Too Lazy to Top Coat?

I have to confess as I type with my polish chipped nails, that I am sometimes too lazy to topcoat. Oh, the crime. Some of you may not see the violation of the beauty rule, but spending a good hour painting two coats of your coloured nail polish to have it ruined the next morning because you forgot to topcoat, is as frustrating as it gets. Yes, I admit I am one of those people who is easily upset by a broken nail, so chipped nail polish can be just as bad. If, like me, you get slight heart palpitations from a ruined manicure then the Sally Hansen Insta Dri is for you. Housed in a nice, red tinted bottle the formula itself is actually clear. It’s quite a thick polish, so aim to evenly coat the nail in one swipe to avoid ruining the colour underneath. Though the polish doesn’t dry in seconds as the box suggests, it is pretty quick. You only have to wait a few minutes for the coloured polish to dry before you apply the topcoat, and then only a couple post topcoat application. You can consider this as the lazy girl’s guide to a complete manicure. Did I mention you can buy this from the supermarket or pharmacy? If you find it difficult to locate the blogger approved Seche Vite topcoat (fellow Aussies unite) then this is definitely one to try. Who wants to wait for the package to arrive when you can have dry nails in minutes?

The New Neutral

The day after my birthday I went shopping with a best friend of mine and decided to take her into H&M for her first time. It was like I was reliving the experience all over again (see Natalie Tran’s video here for an entertaining take on this). Bearing in mind I had just received money for my birthday and was advised to ‘pick out something nice’ for myself, when I spotted this handbag on the rack there was no thought process that went through my mind. I wanted it and I was going to get it! It took me a good five minutes to decide which out of the three were there that I wanted; each one seemed to have a little mark or imperfection. When I brought it home and placed it on the dining table, I decided it was a very good purchase. It fits well amongst my fairly small collection of designer-esque, arm wielding, power bags that make me feel like a woman actually in a career in fashion. What immediately attracted me to this bag was the colour. It is almost a dusty blue with a grey undertone. I’ve chosen to deem this as the new neutral; it’s a modern take on the traditional beige, white or grey tone of neutral. This blue is not quite a bright colour as such, I would describe it more as a subdued shade of blue. As I think of it, this blue would work with many outfits. As us Melbournians are feeling the chills of mid July winter, the all-black uniforms are really taking over the city. Paired with a black coat, heeled boots or even a burgundy toned jumper this bag will add a little interest to what would have been a very standard outfit. Shades of red, plum, grey, camel and even pastel pink would pair nicely with this bag. If this contemporary neutral is not your style, it does come in classic beige. But why be boring and predictable? Fashion is probably one of the easiest outlets to try new things, so why not give a blue handbag a go. Who knows, maybe next time I’ll be writing about a Miley Cyrus inspired outfit...or lack thereof. 

H&M- $59.95

The Lip Product Addict TAG

This was originally a Youtube tag created by my favourites Estee of essiebutton and Amelia from Amelia Liana. I have decided to blog this tag instead and I got a little rambly writing about lip products. Can you see my obsession? If you don’t believe me I can count all the lip products in my bag if you like?

Best balm/treatment?

As seen in my beauty haul I particularly like this lip balm. Not one to be faithful to lip balms, I move from one to the other, rarely finishing one before I buy a new one. It seems like lip balms are never ending, though I did challenge myself to use one lip balm and finish it all which I did manage to accomplish. *Pats self on back* What I like about this one is that it has a minty scent which is really refreshing when you are sick (what a lovely image that is). I also like the fact that it is a little more natural as it is part of the Neutrogena Naturals range, without colour or an overwhelmingly artificial scent. It glides over the lips easily and it does seem to last on the lips. Even a couple of hours after application I can smack my lips together and feel the balm on them. This balm is available at the chemist and when it’s on special you can pick it up for around $3. What’s not to love?

Best eye catching red?

