Top 10 under $20// Drugstore Starter Kit

I wish that beauty items weren't so overpriced in Australia so this post could have a more catchy title, but alas here are some rad products that are super affordable AND of amazing quality. If you are just starting out with makeup or want to build a small makeup collection on a budget these are my picks for the perfect 'starter kit'.

1// Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation [$19.95]

This is a really fantastic full coverage, matte foundation that you can rely on for a truly flawless finish. My go-to for a night-out. Unfortunately in Australia the shade range is quite limited so it's unlikely you'll find a shade at either ends of the skin-tone spectrum.

2// Maybelline Fit-Me Concealer [$14.95]

A well loved drugstore concealer and it's definitely worth the hype. Great to use under the eyes, on blemishes and over redness as well as being super creamy and easy to blend. An awesome choice for beginners, but again it can be difficult to find the correct shade so make sure you swatch in store or ask for help.

3// Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder [$11.95]

Definitely one of the best translucent setting powders I have tried and it comes with HEAPS of product. Keeps you matte, great at setting foundation and doesn't look cakey at all, this is definitely one to try if you can find it in stock!
Also available at Big W and K-Mart.

4// Sleek Face Form Palette [$14.99]

The perfect palette for a starter kit as it houses all the face products you need - a matte bronzer which can be used for bronzing or contouring, a shimmery highlight as well as a blush! They also come in different shades for different skin tones so you're definitely going to find a palette with products that work for you.

5// Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Trios 

For the price, you cannot go wrong with Wet n' Wild shadows. They are soft, creamy, easy to blend and these trios literally give you an eye look in 3 steps. I cannot recommend these enough and would make a great addition to any makeup collection. They also have some bright colours to experiment with. These shadows aren't available in Australian stores but you can purchase them from crushcosmetics.com.au [AUD$8.00] or if you don't mind waiting for shipping, from beautyjoint.com [USD$3.99].

6// Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Khol Kajal [$9.95]

My favourite affordable eyeliners, these Rimmel Khol Kajals are pigmented, creamy and glide on the eyelid and in the waterline so easily! You can also smudge them out a bit to create a smokey look but once they set - they ain't going anywhere. Definitely a great choice if you're looking for a long wearing eyeliner. For beginners I recommend the shades 'Black' and 'Bronze'.

7// Maybelline The Falsies Mascara [$19.95]

Everything you need in a mascara - volume, length and amazing definition. The natural fibre brush makes it easy to use and the formula is also easy to work with - not too wet or dry. Oh and never buy this full price! Maybelline is always on sale somewhere and you can easily find this at half price by shopping around.

8// Essence Eyebrow Designer [$3.05]

My no.1 regret as a makeup newbie was ignoring my brows. My go-to brow product from the drugstore, I love this pencil for its surprising versatility and hard, waxy texture. A simple to use, one step brow product will add extra colour as well as holding those stray brows in place.

9// Revlon ColourBurst Balms [$17.95]

Practically all my favourite lip products are from the drugstore and come in under $20 so it was pretty hard to choose my no.1 pick perfect for a beginner's starter kit. I chose the Revlon ColourBurst Balms because they come in three different formulas which are all equally amazing. The Just Bitten Kissable Stains are perfect for a sheer wash of colour in a really moisturising formula - try 'Honey' for a 'my lips but better' shade. The Matte Balms are super pigmented and leave a gorgeous matte finish whilst still being really comfortable to wear - try 'Sultry' for a versatile, deep rosey shade. Finally, the Lacquer Balms offer a high gloss finish - try 'Coquette' for a fun vibrant pink. As well as this, the fact that they are a jumbo lip pencil makes application foolproof!

10// Real Techniques Brushes 

If you've been reading my blog for a while you may now my absolute love of the Real Techniques brushes. They are incredible quality for the price and so versatile as well. They are also great for beginners as they have synthetic bristles which are really easy to maintain. As always I suggest buying Real Techniques from iHerb where you can get their Core Collection and Enhanced Starter Set for $18.00! You can now shop in AUD$ on iHerb and they ship with Australia Post at an affordable rate. I've done a review of some Real Techniques brushes here.

