Amadee May

Embracing your winter skin

2015-04-06T02:26:00.001-07:00

Winter is a time for longer lengths and layers. When tan summer skin starts to fade and dries up in the cold winter air you know it's time to prepare. Learn how to embrace your paler skin rather than mope about the tan days of summers past with this easy guide.

Colour match

Yes, we know that your foundation matched seamlessly earlier in the year but it's time to let go. Find a shade that matches your new winter colour or invest in a light shade to mix into your current foundation of choice. It's an easy fix and you'll thank yourself when you don't look like a reverse geisha in photos.

Exfoliate

It's easy to slack off and not exfoliate when you aren't worried about a streaky tan but it's important to stay vigilant. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and helps keep your skin smooth, so keep this step part of your weekly routine.
If you're a bit too tired to vigorously scrub your body in the morning, run a bath at night, add a bath bomb and treat yourself to a nice scrub. Try my sugar scrub recipe for silky skin that won't break the bank.

Moisturise

Finally, a combination of cold weather and indoor heating can leave your skin parched making it essential to keep that skin moisturised. Depending on your skin-type you may need to opt for something with a thicker consistency to really lock in that moisture. Personally I enjoy more natural sorbolene lotions such as the Australian Pure Beauty Sorbolene or the Derma Sukin Daily Gentle Lotion. These two products have exactly the same ingredients and are both available from most chain supermarkets.

Winter is nothing to be worried about. Think about all the time you save not having to shave or worry about the polish on your toes and be happy the colder months are here.

Embrace that stark contrast of your pasty skin to your skinny jeans and love your winter skin.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12893399/?claim=6mw7x38g8xb">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Liebster Award

2015-03-28T04:06:00.001-07:00

The lovely Ally Rosalia nominated me for the Liebster Award which is essentially a way to recognise new or underrated bloggers. It's difficult starting a blog when no one really knows who you are, I can't count how many times I've had doubts about my decision to pursue blogging but it's important to follow a passion and an award such as this is very motivating.

The rules of this as I understand from other posts is that you give ten facts about yourself, answer the ten questions the person who tagged you asked and create ten new questions for your nominations to answer. So fairly simple and I definitely encourage everyone to pass this forward and keep the positivity flowing.

Ten facts about me

1. I'm half Polish on my fathers side.

2. I have 2 dogs called Miley and Homer

3. I'd love to move to Melbourne.

4. I met James and Oliver Phelps (Weasley twins from Harry Potter).

5. Reality TV shows are my guilty pleasure.

6. I've been to 9 different countries.

7. I'm studying a Bachelor of Journalism with Public Relations as my major.

8. In high school I was visual arts captain.

9. I once broke my ankle in a horse riding incident.

10. I'm a bit of a music snob.

1. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

The ability to grow my writing skills and creating content that excites me. Although I'm studying journalism, I feel we're often pigeon-holed as general news writers and that's not really the direction I see myself going. Blogging is the perfect creative outlet.

2. What is your favourite season?

Winter. Well the Queensland winter at least, it usually doesn't get colder than 10 degrees.

3. If you could eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Italian, I love the flavour of garlic and tomato especially on pizza.

4. If you could invite three celebrities to lunch, who would they be?

Emma Watson, Angelina Jole and J.K Rowling. All strong, independent woman I could learn from.

5. Salty or sweet tooth?

Sweet, definitely.

6. What is your favourite TV show?

I'm a big fan of TV shows so I can't pick just one but I do love Breaking Bad, the Walking Dead, B

7. How did you get the name for your blog?

Amadee May is my first and middle name. It's unique to me and I see it as my brand in a way.

8. What is your most prized possession?

I don't really have one to be honest.

9. What is your favourite holiday?

I'd love to go back to Europe and backpack for a while. No schedule, just exploring

10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I'd love to live in the UK at some stage but I don't know if I could handle the weather.

My Questions to you

1. How would you describe your personality?

2. What's your greatest strength?

3. What inspires you in life?

4. What's your guilty pleasure?

5. What kind of music do you listen to?

6. What age to you feel right now and why?

7. What does a perfect day look like to you?

8. What is something you've always wanted to try but have been scared to do?

9. What's your greatest accomplishment?

10. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I nominate these lovely ladies who have amazing content that deserves to be recognised.

Avec Rosa

Rosa has a blog and YouTube channel. She's travelling at the moment so definitely have a look at her recent posts and vlogs which will make you wish you could have a Freaky Friday body switch.

JADZ

Jadwiga has amazing style, I'd love to pinch a few pieces from her wardrobe. Good quality photos and a wide variety of outfits. Definitely an underrated fashion blogger who you should be following.

Earth to Style

Lauren is fairly new to blogging but she's been gaining a following through her striking outfit posts. She also adds a 'fun fact' to the end of her posts which is something quirky and unexpected.

Forever Modest

I'll admit that I didn't know you could be as diverse in your style while still covering up but the lovely author of Forever Modest has changed my perception. I love how she's able to layer different pieces so effortlessly and adapt to the style of her surroundings on her travels.

Like The Wildflowers

Kelsey is very new to the blogging world but I see good things coming from her. She's a positive person and you can definitely feel the uplifting tone to her writing. Plus she liked Harry Potter which is very cool in my books.

Instagram @amadeemay

Skip the denim

2015-03-24T03:53:00.001-07:00

Obviously I'm not a model or a photographer, just a girl with a tripod and a camera. I study full-time at university and have classes four days a week which can get fairly busy and be exhausting. Some days I just want to be comfortable but I'm trying to venture out of my comfort zone and try new things fashion-wise so the stock-standard t-shirt and jeans is being put away until at least the end of semester exams.

