June Splurge

Living in Australia and having a make up obsession isn't a good combination. Beauty products in Australia are very expensive, both make up and skin care they are often more than double the price compared to The US. This means that when I place an order I make a rule to purchase at least more than two products...to make sure I get my money's worth of course. I usually purchase my products from The US so I can't get them at a lower price. A lot of the brands that I purchase from don't ship to Australia though so I use 'My US.com' - a package forwarding service that sends my purchases to me :) there is a monthly subscription fee and the cost varies depending on what kind of membership you choose. The packages I normally get end up costing around $45 AUS to forward and even though this might seem like a lot to some I still end up saving so much from the products I purchase..now onto my shopping! 

I purchased three products, two mascaras and a blush. 

This is Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara in black. This mascara was featured in my May favourites post, I had the mini version. After falling in love with the mini size I decided to commit and purchase the full size. This has been my first mascara repurchase, I have always tried something new once my mascara ran out and had clearly not found one worth repurchasing. This mascara is such a great product that I cannot get enough of. It does not only lengthen lashes but adds volume like a dream! Lashes look beautifully natural, feathery and full after an application of this amazing product. I have come across other mascaras just recently that are just as good but are missing one factor. How natural this mascara appears. I am so happy to have a full size of this product.

The second mascara I purchased is from a brand I have never tried. This is the Long & Tall mascara by Eyeko London and my first impression is that the packaging is GORGEOUS. I love the colour combination and the style of the tube. The reason I decided to buy this product was after watching Teni's review on her YouTube channel - MissMaven.com. Teni is one of my favourite YouTube gurus and I trusted her opinion. I read a few reviews before deciding to go ahead with the purchase and they all said great things. After trying it on I instantly noticed how black the mascara is and how separated it makes the lashes when applied. I think it will be perfect for a night out when you want very dark lashes. I am looking forward to experimenting with this product and getting a better feel of it. 

I have been eyeing out this blush for a few months now. This is Dainty by MAC. It is a mineral blush with a light pinky coral shade and yellow undertones. I haven't tried it on yet but can see how gorgeous the colour is from the swatch. It's not very pigmented which was expected as its a mineral product. I think this will be a perfect everyday blush when I feel like I need to add some life to my face. 

Part of being a beauty insider at Sephora you get a small gift around the time of your birthday. I chose this little duo from Benefit. I already have a mini and full size version of They're Real mascara but I'm sure I could always do with another plus they're perfect for travel! As for the highlighter What's Up! This is a new product to me, I can't believe how tiny it is! It's a creamy champagne colour and from the swatch looks great and is easily blend-able. Benefit really knows what they're doing with all these mini sized products as it gives consumers the opportunity to trial something before committing to the purchase. Thanks Sephora! 

Introducing NARS 'The Happening' palette

About a month or so ago 'Kissandmakeupny' had free international shipping for 24 hours, I used the opportunity to purchase this bad boy I'd been eyeing out for months.

$65 USD and free international shipping was too good to pass up! Even better when it arrived at my door step a week or so after purchasing..

Ladies...may I introduce you to 'The Happening' palette by NARS. This palette contains the famous 'Orgasm' blush and 'Laguna' bronzer alongside four eye shadows. From left to right - 'Night Star', 'Gstaad', 'Kuala Lumpur' and 'Coconut Grove'. I love that they have included neutral colours that can be dressed up and include with 'Kuala Lumpur'. 

This is my first palette that includes face products and I think it will be ideal for travel, especially when I can get away with lugging two cheek products in a palette.

NARS have done it again! x

My May favourites! In the month of May I have been loving the products below - as you can see I've been loving coral.

1. The first product is the Ecotools blush brush from Priceline for $14.44 AUD. I've been looking for a good blush brush for a very long time now and up until now had not found something i'd LOVED. This brush isn't too soft or fluffy and I find it deposits the perfect amount of product onto my skin.

2. The second product is Benefit's long wear powder eyeshadow in 'It's complicated' for $20 USD. This eyeshadow is a beautiful peach colour with a gold sheen, it is a light colour perfect to wear during the day and evening. I love how it instantly brightens the eyes. I haven't noticed if it lasts longer than other 'non' long wear eyeshadows but will have to test it sometime in the future. I think one of the reasons I have reached for it so much this month is because I have been loving the 'fresh' faced look and I find this eyeshadow definitely helps me achieve it.

3. The third product is Benefit's box powder blush in 'Coralista' for $28 USD. I've had this blush since March now and found myself constantly reaching for it this month. Described as a pinky-coral with subtle sheen it gives your face a lovely glow although I prefer to wear it during the day because of the sheen it gives. 