Me and MAC lipsticks have quite the story all stemming from my mum’s early MAC lipstick wearing days. In my opinion, the most famous and widely talked about MAC lipstick has got to be Ruby Woo- and for good reason. Though some prefer the darker tones of Russian Red or the orange undertones of Lady Danger, Ruby Woo is definitely an eye catcher. It has the whole “blue red” and teeth whitening properties with a matte finish. This is as matte as it gets; trust me, this lipstick sticks around. I wore it to a party recently and didn’t even feel it on my lips as it’s dry, which sounds weird, but is so good. If you’re not interested in the hefty price tag (though I do think it’s worth the money) than Rimmel’s 111 Kiss of life (Lasting Finish by Kate) is a pretty close dupe. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the same total matte formula, but I would say that is has a satin finish. The lasting power isn’t as bulletproof, but the colour is spot on. Swatched next to each other they are almost undetectable, but I do own RiRi Woo instead of the original which I believe is slightly darker. Which one would you choose?

Best luxury and best drugstore?

I don’t own any high end lipsticks apart from MAC, but I do like to pretend that I own Tom Ford lipsticks. As this post will end up being quite MAC heavy I thought I would share with you a drugstore love. I believe that I came across the Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids on Youtube or on the internet somewhere, but I do remember quite vividly (get it?) having to ask the sales woman to find me the shade Hot Plum from the back as there weren’t any left on the shelf. It was an unopened tester which explains the teared sticker, and yes, it does make me cringe a little. I must confess that I have not yet worn this purple shade but it is a beauty; probably one of the only wearable purple shades not only from the drugstore but the entire lipstick offering. The second I picked up in Vibrant Mandarin which is a gorgeous bright coral that leans more towards an orange. I wore this in my OOTD#3 if you want to see it paired with an outfit. What I love most about these are they are bold and definitely live up to the name of ‘vivids.’ Sometimes with bold lipsticks they can look amazing in the bullet but swatched on the lips they appear more sheer, which I really don’t enjoy. With these the colour is consistent and considering they are a “cremesheen” formula they don’t slip around all that much. Even after eating pizza I didn’t look like the Joker. The packaging is great and the lid has a satisfying close, they smell pleasant and they are relatively cheap. Maybe I should buy some more shades...

Favourite MAC lipstick?

This was a tough decision because although I don’t own a ridiculous amount of MAC lipsticks, the ones I do own are absolute favourites. As I have already mentioned Ruby Woo I decided to go for Relentlessly Red as my all time favourite. This lipstick was part of a Retro Matte collection last year, where I first spotted it on the lips of Alix from both the blog and Youtube ‘I Covet Thee.’ Unfortunately I missed out on buying it as it sold out, so afterwards I resigned to looking at swatches online and pretending to buy it on eBay. I then found out that it was becoming a permanent lipstick at MAC and boy, you can imagine my excitement. Each time I went into Myer I would peruse the MAC counter waiting to have my first swatch. Finally the moment came and I put my Christmas gift cards to good use. Why do I love it so much? It’s not red (as it’s named), not pink, orange or coral. It’s almost a hot pink that is not too cool toned, not too red or orange toned either. I find that it does not highlight the yellow tint to my teeth and it suits my complexion. For bold lips I love a matte formula and this is definitely one of the most matte lipsticks I own. It is not as drying and fool proof as Ruby Woo as it does have a tendency to transfer, but I find it sticks around pretty well. I’m contemplating whether to crown this as my signature lipstick. What do you think? 

Most dissapointing?

While Maybelline had a massive hit with their Vivids collection, their Stripped Nudes just didn’t do it for me. I was excited to find a nude from this range that suited me really well as I find it difficult to find a flattering nude lipstick. The two that I do own are more pinky, brown toned nudes and I wanted to find something a little lighter to pair with a smokey eye. When I swatched the shades on the back of my hand they looked wearable, but on the lips they came across very light. In fact, they made me look like I was sick. Definitely not a good look! Perhaps it is my particular colouring that makes it a challenge to find the perfect nude, but I did expect a better shade selection from this range. 

