Best of Beauty // May 2016

 Welcome back to the blog! I've been stuck in a bit of a beauty rut for a while but in the last month I've been trying some really great products and wanted to share them with you.

On my search for some awesome cruelty free products to add into my collection I purchased a few products from Josie Maran. All Josie Maran products are based off 100% organic argan oil that is also sustainably harvested and pressed. I've used some of Josie's colour range before and her highlighters are my absolute favourite! In the last month however, I've really been loving her Argan Oil Hair Serum as well as the Pure Argan Milk Treatment. The Argan Hair Oil has been amazing for keeping my hair silky soft as well as reducing frizziness. I have really fine hair and the oil is light enough that it gives heaps of hydration without weighing down my hair at oil. The Pure Argan Milk is something I've been wanting to try for ages and grabbed because I was on the hunt for a new serum. The texture is really thin and feels similar to a facial oil on the skin. I really love it because it is super hydrating and gives your skin a noticeable glow straight away. I would definitely recommend adding this into your nighttime skincare routine, especially as we enter the colder months.

My first makeup favourite this month is a lipstick I've had in my collection for a while but have re-discovered and I just haven't wanted to wear anything else! The Lipstick Queen Lipstick in 'Nude Sinner' is the most beautiful deep nude shade that pulls almost terracotta on me - absolutely perfect for autumn! The best thing about these lipsticks is the beautiful formula. They are super creamy and opaque with a matte finish that lasts incredibly well on the lips. Lipstick Queen is the brand of Aussie Poppy King and is completely cruelty free.

My next makeup favourite is a fairly new release. Hourglass has recently added to their Ambient Lighting collection with three new Ambient Amplifying Primers that give you the same particular lighting effect as their powders, but as the first step in your routine. My favourite has been 'Mood Light' which is a soft pink shade that is evens out the skin tone (which you can see in the photo below) and gives the skin a subtle glow. I found the primer also really smoothing on my skin and did give some extra longevity to my makeup.

Left: No makeup. Right: Ambient Amplifying Primer in 'Mood Light'

My final favourite for May is also from Hourglass. Hourglass is one of my all time favourite brands and their Ambient Lighting Palette is one of the most special makeup products I own. The palette has three shades of Hourglass' famous Ambient Lighting powders which give the skin a beautiful, soft focus glow - Dim Light is great for using all over the face to set foundation, Incandescent Light is a gorgeous highlighter shade and Radiant Light is a light bronze shade that I love to use around the edges of the face for a bit of warmth. I've been reaching for this palette almost every day during May and every time I use these powders I love the way my skin looks! In particular, Incandescent Light has been my choice to create an beautiful strobing effect.

If you are interested in cruelty free makeup I would definitely recommend checking out Hourglass. Hourglass is the most luxurious brand with beautiful packaging and incredibly high-quality products.

That's all for this month!
xx Cat

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 

Beauty Favourites: March 2015

March has been such an exciting month for me and I'm so excited to share with you some of my beauty favourites! As well as starting back at uni for the year I've also started a new beauty-full job which is absolutely a dream come true. In this post I'm sharing a lot of new products that I've never featured before on my blog both high end and drugstore!

I've been absolutely loving using the Duo Fibre Face Brush from Real Techniques for absolutely everything! It's such a versatile brush perfect for blending foundation, using powder, sculpting the cheeks or for both cream and powder blush. Definitely one you should add to your collection - I have two, one for powders and one for liquids/creams. Get the Duo Fibre Brush Set at iherb.

For foundation, I've been gravitating towards my Bourjois Healthy Mix which is absolutely gorgeous, leaving a natural satin finish. I reached for this foundation again as my skin has been a little dehydrated and being stuck in aircon all day meant I wasn't getting as oily throughout the day. However, I definitely do need to wear a primer underneath to get some extra wear time.

Speaking of primers, I can't go past the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. I've had a bit of a love affair with Hourglass products recently and I am continually impressed with the quality of their products. The Veil Mineral Primer is perfect for me as it neutralises redness extremely well and provides a beautiful smooth base for foundation. I also love using this under the eyes before I apply concealer to really add extra brightness. Overall such a fantastic product and so worth the money.

