Topshop Beauty

Topshop has only recently opened up here in Australia, and I'm not necessarily close to one, so my beauty collection from there is quite small. Nevertheless, I felt like blogging about this anyway. I really do love Topshop (apart from their price tags!) and I like the few beauty items that I have from there, and one day I will purchase a lipstick! You will recognise most of these products as they were featured in my Melbourne haul post but I never actually spoke about them. But today I will!

Eye Crayons in 'Marble' and 'Rust' $3.00 each

These were actually on sale when I bought them, and I could not be more excited about this bargain I picked up! I don't own any other eye crayons except for these, and I think they're great if you need a quick touch of colour. They aren't extremely long lasting, but last a few hours before they start to crease. I love the colours as they are lovely natural, neutral colours. The 'rust' colour (bottom one) is more pigmented than the 'marble' one, as the marble is a lighter more champagne sort of colour. They are so creamy and blend really nicely, and both are very pretty on!

Eyeshadow Brush $8.00

This is a lovely little brush that I use all the time with my Nars 'Isolde' eyeshadow. It's not that suitable for blending, but for applying colour all over the lid, it works just fine! It's so bright and nice to use. There isn't ever that much to say about brushes, except that it's good.

Nail Polish in 'Peaches and Cream' and 'High Voltage' $10.00

If there's one Topshop product that I absolutely love and recommend to everyone, it's their nail polishes. Oh wow, I want to own them all! I love love love these so much, it's crazy. They are such high quality, last so long even without a topcoat, and the colours are amazing both in the jar and on the nail. I could go on forever about how wonderful they are. If there is anything that is absolutely value for money, it's these. Go and splurge, it is totally worth it! 

lovelovelove

The Body Shop Skincare: 'Tea Tree' Range

I am a massive fan of The Body Shop, and I have been ever since I was a little girl. One day when I was in there browsing, I noticed their skincare section, and that they had different products for different skin types - because skin is not a one size fits all matter! As I have oily and blemish-prone skin I headed straight for the tea tree section. Over time I have picked up quite a few of their products, as you can see, so I thought I'd briefly talk about each of them, incase any of you guys were interested in their skincare range. I'm going to try my hardest to not make this a review post as such, but if there are any specific products that I mention that you would like a more in-depth review of, just let me know and I shall make one for you.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser (150mL) $21.95

I actually don't use this as my cleanser anymore, but I did use up this whole bottle when I was using it. It lasted me a couple of months and was nice to use. It foamed really well and did a reasonably good job of cleansing my skin, I just never found myself repurchasing it, though I'm not really sure why. Overall, a nice cleanser and suitable for those will blemished skin (obviously) as it's not too harsh or drying. 

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion (50mL) $17.95

This has lasted me so long already (more than a year) and there is still a decent amount of product left. I don't use this all the time anymore, just in the morning sometimes if my skin is particularly bad. I find it to be a nice, lightweight, overall treatment for my blemishes that isn't too harsh, though sometimes can be a little drying. In saying that, it is a nice product to use and I find that it does help to shorten the life of any spots I may have.

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion (30mL) $23.95

For such a small product this is definitely more on the pricey side, but worth the money! I use this every night along with some other blemish fade creams I have. So far, this has helped to fade the marks that spots leave behind, but it doesn't really do a lot in terms of new blemishes on my face, but that isn't what it's meant for. It's a more natural alternative and I do like it.

Tea Tree Face Mask (100mL) $18.95

To be honest I was a little hesitant to buy this at first, but I'm so glad I did! I use this once a week and a little product goes a long way. I honestly just really love this product. It smells amazing (if you like tea tree that is), really does cool down my face, and over time has helped with my blemishes. This is a treatment mask, which is why you shouldn't use it more than once a week, so while it takes a little longer to really see a change, it is worth the wait. The consistency of this mask is great, and I will definitely be repurchasing it whenever I need to. 

Tea Tree Blemish Gel (2.5mL) $12.95

This is the most expensive of them all, and I'm not really sure whether it is worth the money or not. I didn't hate this product, but I didn't necessarily love it either. It was just kind of a 'just alright' one for me. I feel like I haven't been able to get a lot of use out of it and it hasn't been amazing at clearing up blemishes. But I still do use it.

