SCHOOL'S OUT FOR... like two weeks. Unfortunately, here in the land down under it is not summertime, so I'm not getting the same nice long break as those of you from the northern hemisphere. Nevertheless I'm getting a bit of a break and I want to make the most of it. So I've written a little list of some things I want to do these holidays and I hope that putting them up on the blog will help me stick to them!
1. Get ahead on my blog posts
2. Sort out a 500 follower giveaway (eep, stay tuned!)
3. Clean out my makeup drawers, organise them and wipe all my packaging down
4. Climb the Thousand Steps
5. See Inside Out
6. Read a gosh-darn book, it's been too long!
7. Do heaps of driving to get my learner hours up
8. Do plenty of study (fun *frowny face*)
9. Go on a few walks
10. Drink plenty of water! I don't have the strict time schedule of school to blame for not drinking.
I know this was just a quick post but not everything needs to be a thesis so I hope you enjoyed it. Also, I give you all permission to kick me if I don't fulfil this list!
Lots of Love,
Shannon
As I write this review I am actually wearing the Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask. So, hey, straight off the bat you know I like it enough to put on my face. Recently I ran out of my holy grail Origins Clear Improvement mask and decided to broaden my horizons and try something different. I had heard great things about this Sanctuary Spa mask so I decided to give it a go.
This is overall a very good mask. I apply a thin layer all over my face (except my eyes and lips and nostrils, duh) then feel the awesome warming sensation. I don't know whether the warmth actually does anything but it is said to open the pores and I am inclined to believe the claims. The fact that this is a five minute mask is great for people who are time conscious, though not so great for people like me who tend to forget that they have a mask on and go about other business. I have left this on for up to twenty minutes and I don't think it makes much difference.
*puts blog post writing on hold to go wash of mask*
Anyway, The Origins mask is known for it's extreme purifying skills and this mask doesn't quite reach those standards. The benefit of that is it doesn't make the skin feel tight and dehydrated after use. The downside is that it does not clear out the skin to quite the same degree. Though it is not as extreme, it certainly does help the skin. The morning after I use this mask my skin is always noticeably clearer and brighter.
No complaints about the packaging. Though I tend to prefer when I can see how much product there is left, it's perfectly functional. I'm glad it's quite a thick consistency because if it were any more liquified it would ooze out everywhere, which would not be fun.
I'm really enjoying using this mask but I continue to find myself missing the Origins one. I think I will mix and match between the two in the future, one at a time in an attempt to keep my collection small.
Lots of Love,
Shannon
We're jumping into a big project here on LOLS, my makeup collection. I have been thinking recently about how I need to clear out my collection and get rid of anything I don't use but I thought I should run it all down first. Basically, I want to tell you about everything. It's a mammoth task so I thought, as to not overwhelm you nor I, I would break it down into manageable portions. We're starting with the largest batch, the bases. I didn't feel like I had this many foundations/BB/CC creams until I took the above pictures. As a pale whale I'm always trying to find things that are light enough for my complexion and I usually fail, so expect to see a lot of 'it's too dark for me but...' in this post. You have been warned.
Nars Sheer Glow in Siberia
Let's start with the most expensive, shall we? I had been wanting this foundation for literally years before I finally picked it up a couple of months back. It's really as good as they make it out to be. The shade is perfect for my skin tone, a rare gem to find. I have heard people say that it is full coverage which I would have to disagree with. It has a light/medium coverage upon first application which can be built up to a more full coverage if layered with a wet sponge (to avoid caking). I save it for special occasions because I don't want to run out but it is definitely one of my top foundations.
Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr Nude in Light Porcelain
You have heard me rave about this foundation a gazillion times by now, so I will try to keep this as brief as possible. It is my everyday foundation (mostly because it is about 1/4 of the price of the Nars one). It has a satin finish, I would not describe it as 'dewy' but it is far from matte. The foundation is very comfortable and long wearing. A big tick in my book.