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Brand Focus//Tarte

Tarte is fast becoming one of my favourite makeup brands ever. From the first sweep of blush across my cheeks, I knew it would be a long love affair. Now with Tarte available on Australian shores my hot little hands have got hold of some amazing products from the line.

As I mentioned above the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are of incredible quality and easily my favourite product from Tarte. My first Tarte blush was 'Natural Beauty' which is a classic rouge and absolutely gorgeous on pale skin tones! I love using this with a heavier eye look as it gives a natural flush. The other Tarte blushes in my collection are all limited edition which is very special but unfortunately you probably won't be able to get your hands on these shades unless they are re-released. In the Rainforest After Dark Palette is 'Unleased' a lovely muted, rosy nude and the Pin Up Girl Palette has five shades: Breathless, Embraced, Whimsy, Bashful and Irreplaceable. These blushes truly do last 12 hours which is fantastic for those who need their makeup to stay on through long days at work!

One of my favourite new finds from Tarte are their eyeshadows. I have been drooling over the new Tartlette palette on instagram but of course, it hasn't yet landed in Australia. Lucky I've already had a chance to try out their shadows in a few of their limited edition palettes I've got so I can tell you that I highly recommend picking up the Tartlette palette when it comes in stock in Sephora.

On high rotation for me at the moment is the 20 pan eyeshadow palette from the Bon Voyage Holiday Set. The matte shades are incredibly creamy and just a dream to apply. They are probably one of the best matte eyeshadow formulas that I have ever tried. They also last so well on the lids, which is quite a feat on my super slippery eyelids. The shimmers are also beautiful and shades apply true to pan. From gorgeous, every neutral shades to a dark forest green and deep navy this palette is a dream come true - a smooth and long-wearing dream.

Tarte definitely do eye products well because their mascaras also meet the mark. I have fallen in love with Lights, Camera, Flashes which is surprising because I usually hate mascara wands with plastic bristles. At first I wasn't impressed and mostly just ended up with mascara in my eye but once I figured out the two-step system I found this mascara gave amazing long and voluminous lashes - and it's as easy as using one side of the wand then turning it around and using the other side! Whilst Lights, Camera, Flashes has been in my makeup bag for a while, I've recently been trying the Gifted mascara which is beautiful for length, whilst still looking natural and the Lights, Camera, Lashes is somewhere in between the two.

I haven't tried too many of the Tarte lip products however I do recommend their LipSurgence Lip Tints. I have the shades 'Elite' a lovely peachy-coral and 'Romantic' a rosey-nude. These are similar to the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stains with a creamy, moisturising formula whilst still packing a punch in terms of pigmentation. I also own one of their LipSurgence Lipgloss in 'Visionary'. I'm not much of a lipgloss girl so I don't reach for this very often but its slightly too sticky for me to wear this on its own.

Finally, the product that started my Tarte obsession was the Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation. Whilst I used to be obsessed with mineral makeup, this product has sat in the back of my draw for a while. I'm glad I pulled it out again because the finish of this foundation is like unicorn babies have licked your face and left magical, buttery skin behind. I buff this foundation in using the Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush.

Tarte is available from Sephora in Sydney. Browse the Tarte collection here.

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BREAKING BEAUTY NEWS

A few announcements were made today that I'm sure you'll be excited about!

Firstly, everyone's favourite sale, 40% off at Priceline is on tomorrow and Thursday - 28th & 29th January. This time round you can save on all skincare, sun care and tanning products.

Probably the most exciting announcement of the day however, is that Mecca Maxima will be stocking Urban Decay! With UD being left off the list of brands to be stocked in Sephora, there was lots of speculation surrounding which retailer had the exclusivity deal with the popular brand. Finally today we found out that come March 27th Aussies will be able to purchase the FULL Urban Decay range from Mecca Maxima stores. Check out all the info here.

