UNI clothing HAUL

Now when its nearing the end of holiday (of which have been going on for a good 6months for me..) while some think I better go buy my books et cetera I'm more thinking well I better go buy some clothes. Hence this haul.

I've had a bit of a clear out today. Now I love a good clear outs. It may take me a while to get around to them but when I do I'm brutal. Anything I haven't worn or touched this summer, no matter if I like the colour, or its cute, or it has sentimental value has to go. Gone is the clutter. But the draws won't be empty for long I promise.

The difficult thing about Perth at this time of year is that even though the temperature ranges between 30 and 40 degrees each week we now have a whole lot of winter clothing in the store. Not exactly practical but it does mean a lot of the summer clothing is on sale. WAHOO some things are on SALE! Emphasis on the some things.

 

These three items are from Bardot. I really needed some new shorts. My other shorts are on the tight side and safe to say not comfortable in the slightest. These shorts are slightly higher waisted and were both $50. I think the pink pair were on sale and that was just the price of the denim pair. I got the white crochet backed top for $20, I got it to go with the pink shorts and its a really good length. I hate wearing long tops with shorts, with the shorts nearly disappearing.

 

Then onto Sportsgirl. More shorts. I love the colours of these shorts. I think the colours will be good transitioning the wardrobe into winter and autumn. They were $79.95 and really comfortable. The star/galaxy top I thought was fun and it has diamantes on it which is cute. That was $59.95 and then I just needed a plain white top which was $29.95. I love there essential tops there really soft and wash well!

 

Hope your week is going well so far!

 

Laura xo

Origins Zero Oil moisturiser

I'm always on the look out of a good AM moisturiser. Always. 
For me this is the most difficult H.G item for me to find to add to my skin care routine.
When I finish one moisturiser it’s onto the next. So here’s a review of the latest moisturiser I've been trying out.

I was given the Origins Zero Oil Moisture Lotion for Christmas. Origins are a brand I love because of its natural ingredients and most of their products I've tried work extremely well. 

It’s described as... 

"This lightweight, oil-free, hydrating lotion with skin-clearing Saw Palmetto, refreshing Mint and pore-minimising Salicylic Acid instantly reduces shine, refines skin texture and creates a smooth, matte finish. Non-comedogenic. Non-acnegenic."

I love the feeling when I apply it in the morning. It’s got that tingly feeling I'm guessing from the mint, which is really refreshing especially in the summer. It certainly is a lightweight consistency which doesn’t feel thick on the skin. And it sinks into the skin pretty well but it doesn't stop me getting shiny throughout the day at all. Which is the whole purpose of this moisturiser right.

To be honest I'm probably shiny an hour or two after applying it. Even though I do get some shine I can admit it really helps to keep me skin moisturised. I have some dry areas around my chin and it works pretty nicely at keeping them at bay. This leads me to think the moisturiser is probably more suited for normal to combination skin type.

Another positive is that it doesn't break me out and I haven’t had any type of reaction from it (I can have quite sensitive skin). I think this is thanks to the ingredients of Saw Palmetto, mint and especially salicylic acid which is an important ingredient for anyone with blemish prone skin.

A major negative for me is that it doesn't have any SPF at all. Not even a 10 or 15 SPF. Sun protection is really important to me in a moisturiser living in an extremely hot climate (its 40 degrees plus all this week :\) and if I don’t use sunscreen I can get some pigmentation from where blemishes used to be. It means I have to add another product to my face making my morning routine quite long. I guess this can be a positive if you want to use it as a night cream. Personally I always use a thicker moisturiser for night time. Also $39… possibly a bit steep for the product. The packaging is nice but nothing special. Their masks are cheaper at $34 and twice the amount of product.

Overall I won’t be buying the moisturiser again. I’ll finish off the product (I've been attempting to do that lately.. more using less busying) but probably try something else. Hopefully the next moisturiser I buy will be the one! 

FOTD #1

Hi everyone!

I bought Nars Sheer Glow a few weeks a go and have been in love with it ever since. It gives a natural,  healthy glow to my skin and its so easy to apply. Now I've always applied my foundation with a brush but its actually much easier to use your fingers with this foundation. It helps to warm the foundation up and its just blends like a dream. And its so much quicker!

This is a very natural look which is my basically my everyday go to make-up. 

Also I've been wearing lip glosses a lot lately in particular the Stila Lip Glazes, I got the  pack for Christmas. They have a great colour range and aren't sticky at all. 