Facial Brush $4.95

So technically this isn't a tea tree product, but I still think it's damn amazing. I use this about 3-4 times a week with my normal cleanser and I am so obsessed with it. Everybody needs to invest in one of these! They're so cheap and so wonderful. It does a brilliant job at exfoliating and my skin always feels incredibly soft after using it. 

So there you have it! As you can see, their skincare range is not the cheapest, but when it comes to your skin I think it's totally justifiable to spend a little more. After all, you only have one face and everyone sees it! Hopefully this post has provided you with some insight into the products. Enjoy your day!

lovelovelove

Thursday's Thoughts...A Reflective Post

Just recently I have seen quite a few reflective style posts floating around, and as I have been feeling quite nostalgic lately, I thought why not join the club and write one too!

I briefly spoke about progress I've made in my anxiety blog post (you can read that here) so I won't babble on about that too much, except I'll say that time and perspective work wonders. I know it seems like you may never see progress, never reach goals, never actually feel happy, but you will get there. If there's one thing I know, you need to speak positivity over yourself, even though it may be hard, you need to fight back and actually desire to win this battle!

It's been a year since I graduated school, so I've been quite reflective lately, and as we are well and truly more than halfway through 2013 I thought I'd share some photos with you which bring back many memories for me.

For me, 2013 started off not that wonderful, and the first half of the year wasn't all that exciting and amazing, but once I worked on myself more and got out of my shell a little, amazing things started happening. I just said yes! (Thanks Zoe). 

Looking back over the past year I'm filled with mixed feelings. There are things that I would leave the same, but there are also things that I would love to change. Though when I think about it, it's because of those things - the good and the bad - that I am who I am today. It all happened for a reason and I just need to accept that and move on. Which is what I have spent most of this year doing! Some lessons that I have learnt along this journey are: to not say yes to something unless I'm sure I want it, if my gut is saying no, then so should I. That I am beautiful, and that positivity really goes a long way. That confidence is a good thing, and it is buried deep inside all of us. And even though I have anxiety, I don't need to let it rule my life. 

Of course, there are probably loads more things that I have learnt along the way, but these are the main ones that really stand out to me, and have really played a part in moulding me into who I am right now. 

I think change is inevitable, but we can develop new ways of adapting to and dealing with it. It will be a little scary, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be bad. I'm already so excited to write my blog post at the end of the year reflecting on this year as a whole! But for now, enjoy a lot of photos from the past year or so. This is quite a personal post, but I just felt like sharing some memories with you. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy this little stroll down memory lane. 

Study Camp 2012 / Our last school camp.

My 18th birthday party (2012) with some of my best friends.

Left: Free Boost with my besties! Right: Some lovelies who mean so much to me.

School formal 2012. Oh, there are so many things I would change about that night.

Left: Some friends and I after we sat our final exam. Right: My cousin and I at the beach last Summer.

These are two girls who mean the world to me! 

Fun and florals at Colour Conference 2013.

Dress up party aka an excuse to wear cat ears like Taylor Swift!

My brother and I after VIVID. He means so much to me. 

Melbourne...One day i'll visit again and have the most wonderful time.

These girls are golden and I'm so thankful they came into my life this year.

Exploring the city / Feeling free / Feeling excited about the future.

These girls are seriously so incredible and I am filled with joy doing life with them!

lovelovelove

Sportsgirl Beauty | Review

I adore Sportsgirl. I think that they're such a wonderful store, and one of my personal favourites! As you may or may not know, they have a beauty section in their stores, and over time I have acquired some of their products. I feel like Sportsgirl beauty products aren't heavily talked/blogged about, so I thought I would do a little review on them for you all. And I just have to say that Sportsgirl wins the award for best product names! They're just so cute and clever. 