A new product that I tried during March which I absolutely fell in love with was the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush. These are new releases from Max Factor and have a striking resemblance to the Hourglass Ambient Blushes. The quality of these blushes are absolutely beautiful and they blend like a dream! I have been reaching for this blush over anything else because it gives a gorgeous sheen and looks absolutely seamless on the cheeks. Definitely a product to pick up - I loved them so much I grabbed all the shades! Also for cheeks I've rediscovered my Benefit Hoola Bronzer which was sitting a little unloved for a while but such a classic matte bronzer for contouring and warming up the face.

My go to look throughout March was definitely natural eyes and bold lips. I fell in love with the Tartlette Palette as soon as I knew it existed and having it in my hot little hands the first day it was released in Sephora was probably the most exciting makeup purchase I've ever made. The shadows are gorgeous - so pigment, soft and easy to blend and the shades are everything you could ever need for a neutral eye look. Without a doubt the best matte shadows I've ever used and honestly I love creating looks with just this palette but it is the best palette to have to accompany all your other shadows. I love wearing Caregiver all over the lid, Natural Beauty in the crease, Bombshell wet as a liner and Super Mom as a brow highlight - perfect neutral eye! Available at Sephora.

And to pair with that neutral eye - I wore bright pink lips constantly this month! The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong is my go to for a long lasting, matte finish that is going to last all day. I also recently added to my collection the Bobbi Brown Artstick in Hot Berry which is basically the same gorgeous bright pink shade but is much smoother on the lips and leaves a satin finish and is also a little easier to apply. If you're looking for a bright pink lip definitely check out those two because they are universally flattering.

March has been the month of skincare discovery for me and I've completely switched up my routine with some really amazing results (a skincare routine is coming soon!).

The first couple of products I've been obsessed with are from Origins which is stocked at Kit Cosmetics and Mecca Maxima. My first favourite is the Checks and Balances Face Wash which is great for balancing out oiliness and dehydration in the skin which is exactly what I've been suffering with. It's so refreshing and my skin feels so soft and clean after using it. I've also been enjoying the Make a Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Moisturiser which I put on in the morning. It is fabulous under makeup and injects so much moisture without feeling heavy at all - a new staple for me! I also love that Origins uses natural ingredients and is free from parabens - also they smell incredible!

My other skincare favourite has been the Maracuja Oil from Tarte which is absolutely heavenly. I love facial oils and this one is the best I've tried. I apply at night my patting it over my moisturiser and I have noticed such a difference in the brightness of my skin since using it. Available at Sephora.

I hope you have a wonderful April and enjoy the Easter break!

xx Cat

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The Summer Makeup Favourites

My limited of computer skills and general attraction of bad luck has meant that every favourites video I had filmed for both December and January are still stuck in iMovie either edited and unable to be exported or half edited because I gave up. I still wanted to share with you my favourite makeup bits from the summer because when I find awesome products I always want to let you know about them! Yep - this will be a long one.

For the complexion I've been drawn towards products that will give me a natural and glowy look, while still staying on my face all day - yep, I have pretty high expectations for my makeup. The Chi Chi Super BB Cream was my go to for an everyday, long lasting base that was so easy and quick to apply with your fingers, a sponge or a brush. I definitely think I'll be pulling this one out again for when I go back to uni! I would pair the BB cream with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light for a little extra coverage and the most flawless but natural finish. I thought a non-cakey powder was a myth until I found this one and I can see this becoming a HG product for me.

I've been fairly fickle with concealers in the past until I came across the NYX Above & Beyond Full Coverage Concealer* which I used exclusively through December and January. This product definitely surprised me because NYX is very hit and miss for me. I received this to try before NYX expanded their range in Australia and I think this is definitely one to try. It's a fantastic multi-task product for blemishes, redness and under the eyes that blends well and doesn't crease.

February, however, saw the return of my obsession with mineral makeup. I had a clean-out/organising sesh of my makeup collection and with nostalgia and fondness found the Maybelline Mineral Power Foundation which was all I wore throughout high school. I thought this was still on shelves but apparently it had been discontinued which I found out when Maybelline announced it would be returning to Australian shelves! Either way you can still find this and I would 100% recommend it as it is a beautiful foundation that is easy to apply and lasts well throughout the day.

For blush I've hardly reached for anything else over the Blush Up! Blush in Heat Wave from Essence. A gorgeous bright ombre blush, it is perfect for a pop of colour on the cheeks and certainly packs a punch in terms of pigmentation for its very reasonable price tag. I've also been loving a bit of bronzey glow - bronze glow...for summer? groundbreaking! - which is super easily achievable with the NYX Baked Blush in Ignite*. These blushes are pretty much a bronzer, blush and illuminator all in one and I love a good multi-tasker! However, these are really hard powders so you will go crazy if you just swipe your brush over the top trying to pick up pigment. I suggest scratching the surface with the back of a brush and then go in with your brush. Finally for face products, another favourite this month has been my NYX Blush in Taupe. The contouring trend is huge right now, but to be honest I have no idea what I'm doing and the amount of contouring palettes available is overwhelming. I pulled out Taupe which has been in my collection forever and it's just what I need to create a contour look I'm comfortable with.

Since I splurged big time of Tarte when Sephora opened in Sydney, their eye products have been my absolute favourites over summer. I have been rotating 3 of their mascaras I just can't get enough! Lights, Camera, Flashes is amazing for big, dramatic lashes with heaps of volume, Gifted gives a similar effect, but not as dramatic as the wand is natural fibre and gives more of a 'fluttery' effect and finally Light, Camera, Lashes gives amazing length, volume and separation all in one, reminding me a lot of my favourite Hypnose Mascara. However, I have to say my one true love this entire summer has definitely been the Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette that was part of the Bon Voyage holiday set - yes, it is no longer available. The shadows are are the best I have ever used and I definitely recommend picking up the Tartelette palette which is available from Sephora NOW!

Surprisingly my favourite lip products from the summer are all very neutral. While I reached for a bold lip often, I absolutely fell in love with these three products. Swept up in the Kylie Jenner lip craze I became obsessed with the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in 063 'Eastend Snob' which I used to overdraw and then fill in my lips. I absolutely love the colour of this - its a pinky nude which suits my colouring and I got so many compliments wearing it, it became a staple for my everyday look. Secondly I came across the Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in 'Jive' for $3 in a bin a Priceline. Once I realised it was so cheap because it was being discontinued I scoured every Priceline in a 20km radius to pick up a backup. The colour is amazing - a cool toned pink that is my perfect everyday shade and is very similar to the other Australis lipstick 'Preppy' which has been a favourite for ages. Finally, I couldn't go through summer without having a coral gloss in my handbag. 'Bright Side of Life' from the Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss range was my pick and I think I used up half the tube!

Finally I wanted to share some skincare favourites and other body bits! An absolute essential for me has been the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen. I got the matte look version which is fantastic for under makeup and I'm happy to say I'm in the habit now of wearing sunscreen every day. Whilst I was being very conscientious about sun safety I still wanted a bit of colour so when I wore shorts and skirts people wouldn't be blinded by my white legs. I did quite a bit of research on self tan products because self tanning is a little terrifying to me. I ended up try the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturiser. I am so so impressed by this product, not only because it builds a really natural tan but it is so moisturising and using it every day has made an incredible difference to my normally dry and flakey skin. A completely non-scary tanning product I'll continue to reach for even as summer slips away.

So there are all my favourites from the whole of summer. Sad to see summer go but it doesn't look like the weather is going to cool down any time soon anyway! What have been some of your favourites from the last month or so?

xx Catherine

* These products were provided to me for consideration. Honestly as always!

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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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Monthly Roundup: May

A very exciting month for my blog yet again! So many new readers - hello and welcome! - as well as a few very exciting opportunities which will unveil themselves in the next couple of weeks. Thank you to everyone who has read my blog and especially those who come up to me and tell me which posts you liked because it makes me unbelievably happy :)

Now onto my favourite products for the month!

Beauty Favourites

First up I've been loving the Covergirl 3-in-1 Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation. This is my go-to foundation for nights out as it has a medium-full, build able coverage. I absolutely love the finish of this foundation and I get the most compliments on my skin when I wear it. Another favourite is the Beauty Blender which gives an absolutely perfect finish when used to apply the Covergirl Foundation. Both will now be staples in my foundation routine.

