Empties #10

We made it to empties number 10, yay! I feel like it's been only a few weeks since I did the last one but I seem to have accumulated a lot in a short space of time. As usual you get to peek into my trash and see what I've finished, and what my thoughts are, positive or negative.

The Parcel By Marie Claire | The Winter Edit 2016

I am so bad when it comes to keeping track of things. I had no idea when this was arriving so when the post man showed up with this in his hands, it was a nice surprise. However I was anxious to see what was inside because I was quite disappointed with the last one I got, which you can read about here. But I think they have listened to what people have said about the last one, and this season's box is an improvement on the last.

Evening Skincare Routine

I recently talked about my morning skincare routine, so course my evening skincare routine is up next. My night time routine is anything fancy either, the only time it changes is if I add a mask into the mix. Even though I love wearing and putting on makeup, nothing beats the feeling off taking it off and cleaning your skin!

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. 

Empties #8

I want to restructure how I write out my empties posts. I felt like it was a bit tedious and would sometimes be a super long post. I would list each product individually, write my thoughts on them and then say whether I would repurchase them or not. Now, I want to write two sections; one fore repurchases and one fore the products I wouldn't buy again. I feel like the posts will be more concise, and hopefully more likely to be helpful. I link any reviews of the products for a more in depth review. 

The Parcel by Marie Claire | The Autumn Edit 2016

After receiving 5 or 6 amazing boxes from The Parcel, I have come to expect a lot from them and what they feature in each season's parcel. This season, I was a little let down. Even though 5 of the 6 products are full size, I feel like the boxes are getting a bit repetitive.

Empties #7

Another 2 months, another empties post. This month's empties are mainly skincare and body stuff, with a little bit of makeup. Last empties was bigger, I think in the last 2 months, I got a lot of new products. Also, sorry about the terrible quality of the images, the day I was taking them, there was hardly any natural light So without any further ado, here are my empties.

Empties #6

Even though some people don't find them interesting, empties videos and blog post are some  of my favourites to read. Because people have finished the product, they can give a full, honest review on the product. So without further ado, here's a in depth review of my trash!

Makeup

Australis Make-up Finishing Spritz - I didn't really like this product, but the smell was nice. I just found that it didn't do anything in terms of pro-longing makeup and keeping it fresh. Would I repurchase? No.

MAC Prep & Prime Beauty Balm - This was my first purchase from MAC, but it wasn't one I was happy with. I wanted to come out with a foundation but the lady persuaded me to get this. I found it to be too heavy, but it didn't have the best of coverage either. Also, it made my skin go oilier faster than usual. Would I repurchase? No.

Garnier BB Cream For Oily Skin - This was my favourite base for lazy days. It has a runny consistency, and covers well. However, even though this is the lightest shade, I found it looked a bit orange on me. Would I repurchase? No.

Revlon Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara - I was excited to try this mascara, as the last one I had tried from them was amazing. However this just felt heavy on my lashes and they clumped easily.  Would I repurchase? No.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer - This is a good lightweight brightening mascara for under the eyes. It was great for everyday use. Would I repurchase? Maybe.

Too Faced Primed & Poreless Pure Primer - I really loved using this primer. It had a silicone feel to it and made my foundation glide nicely over the top. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil - I think this is a good affordable eye pencil. But I seem to go through these really quickly which is strange. Would I repurchase? Maybe.

Body

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel - Body Shop shower gels are my favourite shower gels. They lather up so well, and the scent lingers throughout the day. This scent smelt amazing and reminded me of my childhood. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Kit Body Wash Pomegranate & Pink Grapefruit - I didn't like this at all. It didn't lather well and the scent smelled like a cleaning product my mum uses. Not a fan. Would I repurchase? No.

Anatomicals Night Time Hand Cream - This felt really greasy on my hands and there was still residue in the morning. I did like the scent however. Would I repurchase? No.

Lush Prince Charming Shower Gel - The scent of this confused me. It's got a fresh citrus scent, but also a musk smell which was a bit overpowering. Would I repurchase? No.

Burberry Brit Sheer - I bought this when I first went to Europe in 2011. It's not my favourite perfume ever, but it was good for everyday wear. Would I repurchase? No.

