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Monday, 23 February 2015

What's In My Makeup Bag? Shop My Stash Edition


Earlier this year I went through my entire makeup collection so I could organise everything and remind myself that I really don't need another foundation or mascara or lipstick...
Not only was I able to organise everything and make things more accessible I came across some long lost favourites that were hidden at the back of the draw and forgotten to new releases. I pulled out a few things and popped them in my everyday makeup bag so I could get some more use out of them and in some cases, try to finish them up!

The best rediscovery for me was definitely the Maybelline Mineral Power Powder Foundation and the Finishing Veil from the same range - you've probably seen these products pop up in a few of my FOTD posts recently. I forgot how much I loved to wear mineral foundation as it leaves such a flawless, velvety finish and it is a much welcomed addition to my everyday routine. It's also since been re-introduced to the Australian market after being discontinued - woo!

I also rediscovered the Kate Sommerville CC Cream which should never have been neglected considering how much I paid for it! This CC cream gives what I like to call "instagram face" i.e. it looks like your face has been smoothed and filtered in real life and I have been using this when I want a bit more of a glowy look. This used to be stocked at Mecca but it is unfortunately no longer on their website.

A few other complexion bits I pulled out and put in my makeup bag were the Benefit Erase Paste concealer and Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer. I love Fit Me and had just been trying out another concealer which is why it got a bit neglected. I am glad I pulled it out because it just last so well whether I'm using it under my eyes or over spots. The shade I have of Erase Paste is a little too dark for me but I have figured out I can use it to correct darkness under my eyes if I use another concealer on top. A bit of extra effort but I'd like to use this up so it doesn't go to waste.

I am pretty good at getting use out of all my blushes but my Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet has been neglected for a while. This is probably the oldest makeup item in my collection and there's only a little bit left so I'll try and finish it up. It is a gorgeous pinky coral shade with a beautiful fine gold shimmer. Whilst it's a pretty blush my preferences are now a little less subtle and more....clown like.

Finally are a few eye bits which easily get neglected because again my mascara and eyeliner collections are a little out of hand. For mascara I decided to get some use out of Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes which has the little wand for the lower lashes. The Falsies formula is my favourite from Maybelline but I do prefer the original brush better. For liner I picked an old Elizabeth Arden Eye Pencil in 03 Bronze which is nearly finished and for some reason I have 5 bronze eye liners that look exactly the same.

I've also switched up my everyday brow products to get some use out of some old favourites. Pulling out my Essence Eyebrow Designer in Blonde I remembered how frickin' amazing this product is for its $3 price tag. I am also endeavouring to finish up an old Manicare Clear Eyebrow Gel. This stuff is seriously crunchy but does the job so I won't waste it (I am desperately missing my Gimme Brow!!).

Hopefully this posts inspires you to go through your collection and pull out some old favourites!

xx Catherine


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Friday, 20 February 2015

The 'Me-Time' TAG


The gorgeous Essie Button & Amelia Liana have once again created their own tag with unique questions. I thought since I've been enjoying the summer indulging in some serious 'me-time' I would share with you my favourite ways to relax! 

THE QUESTIONS:

What do you watch or read during me-time?
I am definitely a fan of reality TV for 'me-time', everything from Dance Moms to Say Yes to the Dress or whatever is on the E! Channel. I will probably be reading whatever book I have on the go or my favourite magazine Frankie.

What do you wear during me-time? 
If I'm having a whole 'me-time' day, I won't get out of pyjamas. Otherwise the jeans are off and I'll put on some leggings. I have a pair of really ugly bright purple ones just for the occasion.

What are your me-time beauty products?
Nail polish! 'Me-time' is definitely mani pedi time.

Current favourite nail polish? 
Wintermint by Revlon is the perfect mermaid glittery shade and I've been wearing it all summer!

