MY NEW MAKEUP STORAGE

Welcome to my new vanity! I've been searching for the perfect storage solution for my makeup that was going to be practical, pretty and affordable and I've finally put together this set up which I am beyond happy with!

The vanity and matching stool were both purchased from Big W. I chose this vanity because the middle section lifts up and reveals a really large storage space as well as having a mirror on the lid! I knew it would be perfect for storing my makeup and also really convenient as a vanity as you can hide everything away in the desk, and when you need to do your makeup its all there - including a big mirror! While the stool is white and probably going to get really dirty, my grandma has been kind enough to make me a washable cover to put over it :)

On top of my vanity on one side I have my brushes in these iconic flower pots from Ikea. I absolutely love the design of these and I have one for my eye brushes and one for face brushes. I also have another one in my cupboard for brushes I don't use everyday. In the little glass jars I have cotton tips and cotton pads for cleaning up mistakes while I'm doing my makeup. I love this storage idea because it looks super cute and it really convenient. I got the jars from the Reject Shop for $1 each.

On the other side of my vanity is my little perspex lipstick holder from Hot Dollar that I bought ages ago for $8. I keep all my everyday lipsticks in there. I also have a candle from Glasshouse Candles and a little tray from Daiso where I keep my perfumes and a few of my favourite luxury products - I couldn't put them in a draw they a just too beautiful!

This is inside the middle compartment of the vanity where I store most of my makeup. I have put two perspex draw dividers also from Big W into this compartment so I could organise my makeup into sections. Starting from the left I have: primers & illuminators as well as a few face palettes, moving over to blushes and bronzers, then smaller eye palettes like quads as well as my cream shadows and down the front eye pencils and finally in the last compartment I have mascaras and all my brow products. In the rest of the compartment I have squeezed in all my other eyeshadow palettes and eyelashes.

In the drawers I keep my extra lip products and all my base products. I bought these little containers from KMart and they are fantastic because they are non-slip and don't move around in the drawers. For my base products I have sorted them into powders at the back and liquid foundation in the front with my concealers fitting down the side. I have similarly organised my lip products into glosses (down the back) and my spare lipsticks, including liquid lipsticks (at the front). I am so happy with these draw organisers and they were only $2 each!

Overall this entire storage solution - including the vanity, stool and all the containers cost around $200 which I am super happy with! The vanity was so easy to put together and I had so much fun re-organising all my makeup. Its crazy to think this time last year all my makeup could fit in a tiny makeup bag. This is definitely my favourite feature in my room now and I'm so excited to have this creative space. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and there were some helpful storage tips for you!

xx Catherine

Brow Envy: Perfect Brows in 3 Easy Steps

The trend for brows this A/W season is to elongate brows rather than making them too defined. If your brows are naturally arched draw attention to that and add a highlight on the brow bone. Getting perfect, on-trend brows is super easy and you'll be creating brow-envy with these three easy steps.

1// Benefit Brow Bar

My visits to the Benefit Brow Bar in Myer Sydney City are always so fantastic that its the only place I will go to get my monthly brow wax and the occasional brow tint. Although I really like my natural brow shape and it suits my face well I definitely find it necessary to have them waxed to keep them looking neat. I've also started getting my brows tinted which is a great way to add a warmth of colour into my brows where I've found products that have warm tones tend to look orange/red and definitely does not suit me. I've gone on about it many times but the staff at Benefit are beyond wonderful and I will be going there always!

2// Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil

The best brow pencil I've ever tried and for $2.50 a must have! The pencil isn't too creamy so you can create really natural looking brows and because it is quite waxy, will hold all those stray hairs in place. I use the shade 01 Blonde which is the only lighter shade I've found that doesn't look red! Such a fantastic product and a must-have in my everyday routine.