Glow and Behold Illuminating Bronzer - $9.95

I really like this bronzer because it's not just bronze, but it also has golden and pink shades in it as well to give you a more flushed, natural glow. This is perfect for me because I'm never normally that tan as I really don't go outside all that much (haha, hopefully that'll change this Summer!). For the price, this is a great little product that is a lovely little Summer staple, though the brush that comes with it is rubbish, as most included brushes are!

Get Cheeky Cheek & Eye Shimmer in 'Rose' - $9.95

The amount of times that I have mentioned this product on my blog is actually ridiculous now! Basically it's just a gem. It's so versatile, I use it as blush, highlighter, bronzer, eyeshadow. It's such a pretty product and I think it looks lovely on my skin. This is just a bargain buy because it's great quality and has so many uses!

Brushed Up! Kabuki Brush - $12.95

This brush is so soft and so wonderful. It's perfect for travelling because it has a lid and compresses nicely so it doesn't lose it's shape. I don't really have much else to say, it's just a very good kabuki brush, so if you're looking for one, maybe try this one!

Pout About It! Lip Colour in 'Pretty Please' - $9.95

This is a lovely pink/nude colour that is perfect for every day wear! It looks really lovely on, and has that 'my lips but better' look to it. It has a bit of a shine, but isn't too much. It's a tad bit drying and needs to be reapplied every so often, but other than that it's good. They have so many more colours, so if this one isn't your cup of tea, there is bound to be another that is.

Nail IT! Nail Polish - $7.95

I have way too many nail polishes in general, and the majority of them are from Sportsgirl! Overall, these nail polishes are good but not great. The colour range is incredible, but they aren't the most amazing quality, but they're good enough! I recommend doing two coats, and applying a top coat as well, in order for them to last longer on your nails. For only $7.95 each, these are definitely a bargain buy and are a great addition to anyones collection!

Colours from left to right: Sportsgirl Blue, Belle Vista, Bossy Boots, Frenchie, Galactic Glamour, Vegas, Base/Top Coat

lovelovelove

Rimmel London Lips | Review

I am a big fan of Rimmel London. I think that for a drugstore brand, they make some killer products; Wake Me Up foundation, Kate Moss lipsticks, Apocalips Lip Lacquer to name a few. For today's post I thought I'd do a little review on some of them. So here we go...

(Left to right)

1) Kate Moss for Rimmel London #16 - $11.95

This one I managed to pick up for only $4 or something crazy like that, and it's a fun, summery coral/pink colour. I'm not 100% sure whether I love the colour on me or not, but I do plan to give it a go this Spring and Summer. A downside I found to this lipstick is that it seemed to dry my lips out a little and go flakey. It's probably on the safer side as coral lipsticks go, so why not give it a go!

2) Kate Moss for Rimmel London #10 - $11.95

This was the fist Rimmel lipstick that I bought, and I was attracted to it because of it's colour. It's such a bright cherry red that's more on the orange side than blue or pink/purple. It's a lovely consistency and is such a bright, bold, fun colour to wear. It has good lasting power, and I didn't really notice it to be as drying as #16. It's the perfect red for summer and has a gorgeous finish to it. 

3) Kate Moss for Rimmel London #107 - $12.95

This range is the matte finish lipsticks, and this is a gorgeous deep red/purple. For me, I find this to be perfect for the colder Autumn/Winter months. It has a lovely finish, and is matte like it promises to be. It's colour payoff is beautiful, rich and intense, but not too scary or over the top. It lasts all night long and doesn't flake or fade. I also found it to be quite smudge resistant as well. This is probably my favourite one that I own, and Zoe inspired me to buy it because she looks stunning wearing it! 

4) Rimmel London Apocalips lip lacquer #303 Apocalptic - $15.95

This range of lip lacquers are so amazing it's crazy! The pigmentation of these is unbeatable. They are so comfortable to wear and look incredible. This one doesn't dry my lips out or anything. It's such a rich, intense colour payoff and is so bright and fun and is perfect for Summer. The consistency is so creamy and gorgeous. It has a little doe foot applicator which has a well in it which holds some of the product in it, so just be careful that you don't have too much in it or you'll be in trouble! I really want to expand my collection of these because they're just such a great product. Definitely recommend them! 

