Neutral Eyeshadow Additions

Apart from the beauty blogger favourite Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, my makeup collection was lacking on the neutral eyeshadow front. Mascara usually suffices when applying my makeup, as the term ‘natural’ simply does not apply when it comes to my lashes. Eyeshadow is often overlooked on an everyday basis and reserved for special occasions only. When watching Karima from Shameless Fripperies one day, I was influenced to buy these two eyeshadows. One in stick form, the other a cream and both at a drugstore price. Score! Oh and of course I got them on sale. You didn’t think I would pay full price, did you?

Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in Melted Caramel 350

I haven’t owned a Covergirl product since primary school when I used to coat my eyelashes in clear mascara. A tip I’m sure I read in Totalgirl magazine, it was supposedly helpful in covertly making the lashes appear longer. All was well until I dropped the tube on the floor and cracked it. I also would forget I was wearing it, rub my eyes and begin to feel the sting. Though my first encounter was slightly unsuccessful, my next purchase was a victory. 

A very basic, almost skin toned eyeshadow with subtle shimmer is how I would describe this crayon stick. As the shade is very close to my natural skin colour it adds a slight bit of definition to the eyes, where the light catches the micro glitter. The non creamy formula means that it can be drawn onto the eyes without the need to blend out, and will eventually prevent creasing which is a problem I always need to counteract. I tend to hold the stick on its side, sweep across the entire lid and use my finger to blend it out at the crease. A simple eye look complete in a minute. I also found that I haven’t yet needed to sharpen the pencil, which hopefully signifies its longevity. 

Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Copper 20

I hadn’t ever purchased a Max Factor product previously. I had heard quite a hype on Youtube around Max Factor mascaras, but it was never a brand that appealed to me. Perhaps the stand or the packaging was putting me off from what might be fantastic products. 

This cream eyeshadow, however, looked like the perfect tone in an easy form. A mix of taupe, beige and copper tones, when blended onto the eyelid it creates a shade just darker than my natural lid colour. It’s undetectable in the photo, but the shimmer in the eyeshadow is amazingly reflective. No shimmer particles can be distinguished, its just a gleam that is almost the equivalent to a cheek highlight.

The texture of this eyeshadow is ridiculously soft. It’s the most creamy, whipped eyeshadow I have ever felt. I have swatched quite a few eyeshadows in my time and this is definitely the most enjoyable to feel. 

So there are the new additions to my eyeshadow stash. Now to nudge these into my daily routine...

Bellabox March 2015

Today’s post includes my final Bellabox order. It seems so absolute, but unfortunately I won’t be extending my subscription. Although I fell in love with the idea of receiving a box of randomly curated beauty products a month, the items in each box I was sent were somewhat lackluster and commercial. As a beauty addict I already own most of the hyped up products so I was interested in trying new and exciting ones.

Nonetheless, let me go through March’s box...

As advertised through Bellabox’s emails, the Colour Theory eye pencil was a feature in everyone’s box. I received the colour Slate which in reality is nowhere near the grey toned shade it should; it’s a cool toned purple with subtle shimmer through it. When swatched it is quite disappointing with little pigment and a dry, chalky texture. Reminiscent of affordable brand eyeliners, I probably won’t be using it any time soon.

On a more positive note, I was excited to see the Nivea facial sunscreen in SPF 30. I’m a believer in protecting your skin from the sun’s rays everyday, whether it be overwhelmingly sunny or barely light at all. A sunscreen designed especially for the face has the benefit of (hopefully) preventing any acne that can be caused from using a regular sunscreen. A product I’m enthusiastic to test!

Also included was a sample size of the Revlon Photoready Airbrush Effect foundation in Natural Beige. This is my first Revlon foundation and I have high expectations that it will provide a full coverage with a non-cake like finish. 

Included in every box was a Stabilo Neon highlighter. I was given the green shade, which would have satisfied my 10 year old self, where I much prefer pink nowadays. An interesting redesign that will come in use for uni work. 

Two Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula products where included in the Bellabox, one being the Cleanser & Makeup Remover and the other the Moisturizing Day Cream. A brand I associate with strongly scented body creams, it will be refreshing to try out their facial products. 