3// Benefit Gimme Brow Tinted Brow Gel

Benefit do brows well and the Gimme Brow tinted brow gel is, in my opinion, the most revolutionary brow product on the market. It is the easiest way to keep your brows neat and tidy on an everyday basis. The fact that the gel is not only tinted but has fibres so its a great way to fill in sparse areas on your brows. The little brush which is used to brush the product through your brows resembles something of a tiny mascara wand and is perfect for creating a really natural brow look.

Cara Delevingne brow queen

xx Catherine

Mini Weekend Haul

This weekend just gone was a little 'holiday' for me. I took the weekend off work and stayed with my girlfriend and we had the loveliest time going out, heading to different markets, brunching and most importantly getting through a lot of TV shows! On Saturday we went to Glebe markets and then headed into the city to get our eyebrows done at Benefit. We both got a little spend-y and here are a few of the things I picked up.

Vintage Jacket

I picked this up at Glebe markets and it took me all of five seconds to realise I had to have it! Markets are definitely hit & miss and sometimes I just can't justify spending money on people's old clothes. However, this jacket was so cute and so me and for $15 I knew it was a good deal.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

I had a pretty generous sized sample of this primer and after testing a few different primers I found this one to be the best for my skin. It is fantastic for smoothing out your skin before applying foundation and really makes a huge difference to the wearing time of your foundation. With this underneath my foundation and the NYX Matte Finish spray on top my foundation doesn't budge! I picked this up from David Jones for $45.

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream

I have been trying to reduce the money I've been spending on makeup and in the last month I have been quite successful! However, this means I am itching to get my hands on new skin care. While I was getting my brows done the brow technician did a little mask with this product under my eyes and I was so impressed! I picked it up and will let you know how I go with it :)

So just a mini haul for you today and a catch up on my weekend! I hope you enjoyed this post and I wish you all a fantastic week <3

xx Catherine

Review: Dr Dennis Gross CC Cream

Say hello to my new favourite every day base product. One fateful day after handing in a stressful assignment, I took a emotional trip to Bondi Junction to shop away my sorrows (I would end up getting my first HD for a law assignment so it really was a good day all round). The fluorescent lights and the soothing white decor of Mecca Cosmetic called my name and I walked in ready to release all my feelings and spend all my money.

Now after my very exciting story on to the actual review. The texture of the CC cream is really interesting, it is a moussey kind of texture that I find is best blended in using two fingers. It has a very light coverage which can definitely be built up. Even with one layer it evens out skin tone and covers redness. It is a perfect coverage to just have a nice light base for every day - just what I wanted. I got the shade fair which is absolutely perfect for my skin tone - I'm talking perfect match!

FOTD: Bronze and Bright Lips

This look was inspired by my new lipstick from Shanghai Suzy "The Gossling Lippie" which is an amazing bright orange. I love orange shades and this was is such a nice glossy formula. 

I recently received a new bronzer to try and it was so shimmery I tried it on my cheeks inside and absolutely love the result! 

Read more to see the products I used :) 

My Schwarzkopf Experience

A few months ago I was invited to a Beauty Heaven member event to try the new Blonde Ultime Hair Range from Schwarzkopf. The new range is a collaboration with the ultimate blonde supermodel Claudia Schiffer and includes a really interesting and innovative range of products. At the BH member event, we had the opportunity to try the Ultime Iconic Blondes range of at home hair dye.

Watch the video from the event

I've now cut almost half my hair off since the event so the colour blending into my existing ombre is gone but it was amazing how well the colour blended in considering it was from a box. Even since my hair cut the highlights at the top of my head still look amazing. I'm in love with the colour and it really suits my skin tone, which surprised me considering i've had so many blonde/orange catastrophes in the past. If you are considering adding blonde highlights or want to do ombre at home I would highly recommend this product. It's so easy to do yourself and the colour range is beautiful. 