What do you eat/drink during me-time? 
Salt & Vinegar chips are my ultimate indulge food and for drink it would definitely be a good coffee. I usually make my coffee at home on a regular basis so 'me-time' calls for a trip to my favourite cafe.

Current favourite candle?
I have never been into candles to be honest. I have one candle from my 18th birthday and I've probably burned it twice.

Do you ever have outdoor me-time? 
Always! Me-time is not always about staying in bed for me and I love to walk around the city alone, check out a new cafe, spend time at the beach or read my book in the park.

Would you ever go see a movie alone? 
Yes! I have gone to the movies by myself before and it's perfect. No annoying commentary, don't have to share popcorn, eat all the choc tops without judgment...

Favourite online shop? 
Ooh that's a good question! I don't buy much online but I love window shopping on Asos or Sephora and lately I've been finding some gems on Feel Unique. Leave me suggestions below of some good online stores!

Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time? 
I love watching Youtube videos! I have my favourite beauty channels of course but I especially love sitting down and binge watching vlogs. I love Lindsey's vlogs as well as Zoella and Meghan.

And to pass on the baton I tag:

xx Catherine


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Thursday, 19 February 2015

Review: L'Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Monos





























I had heard great reviews of these eyeshadow singles but it was only recently that I bit the bullet and picked up three shades.

Unfortunately, I have to start this review off on a sour note (don't worry it gets positive!). The reason I didn't buy into the hype as soon as they hit shelves, was because these eyeshadows come in at $19.95 each. I know L'Oreal is at the higher end of the drugstore market but I could never justify buying these full price. My rule of buying drugstore brands is to never pay full price so I recommend shopping around. If they aren't on sale at Priceline check out Target or Big W - do your research and you won't even have to wait long to get them on sale!

Now onto the actual product. These shadows are incredibly beautiful. From the shade range, texture and longevity I was incredibly impressed with their quality. I picked up the shades 106 Breaking Nude, 502 Quartz Fume and 201 Cafe St Germain and together they can create a simple everyday look or an intense smokey eye. The pigmentation of each shade was impressive and they blend  well. For those looking for an easy eyeshadow to work with but still looks great with minimal effort these monos are perfect.

Overall, while I do really like these eyeshadows I don't know if I would recommended them as my pick from the drugstore. There are so many great nude eyeshadow palettes on the market for around the same price as one shadow. However, my pick of the three shades would definitely be Cafe St Germain it is a very unique colour in my collection, a shimmery taupe that has a gorgeous reflex when worn on the eye.


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Friday, 6 February 2015

New In: At the Drugstore



The hardest thing about not having a job at the moment is being tempted by all the new releases to hit Australian shores (first world problems I know, but seriously...hire me). There are heaps of exciting new products popping up at the drugstore so I've complied a list so you don't miss a thing.

Maybelline is definitely my favourite drugstore brand and they have so many new products hitting the shelves. Firstly for the eyes, a twist on everyone's favourite black liquid liner, the new Master Graphic Liquid Liner is for those who love a bold liner look. Maybelline also brought their Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara to the Australian market. Maybelline have an amazing range of mascaras so if you're looking for something new to try, I doubt you could go wrong with this one.

More Maybelline products that have finally reach Aussie shores are the Dream Wonder Foundation. I tried this in store and it is very similar to the L'Oreal Nude Magique foundation. However, I did notice that the Dream Wonder foundation have a larger selection of pale shades which is excellent news for #whitegirls like me. I was also excited to see the Face Studio Master Hi-Light and Face Studio Master Glaze products on shelves too!

Finally from Maybelline are their Colour Drama Lip Colour lip pencils, which look like a thick lip liner and remind me of the Bobbi Brown Art Sticks. They have a nice range of colours and this is definitely a product I'm interested to try as it's quite unique to the drugstore market.

