January Favourites

January has been a big month and whittling down my favourite to a mere ten was actually quite difficult. Usually I struggle to find five! I've got a bit of everything because, you know, variety is the spice of life. 

The Balm Mary Lou-Maniser 
I've already written about this highlighter in a post of it's own (see that HERE) so I won't say too much. Only that it is the best highlighter I have ever used because it's just so pretty. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Exposed 
Another product that has had a Review Friday dedicated specifically to it, only yesterday actually (see it HERE). This is the perfect blush for any makeup look and a new daily staple of mine. 

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde 
This product has a bit of a learning curve to it because it is so precise. I can draw my brows in so well that sometimes I take it a bit far and end up making them too thick. Think less Cara Delevingne and more drag queen. I'm loving the addition of the spoolie on the end because I had never known the wonder of using one before and the colour is not red in the slightest, perfect for blonde brows. I'm still trying to perfect my use of this but I'm still loving it. 

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig
I've spoken about this product a good couple of times now so I won't rehash it too much. It is a nice light lipstick that is very comfortable on the lips. The colour is on the darker side of nude, which I'm really liking at the moment. Don't let the name put you off, it's not at all purple in shade. I feel as though I've been talking about a lot of new all time favourites in this post but I'm going to have to say it again because this really is my new all time favourite lipstick. 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella 
This came as a part of a gift set I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas and it is the stand out shade. It is a deep matte red, which I find to look the best with my skintone. Being as pale as I am, the deeper reds can give the the snow white vibes whereas the more true fire engine reds just make me look ill most of the time. The formula is a bit drying but that is to be expected with matte formulas so I don't hold it against the product. I find the pencil form really easy to use because it can be both a liner and a lipstick, though it is kind of annoying that they have to be sharpened because I watch the product disappear before my eyes. Overall, it's a great bright lip option. 

Lush Santa's Lip Scrub
This product was covered thoroughly in THIS post so I shall keep it brief. There's not actually that much to say because it is just very good at doing that it says on the tin. It is a fine sugar scrub that really rids my lips of any dry patches, something I've been having quite a lot lately. 

Cotton On Kimono 
Way back in THIS post I mentioned how I wanted to try getting to kimonos and all of this time later I finally picked one up. I just love the way this looks on, it's so flowy and comfortable yet still stylish. That's my favourite type of clothes. It's the perfect thing to wear when you want to be covered up a little bit but it's too warm for a cardigan or jacket. It comes in surprisingly useful in these temperamental Aussie summers. 

Washy Tape
I've seen this stuff around the internet for ages now (any Essie Button fans feel me?) but I never bothered to get any because I couldn't see any use for it, until now. I'm using it to help decorate and organise my diary this year. I use different colours of tape to represent different types of events and I find it is working perfectly. The floral one represents blog posts, the lace birthdays, the purple zig zag important school events. I find it to be more eye catching than simple pen, so I will always remember when I have something important to do. I don't know what I would do without this stuff anymore, there's so many uses! 

Bondi Chai
This stuff is so amazing if I could drink it all day everyday I would. It's basically a way to make cafe level chai lattes at home. For months I've been struggling with actual chai tea and it has not been working out well, every time it ends up tasting kind of gross. Then one day at work I saw these little sachets sitting on the counter and I knew all of my problems were sold. After sending my mother on a wild goose chase to find it (she managed to score the last box!), I instantly fell in love. I've even found out how to froth my own milk and made myself some cinnamon sugar for dusting on the top. Real profesh, I know. 

Bose Around Ear Headphones in Mint
These aren't pictured because I had them on while I was taking the photo and I totally forgot to include them. I've wanted these for ages now but I never could justify the price tag. Thanks to come generous gift cards for Christmas (shout out to Dad and Buba), I finally got them on my hot little hands. They're so comfortable on the ears, unlike ear phones which will give me an earache after prolonged use. The sound quality is also really good, sometimes you feel like you're at an actual concert if you turn it up loud enough. 

Well wasn't that post full of love, links and laughs. Oh, you didn't laugh? It was just for alliteration purposes anyway. Let's hope February is filled with as much good stuff as January was! 