As well as the Blonde Ultime range, the Essence Ultime haircare range was released and contains a variety of products including shampoo and conditioner, hair sprays, oils and masks. Myself along with the other three members who attended the event were gifted a few of these new products to try and to look after a newly dyed hair! I received the shampoo and conditioner and Shine Boost Spray from the 'Diamond Colour' range for coloured and highlighted hair.

First of all all the products smell absolutely amazing! I really like the shampoo and conditioner, particularly after my hair was bleached with the blonde dye, it really made a huge difference to control frizz and dryness. Similarly, the Shine Boost Spray does exactly as it says! I've never seen my hair look so healthy and shiny.

Thank you so much to Beauty Heaven for the fabulous opportunity! It was amazing to see the Schwarzkopf HQ and get some great hair advice from the hair experts.

xx Catherine

*These products were provided as part of the BeautyHeaven Member Trial Team program. As always, my opinions are honest and my own.

Review: Sukin Natural Skincare

Over the last six months or so, I have been trying a few skincare products from Australian natural skincare brand Sukin. As all the products come to an end (surprisingly and conveniently all at the same time!) I thought I would review them all.

//Foaming Facial Cleanser

Probably the product I enjoyed the least out of the Sukin Range. Despite being targeted specifically for oily skin types, I really didn't feel like it did much to help my skin get a really nice, deep cleanse while still maintaining the skins moisture. I don't feel it really helped maintain the balance in my skin as it would often leave my skin feeling coarse. Whilst it didn't make my breakouts or oiliness any worse, it didn't really do anything either. The scent, which is the same as the moisturiser, is quite strange and I didn't overly like it either. Probably a decent cleanser is you don't have problematic skin and I'm interested to try their cream cleanser because I do prefer the cream formula.

//Revitalising Facial Scrub

I really enjoyed this facial scrub and its beautiful and gentle while being fantastic at providing exfoliation. What really struck me about this scrub was that the little particles that acts as the 'scrub' are made out of natural, organic materials - bamboo extract and ground walnut shells. This definitely appealed to me over scrubbing my face with harsh chemicals. The texture of the product is creamy and doesn't foam up but is easily massaged into the skin. I definitely felt this gave my skin a little 'lift' and smoothing out dry spots. However, I didn't think it provided a deep enough exfoliation to really remove the impurities within my pores. Overall I think this is a great gentle scrub for sensitive although if you do have a range of skin issues you may need another product to really remove those deep impurities.

//Facial Moisturiser

This moisturiser had the same strange scent as the cleanser which I wasn't a huge fan of. I didn't overly like this moisturiser either. It took a long time for it to be absorbed into the skin which isn't ideal especially if apply in the morning as a day cream before makeup. It also doesn't have SPF which I'm not sure is because SPF isn't a natural ingredient, but it is still something that I think is imperative in a moisturiser. While it did add moisture to my skin, it didn't have a long term effect on the quality of my skin so I will probably be trying something new. My sister however, absolutely loves this moisturiser. She has dry to normal skin, so this might be a good option for you if you are within that skin type and are looking for a light moisturiser.

//Hydrating Mist Toner

This is the only product that I have repurchased so far and it is an absolute essential in my daily skincare routine. A really nice refreshing toner that works to soothe the skin and is great in reducing redness. I definitely recommend this toner if you have sensitive skin as you don't have to rub your face any more with a cotton pad which could be an extra irritation you don't need. The scent is also really nice and subtle. I've talked about this product so much here on my blog so that's a clear indication that I'm obsessed with it ! So glad I found this product.

//Purifying Body Scrub

I've only been using this for a couple of weeks after looking for a gentle body scrub. I knew I liked the face scrub so was intrigued to try this. So far I'm quite impressed and it is quite similar to the facial scrub, having the same ingredients. It is however, thicker in consistency and does a good job to exfoliate your skin and is great to help with dry skin. While I do prefer a deeper exfoliation after I shave, this is a good option to keep my skin refreshed on a daily basis.

Are these products for you?

