Glossybox Australia April 2012

I picked this bad boy up from the post office this afternoon and couldn't wait to share! This Glossybox will be the last one here in Australia, as Lust Have It have acquired them, or have "joined forces" with them. As of next month, all Glossybox members will be receiving Lust Have It! boxes. To be completely honest, I can't say that I am not excited by the change. This is only my second month with Glossybox, and I found the first one a bit underwhelming. A theme which seems to have resonated with others receiving the Australian version of Glossybox. On the other hand, Lust Have It seems to be receiving a more favourable reception, and at least seems to include some makeup products, rather than just skincare. I do believe Lust Have It will be maintaining Glossybox's brand affiliations, as well as their own.

Because this is the last one, and has been no doubt been impacted by the changeover, I will let slide how late in the month it was sent and that even though this was waiting at the post office for me on Friday, I only yesterday received an email advising me that is was on its merry way.

This months theme was inspired by Earth Hour, and included products "that celebrate the beauty of nature". Despite my feeling of being a little underwhelmed last month, I'm actually pretty happy with what I received this time around. From the list of possible products you could have received, it also looked like there were even quite a few great higher end products available (I will list them in full below, if you are interested).

EOTD: Grey and Blue

Today's EOTD was created using some of the products in yesterdays haul post. I would describe it as the mullet of eye looks - business on the top and party on the bottom... Ahhhh, I'm such a dork. I'm truly sorry for that terrible joke.

Here's what I used:

• Face of Australia Matte Eye Primer
• The light grey from the Yves Saint Laurent Duo Eye Shadow Powder Duo #81, all the way over and slightly above the lid
• Prestige Liquid Eyeliner in black applied thinly, with a slight wing, which I then blended out
• Face of Australia Eye Definer Pencil in Marine below the lower lash line
• Modelco Fibre Lash Mascara

Blog Love Therapy's Blog Hop #8

Another week means another blog hop! If you haven't joined in yet, definitely do! You can find the blog hop here.

Very First Haul

Time for my very first haul! It's a bit of a mixed bag today, including things that I've bought over the last couple of weeks online, in store and even from a blog sale (am I the only one addicted to these?).

Question Wednesday: Eyes Edition

It's nearly Wednesday again, which means it's time for Question Wednesday thanks to Nykki from My Mane Blog. This week it's all about eyes.

1. What color are your eyes && if you could choose what color they were what color would that be?

My eyes are hazel, but fluctuate between almost blue and green. I wish they were green more of the time though.

2. Bold Eyeliner, Light Eyeliner, or no eyeliner?

Light. I have small eyes, so bold eyeliner can be very overwhelming for me, but a little bit makes a huge difference.

3. What is your go to eye look?

On work days all I really use is mascara. When I do feel like doing my eyes, it usually use a taupe eyeshadow all over, darker brown through the crease, black liner for tightlining, maybe a little black gel liner and mascara.

4. What brand makes your favorite eyeshadows?

I'm gonna cop out here, because it really depends from colour to colour. I'm a fan of MAC eyeshadows, as the quality and pigmentation are usually pretty good. 

5. What are your must have eye products?

A good mascara. The rest is all a plus for me. Recently I've been using and loving Maybelline Falsies.

Go visit Nykki's blog and join in on the blog hop too! 

NOTD: Australis' Sinfully Sweet

I would like to introduce you all to the beautiful pink polish that is Australis' Sinfully Sweet. I won this baby on twitter from the beautiful people at Australis! I never win anything, so I'm pretty excited. It was waiting for me in the letterbox when I got home and I couldn't wait to try it out and show you all.

This nail polish was a dream to work with. The formula is fairly thin, but very easy to work with. Here I am wearing three coats, but it was opaque within two. That is some serious opacity for a pale pink polish!

At only $7.95 each, these polishes are really good value. Unfortunately for those not in Australia, I don't believe Australis is sold in other countries.

Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water Facial Spray Review

I received the Avene Thermal Spring Water spray in my March Glossybox. When I pulled it out, to be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed. It was water. So what? I was pretty sure it was going to be one of those expensive gimmicks some beauty companies employ. I mean, water is water, right?

It is described as low in minerals, high in precious elements, neutral in pH and hypoallergenic. It claims to soften the skin and sooth a range of ailments. The Avene website claims that it has been proven in more than 300 clinical studies to work. Sounds impressive, but results and conclusions can be easily butchered.


In the interest of giving everything a go, I decided to try to use the spray every night for at least one week. After cleansing, I would spray it over my face and neck, leave for about 3 minutes, and dab off any that hadn't dried, before applying moisturiser.  On the first night, the only thing I really noticed was that it was refreshing. Over the next few days I was very surprised to notice my skin was absorbing my moisturiser MUCH better. It also felt like my skin was becoming a bit softer too. 


After reading a couple of reviews for the spray online, I also decided to try it as a setting spray over the top of my makeup. To be honest, I didn't notice anything significant here, but when I used it in the middle of my day, it worked pretty well for refreshing my makeup and bringing it back to life.


Overall, I was very impressed with what this little bottle of water did for my skin. I wasn't a game changer, but it did so much more than I would have thought it could. 


Overall score: 7/10


So, has anyone else tried this? And if so what did you think?

NOTD: OPI's Ski Teal We Drop

Today's NOTD is OPI's Ski Teal We Drop. I absolutely love this smokey dark blue colour. It's work appropriate with enough of a hint of difference to keep me happy. 

Here I'm wearing two coats, but it's nearly opaque in one. The formulation is also thin for how opaque it goes on, and is very easy to work with.

The Glow Down is on Facebook!

Hey Guys, just a quick post to let you know that this blog now has a Facebook page. If you get a chance, please come by and like it!

www.facebook.com/TheGlowDown

Ellen xx

Ingredient Watch: Propylene Glycol

Today’s focus ingredient is Propylene Glycol (PG), a chemical found in a whole range of beauty products, including hair care, soaps, moisturisers, lipstick, anti-acne products, mascara, toothpaste, deodorant, perfume, mascara, as well as some foods.

Important Note: Let me just preface this post by saying I am not a dermatologist or medical professional. Within this and all past and future posts discussing beauty product ingredients, my aim is to collate and summarise information and present it in a way that is accessible and informative. I will always use the most reliable sources of information available to me, and attempt to present it in an honest and unbiased way. If you feel that any of my posts have incorrect information, or you believe there is something important to add, please don’t hesitate to let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me at theglowdown@gmail.com. It is important to me that I get it right.

What does it do: PG does a range of things. One of its main uses in beauty products is to help formulations maintain their consistency and stop them from separating.  Another is to chemically alter the structure of the skin, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper.

In food, it is most commonly used as an anti-freeze.

The Good: It maintains an even spread of ingredients and prevents insoluble ingredients, like oils, from separating. It can also improve the effectiveness of ingredients that need to be deeper into the skin.

The Bad: PG has been known to cause allergic reactions in some users, and exasperate conditions like eczema and other skin allergies.

Dangers: The dangers associated with PG are very controversial. There does not appear to be much agreement between professionals or the research as to how dangerous or toxic the chemical is. Once of the big concerns is that PG could be a cancer causing carcinogen. Studies conducted on animals using low doses of PG found no increase in the likelihood of cancer. I could not find any studies on the carcinogenic effects of PG in cosmetic products on humans.

Another concern is that PG can lead to organ damage. It has been linked with skin, liver and kidney damage, however, this has only been proven to be an issue with inhaled, injected or ingested doses of PG. A couple of studies identified a small toxic effect following regular topical applications of products with PG in them, and others found no such effects.

Some Considerations When Using: The use of PG is monitored and limited in most countries. Because of how unknown the toxicity of PG when used in beauty products is, I would definitely say any product containing it is one that you should always follow the directions for use for. It is also probably advisable to limit the number of products you use that include PG, and try to avoid products containing it that you are likely to use every day.

