The Autumn Transition - Cheeks + Eyes

I can definitely feel the chill approaching despite some random hot days in Melbourne, and autumnal colours have begun to creep back into my makeup choices already. This season is probably my favourite of all, with the weather cool enough for boots and cozy knits but not as rainy and miserable as winter can sometimes be. Cracking out my fall makeup picks is something I adore doing, it is probably the season best represented in my stash anyway.

I love palettes, I just can't help but adore the ease of opening one lid for all of the shades I need and they often push me into pairing colours that I might not normally try. I threw some of my most autumnal MAC shades into my iPalette, like Mink & Sable, French Cuff, Outre and Satin Taupe.

 I really haven't gotten as much use from my Chanel Accent blush as I had first thought I might, but now that autumn has technically arrived I think I will enjoy this sheer and sparkly beige shade a lot more. Even if I use this as a highlighting sort of topper for Tarte Exposed, I will be a happy camper and have no regrets about this beauty coming into my blush collection. A direct comparison to my pricy Chanel love is the bargain Calvin Klein blush in Heather Shimmer, a rich shade that will be perfect at giving my cheeks a flush (and would suit my beloved leopard scarf too, non?)

More bargain blushes in this line-up, not intended but there you have it. LYLAS (love you like a sister) from the recent Australis Neon Crush collection is something you could probably still get your hands on, and is a beautifully large duo making it easy to mix shades or use either side individually. I quite like the matte shade for a nice berry toned burst on the cheeks. A cheapie that you most likely won't be able to nab (sorry!) is the Home Sweet Home Knits for Chicks shade from essence that is so pretty in the pan and equally as pretty on the cheeks!

This transition into autumn has spurred me on to use things that I haven't gotten much use from, and the much lauded Lorac Pro Palette definitely falls into that category! I continually see this in favourites posts and makeup looks, but I just haven't had much of a play with this and as yet it hasn't truly grabbed me. This season I'll be pushing myself to give this palette a red hot go!

I'm pretty tempted to add some new things into my autumnal stash (Revlon's new scented polish in Autumn Spice seems fitting, non?) but with the wedding coming ever closer we will have to wait and see if I can splurge on beauty or not. Pretty certain that MAC Cranberry  eyeshadow will be coming home with me as soon as I hit a Pro store though...

Do you feel inspired with the change of seasons?
Why is Melbourne in the 30's despite it being April?!

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

January + February Pick-Ups - Haul Post

So far this year I haven't had time off from work and have been constantly on the go, which has been quite tiring. It does mean that I've been able to pick up a few pretties here and there over the last 2 months though! I bought a few other things that I didn't manage to snap a picture of for you (mint sneakers, huzzah!) but this is the bulk of the fun new shinies I've nabbed.

I'm a blush fiend, and isn't it obvious? All of these were on sale, but 5 blushes (okay 6) in a two month span is still pretty full on. Lucky I don't care and adore these new pops of colour for my cheeks!

 I'm yet to try the Sportsgirl Melon and Pink cream blushes but for $3.96 each they won't break my heart if they turn out to be greasy. The Calvin Klein blushes are so pigmented and just absolutely breathtaking in person, though I'm not a fan of the floppy top square packaging. Berry Shimmer and Heather Shimmer are deep and juicy wintery shades that made me want to throw on my grey infinity scarf and cuddle up with a coffee. The Australis LYLAS (Love You Like A Sister) blush from the Neon Crush collection is half-matte half-shimmer but 100% awesome, and despite disliking the names in this collection I actually don't mind the fun packaging.

I feel like it is my duty as a beauty blogger to try out most of the cult favourite products, so I had been meaning to pick up the Maybelline Great Lash for a while now. The Revlon Lash Potion is a great new mascara that is my go-to for everyday lashes, and to be honest the packaging is so rad that I don't mind that it doesn't stretch my lashes out as far as others can.

 

I swatched all of the shadow duos from the Australis Neon Crush collection and the only one that impressed me was this green one, and since I'd been on the hunt for a nice new green shade I was happy with this pick. The new Sinful Colors collection has some pretty awesome glitters, and this bronze and rose gold bar glitter is a stunning shade, so I just had to take it home with me. I snapped up one of the newly released lipsticks from Face of Australia in the pale pink shade Permanently Pink as well, such a nice finish.

 

My friend Carly and I went into Doncaster for the Disney Princess Film Festival to see Beauty and the Beast, and she stopped by T2 to get some fruity mixes to make iced tea with. The staff there are always so lovely (and I can't say no to a free cuppa) and when Carly got her freebies, the lady asked which flavours I was interested in trying. Is it obvious that I'm looking for a dessert replacement with these choices...?



For those who hadn't heard, Kmart have jazzed up their cosmetics sections and popped all of the beauty products into cardboard packaging to keep it sanitary. I'm iffy about the lack of testers, but I picked up some cheap treats from the new brands they have released anyway. Academy of Colour had some great nail packs out, but this $3 set of spotty polishes akin to my beloved Illamasqua Speckled polishes was a no-brainer.

The ELF section was still bare so I trotted over to the vague 'eyes lips face nails' section and saw some prettily packaged lipsticks hanging around. I brought home Naked in the Moisturising finish, and my friend Carly grabbed a matte and a moisturising to test them out. I will keep you updated once I've given mine a go, but the matte berry shade from this line looked amazing on Carly when we went out to a club on Friday night! 

And now, we are on to the luxe side of things. There is nothing I love better than a nice Myer voucher or a post pay day shopping spree, and that is how these two beauties came to be mine.

It has been well documented that I am a sucker for a good Dior collection (Fairy Golds, Bird of Paradise, Exotique, Amber Diamond) and the new Spring 2014 collection had one stand out in particular for me. I quite liked the look of the hot pink Exquise, but it was once I saw Liz's post I was in like Flynn (now I'm starting to sound like Mumma Bovary...) Hot pink jelly goodness to add to my beloved Dior stash, I'm treasuring this one.

Baby's first Hourglass, let this not be the start of an expensive addiction...

I tried a few on my cheeks at Mecca Cosmetica and Carly and I both loved Radiant Magenta over all others. That being said, I can't say I won't end up picking up another one sometime in the future. For now though, I'm happy to stare at this pretty marbled pan.

My last bits and pieces were spurred on by a horribly abusive customer at work and a need to stop myself from crying. Twinings Butter Mint Sensation is a mix of vanilla and mint that I can't wait to try, and the Gloria Jeans Chai Latte capsules are for our new coffee machine. Last but not least, I stumbled across the brand new Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks that I had been stalking online and had to grab the nude that everyone has been raving about. Notting Hill Nude is a supposed dupe for Tom Ford's Spanish Pink, so I will have to look into this and let you know what I think about it.

Phew, now that this post is over I actually feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It's not a guilty sort of weight, it's just that until I share my ideas and new things with you all I just don't enjoy them as much! This year I want to keep up with more reviews and sharing my purchases more frequently, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on how that would go down for you all.

Did you find any of this haul exciting?
What is the last blush you bought?

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty