March Favourites!

Oh dear, have I been indulging in some new (and quite pricey) products lately...
BUT!...that just means that I've also found some great things that I can share with you!

I've become a slight high-end addict, which is great for my skin and makeup looks, but not so great for my bank balance. Oopsi-daisy! But all for the love of beauty, right?

So my first few favourites are skin products;
If you haven't read my last blog post (feel free to), I wrote about my new Keihl's products. This Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a big hyped up product, and I've been itching to get it for ages, but for $59, it was going to have to be a big ol' splurge. And splurge I did.
I've only been using it for a week, and so far it seems fine. I've had a few pimples, but that's normal for me around this time of month (if you know what I mean).
I'll have to do an in-depth review once I've used it for a bit longer.

Along with the Keihl's midnight recovery concentrate, I've also been using the Ultra Facial Cream and the Creamy Eye Treatment with it. I am loving this combination at night time. Ultra nourishing but not too heavy. Gorgeous!

As for makeup favourites, I've purchased a few things, and they're all awesome, so they're all getting a mention..

The NARS blush in Seduction. A purply-plum shade, perfect for Autumn and winter (why I bought it). I have the Orgasm blush too, but this one is a bit more...particular. Let me explain that: with the Orgasm blush I can swivel my brush in, tap excess off, and it comes out perfect, but with this one, I have to tap my brush in, tap off excess and try and blow some off it too, and then it's okay. I found that when I used it the same way I would with the Orgasm blush, it came out blotchy at first (it blended, but I like doing things in a hurry). So just be careful of that, but it's a beautiful shade.

Another blush I've been loving (which is a lot cheaper too) is the Elf blush in Candid Coral. Such a lovely light orangey-peach shade. So sheer and illuminating, you literally cannot get this blush wrong! I can swipe my brush in, feather it across my cheeks, and it comes out perfect everytime!


The NARS Creamy Radiant concealer. Oh boy. I wasn't planning on getting this, but...you know how shopping works. But this stuff is great! A perfect match for my skin and has great coverage! $35 for a concealer is a bit like...'do I really need this?'...but yes, you do. I have the colour Vanilla, and it's just so perfect. Easy to blend, great coverage, great match for my skin and lasts well (if I use a primer).


I've recently came across grey eyeliner. It never occurred to me to try it. It's always either; black if I'm feeling bold, or brown if I'm not. But grey...hmmm...there's something about it that's just so great. It really makes my eyes greener and brighter, I'm loving it!
I'm loving the NARS eyeliner stylo in Koala paired with Smashbox's Always Sharp waterproof kohl liner in storm for the water line. Such a good duo!

As for nails, I've been really loving the Essie nail polishes in Mint Candy Apple, and Blanc. Work well together (if you want accent nails or nail art) and look lovely by themselves too. I've been waiting to get my hands on the cult Mint Candy Apple for ages, and I can see why it's so hyped! Beautiful colour, and Essie nail polished apply like a dream!

Other random favourites of mine include my MAC studio fix fluid in NC15, and elf makeup mist & set, a Rexona clinical protection deoderant (it's amazing!), a compact tangle teezer (with Shaun the Sheep eee!) and a new journal I got from Kikki.K.

So many things I'm loving at the moment! Stay tuned for my 'Every day makeup look' post which I'll be putting up soon. Just to show the kind of makeup look that I would use on a day-to-day basis, on days out, and on lazy no-makeup-makeup days!

xxx

Down Days and How I Manage to Stay Happy

Every now and then I'll have a day or half a day where I am just miserable for no particular reason (or some ridiculous reason). It's just part of being a woman, I think. Emotions, hormones, cramps, awkward toilet trips, all the fun stuff.

Sometimes it's really hard to pick yourself out of these little ruts. But there are some ways to help.

Everyone is an individual, and so, different things will work more or less effectively, and that's okay. Nobody is the same, and we all have different things that help us feel better. But here are a few of mine; hopefully next time you might be having a down day, a blue day, a sad day, a crap day...you can try one or more of these and they might help you feel even the tiniest bit better..

1.

Watch Jenna Marbles! 

This girl is absolutely the most funny person I've ever seen on YouTube (only just coming ahead of Essie Button, who always makes me giggle).

Watch a few of her videos and get yourself laughing! If Jenna isn't your cup of tea, just your favourite funny YouTuber. 

2.

Go outside! Unless it's an awful day (with rain and hail and ewies), I always find going outside helpful. But don't just sit outside; go for a walk! Walking and physical activity helps with cramps and headaches and general fatigue. On beautiful spring/autumn days this is perfect! Look at flowers and leaves and remind yourself of how beautiful the world is, how beautiful nature can be. :)

3.

Meditate.

By meditate, I don't mean connect-to-the-earth-and-find-your-soul...I just mean RELAX! Relax and think about all the things that are going on in your body. Being grateful for the life you have is a great way to pick yourself up. Being thankful :)

4.

Allow yourself a treat (or two!). Dieting? Have that Mars bar you've been craving. You're having a DOWN DAY, girl; you NEED some chocolate in your body. 

Saving money? Buy yourself that cute top! A small present to yourself when your down is a great way to perk up. I mean, now you get to think of all the different ways and places you can wear that!

I had a bad day today...

So after my boyfriend got home and I had a little bit of a cry (that helps too), he drove us to the nearest shopping centre and got lunch: prawn sushi and Glow Yoghurt, which by the way is awesome! A bit of a walk around, time in the sun and food made me feel so much better. After that the rest of my day was a breeze!

I have my own ways of feeling happier and perkier on days when I just don't want to do anything but mope around and sleep. But these might not work for you and that's fine too :)

The thing to remember with days like these is that it won't last. You're just having a crappy day or two and things can only get better. 

Take a deep breath, relax, and feel happy :)

xx

Updated Skincare Routine! + life updates

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've had lots going on and I really fell out of the routine of my hobbies :(

Since last time I posted, I have enrolled at TAFE to do a certificate three in beauty services, which I'm loving so far! Other than that, I've been working HEAPS and shopping WAY too much (haul post?).

I've currently changed my skincare routine, and thought I'd share it with you! I have combination skin, meaning my skin is thirsty, but also oily in spots. I tend to have a couple of pimples all at once, and then I won't have any for a week or so, then I'll get a few more, etc etc.

So, here we go!

Now, I have a different skincare regime from morning to night. I like to use rich moisturisers at night, and a lighter one during the day.

My morning routine goes like this:

1. Wash my face with the Body Shop's Seaweed face wash (I just bought my - I think - fourth tube of this)

2. Moisturise with the Uriage Aqua Precis moisturising refreshing cream gel

And that's it! The only other thing I might do, is if I do have a pimple or two, I'll pop on some pimple cream (if they're bad) or a bit of tea tree oil.

My night time routine is a tad more complicated...

On a normal night, it goes something like this..

1. Take off makeup with a cotton pad and some Bioderma.

2. Wash my face with the Body Shop Seaweed face wash.

3. The Body Shop Seaweed Toner on a cotton pad all over my face and neck

- I usually leave a minute for the toner to dry before moving on - 

4. Two drops of the Keihl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate on my face and neck.

- leave to sink in for a minute - 

5. a smaller-than-usually (if I used it by itself) amount of the Keihl's Ultra Facial Cream (mine's a sample size).

6. The Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment around the orbital bone (eye socket).

That's the USUAL. But, as a beauty lover, I can't go past a good pamper night for my skin. Usually once to twice a week (depending on how good my skin is), I'll do THIS routine instead...

1. Before showering, pop on the Body Shop's seaweed clay mask (amazing stuff)

2. Allow to dry, and then shower, taking off the mask and using the Body Shop cleanser.

3. After getting out, use the Body Shop toner.

4. Instead of using any serums, moisturisers or anything else, I will just use one product.

Take some of the Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask and massage into face and neck for a few minutes, then tissue off any excess.

This mask is amazing. I wake up the next morning after using it, and my skin looks bright, radiant and clear. It's just perfect! And Origins products are 96% organic too, which is AWESOME!

So there you have it! I know it might seem odd to use an oil on skin that is already slightly oily or pimple prone, but the worst thing to do to oily skin is to stop using any products with oils. Once you have washed your face, you need to put some oil back on there! Otherwise your skin over-produces oils and it just makes things worse!

Trust me, I learnt my lesson a few years ago, and my skin hasn't been better since I started using richer products on it :)

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

xxx