Much excitement!

xx Catherine 

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New In: Nail Polish

This summer I have been absolutely loving playing with nail polish, switching up colours every two or three days! So lately whenever I pop into Priceline I can't help but pick up some new shades. Here are the latest additions to my collection:

Firstly, I picked up two shades from the new Essence Beach Cruisers trend edition. I always love the Essence limited edition collections and both 02 Girls Just Wanna Have Sun! and 03 Keep Calm and Go to the Beach! are absolutely perfect for summer. They also have a pretty gold shimmer throughout the which is something unique to my collection.

I've been meaning to try more polishes from Essie and when I received a $5 off coupon I jumped at the chance and picked up Spaghetti Strap. It is such a gorgeous pastel pink and perfect for everyday or as a base for glitter top coats.

My next pick is a gorgeous shade, but a bit of a disappointment. I bought Up the Ante from the Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy range after seeing Estée from Essie Button wearing it in a few of her videos. I hope hoping this shade would be a little more unique than others in my collection but unfortunately it is almost exactly the same as Essence 'Break Through'. However, after initially hating the Revlon Gel polishes I've found by applying thin coats and at least two layers of the top coat the finish is so glossy and really does last ages on the nails!

Finally, all the shades in the Maybelline Super Stay 7 Day Gel Nail collection are really unique and I can't believe I've been able to show some restraint and only pick up one! I bought Forever Green which i have been loving throughout summer on the toes.

What's your favourite nail polish colour for summer?

xx Catherine

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Transform Your Wardrobe

Original Image: New York Times 2013

It's that time of the year where resolutions are made, gym memberships are signed and you probably have a little extra motivation to just get things done. The first step for me was cleaning out my wardrobe - clear space, clear mind. Here are my tips for completely transforming your wardrobe and what better time to do it than at the start of a new year?

The transformation consists of three stages. Firstly though, start by making your bed. Take off your sheets and put a clean pair on. Not only are clean sheets the best thing in the world, a freshly made bed is a great blank canvas to organise your clothes on.

Stage 1// The Purge

This is the difficult, emotional stage - but also the most rewarding. Grab some heavy duty garbage bags and an open mind. The easiest place to start is the pull out everything from your wardrobe and organised into two piles of 'Definitely keep' and 'Not sure'. Now the real fun begins. Here's a checklist for sorting your 'Not sure' pile.

• Does it fit? If no, then it's time to purge. If the item is still in good condition you can either donate it, give it to a friend or sell it.
• Does it have sentimental value? For example, I'm never going to wear my school blazer again, but I'm not going to get rid of it. Whilst other items of school uniform might also be sentimental, old tracksuits, worn out school shirts and green school socks you're never going to wear again probably don't need to be kept. Sentimental items can be stored, but make sure they are clean and are protected. 
• Have you worn it in the last 6 months? If yes, then you are probably getting good use of it and you should keep it. If no, consider if realistically you'll ever wear it again and pass it on. Other 'once-in-a-while' items, like ski jackets or that one 'cleaning' shirt obviously have a place.
• Is it worn out? Lots of clothing these days, especially from budget friendly stores aren't of the highest quality and as such don't often last more than a season. If a t-shirt looks worse for wear or all the colour has faded from your favourite dress then don't bother passing it on and bin it!

Oh! And don't forget to sort shoes and accessories.

Stage 2// Organise

The find the simplest way to organise your wardrobe is 2 groups - hanging and folded and then into subcategories - shirts, shorts, jumpers, dresses etc.

I usually then organise within those categories. For example, I hang my dresses by occasion from casual to formal. My draws are less organised but when folding t-shirts I'll place the one's I wear most at the top, or shuffle around the order according to the season.


