May Favourites

The cold mornings are yet to deter me from playing around with my makeup, and I found quite a few things to love during May!

I really enjoyed the skincare products I used during May, my skin was pretty well behaved and sometimes I begrudge the 6 week cycle I work with in terms of skincare and the like. Being able to trial new products is a wonderful part of being a blogger, but it can also be frustrating when I find products that really work for me.

 

Cetaphil Derma Control SPF30+ Moisturising Lotion*- I have been using this as my day lotion, and I love that it knocks the sunscreen step out of my routine as well, saving me time every morning. This is a really nice lotion, and I love the sturdy lightweight packaging, and the fact that the formula is non comedogenic and therefore great for acne prone skin like my own.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Night Cream*- I normally find it really hard to fall in love with a night cream, as often they are too heavy or rich for my skin. This strikes the perfect balance between hydrating overnight and being lightweight, so I think this would work for both dry and oily skin types.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo- Am about to run out of this and am on the hunt for my next tube. I saw online that my local pharmacy should stock it, so I have my fingers crossed that they have it on the shelf as I find it helps with the overall appearance of my skin without drying out my face as some anti-acne products do.

Like most months, blush is something that I just couldn’t leave out of my May Favourites. I have been alternating between bright pinks and apricot tones for my cheeks, tying in my lip colours to that in an effort to channel this post from Estee.

MAC Cream Soda blush- Still loving this apricot tone blush from the Archie’s Girls collection, it has been in my favourites a few times and I’ve been wearing it a few times each week since Chris bought it for me (pretty good considering it was a consolation choice, as I hadn’t yet gotten my hands on Prom Princess from the same collection!)

Chanel Pink Explosion- One of my very favourite blushes, this hot pink shot through with shimmer lasts all day on the cheek and is a beautiful bright pop of colour to brighten up a dreary Melbourne day. I would definitely recommend the Chanel Joues Contraste blush formulas, I love the two pans that I have and I hope to collect more for my collection.

Too Faced Boudoir palette- I have an in depth post on this coming up, suffice to say I absolutely adore it and have used it a whole lot since it left Mecca Maxima in my clutches.

MAC palette- I made this little quad by popping Woodwinked, Patina, Performance Art and Nylon in an empty 4 pan to create a nice neutral palette for myself. I use Nylon in my inner corner and have been loving mixing Woodwinked + Patina together lately.

Carmex Peach*- My love for these knows no bounds, I love this shade and the pink tint as well. They feel nice and minty (from the camphor) and glide on easily, and the colour is enough to brighten up my face without looking too overdone. This peach tone works really well for me when paired with the Cream Soda blush.

The extra things that have been making me smile this month!

Kit Cosmetics Cuticle Oil*- For once in my life, I am making an effort with my nails and hands! I have been loyal to using hand cream and cuticle oil more often and am starting to see a difference, which I am elated about. This cuticle oil comes in a polish style bottle and I find it really easy to apply and rub in, which again encourages me to load up my fingertips more often.

Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean perfume- I love mini versions of perfume bottles, and this was a bargain I picked up from Priceline quite a while ago. I love the fruity floral scent which contains mandarin, peach, plum with some magnolia and orchid. The main reason for its place within my May is that every time I wore it around Chris, he commented on how amazing I smelt. A definite winner!

Have you switched up your skincare routine for winter?

What blush shades have you been wearing lately?

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

 

May Empties

Another month has flown by and I’ve managed to power through a few shower products, some moisturising products and some usual suspects. Next month will hopefully see more makeup products (NYX Peach, be gone!) but I’m still quite pleased with the bulky items that have bit the dust this month.

 

The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter – this is something that has been in my stash for a long time now, and I’m glad to have used it up before it turned or anything like that. The Moringa scent is just amazing and the body butter formula is nice and thick, though I do wish they would sink in a bit quicker. I enjoyed this and am planning on repurchasing another scent in this small tub form sometime down the line.

Maybelline Total Clean City Rescue Eye Makeup Remover- Happy to have bought this on sale, and like the slim line packaging and the nice formula. I still prefer the Clinique version, but considering it is much pricier this one will probably be a repurchase for me.

 

Daiso Cosmetic Cotton – was peer pressured into buying this by some fellow beauty bloggers while out shopping with them, and I was pleased with how cheap (and soft!) these cotton squares are.

 

QV Heel Balm*- This should have been used up long ago, but I think it is safe to say that we are all guilty of neglecting our feet far too often! This was thick and softened the feet nicely, though the smell wasn’t something I’d shout about.

Spray Fresh Activ Deodorant – This was a decent deodorant but I will still stick with Rexona.

Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub* – A really nice scrub that smells just like the inside of a Pancake Parlour! Maple syrup dominates this and the scrub is great at sloughing away dead skin and leaving the skin soft. Pleased at how affordable this is ($18.95 at Kit Cosmetics) and would purchase in the future.