Top: Forever 21

Pants: Forever 21

Hat: Cotton On

Earrings: Big W

Rings: Lovisa

Backpack: Bardot

Shoes: Windsor Smith

Changing it up with L'oreal Paris Excellence Crème

2015-03-14T23:45:00.001-07:00

When it comes to at home hair dyes, I'm definitely no stranger. Naturally I'm a light brunette, however I've been colouring my hair a cool-toned medium brown for the past couple years. Recently I did make the decision to go lighter with bleach but it wasn't for me and being the impatient person that I am, I decided to dye it darker again.

Prior to purchasing this product, I didn't do research as I usually do. I made a spare of the moment "that looks nice" decision which in hindsight was probably not the best idea. Luckily everything worked out in the end.

Product

Like any hair dye, there's a colourant and developer which you mix together and a pointed nozzle on the bottle for application. There are however a few extras which I was quite interested in, such as the comb applicator and the protecting serum you apply before the dye.

APPLICATION

Application was a fairly straight forward process. You apply the protection serum, mix the colour and developer then apply it to your hair as per the instructions. You can use the comb nozzle to apply the product to the lengths of your hair but it was too much fuss for me personally.

I also decided to add a little bit to my eyebrows to tint them slightly darker. It's not advised but I only left the colour on for 2 minutes and it was perfectly fine.

RESULTS

Before

My starting colour was the result of a washed out semi-permanent dye over bleached hair.

After

The result was a chocolate brown.

I must admit I was quite disappointed that the auburn tones didn't pull through. It's a lovely shade but if it has that hint of red it would be infinitely more exciting.

VERDICT

Despite not getting the desired results, the product itself was easy to use and provided a nice even colour to my hair without noticeably damaging it. Although the colour wasn't what I wanted, it's not a bad product simply not the right one for me.

If you're looking to go darker then this is a great option for you, otherwise I'd suggest using the L'oreal Casting Crème Gloss line instead. It's no ammonia and in my opinion, delivers a more spot-on colour.

DIY - Cheap Vegan Exfoliator

2015-03-09T03:39:00.000-07:00

I've been using fake tan more frequently lately and discovered the annoying task of removing it. Rather than buying for products and spending more money I decided to create my own. This exfoliater is super simple and completely customisable to suit exactly what you need. Plus it leaves your skin silky smooth and moisturised which is always a plus.

Ingredients

Sugar (Caster or raw depending on the level of abrasiveness needed)
Oil (Coconut, almond or olive)

Method

Mix the sugar and oil together at a 2:1 ratio. The oil is just to change the sugar consistency and make it easier to apply.

Mix until you have a paste-like consistency, if it's too runny, just add more sugar.

And you're done, it's as easy as that.

Tip

I suggest using this scrub with a mitt of some sort to avoid rubbing the skin of your hands raw. Also, make what you need for each use as you go to avoid the sugar dissolving and loosing it's abrasiveness.

Enjoy your smooth skin.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - Review

2014-06-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Cleansing waters are popping up everywhere since the Bioderma Crealine H2O opened up the market. Garnier brought out their version recently and it's been fairly popular with the beauty community.

Garnier claims that their Micellar Cleansing Water "removes make-up, cleanses and soothes skin on the face, eyes and lips in one step without needing to rinse off."

In regards to price, it's on the cheaper side and definitely more affordable than the Bioderma Crealine H2O. And the ingredient list isn't too long, which is good except it's full of chemicals. On the plus side, no alcohol so it's safe to use around your delicate eye area.

RRP: $12.00

Quantity: 400ml

Ingredients:
AQUA / WATER, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, POLOXAMER 184, DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE, DISODIUM EDTA, POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE.

Packaging

The packaging isn't anything flash but it is practical. The lid is secure so you don't have to worry about the product accidentally spilling. Even if the product did tip over, the small opening on the lid would prevent the entire product spilling everywhere which has happened to me in the past with other products. The bottle is plastic so it won't smash and you can easily see exactly how much product you have left. All in all, very simple but practical packaging.

Product

The product itself is also very basic. It's gentle and removes make up just as Garnier claims, a big plus for such a cheap product. You apply the product with a cotton pad and it feels like you're simply wiping water across you're face. There's no fragrance and it has no strong smell which is great for those sensitive to scented products.

When removing make up, this cleansing water does a decent job but it does struggle with waterproof mascara which I wear often. You may need to wipe your face twice with this product though as it has a tendency to leave a little bit of make up behind but it doesn't leave an oily residue so it's no trouble.

It's a pleasant product to use and hasn't cause any break outs on my oily, acne-prone skin since I started using it a couple months ago. A very good product.

Recommendation

I would definitely recommend this product for its make up removing abilities. It's cheap, easy to use and works well. I'd repurchase this cleansing water because it doesn't irritate my skin and leaves my skin feeling refreshed rather than oily. This product is suitable for all skin types as it doesn't have alcohol which could irritate dry skin and doesn't leave any residue which could irritate oily skin. Basically a good, cheap product.

Face of Australia Glamazon contour & highlighter kit - Review & swatches

2014-06-10T07:28:00.002-07:00

By now most people are familiar with this product due to the rave reviews plastered all over the internet by numerous beauty fanatics. Well I'm here to tell you why they're right because I adore this Face of Australia contour & highlighter kit in the shade Leopardess.

Background

Face of Australia is notorious for bringing out limited edition collections of products which never make it to their permanent collection. The reason for this is that their brand is labelled as against animal testing and Australian made and owned whilst their limited edition products are internationally sourced from China. The fact that this product is made in China means that Face of Australia cannot simply add this product to their permanent line. I'm unsure whether this will eventually be made permanent given a period of time due to its success and popularity but only time will tell.

Additionally, as far as I know, China still has in place mandatory animal testing however the packaging of this product maintains the label 'Against Animal Testing'. My question is, they say they're against animal testing but this product doesn't specifically state that it's not testing on animals which is a bit of a concern. If this is an issue for you, I'd do some further research.