Rimmel Match Perfection in Light Porcelain
Another Rimmel foundation that I hold dearly to my heart. This one has a slightly lighter coverage and a slightly dewier finish than the Lasting Finish Foundation. They actually mix together very well, which is aided by the fact that they come in the same shades.
Nars Pure Radient Tinted Moisturiser in Finland
I can't really remember why I bought this in the first place. Honestly I think I may have been in a shopaholic induced coma at the time. That being said, I'm quite happy about it. I always forget that I own it but it's the best tinted moisturiser. It isn't too dewy in finish and sets down very nicely to feel like skin. For a tinted moisturiser, I'm very impressed by the level of coverage though it still is a tinted moisturiser so don't expect anything higher than medium. The shade is slightly too yellow for me but it's nothing a bit of bronzer can't fix. I definitely need to use this more and get my moneys worth.
Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in Ivory
Ages ago I wrote a post about how much I disliked this foundation. It was matched to me in Sephora while we were there in 2014 and, at the time, I was severely disappointed. After trying it for a while I put it in the drawer and never touched it again. That is, until a couple of weeks back. I realised that I may have been unfair in my judgements and I was right. This is actually a really nice foundation! It is very much like the Match Perfection and great for everyday wear. I have added it back into the rotation.
Maybelline Dream Nude Aire Foam in Classic Ivory
I wore this exclusively for a while but since I have moved on to bigger and better things, I realise how odd it is. First of all, it's a full on foam which is very different and a bit gimmicky. There is really no coverage in this, so if that's what you're into it could be the one for you. It just tints my skin a slightly darker coverage than my natural face. I'm just looking for something slightly more in a foundation. This one will be dispersed with when I clean out the drawer.
Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory
As my favourite CC cream ever, I really have no complaints about the Bourjois 123 Perfect. It could be released in a lighter shade so that I could wear it year round, for now it is a purely summer product for me. Every time I break it out I enjoy how natural and flawless it makes my face look.
Rimmel BB Cream Radiance in Medium
This was given to me in one of my The Parcel subscription boxes, hence the way too dark shade. I have tried this on my face and though it made me look like an oompa loompa, I adored the finish. The lighter shade is definitely on my wish list but I'm going to have to give this one away to a better home because even with a spray tan it would be too dark.
Rimmel BB Cream in Medium
I got this one from The Parcel as well and my thoughts on it basically echo those of the product above. However, I do not particularly want to try the lighter shade. It is not because it isn't a nice BB cream but because if I'm going to get the radiance one, I don't need both. I need to learn the art of restraint.
Garnier BB Cream in Light
Back in the day when I first started wearing makeup this was what I wore. I could make the shade work and it was easy to apply with my fingers. Since I was quite young, I did not understand the concept of products breaking out my skin. I just figured the pimples were an unfortunate side effect of the bliss we call puberty. It was not until I stopped using it and then briefly started again that I realised it was the BB Cream causing the issue. Despite our long running connection, this BB cream has to go. It's probably too old anyway now I think about it...
Garnier Miracle Skin Cream
I'm not really sure whether this counts as a base or a skincare product but, hey, it's in the drawer. It is basically a moisturiser that comes out of the tube white but when you rub it into your face it adjusts to your skin tone and adds the slightest bit of coverage. I quite enjoy wearing it on no makeup days, though it does make my skin look quite shiny.
Revlon Colorstay Whipped in Nude
This is the thickest most uncomfortable foundation I own, yet I still keep it. That is because for Calisthenics (it's an Australian form of dance, google it) stage performances we have to wear full coverage foundation at least two shades darker than our natural skin tone. It is only on those twoish days a year that I break this out and slather it on. Ugh, I think I'm getting pimples just thinking about it.
Rimmel Wake Me Up in Soft Beige
What possessed me to buy this foundation in such a horrendously bad colour? Lord knows. I really wanted to try it because I had heard all of the beauty gurus going on about it but the shade was far too dark to ever wear out of the house. Since then, I donned it a couple of times for calisthenics but it always came up super orange (unlike the Revlon). My friend also wears this foundation and I'm quite put off by the noticeable glitter on her face when she does, so I think I will dispense of this one and not bother trying to find an appropriate shade.