The final product included was the Kerastase Resistance Reconstructing shampoo which due to my extremely sensitive scalp I will be passing on to my mother or sister. A perfect sample size to take on a short trip.

And that concludes my Bellabox subscription! Now where else can I spend all my money...

The Right Shade of Grey

This is in no way a shade of f’ed up. Okay, reference to famous erotic franchise over. 

This L’oreal Colour Riche nail polish in 858 Ocean Porcelaine is an absolutely beautiful blue toned grey shade that I have even painted my nails with twice. Twice? Wow, let us slow down here. I own a ridiculous collection of who knows how many polishes and I chose this to paint on my nails again. I must admit that this is not even my nail polish (it’s actually my sister’s) but it’s just too stunning not to show on the blog. To be thinking about this polish when it doesn’t even stand along with my other nail varnishes is evidence of the love I must have for it. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’?

It is almost difficult to distinguish what the true shade of this polish is. In some light it appears to be a diluted shade of grey. Sometimes a very light, baby blue. It can also be interpreted as a creamy white. Whatever the shade is, it gives a polished (pun intended), clean look to the hands. Much like the effect of a white nail polish, it’s minimalism in nail form. Perfect to pair with any outfit out of resistance to clash with colour, it’s almost like the LBD of the nail varnish world (the “little blue-grey-white polish” doesn’t really have the same ring to it). 

When I first noticed the L’oreal polishes in store I was quite ambivalent towards them. The tiny bottle would surely never hold enough polish to compensate for its price. Upon further pondering I realised that the amount of nail polish is actually perfect for the amount of times I would use it. As I mentioned I own a rainbow of varnishes and to get through at least one a year is a triumph. The brush is also semi-wide which makes application even in two coats. Not just a nice colour, a great formula too. 

Now that I look at my nails it would also make an appropriate work colour. A contemporary take on a French manicure. C’est chic, non?

Purple lip loves

A purple lip product is not usually found in everybody’s daily makeup bag, even entire makeup stash. It appears that many avoid a purple lip out of a fear of appearing attention seeking, too trend driven or just strange. 

I can honestly write that I adore purple toned lip products; they just seem to work extremely well against my skin tone. With reader’s doubts in mind, I aim to banish the fear of purple toned lip products. Don’t the words lavender, mauve, lilac, orchid and violet sound enticing and quite un-intimidating?

Today I bring you three wearable purple lip options that I truly love and find myself rummaging through my makeup bag to wear. Out of the three drugstore options I have one for those willing to dip a toe into the purple pool, a creamy and more pigmented lipstick and finally a bright, statement lip. What would a post of mine about lipstick be without a bold option? Dull and lackluster to say the least. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Darling 010

I feel like this was one of the first products I purchased when I made my debut Chemist Warehouse beauty sale haul. It’s quite an odd lip product to start up a rounded makeup collection, but I am sure I was influenced by one beauty blogger or another. This purple lip is in the form of a crayon; an easy, creamy pigment in a user-friendly form. It adds a swipe of lilac colour to the lips that can almost be called “pastel,” but is surprisingly flattering. Avoid swiping too much product on as it can look a little excessive, but a quick swipe with your finger can reverse this. A bonus is that it has the perfect mint scent.

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in Wear Berries! 09

Amelia from AmeliaLiana recommended this formula of lipstick, although it was in a different shade. A quick swatch in Priceline and I realised that I had about three lipsticks of the same tone, so I decided to go with the purple option, one that I had actually spotted months before. This is like the everyday lipsticks I own (pink and brown toned) but with a purple hue instead. I would call this a grape shade as it’s not obnoxiously bright. The formula of this lipstick is creamy and glides well onto the lips, but is not so buttery that is glides right off. It will need reapplying throughout the day (on work breaks for me), but the shade is all kinds of gorgeous. At $4.70 retail for this lipstick, reach at the bottom of your handbag for loose change and go purchase. 

Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids in Hot Plum

This is the most bright, intense and beautiful purple lipstick I have ever seen. That’s a big statement as I often browse photos online of lipstick for hours. It’s also found at the drugstore/pharmacy, which makes it all the more irresistible. This formula is more creamy than the previous, which adds a luscious sheen to the lips. Think the dewiness you lust for in a foundation translated onto the lips. I do not have any more adjectives that can describe its beauty, so make sure to have a swatch next time you see it in store.

