Best of Beauty // February 2016

My favourite blog posts to read and beauty videos to watch are monthly favourites so I want to try and do a better job at wrapping up my favourite beauty products each month and share with you what I've been loving! It's definitely been a month of re-discovering some old favourites and cult classics.

// Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

A fairly well loved foundation, I have been reaching for the Covergirl 3-in-1 foundation a lot throughout the month because I've found my usual favourite, the Urban Decay Naked Skin, wasn't giving me enough coverage. I have loved this foundation for a while because it is just so reliable - if I want something long wearing, full coverage and my skin to look flawless - i'll reach for this. Especially during the humid days of February this foundation has been a life saver. It's also really affordable and available from chemists and even the supermarket. 

// Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Another affordable product I've been loving throughout the month is Real Technique's answer to the Beauty Blender. I love the Beauty Blender but lately they've been getting mouldy so fast and I've been going through them quicker than usual. I still had a RT sponge in my collection and decided to start using it instead of spending another $27 on a BB. The RT sponge surprised me because I had forgotten how soft it was! It applies foundation just as well as the Beauty Blender and washes well too. So far I haven't had an issue with mould either!

// NARS Laguna Orgasm Duo

A classic cheek duo from NARS has been my absolute go-to throughout Feb because it just goes with every look! Laguna is the most gorgeous gold-toned bronzer and adds the perfect amount of definition and warmth to the face. Orgasm is the prettiest peachy-pink shade with a super flattering gold shimmer throughout. Two cult classic shades that are 100% worth the hype and great for all skin tones.

// Stila Kitten Eyeshadow

I've been using Stila Kitten Eyeshadow all month as my highlighter for absolutely everything - cheeks, brow bone and inner corner. It is the perfect champagne shade with such a creamy formula, this versatile product is a must have in any beauty lover's collection.

// Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It 

I'm completely useless with my styling my hair and will usually just let it air dry and hope for the best. The Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It is amazing because you don't need to do anything just pop it in your hair and let it dry! I usually like to add in a bit of a sea salt spray, twist my hair into little buns and once my hair is dry Don't Blow It has worked its magic to add a little bit of texture and volume to my hair. It's perfect for getting that messy textured look with little to no effort!

// Neutrogena Beach Defence Sunscreen

Finally, as summer comes to an end I have to mention the best sunscreen I've ever tried! Beach Defence has an SPF 50+ and best of all smells great, isn't too thick or greasy and sinks into the skin while actually having a moisturising effect. I've been saved many times from potentially painful sunburn thanks to Beach Defence.

What products have you been loving lately?

xx Cat 

October & November Favourites

It's been a while since I've posted on this blog which has definitely not been ideal for me. I've been struggling with my health and after spending three weeks in hospital It's taken me another month just to get back into the hang of everyday life. I hope to do a more in depth post later on, or even starting another blog to document my experience of struggling with mental illness.

As we get closer to the end of the year, I have a new goal of posting every day in December! There are lots of things to be excited for (it's my birthday tomorrow!!) and I'm really happy to be diving head first into my writing again, and of course sharing my love of beauty with you.

I thought to best way to start off would be to take you through both my beauty and non-beauty favourites from the last couple of months!

Beauty

Two of my most recent beauty favourites are both new finds for my base - and are definitely on the other ends of the spectrum when it comes to coverage. Firstly, is the Super BB Cream by ChiChi ($22.95). I've heard a lot of reviews impressed with this BB cream's coverage but to be honest I find it to be pretty similar to other light coverage products on the market. The reason I've been reaching for this a lot is that it lasts SO LONG! In this Australian heat, a long wearing base is essential for any makeup look and this will last all day when set with a little bit of powder. Such a fantastic everyday base and is also great value as you get 50mL.

My other favourite is another base product, again in the drugstore price range. I picked up the Australis Full on Foundation ($12.95) in the recent Priceline 40% off sale and I have been very impressed. This foundation, marketed as "heavy coverage" is so easy to apply, blend and covers imperfections flawlessly. I swiped the product straight onto my face and then blended out with a fluffy brush and that was it! I have tried Australis face products before and they really did not work for me so I was pleasantly surprised, especially as the shade 'Nude' was the perfect shade for me. Another great affordable foundation!

My final two favourites also fall into the same category - nails! I've been really enjoying painting my nails as a little motivation to grow them out after my anxiety resulted in the total destruction of my nails. My favourite nail treatment is the Ultra Strong Nail Hardener by Essence ($4.10) and I was so excited to see that it was back in Essence stands as part of their Australian range. I always use this as a base coat and it keeps my nails nice and strong as well as preventing staining. Essence is available at Target and in Priceline.

