October Beauty Favourites.

I cannot believe there's only two months left in the year!
I swear, my terrible, tonsillitis-ridden New Year was just yesterday. It's actually unreal.

 

Onto the favourites though, these are a few products I've been loving this month:

 

 One: L'Oreal False Lash Butterfly Wings Mascara

This is my favourite mascara. The wand shape really helps to extend those corner lashes that are hard to reach to make your eyes look bigger and more elongated. I have smaller eyes so I tend to do all my eye makeup up and out. The finish is nice and dark and almost vinyl looking. It doesn't flake (which is always a deal breaker) and overall has a nice texture once dry. It's not clumpy at all and the bottle is huge, and very nicely designed - I love the sleek chrome look. Easy clean up if you do make a mistake, but lasted until I washed it off with no transfer or raccoon eyes and cleaned up easily with plain soap and water. This is pretty much what I look for in a mascara, as it's not ever going to recreate false eyelashes for you. Smooth, even coverage with a glossy black finish and easy to remove when you're ready.



Two: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Glossing Mist Spray
Heat is not my friend. The warmer months kill my dry hair and it tends to get a little.. afro-ish come lunchtime. This product works to tame my dry, frays, frizz and flyaways during the warmer months all the while being Ultra-light and  non-greasy. I apply this straight after straightening and it makes my hair feel lovely! So silky, glossy and smooooooth. The loveliness lasts all day and smells pretty too.

Three: Innoxa Pure Silk Skin Primer

This is still my favourite primer to date. You can see my full review here.
It provides a silky base for even coverage, with a smooth, velvety finish. Not only does my make-up last a full day (including my blush which would usually fade away to nothing), but it literally glides onto the skin making it feel super smooth and touchable. It feels very light and natural on the skin, which is super advantageous given how sensitive and irritable my skin can get!

Four: The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

Mango is by far my favourite fruit. So sweet and summery.

I would love this body butter just for dat smell. But no, there's so much more to it than that. Aside from smelling so amazing, it's thick and it's creamy, and it leaves my skin feeling so nourished and the smooth, soft feeling lasts all day.

 

Five: Nivea In Shower Body Lotion

This ingenious product may (or may not) have been created specifically with me in mind. This my friends, is the ultimate lazy girl's body skin-care product! Over the years I have been notoriously skipping the oh-so important moisturising step. This is such a time saver, solving all my dry skin/lazy girl problems in one! I've never had such touchable and silky smooth skin all over my body, especially not this time of year. My skin always feels soft and hydrated after use and applying additional moisturiser isn’t necessary. 

 

Six: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream

I've previously noted this Springtime scent in my Spring inspiration board, this floral, yet fruity scent is perfect for Spring, and I'm loving it! With top notes of blackberry, grapefruit, lychee and pear and floral jasmine and blue wisteria undertones, brought together by white woods, musks and coconut water. It sounds (and smells) good enough to eat - Nom.

 

Seven: Essence All About Matt! Oil Control Paper

With the temperatures quickly rising, I always keep a pack of Essence's blotting paper inside my purse for easy touch ups when I am out and about. Each thin sheet does a nice job of soaking up oil and sweat and mattifying the skin.

 

Eight: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

Winter always makes my complexion drab. Come Spring, I like to add a pop of bronze to my face. This is everything you want in a bronzer- great for contouring, not muddy, not too brown, not orange at all and it's completely matte. I use shade 'Medium Matte' lightly in the Springtime for a subtle grow, but build it up through the Summer months for a more sun-kissed look. Either way, it never looks cakey or tacky.

Home Is Where My Stuff Is.

"Home is where the heart is..." is a poetic notion.

It’s almost too easy for me to admit this to myself – I’ve never been one to bend the truth and I can whole-heartedly say that for me, home isn't where my heart is. Or ever has been.

Home is where my stuff is.

The concept of “home” has always been unclear, and its meaning, a jumbled mess of feelings and people. I'm a mismatched puzzle piece..

..and everyday I feel like that is more and more true.

For years of my youth – long, tiresome years, I never felt as if I belonged.
See, I believe that home is supposed to be where you feel the safest and where you feel the most loved. I've never experienced that luxury. There was never a time when my house actually felt like home. Throughout my years filled with fights, insults, violence, countless nights of being alone, of self sufficiency, relying on only myself. I feel it's a parent's duty, as the two people who decided to bring me in to this world, to nurture their child, ensuring it has the leg up on life it deserves, no? Well what happens when one party drops that ball and fails such a duty? In a fucked up kind of way, or pretty glass slippers for Christie.