Organising your wardrobe can sometimes be a little restricted in terms of space and layout. However, IKEA has a whole heap of amazing storage solutions that are super affordable. I always use a hanging shoe organiser to save space and draw dividers to separate underwear and socks. I also have a belt loop which is very convenient. I also suggest switching out old, bent coat hangers (or ugly frilly ones) for new ones which can be purchased inexpensively and you can also make it so everything matches!

Stage 3// Plan Ahead

After purging and then organising your wardrobe, it will be easy to see what is missing in your collection. If you got rid of all your old bras, you don't want to be stuck without any! Write a list of wardrobe essentials that are missing e.g. underwear, jeans, coat, basically anything you would be stuck without. Planning ahead for a shopping trip will make it easier to resist impulse purchases that are just going to clog up your closet again. You may have cleared out a whole heap of dresses you never wore but it doesn't mean you need to buy a new one.

Another good idea is to do some online research. Say you always wear Levi jeans and your old pair just didn't fit anymore - don't go straight into the Levi store at the mall, search online for a better price or if there are any outlets in your area that are having sales. Shopping online for staples is a great idea especially if you already know your size. Being a savvy consumer is so important! You can only benefit from researching choices and giving yourself a budget.

I hope this gave you a little motivation to start your own wardrobe transformation!

xx Catherine

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Party Perfect in 5 Steps

With the new year just gone, I saw so many amazing glam looks up on Youtube. To be honest, I was a little intimidated because a lot of these looks featured complicated looking smokey-eyes. I love spending an hour or so getting ready but I can't even imagine how much time I would need take with my blending brushes to make sure my eye look was on point.

So instead of crying over my lack of makeup skills, I thought I would share with you how I like to do makeup for a special occasion. You can mix it up with shades or different finishes but when I get ready for a party it comes down to five easy steps:

1. Flawless complexion with a fresh, glowy finish
2. A pop of colour on the cheeks in a peachy coral or bright pink (a little bit of shimmer never goes astray either!)
3. A sweep of bronzer all over the face
4. Neutral eye look complimented with lots of lashes - add a bit of liner if you like!
5. ...And for the lips I usually chose something fairly neutral, with a glossy finish to make my lips look plump and juicy.

I did the above look on my friend Natalie for a Christmas party she was going to. I used the base products mention in my sweat-proof makeup post to create a light-weight but flawless base, MAC Melba to add brightness and warmth to the face and shadows from the Lorac Mega Pro Palette for the eyes. In particular, I used the shade Apricot to tie in with the blush and make the eyes pop! P.S. how gorgeous does Nat look?

xx Catherine

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Sweat-Proof Summer Makeup

It's gets pretty hot during summer in Australia. I'm not talking just warm enough to walk around in pretty dresses or cute shorts, but an average day usually includes being drenched in sweat as the wall of heat hits you. This is definitely not good news for the longevity of your makeup. Luckily there are a few great products that make wearing makeup wearable during the hottest times of the year and also actually stays on your face.

The worst thing I could possibly think of on super hot day is wearing a thick layer of stuff on my face, which is why a light weight foundation is a great option for warm weather. I like the Chi Chi Super BB Cream [$22.95] which gives decent coverage and evens out the skin tone. Another great option is MAC Face and Body Foundation [$49.00-$60.00], which is practically undetectable on the skin, has an amazing finish and can be built up for a fuller coverage without the cakey-ness.

Oh and of course a primer underneath your foundation will also help extend the life of your makeup look. I like Benefit's Porefessional [$53.00] to fill in pores and Laura Mercier Foundation Primer [$45.00] to lock in moisture.

Although I do prefer a fresh, dewy glow for a summer look, I definitely don't want to look either oily or sweaty. The line between 'glowy' and 'sweaty' is a fine one so setting your base with a powder is a must. My favourite this summer has definitely been MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural [$49.00]. This does everything you want from a setting powder - gives a flawless finish, sets your foundation in place and doesn't look cakey or powdery at all.