Lush Volcano Foot Mask - A few months ago, my feet were in terrible condition (TMI?), so I thought I'd give them some TLC with this mask. I feel like this didn't do anything amazing, and it smelt so bad! But I think my feet did like that extra attention. Would I repurchase? No.

Skincare & Haircare

Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes - I haven't been using theses as much lately, but these are just so gentle on my skin. They are great for days where I don't have a lot of makeup on, and I'm feeling a bit lazy. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Neutrogena Make-up Cleansing Towels  - I really didn't like these. They irritated my skin and they felt really dry. Would I repurchase? No.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash - It took me ages to uses this up because I really hated this. It sucked all the moisture out of my face and I didn't feel like it did anything for my acne. Would I repurchase? No.

Formula 10.0.6 Get Your Glow On Brightening Mask  - This mask is so much fun because it's a peel off mask. Sometimes that can be a bit messy when it gets caught in your hair. I did notice my skin was a bit brighter but nothing spectacular. Would I repurchase? Maybe.

REN Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel - This is such a great cleanser! It's not stripping like some gel cleansers can be and it's so gentle on the skin. My face feels so refreshed after using this. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - Just the usual dry shampoo, handy for that third day after washing where you just can't be bothered. Would I repurchase? Yes.

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The Parcel by Marie Claire | The Autumn Edit 2015

For some reason, I totally forgot to get last season's Parcel by Marie Claire. And it was a good box too! So I made sure I remembered to subscribe this time. This is their Autumn Edit, and it is definitely worth the money. What I was most excited about was the Max Factor Masterpiece Transform Mascara which has had good reviews so far, and I love the look of the wand. The Rimmel BB Cream Radiance, is something that hasn't hit stores yet. I probably wouldn't have picked this up as anything that says radiance sends me in the other direction, but since I got it in the box, I give it a go. Also, everyone was saying they got the shade Medium, which would obviously not suit me, but luckily I got the shade Light! Another base product is the Garnier Skin Naturals Miracle Skin Cream. This looks interesting as it comes out white and then matches to your skin tone, so I'm really looking forward to giving this a go.

Everyone needs makeup wipes, so I was happy to see a small pack of Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. I've never tried Nuetrogena ones before so we'll see how they compare to my trusty Simple ones. Another handy thing to get is the Schick Hydro Silk, because I actually razors on my shopping list but I don't need to get one now! The  Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, is something I'm going to give to my mum, because it's more suited to her skin. I'm excited to try the L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream in Zesty Lime. This is apparently one of the greatest hand creams, so I'll see if it lives up to the hype. Also, it really does smell of fresh limes. I'm not to sure about the MOR Emporium Classic Snow Gardenia Triple-Milled Soap. The smell is really strong, and not my kind of scent. I might give it to my Nona.

Did you get this season's box? If so, what did you think?

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Doing my Sister's Makeup | Semi Formal

So my sister isn't into makeup, which is totally fine. But whenever she has a special event for school, e.g. her semi formal, I jump at the opportunity to do her makeup. Now I'm no professional but one day I'd like to do a small course on makeup, but for now, my sister is my model, which she isn't too keen on. So when she asked me to do her makeup for her semi formal, I jumped at the chance!

Because she's not into makeup, she lets me have a bit of a free reign but I know she wants something simple. Which is good, because if she asked me to do a cat eye, I would have been screwed because I can't even do one properly on myself. I started off by applying the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer  to help her makeup stay on during the night. Then I used her BB cream which is the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfecter Daily All-In-One BB Cream in light which matches her well. For concealer, on her face I used the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer  and for under the eyes, I used the Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer. To powder her face I used the M.A.C. Studio Fix Powder to add a bit more coverage. I then added a bit of colour to the cheeks using NARS Powder Blush in Deep Throat. I then used the NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and the M.A.C. Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly to prime her eyes. I got to use my favourites eyeshadows at the moment, the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette.  I used the shade Foxy as an all over base, then Tease in the crease. Then Booty Call  in the inner corners to highlight, Chopper  over the lid with a wet brush to intensify the colour then I used Blackout to subtly line the upper lash line. To finish off, I used her Clinique High Impact Mascara and Revlon's Colorburst Lipgloss in Peony.