Packaging

In terms of practicality the packing is great. It's sturdy so the product is protected, there's a large mirror and it's easy to open. However, the design choices for the lid are questionable. I'm not a fan of the animal print, I feel it's had it's day and makes what could have been a very luxurious looking product seem cheap and slightly tacky. If they'd kept to a simpler pattern I feel it would have looked nicer. Although if you're not fussed with anything but the product it's not a concern.

Product

(Normal day-time lighting)

(In direct sunlight)

This product is brilliant but the stand-out shade is hands down the brown contour colour. What makes the contour so perfect is that rather than looking orange or bronze it has a distinct brown tone to it, meaning it looks more natural and creates a better shadow on your face. The colour is almost matte but it does have the slightest shimmer which you can only see up close.

In terms of the highlight shade, I haven't used it as much simply because I don't wear highlighter everyday. However, it's not extremely pigmented so you don't have to stress over looking too shiny. Also, I feel like this shade is very popular for a highlighting product as it reminds me of The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer. However, I personally don't own that product and can't check if it's a dupe.

When considering the texture and quality, I'd say these are typical of lower end brand make-up powders. They aren't silky smooth but they aren't chalky which I feel is a reasonable compromise. Pigmentation wise, they aren't extremely pigmented which I feel works well because the contour shade is fairly dark which makes application less strong and minimises the chance of mistakes.

Recommendation

I would definitely recommend this product. Face of Australia really out did themselves with this limited edition product and hit the market on the head. Contour and highlighter kits are more of a rarity among lower end brands and I applaud them for the quality of the product itself. The downside for this product is that it was limited edition and this collection has vanished from almost every store I've been to recently. So if you like the look of this product, I'd rush out and buy it now because the likelihood of it returning any time soon is slim to none.

May Favourites 2014

2014-06-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

It's June already? I haven't written a monthly favourites post for a while, which is odd because I love reading them, so here's a little insight into what I enjoyed throughout May 2014.

Face of Australia Glamazon Contour & Highlighter Kit - Leopardess

This product was limited edition from March this year and not an easy thing to find. I went to at least 7 different stores trying to find this duo and I'm glad I finally found it in May. The contour shade is an almost matte brown and the perfect colour for cool skin tones because it lacks that orange undertone most contour powders have. I haven't used the highlighter too much but it's not extremely pigmented so you won't look like a disco ball if you use it. A very nice product and I do hope Face of Australia adds this to their permanent line. However that's unlikely as their limited edition products are made overseas separate from their main production location in Australia.

Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette

I've never been one for cream concealers and to be honest I did not like this product when I first bought it a few years ago. However, I've rediscovered this concealer in May and found a method of application which works wonders. The Real Techniques crease brush from the eye set is perfect for buffing in cream products and in particular works great with this. There's 3 cream concealer shades in this quad but I only use the top left as it's the lightest. The bottom right is a powder to set the concealer however it's extremely shimmery so I avoid using it. The pigmentation is great for covering blemishes and it stays longer than regular liquid concealer.

Lady Gaga Fame Perfume

I've been searching far and wide for the perfect scent. I wanted something more sophisticated and less fruity as per my usual scent. I'm not a Lady Gaga fan but that doesn't matter because this smells amazing. Personally I can't distinguish any individual scents but it apparently has notes of belladonna, incense, honey, saffron, apricot and orchid. This is a unisex perfume but it smells really girly to me personally. Regardless, if you like it you should get it now as there's an unfortunate story following this find.

My track record with perfume is one of heart ache as twice now I've found an amazing perfume only for it to be discontinued before I finish the bottle. This instance is no different as this lovely scent is also no longer being made. Plus side is it's selling cheap so if you like it, pick it up.

Nivea Lip Butter

I've been wanting these for so long but I couldn't justify spending $5 on a small lip balm product. So when Priceline had 3 for 2 on Nivea products I snatched these up along with some hand cream. The scents are so delicious but my favourite of the two is definitely the Vanilla & Macadamia scent. I'm a sucker for fragrance in lip products because, as you may have noticed, your lips are directly under your nose and when you can smell the vanilla or caramel it's almost as good as smelling a delicious treat.

In terms of the product, it's not miracle worker. It's a lip balm, there's only so much innovation in this field. The positive is that they're moisturising and not waxy like other balms can be so it won't cake-up your lipstick if you use it underneath. The packaging is kind of tricky to open at times due to the thin width so if the people at Nivea could fix the proportions up a bit that would be great. All in all, a nice little lip treat.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Everyone's heard of Bioderma or at least glimpsed the hype around their famed Sensibo H20. The issue is that the RRP of the Sensibo H20 in Australia is $30.00. Despite it's great reputation, I couldn't justify spending $30.00 on a make-up removing product when make-up wipes sell for $2.00. Enter the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water.

This product is pretty much the exact same as Bioderma for a fraction of the cost. It's a multi-purpose skin cleanser which doesn't need to be rinsed off. I use this product as a make-up remover everyday after using make-up wipes for years and I do quite enjoy it. Sometimes I do have to go over my skin a few times to remove all my make-up but that's depending on how much I wear that day but that's to be expected. This product is also great if you're skin's particularly oily when you're not wearing make-up as it removes excess oil from the skins surface and can prevent the build-up of sebum. Bsically, a simple cleanser which does exactly what it's meant to. Good job Garnier.

That's my favourite product picks for May 2014. Product reviews are on my to-do list in the coming weeks after I finish up my last pieces of assessment for the semester. So follow me on Bloglovin for updates of my posts and check out my Instagram for 'face of the day' posts and mini hauls.

DIY - Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

2014-05-28T23:23:00.000-07:00

Back in the day I was obsessed with DIY beauty recipes, I even had my own recipe book I kept. So I decided that maybe I'd try some more DIY's this year and I found one which I've been enjoying quite a lot.

This toner is the easiest DIY in the entire world and probably doesn't need too much explanation. Regardless I felt that people should know that skin care doesn't have to be all bells and whistles and sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

I myself have oily-combination skin which is particularly prone to break-outs but I feel like this would work for most people. However, if you have extremely dry or sensitive skin I might be wary as apple cider vinegar is acidic.