For the eyes, again a primer will help colour stay on your eyelid and not migrate into the crease. The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk is a great base for powder shadows to stick to. However, I usually opt for a cream eyeshadow like the Maybelline Colour Tattoos which are also really easy to apply. And if you're looking for a long lasting blush, something like the Benefit Cheek Stains will stay on all day, or if you prefer a powder the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour blushes, really do last well, even in the heat.


xx Catherine

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Shopping My (Sample) Stash

For about six months I was subscribed to both Bellabox and Violet Box as well as receiving the first Marie Claire subscription box. Subscription boxes are a really fun way to discover new beauty. Bellabox provided samples from popular brands and for cult products, while Violet Box truely opened my eyes up to the world of Indie Makeup brands and I discovered some real gems.

However, after six months I've accumulated more samples than one would ever need. I've discontinued both my subscriptions so I actually have a chance to properly try all my samples and hopefully find some new favourites and of course save some money!

I love to organise things so made the most out of this Ikea organiser to have all my samples easily accessible - and I've already discovered a few gems!

 

//Elizabeth Mott It's so BIG Volumizing Mascara [$25.00]
This one came in my last Bellabox and it's definitely a great find! Firstly, I would never have come across the brand if I didn't receive it in my box and secondly its the kind of mascara that's right up my alley - texture that's quite wet, medium sized fibre brush and gives both length and volume.

//KMS California Hair Play Moulding Paste [$31.99]
Now this is a real surprise find because I would never in my life have bought a hair styling product. I wash and brush my hair and that's about it. However, I rub just a little bit between my fingers and then brush it through my hair when its wet adding texture and volume - kind of like a 'beach waves' look. This sample was from a Violet Box way back!

//Camille Beckman Glycerine Hand Therapy [$18.95 - $21-95]
Best smelling hand cream ever!! My little sample pot has almost run out and I'm so tempted to buy a full size as it adds so much moisture to my lizard hands! Another great find from Violet Box.

I've linked below some of my subscription box reviews if you're interested - and a heads up, I would definitely give Violet Box ago if you are a beauty lover who already has a large stash.

September Violet Box

July Violet Box

Bellabox - September, August, July, June

xx Catherine

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Beauty Favourites - Top 14 of 2014

Let's just say I tried a few beauty products in 2014. Actually, to be honest, its more than a few...probably into the hundreds. But I took one for the team and from exciting new releases to old favourites and cult products I've put together a list of my top 14 products of 2014. Enjoy!

FACE
1// Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($14.95)
To be honest, I always felt I had to rely on high end products for my base but this concealer from Maybelline is incredible for the price. Perfect for under the eyes, on blemishes and to cover redness this is definitely by no.1 drugstore recommendation.

Review

2// The Body Shop Honey Bronzer ($22.95)
I don't think I have once used another bronzer since I picked this one up. Using a big fluffy brush adding a natural bronze to my face with this product is practically fool proof. A beautiful bronze shade that isn't orange at all and perfect for all skin tones as it comes in three shades. It's also really blend able and will last all day. Worth the investment!

Review

3// MAC Powder Blush in 'Melba' ($41.00)
This is everything you want in a blush - it blends beautifully, looks gorgeous on any skin tone and with any look and most importantly is a pretty great colour. Melba is one of those blushers I reached for when I didn't know what blush to wear. If you are just starting out with makeup or looking for a new signature blush, pop into a MAC store and try Melba - you won't be disappointed.

Swatches

EYES
4// Maybelline The Falsies Mascara ($19.95)
Another AWESOME find from the drugstore and once again Maybelline offers excellent value. The formula is great - not too wet or dry - and easy to work with along with a great want. It will last all day without smudging or flaking either. My favourite choice for thick, long lashes without much of a fuss.

Review

5// Lancôme Hypnose Mascara ($52.00)
My favourite ever mascara of all time! If you've read my blog all year you'll know I rave about this product a lot and it's been one of my favourite makeup products even before my makeup obsession when I wore makeup about three times a year. It's definitely a splurge item that I believe is worth the price tag. Unlike the mascara from Maybelline, this mascara will last longer, never irritate your eyes and with just one layer separate your lashes whilst adding amazing length and the perfect amount of volume every time.

