Dream Again...

Today's post is going to be something a little bit different; something a little more personal. To be completely honest, life has just been a little bit harder than normal these past few weeks, and I've found myself feeling quite sad and thinking negatively. I'm not really sure exactly what has brought it on this time, and it was scaring me. I won't go into the past too much, but basically it hasn't always been peachy for me, so moments when I start to feel really down make me quite anxious because I fear of going back to a place that I swore I had left behind. This post isn't meant to be sad and upsetting, it actually has a positive point to it, I promise!

Basically, I was chatting to one of my dear friends last night about it all, and she encouraged me to dream again. It seriously got me thinking about how I've let some of my dreams die down purely because I fear that I would never reach them anyway, but I have the potential to, and so do you! I started thinking about the things I really love, and some things that came to mind were blogging, writing, making videos for YouTube, and taking photographs. These are the things I spend most of my time doing, and at the moment I do it all for free, simply because I love it. I have dreams of going to England one day and living over there for a little bit, and why can't that be a possibility? I am now seriously thinking about moving over there for a little bit once I have graduated from university - which will be at the end of next year. Who knows what my life will look like then, but I certainly hope that I can make it happen, and I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure that it does. 

I've started thinking about and dreaming again for my blog and YouTube channel, and I am excited to produce some really exciting content over the next few months. I've sort of got into a rut of comfortability and I want to break out of that and push myself more with what I'm creating. That being said, if you have any ideas of videos I could make or posts I could write, be sure to leave them as a comment below! I guess the point of this post was to encourage you to dream again. Don't be afraid to. So often I will fill my mind with a whole load of reasons as to why I can't do something and then that is what ultimately stops me. It wasn't someone else who was bringing me down, it was myself. You are your harshest critic. However, I have now decided to be bigger than that because my life has more worth than that. I am now excited for the future, and ready for battle. So I encourage you to pick up your armour and fight. As many people have said before, it is not a war that is easily won, but if anything is worth winning, this is it. 

Thoughts On: May Beauty Boxes

As we are now well into June I thought I would share my thoughts on last month's beauty boxes with you. I've decided that instead of just posting what I get in my box each month, I will wait and do a mini-review on the products instead. However, if you are curious to see what I do get in my box each month, I post unboxing style videos on my YouTube channel here, so you can go and watch those for my first impressions on the box. The beauty boxes that I receive are Bellabox and Lust Have It!*, so these are the products from their May boxes. I've sectioned them off into products I love, products I like, products I dislike, and products I haven't used. I'll do a mini-review on each of them to let you know my thoughts. 

Products I Love:

The Cosmetic Kitchen Pure Mineral Blush in 'Strawberry' (full size from Lust Have It! RRP $34.95)

I love this blush. It's such a unique berry colour that is lovely this time of year. I find that it blends really well and looks so pretty on the skin. Was so impressed with this product!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (sample size from Bellabox RRP $39.00)

I do really enjoy using this. The wand applicator brush is the perfect size and it doesn't leave my brows feeling crispy, however I don't think I would ever spend $40 on it.

Coral Colours Eyebrow Definer in 'Dark Brown' (full size from Lust Have It! RRP $7.95)

I didn't expect to like this as much as I do. I find the colour match to be pretty good for me, it's the right consistency and lasts well. Great little bargain! 

Products I Like:

Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Blush in 'Sheer Mauve' (full size from Bellabox RRP $9.45)

I didn't love this product, but I didn't hate it either. I find that it's not very pigmented, but is quite sparkly, which is obviously not very natural. This is good to use when you don't want a lot of colour, but want to look healthy and glowing. 

Products I Dislike:

There actually weren't any this month!

Products I Haven't Used (yet):

Wen by Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner (sample size from Bellabox RRP $34.99)

Still have yet to use this, but I will one day, promise!

Appelles Rosemary Body Bar (full size from both Bellabox and Lust Have It! RRP $5.95)

As you can see I received two of these, and I'm yet to use either one sadly. They do smell lovely, I just keep forgetting that I have them. 