Never have I truly felt wanted, appreciated, safe, valued by said one party. 

and I am unable to escape this toxic environment that has been created around me.

Despite the lack of support, the "you're useless"-es, the lack of energy and will to try, I pushed myself to get a good education and I graduated within the top 10% of the state for my English exam results and I got myself a good job.

Fuelled by my determination to not end up anything like my 'father'.

 

Even though I have some place where I put my shit, I feel homesick for a place that doesn’t even exist.

I stopped wanting to come back to this place a long time ago. I rush off to work to relieve her frustration at living in a foreign place. It's like taking an aspirin for a toothache. The pain may subside, but unless the underlying problem is treated, the discomfort will always reappear.

What I’m saying is, if I never came back to this specific house, never saw this specific person who occupies that space again, I wouldn't care. I have no concept of home or family anymore.

I am determined to leave this place. No matter how hard the people around me make it. I'm stronger than I give myself credit for. These people will not break me.
I am my own goddamn magic pumpkin.

Birthday Recap.

Disclaimer: This is going to be an incredibly picture-heavy post, because it's Monday, and I still feel like ass.. Soz in advance.

Well guys, I survived my 21st birthday and I think I deserve a medal because that was a close call. Let's just say there isn't enough concealer in the world to hide the circles under my eyes right now. But they're the good kind of bags. The kind of bags that meant I stayed up late all weekend dancing, and shouting, and eating, and acting like the weekend will never end. I'm currently running on less than enough sleep and three cans of Monster.

But, as amazing as my birthday weekend was, it's one of those days that I'm kind of glad it's a Monday. The weekend was so good, and felt so long, that I'm actually just excited to reflect back on it. I also need to put myself on a detox after all the food I ate and alcohol I drank this weekend. Oops.

Friday night was spent with good friends. I hired out a party bus and hit up a few bars and clubs in the city and Saturday, my actual birthday, and Sunday were spent with my boyfriend and my family who made me my weekend so very special.

Anyways, I know why you're here, these are the photos taken over the course of Friday night.
You may judge accordingly:


Top: Ally / Skirt: Supré / Shoes: Betts

 

Party Bus via Go Party Bus

 I'd like to thank all you beautiful people of the interwebz for your well wishes, and happy birthdays, I had a truly amazing weekend.

Spring Inspiration Board.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm super inspired by Spring lately. How could I not be? It's the most wonderful season there is!

 

Here are my current Springtime craves:

 

 

 

Colour Palette:

Pastel.

I'm sure you're sick of me saying pastels are huge for Spring.

But whether you incorporate pastels into your look in the form of jewellery, nail colour, shoes, or clothes, it will be sure to brighten up any look.

 

 

Scent:

Anything with a hit of Jasmine, or fruit.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream has both, with top notes of blackberry, grapefruit, lychee and pear and floral jasmine and blue wisteria undertones, brought together by white woods, musks and coconut water; my very favourite Springtime perfume!

 

 

Accessories of Choice:

Structured Bags and Pastel Summer Scarves.

In preparation for warmer temps & cooler colours, getting a new handbag is a great way to update your wardrobe. A structured bag is very lady like and classic, while this light, watercolour scarf is incredibly feminie. Both will instantly pull together your look.

 

 

Nail Polish:

My favourite Essie polish colours: Bikini So Teeny, Tart Deco, Mint Candy Apple and Mademoiselle.

Painting any of these shades on short, square nails makes for an incredibly chic look. OR, try out a splatter manicure.

 

 

Makeup:

Nude lips, cream blush and dewy skin.

I like to keep my day-face simple and fresh in the Spring, with clever highlighting down the bridge of your nose and cheek and brow bones.

I then opt for a natural looking cream blush or cheek tint to give that youthful glow.

 

 

Shoes:

Pastel pumps and strappy wedges.

Perfect for bare legs.

These pumps are versatile enough to be worn to the office, or out after house, while wedges are so incredibly comfortable when wearing all day or walking at length. Cork wedges are also perfect for Spring, and can be transitioned over to your Summer wardrobe to

 

 

Wardrobe staple:Skater skirts and playsuits.

