back on the library bandwagon in the biggest way, and am really enjoying stacking my shelves high with books I don't have to pay for! I've been scrolling through Goodreads stealing recommendations from people I admire and I've also joined the fabulous Look At All These Books book club!

Madame Flavour Mint Choc Rooibos // Jarrah Coconut Hot Choc // Moccona Hint of Caramel // Garlic Prawns with Chicken & Leek Risotto

Madame Flavour Tea Treats - Mint Choc Rooibos
I can't imagine finding a tea that tastes better than this one - it's sweet enough to replace dessert without being overwhelming, it's the perfect mix of choc and mint in tea form, and it makes me happy each night when I drink it in bed reading a book!

Jarrah Coconut Hot Chocolate
I'm definitely not a big hot chocolate fan, but my sister in law gave me a few sachets of this to try and now I'm hooked! I've tried to work coconut into my drinks in the past and always failed, and this was the exact taste I was trying to replicate! Now I just have to convince Jarrah not to EVER discontinue this...

Moccona with a Hint of Caramel
Yet another hot drink - it's clear where my obsession lies, isn't it? This is what I have each morning with sugar and a splash of milk and it's my favourite - sometimes I even choose it over a proper takeaway coffee, and that is saying something!

Garlic Prawns with Chicken & Leek Risotto
I fell into a routine with my dinners through September but this was the clear favourite with juicy prawns sitting on top of creamy and moreish risotto - a definite treat meal that Mister and I really enjoy.

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What were your lifestyle favourites in September?

Any hot drink recommendations for me? I'm seriously obsessed!

Emma x

September Beauty Favourites

September passed me by quite quickly this year, and it may be cliche to say but I really cannot believe it's already October! Even though we're enjoying the first nice bursts of spring weather here in Australia I'm absolutely loving all the fall videos on YouTube and am dreaming about Bath & Body Works opening in Australia (not long now!) so I can load up on pumpkin spice errrthang! I wasn't sure if I had enough to post a favourites this month but when I looked around I realised I had a stack to talk about, so here we go!

Skincare was a major thing for me this month - not only am I lusting over Paula's Choice skincare and all of the luxe brands I want to try out at Mecca, I needed to dive into my own under-sink stash to save my skin this month! I'm not sure what I reacted to but my face broke out in a major way - cystic acne and small whiteheads on my chin and cheeks, which was painful and put me in a grump. I reached for my Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel and it's a strong one, which suited my situation perfectly. Team that with my beloved La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and my skin is finally getting back to normal.

I'm so surprised whenever I meet someone who doesn't own a Travalo perfume atomiser...seriously, they are amazing! Mine is filled with Vivienne Westwood's Flirty Alice* at the moment (blog post here if you want to read the notes!) and I love freshening up during the work day with a quick spray. Something I've been spraying on liberally at home is the Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel Fine Fragrance Mist that I bought in Hawaii - it's a must for any vanilla lover out there, I really hope they bring this one out in Australia as it would be a best seller for sure.

I had my fringe trimmed so wore it down for the majority of the month, and Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo was a life saver to fluff it up and stop it from separating. I've also begun using the new Tresemme Perfectly (un)Done Wave Creating Sea Foam for Soft Waves. I've so far only used this on dry locks (the directions are to use it damp but I'm a rebel, ha!) but love how soft yet subtly defined my wavy hair becomes when I use it. I'm also rather enamoured by the packaging and colour of this stuff, and bought another piece from the range that I'm currently testing alongside this, so I might have to report back.

I had a few stressed out/lazy eyeshadow-free days this month which is so unlike me, but on the days I was my usual self I busted out my Clinique Neutral Territory 2 Palette which is so beautifully blendable that it takes my breath away each and every time I use it! It does all the hard work for you and the colours are so stunning, it makes me want to invest in more Clinique makeup to be honest. I'm also still loving the Glastonberry shadow single from the new essence Love & Sound Collection that I posted about here and used in this makeup look. For a bit of glamour I've turned to Colourpop's So Quiche which definitely deserves its own post someday - it's grown up glitter done in the best possible way.

Cheeks have stuck to Max Factor's Crème Puff Blush in Nude Mauve despite all the gorgeous blushes staring at me from my drawers, something about it is so effortless and easy to wear and I just can't seem to get enough. I'm currently trying to use up this Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream* since I've had it for quite a while, but I'm definitely going to repurchase this as the pigmentation and finish is even better than some foundations in my drawer (I know right? Madness!) The most recent addition to my makeup drawers is the MAC Vamplify Lipgloss in Anything But Demure* which immediately surpassed any expectations I had for such a pigmented gloss - the colour is divine and it feels so lush on the lips, I'm so impressed by this and I didn't actually think I would like it as much as I do.

I'm really excited for the month ahead, and have a whole lot of exciting things in the pipeline that should make it a great month for me! Mister Bovary and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary at the end of October and have a fun Melbourne staycation planned that I am beyond excited for, so I'm planning to read up on travel packing posts soon to make sure I don't overdo it as I normally would! Feel free to leave links below if you've posted something, or if you've seen a post around that has helped you curb your overpacking habits.

Much love!
Emma