Phytocare Pure Papaya Ointment (full size from Bellabox RRP $7.95)

I really hate paw paw ointments, so I don't think I'll ever use this. I'll try to pass it on to somebody else who might use it.

Sasy n Savy Vitamin Enriched Facial Recovery Masque (sample size from Lust Have It! RRP $50)

When it gets a bit colder and my skin is a bit drier I will definitely give this a go. For now it's just sitting in my cupboard waiting patiently. 

Mary Kay Lip Lacquer (full size from Lust Have It! RRP $22)

This is another product that I've been meaning to try but I just keep forgetting that I have it. Perhaps I'll wear it to work tonight! 

So that is everything! As you can see, I haven't used most of the products that I've received, which is generally the case. I do end up trying them out eventually, it just takes me a few months. Let me know if you like these review style posts instead of just me showing you what I got. Now I'll be off finally trying some of these products out...

*The Lust Have It! box was sent to me to review, all opinions are honest and my own, this is not a sponsored post. 

Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Scrub | Review

Today’s post is a little bit different, in that instead of writing about all things makeup related, I’m writing about skincare. I believe that skincare needs to be the most important thing, and choosing the right products for your skin type is crucial. I don’t have perfect skin (who does?), but I feel like I’m starting to get into more of a routine with what works for my skin. Perhaps I’ll do an updated skincare post or video sometime in the future, but today I thought I would share one product in particular with you. 

It’s the Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Scrub*, and I use this every morning. I think that using an exfoliating scrub in the morning is such a great idea, because not only does it really awaken your face, but it also helps to smooth out your skin’s surface so that makeup can be applied flawlessly on top. I’ve been using this scrub for well over a month now and I actually really love it. It contains avocado and pomegranate extracts which I find to be really cool! The beads in it are not too harsh and are perfectly fine to use every day, and the avocado in it also helps for the scrub to leave your skin feeling nourished and moisturised, whereas others will leave it feeling really tight and dry. I have noticed that my skin has improved while using it; the texture is more even, my scars are fading, and it hasn’t caused me to break out any more than normal (win!). You have probably heard so many positive reviews about the wash from the same range, and I think the scrub is just as fantastic! It’s absolutely perfect to use in the morning because it’s not too harsh or chemical-feeling on the skin, it just awakens and nourishes the skin, ready for the day ahead. 

If you’re on the hunt for a new face scrub, definitely pick this one up. I actually like it more than the St Ives Green Tea Scrub, shocking, I know! I just find that this one by Clearasil is more moisturising and perfect for everyday use, plus it isn’t too expensive - only $10.99 from Priceline. I’d also recommend checking out their customised skin care guide, which is perfect if you’re not too sure which products you should be using on your skin. You just fill out a couple of questions and it will match you with what products will work best for your skin type - too easy! I hope you're all having a lovely day, and if you'd like more review posts like this one, let me know in the comments below! 

* This product was sent to me to review, however all opinions are honest and my own. This is not a sponsored post. 

A Week of Pink | Nails

Ah Friday, what a glorious day! To end the week of pink here, I thought I would share some of my favourite pink nail polishes. Although it may be winter here in Australia, who says you can't rock pink nails? As you can see, I am just a little obsessed with pink, and have way too many pink products (but can you really have too many?), but nothing beats a pretty pink nail. 

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 'I Pink I Can'*

I cannot rave about this formula enough, it is perfect! This is a lovely pink/coral shade that will last for ages on your nails, even without a topcoat. This is perfect for those times you're in a bit of a rush!

Essie nail polish in 'Fiji'

An infamous Essie colour, perfect for when you've got a bit of a tan. This is such a lovely baby pink shade, so perfect if you're not that daring or don't want to go too bright. 

Topshop nail polish in 'High Voltage'

Safe to say this is probably my favourite pink nail polish of all time. I also find this very easy to wear, even in the winter, because it's a darker, bolder pink shade, and I'm in love!

