Essie

Hey everyone, 

Here are my first essie polishes. I ordered them off ebay from enchantedbeautyspot who were great, i have since ordered candy mint apple which is currently on its way and i can't wait to get my hands on it. They arrived the day before my last exam and boy it was hard not to be tempted to paint my nails instead of study!

Left to right: Tart deco, Van D'go, Neo Whimsical, Lilacism, Chinchilly

I have only tried Van D'go since i got them and so far i love it. No doubt you can expect lots of NOTD's coing up. 

Like a true addict i am already lusting after more, i like the look of jazz and angora cardi. At this rate i need more hands and fingers!

Anyway i'm now on my mid year break from uni and am heading to New Zealand next week, i can't wait. I will be attempting to ski but i am sooo uncoordinated it will be very interesting haha. I'm sure i'll manage to fit some shopping in too - duty free here i come!

x

Ready Set Go

Hi there girlies!

I bought this new Australis Ready Set Go finishing powder the other day and so far it ticks all the tight boxes; it increases the wear of my foundation, soften the appearance of imperfections (big tick) and blurs lines.  

 (It's hard to take a decent photo of a white powder!)

It’s a translucent powder that is I think is similar to MAC’s prep + prime finishing powder, which i just finished up a sample. I do want to get Mac’s version but on my very sad student’s budget this will have to do for that at the moment. The main ingredient in the Australis one is silica which is also an ingredient in Mac’s finishing powder - so they do have similarities. I did a little google on silica and found out the it’s what gives nail polish the smooth surface appearance – very interesting.   
 

I have only used it a few times but so far I find it absorbs oil well which will be handier for my skin in summer but it seems to be doing an okay job at keeping my pores and uneven surfaces concealed.

For a cheapish product i'm reasonably happy

x

Natural Brows

My eyebrows look absolutely shocking at the moment. I had the brilliant idea of trying to start over with them. My aim is to get them threaded. I just wasn't happy with the shape and how they sat - those things just can't stay in place! So in the name of beauty i have been growing them out.

I have since realised that i can't find anyone who does eyebrow threading where i live so will have to hunt someone down elsewhere. The only downside is that I'm currently in the middle of study week for my exams (hence the lazy posts) so won't be able to get them done for a while which means i am stuck with less than fabulous brows. I am trying to convince myself that natural brows can look fantastic, unfortunately these are not what mine look like!

Anyway here are some photos of some natural brows (Oh if only this is what i was channeling...)

 Armand Basi one

Dior

(Snaps from google images) 

Knowing me i will probably be lazy and cave and not get them threaded but here's hoping. 

Has anyone got their eyebrows threaded before? If so what are your thoughts? 

♥

RAWR

I really should be doing uni work but decided this would be much more fun.

Leopard print nails - my really bad first attempt haha. I'm definitely not going to show you my right hand!

I have to say this is the first time i have ventured into patterned nails so they are quite dodgy. Oh well no one will really be looking that closely. I kinda like them, they're a bit of fun.

Here is what i used. Looking at the colours now they seem more suited to a tiger, maybe next time...

I started off with two coats of Ulta3 Spring fling. I then used the small brush which i picked up really cheaply at spotlight to paint random splodges of China Glaze V and once that dried added an outline sort of thing in Ulta3 black stain. I then added a top coat and was done.

Don't know if this will be a regular thing as patience is not something i have lots of but i'm already thinking about what i can have a crack at next. I might have to check out the Konad kit.

Anyway back to the uni work i go :)

Bad gal!

I know everyone and their Grandma has heard about Benefit Bad gal lash mascara but i thought i would add my two cents worth. 

I really like this mascara. It adds great volume and length and the black colour is great. The brush is huge and coats and separates my lashes really nicely. One of the main things i like about this mascara is that it is one of the only mascaras i have used which never clumps which is a massive plus.

  

I use it as my everyday mascara. I like the look it gives for the daytime however if it's masses of volume you're after i think there are better mascaras out there. It reminds me of Diorshow with the big brush and all, i think i like Diorshow a tad better though. I think Diorshow adds more volume.

The only downside to this mascara is that i find it smudges a bit throughout the day but overall it's a good product. I really like this mascara but i probably wouldn't buy this mascara again straight away simply because there are so many others that i want to try first!

I'm longing for lash extensions at the moment, why do they have to be so expensive!?

Ins & Outs ♥

Here are my currents ins & outs

Ins

♥ Green tea - lots of beautyfying anti-oxidants.