How To Find It On The Label: How PG is labelled will depend on your country and the manufacturer. Some common ways it is labelled are as Propylene Glycol; Methylethy Glycol; 1,2-Dihydroxypropane; 2-Hydroxypropanol; 1,2-Propanediol and Propane-1,2-Diol. In foods, it is commonly labelled as E1520 or E490. You can find a fairly comprehensive list of beauty products containing PG here.


If you haven't already, please check out my post on Salicylic Acid.

Question Wednesday: All About Food

It's hump day again! And that means it's time again for Nykki's Question Wednesday. Check out her fantastic blog here.

This weeks questions are all food related. Mmm, food...

1. Vegetables or Fruit?

Vegetables. I love my veges and always have. I like fruit, but when I buy it, it usually goes uneaten.

2. Salt or Sugar?

Salt. I'm a savoury food lover, and I love salty foods. That said, I crave sweet, sugary foods occasionally.

3. Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner food?

Breakfast. I love a good fry up (probably too much), and any meal where I can have poached eggs and sauteed mushrooms is good with me.

4. If you HAD to choose only one food item to eat for the rest of your life what would it be?

Burritos. I'm a fiend for Mexican food and would eat them all day everyday.

5. What is one food that you HATE that most people like?

Hawaiian pizza. I can't stand eating warm or cooked pineapple (love it fresh though), and it's just not right to put it with cheese.

If you haven't joined in on Nykki's blog hop yet, check it out on her blog. It's a  great way to meet new bloggers and find some great blogs. It's also a little bit of fun to brighten up your Wednesday. 

EOTD: The Blonds SS12 Runway Inspired

A bit of a fun one for you today, inspired by The Blonds Spring/Summer 2012 runway look at New York Fashion week. It's a little bit Egyptian meets I Dream Of Jeannie.

It turned out a lot messier than I would have liked, and I don't think I'd ever wear it out, but I was in the mood to do something a bit out there. Oh well. I gave it a go.


Let me know what you think!

NARS Thakoon Summer 2012 Collection Impression

Hi Guys. Just a quick post today to share with you my impression of the new NARS Thakoon nail polish collection for Summer 2012. It's a bit of a bittersweet impression too. But before I share that, here are the colours:

Clockwise from the top right they are:

• Armchoor - a bright sunny yellow
• Kutki - a pale powder blue
• Koliary - a sky blue
• Lal Mirchi - abright orange toned red
• Anardana - a bright pomegranate pink
• Ratin Jot - a medium purple

Apparently this collection was created in collaboration between NARS and fashion designer Thakoon Panichgul, and was inspired by the intense colours found in the spice markets of India.

As summer colours, to me, these are spot on. They look vibrant, they look beautiful and I would love to get my hands on them to wear for summer (or any time for that matter).

Now for the negative. I just feel like these colours have been done before, or ones very similar at least. Don't get me wrong, I really love the look of them, but they are just really unsurprising for summer colours. The one that seems the most exciting to me, the Lal Mirchi, is also only available at NARS' Bleecker Street store in New York.

I really like these colours, but I'm just not overly surprised or moved by them. Maybe I'm expecting too much from the brand that brought us Kismet (a metallic marigold), and Ecume (a bright white) last Northern Hemisphere summer.

What does everyone else think? Is my feeling of being slightly underwhelmed for nothing?

NOTD: Sunshine and Rainbows

Hi Guys. I have a fun one for you today. Off the back of yesterday's NOTD using OPI's Banana Bandana, I have created a bright, multicoloured, mood elevating mani for you (phew, that's a lot of adjectives). Check it out!