Almay CC Cream in Light
Another one that broke me out! Once I'm done with this post I'm actually going to have a look at the ingredients in this and the Garnier one to see if I can decipher what it is that reacts with my skin. Other than that, rather major, issue, I actually loved this CC Cream. It had a really nice coverage and a skin-like finish. Too bad I'm going to have to say goodbye to this one too.
I'm going to be posting these makeup collection posts once a fortnight on a Wednesday if you want to keep your eye out for them. I promise that this is the largest one, they'll be less like essays from here on out.
There's no harm in adding some more to the collection, so please share your favourite base products with me below! Especially if you know any that come in shades pale enough, you would be my favourite person ever.
Lots of Love,
Shannon
Yay! It's here! My favourite thing to happen all season is the arrival of my The Parcel Subscription box. As usual, I will be going through the contents and sharing my first thoughts on each thing with you.
OPI Nail Lacquer in Romantically Involved $19.95
I always struggle whether OPI or Essie is my favourite nail polish brand, so I certainly didn't scoff at adding another to the collection. Do I need another red nail polish? No. Will I covet, appreciate and use it? Hell yeah.
L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes So Couture $27.95
Speaking of products I don't need any more of, I'm literally overflowing with mascaras! Oh my god, I'm starting to leave them in the packaging because I can't deal with the pressure of using so many. I'm pretty sure my friend Chloe loves this one so I'm definitely going to keep it and give it a go.
Lanolips Lemon Aid Lip Aid $15.95
My favourite product of the bunch. It's a perfectly adequate lip balm (I'm never much good at differentiating between them), though the scent puts it over the edge. I'm not usually a fan of citrus scents but this legitimately smells like lemon aid.
Esteé Lauder Revitalising Supreme Global Anti-Ageing Creme (30ml sample) $80
It's always nice to receive these high end skincare samples, it makes going away for the weekend that much more special because I get to use them. I'm not in any great need for anti-ageing moisturiser but I'll give it a go anyway.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mask For Intense Hydration (3 packs) $25
Hydration! Masks! Some of the things I need and want the most. The idea of the sheet masks sound cool so I'm totally up for giving these a chance.
Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes $3.99
These were featured in the last box (though to be fair, it could have been the Girlfriend box rather than the Marie Claire one) so I'm not overly excited about them. Face wipes will always come in handy but if they were a stand alone product in the box I would be slightly disappointed, luckily they were actually grouped with the, far more exciting, face masks.
John Frieda Beach Blonde Cool Dip Purifying Shampoo, Conditioner and Sea-Salt Spray (50ml samples) $16.99
I think I need to start going away more often because I have roughly a gazillion mini shampoo and conditioners to use up. John Freida is a good brand so I'm not complaining and the sea salt spray should be fun to play with.
Woolworths Select Quick and Easy Nail Polish 30 Removal Wipes $2
Admittedly, I've never once used a nail polish removal wipe that's worked so these are a bit meh for me. The fact that they're Select brand doesn't exactly fill be with hope either.
Overall, it's another great box. Though I'm not quite as excited by the contents as I have been previously, I'm certainly not disappointed either. It is well worth the $25 price tag and I will continue to get it into next season.
Lots of Love,
Shannon
My previous post detailed some stories from my recent school Formal. This was the first dance of this type that I attended, so I wasn't really sure what to do in terms of hair and makeup. I eventually decided that I would do my own makeup because I really enjoy it and it would be a waste not to use all of these products I own. Upon writing this post I realised that I forgot to include a lot of the products I used in the above image but that's okay because it gives you a real reason to actually read it! Sorry!