Soap & Glory Clean Girls body wash- I really wasn’t a fan of this scent, it was sort of medicinal and milky. I was glad this was only a travel size I picked up from Thailand!

Soap & Glory The Scrub of Your Life body buffer- This was a nice enough body scrub, but I think if you are wanting to buy a scrub from Soap & Glory I would go for the Breakfast Scrub or perhaps their Pulp Friction, which incidentally is the one I am hoping to buy next.

 

How often do you finish up body scrubs?

 What eye makeup remover is your favourite?

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

NEON + neutral Makeup Look with Australis

note to self: hair oil exists for a reason, Ms Frizz!

 

Cheeks: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Lips: Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey + Barry M Toffee gloss

As promised, I put the Australis Neutrals & Neons palette to the test and created a wearable look to show you! The colours didn’t blend away (as some affordable brands tend to do!) and I found the shadows soft and easy to blend together for this look. I popped a bit of the acid green on the inner corners and used the first 3 neutral shadows to create an easy natural look with a twist. I used the Australis Curve Ink liner* to ground the look down (a great tip for those who are frightened of wearing brights!) and used lots of mascara as well, as I always do.

 

What shades from this palette would you like me to create a look with next?

Are you excited about affordable brands bringing out amazing palettes like this?

Which of the NEON shades are you most afraid of?

*Marked items were provided for consideration. The Clinique item was won on a social media competition. Honesty, always.

Australis Neutrals & Neons

Most of my readers know that I am a sucker for a pretty palette, and when I heard that Australis had released a palette mixing neutrals with neons for less than a tenner, I was all on that like a hound dog!

 

The shadows were surprisingly smooth to swatch and apply, though as expected they are not as silky as brands like Urban Decay and less pigmented also. I was pleased with how wearable the neutrals in this palette were, and I feel like Australis have made an exciting step with the nicely executed neon shades while still making the palette marketable to those who primarily wear ‘safe’ eye shades.

 

Considering this palette only retails for $9.95 AUD I was really impressed not only with the quality of the shadows but the sturdy black & pink palette packaging and the beautifully designed box in which it was housed. I was talking with my sisters about how much Australis has changed since they were my age (16 years ago!) and it really has kept up with the times and seem to be pushing the envelope with new exciting releases all the time. I am lucky enough to sometimes get sent products to try from the brand, but I don’t hesitate to recommend their products to everyone I know and hand over my hard earned cash for their products a little too frequently, so believe me when I say they are one of my very favourite brands!

 

My favourite neutral shade is second from the left in the palette, I think it looks beautiful all over the lid or as a crease colour when paired with the first shade next to it. I think the mix is quite a good one, with the shades being pretty versatile and quite pigmented for the price.

As a neon and bright eyeshadow wearer, I’m elated to see how well these swatch and apply on the eye. I will have no problem integrating the green into my routine as I often wear similar shades, but I am most excited to try the silky smooth and pigmented pink which has my heart racing!

 

For less than $10 I think you would be crazy not to pick this up, even if the thought of crazy neon shadows scares you senseless! Sometimes you need a few ‘out there’ shades to play around with when you’re bored, and these will definitely entertain. I have a makeup look coming up tomorrow using this palette, so do keep an eye out and then let me know which shadows you’d like me to use for my next look!

*I paid for this myself! Honesty, always.

What's In My Makeup Bag

I’ve recently begun to appreciate a well-stocked makeup bag for every day, and so have been using this Lust Have It bag in my very favourite colour to tote around the basics so that I am prepared for whatever is thrown my way. Let’s dive in!

I always keep a mini perfume vial in my makeup bag in case I need to freshen up during the day, and at the moment Oscar de la Renta’s Sargasso* has the top spot. As a side note, I also keep a travel sized Rexona in my handbag, but it is too bulky to fit inside the actual makeup bag, as is my Uriage Thermal Facial Spray*. I also keep a small mirror that was a gift from Chris as well as my essence Return to Paradise blotting papers, to absorb any oil throughout the day.

 

I don’t always keep my Manicare tweezers* in my makeup bag, but I’m in need of a brow wax and am using these to tame them until I can get there. I also love keeping my YSL Touche Eclat* on me at all times, as I use it to cover any redness or blemishes that pop up throughout the day (I apply with clean fingers, not the brush) and Chris also likes popping a bit of this on if we’re heading out after work, to cover his dark circles. My current powder is the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light, but I have to say that I still prefer my Maybelline Dream Matte powder for both the finish and the oil control. I also keep the blush of the day in my bag (in this case Tarte Exposed) in case I need to top it up before work (I have been working in retail after placement + uni) or want to intensify the colour at all. I keep brushes for each of these powders, alternating them with whatever is clean that morning.

