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Friday, June 30, 2017

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:


\\  These heart sunglasses cookies are speaking to my soul right now.  //
\\  This vegan green goddess grilled sandwich literally contains all of my fave greens!  //
\\  What cool a gift this DIY palm leaf soap would make.  //
\\  I'm friggin' dying over this raspberry shortcake ricotta ice cream!  //
\\  I'll take three cherry watermelon frosés, please.  //
\\  This DIY ombre wall came just in time for my own wall-painting inspiration.  //



Happy Friday!


Monday, June 26, 2017

An Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review from a Dry Skinned Gal

As predominantly a "beauty blogger", I'm embarrassed to admit that this is my first properly high end foundation. I'd been umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to purchase Double Wear foundation for years now. I mean, it costs an arm and a leg and my drugstore foundations were doing just fine, but I just could not scratch that itch, so I finally caved and picked up a sample pot from Myer; something that I'd been putting off doing in fear of falling in love with such a costly product. I was matched with the shade 'Ecru' and went on my merry way, and you know what? I did instantly fall in love with said costly product. I had used up my sample in no time and immediately went out to buy the full sized bottle without a second thought. I've been using it pretty consistently for about three months now, and I think that I'm ready to express my thoughts.



To preface this post, my skin is so difficult to deal with. Desert dry, flaky lower face, oily forehead, big ol' pores.. This makes finding a foundation that works for me hard. The fact that I absolutely LOVE a matte finish doesn't make it any easier, either because of course, a penchant for matte does not typically go hand-in-hand with dry skin types, which is why I always recommend asking for samples before you commit to buying any high-end make-up. It's a darn big price to pay, so you want to be sure that the shade and/or formula work for you.

After being scared off by the "extremely mattifying" reviews that are associated with Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation, I am ecstatic to report that this looks absolutely gorgeous on me! The oil-free formula means that it's your best friend if you have oilier skin, but that does not mean that it doesn't work on dry skin types too, trust me. They've somehow found a magical medium, wherein it controls oil for those with oily skin, but doesn't further dry out those with dry skin. I don't know what kind of sorcery is used, but I sure ain't complaining.

I'd describe this foundation as medium-full, if not full, coverage. The Double Wear line has a massive shade range, and I've found that the colour does not oxidize noticeably, if at all, on me. It dries down very quickly and is transfer-proof within minutes, which is something that I highly appreciate as a secretary who uses a handheld phone all throughout the day. 
It has a lovely, silky texture and doesn't feel heavy whatsoever on the skin, which is surprising for a high coverage formula. It is also worth noting that a little bit goes a long way. I honestly feel that one light layer is more than enough for even and flawless coverage, but it is definitely buildable if desired and even then, 
still does not look heavy or cakey if you do like to use more than one layer

I get very flaky skin around my mouth and nose and this foundation doesn't accentuate or cling on to that at all, which is a comment that I cannot make about any other foundation that I've ever tried. It does, however, settle in to the larger pores a little, but I've experienced this with every single product that I've ever used in my life, so I've accepted it as a way of big-pored life, patted on some primer, and moved on.


On the opposite side of the whack-o spectrum that is Christie's face, I've almost always needed to powder and blot my forehead, being the one area on my whole face that does get a little oily, by midday, no matter what foundation/primer/powder I do or do not use. With Double Wear, however, there was no need to blot all damn day. Not even a little bit! It keeps those oils at bay without me even needing to use a powder to begin with, which eliminates that dry, cakey look that I tend to get if do I layer powder upon foundation.



In terms of the wear-time, I can 100% concur that this stuff does not budge! I was surprised by just how long-lasting this formula is. After staying put for a 10 hour day at the office, followed by another hour or so of exercise at the gym, wherein I obviously sweat and towel off my face, I still have a lovely finish to my skin (that I still need to really cleanse to remove) by the time I get home. For this reason I definitely do not feel as though a primer is necessary to make this foundation last but, as I briefly touched on earlier, I have large pores on my cheeks, next to my nose, so I do still like to wear one, but only in these areas, and only to smooth out my base and stop the foundation from settling in to the pores as much as I can.

I always appreciate a foundation with SPF in it, but I appreciate a foundation with SPF in it that doesn't produce flashback more. This does only have a SPF rating of 10, which may be what makes it so photo friendly in comparison, but I always use a high-factor facial sunscreen during the day (and you should too!), so the low SPF rating doesn't bother me if zero flashback is going to be the trade-off.