What was your January favourite? I would love to hear. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

I've Found The Perfect Blush

Not to be dramatic but seriously this is the bomb diggity (do people still say that?). I am talking about the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Exposed, of course. I know it's a much hyped product around the internet but where there's smoke there's fire and this is actually amazing. The colour is just the perfect muted pinkish brown that will go with any makeup look. From a natural neutral look to a smoky eye to a red lip, it covers all of the bases. Giving a natural flush that isn't too pink or red, so it doesn't overpower a look, it is by far the most wearable blush I've ever seen. 

I've never been terribly into blush, I really only wore it on special occasions before but recently it has been growing on me. I think that can be put down to this Tarte blush because it is a good launching point to then go on and try some brighter shades. The formula is good, I'm no expert on blush formulas by any means, but it isn't powdery and goes on the cheeks nice and evenly. It isn't so pigmented that you have to watch how much you put on the brush, because of this it is basically fool proof. I'm sure it could be built up for a more intense look but I think the whole purpose of buying this shade is to have a light flush of colour. If you want more intensity, go for the shade Tipsy, it's gorgeous. 

The packaging is nice and solid though kind of hard to open sometimes. I have pretty much mastered the opening now so I have a tip: Don't try and use your nail because it is shut pretty tightly and you'll be worried about breaking a nail once you start to try. Instead go with the side of your thumb, apply pressure and it will pop open easy breezy. 

Overall, I can't see myself finding a better blush than this any time soon. It's just the best thing ever. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Back To School Blues

Today was my first official day back at school after summer and I'm already tired, so I'm going to keep this post nice and brief. Basically, I'm going into my last two years of schooling and it's a very frightening prospect. Everything is getting so much more serious, the teachers are all talking about 'taking our education into our own hands' and threatening detentions if homework isn't handed in. Oh I long for the days when we just cut and pasted pictures of sheep into a scrapbook. 

Now to the point of this post! I've posted everyday for the month of January and will continue for the next couple of days to see the month out. As we move into February I'm going to be dropping back to three posts a week (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) so that I keep my sanity and don't lose my mind trying to do good blog posts while also trying to do three chapters of maths homework. The schedule will be as follows; Sunday will be a lifestyle post, Wednesday a beauty post and Friday a review of some description. I am this organised with my posts because I find my creativity flows better with a little bit of structure, otherwise I find all of the ideas overwhelming. 

Also, on the topic of going back to school, I was wondering about doing a series of posts about school. Some more deep stuff about friendship and such. I don't know if that is the type of thing people would like to see so please get in contact via the comments and tell me your thoughts. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Drugstore Starter Kit

I don't think it's any secret around these parts that I love a good high end makeup product. In fact, I almost certainly prefer high end makeup over the drugstore counterparts. That being said, there is many a good option to be found at Priceline and for a makeup beginner it is the best place to start. If you're just getting into makeup or you're looking for some new gems, I'm going to give you an option in each category for your drugstore makeup kit. 

Primer
This is an easily skippable step if you're a newbie who is starting from scratch, but if you're interested in primers the Bourjois Happy Light Primers are the way to go. You have two options depending on your skin. If you're on the drier side there is the Luminous formula or if you're oilier there is the Matte formula. They're not the best primers out there but they do aid in keeping your makeup on your face a little longer. 

Foundation
Avoid foundation for as long as possible. It is far too time consuming and difficult for someone who has perfect skin. When you get to the stage when you do want to delve in to the depths of foundation, take some time to colour match because we all got that REALLY wrong at one point or another. I would suggest the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation because it is nice and luminous which leaves the skin looking far more natural than a heavy matte one would. Also, the Rimmel foundations are cheaper than the likes of L'Oreal which is always good. 

Concealer
Maybelline Fit Me is by far the best concealer out there in the drugstore. It leaves a natural looking finish and can by layered for decent coverage. 

Bronzer
Another thing I don't think is a necessity when you're first starting out but I think it's good to invest in a good bronzer to avoid looking muddy or oompa loompa-esque. For that I would suggest the Body Shop Honey Bronze, some people don't consider the Body Shop drugstore but hell, the rules are made to be broken. 