It's deceptively easy to create, and near on impossible to mess up. As you can see, I used a mix of thick and thin lines to keep it casual, and switched up the colours on each nail. I used:

• Blue - OPI Fly
• Pink (showing up dark orange in photos) - OPI I Mainely Eat Lobster
• Orange - OPI In My Back Pocket
• Purple - OPI Ate Berries In the Canaries
• Green - Essie Pretty Edgy

Let me know what you think! xx

NOTD: OPI's Banana Bandana

Another NOTD for all you nail polish lovers! The weather here over the past couple of days has been cold and drizzly, but today turned out to beautifully sunny and warm. As many of you know, I am from Australia, which means we're in Autumn and heading into Winter right now. With that in mind, I decided to make the most of the sunny day and desperately cling to the warmer weather by paying homage with a very summery nail colour: OPI's Banana Bandana!

I've had this polish for so long, but it hasn't got a great deal of use. It really only comes out when I want a pick me up. I'm thinking about taking full advantage of the colour and doing some nail art with it tomorrow, so stay tuned.

So, how about you my lovely readers? Does the weather affect your nail polish choices, and if so, what ones do you reach for and when?

Double Post: My First Blogger Appreciation Award and Second Versatile Blogger Award

I came home from work today to find a wonderful surprise. Ruth from Ruth Elizabeth had nominated me for the Blogger Appreciation Award, and Jess from Obsessed About Beauty and Fashion had nominated me for my second Versatile Blogger Award. I was very touched by both nominations and so excited that there are people out there enjoying my blog. Please make sure you check out both of their blogs.

Now, because I did the post for my first Versatile Blogger Award only a couple of days ago, I will save you all from having to read it again, so I dedicate this post to both.

The rules: 

Thank the person who gave you the award by linking their blog in your post.

Answer the following four questions.

Award the Blogger Appreciation Award to new followers/fellow bloggers.

Let the blogger know you have awarded them.

 

Here are the questions!

1) How long have you been blogging?

 One week and one day. That's all! Which is why being nominated for these is so surprising.

2) What are the 1-2 reasons you started blogging?

There are a few reasons why I started blogging. Firstly, I spent so much of my time using, buying and researching beauty products, and I wanted to do something useful with the knowledge I've gained. The second is that I wanted to learn more. I love learning, especially when it comes to beauty, and this blog gives me the chance and motivation to learn so much more. Finally, I wanted an outlet to write. I love to write, and  even though I do a bit of writing in the job I am in, it was becoming very structured and monotonous, and no longer satisfied my need to write anymore.

3) What types of blogs do you like to follow/read?

I love beauty, fashion and food blogs. I like to find blogs that have the right balance between information and random waffle, and that teach me things I didn't know.

4) What one thing would you like to improve on as a blogger / on your blog?

I feel like, being so new, there are so many things I need to improve on in both areas. I think that I'm still working on finding my tone and voice as a blogger, which comes with time, and I would really like to find that happy medium where my readers are both entertained and informed. When it comes to my blog, I will be working on improving my layout and honing into what my blog will consist of over the next few months, so watch this space.

Thanks again to the lovely ladies who nominated me, and to everyone reading and commenting on my blog. I now nominate just some of the blogs that I am adoring, in no particular order:

Canadian Beauty Reviews

Tattooed Tealady

Emmerlie Jay

A is for Ayla

UPDATE: I have just found out I have also been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Outer Glow. I just wanted to add to this post to say a big thank you and to let you guys know you should check out her blog for some great nail art!

Now on Bloglovin'

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hey Guys, just a quick one to say that I'm now on Bloglovin' xx

EOTD: Black Out

I usually go for more neutral make up looks, but tonight I was in the mood for a bit of drama. The eye that resulted is black on black and only really appropriate for a big night out.

Heavy, dark makeup really doesn't suit me, because it makes my already small eyes appear even smaller and withdrawn. I tried to counter act that by elongating the look beyond the outer edge of my eye and not blending too far up toward my brow. I'm not sure how well it worked, but I still kinda liked how my eyes turned out. One thing I would have liked to add is some big false lashes, but, alas, I had none.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think, and if you would/do rock a heavy eye look like this. 