Have I convinced you to buy a purple toned lip product? I think I may have convinced myself to add MAC’s Flat Out Fabulous to my to-buy list...

New to Wardrobe: Midi skirts

It’s quite frightening that I have purchased enough items of clothing to upload another ‘New to Wardrobe’ post less than four weeks after my dress haul. It’s also a shock to note that I bought these three skirts in the same week. Blame university; I felt as if I needed to completely overhaul my entire wardrobe. These three skirts are, however, quite reasonably priced and will still be available in store if anyone is interested in purchasing. 

Considering I wear midi skirts at least three times a week it was only logical that I purchased more. This time around, instead of a full circle skirt, I opted for some form fitting options. It’s quite acceptable (I believe anyway!) to wear tighter pieces if the length is longer. Therefore, the two striped skirts can be worn during the day time. Conversely, they can also be worn at night time to create a more casual feel away from an all leg baring mini skirt. Justifying purchases? Perhaps, but if it quietens my guilty conscience then I shall type, type away...

Glassons Stripe Tube Midi Skirt

This skirt is as the name suggests; a striped, tubular midi skirt. I had noticed the stripes and the length, but seemed to have skimmed over an important detail. I do recall telling my mother that the lack of a split at the back of the dress would mean that climbing stairs would be more difficult, but decided to ignore myself and wear it to orientation day at university anyway. Major sartorial fail? I wouldn’t go that far but stairs did need climbing and luckily the crowd was moving at a slow pace. This is the only major downfall of this skirt, in hindsight a slit at the back would have made it a lot more comfortable, but it’s nothing a little pulling up can’t fix. 

The fit of this skirt is brilliant as it hugs my hips and ever so slightly tapers at the calf. It also sits quite nicely on my waist as the hidden elasticated waistband (genius) allows for that well needed stretch. The material of the skirt itself is fairly thick which is a testament to the quality, providing the slightest stretch for ease of wear. Luckily the exposed zip at the back is an almost charcoal metal colour as I am not a fan of an obvious zip. Overall, a wardrobe staple that I know will make regular rotations amongst my outfit choices.

Valleygirl Fine Waffle Textured Midi Skirt

(Not featured online but is fairly new to store)

Unfortunately I am not able to blame the purchase of this skirt on uni, it was all about the price tag. At a retail price of $9.95 for a skirt? You could almost pay with coins.

This skirt, unlike the other two, is more of a night appropriate option. I absolutely love the midnight blue colour, I find it to work very well against my skin tone. I already own a jumper in the same colour and enjoy wearing it, so I thought it might be a fitting addition to my wardrobe. I seem to have been living in grey, black and white and perhaps needed to reignite my love for wearing colour. 

Much like the next skirt it doesn’t have a zip which allows for extra comfort and give in the fabric. This also guarantees a uniform, smooth appearance without the interference of a zip or extra seam. Seductivity in a demure way.

Ally Fashion Stripe Midi Skirt

This skirt can be dubbed the inverse of the Glassons one. Instead of having a black background with thin white stripes, this version is mostly white with textured lines of black. I definitely did not need both but it’s always nice to have options. The material of this skirt is a lot thinner, but the semi ribbed texture adds an element of interest. I would suggest wearing seam-free underwear, however, to remain discreet. Overt seams are not desirable.

My skirt dreams have been realised as this skirt has a slight split at the back. Hallelujah! It also is tapered at the waist and the hem which ensures it fits my pear shape (i.e mimics the convex shape of my hips and thighs). There is no zip on this skirt which translates to an ultra stretchy material, and no fussing around trying desperately to do the zip up. Much like my dislike for exposed zips I also loathe blind zips. I’m sure there’s a psychological explanation to my aversion to certain zips.

Let us all pray that I reign in my spending and don’t feature a ‘New to Wardrobe’ any time in the near future. I have recently bought the same H&M top in three different colours though...

Bellabox February 2015

The main reason I signed up to a Bellabox subscription was the promise of February beauty box curated by Australia’s leading fashion magazines. I was beyond excited to find the little box of beauty samples on my doorstep sometime mid-Feb. Unfortunately, this month’s edition did not live up to my expectations, which may explain my reluctance in writing this post. 