NEED

- Apple cider vinegar

- Water

- A bottle

METHOD

1. Fill 1/3 of your chosen bottle with apple cider vinegar.

2. Fill the remaining 2/3 with water. Distilled is best but regular tap water has worked perfectly fine for me.

3. Enjoy your new toner.

TIPS

1. Do not spray this on your face! You need to use a cotton pad so you can avoid your eye area.

2. If you feel the mixture is too strong, dilute it with more water. Remember this is acidic and you don't want to burn your skin.

3. If you use this in the morning, wear SPF as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun.

If you try this out please let me know, I'd love to hear if it works for you.

Met Gala 2014

2014-05-05T23:52:00.001-07:00

I've been anticipating this years Met Gala for weeks and I wasn't disappointed. Last year I disliked so many dresses while this year I struggled to pick my favourites. So in no particular order, here are some stunning ladies who I think were among the best dressed this year.

Karolina Kurkova

Just take a moment to take in how stunningly gorgeous this blue Marchesa gown is. It's definitely a stand-out look and Czech model, Karolina Kurkova pulled it off so well. I love the shape of the skirt, it looks like a work of art.

Liu Wen

Another stunning dress, another stunning model. Liu Wen wore this fabulous Zac Posen gown in a lovely teal colour. What caught my attention most was the dramatic skirt and bold shapes and I must say Liu Wen pulls this style off well. I also loved the addition of the burgundy lip, it pairs surprisingly well with the ensemble.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner wore this form-fitting, fish-tail dress custom made by Topshop and it's clear why she's becoming such a successful model. Her figure is fantastic and this dress looks like a second skin on her. Her hair had the potential to look a bit dated but I think it suits this look as the added volume on her head balances the dramatic flare in the bottom.

All in all, I loved the fashion at the 2014 Met Ball and I can't wait to see how next years event will stack up. If you want to see more of these gorgeous people at the Met Ball, have a look at Vogue's red carpet gallery.

Cotton On Online Shopping - Review and Haul

2014-04-30T19:08:00.001-07:00

On Easter Monday I received an email from Cotton On announcing their free shipping offer. As a self proclaimed bargain hunter I immediately snatched this deal up and placed an order. Normally Cotton On only has free shipping for orders over $50 or a flat rate fee of $10 for orders under $50. Personally I never found $50 worth of things on the website I had wanted in the past, only bits here and there, mostly sale items which stacked up to around $10 or so. This order cost me $11 for 4 items and I'm very happy with them.

SHIPPING
The website states that a regular order will be despatched within 1-3 working days. This was fairly true as although I placed my order on the 21st and received it on the 30th, that was technically 3 days minus public holidays and weekends.

I did have 1 or 2 issues with delivery however as the only warning I received that my order was on its way was an email from Australia post at 8:12am that morning. Normally companies send you emails prior to shipping your order and a link to a tracking site so this did bother me slightly. Luckily it was my day off but I imagine it would be rather annoying for some people with a busier schedule or those who don't check their emails in the morning.
What annoyed me about this was that although I'd been waiting for the package near a window, I received an email after 1:00pm saying that the home owner wasn't home. So I had to go to the post office to collect my items. Turns out that the package was addresses to an incorrect house number.
I understand that no ones perfect, so it's easily forgiven but I can't imagine what would happen if someone else had signed for the order and kept it themselves.

PACKAGING
I was extremely impressed with Cotton On's packaging. Even the lady at the post office was surprised to see a big sturdy box as opposed to a soft plastic bag as some companies use.

Inside the box were plastic cushions of air made from recyclable material which meant that the items wouldn't shake around. And everything was packaged in plastic bags.

All the items were packaged in their own individual bags so it was fairly neat and very standard of any online store order.

One of my main concerns was the sunglasses I ordered as I was wary that they would break, however they were perfectly secure and wrapped in bubble wrap.

Overall, Cotton On is definitely wins on the packaging front, you can be sure you're items will be safe and sound when ordering from this site.

HAUL
So the primary reason for my order was that I needed a canvas-type bag for university since I had already broke the strap on my Katehill bag and my beloved Zara bag was heading in the same direction. I'd had my eye on this $5 black canvas bag for over a month but had put off buying it because I didn't want to pay for shipping or spend more than I needed to.

I'm really glad I did buy this bag as it fits absolutely everything I need and then some. It feels sturdy and fairly good quality considering only cost $5. My only issue is that it doesn't have a zipper, only a magnetic button to click together the centre. However my other bags wouldn't zip up with laptop, food and books so it's not that big of a deal.

I really don't have an explanation for why I bought this small canvas tote other than I liked what it said. Also, the proceeds went towards the Cotton On foundation so that's always good. I wish it had been made of thicker material though, I doubt it'll last very long or get used for anything but shopping. A pitty really because I have a Target enviro-bag which is the same size but made of thicker material and can be used as a normal bag.

I'd be interested in some aviators for a while now but I didn't want to spend plenty of money on something I might not wear too often. Naturally when I saw these for $2 each I quickly added them to my cart. Unfortunately I feel they may be too big for my face, a risk you take when you buy sunglasses online I suppose. Regardless I'm determined to find a way to wear them. Perhaps a more voluminous hair style will help with proportions.

RECOMMENDATION
I was very happy with my Cotton On experience. The packing was good, the wait not too long and my items were just as described. I would gladly make another purchase if something took my fancy on their site and would definitely recommend it to others.

I'm sure something here will pop up in a future OOTD post so definitely keep an eye out for that. Any further questions please feel free to ask. I like writing and reading review posts so please feel free to link your own.

OOTD - Lunch and Movies

2014-04-24T05:12:00.001-07:00

Today was my friends 18th birthday so we went out to lunch and a movie. I loved my dress so naturally I wanted to share it.

Business in the front...

Party in the back.

