Just Be Yourself!!

{Thanks to my amazing friend Emma for her quick snap of the park opposite my exam centre!

she's an awesome photographer so check out her instagram here! } 

'Being yourself is the hardest, but most important thing in life"

I've flown up to Sydney to have a much deserved holiday and to also do a STAT test on basic knowledge and English for uni next year! I probably could have done them back home; but whats the fun in that ;) So that was yesterday and in the English exam we had to write an essay. Now this freaked me out { I haven't written an essay since 9th grade; and that's a long time ago } let alone smash one out in an hour! But smash it out I did and I think its because the prompt I chose to write on was one that struck me as something that isn't talked about enough to children and adults both! 

I struggled a lot whilst in High School with finding myself; and spent years filled with worry about what others thought of me. And I still do to some extent. Most of my friends at the time were, in my eyes, perfect. They're parents gave them want they wanted, they got to go out whenever they felt like and were never without the latest gadgets. I felt extremely inadequate and like I was always being judged for not acting a certain way or not having things. I would come home every day ashamed of who I really wanted to be; and spent hours agonising over ways to get people to like me more.

I wish that someone had been there circa 2006 to tell me that people don't care! Yep.  If they are truly your friend they won't care! They won't care if you don't have the latest copy of dolly magazine, if your parents aren't letting you out of the house or if you don't have the latest mobile phone {I didn't get my first phone till ninth grade. Oh the shame!!} and if they do it's because they are just as insecure about themselves as you are.



So here's what you do....

Spend time doing what you want to do, not what is expected of you. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people, who will always love you for who you are . If you want to have purple hair- go for it. Want to wear a leopard print coat? Go Skydiving? Eat 11 slices of pizza? It's your life to live not theirs, your mistakes to make and learn from! Live your life to the up most fullest- And have fun!!! Because in the end it will be you laughing at all the good times you've had not the things you always wanted to do.


" It is better to have a life that is full of amazing memories and experiences than a life that is full of what-ifs and regrets"

Maybelline Color Tattoo!

So I know that everybody has been raving about the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow for what seems like years; How lasting it is, the gorgeous colours, how pigmented it is- so on and so forth. But lets add another review just to make sure you go out and get them!!! 

The reason it has taken me ever so long to buy these has nothing to do with the colours, the price or lack of want; but more to do with the packaging. 

There isn't anything wrong with it per-say, but every time I have gone to give them a swatch in the store {I am queen of swatches! I don't think I could walk through a store without doing one} the sample pot has been so dried out and gross that it put me off buying them. My concern was that if for some reason the lid wasn't done up tight enough it would quickly dry out.  

Hopefully its just the lazy staff that have put this thought into my head; and even if they do I won't be complaining but rushing out to snap up another!

The formula is just outstanding, I went to work with a swatch on my hand and it lasted the entire shift {even through the washing up!} Although I'm slightly dubious as to it lasting 24hours.

The shades that I picked are super glittery, which I am a sucker for and so so build-able. You can go from a easy every day look to a gorgeous smokey eye with just a few swipes. I have found that it takes a bit of elbow grease to blend but the end result is worth it! I'd definitely suggest using a primer underneath these {sneaky post blast- If your looking for a new primer I shared my five favourites of all time here!} As with most cream shadows it does crease after time.  

If I had to choose my favourites it would be Bold Gold for under the lower lash line, its a tiny bit to bold on the lids for my liking; and then Bad to the Bronze or Pomegranate Punk for the lids!! I couldn't chose between them, they are both as beautiful as each other :)

So pretty pretty please with a cherry on top go out and get one or two of these!! I can only hope you will fall in love as I have.

ps. Look how glorious the day was today! I think Autumn is trying to give us a few more rays before we have to start wearing thermals again x

A Little Naughty Natio Splurge!

I think that some of the best make-up purchases are on the whim, An ooh that packaging looks so pretty or that colour is to die for moment!

I've never used much Natio Makeup, I did use one of their foundations in high school, but from what I can remember (forgive me it was a long time ago !) It wasn't that impressive :) 

I've been a little dubious about cream eyeshadows, My eyelids are quite oily so I do have to prime quite heavily but HOO WAHH these are to die for!! 

{The packaging almost reminds me of Clinique, very Clean and Precise!}

Top - Bottom

Cocoa 

Cinnamon

Marshmallow

So far I've been super impressed with these. First of all they are so versatile and they stay on for so long! My favourite would have to be the Marshmallow. Given that I am not a huge fan of pink, My shadow repertoire is full of neutrals and earthy tones, I surprised myself with this choice! It's just so damn nice by itself, theres no faffing about with shader brushes, crease brushes, packing brushes {I'm just making up words now- but you get my point!} It is simple and understated and my new go to! 

