Summer Inspiration Board

If you didn't know that Summer was my favourite season, did you really know me at all? Short answer: no, but I'll forgive you.

At the start of every new season, I like to create a sort of mood board, and I think that my Summer instalment would have to be one that excites me the most. Summer, to me, means freedom: adventures with friends, long days and warm nights, sunshine and sea salt, wavy hair and tanned skin..

This is what's inspiring me this Summer:

| White peach margaritas | Messy buns | Light layered outfits |
| Mango spinach salad | Summer hats and sandals | Glowy bronzed make-up |

| Golden peach smokey eye | Braided up-dos |

What's inspiring you this new season?

Friday Finds

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

\\  How cute are these homemade pizza wreaths? The capsicum bow kills me.  //
\\  A budget-friendly way to make a fluffy gold stool?! I'm in!  //
\\  How fun is this DIY terrarium coffee table? So cool!  //

\\  I can't handle how adorable these melted snowmen holiday doughnuts are.  //

\\  I'm going to fill my house with all of the DIY hanging holiday lanterns!  //

\\  A glass of vanilla chai tea white Russian sounds so comforting.  //

Happy Friday!

A Collective Beauty Haul

It's been a good while since I treated myself to a good old fashioned haul, and with my birthday just gone, I had the perfect excuse. I picked up a few items that I'd been meaning to repurchase as well as some others that I've had my eye on for quite a while.

Sephora Australia

I'd actually never purchased from Sephora online before but even if I hadn't been given a Sephora e-gift card for my birthday (thanks, Jesse), I still had a trusty $10 birthday voucher, plus the chance to accumulate 2x Beauty Pass Points on my next order courtesy of Sephora. It was the perfect excuse.

Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipsticks in "Trendsetter" and "Cheerleader"
I'm such a fan of these lipsticks! The formula is lovely if not a little too liquid-y for my liking; they still dry down fairly quickly to a matte finish, however, and only one coat is needed for fully opaque coverage. The shades I picked up are gorgeous! Cheerleader is a pretty muted red and Trendsetter is a lovely brown nude (it looks MUCH more brown in my (terrible) swatch photo below).
On a somewhat related note, is the Huda's Desert Dusk Palette worth getting?

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick "Lolita II"

This lipstick, you guys! It has barely left my lips since I've gotten it. Lolita II is an amazing terra cotta nude as opposed to the original Lolita which is a much more rosy pink nude. We all know that I'm all about terra cotta shades. The formula dries fast and doesn't budge throughout the day - it took me 2 showers and the removal of my entire forearm's worth of skin to completely get rid of the swatch. I've found that it does make the lips feel pretty dry, but nothing a good lip balm can't remedy.

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream
This is my favourite eye cream. I've tried many-a-product and I just keep coming back to this. I've found nothing that matches this in terms of moisturizing my dry lids, which get flaky if they are not moisturised liberally enough (gross), which is my main concern at the ripe old age of 23. I have noticed that with daily use, the few small fine lines that I do have underneath my eyes are visibly reduced, which is not something that I've noticed with any other eye creams I've tried.

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in "Champagne Pop"
I'm a terrible beauty blogger in that I'd not yet tried Champagne Pop until now. Gold highlighters don't usually look amazing on me, but this one somehow manages to give me the most beautiful warm, sun-kissed glow. The formula is lovely - it's so finely milled and "creamy" and a little bit really does go a long way.

MECCA
I didn't have any vouchers or gift cards for MECCA but it just so happened that MECCA's beauty loop box (I was level 1 at the time) came out right before my birthday.. and then there's the free birthday gift, so of course, I had to have a sneaky MECCA shop.

Too Faced Born This Way Loose Setting Powder

I'm already obsessed with this powder! I've always been a pressed powder kind of girl (on the rare occasion that my dry skinned self even uses a powder) but this really is amazing. It's a silky translucent powder that works wonders to set my face. It leaves my skin feeling so very smooth and looking flawless.

Too Faced Papa Don't Peach Blush

I'm such a fan of the Sweet Peach Palette so I had to pick up the same-smelling blush from the collection. The colour is amazing but be warned that it is a shimmery (not chunky and glittery - shimmery) formula if that's not what you're in to. It gives off a beautiful, luminous, peachy, glow that leaves me looking lightly flushed and healthy looking.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in "Dim Infusion"

I have "Diffused Heat" (a more pink hue) in my collection already but I was after something a little more subtle and "Dim Infusion" is exactly that - it's a lovely muted coral colour that compliments my blue eyes beautifully. The quality of these blushes are amazing; The powder is very finely milled; I love how smooth and silky it feels, while still remaining incredibly pigmented and it also has a luminescent finish, giving off a beautifully soft, gentle glow without being sparkly.

NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer in "Laguna"
This one was actually a repurchase for me (I mentioned it back in June's beauty favourites). It is the most natural looking bronzer that I've used with a purposely sheer (but definitely buildable if desired) formula. It's perfect for those who, like me, prefer a more minimalistic approach to bronzer. The colour is almost identical to the original (much loved) Laguna, minus the shimmer.

Mecca Cosmetica Enlightened Illuminating Balm (Free birthday gift)
I haven't had the chance to play around with this a whole lot yet, but I did wear it to a daytime Melbourne Cup event. It is a warm pinkish beige colour that is quite subtle. It did feel a little sticky on my face as many cream products do but even so, it did not budge throughout the whole day. I think it would be lovely as an inner corner highlight.

MECCA Cosmetica Lip De-Luscious in "Peach Shimmer" (Free beauty loop gift)

"Peach Shimmer" was a limited edition shade for MECCA's 20th birthday, but you can still purchase from the original Lip De-Luscious line. This is such a nourishing lip balm! It works to condition my lips leaving them soft and hydrated while giving off a beautiful shiny peach tint. This balm is also rated SPF25 - which I can always appreciate.

Priceline

My Priceline haul consisted of all  tried and true, re-purchased products. Plus I had a $5 birthday voucher to spend. Every penny counts, my friend.

Swisse Deep Sea Hydrating Mist Toner

This mist is my new favourite thing now that the weather is warming up. It sprays such a fine, evenly dispersed mist that is so refreshing on a hot day. It also contains an impressive list of natural ingredients that nourish and tone the skin, leaving me with a healthy-looking radiance.

Reef Dark Tanning Oil
Now that we're actually getting some sunshine, I've been using this almost every day on my lunch break. The formulation helps to promote a natural tan whilst also hydrating and leaving your skin smelling all coconut-y and delicious. I chose to purchase the "dark" offering, which contains no SPF (because YOLO), but they have oils of all different SPF ratings.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 x2 (no longer available online)

These things sell out fast, so I picked up two. I use it before my usual moisturiser, basically how you would use a serum, and let me tell you: the hype is real! It has quite a thick consistency but the product quickly absorbs in to the skin without leaving any sticky or unpleasant residue behind. It just leaves my face feeling soft, moisturised and plump. This has honestly been a life saver for my dry, flaky skin. I ran out and couldn't repurchase for about 2 weeks (again, ALWAYS sold out) and my skin really did notice it's absence.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
I love, love, LOVE this moisturizer - I will forever repurchase. It's got such a clever gel formula that continuously releases moisture throughout the day without going too far and leaving the skin looking oily. It has such a refreshingly light and non-sticky texture that my skin slurps right up. My dry patches have been getting the nourishment they need and my skin looks supple.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+
I absolutely love rosehip oil. It's the ultimate skincare ingredient if you ask me! I apply 3-4 drops after my shower, before moisturiser every night and mix 2-3 drops in to Neutrogena's Hydro Boost every morning. The improvement to my skin since using rosehip oil is insane! It works to moisturise dry skin without leaving any oily trance of its existence and it leaves my skin feeling so soft and healthy. If I skip the rosehip oil for any reason, I can always notice it's absence. I always pay extra for the Antioxidant+ version of Trilogy's rosehip oil - it's more than worth it, trust me.