♥ Going on holiday to New Zealand in about a month, not long now!

♥ My flannelette sheets which are so warm & cosy during the increasingly cold nights.

♥ Packages - I have been doing quite a bit of online shopping lately so have had a constant stream of packages arriving. Love it, they seem like presents. Haul coming soon.
♥ Lucas Paw Paw ointment - it's my staple lip product, it's especially great now the weather is cooling down.

Outs

♥ Uni work - it's coming to the end of the session which means crazy amounts of work, essays and exams, yuck!

♥ My way too long makeup wishlist, my wallet can't handle it.

♥My phone - my trusty old pink nokia is so broken. I have had it for so long i really can't complain but really don't want to spend money on a new one.

♥ Crazy skin - i have been having major skin issues. Not so much breakouts but dryness & redness. I went to see a dermatologist last week so hopefully it will start to behave.

Anything in particular you girls have been loving or hating?

NOTD - Bubblegum

Here is my NOTD. It's Maybelline Mini Colorama in Bubblegum. It caught my eye the other days so I picked it up.

Here it is again; 

When i first applied it i found it a bit thin and streaky so i decided to try it over a white polish which seemed to work okay. I applied one layer of white and then two layers of bubblegum. The colour is alright but i'm not blown away. In the shop it looked a more pinky which is really what i wanted but hey it was only around $5. It was a bit of a hassle to apply but having said that that it still is quite a pretty purple.

What i used 

My hunt for the perfect pinky purple polish continues!

xx

Blog award :)

I was tagged by the gorgeous Ariel with a sweet blog award. Thank you so much Ariel. Check out her blog if your not already a fan.

 Gorgeous Blogger Rules:

- Accept and thank the person who gave it to you!

- List 10 things about yourself

- List 5 additional things you DON'T like

- Then pick ten people to give this lovely award to!

Things about me;

1. I drink way too much diet coke. I think i have a very unhealthy addiction :P

2. I love wearing rings

3. When i get nervous i can't help giggling which is really inappropriate sometimes!

4. I love wearing tracksuits in winter. If i could i would wear one everywhere

5. I eat a banana everyday for breakfast. I just really like them

6. I like doing pilates, not that i do it nearly as often as i would like to or should for that matter

7. I am really indecisive. I hate it

8. I'm in my third and final year at uni woohoo

9. I always know how to waste an extraordinary amount of time

10. I'm pretty sarcastic so i found myself using way to many :) and ;) online so people don't think i'm being mean

Things i don't like; 

1. Leggings worn inappropriately.

2. The cold weather - my hands become like icecubes!

3. Black Sambuca 

4. When women wear high heels that make a really loud clomping noise when they walk

5. People who don't close their mouth when they chew gum

Seeing as i'm a bit late to jump on the bandwagon for this tag i'm not going to tag anyone in case people have already been tagged but if you like the look of it do it!

Illamasqua

I am over the moon that Illamasqua is coming to Australia yay! They are opening in Myer  in Sydney in June and i think i will have to make a special trip as soon as they open. Anyway i just thought i would share my little wish list with you all.

♥ Gleam Cream

♥ Bronzing Duo

♥ Cream blush in rude

♥ Powder blush in lover

♥ Lipstick in brink

♥ Liquid metals

♥ Nail polish in Phallic

Oh if only i has an unlimited budget the list could go on and on. I will have to get my bank account ready

I would love to know your thoughts on Illamasqua and if there is anything in particular i should keep and eye out for?

x

Oh it's love!

A little package arrived on my doorstep last week and inside of it was Pearl cream colour base!

This is my first cream highlighter and after reading reviews i knew i had to get it. I have used it everyday since it arrived and i absolutely love it. It's the perfect highlighter and really brings out the glow in my skin. 

It's a beautiful gold toned highlighter which is perfect for my pale complexion. In the pan it reminds me a bit of NARS albatross but it is not quite as golden. I guess you could say Pearl has more of a pearly undertone (it figures!)

Albatross on the left and Pearl on the right. Excuse my very beaten up Albatross!

What i love about Pearl is the creamy texture. It blends in beautifully, looks good under or over foundation and really gives you that natural glow. It's gorgeous. It's like a less shiny version of MAC By Candlelight MSF which i found made my skin look shiny instead of glowy like i wanted. 

 Albatross on the top and Pearl on the bottom

If you're fair to medium skin toned, you'll love this as a beautiful gold toned highlighter. What more can i say apart from move over Albatross!

Anyone else a cream highlighter fan?