Both light, flirty, and super feminie - Which is what Spring's all about.

 

 

Loving:

These sunnies. 

'nuff said.

 

What's inspiring you this Spring?

 

DIY Spring Nail - Pastel Edition.

 {Via Pinterest}

 

I love anything pastel for the Springtime, especially on the nails!
Maybe it's the fact that pastel colours are so feminine, and go with any Springtime outfit, maybe it's the fact that I'm reminded tea parties and sorbet. Either way, I can't get enough.

Remember Natalie from Yours Truly, NY?
That cutie Natalie who inspired this post?
Well, today she and I are collaborating on a fun little Springtime nail art DIY.

Check hers out

She and I are both loving the galaxy nail lately, especially in pastel. It looks gorgeous and every nail is unique.

{Via PShiiit}

..But It's fucking hard for someone with as little creative talent, patience, and a steady hand as old mate Christie over here.

In fact, I tried my own DIY galaxy on my sister just last year.
The results are so shameful, they have never been seen by the light of day. Until now...


Sweet mother of God. D':

I managed to improve them ever so slightly (and I mean EVER so slightly) after about one rage-filled hour.

Safe to say it was never attempted again.

Then I found this alternative to the galaxy manicure and thought I'd give it a go.
I introduce to you, the splatter.

Remember that fun blowing food colouring over a piece of paper with straws activity you did back in the kindergarten days? Do the same thing with some polish and BAM! you've got a splatter manicure. It's so simple!

This is my favourite colour combo; mint and baby blue over a white base, but you can use any colours you please.
 

 

You'll need:

- Three polish colours - You can use any colours you like. For this particular pastel look, use Essie
  nail colours Blanc, Bikini so Teeny and Mint Candy Apple.

- A Straw

- Scissors

- Cotton Bud

- Some paper/cling wrap

 

 {Images & Tutorial via Makeup.com}

Directions

1. Start by cutting your straw in half.
2. Apply as many coats of Essie's Blanc polish to your nails to make a solid base (white can be
    somewhat transparent if you don't apply enough layers).

3. Pour a small amount of Mint Candy Apple polish onto a piece of paper and dip one end of your
    straw into it. Hold the straw about a centimetre from your nail (once base is dry) and blow on
    the other end. Polish should splatter onto the nail. Do this across all 10 nails. (You may want to
   do this over some cling wrap.. It get's messy. Fast.)

4. Following the same technique as in step 2, dip the second, clean straw into a pool of
    Bikini so Teeny and blow on the other end. You may need to dip and blow polish onto the nail
    multiple times to achieve the desired coverage. Remember, every nail should be different, so
    don't worry if one has a thick spot of mint and another has only little speckles.

5. Once all nails are completely dry, clean up around the edges with a cotton bud and finish off
    with a top coat.

Chambray 12 Ways.

If I had to pick only a few fashion staples that every girl should have in her closet, a good chambray shirt would be at the top of the list.

As a matter of fact, I just bought my first chambray shirt of the season (this one from Supré).

They're so cute and so very versatile, easily being styled in so many different ways. The trick is, to think of the denim shirt as a neutral… which it basically is. You can pull off wearing chambray during any season, and let’s not forget about the fact that they are super comfy!

These are my very favourite chambray looks:

1.

My all-time favourite Spring/Summer look: Chambray & Lace

Source

Source

2.

Tuck it into a polka dot skirt. Dots and chambray = match made in heaven.

Source

Source

3.

Instead of a cardigan, wear a chambray shirt over your dress.

Source

Source

4.

Tuck it into a skater skirt – cinch the look with a cute belt.

Source

Source

5.

Chambray shirts look amazing with white jeans. To keep it from being too bland, add statement accessories.

Source

Source

6.

Use it as a coverup at the beach. Perfect for windy days! 

Source

Source

7.

Tie the bottom and wear it over a dress to put a new spin on it.

Source

Source

8.

Make a sequin skirt work for the day by tucking your chambray shirt into it.

Source

Source

9.

On chillier days, wear it under a blazer for a professional look.

Source

Source

10.

Layer your denim shirt under a sweater.

 Source

Source

11.

Make a crop top work for colder days by putting it over a chambray shirt. This is also a great way to incorporate crop tops into your wardrobe without exposing your stomach. 

Source

12.

Wear it open or buttoned with a cute pair of floral bottoms.

Source

Source

What's your favourite chambray style?