I've been using this bag a lot lately. It's much more convenient than my small bags, I can take everything.

I love this lip colour. It's my BOE Beauty matte lip cream in blush pink. Definitely my go-to colour.

DRESS

Blue crepe dress with floral pattern - Glassons

BRALETTE

Black lace bralette - Target

BAG

Black tote bag - Katehill

SHOES

Black combat boots - Kmart

ACCESSORIES

Rings - Pandora

Pearl Earrings - H&M

Pendant necklace - Wallace Bishop

I posted this outfit on my new lookbook profile, have a look here.

Haul - Glassons, Ally Fashion, ASOS, Kmart

2014-04-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

I did a little shopping recently. Some things I needed, some I couldn't pass up but regardless I'm happy that they're now mine. :)

Blue Floral Dress - Glassons ($24.99)

I fell in love with this adorable dress. I think it was the powder blue colour and floral combo which caught my attention initially but when I tried it on I loved the open back detail.

Nude Shift Dress - Ally Fashion ($14.99)

I'd been eyeing this off on the website for ages but hadn't had the opportunity to go to an Ally store. When I finally got to my local Ally they had this dress in my size and it was fate. I love this dress, it's so comfortable and very versatile. Plus, when I took this photo I realised it has a sheen to it which is a nice touch.

Light Blue High Waisted Jeans - ASOS ($23.34)

I'd been looking for plain light wash jeans for so long I forgot when I started looking. Every pair of jeans I've seen has some kind of hole or distressing on them. I'm so glad I found these jeans, they're so perfect and super comfy. I used the measurements from my favourite pair of jeans to find my size and they fit exactly the same. Love them.

Black cut-out ankle boots - Kmart ($9.00)

Yes, you read correctly. $9.00! I'd been wanting a pair of cut-out boots for so long but I'm a bit of a cheap-o and haven't really found any for the price I wanted. I was so happy I stumbled into Kmart for socks because they only had 1 pair of these boots left and they were in my size. They're a bit high for me and I'm not used to wearing any sort of heel but I'll work through the awkward stage. They're too cute not to.

Black ankle socks - Kmart ($2.00)

Nothing special. I just needed some more black socks since my mum has decided to claim mine as her own. I swear I might need to sew a little 'A' onto them like in primary school. I like Kmart socks because they aren't too thick and are really affordable.

Let's see if I can stick to saving money next month when I buy my car.

Inspired Outfit and Makeup - Emma Watson on the Late Show with David Letterman

2014-03-29T01:31:00.001-07:00

I was watching Emma Watson's interview on the Late Show with David Letterman and fell in love with her look. Her monochrome outfit paired with her messy bun and bold lip just captivated me completely and I couldn't resist attempting to recreate it myself.

FACE

FOUNDATION
Bourjois 123 Perfect - Shade 52
- The neutralising properties of this foundation cover up the redness on my face which is essential since Emma's skin looks flawless.

CONCEALER
Maybelline Fit Me - Shade 115
- I covered up the bags under my eyes and any blemishes.

POWDER
Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder - Translucent
- This setting powder is great because it doesn't add any more coverage and prevents that cakey look.

BRONZER
Jane Iredale Bronzer - Colour Bronze 3
- Emma has a much slimmer face than I do, so I contoured the sides of my face using the E3 method.

BLUSH
Australis Paparazzi Perfect HD Blush - Shoot to thrill
- Emma's mentioned in interviews before that she likes pink blush on her skin tone and I couldn't agree more, it's the perfect shade for fair-skinned girls.

HIGHLIGHTER
Face of Australia mineral therapy illuminator - Angel mist
- I don't think Emma had very shimmery cheeks but she had a light glow to her complexion. Personally I love this illuminator because it's not very noticeable until you're in direct light or under flash like in the photo above.

EYES

EYE SHADOW
Chi Chi Eye Shadow Quad - Sophisticated Sassy
- Emma's eyes were simply neutral and shimmery so I used the lightest colour of this quad all over the lid, with the lighter brown shade in the crease.

EYE LINER
Essence Stays no matter what waterproof eye pencil - Black
- Her eyeliner was smudged into the lash line to give a more smokey effect so I mimicked this with my pencil, bringing it out only slightly into a tiny wing and cleaning the edge up with makeup remover on a q-tip. I also lined the inner rim of my eyes to make them even darker.

MASCARA
Boujoirs Volume Glamour MAX - 51 Noir max
- I'm fairly certain Emma was wearing false lashes during her interview but we work with what we have. So I used this voluminous mascara, I personally prefer waterproof but this mascara did the job fairly well.

BROWS
b collection by bloom brow box - Medium dark
- Emma has lovely full brows so I used the powder from this kit through mine to fill in any gaps and attempted to straighten them out slightly.

LIPS

LIPSTICK
I didn't have an exact shade of lipstick which matched Emma's so I mixed these two colours to get a similar look.

Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick Matte - 107 (red tube)
- I dabbed this over my lips to darken them slightly.

Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick - 20 (black tube)
- I lightly applied this colour over the top to add more of the hot pink shade Emma had. Looking back on photo's I would have applied less of this colour to get a more exact colour match.

OUTFIT

TOP
White button-up from Temt.
I would have preferred a shirt without metal buttons but we work with what we have and it still gives a similar effect to Emma's button-up blouse.

Black Faux Leather Jacket from a Market in Melbourne.
Everyone needs a black leather jacket in their life, it's a staple to any wardrobe. I love how it can toughen up the look whilst still adhering to Emma's initial look. A Black blazer would be more in-line with Emma's outfit but it's a matter of personal preference in my opinion.

BOTTOM
Black Straight-leg jeans from Levi's.
I don't own a pair of nice black trousers but I do own jeans so I opted for these beauties. Personally I think jeans are a better option than trousers would be because it keeps the outfit young-looking.

