My Current Cheek Rotation ft. Hourglass, Too Faced, MAC + more

Over the last few months I tried to push myself out of my Chanel Joues Contraste blush rut (my love for that product is strong, you guys!) in an effort to rotate through my large blush collection. These are the products I've primarily reached for through that time and I have to say that I've been enjoying it - but that I'll always return to Chanel for a good blush rush.

Blushes and palettes are two of my favourite things, so it makes sense that I adore the idea of a blush palette! My current favourite and most used palette is the Too Faced Love Flush Blush wardrobe and I've worn each colour at least once over the last little while. The other blush palette is the Hourglass Ambient Light Blush Palette which I took up to Queensland for our week away, and I'm happy to say that while there I used all of these shades at least once as well. I really like the glowy effect that the Hourglass cheek powders give to the skin and I think those who like a natural but luminous finish would really appreciate these. It kind of takes the need for highlighter away which I like during the day, but I amp up the glow for any special occasion or night out with TheBalm's Mary Lou Manizer, which deserves all of the hype it receives from the beauty community.

Something different that I've been popping on my face lately has been bronzer - I go through stages with wearing bronzer and the lead up to our 'beach holiday' (which ended up being a bit chilly if I'm honest!) I was wearing The Body Shop Honeycomb bronzer every day in excitement for a week away. I love how light and easy to apply this product is, I use it to sculpt my cheeks (which I really need right now, pregnancy puff is real!) as well as give overall warmth to my pale complexion. Two other blushes that have been getting some love are neutrals (surprise, surprise!) Benefit Dallas boxed blush is super pigmented and though I always try to use a light hand with it I always end up buffing it afterwards to tone down the colour. It's a gorgeous though and that perfect bronzer/blush combination shade that I adore. A more pink-toned neutral is MAC Poised which is a staple of mine, it's just an easy colour to throw on if you don't want to put much thought into pairing shades or matching a certain makeup look. 

What cheek products are you currently loving?

Emma x

The Autumn Edit

Even though we are alternating through freezing cold days and roasting hot days, according to the calender autumn is indeed upon us. My autumn edit is mainly set for chilly days, as I’ve been loving getting snuggled up and being able to wear scarves again. Matte red lips seem to be a token lip shade for this time of year, and since I can’t seem to find my Nars Amsterdam, BYS have stepped up to the plate with their matte lipstick in Celebrity Status*. A wee bit of celeb action, don’t mind if I do!

I’ve been rocking some intense eye looks lately, all grounded down with my new liner love, Australis Curve Ink eyeliner. Crazy looking little contraption, but I’m loving how easy it is to apply and the fact that I don’t have to dip into a pot to use it! Wine and jewel-toned eyes have been my thing, with my Wet & Wild Knock on Wood trio getting a hammering as well as my Arbonne shadows in Cabernet* (which is actually quite brown toned and easy to wear) and Blue Slate*. Blue and red seem to be my autumn edit staples, I’ve only just realised.

To keep the autumn feelings abundant, I’ve been dipping into my Haus of Gloi stash from back when it was autumn in the U.S. The limited edition autumn scents that I love best are the delicious Pumpkin Eater, a sweet vanilla and nutmeg pumpkin scent, and Ghost Puffs, the cult favourite that reminds me of Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs. Those scents are available there, but the new spring collection sounds absolutely amazing and I’m tempted to pick up some more HoG pots even though I haven’t used up the stuff from my first haul yet.

I’ve had a hard time keeping L’Oreal Color Riche 608 Luxembourg Garden* off my nails lately, it isn’t often I reapply the same shade 3 mani’s in a row so I know I am onto a winner with this one. Their Color Riche 613 Blue Reef* has also been catching my eye quite a bit, along with the Revlon Colorstay 280 Blue Slate, which I am yet to wear and have lined up next. My most recent nail purchase ($2 AUD, hey big spender!) is the Ulta3 beauty that is Pinot. A deep metallic wine shade, you really can't go wrong!

Saving the best until last, naturally, my cheeks can’t get enough of my Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Exposed. Exposed it a rosy neutral that makes me feel like a supermodel, and goes with any look you can dream of. Another autumn favourite is Benefit Dallas, which is similar in tone but definitely needs a light hand with this pale face as it is quite a soft powder formula.

Dallas, Exposed, Wet & Wild Trio, Arbonne Blue Slate, Arbonne Cabernet, Australis Curve Ink, BYS Celebrity Status 

Luxembourg Garden, Blue Reef, Blue Slate, Pinot

I have a makeup look coming in tomorrow’s post using these products, so if you like the look of them be sure to check back in tomorrow for that.

What colours scream ‘autumn’ to you? Do you wear many blue toned shades on your nails, or red on your lips?

*Marked items were provided for consideration. Blue Slate polish was in a GWP. BYS Celebrity Status is available from Fashion Addict for $3.95!

the burberry face

I decided to create a wearable neutral look with some of my new Burberry products (see the haul here!), and this is the final product. Just something quick to have coffee and run some errands!

A super light wash of Pale Barley with some Golden Brown liner in the lashline.

It is extremely rare for me to head out without eyeshadow on, if I'm in a rush I like to pop some Painterly Paint Pot on, then slap on a shimmery pale neutral shade and some mascara. Pale Barley is perfect for this sort of thing, but can also be paired with darker browns to create a more intricate look with a defined crease.

So sad that my Lip Mist in Copper has snapped, I would repurchase again but have to work out how to fix this one first. It's a glossy finish and a natural shade that goes with most of the looks I create.