I always like to keep a selection of lip products on me in case my mood changes during the day, or I want to switch out the colour for evening. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy is something I am trying to use up (look out for my Chanel Boy challenge post next week!) and the Kool Aid lip balm is one of the nicest I’ve tried in a long time. I have been loving the new Max Factor Colour Elixir lip crayons (shade pictured is Couture Blush) and my Nars gloss in Oasis. Other lip products include my beloved Carmex balms*, Barry M Toffee lipgloss and Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial.

 

I love having my essentials with me all the time on long days – how much do you carry around on a daily basis?

What powder are you using at the moment?

Do you carry around as many lip products as I do?

 

*Marked items were provided for consideration, but were honestly in my makeup bag. Honesty, always.

Adore Beauty Sampler Bag

I love the idea of sample boxes, but am often left disappointed with the lacklustre contents and unused products that fill my drawers even though I’ve long cancelled any subscriptions. I was elated to see that Adore Beauty have once again brought out some sampler packs, letting customers know exactly what they are getting before they order! All of the products are high quality and decently (cutely!) sized, and I was kindly sent the Skincare/Makeup option as opposed to the Skincare/Haircare option.

Before I hop onto my mini-loving bandwagon, let me mention the other products that fill this lovely sampler bag. The St.Tropez Illuminator is pretty darn cool, I had thought ‘ooh nice brand’ and thought no more of it, but when I swatched it I saw that it is fill of iridescent blue shimmers that have blown my mind. Can’t wait to play around with this and see how I can make it work for me. The Philosophy Purity cleanser is a nice size to get a feel for the brand; I actually have another of the same size in my stash so thumbs up for two travel friendly cleansers to trial!

 

I was also happy to see a nice Rose Balm from Lanolips included, I’ve had lots of experience with their lovely lip products but am yet to try this rose scented tube. Another product I haven’t had much experience with (technically) is the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer (not to prime is a crime, as Mister Christopher loves quoting when I apply my makeup!) I have heard that this is the same formula as my beloved Face of Australia Face Base primer, so thumbs up already if that is true.

Let’s talk mini products- I am a huge sucker for them! Look how darn cute the mini products are, Bioderma Crealine h20 comes in a few sizes and I had previously thought my travel sized bottle* was the cutest of the family, but as it turns out this little guy trumps them all! I will be saving this for a weekend away with Mister Christopher, until then the squeeing will continue.

Next to regular sized products from my stash, for comparison

The squeeing continues with the mini Benefit They’re Real, which is adorable compared to the regular sized mascara. I have had the normal tube for so long, sitting unopened in my mascara drawer waiting for the right moment to crack it open. I am a big fan of travel sized mascaras as I find they last a long time without taking up too much space in the makeup bag, so I am going to make an effort to try this highly lauded mascara soon. I have also had TheBalm Hot Mama in my stash for a while and think I might like it more than the famed Nars Orgasm, so when I saw this little baby pan I was thrown into a world of cute! I think it might take a bit of work with a smaller than usual sized blush brush, but seriously, I think I might just keep it out on my desk to make me smile.

So I am happy to report that the sampler packs contain a wonderful group of products to get you out of any skincare or makeup rut, and they each retail for $34.95AUD at Adore Beauty (click this to buy, not an affiliated link) I am pretty chuffed with my super cute mini's and am excited to try out the new products and see how I go with them. In the sampler you also receive a 10% off voucher to use on any full size version of the products included, which is a terrific idea from the Adore Beauty team!


What are YOUR opinions on sample box subscriptions or sampler bags?
Do you wish they were all as good as this one?

*Sampler bag was provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Get Pompous in 60 Seconds with Rimmel London

Sometimes I just get gripped by the thought of a new polish, and the obsession won’t leave until the shade has coated my tips. I was hauling at Chemist Warehouse’s infamous 50% off sale when I spotted Rimmel’s Pompous at the checkout. Rather than go down the sensible route and just tack it onto my order, I told myself I never wear purple polishes and moved along. In my spare moments during the week I kept thinking about the multi coloured shimmers in the purple base, and succumbed to the pressure before work one night and set out to hunt it down.

After seeing the Pompous spot empty at Priceline (where Rimmel polishes were 2 for $10) and on the My Chemist shelf (where Rimmel was 50% off!) I managed to snare a bottle for the lovely price of $3.98 (usually $7.95) from the other My Chemist in the area, right by my work! I was elated at my purchase, and love the way that this applies and looks on the nails. I really need to love a purple shade for it to make it onto my nails, and this hasn’t disappointed. I definitely prefer the deep and glossy complexity that a top coats adds to this colour (Seche Vite, for example) as I tried a thinner top coat and (the Skin Food pictured below) it just didn’t have the same appeal.

 

Have you ever become obsessed with the thought of owning a beauty product? What lengths have you gone to in order to track it down?

*Purchased by me, and the Skin Food top coat was a much appreciated CP from the stunning Emily Quak from Emily’s Anthology. Thanks Emily!