SHOES
Black satin peep-toe pumps from Payless Shoes.
I don't own many pairs of heels because frankly I prefer flats being as I'm a little on the taller side but I do love these shoes. Emma wore basic pumps but I feel like peep-toe is more comfortable and you can showcase your nail polish as well.

I'd be interested in seeing what other people thought about my re-created look so please comment, feedback is always welcome. I haven't quite figured out how to set out an inspired look post so maybe I'll look into YouTube some more, it would definitely be easier to explain how I recreated a look.

Till next time.

A week in pictures

2014-03-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

I like taking the odd picture now and then so here's a few pics I took this week.

I cut my hair! It's shoulder length now which is the shortest its ever been and I love it. I'd been wanting to cut it shorter for ages but have never been game enough so I'm glad I took the risk this week.

Next on the agenda, how cute are these mugs? I picked them up from Woolworths as part of their Easter range for only $4 each. The perfect addition to a coffee in the morning.

If you haven't heard of this website, check it out immediately. Unicef set up this project where you open this web page on your phone and see how long you can go without touching or moving your phone. For every 10 minuites you go without your phone, a child has clean water for a day. It's also the perfect motivator when you should be studying.

I thought I'd try a new juice from Boost Juice this week and went with one of their Green Juices. I went with Caribbean Green, mostly because I'm a sucker for anything with Mango. As my first green juice experience, I approve. Although I'm not sure if I'll stray too far from my love of Mango Magic.

I had a little free time Wednesday morning before my tutorial so I thought I'd pop into Chicabooti for a look around. Although I did love some of their newer items like this dress, I was a bit upset about the difficulty to put them on. Unless you have double-jointed arms I doubt you'd be able to zip this dress without help. Sad but my Tartan quest continues.

I've also been looking for some light wash jeans for a while but they always seem to have holes in them. So I thought I'd try them on and see if I liked them. Unfortunately I don't think I'm a fan. I like having jeans without rips so they don't look super casual if I wanted to dress them up a bit. Again, my quest for light wash jeans goes on.

The Wednesday Jan Powers markets in the city are adorable. I wish I could buy all the fresh fruit and veg but that's not really practical when I have to spend the afternoon in lecture rooms. So I settled for this fresh juice. I'd seen friends of mine post pictures of their own drinks and I couldn't resist. It was delicious and I love the fresh fruit on top.

Lastly, just a screen shot of my Friday study session. I was tired and craving sugar so I picked up some jelly beans. It was just a coincidence that they fir perfectly on my laptop.

Hope you had a lovely week.

Lovisa Online Shopping Review

2014-03-20T03:26:00.005-07:00

Last month Lovisa had a 48hr free shipping deal and I took the opportunity to place an order for some more midi rings. The packaging was just so cute that I had to do a little review on my experience.

MAKING AN ORDER
I signed up in-store for Lovisa notifications and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I received a $10 online voucher to be used at any time. The following day I received another email, this time informing me that there was 48 hours of free shipping Australia-wide. Obviously this was too good an opportunity to pass up, so I picked out a pack of $10 midi rings (unfortunately they aren't available online any more).

The process was simple enough and the checkout took less than a few minutes to complete. I was sent a confirmation shortly after and told that I would be contacted again when my order was shipped.

SHIPPING AND DELIVERY
I placed my Lovisa order February 21st and received my package roughly 2 weeks later. The package was shipped March 3rd, 10 days after placing my order which I think is quite a long time in terms of processing.
The estimated shipping on the website was 1-7 business days so if you need your order within a set amount of time maybe make a purchase in store, it'll be a lot faster.

PACKAGING

I was very impressed when I opened the Australia Post Bag and saw this cute Lovisa Box. Any company which customises their packaging is a-okay to me. The inside however was by far more pretty.

There were 2 layers of tissue paper with the rings in the middle. I was very surprised that I'd receive such a big box with such a small item but I appreciated it nonetheless. One thing about Lovisa is that they seem to strive to present their company with an elegant flair which translate both in-store and online.

PRODUCT

I own a few items from Lovisa and I've found them all to be fairy good quality considering they're costume jewellery, these rings were no exception. Lovisa is known to be slightly more expensive than other jewellery brands so $10 isn't too bad for a set of 8 rings.

I don't know if this is a problem for some people but I don't like seeing the joins in rings, especially smaller ones with less distracting detail. One of the reasons I like these rings is that there isn't a noticeable bump or change in the ring where it was bent together which in turn to making them look nicer, also makes them more comfortable to wear.

OVERALL
Would I buy from Lovisa online again?
Honestly, no. I just have no patience to pay extra and wait weeks for something I could pick up from a store. The packaging was pretty and the quality fairly good but again, it took far too long. Maybe it was because I placed an order during what I assume was a busy period due to the free shipping or because I used a $10 voucher that they didn't make my order a priority and it was shipped later. Regardless I personally wouldn't take that chance.

I will purchase from a Lovisa store in the future as I do like their items but I wouldn't recommend purchasing online unless you desperately want an item and you can't find it in store or they have a significant sale.

OOTD University - 12/03/2014

2014-03-13T00:03:00.002-07:00

TOP
- Mens Captain America Shirt from JayJays.
Couldn't pass up this shirt when I saw it in JayJays, Captain America is definitely my favourite Avenger. I mean, have you seen Chris Evans? He's adorable. To make the top look a little more feminine I did roll up the sleeves to shorten them slightly.

BOTTOM
- Denim Skirt from Kmart.
I'd been looking everywhere for a denim skirt which wasn't skater or looked like cut off denim short so naturally when I came across this gem in Kmart I was ecstatic. This skirt was on sale for $5.00 so naturally I couldn't pass it up.

SHOES
- White Lipstik Sandals
Unfortunately I don't know the name of this style, it's rubbed off the shoe because I've worn them so much. These shoes are honestly the most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever owned so I wear them multiple times a week.