Rimmel Lasting Finish nail polish in 'Hot Shot'

A very pretty, true rosy pink shade that looks gorgeous. Very brightening and just looks so lovely on the nails.

Colour Theory nail polish in 'Summer Lovin' Pink'

Another all time favourite pink which is similar to the Topshop one, but not as deep. Great formula, really affordable, and will have you staring at your hands all day long because the colour is just that pretty!

A Week of Pink | Lips

Pink lips, my current favourite thing! I never used to be a huge fan of pink lips, but lately I've become obsessed. There is quite a mixture of products here, some glosses, some sheerer balm stains, and then more opaque lipsticks. Let's dive in! 

The glosses...

Tanya Burr lip glosses in 'Picnic in the Park', 'Aurora', and 'First Date' are so beautiful! Never too sticky or gloopy, they are quite opaque for a gloss, and smell like strawberry milkshake. Honestly, what more could you want? Plus the shade range is gorgeous!

The sheer lipsticks...

I love me a good sheer lipstick, as they are perfect for everyday wear. Some of my favourites right now are the Revlon ColourBurst lip butter in 'Sorbet' which is a bright and awakening pink that has such a lovely formula that is so comfortable to wear. I also love the Avon Ultra Colour Rich lipstick in 'Hibiscus'* because it is such a pretty rosy pink colour. Another favourite is the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain in 'Sweetheart' which smells minty, properly stains the lips, and looks incredible on. 

The opaque lipsticks...

A pink lip post is not complete without some bolder shades and formulas. Two standouts in my collection are the Maybelline ColourSensational Vivid lipstick in 'Vivid Rose', which is honestly the prettiest bold rosy pink (think a more intense version of the Avon lipstick). It lasts really well throughout the day and is comfortable to wear, plus the colour is intense! What's great about this though is that it can be applied lightly in order to be more sheer, or applied heavier to be extremely pigmented and opaque. If you really want to go bold, go matte. The Colour Theory lipstick in 'Fuchsia Frenzy' is probably the boldest pink shade I have in my collection. It is a proper fuchsia pink that isn't too drying on the lips. This one is definitely more for the daring girls. 

A Week of Pink | Eyes

Today's pink-themed post is all about the eyes! The thought of wearing pink on your eyes might sound a little scary, but it's absolutely a look that is possible to pull off - without looking like a clown! These are a few products that I would recommend picking up if you're interested in jumping on board the pink train. 

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Inked in Pink'

This little product makes a beautiful pink smokey eye look so easy. All you have to do is put some on your eyelid using your finger, and blend it out. Yes, it really is as easy as that. This is a lovely silver-toned pink that can be applied either sheer or quite opaque, depending on how much you choose to use. 

Sportsgirl Get Cheeky Cheek & Eye Shimmer in 'Rose'

Oh yes, this much talked about product has made it's way back onto my blog once again. This is great to use on the eyes, especially if you're a beginner or aren't that confident wearing pink eyeshadow. It's quite a sheer, shimmery pink that is very easy to work with and never looks too full on. 

Maybelline Eyestudio palette in 'Pink Persuasion' 

This is another easy to work with product that helps you achieve a pink smokey eye, or really any look you want! Pink and silver are quite often paired together, and this palette has two silver shades and a black. This looks a little intimidating, I know, so perhaps this is for the more confident gals. 

NYX blush in 'Peach'

Who said blush was just for the cheeks? Using one of your pink blushers is a great way to test the pink eyeshadow waters, without spending money on a product that you may never use. Have a peek around your makeup collection and find a pink blush that you love, and use it as an eyeshadow one day to see how you like the look. Best bit is, it won't cost you anything!

A Week of Pink | Blush

I thought I would do something a little bit different, and have a pink themed post week for the rest of the week. Today I'll focus on cheeks, tomorrow will be eyes, Thursday will be lips, and Friday will be nails. Make sure to check back each day to see what pink themed products I've selected for each category. If you haven't noticed already, pink seems to be all over the beauty world at the moment, and I'm totally on board with this trend. For now, let's talk about cheeks!