Of course, as with anything in this world, with the good, comes the bad. I've found that there are a couple of downsides to this foundation, but I don't feel as though they're anything to be overly concerned about. Just my picky self being.. well, picky. The first thing being the packaging. The frosted glass bottle does look all kinds of fancy (not good for travel, mind you), but I just cannot get past the fact that there is no pump. I don't want to think about how much product I've wasted as a result of dribbling or spillage and that's not including all the times that I've poured out much more than needed. The second point being the smell. Boy does this foundation have chemically smell. It's almost paint-like. The smell does dissipate very quickly, however, but is worth noting in my opinion.

All in all, I would definitely say that the quality of Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation is worth the $54 price tag, no matter your skin type. A good base is an investment, and this is an investment that I highly recommend.




Have you tried Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation before? What are your thoughts?

As always, this post has not been sponsored in any way, meaning that none of the items mentioned have been sent to me, endorsed or paid for by anyone other than me, myself and I.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:


\\  I don't mean to alarm you, but pretzel strawberry ice cream pie!  //
\\  I'm all about turmeric lattes, so these healthy turmeric popsicles are next on my to-try list.  //
\\  Try saying giant cake slice cake three times fast, preferably whilst making one for yourself.  //
\\  Strawberry basil bruschetta - what a lovely Spring/Summer entre.  //
\\  This DIY hooded bath towel is the most adorable thing I've seen today!  //
\\  Okay, but this blueberry brown betty needs go get in mah belleh right now.  //


Happy Friday!

Monday, June 19, 2017

My Month on Instagram - May 2017

If you've been following Christie's Take on Life for any amount of time, you'd surely know by now that I'm a major lover of Instagram! It's the perfect outlet for posting inspiration and little snippets of life, and seeing what my favourite bloggers and friends are up to.

There are so many times that my Instagram posts never make it to my blog, and that's a damn shame because I consider myself to be quite the photographer..

..Not really, but it's a shame nonetheless!

Instalife over the past month looked something like this:

There's nothing that I enjoy more than snuggling up with a good book in Autumn and Winter. Here is my full post on all that I've read recently.


This recipe, you guys. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I die every time.


Do I need say more? The shade Unicorn Blood is perfect for the colder months. Ooof.



Enter LUSH bath bomb photo #52760593. *long suffering sigh*


I love finding pretty new feeds to follow on Instagram; leave your account deets in the comments, or come find me: @christieee__x!

Friday, June 16, 2017

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:


\\  I could definitely deal with a pina colada popsicle or four.  //
\\  I love LUSH, but these DIY bubble bars may just cut my visits in half.  //
\\  Somebody please bring me a honey strawberry apricot tart immediately.  //
\\  How cute is this DIY daisy pillow?!  //
\\  Okay, I need some s'mores sliders pronto!  //
\\  How delicious do fontina, blackberry, basil grilled sandwiches sound?!  //


Happy Friday!

Monday, June 12, 2017

My (Affordable) Day and Night Skincare Routine

I'm such an advocate for good skincare. It's so important to take care of the skin and I've always thought that a good skincare routine is crucial to any one person's regime. If you're going to spend a decent amount of time and money on anything in your life, I highly recommend making that thing skincare. It's an investment. Trust me.

There are so many products out there, and it can all be very overwhelming. What works for one person is not likely to work for another. This routine is what works for me. It may seem like a lot to some, but I've had such pain-in-the-ass skin my whole life. My combination oily/flaky-dry, sensitive, intolerant skin (try saying that three times fast) requires so much effort to remain manageable, it's ridiculous. I've done so much research over my years and have finally found a combination that works well enough for me to be happy in the skin I'm in.

In my research, I've also discovered that you don't necessarily need to spend millions of dollars on skincare to have it be effective. There are products out there that cost a small fortune that do work absolute wonders (Sunday Riley, I'm looking at you), yes, but I'm here to inform you that there are definitely cost-effective options out there. You just have to be patient, do the research and have an idea of what does and doesn't work for you and your skin.




Below you'll find my, for the most part, affordable day and night skincare routines. I would say that my routines are definitely geared more towards dry to normal skin types. If you happen to fall in to that category, too, perhaps there are a few things here that could possibly benefit you.