ACCESSORIES
I kept my jewellery very simple with some pearl earrings, a silver bangle and my silver pandora rings. The outfit was fairly casual so I felt that dainty jewellery suited the look more than if I wore something embellished.
I forgot to take a photo with my bag but I just took my black Zara bag from my previous OOTD post.

Is Brisbane the next fashion capital of Australia?

2014-03-12T22:08:00.004-07:00

(Photo of Topshop opening in Brisbane)

Brisbane city is reported to be the next location to host International fashion giants such as Zara and H&M.

Late last year Brisbane City opened its CBD up to globally recognised label Topshop which now stands with 3 shopping levels on the corner of Elizabeth and Albert St. In a way Topshop broke the ice on the question of whether to invest in Brisbane or not as many other popular international brands are now circling Queen St.

Brands such as Zara and H&M are well on their way to expanding their stores into the CBD according to the Courier Mail. Zara is believed to be considering 2 floors on the Queen Adelaide building whilst H&M is said to be close to making a deal on 2 floors in the newly renovated Broadway on Mall. The interest of such large international retailers does raise the question, does Brisbane have the potential to become a fashion capital in Australia?

Currently, Melbourne is viewed as the hub of fashion with its hosting the largest Fashion Week in Australia. However, despite Melbourne being well ahead of Brisbane there is still potential for Brisbane to reach a similar level in the future.

The potential for international investors in the area could very well bring more recognition to the fashion scene in Brisbane and encourage its improvement. Brisbane already holds luxury brands such as Louis Vouitton, Chanel and Tiffany & Co. under its belt but with the introduction of more affordable fashion, a wider range of people will be drawn to the CBD.

Who knows, in less than 10 years the Brisbane city centre could become a vibrant fashion hub playing host to many prestigious events either in-line with Melbourne or perhaps even surpassing it. The future of the fashion scene in Brisbane is in the hands of global retailers.

Nails - Essie, Ulta3, Essence

2014-03-09T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies!

I'm a big fan of nail polish and paint my nails pretty much every week without fail so I thought, why not do a little post and a mini review.

The colour I went for this week was Essie's nice is nice. I'm feeling a bit under the weather and it was just nice to paint my nails a colour which I believe embodies the word cute.

It just so happens that the only pastel nail polishes I own are by Essie which is predominately because the colours are so opaque. In fact, the above photo was only 1 thin coat and the colour shows up perfectly which is a true testament to the quality of these polishes. I bought this colour last time I went to America over 3 years ago and the consistency of the polish is still perfectly fine even though I use it fairly frequently.

In addition to the Essie polish, I used the Ulta3 base coat and non-chip top coat and set my nails with the Essence Nail Art Express Dry Drops that I picked up on Friday. I haven't been using the base coat or the express dry drops for very long so I can't pass judgement on them yet, however I have been using the topcoat for a few months and it's fairly good considering it was only $2.

Haul:Target, Priceline, Sportsgirl - 7/03/2014

2014-03-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

I had a couple hours to kill after my Friday class and decided to pop into the Brisbane CBD and pick up some things. There were quite a lot of great sales on so I only spent around $30 for everything.

TARGET

I hadn't been to Target for a while and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the new clothing lines they've brought out. I did try on a few clothing items but sadly none flattered me the way I wanted them to. Alas I found comfort in the beauty section and picked up a few things.

1. Ulta3 Base coat nail polish ($1.00)
There was a bin filled with Ulta3 polishes for only $1 and I was in desperate need of a new base coat after my Cutex base coat leaked half the bottle in my suitcase. I've used this polish in the past and I do like it. It's thinner in texture so my nail polish doesn't get too thick and peel off in one go, which has been a consistent problem with other base coats. All in all, a good deal.

2. Essence Nail Art Express Dry Drip Drops ($3.50)
I've wanted to try a drip dry product for years but never really bought one because I thought it was a waste of money. However, after painting my nails every week since graduation I was getting increasingly frustrated at waiting for my nails to dry for ages and then still smudging them which lead me to this product. It's not the best product and doesn't dry my nails within seconds but it takes so much less time than simply air-drying. So for $3.50, not bad.

3. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water ($8.40)
When I saw Target had 30% off Garnier I went straight to the skincare isle. There was only 1 bottle left so naturally I justified that I needed it. In my defence, I've been wanting to get my hands on the Bioderma since it first started becoming popular online and this product is apparently a good dupe. Additionally, the cost of this cleansing water and the cotton pads will be a more inexpensive option to removing my make up than using wipes. I may do a review in a few weeks after I've used this product more and developed an opinion on it.

4. Loreal Casting Creme Gloss, 613 Iced Mochaccino ($11.55)
I've been dying my hair using this product for around 2 years now and I do enjoy it quite a lot. My hair is naturally brown but I like adjusting the shade lighter or darker every couple months. I even died my hair Mahogany coloured a little while back and it washed out without leaving a strong colour in my hair. This colour, 613 Iced Mochaccino, is one of my favourites. I love having a cool tone to my hair because I feel that it works better with my skin undertone. I hadn't dyed my hair since September and although I don't mind the colour it is now, I wanted to change up my hair a bit.
When I do dye my hair, I'll make a post on it and do a bit of a review of the product.

PRICELINE

Priceline is dangerous at the best of times, I always end up leaving with more than I intended to buy. This time I went in to pick up cotton pads and exited with a shower gel. Honestly it could have been a lot worse.

1. LUX Magical Spell Body Wash ($2.99)
I had been using a Mango body wash but it appears to be disappearing at an alarming rate. I suspect that my brother has taken a liking to the scent as a mango enthusiast and decided it's not too girly for him. Naturally I'll be buying super girly scents from now on. Hence the purple, shower gel. I sniffed several LUX shower gels and instead of going for my usual fruity scents decided to take a floral route. This product claims to contain 'Fragrance Pearls with the scent of Black Orchid and Juniper Oil' but honestly I was swayed my the name. Who can resist a product called Magical Spell? Not me, that's for sure.