All of these can be purchased from Priceline, Big W, Kmart, Target, Coles, Woolworths, etc.

lovelovelove

L-R #16, #10, #107, #303 Apocaliptic

Let's Paint the Town RED

Essie is not a nail polish brand unfamiliar to many, and sadly here in Australia it is quite expensive! I have admired the colours from afar, but never purchased any until now! Priceline has recently introduced Essie to their range and are selling it for $16.95, which is cheaper than other places such as Myer. However, as it is new, Priceline had an introductory price of only $12.95, so I just had to grab one! It took me so long to finally decide on a colour, and I went with 'really red'. I love red nail polish, I think it looks so classic and beautiful, and makes you feel and look confident. This shade of red is just absolutely perfect and I honestly fell in love with it immediately. I've already got my eye on a few more that I'll splurge on over the coming months. It took me a while to add Essie to my collection, and I'm so glad I finally did! (And a big thanks to you, Priceline!) 

So if you're thinking of splurging on a new Essie nail polish, I really recommend checking out Priceline's range, especially at the moment because of the wonderful discount. There are plenty of gorgeous colours to choose from, it'll be hard just picking a few! 

Much love!

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream | Review

I never really went crazy with the whole BB trend, as I had a bad experience with the one from Garnier (you can read about that here). Though not too long ago I was in Priceline and everything Maybelline was half price or something crazy like that, so I thought why not? I opted for the 'Dream Pure' over the 'Dream Fresh' as this one contains 2% salicylic acid and is for oily skin. 

I wasn't completely blown away by this product, but I didn't hate it either. It's sort of one of those, yeah it's good but not great products. It's the best BB cream I've tried thus far, but I haven't tried many! I don't think it really broke me out, but it didn't necessarily clear my spots up either - well not yet anyway. I got it in the colour 'light', it is also available in 'medium', and both contain the 2% salicylic acid and SPF 15. This one is an 8-in-1 BB cream that claims to...

1. Conceals imperfections // it sort of does, though is more of a light, semi-buildable coverage.

2. Helps protect against the appearance of blemishes // to be honest I don't even really understand what that means, but I guess it does an alright job at that.

3. Oil-free, non greasy // yes I suppose it is oil-free, but I still found it to be a little bit greasy and almost watery. 

4. Minimises the appearance of pores // yeah, I guess it does.

5. Clarifies the skins look // it does make my skin look nice, but after a couple of hours it starts to go a little patchy.

6. Conceals redness // yeah, I suppose it does.

7. Hydrates and smoothes // it does an alright job at this I guess.

8. Complements the skin tone // yes, I do agree with this point. It does blend quite nicely into my skin tone as well. 

Overall, this product is good. If you don't suffer with too many blemishes then it'll be great for you, however if you do, I would possibly suggest something with a more heavier coverage. This is good for the warmer months, school, or if you just don't want to wear too much makeup on your skin. 

Much love!

My Winter Beauty Essentials

Hello hello!

Now, if like me you live in the Southern Hemisphere we will have just finished our Winter season, so this may seem a little bit pointless to be blogging about now, but there are so many of you who live in the Northern Hemisphere who read my blog, so I thought I would anyway. I could have picked an endless amount of things that I loved and used a lot all throughout Winter, but I tried to narrow it down and keep it quite basic. 

1) Sportsgirl Scrub Up body exfoliator $9.95 (Sportsgirl). This stuff smells amazing! I never really come across many body exfoliators in stores, so when I saw this (and smelt it) I just had to have it. I've repurchased this a few times now and I'm still as in love with it as ever. It's a nice texture, not too grainy, not too soft, and leaves my skin feeling so smooth and smelling delicious - it's scent is vanilla! Exfoliating is always an important step in your skin care routine, and it becomes even more important in winter, so scrub up!

2) Aveeno Skin Relief moisturising lotion $12.99 (Priceline). I have very sensitive and dry legs which always cause me a lot of grief as they get very itchy sometimes, and I have found this to be one of the better moisturisers that I have used. It's really moisturising and helps to relive the pain of my silly legs! There's no nasty fragrance, so it's perfect if you've got legs like mine! While this is my preference, any moisturiser does the job really, as long as you are moisturising during winter - that's the main thing.