Finally, after lots of trial and error, I have finally found my perfect top coat and my no.1 essential for doing manicures at home. The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat ($15.45) ticks all the boxes: fast drying, glossy gel-like finish and makes a huge difference in extending the life of your manicure. Whilst I do think it's a little pricey, I always stock up at either Chemist Warehouse or Priceline when they have their big sales as I do go through this quickly!

Non-Beauty

Having some extra time on my hands meant I have been able to spend some more time exploring Youtube. I have been particularly loving watching daily vlogs and a few favourites include Zoella and Lindsey from BeautyBaby44. 

My favourite beauty guru of the moment is the incredible Tati of GlamLifeGuru. She is just amazing, posts videos five times a week and gives amazing tips and reviews. She is currently planning her wedding and has started a 'Wedding Wednesday' series including little vlogs of all the wedding craziness!

I've also been obsessed with the Divergent trilogy and can hardly put them down! They are a great easy read and a must if you have enjoyed the Hunger Games series.

And finally, I hate to admit it but I have been slightly addicted to the new Candy Crush Soda Saga app. I'm really terrible at computer games at general but really like those type of puzzle games. I hate how it drains the battery on my phone though! 

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I hope you all enjoy my presence back in the online beauty world and I am very excited to be back! One of my favourite beauty bloggers' Sarah from More Than Adored is hosting another photo challenge on instagram which I will also be taking part of every day in December so don't forget to follow me there and definitely get involved too!

                                  

Happy 1st Day of Summer! 

xx Catherine

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Monthly Roundup: August & September

Yep. It's that time of the month again...MONTHLY FAVOURITES TIME! I really enjoy writing these posts as a bit of a summary of all my beauty adventures of the last couple of months and sharing some of my favourite products. This post is a chatty one, so grab a cup of tea and make yourself comfortable :)

You may have noticed in the last month or so my posting schedule has been a little all over the place. I was involved in my university's Law Revue which is a comedy sketch show. This year I was busy choreographing one of the dances. It was a lot of hard work but also so much fun.

Anyway...on to the post! As usual I will start with my beauty favourites.

Some of the skincare products I've absolutely been obsessed with lately are the Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Moisturiser ($9.99) and Hydraluron from Indeed Laboratories ($34.99). These products, used together have completely transformed my skincare routine. As my skin became dryer during the colder months, having a moisturised face makes such difference to dry patches showing up under foundation.

Hydraluron is an incredible serum that "increases skin hydration below the surface". A cult product that I believe is definitely worth the hype. The hydrating moisturiser from Simple is another product that blew me away. It claims to be a 'light moisturiser' but for me it is incredibly rich but at the same time soaks into my skin so quickly it's like a big drink for my face! You can literally feel it soaking in and adding extra hydration. Another skincare product I have been absolutely obsessed with is the St Ive's Blemish Control Apricot Scrub ($9.99). Everything about this is so great - the smell, the perfect amount of exfoliating particles, the effects - and it has made a huge difference to the texture of my skin.

For makeup, I have particularly been enjoying the Benefit Tints and have been reaching mostly for Posie Tint ($55). I am guilty of being heavy handed when it comes to colour on the cheeks and the Benefit Tints are great for overcoming that. Posie Tint is a beautiful light pink colour that gives a gorgeous, natural glowy finish to the cheeks. These tints are really great products - super easy to blend and as a stain, they will look fresh all day.

Finally, I lost all inhibitions when I found out I could get my hands on the new limited edition Rainforest After Dark Palette by Tarte ($54.95) in Australia, through the website www.myqty.com. I pretty much put my credit card details in straight away and never looked back. This palette is absolutely incredible - from the gorgeous AND practical packaging, most beautiful blush colour (which is also limited edition!!) and the combination of both killer face products and eyeshadows. The quality of the products inside the palette as well as the fact that it is a limited edition makes this palette such amazing value - its basically a whole face in one palette. www.myqty.com also has other hard to get cosmetics like the Lorac Pro palettes and Urban Decay.

If you have been following my blog since the beginning of the year, then you may remember I made 'beauty resolutions' for myself to try and achieve throughout the year. Since we are closer to the end of the year now, I wanted to give you an update on how it was all going.

