2017 Makeup Favourites

In some ways, 2017 flew buy, but in other ways, it felt like it was one of the longest years ever! I had started the year with the plan to be in London by the end, which did work out. But the process and waiting for the big move was frustrating at times. But all in all, it was a good year. With my favourites this year, I decided to be a bit a lazy on only talk about things I got this year that are my favourites, not a product for each category. Let me know what your favourites have been this year in the comments below.

A Beauty Anti Haul

As a self confessed lover of all things beauty and skincare related, I purchase more than the average person on beauty products. That being said, I am still very good at saving my money so I know when to real in the spending and give my bank account a bit of a boost. This means most of my purchases are well thought out, sometimes there is an occasional brain fade and I purchase something on a whim, and when new products come out I read reviews and take a while to decide if I want it because I want it or because or the hype around the product. But there are always a few products that right off the bat I know that I definitely do not want. Either because I don't believe the hype around them or that I know that I will never use that product. 

Recently there have been a few blog posts and videos that instead of being a haul, they are an anti-haul. I think the first person to start this idea is Kimberly Clark, whose videos are so entertaining. But I really like this kind of video/post because instead of talking about things you buy, they talk about why they don't want certain products and almost is a way of convincing me that I don't need these products. So here are some of the products that I will definitely not be buying in the future.

Orange Smokey Eye feat. Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette

I filmed another YouTube video! This time I played with the Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance Palette and created an orange smokey eye. I'm definitely no professional but I feel like my makeup skills, especially my ability to create a decent eyeshadow look, have vastly improved over the last few years. I hope you enjoy the look because I would love do more like this or even something a bit out of my comfort zone.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette Review

Probably one of the most hyped about palettes in the beauty world, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette is a warm eyeshadow lover's dream. Filled with 14 shades which includes orange and berry shades, it retails for $75 AUD. This is my first experience with ABH eyeshadows so I was intrigued to see what everyone raves about. The packaging is cardboard with a velvet outside, which I can see getting very battered overtime but so far I have managed to keep it clean.

Mid Year Beauty Favourites

So we have officially passed the halfway mark of the year and seriously, where did time go! I feel like I can vividly remember days in January and February like it was only the other week. This year, I don't think I have done any favourites posts and that's because I felt pressured every month to find a group of products that I have loved which were different to the months before. I just wasn't buying a lot of new stuff to be able to do these kinds of posts so I thought I would get all the products that I have tried this year (but not necessarily launched this year) and been in love with!

A US Beauty Haul With Shop and Box

So a few days before I embarked on my spending ban for the month of June, I made a sneaky order on Shop and Box with a friend. Shop and Box are a shopping service where you create a wishlist of things you want from a certain country, mine was for the US, and then you get paired with a shopper from that country and they buy all your items and co-ordinate the shipping. You do have to pay them a service fee but it is definitely worth it and the people are always super helpful and makes everything easy to understand. This is the second time I have made an order through them, you can check out my first order and experience here.

Empties #9

I went to chuck something in my empties bag and saw it was over flowing so this post is definitely due. It's always satisfying use up a whole product and I love hearing everyone's thoughts on a product they have obviously used up. 

MOTD | My 20th Birthday

On Good Friday, I turned the big 20. I am now an official adult which makes me slightly terrified. I can no longer blame my silly actions on my teenage self, because that period is officially over. I don't feel like an adult, I still feel 18. Partly because overtime I go to a bar, I spend 5 minutes at the door with the security guard looking back and forth from my ID to me going "Really? Are you sure?". The struggles of a baby face. I had family over for a chilled out day and chocolate cake, so I went for an amped up everyday look.

To prime, I used the bareMinerals Prime Time Neutralising Foundation Primer which is a yellow-toned primer which is great at correcting my skin, which means I can use as little bit less foundation. I then buffed in my NARS Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc which is my one of my favourite foundations. To conceal blemishes, I used NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla and for under my eyes, the MAC Pro Longer in NW15. To set it all, I used the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light which is great at setting my makeup but not mattifying it and letting the finish of the foundation come through. The only blush I've been using at the moment is the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve. It gives a sheer glow to the cheeks with a subtle hint of colour, I'm obsessed!

To prime my eyelids, I used the NARS Smudge Proof Eye Primer and to neutralise the base I used the MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. I used my Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette to create my eye look. I cannot for the life of my remember what colours I used but it was something really simple. I've been loving the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Corrupt because like it's name, it glides on so smoothly. For mascara, I used my trusty Clinique High Impact Mascara and for eyebrows, I filled them in with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz in Soft Brown. For my lips I used MAC Lipstick in Mehr which a blue toned neutral pink which is slightly darker than my lips. 

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A Huge Haul + ShopandBox Review

Well I think this is the biggest haul I've ever done.  My wish list was getting long, and I had some extra cash from working extra shifts on my holidays. I ended up choosing to get my products from America because it's a bit cheaper and there are some things aren't available in Australia. I had previously bought things through Shipito, but I found that the service was terrible. They had so many extra fees, and so many problems actually just trying to get the products. So this time I was on a hunt for a better shipping forwarding service.

I ended up going with ShopandBox. My experience with them was amazing. You put all the products you want on a wish list, and they'll pick a shopper that best suits your order. They are always communicating everything with you so you know exactly what is going on. My shopper would help me in getting the best value out of my order which was great. And the shipping was super quick. Another good thing is you're able to get things from multiple stores, and they'll combine it all in one package.

I would definitely recommend ShopandBox if your buying things overseas. They don't just ship from America but a few European and Asian countries too.

Have you tried ShopandBox, and what are you're thoughts?

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