3) Innoxa Skin Clear lotion $25.95 (Innoxa). I really like this moisturiser, I find that it does the job and my foundation applies really nicely over it and it keeps my skin from drying out. They have a few different moisturisers for all different skin types, and while it is a little pricey, I've managed to find it in Priceline before for about $10, so just keep your eye out for it! 

4) The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom hand cream $17.95 (The Body Shop). Oh my goodness, this hand cream smells amazing! I have about 10 or more different hand creams, totally not even kidding, and this is by far superior to the rest. It leaves my hands feeling incredibly soft, the cream actually blends into my hands and doesn't leave them feeling sticky, and they smell amazing as well! All in all, the best hand cream ever and you should definitely invest in this product or one just like it! Hand creams are a definite essential for me all year round, but especially during winter when the cold weather dries out my hands even more. 

5) Burt's Bees Rejuvenating lip balm $6.99 (Priceline). This is another all year round essential, and even more so in winter. Lip balms are one of my favourite things, and I had never tried Burt's Bees lip balms until this year, and I think they are totally worth the slightly hefty price tag! They are 100% natural, smell amazing, and leave my lips feeling incredibly nourished. Just wonderful products, really!

6) The Body Shop facial brush $4.95 (The Body Shop). As I mentioned before, exfoliating is a crucial step in your skin care routine, but you don't always have to buy an exfoliating scrub. I use this little facial brush from the body shop with my regular cleanser 3-4 times a week and it does the same thing! This is basically a cheaper, basic, non-electronic version of a Clarisonic or something similar. But it does the same thing, for a fraction of the cost! This is one of my favourite little accessories and what's even more great is that you don't need to buy all these different products, because this works with what you've got! 

Well that concludes my list of my winter beauty essentials! Hopefully you've found it to be quite helpful as you brace for the colder months ahead, or if you're like me, it's something to keep in mind for next year when winter rolls around again. 

Much love!

Taylor by Taylor Swift

Hello hello! I really do sincerely apologise for the fact that I have been quite inconsistent when it comes to blogging lately. I don't have any excuse other than I just haven't been inspired, and as I do this as a hobby I only blog when I want to, not because I have to. Never fear though, I have gained some inspiration and so expect a few new blog posts throughout the week! Starting with this one right here!

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love Taylor Swift. I could go on forever about how much she inspires me, but I won't. Earlier this year she began talking about a new fragrance of hers that she would be releasing later in the year. As soon as I found out about it I was overjoyed and just couldn't wait for the release day to come. Here in Australia we where never given a definite day, so we just had to wait and keep our eyes open in Myer and hope that the day came sooner rather than later. And come it did!

I saw quite a few tweets circulating recently of Aussie fans who had spotted the fragrance in Myer, so this morning I headed to the closest one to me, and after not being able to find it on the shelves, the lovely lady went out the back in the storerooms and opened a box and got my her new fragrance. There weren't any testers so I had to purchase this completely blind, having no idea just how it smelt. But going off Taylor's track record, I had a feeling it would be amazing, and it was! Taylor has outdone herself once again, and this fragrance is completely different from Wonderstruck and Enchanted Wonderstruck. It's so modern and classy, elegant and captivating, and just utterly beautiful. 

It's described as being "beautifully crafted from luscious fruits, blushing florals and soft woods. It's an unforgettable scent that's classic yet completely alluring." "It opens with alluring aromas of lychee, tangerine and magnolia petals, with peony, hydrangea and vanilla orchid in the heart and a base made of sandalwood, apricot nectar, cashmere musk and soft woods." It's just amazing, to tell you the truth.

Taylor says that she designed it to reflect her personal style, and that's why she wanted it to be called 'Taylor'. The bottle is so beautiful and it smells incredible. It was definitely worth the wait.

It's now available in Myer for $59 for 50mL and $79 for 100mL. The 100mL also comes with a handbag! 

Much love!