Left to right
Mecca Cosmetica Enlightened Illuminating Balm, Too Faced Papa Don't Peach, BECCA Champagne Pop,
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Diffused Heat, NARS Laguna, Kat Von D Lollita II, MECCA Cosmetica Lip De Luscious,
Huda Beauty Trendsetter, Huda Beauty Cheerleader

Friday Finds

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

\\  I can't get over how pretty this DIY star headband is.  //

\\  I could get cozy with a pumpkin pie cocktail bourbon smash or two in my hand.  //

\\  I'm loving this "Places I've Been" wall hanging DIY!  //

\\  How funky is this DIY pom pom ottoman?  //

\\  This DIY pom pom sweater is perfect for the holiday season.  //

\\  These palm springs pink door chocolate bars are almost too cool to eat.  //

Happy Friday!

October 2017 Beauty Favourites

One: Tangle Teaser

This is by no means a new product to me; my tangle teaser has actually been sitting, forgotten in the depths of my gym bag for over a year now (maybe two!). I rediscovered it a few weeks back and oh man, I don't know why I ever stopped using it. My hair always gets VERY knotted as soon as a drop of water hits it but this works to brush out my post-shower hair with ease. No tugging, no damaging, no pain.

Two: Models Own Sculpt & Glow Highlighter Powder in "Golden Sand"

The drugstore has really upped it's highlighter game! This powder is amazing for the price; of course you can't expect a BECCA-esque result but this really is great for a drugstore product. The powder is incredibly soft and actually looks quite "natural" once spritzed with a setting spray or Fix+. It can also be built up to quite a blinding level too, if you desire. It's not at all chunky and glittery, but shimmery, which is rare to find of cheaper highlighters. It also doesn't emphasise any texture or dry patches, which is always appreciated. The name "Golden Sand" is pretty misleading, however, as I would say that this shade has a pink hue. Pink isn't normally a shade that I'd go for in a highlighter, but it leans close enough towards a pinky champagne that it still works for me. Overall, I think that this would be a great highlighter for beginners.

Three: NYX Pigments

I've never been much of a fan of loose pigments. The colour payoff is amazing, sure, but the mess always turned me right off but upon seeing pigments for under $12 at Priceline, I couldn't help but buy a couple. I picked up Venetian (a lovely copper) and Egotastic (a beautiful cobalt blue) and of the two, I think Venetian is my favourite, purely because I feel as though a copper is a much more wearable shade and it brings out the blue of my eyes beautifully. Both shades are wonderfully pigmented and pretty easy to blend in to smoky looks. I like to use a little glitter glue and pat the pigment on to my lids with a damp brush; I find that this method of application gives the best colour payoff. The pots also have sifters on them, making my prior complaints about messy pigments obsolete as the mess is little to none. The shade range is huge, so I'd definitely be interested in picking up a few more colours to add to my collection.

Four: Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Spray Gel

The weather in Australia is getting warmer (hot in Perth - two weeks of 30-36 Celsius is pretty crazy) and I've been stepping out and enjoying the sunshine a whole lot.. probably too much, so after sun care is very important. I was curious when I came across this product at Priceline as I'd never tried a spray aloe gel before, but this stuff is great! A quick spray to the parts of my body that were exposed to the sun is so very refreshing (keep it in the fridge for a super refreshing after sun treat). It works to soothe and cool sun-exposed skin, while helping to soften and replenish moisture, which means less chance of peeling, helping that tan to come along nicely. It has a non-greasy, non-sticky, fast drying formula which I absolutely love. Definitely a Summer time staple.