4. The fourth product is MAC's prep + prime base visage. I've had this primer for such a long time...possibly a year. When I first purchased this product I didn't like it, I could never notice if it made my make up last longer and I just felt it was an unecassary step. For the past few months now I have been using Benefit's porefessional until just recently when I realised my skin hasn't been as oily as usual. So I decided to give this primer a go again and have fallen in love! I find that it really moisturises my skin but not to the extent that my face ends up being oily and I look like a disco ball. 

5. Onto the eyes...my fifth product is Tarte's emphasEYES inner rim brightener in 'Nude soft-beige'. Before this I would use a white eye pencil to line my inner rim and my mum would always comment on how unatural it looked, i'm not going to say I didn't agree but I liked how it brightened my eyes and made them look slightly bigger. After doing a bit of research online I started to see beige coloured inner rim liners that promised to give a more 'natural' look. This is what prompted me to purchase this particular product. Since purchasing I have worn it almost every day even in the evening. It is creamy and glides on so easily without feeling like i'm scratching my eye. I don't think it's longelivity is great as I do notice it fades throughout the day but this isn't a major problem for me as I knew it wasn't waterproof prior to purchasing.

6. Last but not least my mini Tarte mascara Lights, Camera, Lashes in black. I watch Shaaanxo on youtube and have heard her rave about this product for a very long time. When I saw Tarte was selling this product in a mini version with a limited edition eyelash curler for $16 USD I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. Needless to say I quickly fell in love with the natural volume and length this mascara delivered. Prior to using this product I thought I preferred the 'spider lash' look but not anymore. This mascara makes lashes look full and feathery. So beautifully natural I have now purchased the full size ($19 USD) and am happy to announce this is my holy grail mascara.

Tuesday Shopping..

Tuesday is my day off and I usually like to spend it catching up with a friend and doing anything I can't normally fit in during my uni and work days. So today I spent the day with my mum, we went for breakfast with my cousin and aunt and I ended up doing a little shopping! YAY. 

I picked up this sheer black T from a small store that sold handmade jewellery and clothing. It was $25 AUD. The store is called 'Em Bella' - I can't wait to pair this up with some white jeans! 

I received this little piece in the mail today (packages always make me happy). MAC recently launched their latest summer collection 'Rising Temperature' in the USA, I was very well behaved and ONLY picked up this coral blush 'Ripe of Love' (satin). I love the copper coloured packaging - plus my current addiction is blushes so I'm pretty pleased I only got one. I haven't used it yet but think it will be a perfect every day colour.

Whilst I was shopping around after breakfast we went into a local skincare store called 'Damadi'. They had a range of handmade soaps and skincare. I am a sucker for soaps, lotions etc. Pretty much anything that smells good and looks pretty. So I ended up picking up two of soaps - purely because of how they look. Unfortunately the packaging they came in didn't have any labels and I just checked online and can't find the names of these specific ones. You can find these handmade soaps and skincare on www.damadi.com.au

And another package :/ it was pay week when I purchased all these okay? My birthday was last month and I received an iPad mini from my parents, since then I have gone a little crazy with cases and sleeves. I picked this mint and pink coloured one from eBay for $7.22 AUD (cheaaaap) free postage included. The quality is great and I'm very pleased with this purchase. You can pick this one up from http://stores.ebay.com.au/wanghonmeiey 

Hope you enjoyed my post on my little bits and bobs x 

Monday - Fresh week ahead

Mondays are never easy I remember as a child feeling almost nauseous every Sunday night at the thought of going to school the next morning. Not to mention suddenly remembering all the homework I was supposed to complete over the weekend. Oops!

However as of this year I have learnt to appreciate Monday as it symbolises the beginning of a new week. I like the thought of a fresh start each Monday morning and the opportunity of approaching the week with a clean slate.

So take a few minutes to list a few things you'd like to do this week, i'd like to do the following:

• Get back into training
• Finish my assessments a day before they're due
• Bake something
• Finish reading 'Under a Million Shadows'

Have a great week everyone! x

Welcome

Hi! and welcome to my blog.

I have wanted to start a blog since the beginning of the year and up until now haven't found the time or courage to start one.

Sharing my thoughts and ideas with the world can be a little daunting but I'd like to give it a try. On my blog I will be sharing my thoughts on all aspects of life such as beauty, fashion and well-being. My blog won't be about any topic in particular but everything that I am passionate about, a few being:

• Healthy eating 
• Exercise
• Beauty products
• Travel
• Technology
• Shopping

I am currently in my second year of university studying a Bachelor of Commerce with the hopes of majoring in marketing and management. I live in the Northern Territory, Australia with my big Greek family and loving boyfriend.

I hope to post regularly and am looking forward to starting something new :)