Overall, I am quite impressed with the products from the Sukin range. If you have normal skin and don't have much problems with breakouts these products are a fantastic option! They are sensitive and will definitely keep your skin moisturised and glowing. However, if you have more problematic skin - either very dry or very oily - I don't think all the products are going to work and it might take some time to try which ones work for you. Whilst I had to really personalise my routine after finishing these Sukin products to target my problem areas, these products didn't make my skin any worse. As I've talked about over and over again, I absolutely love the Hydrating Mist Toner and would definitely recommend it as a toner if you have sensitive skin.

Overall the best things about the Sukin products are:

• Price - These are super affordable, most of the face products are under $10 and conveniently available from Priceline and most other pharmacies.
• Natural, Organic Ingredients - For me personally, I prefer using skincare that has natural ingredients as I find it is most effective for my sensitive skin. I also really believe in their principles which you can read all about here.
• Range for Sensitive Skin - As well as their regular range, Sukin has a range specifically for sensitive skin. My mum originally had a reaction to the facial moisturiser and after getting in touch with customer relations, was sent the facial moisturiser from the sensitive range to try instead which worked really well. 

Hope you found this review helpful!

*Disclaimer: I have oily, sensitive skin and these products were tested over six months. These products were purchased with my own money and all opinions are honest and my own.

xx Catherine

Update & Favourite Autumn Trends

Last week at uni can only be described as the week from hell. With the end of semester comes so many assignments and to say I'm stressed out would be the biggest understatement of the year. But that's all the boring stuff... I've had some really exciting things happening beauty wise and in relation to my blog so I cannot wait to share these exciting things with you all...(maybe even a completely new makeup storage!!)

Today I really wanted to write about some of my favourite trends from Autumn as we end into winter in only a couple of weeks. Enjoy my top 5 Autumn trends which I will totally be wearing into winter as well !

1// Matte Lips

To be honest sometimes I can be a little lazy with my makeup, especially when I have to get to uni for a 9am class. This usually means basics - foundation, powder, a little bit of blush, mascara and of course lipstick. And if I'm going to be at uni all day I really don't want to have to worry about touch ups AT ALL. That's why I've been loving these matte lipsticks, put them on in the morning and they are going to stay on all day between eating and drinking and running around campus. I've especially been loving my new lipsticks from Shanghai Suzy and of course my ultimate favourite nude is Australis Go Long Lipstick in Preppy. For Autumn I've been mixing it up between bright berry/pink shades, my go-to nude pink or a peachy coral.

2// Cream Blushes and Cheek Stains

Because I prefer a matte base, I always like to add a little extra glow to my cheeks with a cream blush. I love that subtle pop of colour that gives the impression of watercolours or flower petals floating in water. I mentioned the Sportsgirl cream blush I'm loving in my last weekly beauty edit and my other favourites are the Stila Convertible Colour in Lillium and the Benefit Lollitint which I love on my lips as well.

3// 'Lit From Within'

Continuing the glowing cheeks theme I have absolutely been obsessed with highlighting, again particularly with liquid products. The Australis Mineral Highlighter in Pearl is so gorgeous, if you don't have this in your collection you definitely need to get on it ASAP! Super affordable and so beautiful.

4// Sculpted Cheeks

I've really been getting onto the contour bandwagon especially since I've got the hang of my Real Techniques contour brush. For an everyday contour (if I have the time) I love using the NYX blush in Taupe which is fabulous for creating a really natural shadow effect. For night time looks I can't go past my favourite bronzer, Hoola by Benefit. Combined with MAC blush in Melba and topped off with the Australis highlight is my ultimate go to 'dressed up' look. Check it out in my FOTD here.

5// False Lashes

Ever since I've figured out how to apply false lashes I can't get enough! I'm obsessed with long flirty lashes, corner lash accents and really full ones to add volume as well. Since i've always lacked a little bit in the lash department all my greatest lash dreams have come true. I can definitely see myself adding lashes to my looks all throughout winter.