NOTD: Steady As She Rose

Time for another NOTD! Today I'm wearing OPI's Steady As She Rose, a colour that defies description. In some lights, it's a lilac purple, in others, rose pink or grey. At times all three. Sometimes it's cool toned and sometimes it looks quite warm. I have never come across a creme finish that is as dynamic in its colour as this one. Isn't she pretty?

To apply, the formula is slightly thicker than most but easy enough to work with. It goes on very opaque, but streaky, and usually only needs 2 coats.

So tell me, what are you wearing on your nails right now? And has anyone seen a creme finish polish that seems to shift colours in different lighting like this one?

Versatile Blogger Award

Hi beauties. The gorgeous Emma from Lipsticked Louise has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award! Please go and visit her blog, she is a wonderful writer and I highly recommend following her.

I've seen the Versatile Blogger Award around a few of the blogs I've been reading, and from what I understand they are passed along between bloggers as a way to network, share and encourage newer bloggers. I have been blogging for less than a week now, so I am very humbled and happy that Emma thought enough of my blog to include me in her nominations. I would also like to thank everyone who has been reading and following my blog. It has been so much more successful than I imagined it would be this early in, and I am really enjoying blogging about something that I am so passionate about.

Rules:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging. 

2. Let them know that you have nominated them. 

3. Share 7 random facts about yourself. 

4. Thank the bloggers that have nominated you. 

5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post. 

My 7 random facts:

1. I got engaged just before the Christmas just gone. My Fiancee is amazing, and we have been together for 7 years.

2. I am terrified of sharks. Terrified. Just seeing them on TV makes me instantly alert and panicked.

3. I LOVE Mexican food. It's hard to get good Mexican in Australia, let alone where I live, but I can't get enough of it.

4. My favourite colour is green. Has been since I was 4 and decided I hated pink.

5. My man usually works late, and every night when he wakes me up to let me know he's home, I laugh at him. I never have any recollection of this, either.

6. I'm a TV show junkie. I collect series on DVD and watch them over and over.

7. I've been doing my own nails for years, and still get polish everywhere. On both hands.

And now for the exciting part. Ok, so some of these aren't strictly 'new' bloggers, but they are definitely one's that I would recommend taking a look at. I nominate:

All Glitzed Up

Beautynerd Bynight

Canadian Beauty Reviews

CrashBeauty

Emerliejay

Empire State Beauty Queen

Forever Fabulous in Bows

Green Finch & Linnet Bird

It's Chimmy

LolaStar Hearts Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

My Lively Mind

No Fear of Perfection

Ruth Elizabeth

Sunshine Rose

Through Chelsea's Eyes

My Mane Blog's Question Wednesday (Nail Polish Edition)

Hi guys, MyManeBlog is having a blog hop, and it's nail polish themed! Blog hops are a great way to find new blogs to read, as well as get your blog out there for others to find. Seriously, go and check it out.

For this week there are 5 nail polish related questions.

1. Favorite everyday nail polish color:

You can't really beat a pale pink for it's versatility of wear. It's appropriate for nearly any occasion and outfit. I like mine the lighter the better. My pick would be OPI's Step Right Up.

2. Favorite nail polish trend(s):

I don't know that I really have a favourite trend. I get tired of them pretty quickly. I tried ombre nails over the Easter weekend, which was fun and surprisingly easy, so I'll say ombre for now.

3. Acrylics or natural?

Natural. My nails are fairly fragile as it is, so acrylics aren't really an option, but I much prefer the look of natural nails, with and without polish.

4. Favorite Nail Polish Brand:

At the moment it would have to be Essie nail polishes. I love creme and jelly finishes and they do them SO well. I have way more OPI in my collection though.

5. How often do you change your nail polish?

I went through a patch, until I tried the ombre nails, for like 2 months where I didn't wear any nail polish. Everyone thought I was ill... Usually it's somewhere between 2 and 4 times a week.