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre Foundation Skin Primer

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab

Mac Select Moisture Cover Concealer in NC20

YSL Touche Eclat #2

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent

Stila Custom Colour Blush in self adjusting Pink

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Stila Lip Glaze in Jolly

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara in Blackest Black

Primer love

Primer has been one of my favourite and most prized make-up possessions since I started watching YouTube and realised it existed. Up until now the Stila one step primer has been my all-time favourite (I'm on my 4^th bottle at the moment). But I think I've found something else which competes pretty well with it. Can it take the crown though? The Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre foundation skin Primer (quite a mouthful, we’ll call it Auto Pilot Primer from now on).

In a primer I want it to be moisturising, feel nice on my skin (I’m not a fan of silicone based primers), make my foundation last of course and not break me out.

This primer does all this and more. It actually feels ammmazzing on the skin. It almost has a cooling sensation when applied. Which feels really nice and I’ll leave it for a minute or 2 to sink in. I would describe the Auto Pilot Primer as a lotion; it’s quite light weight like a moisturiser. Actually Napoleon does say you can use this product as a moisturiser unless your skin is dry. I haven’t tried this though because I think moisturising is an important step in my skin routine, one I’m not prepared to drop. The ingredients in this primer include Vitamin E, Yarrow extracts and Chamomile which help to soothe and moisturise the skin.

I’ve really noticed a difference when applying my foundation too. The look is more natural because the foundation is being applied to a smoother base. The foundation doesn't emphasises any dry patches I have on my chin and it’s lasting for a good amount of time. Also its not emphasising any pores on my face (which I certainly wouldn't want).

I think the biggest downfall of this product is the price at $55. My Stila primer is $20 cheaper. The packaging is nice, but nothing special. It doesn't make up for the price of the product. With that price I might as well go and buy another foundation. I do love it though and I’ll keep using it and see whether I can live without it. 

Have a lovely week!

Laura xo

Wedding!

Hi all!

Last weekend my big brother got married! (wahoooo!). So I thought I’d a post showing you some of the photos. I mean who doesn't like to see wedding photos right, having a nosy look at what everyone’s wearing and what the venue looked like? I know I do (guilty pleasure).

It was such a lovely day. I think weddings feel so much different from being a friend and guest from being one of the family members. Everything is so much more personal.

The Bride looked absolutely stunning! We had no idea what the wedding dress would look like and I loved it. It was simple, yet elegant. The lace really made the dress!

On dresses Mum and I were dress shopping mad. I think at one point Mum had four possibilities. No I'm not lying and these were all bought. Understandably she wanted the ‘right’ dress being mother of the groom. It was actually quite stressful as the day kept coming closer. In my mind I wanted a blue dress. Cool colours suit me much more than reds and pinks. They often emphasise the redness in my skin. And guess what that’s what I found. An electric blue well fitted but wedding appropriate dress. I found this little gem at Villains, the brand is majestic.

Mum and I also decided to get our make-up done for the day. We went to Napoleon Perdis and it was a really great experience. I was really pleased with the outcome. I had a fake tan done for the day (Aviva) and the make-up artist matched my face to the body and covered up pimples and overall made me feel wedding guest ready. I was really, really happy. I haven’t used Napoleon face products before but I think I'm going to have to. The foundation was gorgeous on the skin (natural with good coverage). The make-up was $80 redeemable for products. I ended up getting the primer (which is aammaazingg- review to come!) and an eye shadow quad.

I did my hair myself. I'm in love with the babyliss wand. It’s easy to use and is basically fool proof which is good for me! It heats up very quickly which helps my curls stay in play in my straight, straight hair.

Shoes I went for plain black, strappy Jane Debester shoes from Myers. My necklace and bracelet are from Colette (of course) and my watch is Michael Kors.

Enjoy the photos!

NARS plus more Haul

Hi there!

I've just come back from getting my first spray tan and I'm praying it develops well. It's my brother wedding on Saturday so I though what the heck I'll try one out! So to take my mind off whether it works out I decided I would write a post on some recent make-up purchases.

I was lucky enough to get a voucher to Mecca Cosmetica from my lovely brother for Christmas. And I've been toying with what to get since Boxing day.

I was all set on buying some different skin care items but I'm actually quite happy with my routine at the moment so I decided to try some more Nars products. In particular Nars Sheer Glow foundation which I've been itching to buy for a good 7 months. I've used it twice now and what I'm liking about it is that its natural yet gives good coverage. I've been using a Dior foundation lately but I just didn't feel like it was working for me. So another foundation to add to the collection!