Blush
The Milani Baked Blushes always do a good job, they're just your average blushes. I don't really know what to say about them because it's all in the colour choices and I can't tell you what colour you'd like to wear. If you're more into the cream formula the Revlon Cream Blushes are nice and sheer so they're really hard to stuff up. 

Powder
If you feel the need for a powder, I have to suggest the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. Partially because it's the only powder I've ever tried and partially because it's really good. I have it in the shade translucent so that it will work on any skin tone. 

Eyes 
Let's have an eyes speed round. In terms of eyeshadow, I would go with a simple stick. The Rimmel Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige is the perfect swipe and go all over the lid colour. Go in easy with the eyeliner, go hell for leather and get a liquid if you feel so inclined but I would start with a kohl personally. The Designer Brands Kohl Liner Pencil in Black is great on the waterline as well as on the top of the eye. It sets pretty well but there's time to get creative and do some smoky blending. Keeping it natural with the mascara is my all time favourite Covergirl Clump Crusher. 

Brows 
I don't know if this is a drugstore brand but I'm pretty sure it isn't, still the Pixi Brow Duo is a relatively cheap option because it's a two in one. An especially good choice for blondes, the lighter shade is perfectly ashy and not at all orange in tone. I've heard that L'Oreal has a good dupe for the Benefit Brow Wiz going at the moment, so that would be something for the wishlist. 

Lips
I simply could not narrow it down to one option for lips because everyone has their own preferences. My overarching recommendation would be the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable chubby stick things because they come in all sorts of colours and formulations. If you're looking for a great bright matte lip option, go for the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipsticks because they have a great formula in the darker colours. If you're one for lipgloss, you can't possibly go past the Maybelline The Elixirs. They're pigmented, comfortable and surprisingly long wearing. 

Brushes 
Real Techniques. Duh. 

Phew, that's actually a lot of makeup. So many steps to achieve what we call a 'natural' face, it's really quite odd. No one should ever feel like they need to own every single thing I've suggested here, nor complete every step. Just do what you're comfortable with and try to remember that less is more, even when we're getting a little overwhelmed in the isles of Priceline. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Best and Worst Dressed of the SAG Awards

I am Shannon Hudson, and I am a blogger. Only those of you who actually watched the Screen Actors Guild Awards will get that joke, but basically the beginning of the show always features famous actors turning around in their seats, telling an anecdote and then very seriously saying 'I'm blah blah and I am an actor'. Oh god it gets me every time. Their stories are always nice and all but it just makes me laugh so hard. Anyway, there were also some women wearing things so let's talk about that. 

Best Dressed 

Maisey Williams 

I'm partially bias to Maisey because she's around my age and I think it's pretty cool that she gets to attend these things. I think she looks super cute and age appropriate. The length of the gown stops it from being overwhelming, which it would be had it been to the ground. The gold shoes are a really nice addition to make things more formal and her hair is lovely as well. 

Lupita Nyong'o 

She's back! Lupita featured on my worst dressed list for the Golden Globes but she's really redeemed herself with this gorgeous gown. I know that a lot of people wouldn't like this but I personally love it. I can't actually pinpoint what I like so much about this dress because it could easily be very overwhelming. The cut is flattering on her figure and I love the way she moves it around so that it gives a nice wind swept look in photos. 

Sarah Hyland 

Sarah always looks so pretty on red carpets and I think she often flies under the radar as a fashionista. The neckline of this dress is so interesting and different, it really makes Sarah stand out from the pack. The beading is impecable and the tule (or whatever, I'm not good with fabrics) around the skirt give it a princess vibe. Of course, her hair and makeup is on point too. 

Julia Louis - Dreifus 

A simple gown that does a great job at highlighting Julia's beauty. She's such a pro at these carpets that she could literally arrive in a carpet and no one would bat an eyelid but she continues to put in the effort and for that I think Julia should get some recognition. 