I hope you enjoyed this post, hopefully things will get back to normal this week and here's a little sneak peek at my new makeup storage (eeek!!) - I'll be doing a makeup collection post in the very near future.

Have a beautiful week!

xx Catherine

FOTD: Arctic Monkeys Concert

Last week I went to see my favourite band live, The Arctic Monkeys. My outfit was pretty standard - band shirt and denim jacket, so I thought I would do something really exciting with my makeup. Something about this event screamed a red lip to me, so I paired a classic red lip with a winged liner and long lashes. Read on to see how I got this look!

40% Off Haircare at Priceline

I love when I see this on the Priceline Website! The best opportunity to restock on your favourites or pick up some new products to try. Let me know in the comments if you got anything!

Happy Shopping!
xx Catherine

Weekly Beauty Edit #5

1/ /Lush Ballistic Bath Bombs
The bath ballistics are definitely my favourite product from Lush and having a bath in one is simultaneously super exciting and also really relaxing. Especially when I feel my skin is looking a bit worse for wear or it needs a bit of a 'pick me up' the bath ballistics make my skin feel so so soft and refreshed. They are super moisturising and contain all beautiful natural ingredients. My favourite is Phoenix Rising and I recently picked this limited edition mothers day one called "Mumkin" super cut and smells like raspberries mmmm.

2// Shopping Beauty in Australia 
So many exciting developments in the last couple of weeks means that getting your hands on cosmetics in Australia is going to get a whole lot easier. Sephora officially confirmed they will be opening a store in Sydney by the end of the year which is really  going to change beauty retail in Australia. As well as this you can now shop on iherb in AUD$ which will save you money in conversion fees and makes shopping just that much easier ! iHerb is the best place to buy Real Techniques brushes at US prices and they also stock Elf, Physicians Formula and a whole heap of skin care and health foods.

3// Dr Dennis Gross CC Cream

I recently picked this up from Mecca and wow! I've been wearing this every day to uni and it is the perfect everyday base. The best thing about this is that it looks just like skin but smooths everything out, reduces redness and gives me that extra confidence in my skin. A full review will be going up this week!

4// Sportsgirl Blush

I really love cream blushes and this one is perfect for a slight flush of colour and shine. Because I'm really pale I have to be really careful to not being too heavy handed with blush application but this gives such a perfect subtle pop of colour. I like to use this on a stippling brush but would also work just as well dabbed on with your fingers. Unfortunately I think these are being discontinued which is why they were on sale but if you're in Sportsgirl check their sale section and you might be lucky enough to pick one up! 

5// Cara Delevingne 
My current girl crush ! She is so beautiful and her entire outfit for the recent Met Ball blew me away.

Here are my three posts from the last week so you don't miss out!

• Beauty tips from my mum! - Mother's Day Special
• Empties - What I'm throwing out
• Huge Haul!!

Until next time,

xx Catherine

HUGE Collective Haul

I've been shopping up a storm recently and can't wait to share all my new goodies with you !!

First up, I placed an order with crushcosmetics.com.au. This is one of my favourite Australian online shops to get US drugstore makeup and is where I first ordered NYX from before it became available in Australia. They have now expanded their range and stock Wet n Wild, Milani, Elf, Jordana as well as Sleek and you can also get both the Beauty Blenders and Real Techniques sponges from them as well. They have super fast shipping and even though the prices are definitely higher than shopping on cherryculture or beautyjoint, if I'm not doing a huge order I don't want to wait 3 weeks or pay heaps on shipping.

I picked up products I've been dying to try for ages including the Beauty Blender, Milani's blush in Luminoso, the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yoghurt and Wet n' Wild palettes in Comfort Zone and Walking on Eggshells. I also added some Ardell lashes to my cart to qualify for free shipping.

Secondly, Priceline recently had their 'Gift of Beauty' promotion, where if you spend $60 on certain brands, you get a free gift bag! Gift with purchase is definitely my favourite things ever so I definitely jumped on this offer.

