October Favourites

I feel like I'm repeating myself with quite a few of these selections, but I'm all for hearing about the top notch products that someone always uses so figured I'd share what I'd been loving for the month of October anyway. I was firmly focused on using up some makeup and skincare during the month as well as purging my nail polish collection so I didn't trial too much in terms of new products, but I did fall in love with a new lip combination, test out a new release foundation and fall back in love with some old favourites. 

I stuck to primarily one look this month, and it was a quick and simple one that had me out the door fast whilst still looking pulled together (I hope!) My main base of choice was a sample pot of the newly released Too Faced Born This Way Foundation that a lovely sales assistant at Mecca Maxima Doncaster gave me - this is definitely on the to-buy list and a little birdy told me a lighter shade is being released in early '16 so am waiting it out for now...eyes were my Inglot Trio Palette which looks quite new despite being thrashed around all the time at Chez Bovary! I then alternated between two lip looks for the month - either a swipe of MAC Vamplify Lipgloss in Anything but Demure*, or a layering of Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner Eastend Snob + Colourpop Westie + MAC Cremesheen Glass Fashion Scoop for a complex but perfect pale pink lip look.

Lovely smelling favourites were my Travalo perfume atomiser which helped me use up a few perfumes and my L'Occitane Lavande Cologne* which is serious bedroom luxury. I was going to sneak in a picture of my new nail polish drawers (I'm seriously obsessed!) but they aren't fully organised yet so I'm going to save that for another day. I also couldn't post a favourites without mentioning the skincare that I've fallen in love with and am sad to be finishing up - Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, it was love at first scoop!

 

What products did you love in the month of October?

What cleansing balm do you think I should try next?

-Emma

 

*Products provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

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

Travalo- Perfume on the Run

I first heard of Travalo on Primped, and was fascinated by the idea of a perfume atomiser that wouldn't leak, and was safe to take on planes. I had owned atomisers before but had problems with them leaking, and couldn't be bothered taking the effort to fill them up all the time. My problems were solved when I discovered Travalo, and it hasn't left my handbag since.

The Travalo comes in a range of colours including gold, black and pink and retail for $24.95AUD.  They're very easy to use, even for a lazy girl like myself. I often shake my head when I see the girls at work toting 100ml bottles of designer perfume in their handbags- I'd be scared I would scratch the bottle, or worse, smash it to smithereens! If you're like that too, this little baby might be for you.

step one is to choose a perfume, and take off the cap of it as well as the cap from the Travalo

pull off the inner cap of the perfume so that the nozzle is exposed

see the rubberised base of the Travalo? Line it up with the perfume nozzle like so

pump the perfume up and down and it will transfer into the Travalo.

the clear display along the side means you know when you need to top up.

I always carry this in my handbag alongside a fragrance sample as I like to have choice during the day. This is generally either filled with Bulgari's Rose Essentielle (as pictured), Guerlain's Champs Elysees or Lancome's Tresor In Love. I am contemplating buying a golden version to keep with it, so that I can use up some of the other full size fragrances I have piled up in my bedroom. I won't get the black version, though it's super sleek it'll get lost in a second in my mid city Foley and Corinna, which is huuuge and has all black lining.

I adore my Travalo, and think it's a much better option than the other atomisers out there. well worth the cash, I think. It's only 8cm and carries around 50-60 sprays of your best juice- winner.

available at adore beauty, find out more about the product at the Travalo site here

have you tried the Travalo?
what fragrance are you rocking this holiday season?

Tis the time to give...

and receive, beautiful gifts;) Here I compile the beauty gifts that are floating around this season that I think would be great under your Christmas tree.

Lush Secret Santa
This pack comes in at $9.95, for which you get a Satsumo Santa bath ballistic, and a chunk of the Snowcake soap bar. The beautiful citrus in the Santa and almond in the Snowcake are really nice, and the pack looks much more substantial than the price might suggest=)
Image taken from Lush

Nars mini Multiple set Almost every beauty blogger I know loves the Nars multiple sticks, and I am a convert having felt how smooth these babies really are! The mini version of each shade is a nice idea for someone who is into beauty but not all the way obsessed, a nice way to bring them to the dark side ;)
$89.00
Image taken from Mecca Cosmetica

Benefit All You Need is Gloss

$49
Image taken from AdoreBeauty

This Benefit pack is such great value, as you get 6 shades for just under $50! The pack contains 3 double ended glosses, with a wide variety of colours. (I am digging the gold shade most) This is a perfect gift for a neice or younger sister who is gloss mad, to give her a foot in the Benefit door.

Travalo Refillable Atomiser
$24.95
Image taken from Travalo
These are genius, and if they aren't in my stocking this Christmas I am buying some for myself! I have a few atomisers, and when I first saw Zoe Foster rave about these on Primped I was meh.. But oh how my opinion has changed. Zoe's post got me thinking, the only reason I don't use the atomisers I own now is the hassle of getting fragrances in there! The Travalo utilises a simple, non-messy pump action, and is lightweight (!) cute, and has a panel so you know how much is left before you run out. I spotted these at my local Perfume Connection for $24.95, so you can afford to pop this in with a bottle of perfume and there you go, perfect Christmas gift!


I will most likely post another of these gift guides before Christmas, as they're my favourite posts to write, and my lust list for beauty is lonnnng this year! Hope you are all having a stress-free December, and are getting excited because...

Santa's coming!!