Now, your turn! If you decide to join in, please tweet me or comment and leave the link below. I would love to know everyone's answers (sticky beak much?).

EOTD: Lana Del Rey Inspired Eye Look

Until some recent research, I didn't really know much about Lana Del Rey. She hasn't really been big here in Australia, that I'm aware of. What little I did know about her was that I LOVED her makeup. She seems to walk a fine line between the heavy looks of the 60's with the bohemian flair of the 70's. Her eyes are always played up with maximum effect. Today's eye of the day was inspired by her look. 

Here are the products used for the look

From left to right:

• The pale beige/pink from the Wet N Wild Greed Eye Shadow Palette
• Prestige Cosmetics Liquid Liner in Black
• The two browns (mixed) and black from the NP Romance Set

Let me know what you think!

Blog Love Therapy's Blog Hop #5

Hey guys, I just wanted to let those of you who aren't aware already about Blog Love Therapy's weekly Blog Hops. They are a great way to find new and fantastic bloggers to follow, and get your blog out there for others to see. If you are interested, simply click here.

NOTD: William Tell Me About OPI

Hi Guys, just a quick NOTD. After the very girly, very pink ombre nails I've sported over the weekend, I needed to go to the opposite end of the nail polish spectrum. William Tell Me About OPI is the perfect antidote - a darker than dark red creme that is oh so grown up and perfect for returning to work tomorrow.

So tell me, beautiful people, what's your go to 'serious' nail?

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Review

Happy Easter everyone. I hope everyone had a lovely easter weekend. I'm so excited to share this post with everyone today, because I'm reviewing one of my favourite lip products - the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. I currently only own it in the shade Damned (sad), but have previously used it in Bolero and one other that I am blanking on. Basically, this product comes in the form of a big pencil, and is designed to be used under lipstick or gloss, or as a stand alone product. Personally, I love using it on it's own!

It has a lovely creamy texture when applied, with a semi-matte finish. Surprisingly it doesn't dry out too much with time, even though it is matte. It also has great really good staying power. Take a look at Damned on:

Damned is a deep purple/red berry shade. I wasn't able to get a picture without the light throwing a lot of blue, but the colour of the pencil, when applied, stayed fairly true. It's probably only slightly more red in real life.

The only issue I have with this product is it can be hard to get a crisp edge. For this reason I would recommend using a regular lip liner in a similar shade to line the lips first, if you are going for a defined edge. I should also mentioned that I haven't sharpened the pencil yet, so I don't know if it is easy or painful to sharpen. 

Overall Score: 9/10

Has anyone else tried the Velvet Matte Pencils? Let me know what you thought, or if you would consider buying them.

I'm on Instagram!

Hi all. I've just found a new way to burn some time! If you're interested in following me, my username is just theglowdown. If anyone else is on Instagram, leave me a comment below with your username so I can follow you.

Oh, and don't forget to check me out on twitter!

First Ever Ingredient Watch: Salicylic Acid

Welcome to first ever instalment of Ingredient Watch. In today’s society we are becoming ever more aware of the ingredients we use in our beauty products. In these posts, I aim to bring my readers information about some of the common ingredients in the products we use, including their positive and negative effects. 

Important Note: Let me just preface this post by saying I am not a dermatologist or medical professional. Within this and all future posts discussing beauty product ingredients, my aim is to collate and summarise information and present it to my readers in a way that is accessible and informative. I will always use the most reliable sources of information available to me, and attempt to present it in an honest and unbiased way. If you feel that any of my posts have incorrect information, or you believe there is something important to add, please don’t hesitate to let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me at theglowdown@gmail.com. It is important to me that I get it right.

Today’s focus ingredient is Salicylic acid, a chemical commonly found in anti-acne products.

What does it do: Salicylic acid acts as a chemical exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores and blackheads, as well as an anti-inflammatory, reducing the swelling and redness associated with acne. 