To reach the $60 threshold I picked up a few lipsticks I've been wanting for ages: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 'As you want Victoria' (which I forgot to photograph) and the Maybelline Colour Sensational Bold Matte in 'Mat 1'. I also finally found some stock of the new Maybelline Colour Sensational Stripped Nudes collection and picked up 'Tantalising Taupe'. I swear, the search for this shade had me scour all the Priceline and Target stores in inner Sydney! I also picked up the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser and this absolutely gorgeous Custom Eyes palette from Revlon in '020 Naturally Glamorous'. Like I needed another nude palette... I just couldn't resist the beautiful quilted texture!

And onto the gift bag! Unfortunately both shades of the BB cream and the foundation were way to dark for me but I will be happy to regift. This does however bring down the value of the bag and I think that Priceline could have done a better job in making the bag really great value for money. Overall most of the products are really fun and ones I wouldn't have picked up myself so I can't wait to give them a try.The bag itself is also quite cute!

Another item I've been lusting over for a while and an EssieButton induced purchase, the Body Shop Honey Bronzer in '01'. This is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to wear it throughout winter, where I feel my Hoola bronzer will look a bit muddy on my particularly fair skin. How amazing is the honeycomb texture!?

Finally, after seeing the Shanghai Suzy lipsticks keep popping up on one of my favourite beauty blogs More than Adored, I just had to place an order. What first struck me about these lipsticks were how affordable they were and the shades available were all beautiful and definitely on trend. Shipping was quite fast too - so my first impressions were definitely good. I can't wait to try these out!

The shades I got were; The Gossling Lippie, Miss Simone, Miss Melissa and  Miss Sophia.

Since I've pretty much ticked everything off my current wish list and given my Priceline card a good workout, I'll be putting myself on a definitely needed spending ban. I really want to give all these new products a good test and provide some in depth reviews. So now you know all the exciting things coming up!

Until next time,
xx Catherine

Empties - What I'm Throwing Out #1

If you don't read many beauty blogs or watch beauty videos on YouTube you might find it strange that I'm showing you my rubbish! However, I love these posts because after finishing a product you can really get a sense of how it works and give a really good review. So here are all the products I've used up in the last couple of months as well as products that were so bad I had to throw them out anyway!

// smartskin Moisturising Facial Cleansing Wipes
The smartskin wipes are my most used because they are only $2 from Woolworths. To be honest I can't justify spending more than that on wipes and these do the job particularly as I have a pretty thorough cleansing routine after I take off my makeup anyway. I use these for everything as well, wiping up spills, cleaning makeup bottles, getting lipstick off surfaces - so these are cheap and multipurpose!
Repurchase: Definitely, already have a few back ups!

// Purex Visage Daily Control Facial Cleansing Wipes
These were ok, fairly similar to the smartskin wipes but perhaps had a little bit more moisture to them. They were thinner though and I found myself putting my fingers through them often. I'm pretty sure my mum bought these online and I just took them from her bathroom.
Repurchase: No, I wouldn't know where to get them anyway

// wotnot Facial Wipes for oily/sensitive skin
I got these as a sample and wow these are very luxurious! Amazingly soft, so moisturising and the wipes themselves were so big - I liked having the extra surface area when removing my makeup.
Repurchase: I loved these, but to be honest I don't think I will purchase them, mainly because of the price.

// Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner
I've already talked about this heaps on my blog! Check out my review from my Monthly Roundup.
Repurchase: Already have!

// Sukin Revitalising Facial Scrub
I have really enjoyed the skincare from Sukin and this scrub was no exception. It is a really gentle scrub that uses natural ingredients like bamboo and walnut shells that work really well to exfoliate the skin. While I found this worked well to maintain my skin, It didn't have any outstanding effects. However, if you have normal skin and don't experience any breakouts or other skin concerns this is a fantastic gentle scrub.
Repurchase: Possibly in the future, I'm keen to try some other scrubs out though.