I wish I had taken a photo because she looked so beautiful and natural, if I do say so myself. I can't wait to do her makeup again.

What are your favourite looks to try on different people.

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Empties #2

Another few months, another bunch of empty products. I'm going to give a mini review with each product just for your reference. The bag of empties was getting full so I decided to pull it all out and tell you about the rubbish hoarding under my desk.

Bioderma Crealine H2O Solution Micellaire: I loved this so much. I bought the mini size for when I went to Melbourne to test out. It is great for taking off makeup and is gentle for both the skin and eyes.
Would I repurchase: Yes.

Garnier Moisture Match Combination to Oily Skin: This is a great moisturiser for oily skin as not only does it hydrate your skin, it keeps the oil at bay. Great as a day cream before makeup.
Would I repurchase: Already have.

Clearasil Rapid Action Pads: It claims to reduce the size of pimples and redness in 4 hours but I found it did the opposite. They just irritated my skin and caused more problems.
Would I repurchase: No.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara: This mascara works really well for me as it lengthens my lashes but I never find that they get clumpy. The brush on this is probably why because it is a plastic brush with thin spokes.
Would I repurchase: Already have.

MOR Salt & Sugar Body Scrub in Honey Nectar: I got this for christmas as a free gift with my makeup bag by the same brand. It took me that long to finish it! I love it because the scrub is a lot chunkier than some other ones you can get so I found it more effective. However, I'm not really a fan of honey so the smell for me was a bit unsettling
Would I repurchase: Yes, but with a different scent.

Simple Kind to Skin cleansing Facial Wipes: These are so handy for cleaning makeup off my hands or on a lazy night when I don't want to use my cleansing oil. They're gentle on my skin and also affordable.
Would I repurchase: Always!

Aesop Oil Free Facial Hydrating Serum: This felt different as I've never used a serum before. However it did leave my skin feeling very soft the next day. It was only a sample size so I wasn't able to use it over a period of time.
Would I repurchase: Maybe.

Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste: This was really nice as it was gentle exfoliator, and not as harsh as some other ones. I need something like this as I don't want to break the pimples on my face and this did the job.
Would I repurchase: Yes.

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxident Facial Treatment: This wasn't my favourite of the Aesop samples as it was a bit too oily for my liking. However, I'd love to try it out for a longer period.
Would I repurchase: Maybe.

Origins Super Spot Remover: This is no miracle worker, but it does the job. I found my pimples were reduced in redness and size and it didn't dry out my skin.
Would I repurchase: Yes.

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner: I was so excited to see this in my Mecca Beauty Loop box as I've had my eyes in this set for a while. I wasn't overly impressed with the results, but I would like to try out the mini size as I feel that I would be able to see the results clearer over a longer period of time and not just 2 washes.
Would I repurchase: Maybe.

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My Everyday Face #2

Another everyday face for you guys! A lot has changed since last time, the only thing that has stayed the same is my MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. I've switched from foundation to the Garnier BB Cream for Oily/Combination Skin, I've been loving this paired with the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer as it keeps me matte for such a long time. The NARS Radient Creamy Concealer has been my current favourite concealer, and I think it will be for a long time.The powder that I have been loving is the MAC Mineralise SkinFinish Natural in Light which is so light on the skin but also helps me stay matte. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion is such a beautiful everyday flush of colour on my cheeks. 

Underneath my MAC Paint Pot, I use the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer, which helps to keep my eyeshadow, MAC's All That Glitters, in place all day. That colour is a great everyday colour to quickly apply all over your lids. Then I apply the Revlon Lash Potion Volume & Length Mascara. To finish off, I apply the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Natural for a quick wash of colour and I'm ready to face the world!

However, on days when I miss my alarm or am not too bothered with my make up, I do a quick routine which I wrote about a few weeks back, my "OH NO, I'M LATE" routine.

Hope everyone is a having a fab July!

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My "OH NO, I'M LATE" Makeup Rountine

With Uni finishing a couple a weeks ago, my mind has gone into holiday mode and the days are becoming one big blur. A couple of days ago, I decided to take a nap. What I didn't realise is that I had work later that afternoon. My bad. My sister woke me up and I had only 10 minutes to get ready and leave! My face was not looking too presentable at that minute so I decided to quickly slap on some makeup to make it all better.