NOTD

I bet you can all guess what colour this is. Yep it it's OPI's Mod about you (very dodgely applied might i add!)

 I'm sure you have seen it all before but I love this colour. A pale pink which I always get compliments on whenever i wear it.

I have a question for you all. I really want a light pinky purple colour nail polish, I'm thinking OPI's Lucky lucky lavender looks good. Has anyone tried it or have other suggestions for me check out?

Thanks :)

I want one!

How great are these!? I came across this photo (not sure where) and wish i could get my hands on one of these stands

I really need to organise my nail polishes. At the moment they are all over the place. How do you girlies store your polishes?

April Favs :)

April favs time!

 ♥ Mac cream colour base in virgin isle

I only got this recently but so far have been really liking it. It looks pretty bright in the pan but adds a really nice colour to the cheek which instantly brightens up my face.  Review and swatches for this coming soon.

♥ MAC blot powder

My skin has been so temperamental recently. It has been really oily especially around my t-zone so this has been a lifesaver in  combating the shine. I'm nearly out of this so if anyone has any suggestions for a great powder that fights oil let me know :)

♥ MAC studiofix concealer

As i said my skin has been crazy, not only has it been oily but it has been breaking out like crazy which is really unusual for me. I have been using this so often and it has done a great job of covering everything. 

♥  Sigma 224 brush

I have been using this for applying concealer rather than blending eyeshadow and i am really impressed. I am a convert to this brush for applying concealer, it blends it in really well giving a flawless base.

♥ Revlon eyelash curler 

I've not been wearing a lot of eye make up lately as i have been stuck at home doing uni work but one thing i always do no matter what is curl my lashes. It was only a $5 cheapy but it does the job. I love how curled lashed make me instantly look awake. I really want the gold shu uemera one, if only i had enough money!

♥ Lucas paw paw ointment

This is a miracle worker. I use it on my lips, elbows, cuticles, anything really. It has been especially great for my lips which have not been in great shape lately. I have been using this forever i think this is about my 10th tube.

♥ Hamilton hand cream 

With the weather getting colder my skin, especially my hands, become really dry. This is a great handcream, my doctor recommended it actually. It quite thick but soaks in quickly not leaving my hands all creamy and greasy. If anyone has dry hands or is just looking for a great handcream i would definitely recommend this one

♥Slippers

It's getting cold (boo hoo) but luckily my mum bought me these very cozy pink slippers which i'm loving!!

Hope you all had a great April :)

NOTD White!

I am currently sporting white nails with a touch of pink. I don't mind them but i don't know if i would go so far as to say i love white nails

I used two coats of Ulta3's lily white and over the top of that i used Revlon's Sweet Nothings in Please me pink (not that you can really tell from the photo!)

What do you guys think? Love them or hate them?

Aspirin mask

I first stumbled across the idea of an aspirin mask ages ago on makeupalley. So many people were raving about how it gives you gorgeous, clear and smooth skin and i have to say it's pretty good! Aspirin is salicyclic acid which is the main ingredient in heaps of face and body products currently on the market. It is an anti inflammatory which is great for breakouts and healing blemishes and red spots. It's  also good at removing blackheads and making pores appear smaller. Overall it gives my skin a great glow.

I do it about once a week sometimes as a mask or sometimes just in the shower as more of an exfoliator. One of the best things is the price. I get the cheapest aspirin and it costs me less than $1 for 24, it's so cheap!

So here is how i do it. Firstly i get the cheapest aspirin i can find. Make sure its uncoated aspirin as if they are coated it will takes ages to dissolve  

I ususally use about 3 or 4 for my entire face, but you can use as many a you like really

I break them along the groove just because i find they dissolve much quicker which is good as i'm impatient (my mum calls me 'im' and she always jokes around that she should have given me the middle name patient so then she could call me im patient, haha)

 

I then cup them in my hand as i find it easier and less messy than using a bowl or container. I then add a few drops of warm water and mix them around so it dissolves. It only takes a few seconds and becomes a grainy sort of texture. I then mix in some of my facial cleanser but i have read a lot of other ways to do it on MUA. Some people suggest honey, aloe vera or yogurt. I am yet to experiment but i'll get around to it sooner or later

 

I apply it to my whole face and leave it for about 10 minutes or if i use it in the shower i just rub it all over my face like i would an exfoliator then simply rinse off and just like that i have clearer, cleaner and smoother skin. My verdict is that this stuff is brilliant!

If you have already tried it or are going to let me know what you think

x