Revlon have added to their Photo Ready range with three new products. Firstly is their Prime and Anti-Shine Balm which claims to even out the skin's texture and minimise pores. Another new addition is their Airbrush Effect Foundation and finally is the Insta-Fix Makeup which comes in a convenient stick form. This range seems to be aimed at providing a long-lasting flawless complexion. A few retailers have a 3 for 2 promotion on this range at the moment which would be great to take advantage of if you are interested in trying these products.

One of the most exciting new releases that I have been waiting for to hit Aussie stores is the L'Oreal Colour Riche Exclusive Nude collection. There are a range of nude nail polishes and matching lipsticks inspired by some of Hollywood's biggest stars. I've already got my hands on some of the lipstick shades and I absolutely love them! The formula is quite sheer, but very moisturising and comfortable on the lips. I definitely recommend wearing a lip liner underneath to get more depth of colour.

From Rimmel is a new mascara release and the first mascara to be created by Kate Moss! The Kate Idol Eyes Mascara has a thick, curved wand that claims to add heaps of volume. Kate's line of lipsticks and nail colours are some of Rimmel's best products so if you're a fan of Rimmel mascaras I would definitely check this one out!

Finally from the drugstore are some new releases from Sally Hansen, one of my favourite brands for all things nail care and pretty colours! Firstly are two new 18K Gold products for nail care - the 18K Gold Hardener and the 18K Gold Cuticle eraser. Both products look fantastic for a DIY mani at home and I will definitely be trying these out!

Have you picked up any of these products recently? What's your favourite new release?

xx Catherine

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Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Empties - What I'm Throwing Out #3

I know you all just love looking at my rubbish! Here are some reviews of products that I'm throwing out because a) they are awesome and I've used them all up OR b) they were really crap and I didn't want them cluttering up my life.

Makeup

All my makeup empties this round are some of my everyday essentials. The Benefit Gimme Brow [$35.00] is the perfect brow gel and definitely one of my must-have products. I've already got another on the go! Similarly, I've finished up my ultimate fave, HG mascara the Lancôme Hypnôse [$52.00]. I would 100% repurchase this until the end of time but I have so many mascaras open at the moment, including a few high end ones so I'll have to wait to pick this one up. Until we meet again! I've also finished up my other fave mascara, Maybelline The Falsies [$19.95]. Thankfully the price tag on this mascara isn't as scary so I've already got another one on the go. Finally, I'm chucking out a Maybelline Fit Me Concealer [$14.95] in '15 Fair'. This is not completely finished but I already have another one on the go and I'm pretty sure I shared this with like three people during revue so I figure I can put this little bottle of bacteria in the bin.



Haircare

I've finished up a few shampoo/conditioner bottles which is an achievement for me because I probably have a total of 10 hairs. Firstly, from the Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime range the Diamond Colour Shampoo and Conditioner [$14.99]. I did really enjoy these products! I get my hair coloured quite regularly and I have to say these absolutely made a difference in maintaining the health and colour in my 10 dried, bleach hairs. I also finished the Aveda Smooth Infusion Conditioner [$39.00]. I was given this by a family member and when I went to put in a link I realised it is $39!? I definitely don't remember it making my hair THAT soft.


Skincare

A HEAP of skincare empties this round! Let's start with my fave, the St Ive's Blemish Control Apricot Scrub [$9.99] is amazing for oil control and exfoliates without feeling like you're using sand paper on your face. I've got my whole family hooked so this will definitely be repurchased. Another staple in my skincare routine, the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water [$11.99] is such an amazing multipurpose product and I've already picked up another bottle. Although I've been converted to micellar water for makeup removal I've still got an empty packet of cleansing wipes which I like to keep handy when doing swatches etc. These Lacura ones from Aldi are super cheap and do the job.The Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Moisturiser [$3.99] is my everyday moisturiser and I've never tried anything that my skin just drinks up! A little travel size is being thrown out. The Rexona Clinical Protection Deodorant [$14.79is one of my favourite new discoveries and since finishing my first bottle I can't imagine being without it. It has been an absolute saviour and I 100% recommend for anyone who finds that regular strength deodorant does practically nothing.