I also picked up a Nars lipstick. As you can see from my lipstick collection its one brand I haven't tried. I also tried to opt for a colour I don't have a redish-orange. It's called Heat Wave and I love it. I personally do not suit nude lipstick. I really, really want to suit them but they just make me look dead unfortunately.

A few weeks ago after watching Lauren beautyy on youtube I decided to order some Nars products from Kiss and Make-up NY. If your Australian I cannot recommend it enough. Its a flat shipping rate of $10 but the products are literally about $20 cheaper. Take a look. So I took the opportunity to finally buy the Nars Orgasm blush and Eyeshadow duo in Isolde. First thoughts on the blush is what have I been doing without it in my life?? Though I love the blush deepthroat, Orgasm tops it. Isolde my feelings are that the brown may have too much red/orange undertones for me. But they are the most pretty colours so I'll persevere.

I have also picked up the Mac Eye Brow pencil/pen in Lingering. What I really like is that it looks really natural using soft, light strokes.

I was also very, very lucky to win a blog prize from Laura's blog Liparazzi. I love her blog and really recommend that you check it out. She gives great advice and does lots of good reviews. So I was sent a Chantecaille Brilliant gloss in Magic and Neals Yard Beauty Sleep Concentrate. This is my first Chantecaille product so I was very excited. Its a gorgeous gloss which isn't sticky but gives a lovely colour.

Hope you have a lovely rest of the week and a wonderful weekend!

Laura xo

My Lipstick Collection

Hi there,

I hope you've had a lovely start to the week and hopefully a wonderful weekend too! Its been a busy weekend for me. I went to a wedding on Saturday which was absolutely stunning (I love weddings!!). And I went to a kitchen tea on Sunday (high tea kind of thing) for my brothers fiancé. Its so excited because they're getting married next weekend. I cannot wait and I'll make sure to post lots of pictures!!. Anyway onto the post. 

I used to not be a lipstick kind of person. When I was younger it was lipgloss all the way. But the last year especially lipstick has become a love and a necessity. Two reasons. Number one longevity and number two I love to have a fancy lipstick to pull out and reapply haha.

My favourites are easily the YSL Rouge Volupte's. They're so creamy and pigmented. The hot pink in particular almost stains my lip (in a good way). When I wear it out even though I'm drinking it doesn't really budge. Also I love the creaminess because I have quite dry lips and theres nothing worse than lipsticks emphasising dry skin. Not pretty. On a  random note though I have been loving chapsticks lately  They really keep my dry lips in check!

Rouge Volupte: 10, 8 and 1. 

Dior lipsticks are simply lovely and I do love there packaging. I especially love my Rouge Dior Nude in 263. Its just the perfect natural pink. Chanel lipsticks are really pigmented and again I love them but for the amount of money you spend on them I think they could make the packaging a bit more special. It is understated but then decrease the price please. 

Chanel Rouge Coco 56 Teheran, Chanel Rouge Coco shine 50 Rivage, Rouge Dior Nude 263 Swan, Rouge Dior 28 Mazette

I'm also a fan of Rimmel lipsticks. In particular the Kate Moss collection. They look beautiful on the lips and they actually smell really good too. I think there a really good, affordable lipstick. I particularly love firecracker too. They have such a good range of colours are really long lasting. Also I think pink blush is just the perfect pink. 

Rimmel: Moisture renew 700, lasting finish by Kate 10, lasting finish 006 pink blush, lasting finish 214 firecracker.

The Revlon lipbutters. I find there a bit hit and miss really. When I first bought them I really loved them. But as you can probably tell they actually melt a little bit and I've found the texture has changed over time. I got a few for Christmas so I may give them another try but they're not high on my list of favourites at the moment. My favourites colours are Lollipop and Sweet Tart. 

Revlon Lip Butters: Sugar plum, Lollipop, Sweet Tart, Cupcake and Creamsicle.

Mac lipsticks. I'm not sure what it is about them but I'm not a fan. I find them really drying and just not wonderful. I have the Creme D'Nude and its fair to say nudes do not suit me. I prefer bright lipsticks because they add colour to my face. Even though I haven't had a wonderful experience for them I think I will buy Ruby Woo soon and girl about town. They are stunning colours! 

Mac: Cremsheen Creme D'Nude, Lustre Lovelorn, Frost Mellowarm.