Face

Face of Australia Face Base primer

L'Oreal Lumi Magique foundation*

Body Shop Honeycomb bronzer in 01

Benefit Dallas blush

Eyes

MAC Painterly paint pot

Burberry e/s in Pale Barley

Urban Decay e/s in Virgin

Burberry eyeliner in Golden Brown

Maybelline Lash Stilletto mascara

Lips

Burberry Lip Mist in Copper

*Marked item was provided for consideration at a press event. Honesty, always.

Favourites for May

Left my favourites for a little later in the month, just because I could. Here is what was and is rocking my socks!

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The Kiehls Midnight Recovery eye cream* is a relatively new product that I've been absolutely loving this month! Winter sees my skin dry up that little bit, and I've been treating my undereyes to this slightly lavender scented delight each night. Packaging is clean and attractive, and I find the scent really luxurious.

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I threw in Benefit's Dallas blush when I hauled from the US Benefit site as I wanted to try one of their blushes (along with Hervana, which was the reason for the haul!) and this one seemed to call out to me. Good job it did, I am head over heels for this neutral blush that goes well with bright eyes and bright lips. Genius!
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I often get obsessed with a colour and let it flood into every aspect of my life, and right now chartreuse is it! Halfway between a yellow and a green, Poison* from Femme Fatale Cosmetics is a mind blowingly beautiful eyeshadow. I am currently trialling a bunch of the FFC shades and am impressed, and this is the star in my eyes. Have been wearing this so frequently, bright eyes were abundant in May!
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Though it is winter, I've been running around like mad organising the engagement, working and finishing up my final semester of uni, so this Rexona Clinical Protection* deodorant was an important product for me.
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Juicy Couture's Dirty English is one of my staple scents that I'm worried has been discontinued, but have been using regardless. It's spicy, addictive and great for colder weather, and is actually a male cologne that I bought for Chris years ago. It never sat well on him so I claimed it, and a few bottles later here this one lies.
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Sad to say that my skin has seen better days, and so the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion was out in full force this month! I whack this on the spots at night and rinse it off in the morning, and it stops them erupting into large, sore blighters!
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Following along the lines of FFC's Poison, MAC's Bitter was a frequent star in my eye looks during May. My favourite was wearing both Bitter and Poison together, to create a lemon/lime sort of idea (my Mum adored the look, which helped!) This shadow is great with a slick of black liner, and is good for brightening up dreary winter moods!

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Speaking of black liner, the essence Midnight in Paris gel liner is my favourite right now! The formula is long-lasting and easy to use, and I use my NP Set* liner brush to apply it. I now find it easier to create flicks and wings, and I have been enjoying playing around with this little pot.
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Of course YSL is making an appearance in my favourites, they are my brand of the moment and this Rouge Volupte in 01 Nude Beige was a perfect pairing with my brighter eye looks. Can't rave about these enough, this is an amazing lipstick.
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One thing I have been consistent with this past month or so is treating my face to a replenishing mask. Mask of choice? Jurlique's Intense Recovery Mask, which was inside a beauty box and is a large sample tube. Chris likes this one as well, and I find it really calming and I like that it is a green shade, the funnier my face looks when a mask is on the better.

What rocked your socks last month?

*These products were provided for consideration, which does not sway my feelings about them. Honesty, always.

A Giant Benefit Haul

I had seen Hervana online and since I'd been looking for a new pink blush to depend on, she became it. Sadly, being in Australia means we have to wait an eternity for products to hit our shores. I decided to make my first order from the U.S. Benefit online store, which had free shipping when you spend $95 (normally free when you spend $115) Candice wanted a few things, too, so we combined our order and ended up spending just under $150.

I've never tried the Benefit Creaseless cream eyeshadows before, and when I saw this brand new golden shade Farenheit Fab I decided I would give it a crack. I recently realised I have a shortage of gold in my cosmetic collection, so I'm working on rectifying that.

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Knew I needed to try the new They're Real mascara after hearing raves from some of my favourite bloggers, including a YouTube review from Amarixe here!

I ummed and aaahed over which boxed blush to choose in my order, I was contemplating Coralista and Chris voted for it as well, but I went with my gut instinct and chose Dallas instead. It's a plummy sort of shade, and reminds me of Nars Sin a little. I love blushes like this on my fair skin, so I'll see how I go.

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Candice purchased the High Beam highlighter, and the Pocket Pal Benetint which is in pen form and contains their classic Benetint with a clear gloss on the other end. You are able to choose two samples with your order, and I chose the Stay Don't Stray shadow and concealer primer for Candice and the Hello Flawless powder cover-up for myself. (I don't have any pictures of Candice's items, she will have them up on her blog when she reviews them!) 

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So this is how you receive a pressed powder sample! It's a sheet of it pressed onto the cardboard, with a cute little powder puff included.
Now, onto the reason for the haul, the beautiful Hervana blush!

*cue angels singing*

Could this be any cuter? It smells like lollies and has four shades in a pinwheel design, and the box says the blush has good karma! I'm elated to have this in my hot little hands, and to have saved money overall despite hauling all of these beauties. I've shown the price comparisons below so you can see what you'd save if you chose to buy from the online U.S store as opposed to a counter in Australia.

Hervana/Dallas: $28 USD each / $51 AUD
They're Real mascara: $22 USD / $38 AUD
Creaseless Cream: $19 USD / $35 AUD
Pocket Pal: $20 USD / $39 AUD
High Beam: $26 USD / $45 AUD
Total haul: $143
What I would've paid here? $259

The price difference between countries is quite astounding, and makes me think about how expensive cosmetics in Australia really are.

Do you have a favourite from Benefit?
What do you think of the price differences?
Are you lemming Hervana,too?