The other two are lovely as well- Don't get me wrong, but they don't have the same WOW affect. I own a few matte browns in very similar colours so I've been using them more as a highlight over these than as an all over cover.

{ Sheer Delight - Blush & Bronze }

And who could resist a little multi-purpose blush and bronzer palette. Am I the only one that says blush and bronzer so fast when describing these that it sounds like one word? Probably. Anywho this is a handy little thing to have, mine has taken residence in the centre console of my car for quick touch-me-ups. The champagne and goldy colours are perfect for highlighting and give and instant glow to your face! On the blushy-side of things it's not as great as they don't really transfer much colour more like a little bit of tinted shimmer, which is fine for me as I'm usually pretty flushed! So if your looking for an uber-pigmented blush this probably isn't the best choice for you.

Safe to say I'm glad I stumbled across these and can't wait to see how they stand up to the Maybelline 24hr Tattoos! {Which I may have accidentally bought almost all of... oopsie} 

ps. How yummy are do the names sound! It makes me think of shimmery cupcakes :)

My five favourite primers!

I still remember the first ever primer encounter, The lovely lady at the Estee Lauder counter took one look at my not so gorgeous sixteen year old face and said 'You need to prime' and then backed that up with a quote that has never strayed far from my mind 'It's a crime not to prime'. 

Since that day you wouldn't find me without one or two primers hanging around my room - so you could probably say that I've had my fair share of the great 

{and the not so great} primers! So here are my top five favourite that I couldn't live without. Each of these have a different use and I obviously don't use all of them at once, I'd say my skin would be a tad over-primed if I did HA!  But they each are an essential part of my daily life - And hopefully yours too.

L. {L'oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur}
This is my most recent find and oh my word! How did I ever live without this !!?!! It is an absolute miracle, squeeze a pea size amount into your skin and it will instantly fill in any fine lines, pores and evens out any not so nice patches of skin to make you look like that girl we were all jealous of in High School that didn't wear makeup and looked amazing! It isn't actually marketed as a primer and technically its a sunscreen, with a thick greasy consistency its not the best to be wearing under a heavy coverage foundation, as I found myself powdering every couple of hours. But it is perfect for those days where you're just staying home and running errands. I would add a BB cream like Bobbi Brown's that has a slightly heavier coverage than others or even the Maxfactor CC cream.Something that would give me and natural, glowing look.

R. {Maybelline Dream Smooth Primer}
This is my go-too under eye primer. With a bit of elbow grease this works in so smoothly and leaves a velvety finish. It's holds my concealer on for about 4 hours, so not the longest lasting as I do have to touch up during the day, but results wise - It does give the best end result. I wouldn't recommend using this all over the face, purely because you need quite a generous amount as the pot is teeny tiny it wouldn't be the most economical idea!

L. {Estee Lauder Illuminating Perfecting Primer}

This is my third bottle Estee Lauder primer.{If you can't tell I have squeezed every last smidge out of the bottle above!} The first two were from they're old range. It was called something along the lines of colour correcting or some such things. It was an awful mustardy gloopy liquid but it was a such a lifesaver. I remember after purchasing my first tube I excitedly showed one of my girlfriends this miracle stuff. She was skeptical to say the least- but she was as floored as I was with the difference that it made to my skin. I was a little sad when they discontinued it, but their alternative is just as good, if not better. It is on the pricier side but believe me it is ten times better than any other I have ever tried!

  

R. {Nude Undercover Mineral primer}

 I was tossing up wether or not this one really deserved to be in this post. We have a serious love/hate relationship. The first time I used this I was utterly disappointed. I really do love the nude range but after my foundation had gone on my skin was so dry and it just left such an awful feeling that I had to start again- Not really what you want when you are perpetually running late as I am. However I have found that It works really well within its own brand. So this has become my lazy day makeup where I pair it with their BB Cream, Soft focus Illuminator and a little blush you look effortlessly Chic and not dry at all! This works well for me but if your looking for a multi-purpose primer, or not willing to buy matching nude products I'd probably stay clear from this! 

 {Paul & Joe Pearl foundation primer}
Oohahh Couldn't you just love this one for the presentation alone! The pastel pearls floating in a shiny, iridescent gel. It's enough to make anyone instantly happy! And to top it off it works well with almost any coverage of foundation. It really is the perfect all round primer and has deserved its place on my vanity. Once applied it has an almost radiant sheen coming through my foundation and If I get slightly excited with my current foundation love {Rimmel Wake Me up !} I could almost pass as a glittery Cullen look alike! Beside its vampire-esk qualities it really does last all day and makes my face perfectly flawless!



So theres my little spiel on primers! If you made it this far- Congrats! It was a lot of rambling to get through, but hopefully it gives you that extra push to try out a new Primer!