Liner- yes or no?

For the majority of the time I never touch a lip liner. What I like to do is to use the pointed tip on lipsticks to get a crisp line, which is the most effective when the lipstick is new. What I think is one of the deterrents from lip liners is the whole ‘dark outline, lighter in the middle’ sort of look associated more with drag makeup. If thats your style then that is absolutely fine, I actually have seen it look acceptable on a couple of occasions, but I honestly just could not be bothered lining my lips. When going to an evening event, however, I believe that lip liner is a good idea. Pair a red lip with a liner and you will get a crisp line and prevent smudging and bleeding. This one from Australis (in shade Ruby Red) does a good job and is a very good colour match for MAC’s Ruby Woo. For some reason I have quite a heavily pigmented lip line that can appear quite red when I apply nude lipstick, so I do sometimes require a liner to even out the shade. I think that this may be discontinued as I bought it in one of those specials bins (how classy), but I think that Australis also does a nice nude liner. This also doubles up as an all over the lip colour to channel Kylie Jenner’s lip look inspired by the 90s. 

Best gloss?

This gloss by NYX in the shade Beige (which is actually more pink in tone though is showing up purple on camera) is one hyped up a lot by beauty bloggers. I was curious to see if this lived up to the very high praise it received, though I am not the biggest fan of gloss. I much prefer the longevity of a lipstick, and have slight anxiety of ending up with an awkward outline from the gloss fading. This gloss is great. It honestly glides over the lips in a texture that I cannot even describe; is it almost latex like? It unintentionally plumps the lips without the mintiness or burning sensation of some others. The shade is a perfect “everyday” colour that would compliment any makeup look. The one thing that I hate about this gloss (yes hate) is the scent. To me it is almost an artificial almond flavour that I really don’t like. If you are picky with your scents than I would have a whiff in person, if you can, before purchasing. Apart from that negative it is a good gloss that is not too expensive, and the packaging is gorgeous with a little bow on the top. I have found myself reaching for it many times throughout the week when I’m not in the mood for a bold lip. Have you tried this gloss?

Something extra...

I wasn’t too sure which category these lip products fall into. I guess they’re classified as a lipstick “crayon,” a take on the original Clinique Chubby Sticks. These Colourburst balms from Revlon now come in three finishes; the original Kissables, the Mattes and the Lacquers. I actually own one from each category which comes in handy to give a comprehensive review. I’ll start with the original formula. I have the shade Darling which is a gorgeous lilac colour. I am personally a fan of purple coloured lipsticks, but I can understand that they can be a little daunting. This is the perfect introduction to a purple toned lip that provides a wash of colour that also fades nicely, no commitment required. I really like the formula of this one too as it applies easily and leaves a non-glossy, non-sticky finish. I have used this so much that the writing has rubbed off! Moving on to the matte formula which you know I love for a bold lip. Of course I got one of the brightest of the bunch which is in Audacious; a straight-up, neon, warm toned orange. I find that they apply very creamily first time around, but reapplying can almost be a nightmare. I tried to reapply this and it clung to dry patches and just looked awful. It may have been my lips on the day that were excessively chapped, but I’ll have to do some further investigating. A very gorgeous orange nonetheless. Now for the third and final formula; the Lacquers. I bought the shade Vivacious in a last minute decision as my mum was fed up of me frustratingly trying to choose which one I wanted. I thought that this shade may be an easier way to wear a berry lip as the majority of the ones I own are very opaque. It is a glossy, hot pink shade that looks lovely on the lips. The lasting power is not fantastic, but it doesn’t fade strangely. Overall I would say that I really love these crayons, and at a fraction of the price of Clinique’s, you too could get three. 