There's nothing better than a pretty pop of pink on one's cheek, especially during the colder months. These are a few of my favourite blushers, that are each a little bit different. When I want something quite bright and awakening, I reach for my Colour Theory blush in 'Dollhouse'. For something more natural, it'll either be the Essence Silky Touch blush in 'Adorable' or the Maybelline Fit Me blush in 'Medium Pink'. When I'm feeling like a bit of shimmer, but nothing over the top, it's the NYX blush in 'Pinched', and when I want something a bit more berry-toned, it's always The Cosmetic Kitchen Pure Mineral Blush in 'Strawberry'*. 

These are all beautiful blush colours, that add that something extra to my look. You can buy the Essence and Maybelline blushers from Priceline, the Colour Theory blush from Amcal, the NYX blush from Target, and The Cosmetic Kitchen blush here (their online store will be open shortly). 

Recent Beauty Additions...

Over the past week I've picked up a few beauty products here and there, and I thought why not compile them into one post and share it with you all. No need to make this introduction any longer than it needs to be, let's just jump straight into the products.

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in '50 Porcelain' 

I ordered this off ASOS the other day because it was much cheaper than buying it from Priceline, and they also had the lightest shade, whereas Priceline don't stock it. I pretty much bought this because Anna (from ViviannaDoesMakeup) raved on about it so much, and it sounded like it would be right up my street. I have yet to try it out, but I will no doubt do a post on it once I have.

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in 'Light - Cream'

I picked this up from Priceline because it was on sale for about $6 which is bargainous! I've only used this once so far, but I did quite like it. This is something that Sierra (from SierraMarieMakeup) absolutely adores, and also Amelia (from AmeliaLiana) talks about it a bit too. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Glow in 'Pink Blast' and 'Baby Pink'

These were on sale at Coles so I decided to buy both of them to test out. While these have been around for a while, I had no idea what they actually were until recently. They smell lovely and do a good job of moisturising, but I'm not sure how noticeable the colour payoff really is on me. I'm going to keep testing these out to see. 

Maybelline ColourSensational Vivid Lipstick in '904 Vivid Rose'

I bought this from Coles the other day for around $6, which is crazy, and I absolutely adore it. It is such a beautiful colour that brightens up the face and makes you look so healthy. I am so pleased and impressed with this product, amazing quality and the colour is very pigmented. You will be seeing a lot more of this!

Eyeko London Lash Curlers 

Believe it or not, I did not actually own a pair of eyelash curlers until I bought these. Crazy, I know! These looked good, had some good reviews on them, and were pretty good price as well. I ordered these off ASOS as they were on sale at the time, and I really like them. I didn't need or want anything too fancy, just something that did the job. So far so good with these. 

A Little Bit of Love From Avon

In a Bellabox from a few months ago, the Avon Mega Effects mascara was included as one of the items. Sadly, mine broke after only a few uses, so Bellabox sent me another one as a replacement. My little package arrived this morning, and to my surprise it also included two beautiful lipsticks with it, I guess as something to compensate. I was so impressed with both Bellabox and Avon, so I thought I would share it in this post. Avon clearly really understand the importance of customer service, as I am one very happy customer now!

Avon kindly sent me the replacement Mega Effects mascara in the colour 'Blackest Black', which I am looking forward to trying again. They also generously included two lipsticks from the Ultra Colour Rich range. I got the shades Tangerine Tango* and Hibiscus*, and they are so beautiful. They are quite opaque, but could be sheered out if you want them to. When I swatched them they looked to be nice and moisturising, definitely not matte. They don't have any weird funky smell to them either, which is great. The website says they have Vitamin E, Arctic Berry, Omega-3 and Shea Butter in them, which makes them sound so nourishing. Keep your eyes peeled for more on these!

I am so happy that this little parcel of goodies arrived this morning, and could not be more pleased with Avon as a whole. With two beautiful new lipsticks to add to my collection, and a replacement product, how could I not be?