// Natio Antioxidant Face Moisturiser
Again, another product I have already reviewed and you can check out that review here. My favourite night time moisturiser!
Repurchase: Already have!

// Kosmea Rosehip Oil
I was so happy I received this sample in my David Jones sample tote and adding rose hip oil to my skincare routine has made a huge difference. It is fantastic in adding moisture to your skin and for me I have found its smooths my skin, reduces pores and adds a little extra glow as well! 
Repurchase: Definitely. I already purchased some more rosehip oil but from Trilogy.

// Revlon Age Defying Face Serum
This was a sample and it was ok as a serum and worked particularly well in the summer months when my skin was more oily than it is now. To be honest, I used this without much thought as it was a sample and I know I'm not looking for any anti-ageing products so unfortunately this review isn't very helpful.
Repurchase: No.

// Girlz Only XXL Volume-Plus Dry Shampoo
This is a fantastic dry shampoo and its only $2 at Target! I definitely recommend this version over the original as it gives a more intense clean as well as having a nicer scent. As it is marketed to, it definitely adds extra volume to your hair so a great option for those with fine or limp hair.
Repurchase: Definitely! I do have a few dry shampoos going at the moment though, so not right away.
// Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Repairing Lotion
My favourite body lotion, this is a really light moisturiser that has a thin consistency which makes it super easy to apply and is fast absorbing. My skin gets really dry and this is the perfect moisturiser for everyday to lock in the moisture and the thin consistency makes it perfect for everyday application - just slap it on and go. 
Repurchase: Already have ! This time in mango flavour mmmm
// The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower gel
I absolutely love this shower gel mostly because the smell was so fresh and fruity. It was a foaming showergel which meant the easiest way to apply it is on a soft sponge or loofa. I definitely recommend these shower gels and this scent in particular is great if you love citrus.
Repurchase: I don't tend to buy these kind of things for myself so probably not.
// Dove Clear Touch Roll On Deodorant
I have been converted to roll on! This deodorant is amazing because there is no residue left behind and my fears of roll on feeling wet and gross were all gone after finding this one. This doesn't have a notable scent which I prefer but there are others available in the range. I find I keep dry and fresh all day so this is definitely a great deodorant to try if you struggle with perspiration.
Repurchase: Already have!

And on to the products that I couldn't bring myself to use anymore...

// Simple Eye Make-up Corrector Pen
While the idea of this is appealing, unfortunately it doesn't work. I found it just made things messier, the tip got dirty and I couldn't clean it and in the end you can use a cotton bud with a little bit of makeup remover on the end and it will do a much better job at cleaning up little mistakes.

// Essence BB Cream
This is just one big orange mess! It provides little coverage, is so difficult to blend out, smells awful and worst of all is the most unflattering doritos-orange. Its so bad I am upset about the $3 I spent on it, which is a shame because Essence have some really fantastic affordable products.

// Revlon Nail Art Nail Polish 
I had two of these and have had to throw them both out. The formula of the nail polish is awful and is so hard to apply without having so many streaks. Also because of the double ended packaging when stored standing up, one end is going to get stuck in the lid and go all gloopy. I don't know I just really didn't like this product and think its a bit gimmicky.

I apologise for the extremely long post but I hope you found some of these reviews helpful.
Have a beautiful day,
Catherine xx

Mum Knows Best - Mother's Day Special

With mother's day coming up this Sunday I thought I would dedicate this post to my mum!

I recently did makeup for my mum when she went out for her birthday dinner with friends. I used my Kate Somerville CC cream on her which looked amazing but was a shade too light. Then added some of her favourite blush from Natio and a natural eye look using her Benefit 'Big Beautiful Eyes' Palette. Finally, mum finished the look off with her favourite lipstick from Maybelline.

