Christmas Wishlist

Christmas is by far my favourite holiday; I love being surrounded by my family, a gorgeously lit Christmas tree and delicious food. An added bonus is being lucky enough to give and receive presents. Every year since I was a little girl I have made my Mum a Christmas Wish list and prayed I’d receive everything on it.  Now, to be honest with you I’ve been working on this wish list for a few months and my sister was given a copy in October... it’s safe to say I get pretty excited about everything Christmas related.

Zoeva Makeup Brushes

Now I’m sure you all either own a set of these brushes, or are dieing to get your hands on them. I’m lusting after the cream and rose gold set; I mean have you ever seen a more beautiful set of brushes? I know I’d feel a little too guilty to buy these for myself so I thought they’d be the perfect gift idea.

Erin Condren Planner

Ahhh doesn’t this planner just make you want to cry with happiness? I have wanted an Erin Condren vertical weekly planner for a very long time but with the hefty price tag for Australian customers I’ve never been able to justify spending the money on myself. I would be absolutely lost without my trusty planner and am hoping someone I love is kind enough to gift me one this year!

Pandora Ring

I have an extensive list of Pandora rings that I love and this one in particular really caught my eye. I love stacking my rings so I think this would make a great addition to my Pandora collection.

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows

I have heard so many good things about the Makeup Geek eyeshadows and naturally that has made me absolutely desperate to get my hands on them. I’ve heard the foiled eyeshadows in particular are gorgeous and their pigmentation is impeccable. Hopefully Santa will be making me a little palette this year.

While Christmas is by no means all about giving and receiving presents, it really is such a special feeling exchanging gifts with your loved ones. What’s on your wish list this year?

Milani Baked Blush Review

As I'm sure you've all seen, Milani have a range of incredible, well-priced, baked blushes. Here are my favourites... 

Let's start with the packaging, as it seems to be something that has a large affect on my initial attraction to a product. The packaging of these blushes is absolutely gorgeous for such a low price... I mean look at them! I was definitely drawn in by the packaging and I guess I got lucky when the product was just as great. 

Whilst I think the packaging is super cute, I'm not a huge fan of the little brush that's included in each blush. It definitely isn't very good quality and honestly I can't imagine trying to apply anything with it.

All the blushes have amazing pigmentation which is consistent across the entire range. I absolutely love the shades with shimmer in them as they give your skin a gorgeous glow. They can actually come across as quite intimidating when you first swatch them, but the shimmer and glitter is dulled down slightly once applied. Here are the shades I have... 

Dolce Pink 

Corallina

Luminoso

Delizioso Pink

My favourite is definitely Dolce Pink... what's yours?

What I'm packing... Bali

Recently I booked myself a trip to Bali with my bestfriend Katie, and I couldn't be more excited. We were meant to head to Bali about a week ago but some silly little volcano thought it would be fun to erupt and ruin the flying conditions. What this does mean is that it has given me a little more time to create a "What I'm packing for Bali" post.

I thought this would be perfect because before I started packing I found myself wondering what exactly I'd need. I asked some friends who travel to Bali frequently and did a little googling and now I'm confident that I've packed the perfect suitcase. 

1. Fake Tan

For me this is an essential no matter where I go... especially if I am going to be walking around in a bikini. For this trip I've packed my Bondi Sands tanning foam in dark as well as gloves to exfoliate and reapply if the tan becomes patchy at any point during the holiday. Let's pray I get a real tan over there as well haha!

2. Limited/ Mini Toiletries

I have a small problem with keeping my suitcase light enough so that I can do plenty of shopping. I recommend buying mini toiletries or purchasing travel sized containers and decanting your products in order to save space. Depending on where you're going... you can always purchase products when you arrive. Katie and I have decided to purchase things like Shampoo and Conditioner once we arrive in Bali as they're super cheap and easy to find!

3. Sunscreen

I'm sure you've heard me go on and on about my pale skin in every post, so sunscreen is an absolute must for me. For Bali I've packed an SPF 50 body sunscreen and an additional face sunscreen. I also picked up skin coloured zinc for the first time and I'm keen to give that a go!

4. Hair Treatment

I plan on spending a lot of time in the water and sun on my vacation and I know how much this dries out my hair. I've packed my Hair&Me Hair Rejuvenation Treatment as the packaging is minimal, super light and easy to transport, a similar alternative is the Oh Hello hair mask. I plan on using this every other day in Bali to make sure I don't come back with... crispy hair.

5. Sunglasses

Sunglasses are an absolute must for a holiday in the sun. I'll be packing a few pairs of my favourite Quay sunnies but I also plan on buying plenty when I am over there. My tip would be to keep your designer sunnies at home when travelling, the last thing you'd want is for them to get stolen, damaged or lost!

So that's what I'm packing for Bali... at this point I'm just hoping the ash cloud will clear so I can start my vacay!