Secondly, A product I featured in my huge haul was the Body Shop Honey Bronzer and I have been reaching for it everyday since. It is such a beautiful, natural looking bronzer and it is perfect for adding a little bit of colour for everyday.

The Maybelline Baby Lips have been one of my biggest obsessions this month! I discovered the 'glow' versions which adapt to the natural colour of your lips and have been wearing it as my main everyday lip product to uni (and subsequently getting a few of my friends hooked on it too!).

Finally, for beauty products, is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I've become a complete convert from makeup remover wipes as I find the cleansing water is much more gentle for my skin. With just one cotton oval face round with a bit of cleansing water removes a whole face of makeup and even makes a good crack at eye makeup too!

Non Beauty Favourites

A few things I had to mention because I've been obsessed with them this month! I've been totally craving Sour Patch Kids (unfortunately I didn't have any to photograph because I have no self control! oops) all the time and which isn't helped by the fact that my sister insists I have some in the car whenever I drive her around! Another thing I've been loving is this super cute Hello Kitty sleep mask from Typo. I didn't even realise I needed a face mask but I picked this up and have been using it to sleep every night. Which brings me to my final non-beauty fave. I've been using the app Breathe2Relax for some breathing focused meditation before bed. It has really helped me to reduce stress before I got to bed and get a better night's sleep. It is available for free on Apple AppStore.

Beauty goals: update

I've put together my perfect makeup storage solution which you can check out in my full post here:

• My new makeup storage

Hope you've enjoyed my monthly roundup for May and I wish you all a beauty-filled June <3

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

Monthly Roundup: February

With my spending ban over at the beginning of the month, February has definitely seen a big increase in my makeup collection! I am so happy with some of the new products I've tried this month and as a result have made some good progress with my beauty goals for the year!

This month my favourite post was my OOTD - check it out if you missed it and I will definitely be doing more of these in the future; it was so much fun to put together and got such an overwhelming response!

Picks of the Month:

• Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Inked in Pink - I wore this so much in February with just a CC cream, big lashes, bronzer and a pink gloss. The perfect everyday look that takes no effort but actually looks like you have! I love the Colour Tattoos for how long lasting they are and picked up Bad to the Bronze for autumn.
• Natio Antioxidant Face Moisturiser - I have had so much trouble with my skin this month but after using this every night my skin has regained its moisture and has even helped with calming down breakouts. I don't know what I would have done without it this month and I desperately need to get some more! I love the Natio skin care range and would definitely recommend.
• Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush - A product I already reviewed this month that just makes applying foundation a dream and creates an absolutely flawless base. 

Monthly Roundup: January

I thought instead of just doing monthly favourites posts, I'd take the chance at the end of each month to stop and reflect on things I've been loving in terms of makeup and fashion and also to update on the progress of some of my beauty goals for the year.

This month has been very exciting in terms of my blog. In the first month I reach 1 000 page views, received a lot of positive feedback from readers and have been able to really expand my horizons by reading so many other beauty blogs and most importantly being inspired by all the other beautiful beauty bloggers out there :)

Pick of the month:

I never thought I would find a mascara that came close to my favourite - the Lancôme Hypnôse, however I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious. It absolutely outdid all my expectations and most notably gave so much length to my lashes and made them look really curled as well without even using an eyelash curler. As pictured below it has a really big 'fluffy' fibre brush which is definitely the type of brush I prefer. Although the Lancôme Hypnôse still remains my favourite, the Revlon Lash Potion has a much dryer formula which makes my lashes look curled and super long all day because they aren't being weighed down by a heavier formula- however, it does smudge much faster than the Lancôme Hypnôse. I am super happy I stumbled across this mascara and will continue to repurchase!

Spending ban update:

I'm so so so excited that my two month spending ban is finally coming to an end! I did cheat a little and bought something with a voucher - but still haven't spent any money on cosmetics and I am really proud of myself for following through with the challenge. I can't believe I haven't bought a single makeup item for two months and have so many things I want to try. Get ready for a few hauls coming in the next few weeks!

That's all I really have to update you all on this month ! I am really excited for my next couple of posts so please come back to check them out :)

xx Cat ^.^