It is also used in combination with other ingredients to soften or loosen the upper layer of the skin to improve the ability of additional ingredients to be absorbed.

The Good: It really does do what it claims to when it comes to exfoliating and reducing swelling.

The Bad: Use of products involving Salicylic acid may lead to dryness  (especially for those with already dry skin) and hair weakness, potentially resulting in temporary thinning or loss of hair over time.

Dangers: If used in high concentrations, Salicylic acid is capable of causing chemical burns. It has also been linked to tinnitus (ringing of the ears) and reversible hearing loss when ingested.

Although rare, allergic reactions are also possible.

Some Considerations When Using: In most countries, the concentration of Salicylic acid in over the counter products is regulated. Usually this is around 2% for products that are likely to stay on the skin for a period of time and 3% for those that will be immediately washed off.  Because of this difference in concentration, it is always advisable to follow the manufacturers’ instructions during use. If you experience any dryness, hair weakness or other mild reactions, reduce the frequency with which you are using the product. If you experience a stronger reaction, stop using the product and/or consult a dermatologist.

When Not to Use: Use during pregnancy is not advised, as the effect of topical Salicycilic acid products on pregnancy is unknown.

So, there you have it. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on Salicylic acid, and whether you found this post useful or informative. 

What's In My Makeup Bag - Blog Hop

Hello all! I recently discovered Blog Hop at Blog Love Therapy and had to give it a go, especially since this weeks theme is "What's in your makeup bag?". If you haven't heard of Blog Hops before, or are interested in joining in, check them out here.

So, check out some of the most used things in my day to day makeup bag!

Clockwise from far left:

1. Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara in Very Black

2. Elizabeth Arden Intervene in Soft Porcelain

3. Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack

4. Wet N Wild Greed eye shadow palette

5. Korres Lip Butter in Mango

6. Face of Australia 3 in 1 Primer

7. Burts Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm

All Time Favourites: Blush

It's time for the next installment of my all time favourite makeup and beauty products. Today's focus topic is blushes! I'm a big blush fan, but it honestly took little to no thought to decide on my all time favourite. Hands down it has to be Mac's Sheertone Blush in Peaches. 

I use it all the time. It is my go to blush when I can't decide. It's versatile and gives a perfect peachy glow that looks completely natural.

If I had to choose only one blush to use for the rest of my life, this would be it (though I would probably cry).

Lolastar Hearts Giveaway

Head over to Lolastar Hearts and enter the fantastic little makeup give away she's throwing to celebrate reaching 50 followers. While you're at it, make sure to follow her blog. It really is worth the read.

Eye Of the Day: Wearable Shimmers

I was bored and unable to sleep last night and started playing around with my makeup. I ended up doing a look that, while using a lot of shimmery colours, was quite toned down and not too OTT. I thought I would share the look with you, as well as a brief run down of how I achieved it.

To get the look, I started by mixing colours from the Stila Light Up the World shimmer eye shadow palette to my upper lid, not going past the crease, as well as the lower lash line. The ones I used are the brown 4th from the left and the gold 3rd from the right. They are called are called 'bronze' and 'delicate' respectively.

I then used a dark brown to contour through the crease and outer corners of the eye. I also applied it close to the lash line along my bottom lashes, and blended it down into the shimmery colours. The colour I used is the middle brown along the bottom row, from the NP Romance Set.

I used the same colour through the brows to darken them.


In the inner corner I used the Beigy/pinky toned light colour from the Wet N Wild Greed eye shadow palette (top left corner).

I finished the look off with two coats of Maybelline Full N Soft in very black on the upper lashes and one coat on the lower. I didn't worry too much about getting lashes uniform with this look, to keep it a little unstructured.

And there you have it. For myself, I was pretty happy with the look. I also felt that by not taking the eye shadow above the crease, the look is very wearable and not too overwhelming. I dunno, maybe I was just deliriously tired... Please, let me know what you think.