I used my Garnier BB Cream for Oily Skin as my base because even though it's a BB cream and it's got a thin consistency, the coverage is pretty surprising. On this particular day I didn't need any concealer which was great. Then I used the M.A.C. Mineralize Skin Finish in Natural, which is fantastic at setting my makeup because I find I get oily with this BB Cream. Lastly I used the Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara in Blackened Brown to transform my eyes from being almost invisible beady things to something that's supposed to be on my face.

Only 3 steps but boy does it make a difference and only takes about 2 minutes!

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SAVE VS SPLURGE: BB Cream

Ah BB Creams, the previous bane of my existence. With ridiculously oily skin, I could never find a BB Cream which didn't make my face turn into a oil slick. But in the past year I have come across two that almost work with my kind of skin, these are the Garnier BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin and M.A.C Prep + Prime Beauty Balm SPF 35. I've been using both for over 3 months so I'm going to tally up the pros and cons to help you decide on a BB Cream for oily skin.

TOP: M.A.C     BOTTOM: Garnier

M.A.C Prep + Prime Beauty Balm SPF 35
I got recommend this by a MUA at M.A.C when I was looking for a light foundation for oily skin in summer. I was a bit skeptical because I haven't had a good time with other BB Creams but I took her advice because I thought she must know how it works. This has a very thick consistency as you can tell with the picture compared to the Garnier. Smell doesn't really matter but it kind of smells like Play-doh which I don't really mind. It's a little difficult to blend in and does come out a bit streaky. Throughout the day it tends to move around on my face which isn't good because I also set it with powder. It gathers around the sides of my nose which is really annoying. However, compared to other BB Creams this has a bigger shade range, 9 shades in total which is good for people who don't suit drugstore BB Creams. I got the shade Light Plus which I'm still not sure if it's the right colour for me. It's $42 for 40ml which is pretty expensive for a BB Cream. To sum it up, I don't think I like this BB Cream very much.

Garnier BB Cream for Combination and Oily Skin
I've had this for a while and I hated it, so I stopped using it. It oxidised my skin turing me into a oompaloompa. But I realised this was because I was using a coloured loose powder on top so I decided to give it another go. This is very liquidy, so be careful when opening it as it can just flow out without squeezing the bottle. I'm not sure what it smells like but it doesn't bother me at all. It's super easy to blend in because for it's consistency. I thick the best brush for this is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I don't find that it moves throughout the day which is fantastic! I always set it with a translucent powder but my face can get a tad oily during the day but that happens with any foundation I use so I always look past that and touch up during the day. This one only comes in 2 shades, and I use Light. I think this is a tad too dark for my skin but I make sure to blend it down my neck so i don't get an obvious line. The coverage with this is fantastic for a BB Cream! I find it settles into the skin really well after an hour and your face looks almost flawless. It's $13.99 for 40ml, which I find is a real steal for the quality of this!

To sum it up, I think the Garnier looks and feels a lot better on my oily skin. The M.A.C has a better shade range though, so if they combined it would be the perfect BB Cream. At the end of the day, everyone has a different reaction to products so find one that you think best suits your skin tone and always try to try it out before buying.

Happy reading!

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My 2013 Beauty Favourites

Hello all!

So everyone is getting into the swing of 2014 which is exciting! My year so far sounds awesome so far, Melbourne in a few days, and starting my second year of university (eeeek!). But 2013 was pretty fabulous to say the least, as it was in March when I really started to get beauty obsessed and finally plucked up the courage to start this blog in November. And now, like everyone else, I would LOVE to share with you my 2013 beauty favourites!

Australis Make-Up Finishing Spray | The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel | Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Sunshine Edition EDT | Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara in Blackened Brown | Garnier BB Cream Oil Free for Oily/Combination Skin in Light | Lush Grease Lightning | Lush Let The Good Times Roll | Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Finish Lipstick in 107 | Sportsgirl Pout About It in Dark Angel | Maybelline Baby Lips in Soothing Cherry | Savvy Mineral Loose Powder in Finishing Veil | MAC Select Cover Up in NW15 | Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink | MAC Eyeshadow in All That Glitters | MAC Powder Blush in Melba | Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Have a beautiful 2014 everyone!

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