*Apologies, the Maybelline liner is called the Line Stylist in shade Caramel, not the superliner as annotated on swatch photo

Pink Plaided Nostalgia

As I was browsing through Topshop a few months ago I spotted this skirt. I immediately recognised the print as I had a jacket in my wardrobe that resembled it. And so the meaning behind the title of this post begins...

I believe it must have been my 12th or 13th birthday when I received this jacket as a present. I remember my mum having put it in a box with tissue paper to disguise it. I had originally spotted it in Valleygirl and instantly fell in love. This was one of my earlier fashion moments that has stayed with me. I can’t seem to part with this jacket, and even now it still has a place in my wardrobe. 

Flashback to 2014 where I didn’t even have the chance to try on the skirt in Topshop as majority of the sizes had sold out. There happened to be only two left, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t justify the $80 or so price tag. Again, my mum kindly surprised me with this skirt after work one day and this blog post was already in motion. For me this is not only an outfit, but a symbol of both my sartorial maturation and my psychological growth.

On the day of my 18th birthday I thought it would be fitting to do a little reflection on my life thus far. As a monumental birthday and a symbol of my development into a woman its seems fitting that I put thought to paper, in this case, to screen. Turning 18 grants one with many responsibilities, and the assumption that one acts maturely and adult like. Though no one can deprive me of my love for Disney movies, the Zac Efron poster laden walls of my bedroom and my complete ignorance of how to run the dishwasher, washing machine and iron. In my defence I can work the toaster, microwave and oven. Where I would once spend my weekends baking carrot and walnut cupcakes, I now work two jobs and focus on writing blog posts. I still love to paint my nails (but perhaps avoid the lime green polish I used to sport), demolish ice cream in minutes (nothing’s changed here) and read magazines. It appears that perhaps I am not so different to the 12 year old version of myself, but there is no doubt that I am more confident and self-assured. Walking around with my Prada look-alike bag clutched on my arm I feel as if I can conquer the world. 

Just the other day I was waiting for my sister to try on a dress in the change rooms when a young girl appeared from the curtain to show her mum an outfit. I could tell that her mother was not impressed at the length of the hem, though her daughter kept insisting that it was long enough. I was analysing the skirt too as I stood next to the girl’s mum, when she asked for my advice. This was an important moment for me as I was no longer the child pushing their mother to agree on the length of a skirt, I was a woman with valid advice. Not only did it cement my feelings that I was a ‘lady,’ as the mother referred to me as, I was a woman who could deliver fashion advice in an everyday setting. My words were no longer restricted to a Word Document.

Similarly, before I went to work a few days ago I popped into Mecca Maxima for a quick browse. One of the assistants complimented me on my handbag, and I was explaining to her how heavy it gets throughout the day. She nodded her head in agreement and explained how she makes her boyfriend hold her bag. I replied by saying that, unfortunately, I don’t have a boyfriend so I just have to hold it myself. She laughed supportively and jokingly described me as a ‘strong, independent woman.’ When the conversation was over and she walked away I thought ‘Yes, I am a strong, independent woman.’ I can hold a conversation with a complete stranger and not feel inadequate or like a little girl. It may seem silly but it is moments like these that you really begin to understand  your personality and the way you present yourself in society.

I finally worked up the courage to get a haircut (well, a trim) after about a year and a half of looking at my split ends everyday. I had mentally prepared myself to get a haircut and my mum rang the salon (talking on the phone is something I still refuse to do), but unfortunately my hairdresser had left. On a spontaneous recommendation from my best friend’s mum I literally walked into the front door of the salon and into the chair. Apart from the fact that my arms were fixed in the same position the whole time, I felt quite relaxed. It was probably the first time that I didn’t feel uncomfortable at the hairdressers. We started talking, the hairdresser and I, about how we like to have our hair, she told me about her family and I told her my birthday plans. To my lack of a red face it was not awkward at all. 

So let’s blow out the relit candles on my left over birthday cake together. Yes, this post was late unfortunately, but perhaps it’s my way of extending my birthday. Cake anyone?