2. Priceline Round Cotton Pads ($3.50)
Not much to say about these really. I bought them to use with the Garnier cleansing water because I didn't want to use cotton balls since they have such a small surface area and wouldn't be able to remove much makeup.

SPORTSGIRL

1. Iphone 4 case ($4.95)
I'm not one to update my phone whenever a new model comes out so there's no way I see myself buying a Iphone5 because they only sell those cases. So when I saw an Iphone4 case I snatched it up, they're kind of a rare find at a decent price on the Australian market and I loved the quirky pattern on the back. But I won't be changing my case until my current one either cracks or falls apart so this little beauty is going into storage.

OOTD - University

2014-03-08T00:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry there's no close-ups of this outfit but I was literally running out the door. I'm hoping to do more outfit posts in the future so keep an eye out for that.

TOP:

Black off the shoulder crop top from Boohoo (find it online here). Although mine doesn't stay off the shoulder for long because it keeps slipping up but oh well.

BOTTOM:

'Berry' jersey skater skirt from Boohoo.

SHOES:

Black combat-style boots from Kmart. These are still in-store in Australia if you wanted an inexpensive pair of boots (only $20.00).

BAG:

Large black over the shoulder bag from Zara. I bought it from their Melbourne store last year so I'm unsure whether it's still available.

ACCESSORIES:

You can't really see them from this image but I wore rose-gold jewellery for a change.

Necklace - A small hand gun on a rose-gold chain from Diva. It was gifted to me by the You tuber's BeautybyBrittneyx and Shellbarbie at their Brisbane Meetup.

Rings - 2 rose-gold midi rings from Lovisa. They came in a mixed metal set but I believe they're sold out online. A review of Lovisa online will be posted in the next few days.

Earrings - Simple pearl studs from H&M. Nothing fancy but pearl studs are my go-to earrings everyday.

February Favourites 2014

2014-03-04T04:54:00.004-08:00

I know it's technically March already but I still wanted to write about my favourites for February as it's a simple post to help get myself back into the swing of things. If you're a fan of beauty related blogs and YouTube channels you'll know that monthly favourites are just something everyone does.

A few products I've been enjoying:

Garnier Perfect Blur 5 sec Smoothing Base Perfector

This little beauty has been a miracle when it comes to make up application. It's very similar to the Benefit Porefessional which I've used in the past but at a fraction of the cost. I must admit there are some differences when it comes to the product itself as this primer has a almost whipped texture and a slight pink tinge. Regardless it does a fantastic job of smoothing out the look of the pores around my nose which is all I really need it to do.

Essence Get Big Lashes Waterproof Mascara

I'm on my third tube of this mascara so that essentially speaks for itself. It makes my lashes look long and full, holds a curl and doesn't budge even in 30+ degree heat. I've tried so many different affordable mascara's and nothing beats this one in my books. If nothing sinks in from this post I hope at least you consider giving this mascara a go next time you're in Target or Priceline.

Essence Waterproof liquid liner

I've never been a liquid liner girl but seeing all these beautiful winged eyeliner looks online I just couldn't resist giving it another go. I'm so glad I did too because liquid eyeliner is a lot neater than pencil or gel. This product was so cheap and it's lasted me the past 3 months perfectly fine without drying out even though I use it almost everyday. I love the thin brush and the fact that it's flexible and easy to use.

Hopefully there will be some more in-depth reviews on the horizon which will be a little more helpful if you're looking for some more information so keep a look out.

Oscars 2014

2014-03-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised by this years Oscars and found no difficulty in finding a few truly stunning looks to discuss. Personally I felt the top three best dressed were Lupita Nyong'o in Prada, Emma Watson in Vera Wang and Kate Hudson in Versace

I love these three different styles and felt they were definitely the stand out women each adding their own touch of elegance to the Oscars.

A few trends I noticed were...

There were quite a lot of nude embellished dresses, especially those of a more form-fitting variety.

(Left: Jessica Biel in Chanel Couture, Centre: Maria Menounos in Johanna Johnson, Right: Sally Hawkins in Valentino)

The make up consensus was generally natural with slightly pink cheeks, nude or berry-toned lips and brown eye shadow. These lovely actresses were among the many who exhibited these make up trends this year.

(1st Left: Anna Kendrick, 2nd Left: Anne Hathaway, 2nd Right: Angelina Jolie, 1st Right: Sandra Bullock)

All in all good job ladies on never failing to look amazing. Looking forward to seeing the styling from other red carpet events in 2014.

Update: Where have I been?

2014-03-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

So it's been a fair amount of time since my last post. I suppose I could point out that I had other commitments or priorities, which I did in fact, but honestly there's no reason. As far as I know this blog is yet to have any consistent readers or followers and it's highly likely that no one has noticed my absence. Regardless I shall persevere and continue on my goal of becoming a more accomplished beauty blogger.

A few things that have happened over the past few years:

1. I graduated high school
Yay, no more uniforms and strict schedules. I loathed the long skirts and blouses at my former school so it's so liberating to done my own uniform and look the way I want to. As well as this, I've grown as a writer and developed my own skills over the years which will hopefully mean more quality content (yay!).
Basically, no more school is good.

2. I'm doing a Bachelor of Journalism
It's all finally falling into place. I can't even remember how long I've been waiting to finally study journalism, it's been pretty much my entire life and it's insane to think in 3 short years I'll be done and moving onto the next chapter in my life. In addition to this game changer I hope that by writing this blog I'll expand my skill set and gain more experience in the online community of bloggers.

What can be expected from this blog in the future:

Since becoming a teenager I've been intrigued by the beauty and fashion industry and therefore this blog will heavily feature those elements. From reviews of products and clothing lines to discussion on trends and such, I hope to cover a broad range of the topics. However it is inevitable that I will stray occasionally as I am only human (prepare for some late night psycho babble).

Essentially, I'm back and better than ever so please follow my blog as I would really appreciate the support and will most definitely give your own blog a look if requested.