My mum just turned 49 and has amazing skin and so I thought I would ask her for her beauty secrets.

What's your best beauty tip?

Moisturise everyday and always wear lipstick! Moisturising is one of my anti ageing tips as dry skin makes you look old. I also feel naked without lipstick.

What is a new product you've tried recently you really like?

I really like the Australis Fresh & Flawless powder! It gives neat, even coverage. It lasts longer than other powders I've tried and gives a smoother coverage.

Most embarrassing beauty moment?

I have dark curly hair and got it dyed blonde when I was a teenager. I couldn't afford to keep up with the regrowth and had a lovely dark stripe down my head and the blonde turned orange !

I hope you enjoyed this post !
xx Catherine

Monthly Roundup: April

After a failed attempt at filming a favourites video at the end of March I have so many favourites to share with you this month! I've been trying lots of new products and this month's roundup will include some little reviews.

// Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Such a fantastic affordable concealer. It is really creamy, easily blended out and provides great coverage under the eyes or over blemishes. I've been reaching for this everyday and much more than my high end concealers so it makes it into my favourites this month! Maybelline is almost always on sale at either Priceline or Target so you can definitely get this at a great price but normally retails for $14.95.

// NYX Love in Paris palette in 'Madeleines and Macarons'

I don't think I've used any other eyeshadow palette this month! This palette from NYX is absolutely gorgeous and had really beautiful matte and shimmery neutral shades. Whilst the shadows themselves aren't the most pigmented I've ever tried, they definitely blend well, have minimal fallout and are not chalky at all. They have a fantastic staying power that is even better with a primer underneath. Overall I think this is an amazing affordable eyeshadow palette with really cute packaging too. The fact that I've used it every time I've done an eye look this month speaks for itself. They retail for $16.95 from Target or $10 online from cherryculture.

// Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner

Hands down my favourite skincare product this month! My skin has recently become quite dry as the weather gets colder which I'm not used to at all. This has been so helpful adding moisture back into my skin after cleansing and it is also really refreshing. Recently repurchased and absolutely recommend! Probably my favourite from the Sukin range. Sukin is available at Priceline and selected chemists.

// New Lipstick Discoveries

R-L: Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm, Ulta3 Matte Lipstick, Sportsgirl Lipstick, Australis Colour Inject Lipstick.

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect everyday lipstick or just that one lipstick that I'll fall head over heels for. Unfortunately, April was not the month and I'm still looking for my one true lipstick love. However, here are a few fun ones I've recently discovered and definitely recommend:

• Sportsgirl 'Pout About It' Lipcolour in Berrylicious - I am beyond impressed with this lipstick from Sportsgirl. It is super matte while still being comfortable on the lips and really longlasting. The best thing is its really affordable at under $10. Berrylicious is probably the craziest lip colour I own, being a bright purple but I loved the formula so much I can really see myself pulling this one out quite a lot!
• Ulta3 Matte Lipstick in Harem Pink - Another fantastic affordable matte lipstick. The colour is definitely the defining feature of this lipstick though, its so beautiful and I've never seen anything like it! I wore it in my $20 Makeup challenge which you can check out here.
• Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Ballet - I pull this lipstick out whenever I'm not sure what to wear on my lips and am never disappointed! Such a beautiful peachy pink with a really nice sheer, moisturising and build able formula.
• Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Elusive - My favourite of the Matte Balm colours. I go on about these enough and you can check out my full review here.

I've definitely made some progress with more of my beauty goals I set myself at the beginning of the year which is very exciting! I've officially mastered applying false lashes and have been shopping for all different types of lashes ever since. I've found a few great pairs from Ardell as well as really affordable ones from Daiso! I even picked up this adorable eyelash holder from Daiso, its so cute I couldn't not have it.

Thank you to all my new followers and everyone who reads and posts a comment! I love hearing all your feedback.
Wishing everyone a wonderful month of May <3

xx Catherine