Review

6// Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Bad to the Bronze' ($11.95)
Yep, another amazing Maybelline product. The Colour Tattoos are cream eyeshadows that are perfect for that smokey eye look with about zero effort. Sweep over the eyelid using either your finger or a synthetic brush and voila! Easiest eye look ever. As the name 'tattoo' suggests, these really don't budge once you've applied them so they are a perfect eyeshadow option for summer. While 'Bad to the Bronze' is my favourite shade to wear on its own, I've got heaps of other shades that I like to use as a base for other eyeshadows to create extra dimension to my eye look.

Review

7// NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk' ($9.95)
Milk is the ultimate cult beauty product. It's not a new release by any means and a permanent addition to the NYX line but finding in stock is a mission. I wear this everyday as a highlight under my brows and it also makes an awesome eyeshadow primer. A great all-round product which is proven by it's popularity. If you're in Target, swing past the NYX stand to see if you can find one in stock - in which case you should buy it.

8// NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in 'Rue Bonaparte' ($32.00)
A product I've mentioned in my monthly roundup posts countless times this year because it really is one of my favourite products ever. I haven't yet found another eye pencil that stays in the waterline no matter what. It has a high price tag, especially for a pencil but well worth the money and you'll definitely get a lot of use out of it. With any makeup look this looks amazing on the waterline to make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

Review

9// Benefit Gimme Brow ($32.00)
2014 was the year of the brow and the search was on for the perfect brow product. I'm pretty happy with how far my brows have come this year and I have Benefit to thank for that. Apart from regular appointments to get a wax and tint the Benefit Gimme Brow worked to add a little bit of colour and hold those stray brow hairs in place. Literally the perfect brow gel with the handiest little wand making to super easy to apply too. My pick of the brow products this year!

Review

LIPS
10// MAC Lipstick in 'Plumful' ($36.00)
In my makeup explorations of 2014, I definitely tried more lipsticks than any other type of product. Plumful was my most worn and favourite shade meaning it is definitely an amazing product. A soft, rosy-purple shade in MAC's Lustre formula Plumful is not only super pretty on the lips but really comfortable to wear and moisturising too.

Review

NAILS - Reviews
11// Sally Hansen Insta- Dri Topcoat ($15.45)
If 2014 was a quest, it would be the quest for the best nail polish top coat - one that was super fast drying, extended the wear of my nail colour and would give a glossy, gel like finish. Thankfully, the quest was completed and I found it in the Sally Hansen display in Priceline. One of my favourite discoveries of the year, it has made doing manicures at home so much easier.

12// Essence Cosmetics Nail Hardener ($4.10)
I've been a nail biter my whole life and was only able to kick the habit about a year ago, so my much destroyed nails still need a lot of TLC. I would never have been able to grow my nails so long without this product, makes such a difference to the thickness and strength of your nails and is also under $5.

SKINCARE
13// Trilogy Rosehip Oil ($19.99)
This year I have discovered the wonders of adding natural oils into my skincare routine, and Rosehip oil has by far been my favourite. In the winter, it added the moisture I needed when my skin became really dry and in the warmer months helped balance out the excess oils being produced by my skin. Since using it my skin has been overall smoother and brighter. It also helps fade scars and other gross spots super fast!

Review

14// Natio Antioxidant Moisturiser ($17.95)
I'm a Natio lover from way back and their Antioxidant Moisturiser has been a staple in my skincare routine all year. It is really rich and hydrating without being heavy at all, making it easy to apply and soaks in quickly.

Review

So there is all my love to all my favourite beauty products of 2014. I hope you enjoyed my roundup of this years best in beauty. Don't forget to check out the links under each product for more in depth reviews from posts throughout the year :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

xx Catherine

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