Five: L'Oreal Paris Infallible Merry Metals Highlighting Glow Drops

I didn't want to have two highlighters in one favourites post, but I simply could not publish this without mentioning this liquid highlighter. The formula is amazing - so silky and easy to blend, drying down to a smooth, powder-like finish with a crazy metallic, high-shine glow, I just love it on my cheekbones and cupid's bow! I've read rave reviews claiming that this drugstore offering is a dupe for Iconic London's Illuminator Drops. I've not Iconic London's offering because I'm too stingy to pay $68AUD for 13.5mL, so I can't attest to these claims, but these drops are amazing! Please note, however, that this is a limited edition (Christmas) collection, so they won't be around forever.

What products or brands have you been loving lately?

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. I will always disclose such information to my readers.

Friday Finds

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

\\  This DIY pom-pom scarf is so much fun!  //

\\  Can we all just take a minute for pumpkin coconut hot chocolate?  //
\\  I'm obsessed with these natural rainbow rice eggs. How pretty!  //

\\  This DIY yarn fringed throw pillow is all kinds of funky.  //

\\  My tea loving self is dying over this Earl Grey tea latte.  //

\\  This DIY cinnamon spice sugar scrub sounds like it would smell heavenly!  //


Happy Friday!

October Look Back & November 2017 Goals

A look back at October's goals:


Find something fun to do for Halloween
"Halloween isn't something that is really celebrated here in Australia, but I really do enjoy the idea of it. There are a few events around town that may be fun to drag Jesse to attend over the weekend, and a scary movie on the 31st is a must."

Cross: We had a scary Netflix movie night, but there were no Halloween weekend shenanigans.

Get back in to blogging

"In case you hadn't noticed, I've been pretty incredibly slack when it came to the ol' blog. I was definitely stuck in a blogging rut, but a mini break and a fresh new season have inspired me once again and I'm already starting to draft up new blog posts again."

Cross: In case you hadn't noticed.

Plant the back garden

"Finally laying the grass in the back yard was the best feeling, and I'm super excited to fill up our empty little garden beds with pretty shrubs and plants this month, before it starts to get too hot."

Tick: That fact that I'm at the point in my life where I get excited by a garden makes me feel so old but hey! I now have some pretty plants residing in my backyard, so.. yay for that.

Get back to the gym at least 3 times per week

"There was a time where I went to the gym 4 days a week, every week, without fail. Ever since I've moved into my own home, I've been seriously slacking in that department (there have been a few weeks where I haven't gone at all). If I can make myself stick to going at least a three times per week, every week this month, I'll be happy."

Cross: I started off the month so well, only to slack off again by week two.


Goals for November:

Practise self-love

In case you hadn't noticed by my horrid attempt at my goals, October was a pretty shitty month for me. Some things have come to a head and I have realised that I am unhappy in my current state. I need to focus more on myself (something I rarely do) and take some time out to really focus on loving myself again.

Sort out a herb garden
We got a hanging planter kit for our housewarming, which is adorable buuuutttt the kitchen window, which is the place that I want to hang, looks out on to a fence (no drilling) - go figure. I want to figure out a way to get that damn thing on my fence and fill it with all the herbs while the weather is warming up.

Spend a day out in the sunshine
I've realized that since moving in to our house I have not spent a single day out in the sun. Yes, the weather has been pretty average, but even on the nice, warm days (we're getting a few of them now) I've found myself sitting inside in the dark like a mushroom. I'd definitely like to spend a day at the beach or at a park, walking around town or exploring somewhere new, getting out of the house, having fun and just enjoying the sunshine.

Instagram
Photography used to be such a huge part of my life so that fact that I've barely taken any photos recently truly saddens me. The fact that it has been a good 2-3 months since I've posted anything to Instagram is just downright shameful, especially as a blogger. I still scroll through my feed religiously, but I would definitely like to start posting at least somewhat regularly again.


What are you hoping to achieve this month?