Worst Dressed 

Mayim Bialik 
This dress is boring, boring, boring, DEAR GOD. She looks like she is wearing a shirt my middle aged maths teacher would wear from waist up and then the bottom half is the most extreme mermaid cut I've ever seen. It is slightly better that the dress is in black but that doesn't stop it from being totally disproportionate. It looks like they got two totally different dresses and thought 'oh they're black, no one will notice' and then sewed them together. 

Julianna Margulies 
I actually quite like this dress from most angled. The colour is stunning, shoes are great and the cut of the dress around the torso is a universally flattering one. It is the huge gap in the front that I have issues with, it just takes all of the class from the ensemble. Some of those pictures are getting VERY close to showing us all something we don't want to see. Julianna is getting a bit older and she's a TV veteran, I just feel as though she should have stitched it up a good 5cm and then she would have been one of my best dressed. 

Amanda Peet
It is very hard for a woman to pull off anything lavender so I give Amanda props for trying, too bad she didn't succeed. This is a boring cut of dress that screams bridesmaid and it makes her look dumpy around her boobs which is not a good look. I also feel that the black contrasts too much with the purple and makes it a bit confusing on the eye. Sorry Amanda, maybe next time. 

Lorelei Linklater
First of all, doesn't it look like her head was photoshopped onto this picture? Weird. I feel kind of bad including Lorelei because this is her first thing like this and I always want to give people a pass for their first time but I just can't. Those arms on that dress are just horrendous. I don't see why people won't accept that pilgrim chic will never be a thing. 

Another awards show down and only a couple to go! It always makes me sad how fast the awards season comes and goes every year. Who was your best and worst dressed for the SAG Awards? I would love to hear in the comments! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

What's In My Handbag?

It's been a while since we've addressed the contents of my handbag around these parts so I thought I had better rectify this! I'm currently using a Faith Satchel Bag, I would describe it as a over the shoulder bag that is of a medium size for an over the shoulder bag. It can hold a surprisingly large amount of stuff, I'm talking everything in the picture and a bottle of water if need be. I love this bag and am always getting complimented on it, which is a sure fire sign that it looks nice too. Let's delve in and go through all of the stuff I carry around. 

Lip Products
Six lip products is pretty standard for me, sad I know. I tend to put on a lipstick at home and then throw it in my bag to touch up throughout the day, then just leave it there for a couple of weeks. This particular selection is a good representation of what I am enjoying at the moment but they're all in the same colour family, making it totally pointless to carry them all around. I have my Body Shop Vanilla Brulee Lip Balm, which is a must. Then I have the slightly tinted Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting. Getting into the pinky nude family is MAC Creme Cup. Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig is my new absolute favourite so of course that has to make an appearance. Finally there is my Chanel combo of Rouge Allure Lipstick in Surprenante and Rouge Allure Gloss in Extase.

Other Beauty Products and Things For Your Wellbeing 
Being the Grandma I am, there is always tissues and bandaids in my bag. As well as that I carry the Dettol Healthy Touch Instant Hand Sanitiser and the Soap and Glory Hand Food, to ensure that I have clean, soft hands at all times. On top of that I have a Manicare Nail File as a final precaution to take care of my hands completely. I get the occasional crippling migraine so I bring some medication to take care of them if they attack. A hair tie is always a necessity, as are breath fresheners. My favourite gum is Extra Active with Dual Crystal Strips and Listerine Pocket Packs are just amazing too.

The Usual Suspects
It couldn't be a what's in my bag without some of those things that we all carry around with us. Of course I have a wallet, mine is from the brand Mocha and I've been thoroughly enjoying it for over six months now which I think is a record. I have my keys on a cute Dopey Keychain I bought at Disney World. My Tahari Sunglasses were also picked up in America. Then I've got a pen and a movie ticket, as you do.

Technology
I have a tendency to forget to put an SD Card in my camera when I go places so I've taken to keeping a spare in my bag just in case. Plus it's in a spiffy case which is pretty cool. When I go to friends or families houses I always have a need for a USB Stick so I take one with me for when need be. I have my iPhone 5c and a portable charger to go along with it. Finally I have my iPod and my Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones for when I feel like listening to some tunes.

I know, I carry around too much stuff but to me it all seems 100% necessary (bar the movie ticket). 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon