MAC Wishlist for 2014

As a makeup and beauty enthusiast, I am ashamed to say that I only own one MAC product...
I know, I know..try not to judge me too harshly.

I have their Studio Fix Fluid foundation in NC15 (I'm so pale!), which I LOVE so much, but I've never bought anything else from them, which makes me really sad, but also determined to get a collection happening!

So, I've compiled a list of MAC things I want, totaling to around $400 which is crazy, but worth it (I would hope). Want to see it? Well then, it's your lucky day!





1 extra dimension highlighter. Still trying to pick which one, but I think the pinky coloured one would suit me best :)





A mineralised skinfinish in Soft and Gentle: a cult classic, and one I've had my eye on for a while...oooo so pretty!

And of course...as all makeup addicts do..I need to get myself a pro palette and start collecting eyeshadows!
I've picked out a few so far:

Sumptuous Olive

   

Concrete

      

Cranberry

    

Sketch

   

Charcoal Brown

     

Naked Lunch

      

Woodwinked

Satin Taupe

    

Sable

   





That's a fair few, I know, but at $33 a pop, I'll only be buying one a week, if that. Hopefully they're as good as everyone says, because otherwise I'll be very disappointed !

Do you have any other good suggestions for MAC eyeshadows or other products that are good to try out? I'm a bit of a newbie to MAC stuff, so I never know what to look at haha!

Let me know your opinions! Help a sister out!
xxx


(on a side note, I didn't take these photos, so no credit due here! I can't take photos of things I don't own yet!)

The Liebster Award Tag!

So, I've just been tagged by the lovely Veronica from www.coatofcosmetics.blogspot.com to do this tag/award thingo. I've never been tagged in a post before, so thanks Veronica for popping my tag cherry, haha!

It says to answer 11 questions that she has specified, list 11 facts about me, and then tag 11 other bloggers with under 200 followers to also to this (with 11 new questions that I choose). 

Why not, I say!

If I haven't listed 11 bloggers, it's because I don't know, or can't find that many (I'm still new, wah).

But here we goooooo!...

1. If you had to eat 1 meal (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) for the rest of your life, what would it be ?

 A lamb roast. I hate the thought of eating a baby sheep, but dayum does that stuff taste good in a roast with mint sauce and gravy. Mmmmmmmmm yeaahhhh *drool*

2. What is the biggest letdown beauty product you have ever used ?

The Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation was a let down for me; at first I found it too dark and too sheer and too dewy, but I've actually rekindled my love for this foundation recently. But yes, when I first bought it, it was a bummer!

3. If you could meet someone dead/alive, who would it be and why ?

Tanya Burr. This might seem so sappy, and kinda weird, but I love this woman. She does the best makeup tutorial videos and vlogs and she seems so lovely and sweet and I'd love to meet her and hang out and have her make me look like a flawless goddess of the face. 

4. What is one social media account, you can't live without ?

Instagram.

#instagood 

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be ? And why ?

I'm not sure about living there, but I really want to go to England and America. I don't think I'd ever permanently live anywhere except Australia :) I think England is so beautiful and country-like, but different to how Aussie country it (all dry and sad). Green meadows and cottages and farms and ahhh my heaven! As for America....shopping. And American accents. ;)

6. What's your go to Movie/TV Show you watch on a rainy day ?

Friends! Or Pretty Little Liars if I'm feeling like some drama.

7. If you could be on the cover on any magazine, which one would it be ? and Why ?

Cosmo. It's the one magazine I buy every single month; so of course I want to buy a mag with my face on it!

8. What's one thing that you always do to relax ?

Have a cup of tea, watch YouTube beauty gurus and nap. So sad, but true haha. Nothing better than being warm and snuggly, watching makeuppy videos and drinking warm tea mmm :) During summer though, going for a walk and sitting in the sun :)

9. Do you have any major talents, if so, what are they ?

I wouldn't consider myself ever being 'majorly' talented at anything, but I've always been a natural with musical instrument, singing and artsy things. I'm one of those people who isn't amazing at anything, but is pretty good at almost everything...which is slightly annoying sometimes.

10. If you could go back in time, what era would you choose and why ?

I gotta say, I can see me wearing a big poofy dress and a corset and a bonnet. So like..1800's or 1900's England?

11. If you could only use 5 beauty products for the rest of your life, what would they be ?

If this includes skincare, then: Face wash, moisturiser, concealer, mascara and brow powder.

Specifically, the Body Shop Seaweed cleanser, Keihl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, NARS creamy radiant concealer, covergirl clump crusher mascara and NYX eyebrow cake powder.

11 facts about me:

1. I love myself a cup of tea. Nothing herbal or fancy. Just a tea bag, boiling water, and milk please.

2. I am quite lazy. If I don't have anything to do - going out etc - I will just lay on my bed and do like nothing all day... :S

3. I was quite academic at school. I was in the 'high achievers' programme, and won a shitload of awards in year 10. I also did Specialist Math in year 12 (it was the most stressful shit ever)

4. I have been with my boyfriend for two and a half years :) <3

5. I have a younger brother (16) who has Prada-Willi Syndrome (look it up if you're interested) :)

6. I love shopping a little bit too much (verging on being a shop-a-holic)

7. I'm not religious, but not an atheist. Agnostic, I'd say. Buddhism is very interesting though.

8. I love babies. If there is a baby in the room somewhere, you can bet $10 I would have already seen it and gone goo goo ga ga over it. They're so cute !

9. My love for Smith's Chips is borderline ridiculous. Got a hankering for a snack? Better buy a huge bag of chips and eat them all...now.

10. I am naturally thin. I eat TERRIBLY but I have a quick metabolism, which means I don't really gain weight, and I lose it easily (I'm not complaining..EVER)

11. I'm extremely temperature sensitive. I'm hot and cold like Katy Perry's song. 

I would like to tag these lovely girls...

- April: www.aprilleebeautyx.blogspot.com
- Stephanie: www.stephanierblog.blogspot.com

- Brodie: www.brodu-soup.blogspot.com

- Ashley: www.ashleylaurabeauty.blogspot.com

- Tarlie: www.tarliescorner.blogspot.com
- Beth: www.besweetxo.blogspot.com
- Ally: www.wildglossy.blogspot.com
- Ashleigh: www.etcfallenbeauty.blogspot.co.nz
- Mae: www.maeaurorasfx.blogspot.com.au/
- xJBeautyx: www.xjbeautyx.blogspot.com
- Jones and Jones Beauty: www.jonesandjonesbeauty.blogspot.co.uk

And your 11 questions are...
1. What was it that first got you into beauty?
2. Who is your beauty idol?
3. What would you rather go without: your mascara or your brow powder/pencil?
4. For a two week holiday, if you could only pack 4 items of makeup (not including brushes), what would they be?
5. What is your best find/holy grail makeup product?
6. How long does it take you to do your makeup for a) every day, and b) a night out/party?
7. What is your most favourite eye makeup look?
8. How much is your face worth? (Add up the total amount of $$ you spent on items that you use in your everyday makeup routine)
9. What is your go-to foundation?
10. A hint or tip to give about a winged eyeliner?
11. What do you think beauty means?

- 

My Essential Travel Makeup Bag!

Not that I travel much (like overseas or anything; I'm not that fancy), but I do take a makeup bag with me when I stay overnight anywhere, and it's always handy to have your go-to easy options for makeup essentials to bring along with you.

Mine are all based on an easy everyday look. I never pack makeup that's suitable for a night out, just because a night-out makeup look always takes a hell of a lot longer than an everyday one, which usually involves minimum effort.

In my makeup bag (which is nothing special, hence why it's not shown) I always always always pack:

- Benefit's The Porefessional primer (excellent stuff)

- MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15 (this is definitely high coverage, but unless I need it, I only use a tiny amount and sheer it over my entire face)

- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla (covers everything, but I use this on blemishes)

- L'Oreal Dream Lumi Magique highlighting concealer in 1 Light (for under eyes)

- Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent (for setting)

- Sleek Contouring Kit in Light (I use contour colour, then blush, then the highlight)

- Elf blush in Candid Coral (used after contour, and before highlight)

- NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Brunette

- Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (I usually use either W.O.S all over with Naked 2 in the crease or Naked 2 all over and Faint in the crease, and always use Venus in the inner corners)

- Maybelline Masterliner in (I think) BR-1 (that's the only other labeling on it)

- Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions lash blast mascara in Very Black

As for brushes, I don't own ANY MAC brushes or Sigma or..basically any expensive ones...

But here is a list of the brushes I use EVERY SINGLE DAY, and always take them in my travel bag:

- From Real Techniques: 

Expert Face Brush - for foundation

Multi-Task Brush - for blush, contour and highlight

Domed Shadow brush - for concealer

Base Shadow brush - for eyeshadow base colour

Deluxe Crease brush - for crease colour

Brow Brush - for brow powder

- From Eco Tools:

From what I remember it's just a basic powder brush - which I use for powder, funnily enough.

And that's it!

Nothing fancy, nothing difficult. Using all of these products, it takes me between 10 and 20 minutes to do my makeup (depending on how intricate I feel like being with my eye makeup).

I know I didn't choose one of my NARS blushes, but I find they are really pigmented, and take longer to blend, whereas the elf blush can be swiped on and hardly requires any effort at all.

Some days I won't do any contouring (where the elf blush also comes in handy, as it also gives a subtle highlight), and some days I won't use any eyeshadow or liner.

But I always bring them with me, because I never know what I'll feel like doing the next day!

Hope you found this at all interesting or helpful!

What are your travel essentials? 

Any recommendations?

Any good recommendations for good makeup bags I should get?

Happy Sunday everyone!

xx

L'Oreal Shine Caresse Lip stain Review!

These cute little things have been around for a bit, but I didn't pick any up until they came up on clearance for $6 when they're usually price was something like $24! They are, though, so worth every cent. Let me show you what they look like...

I mean, look at these. The packaging is just stunning. I'll admit though, when I bought my first one, I thought I was going to be a solid lipstick. No, no. It's a gloss applicator! 

Now, don't be fooled by the bright colour you see in there; they are VERY sheer, as you will see in the next picture. However, you can build them up. They sink in and dry nicely (if you're looking for a gloss, this is probably not a good property for it to have), so you can put on a couple of layers to make the colour more intense. 

They don't stay glossy for long, like I said, but they have an awesome staining power.

After doing the swatches for the next photo, I was trying to get it off with Bioderma and it took some serious scrubbing, and there's still a slight stain there!

The colours, from left to right are: 

- Romy: Peach colour with goldish shimmer

- Eve: light violet colour with no shimmer

- Milady: a deep plum/purple with no shimmer

- Juliet: a velvety red colour with no shimmer

- Princess: coral-red with no shimmer.

All of these colours are just divine, and go on so easily! The applicator looks like this;

It might look a little strange, but this is the perfect shape for easy application. 

And the little hole in the middle swipes up and excess product, so you get an even application.

There really isn't anything bad to say about these. The only thing that it doesn't do that it says is 'shine' for too long. BUT, they smell amazing, look amazing, stain perfectly, are easy to apply, compact and stylish. 

Everyone needs one (or more!) of these in their lives!

These are only five of the eight colours, but I love every single one, and it's a daily struggle to pick one for my bag every day!

xxx

Finding Your Way: 'Career' is a scary word

Knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life is the most daunting thing ever.
Teachers start asking you to choose which direction you want to go in so early in life; like seriously, I was 15...how can I possibly know what I will want to be doing in ten, even twenty, years?

If it's one thing I know, it's that school doesn't make or break your life.

In high school I was quite academic, loving math, biology, psychology etc, and generally wanting to do really well. After pushing my limits all of year 11, when it got to half way through my final year...I crashed. Big time. And it sucked. I felt drained, tired, slow, lethargic and just really unmotivated to do any study.

So, here I was on track to getting a great ATAR (great in my books is like 70-85), and then I get mine, and it's in the 60's. I knew that would happen, and to be honest, by that point, I didn't care any more. I was spent.

BUT, I did make it into Deakin University, doing science with a double major in biology and mathematics. After 6 months, I was depressed. I was losing weight, not sleeping properly and was always stressed or in a bad mood.

A tip: when this is happening to you, stop doing whatever you're doing that is making you this way!

Deferring uni was the best decision I ever made.

I remember relatives saying "but if you just keep persisting you'll get it done quicker", but...why stay unhappy?
In a 6 month period, I had developed a love for beauty and makeup, and..on a whim I enrolled myself in a six month beauty services certificate.

THIS COMPLETELY CHANGED MY CAREER OUTLOOK!

This is a long-winded story, but what I'm trying to get at is:
1) Do what you love
2) Don't feel like there's a deadline on how quickly you need to start your career
3) Don't feel like you need a career at all - some people suit working at several different places across their worklife. Who says you can't do all different types of things?
4) Never feel stuck: if your not happy with what you're doing, get out. Start something new.

Just do things that keep you happy. No one should choose your career, and you should never feel pressured into getting into it quicker than your comfortable with.


I haven't even finished my studying yet, and who knows, I might change my mind again! And you know what? It's my choice, and no one else's.