I've also finished up some other random skincare products. I've posted about the Glow Girl Buttery Salt Scrub [$12.95] before and I absolutely loved it! A gorgeous smelling scrub and the best I've found for those really struggling with stubborn dry, flaky skin. The So White Shower Gel from Lush was another body product I really enjoyed. I know this is a Christmas limited edition but the smell was amazing and I'll definitely consider buying it again at Christmas time. I also finished the Olive Branch Shower Gel [$7.95which I also enjoyed but probably won't repurchase. Two little hand creams are also getting tossed. The OPI Avo Juice Ginger Lily Hand Lotion smelt beautiful but didn't really do much for my chronically dry hands. On the other hand I definitely shed a tear when I finished up this little sample pot of Camille Beckman Glycerin Hand Therapy [$21.95]. The most moisturising hand cream I've ever used and the 'Tuscan Honey' scent is mouth watering. I will definitely be purchasing a full size.


What's been culled...

These are the products that I couldn't hold onto any longer because they are so terrible. Firstly, the NYX Butter Lipstick in 'Hubba Bubba'. I have never had a good experience with NYX lipsticks, every single one I've tried I have ended up giving away or throwing out. I didn't even want to give this one away because I don't know anyone who would want to wear such an awful colour. It also goes on really patchy and has officially turned me off from ever trying another lipstick from NYX. Next is the So Susan Flutter Mascara and anyone who got it in their Violet Box mid 2014 will know this is one of the biggest fails of a product ever. Another subscription box fail is the Australis Lip & Cheek Combo which smells funny, lacks pigmentation and is difficult to blend out - definitely one to skip from the Australis stand. Finally, this BYS 'Pot of Gold' Glitter Polish has gone lumpy and impossible to apply, time to go!


...and that's everything that's going into the bin!

xx Catherine

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Monday, 2 February 2015

FOTD// Peachy Keen


My go-to eye look recently has been pretty simple and sticking to mattes. However, I really wanted to play around with a little bit of colour and see what would work to make my eyes 'pop'. So I pulled out my LORAC Mega Pro Palette and inspired by the shades 'Apricot', 'Blush' and 'Merlot' created this fresh face of the day with peach tones throughout.

Starting with the base, I applied the Australis Primer all over the face and went straight to concealing using Benefit's Erase Paste under my eyes and then Maybelline Fit Me Concealer over blemishes and red spots. I'm obsessing over mineral makeup at the moment and the Maybelline Mineral Power Foundation and Finishing Veil have been favourites for a long time. Unfortunately they don't sell the finishing veil in Australia anymore but I highly recommend the foundation! To finish off the face, I added some warmth with Benefit Hoola Bronzer as well as the Shimmer Powder and Blush Stick from the Essence 'Bloom Me Up!' trend edition (which I forgot to photograph -oops!).
#dathighlight


For the eyes, I started by using the Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in '20 Copper'. This shadow has a really strange, mousey texture that I found is easier blended out with your fingers. All the other shadows I used were from the LORAC Mega Pro Palette. Through the crease I used 'Khaki', then starting in the inner corner I used 'Blush', 'Apricot' in the centre of the lid and then 'Mulberry' blended through the outer V. I applied 'Grey' right along the lower lash-line and blended 'Merlot' along the outer third of the eye up to the top lashes. I absolutely loved the look of the shimmery peachy shades with the dark berry shades to deepen the look!

To finish off the eyes, I curled my lashes and applied a few layers of the Elizabeth Mott It's So Big! Mascara. For eyebrows I've gone back to using my Essence Eyebrow Designer in Blonde to create a natural, full brow. To complete the look I chose the new L'Oreal Color Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in 'Eva's Nude' for the lips which is such a beautiful peachy nude and I absolutely love the sheer, moisturising formula.
#moustache




























xx Catherine
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