Day:
I rinse my face with only lukewarm water, no product, first thing in the morning, and as soon as the skin has been patted dry, I swipe Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Nourishing Facial Water over my face with a cotton pad. It acts as a wonderful toner for dry skin, balancing pH and improving texture. It's also full of nutrients and gently cleanses the skin a little, too. On mornings when my skin's feeling particularly blegh, I reach for AVON's Clearskin Blackhead Eliminating Daily Astringent instead. I know how damn harsh alcohol-based astringents are, so I try to use it sparingly, but this honestly does THE BEST job of cleaning deep in to the pores and refreshing the skin. I follow immediately with Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream, which is definitely the most expensive item in my routine. I've been trying out various drugstore offerings, but I've found nothing that matches this in terms of moisturizing my dry lids and filling fine lines. As eyes are so delicate and show the first signs of ageing so to me, it's worth the spend.



allow my eye cream to sink in for a minute before combining a glob of my ever favourite Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel and two drops of Trilogy's Antioxidant+ Rosehip Oil together in my palm and slathering the mixture all over my face, which absorbs deep down in to my skin. Once that has absorbed, I put a light layer of The Body Shop's Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream for Dry Skin all over and follow with a dab of La Roche Posay's Toleriane Riche on the lower half of my face, focusing mostly on the front of my cheeks, my chin and my nose. My forehead tends to get oily during the day and I find Toleriane Riche to be too much for that particular part of my face.


Once all of my moisturisers are soaked in nicely, I finally smear a layer of SPF (always apply SPF) all over my face before going in with my make-up. I've been obsessing over Benefit's Dream Screen for almost a year now because IT'S MATTIFYING (!!!) and I find the consistency to be very much like a primer, which is great for saving time and money on products.




Night:
My favourite way to remove make-up these days is with a super nourishing combination of The Body Shop's Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter and Nuxe's Cleansing Milk*. I like to go in first with The Body Shop, focusing mostly on my face, rubbing it in with my fingers. Then I use one pump of Nuxe on a cotton ball on my eyes and use a clean tissue to wipe away any excess product and make-up. These two products have been amazing on my dry skin. Next I jump in to the shower and wash my face with QV's Gentle Cleanser, which can also be used on the eyes. This is the only cleanser I've tried that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight. It's ever so gentle, but still manages to break through makeup and grit.



If I'm feeling fancy, or my skin is feeling particularly congested, I'll treat myself to a face mask after my shower. I have so many different masks that I go between, but I'll usually reach for LUSH's Mask of Magnaminty, especially around 'the monthlies', as it works wonders to de-clog my pores. Once I've rinsed and towelled off, my routine is almost identical to my morning one. I swipe a little Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Nourishing Facial Water over my face to be sure that all traces of make-up and oil from my make-up removers are gone, since my cleanser is so gentle. I then follow with Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream and allow to sink in for a minute while I get in to my pyjamas. Once I'm dressed, I use four drops of AVON's Nutra Effects Miracle Glow Lightweight Facial Oil over my face - a drop on each cheek, one on my forehead and one on my chin and massage in with my fingers. Once that's absorbed, I once again smear a decent amount of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel all over, followed by a light layer of The Body Shop's Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream for Dry Skin

After all that, I go about my night and when it's time for bed, I slather a layer of The Body Shop's Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream, which I consider to be a face mask that sinks in (therefore, not sticking to your pillow), all over my face which does a whollllleeee lot of good to your skin while you sleep. If my lips are particularly flaky, I'll rub a small amount of LUSH's Bubblegum Lip Scrub over them before finally applying a layer of Bite Beauty's Agave Lip Mask to my lips, which is so softening and so hydrating (my lips become super dry overnight if I skip this step), and it's off to beddy byes.




Phew! As I said, this may seem like a lot, but at the end of the day, I'm so very happy with the look and feel of my skin, and I attribute that solely to my skincare routine. Remember, although this is what has worked for me personally, everybody's skin has different needs. I do hope that this post has helped you in some way or another, though.