Thoughts On | Sleek Face Contour Kit

I've had the Sleek Face Contour Kit in my collection for quite some time now, but up until a few weeks ago I had honestly been too scared to use it properly. Now that I actually have, I decided to do a little post on it because it has very quickly become my new obsession. 

This little duo has a bronzer/contour shade on the left, and although it is warm-toned, I find that it still does a good job of contouring. As a bronzer, it adds the right amount of warmth to the face, and when applied using a duo-fibre brush, you never put too much on. (I love to use the Real Techniques duo-fibre face and contour brushes with this!) It has a nice amount of pigment to it, and is really easily blended into the skin. The highlighter on the right is a beautiful champagne colour that works as a highlight on the tops of cheekbones, cupid's bow, inner corner, brow bone, etc. It's not too shimmery or intense, it just adds the right amount. 

As I am quite fair-skinned, I have the shade 'Light', but it also comes in two other shades, medium and dark. I have been reaching for this nonstop lately, and using it to really contour in some cheekbones, or just to add warmth to my face, and it works brilliantly. This is such a great product, especially if you're a beginner. 

FOTN: Ellie Goulding Concert Makeup

Last night I was lucky enough to go and see Ellie Goulding perform at her sold out show while she was here in Sydney. It was one of the most incredible nights! She is the biggest babe, and sounds so perfect live. In terms of my makeup, I kept it quite simple, but with a bright lip in order to look really fresh and healthy. I was really pleased with the look so I wanted to share it here! Not really much else to say, so here are all the products I used:

Face:

Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in '103 True Ivory'

Maybelline Fit Me concealer in '15 Fair' and '10 Light'

Face of Australia Loose Translucent Powder

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in 'Light - Cream'

Sleek Face Contour Kit in 'Light'

Essence Blush in '10 Adorable'

Eyes:

Coral Colours Eyebrow Definer in '246 Dark Brown'*

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel

Stila Eyeshadows in 'Bare' and 'Bliss'

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 'Nude'

Benefit They're Real Mascara*

Lips:

Maybelline ColourSensational Vivid lipstick in 'Vivid Rose'

A Peek Inside My Beauty Bag

I thought I would share some of my current go-to products that I just seem to be using every single day. These are some of the things that seem to be making their way onto my face day after day, because I know that they won't let me down!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in '103 True Ivory'

I know you are probably all sick of hearing about this foundation, but it's the one I reach for when my skin has no clue what it's doing. This one doesn't really fail me. I think the colour match for me is really good, the coverage is medium, the lasting power is pretty impressive, and it doesn't usually cling to dry patches too easily. Plus it smells really good, which is obviously something that everyone looks for in a foundation! (Just kidding!)

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in '15 Fair' and '10 Light'

I have a lot of love for these two. Also, shade 15 is lighter than 10, which is super confusing, I know. I currently use shade 15 under my eyes, as it's a little lighter than my skin tone, but brightens the area brilliantly. I use shade 10 on any spots and redness that I might have. They last really well on my skin and don't crease or fade awkwardly which is a great thing. I just can't seem to go a day without using these. 

Coral Colours Eyebrow Definer in '246 Dark Brown'

I'm normally not a massive eyebrow products user, mainly because I've been using all the wrong things, but lately I've been really getting into it. This just helps to give my brows the little boost they need, and fill in the areas that are a little sparse. I just really like using this product, and it has definitely started my love for brows, so watch this space! And if you have any good brow products, leave them in a comment below.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Oh my word, this mascara deserves all the hype it gets. I was super late to jump on the bandwagon with this one, but I'm so happy that I did. This just makes my lashes look so much better. As you can see, I only have a little sample size, but I have a feeling I will be buying the full size when this runs out because I'm starting to find it difficult to not use it!

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in '53 Sorbet'

I am all for this pink trend that has hit the beauty world! I have just been wearing this lip product so often lately, because I know that it looks great. It's also super comfortable to wear, doesn't dry my lips out, gives nice colour payoff, and just brightens up my face and makes me look fresh and awake - which is exactly what I need this time of year!