• The resolution I am really proud of achieving is my makeup storage. I absolutely love my set up and it is the perfect size for me. Check out my storage blog post here. Also I am planning to have a makeup collection video up in the next few weeks so you can see some new additions to my vanity!
• Another goal of mine that I feel I've really made progress towards is having a regular skincare routine. My skin has improved so much after having tried so many products and seeing what works for me. I also think I have become much better at paying attention to what my skin needs and taking care of it accordingly. I have to say, most of the improvement in my skin can be attributed to my Custom Oil Cleanser from Pristine Oils. Check out my review here.
• Finally, I definitely need to continue to work on cleaning my makeup brushes regularly. Whilst I've become much better at having my face brushes and sponges cleaned, I'll occasionally reach for a blending brush and stuff up my entire eye look because the brush is so dirty...oops! Definitely need some improvement on that one!

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Have a beautiful day :)

xx Catherine

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Monthly Roundup: June

I can't believe we are now half way through the year and this little blog has been getting so much positive feedback in the last six months. Thank you to all my wonderful readers it is always so fantastic to hear your thoughts. You might want to make yourself comfortable this will be a long one!

Beauty Favourites

MAC Matchmaster Foundation

I've rediscovered my love for this foundation this month because of its absolutely gorgeous velvety finish which I think is perfect for winter. It is super easy to buff into the skin and I prefer using the Real Techniques expert face brush or my Shiseido foundation brush. It is a perfect match for my skin, lasts ages and just looks absolutely beautiful! I can't say enough about it and if you're looking for a light, medium coverage foundation - check this one out.

QVS Micro fibre Hair Turban

I received this in a discovery bag from Beauty Heaven and have continued to use it ever since. Basically it is a fancy towel that absorbs the moisture from wet hair. You tie it around your hair which is also great to keep wet hair from dripping everywhere after you hop out of the shower. I've found it is such an efficient way to dry your hair particularly if you shower shortly before hopping into bed as the material is highly absorbant.

NARS Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner in 'Rue Bonaparte'

This is something I've been using daily for the last couple of months and am finally including it in my favourites. This is such an amazing liner that glides on smoothly, is super creamy and pigmented and does budge all day. I use this on my waterline with basically every makeup look to brighten up my eyes. This is a pricey pencil but probably the most used makeup item in my collection.

MAC Plumful Lipstick

My go-to lipstick this month, I just cannot get enough of Plumful. It is the perfect shade in-between a purple and pink, the lustre finish is beyond gorgeous and makes your lips look full and plump. This has definitely been a staple in my handbag.

Beauty Subscription Boxes

I received my first beauty subscription box this month and have been really enjoying trying the products I got in my June Bellabox. I have also subscribed to Violet Box so I can't wait to receive that in the mail too! Check out my review here.

Non-Beauty Favourites

Loose leaf tea

Recently I've decided to cut down my coffee intake and took a trip into T2 to see what delicious teas I could supplement for my morning hot beverage. My favourite has been the Chai tea from T2 which I love with a little bit of milk and honey. I have always loved loose teas, particularly herbal teas and have really enjoyed trying out these new flavours.

Reality TV

If you know me you'll know I love a good trashy reality TV show. With a month full of exams I needed something to procrastinate take my mind off things! I enjoyed watching When Love Comes to Town on Channel 9 which was definitely a new low for me as well as my usual favourites Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Dance Moms.

Source: realitytvgifs.tumblr.com

Life

June was a bit of a crazy month with the end of semester for uni and everything that comes with it - assignments, exams, stress etc etc. I was so happy to see the end of the semester and finally have a well deserved break. I spent a few different nights celebrating with friends which is always so much fun because I never go out much during the semester.

Another exciting thing to happen in June was that I entered the Girlfriend Model Search. I have always wanted to enter a model search since I became obsessed with America's Next Top Model but since I'm way too short I never did. When I heard about the Girlfriend Model Search I immediately decided to enter because there were no height restrictions. I know I don't have what it takes to model and its definitely not something I will pursue but I've always just wanted to enter for fun. The experience was also something I'm really proud of because I proved how confident I am with myself and that I'm at the stage where I really love and accept myself and can put myself out there. The day was super fun and I got to meet Lauren Curtis and I also received a HUGE goody bag from Rimmel London which was very exciting. Thanks to my amazing girlfriend Maddy for waiting with me all day even though it was super boring and always supporting me in the crazy things I want to do.

So that was June! I hope you all enjoyed my roundup for the month and stayed tuned for an exciting July :)

xx Catherine

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