Chanel Soleil De Tan Review

I picked up Chanel Soleil De Tan a couple of months ago, but as it's nearing summer here in Australia I've started reaching for it more and more often... 

Let's start with packaging... if you ask me 99.9% of Chanel's products are gorgeously packaged, with this cream bronzer being no exception. The packaging is simple and sleek whilst allowing the product to be easily accessed and used. It's just one of those products that makes you feel good when you pull it out of your makeup bag when getting ready for a night out with the girls.

When I purchased this I was on the hunt for my first cream bronzer and was testing out both this and the Clinique Chubby Stick. The Chanel product definitely complemented my skin tone much better and I found the contrast was not as stark as many other cream bronzers I had swatched. Initially I also found that when swatched it was very smooth in consistency so I decided to splurge.

After a few months of experimenting I've really come to love this product. It glides on easily considering I have very dry skin and doesn't make my foundation look muddy or cakey. As I do with the majority of my make-up collection, I use this product differently when I am pale and when I have a fake tan. When I'm pale I tend to either skip contouring and bronzing altogether or only apply the products very lightly. With the Chanel Soleil De Tan I apply it beneath my foundation on all the highest points of my face, I find that by doing this I avoid.... well... looking like an orangutan... and at the same time accomplish a more bronzed, contoured face. However, when I have a fake tan I use the product after applying my foundation and I've found that it blends in perfectly with my Nars Sheer Glow but less so with my Estee Lauder Doublewear, as this foundation can be quite drying.

Overall with the right foundation and the right technique for your skin this product is an exceptional addition to your collection, especially if you love luxury beauty products.

What's your favourite cream bronzer?

Australis Metallix Eyeshadow Review

Up until a few months ago I never really gravitated towards cream eyeshadows... until I found the Australis Metallix Eyeshadows. 

Australis Metallix Eyeshadows - RRP $9.49 

Australis have released 6 shadows into their permanent range and I managed to get my hands on two of the most gorgeous cream eyeshadows I have ever used. Immediately I gravitated towards the golden shades and picked out Pearl Jammin' - a gorgeous champagne and Gold Gaga - a vibrant gold. 

I originally grabbed them because I thought they'd be a dupe for the Stila Magnificent Metals eyeshadows. While I wouldn't say they are a dupe as they don't appear as 'foiled' on the lids, I actually think they are 10 times better.... and they are a quarter of the price, who doesn't love a bargain?

The eyeshadows are a mixture between feeling like a cream shadow and a foiled shadow. Whilst they're more pigmented than a cream they are also more lightweight than a foiled - Australis have created the perfect combination of the two types of shadows. 

I generally apply these shadows with my finger and wear them alone however I have also layered a powder eyeshadow on top to create a slightly different texture. They are blendable and DO NOT crease at all! 

I honestly can say that these shadows are a must-have in any beauty lovers collection! They are perfect for a night out or applied lightly for everyday wear. 

Have you tried any of the shadows? What shade should I get next?

Haircare Essentials

Finding the right products for your hair can sometimes seem impossible, after trying hundreds of different products I have finally found a group of products that work well for me...here are my haircare essentials.

BB Hairdressers Invisible Oil - This is by far my favourite haircare product that I have ever owned. I run this through the ends of my hair after every wash and it has changed the way my hair behaves and looks. I dye the ends of my hair blonde so they need a little extra care, and this product allows me to tame some of my frizz whilst nourishing my ends at the same time. It may seem expensive at first, but you honestly need the smallest amount of product and it will make a world of difference to the condition of your hair.

BB Hairdressers Invisible Oil Protective Primer- Whilst I may have said that the Invisible Oil is my favourite haircare product, this heat protector from the same line is equally as good. I have naturally dry, curly hair so it can often be difficult to straighten or curl. This primer totally transforms my hair and completely eliminates frizz leaves my hair feeling smooth. Again this product may seem pricey but it is well worth the extra money. I highly recommend every product from the Bumble and Bumble Invisible oil range!

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque - I have been using this deep repair masque for over a year now and I happily repurchase it every time! It really helps keep my hair strong and prevents my ends from splitting. It tames my frizz and leaves my hair feeling strong and healthy after every wash.

Urban Fudge Hair Spray - I often find myself gagging or coughing at the scent of hairspray and dreading having to use it in the morning.  Until I tried this hairspray by Urban Fudge, it is the best smelling hairspray I have ever used. It still smells a little like hairspray but it isn't obnoxious at all! It also leaves a lovely finish and doesn't leave your hair feeling crispy and greasy. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo - I'm honestly not too picky when it comes to dry shampoo and have only tried 2 or 3 different brands. However, this one is by far my favourite. This dry shampoo works well at reducing the appearance of grease and can make my hair last for up to 4 days without washing. It's easy to massage into the scalp and doesn't leave white residue in your hair. It comes in a range of different scents but for whatever reason I always gravitate towards the original formula. I highly recommend trying this one out as it works perfectly well and isn't too pricey.

What are your haircare essentials?