Bellabox gave subscribers the rare opportunity to choose out of the three boxes that would be sent out in February. The choice was between the magazines Elle, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar. As I already have a short subscription to Elle magazine I didn’t want to double up on issues, so the obvious choice for me was Harper’s Bazaar. In retrospect either of the two other magazines would have provided me with a more desirable list of products, but the three were very similar. A downside to February's edition is that customers had to wait until the magazines’ issues were released preceding each box’s distribution. Consequently, I found that my Bellabox took a little longer than usual to arrive. 

The packaging of the Bellabox itself and the cardboard parcel inside was lovely, though wasn’t enough to create an awe inducing box (not pictured). Upon opening my Bellabox, the item I found the most thrill in was the Harper’s Bazaar March issue. Unfortunately, shipping had slightly creased and warped the corners of the magazine; a giant pet peeve of mine. Unluckily I already own two of the products that arrived in the box; Essie’s nail laquer in Saint Tropez and Burts’ Bees’ Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. I believe these to be quite hyped up and well known products in the beauty world, perhaps lending themselves a place in a Bellabox. My intention upon signing up, however, was to try new beauty products, perhaps even ones I was unaware of. These product choices may appeal to the everyday woman looking for trusted brands, but for a blogger and beauty addict they missed that element of uniqueness and well thought out selection.

Although I was disappointed to find out that the other two boxes contained Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel, a product I have wanted to try, I will be testing the skincare samples provided in my box. I am most intrigued to try the Aveda Intensive Hydrating Masque and the Aveda Tourmaline Charged Exfoliating Cleanser as I find products like these quite easy to add to an existing skincare routine without disturbing a solid regime. The Transformulas Lip Volume is also an interesting product that aims to ‘dramatically enhance lips by 40 percent,’ a product that may assist in creating that signature Kylie Jenner pout. 

Overall, a slightly underwhelming box I am saddened to report. Hopefully March’s Bellabox will deliver the satiating quality my cosmetic obsession craves. 

OOTN#2 ft. Lust worthy clutch

This is an outfit I recently wore out to dinner with a friend. No surprise that I’m wearing a midi skirt; it appears to be my sartorial safety blanket, disguising the night’s intake of lasagna and an espresso martini. Ten times and counting on the occasions I have worn this skirt; it seems to add the right amount of femininity and casualness to any top I might pair it with. Which brings me to the sheer, black, long sleeve, dotted top that I had been looking all over for. No, not on the floor of my bedroom, rather searching the stores for what seemed like months trying to find something remotely similar to the vision I had in my mind. H&M never fails me as I managed to pick this up for only $5. Sure, it’s a little big on me and I might have to roll the sleeves up, but at that price one can only gladly take it home. 

What elevated this usual and unoriginal outfit was the amazing clutch. I had seen this clutch in H&M at least a month or two before. Each time I had gone in I had contemplated purchasing it, but perhaps it was the $30 price tag that dissuaded me. Thirty dollars is by no means an excessive amount for a clutch but I rarely use them, so it wouldn’t have been personally cost effective. When I finally decided that I needed to own the clutch having it been constantly on my mind, it was no where to be seen. In my selfish woe of having missed out I aimed to forget about the beautiful clutch. Fast forward a month or two later and there was the clutch in the sale section of H&M, and at half price. I absolutely live for moments like these! 

What makes this clutch utterly beautiful is the purple suede that covers the entire outer section. It has an expensive appearance without the jaw dropping price tag. It was raining on the night of this outing, much to my luck, which was not ideal for a suede clutch. Consider spraying any suede items with a protector before using. The jewel shade contrasted with the gold tassel (I love a good tassel) is perfection. Yes, it may be an ode to my primary school colours but it just works, opposites on the colour wheel to be precise (a quick Google search confirmed).  Not only can it be worn as a clutch, when the strap is attached it can be worn over the shoulder. This allows a “hands free” approach so you can wrap your arms around your partner’s neck, or reach down and pick up the loose change you dropped on the floor. We can all guess which situation I’d be in; a McDonald’s cone anyone?