Makeup Look : Peach Pop & Rendezvous

(I am off on my honeymoon until December so this post is a scheduled one. Would still love to read comments and feel free to hit me up on Instagram @emmabovary to see holiday snaps along the way! - Emma)

Each time the warmer weather rolls around it's like a switch in my brain is flicked and screams 'rock orange and peach, baby!' I don't mean to roll with the cliché seasonal makeup but when it works, it works, you know?

I love nothing better than a nice easy neutral eye and a super glowy cheek highlight when I wear peach and oranges on my cheeks and lips, and you can't get much better than TheBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer and the Too Faced Chocolate Palette. Still swooning over the cocoa scent of that palette, by the way, just wish the packaging wasn't so bulky so it was easier to travel with!

Was this look spurred on by my recent Sally Hansen Kook-A-Mango gel manicure? Possibly! I think that peach tones warm up my features enough to make me look healthier than normal, so that is always a positive thing. The Revlon Balm Stain in Rendezvous is seriously amazing - dare I say my favourite orange lip shade?! I've been wearing Clinique's Cheek Pop in Peach Pop a whole lot lately too so of course that had to be rocked in this look.

Nothing like a wee bookshelf shot to enhance a makeup post - what do your bookshelves look like? What is your ultimate orange lip shade?

 

Emma x 

The February Edit

This month it was a breeze picking the stars of my cosmetic rotation, and these are not only things that I loved the most but also those that got the most use from me over the weeks. This edit turned out to be easy picks for quick on the go looks, so suffice to say I wasn’t too creative in the realm of makeup during February. Cheeks were kept on the neutral, natural side of the fence as I alternated the amazing Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed with the peachy L’Oreal Super Blendable Blush in 326 The Muse’s Blush. To brighten up my face I reached for one of my favourite highlighters, TheBalm’s Mary Lou Manizer. Rather than using my Real Technique’s for Samantha Chapman Contour brush to apply as I normally do I’ve been using my fingers, and loving the sheer effect that it gives. This makes it brilliant for everyday wear, and is nice and quick for rushed mornings. Scent of choice has also been a failsafe with Guerlain's Champs Elysees covering me every day. If I had to wear only one scent for the rest of my days, this would be it.

The L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil* was on my wish list for so long, and I am elated to say that not only has it met my expectations, it has actually exceeded them. A tip off from Estee has made me use this as a shaving oil, but it works beautifully as a regular body wash when paired with a sponge as well. It definitely warrants a full review (read:rave) so I’ll get to work on that soon. I have also been loving the Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara, which has garnered me more lash envy comments than I had received in a long time! For me, that is the main measure of success for a mascara, as well as the stellar and easy to wear formulation. Lips have been lazy, and the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey has been a staple not only for its non-melty texture (Melbourne heat hates lipsticks!) but the colour goes with absolutely everything. MAC Patisserie was thrown into the mix on the odd colder day we enjoyed, and man that is a winner of a shade!

So there is my lazy-day, easy to use February Edit. Have you tried any of these products, or do you want to?

*Product provided for consideration, but an honest favourite.

January Beauty Bag

As well as spending the majority of January curled up on the couch watching Once Upon a Time and painting my nails, I have compiled an updated beauty bag. These are some of the products I’ve been using lately, and my plan is to create a new beauty bag each month to rotate through my beauty stash and make sure I’m only keeping the things that work for me.

 

I’ve been content switching up my lip shade day in and day out, and in heavy rotation are the ones featured here.  MAC Party Parrot is a party starter in every respect, and with the mention of it being relaunched with a new collection, my love for it was reignited. A paler scenario is also tempting me, so I have thrown Rimmel’s Nude Delight and Barry M’s Toffee into the bag as well. Last but not least is a glossy red in the form of Maybelline’s Cranberry Cocktail, which is a beautiful shade but smells awful.

 

I’ve gone out and repurchased my Lush lip scrub, but this time have chosen Sweet Lips, which has a delicious chocolate scent. I’ve also stepped into the world of Grown Alchemist with their new lipbalm in Watermelon Vanilla*…yes, the best mix of scents for a lip balm, hands down.  A glam touch to my beauty bag is the shimmer infused dry oil from Nuxe*. I usually use the regular Nuxe Dry Oil, but have been loving this for a glow on my legs whenever I throw a dress or bathers on. I’ll admit, this doesn’t get a whole lotta loving when I’m in front of the TV with Ginnifer Goodwin aka Snow White.

 

Since the temperature is sitting around 37 degrees here (99 farenheit for my international readers!) I have been preferring a glowy, sunkissed look when I have been bothered to make my face up. Into my January beauty bag I’ve thrown one of my favourite highlighters in the form of TheBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer. Love the smooth champagne glow this gives me, and it needs more love from me. Eyes will hopefully be just as glowy, with L’Oreal’s Infallible in Hourglass Beige as an everyday shade, and Inglot Pearl 423 for a deeper look.

Do you like the concept of a designated beauty bag each month? I find it pushes me to use things I’ve neglected in my collection, and forces me to create new looks with the basics I choose. I’d love to hear something you’ve been using a lot of this month in the comments!

*Marked products were provided for editorial consideration. Honesty, always.

theBalm hits Australia! // collection, launch, photos

I was so excited to see that theBalm has reached Australian stores! I have purchased one of my theBalm items online and another overseas, and am happy to now be able to build up my collection of these great products closer to home (at David Jones!)

 My very first theBalm purchase was the Hot Mama! blush which I bought online. I find it really pigmented and only wear it every now and again, but I adore the slim cardboard packaging and beautiful imagery. Next up was the Meet Matt(e) palette, which was a gift from Chris (after much hinting) when we were in Thailand earlier in the year. I've grown to love matte shades as I am always complemented when I wear them! The first purchase from David Jones in Australia was the eyeshadow palette Shady Lady Vol.2, I am yet to try all of the shades but am happy with the ones I have used thus far.

The most exciting theBalm purchase for me was definitely the Mary-Lou Manizer, a beautiful champagne toned highlighter that has been on my wishlist for what seems like an eternity. When I popped into David Jones last week (before interviewing Michelle Phan!) I saw that they had a GWP running. If you made any purchase over $27.95 you received the Balmbini Vol.2 palette, which is on sale now for $49.95! I couldn't pass up this amazing deal, so I now own both of these beauties.

I will have full reviews (with swatches) of all of these coming up, so please let me know in the comments below which you are most excited to see!

Have you tried anything from theBalm?
Will you be visiting them at David Jones?

*All of these products were purchased by me. Honesty, always.