As always, this post has not been sponsored in any way, meaning that none of the items mentioned have been sent to me, endorsed or paid for by anyone other than me, myself and I. This post does, however, contain affiliate links. Feel free to find and purchase the products mentioned elsewhere if you don't get down like that. :)

I will always disclose such information with an asterisk (*) for full disclosure to my readers.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:


\\  I don't mean to alarm you, but this balloon dog piñata is the best thing you've ever seen.  //
\\  Here's an agate mobile DIY for my fellow boho lovers out there.  //
\\  I wish that it were Summer here so that I could consume all the watermelon frosé.  //
\\  I could deal with roasted pineapple whipped ricotta toast with sea salt all day every day.  //
\\  These Cheerios doughnut sprinkles are too much for me to handle right now. So cute.  //
\\  These DIY lollipops with edible flowers are so simple to make, and so cute to look at.  //


Happy Friday!

Monday, June 5, 2017

May Look Back and June 2017 Goals


A Look back at May's Goals:

Go on more adventures
"I'm all about new having new experiences, but trying to save a large amount of money has put something of a downer on our weekend (or any day) activities. I'd definitely like to put some fun back in to our relationship and go on a spontaneous adventure, just Jesse and I. I'm adorable."

Tick: The weather wasn't exactly adventure friendly, but we still managed to do what we could.


Lose 1.5kg
"I've been pretty reckless with what I've been eating lately (ohai, late night snack binges with Jesse) and although I've been working out like a baws, I haven't lost any weight. I'd like to make the conscious effort to think about what I'm eating this month. Combined with my exercise routine, there's no reason that I can't lose 1.5kg."

Cross: I actually gained weight. Womp.


Create a media kit
"This has been something that I've been putting off for over a year now (oops). I never used to see it as a necessity, but I've since realised the power of a good media kit. Plus, it never hurts to have one ready to send off on the odd occasion that a company or brand may ask for it."

Tick: I'm so happy that I finally got around to doing this. It was such a tedious task and took far more time than I had anticipated but it was all worth it because I was actually asked for my media kit by two brands once I'd finalised it. How's that for timing?

Find (and buy) a dining suite
"Our house is going up so quickly that I hadn't realised that there's actually not a whole lot of time left to buy our important pieces of furniture. We've got most of the main bits and pieces, but the dining suite has been next on our "to-buy" list for a while now (then it's on to whitegoods), but I've been putting it off because boy do I hate furniture shopping."

Tick: This is a huge weight off of my shoulders. After publishing my May goals, we were informed that our house should be liveable within 8-10 weeks, meaning that we had far less time to get our shit together than the 4-5 months that I had originally planned for. We finally found a dining suite that we both liked and managed to pick up a few other necessities from our "to-buy" list, too!


Goals for June:
I'm keeping my list of goals short and sweet this month. The likelihood of our house being ready, having to paint and move in to said house and working at an accounting firm during end of financial year is all going to be stressful enough without me adding too much else to my plate.


Get to the gym four times per week, every week
I've caught myself slacking when it comes to getting myself to the gym on my scheduled days lately. The colder weather has not been very motivational and I've found myself skipping so many gym days in favour of getting cozy in bed and eating all the food. Reluctantly trudging to the gym 2-3 times at the most each week has really thrown my routine (and eating habits) out of whack. Womp.

Clean out my wardrobe and bedroom storage

By "bedroom storage", I mean whatever bits and bobs I've shoved under my bed over my 23 years of life. I'd definitely like to clean out my wardrobe, too. I know there's so much in there that I've grown out of or no longer wear (or have never worn before, let's be real) which I can sell/donate. I know that this was a (failed) goal in both February and April (oops), but now that our house will be ready in about a month (!!!), it's basically do-or-die time.

Draft most of June and July's blog content in advance

I feel sososo much more organised and sososo much less stressed when I've got a few blog posts sitting in my drafts ready to go. I've got a few ideas about posts that I'd like to publish in the next coming months, but with my bust June schedule, I know how busy this month is going to be. Taking photos is always the thing that I drag my feet on, but if I can at least have all actual content written out, I'd feel much better.


What do you want to accomplish this month?

Friday, June 2, 2017

Friday Finds

Here are a few of my internet finds (and loves) from over the past week:


\\  Isn't this custom nail polish DIY the handiest thing you've ever read?  //
\\  Okay, can we all just take a sec for these rosé champagne mini cupcakes?  //
\\  I could use more than one of these blood orange grapefruit mimosas.  //
\\  Yes to cherry peach crisp with oatmeal cookie crumble for breakfast, lunch and dinner!  //
\\  How much fun are these piña colada pool pop tarts?! Too fun to eat, I say!  //
\\  YOU GUYS! I'm dying over these gumball machine cupcakes! DYING!  //


Happy Friday!

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