The Base
The aim was to make my makeup stay on as long as possible. I knew I was going to be dancing, sweating, laughing and doing pretty much everything that would make my foundation wear off, so I had to try everything possible. That is why I started by priming with the Benefit Pore-fessional, then I applied three thin layers of the Nars Sheer Glow with a damp beauty sponge. It ended up being about two pumps of foundation to get a relatively full coverage look. I added extra coverage on the redness on my nose, chin and the darkness under my eyes with some Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. To add extra stay time, I powdered with the Rimmel Stay Matte and finished off the whole look with a couple of spritzes of the Urban Decay All Nigher Setting Spray (review HERE).
The Cheeks
Contour is not something I often delve into but for this special occasion I gave it a go. I used the middle contour shade in the Australis AC On Tour Contour Palette (review HERE) lightly in the hollows of my cheeks. Then over the top of that, and pretty much everywhere, I buffed The Body Shop Honey Bronzer. Though I was wearing a bright lip, I added a slight bit of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed (review HERE). Everything was topped off with my favourite The Balm Mary-lumaniser (review HERE).
The Brows
I just did my brows the standard way, starting by filling them in (quite heavily) with the Anastasia Brow Wiz. Then I went over the top with my tiny stub of the pencil end of my Pixi Brow Duo to smooth things out. I set it all in place with the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper.
The Eyes
My entire eye look was based around the use of the Australis Metallix Eyeshadow in Pearl Jammin' (review HERE). I applied that all over the lid with my finger and then blended some shadows from the Naked Palette over the top. I packed Half Baked on the entire lid on top of the cream shadow to set it and ensure longevity. Then into the crease I blended the shade Naked super well so that there was no harsh lines. To deepen things up slightly I put a bit of Buck into the outer corner and then blended it up into the outer crease. I lined the outer half of my lid with the L'Oreal Super Liner and then added a mixture of the L'Oreal False Lash Wings Mascara and the Max Factor Masterpiece Transform Mascara. Because I was feeling rather bold, I threw on some Eyelure Lengthening No.80 False Eyelashes.
The Lips
The lips were simple. I lined them with the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Ravish then topped it with my new Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick in Melted Ruby. I cleaned up the edges with a precise eyeliner brush to make sure it was super even.
I can't promise that I will never talk about my formal again, but I can ensure you that I will tone it down from here on out.
Lots of Love,
Shannon
My school formal was held on Friday night and it was a blast. After having to spend a bunch of time buying a dress, shoes and jewellery, getting my hair done and doing my makeup, I finally got there. It was held in a beautiful ballroom that was decorated with blue fabric and balloons. The pictures don't really show how amazing it was, so you're going to have to trust me. By my calculations, there was about 300 teenagers having a sit down dinner and things went surprisingly smoothly.
Except the poor kid who had three drinks spilt all over him by a waitress, but that was an anomaly.
There is so much to talk about I don't even know where to start! It was one of the best nights of my life. I think I'm just going to share my five most memorable moments so I don't become too overwhelmed and blabber on.
1. The food was incredible, much better than expected. We had a choice between chicken and mushroom tortellini or spinach and feta cannelloni for entree, lamb and chicken for main and chocolate mousse and lemon tart for dessert. I wasn't actually particularly hungry, so, for fear of puking whilst ripping up the dance floor, I gave half of my entree to my friend. She proceeded to finish not only her own but the left overs from mine and two other friend's. It was an impressive feat.
2. When not sitting patiently waiting for them to serve food to all of the tables, we were all on the large dance floor in the middle of the room. It was such a fun experience to dance with all of the kids that I usually sit in maths class with. We all just jumped around like idiots and sang, super loudly. It was like being at a club but you didn't have to worry about being bashed or abused because you knew everyone.
3. Whilst eating our main course, my friend announced incredibly loudly 'I LOVE CARROTS'. We all looked at her as though she was insane because there was no carrots in sight. As I looked at her I realised she was talking about the orange vegetable she was putting into her mouth, knowing that she doesn't like pumpkin, I began to laugh. All of our friends realised the same thing and proceeded to make fun of her relentlessly. She then couldn't eat her 'carrot' anymore because she doesn't like pumpkin, which was fine with me because I got to eat it.
4. Everyone was being very nice and complimenting each other on their outfits, so I got a few myself. I would say I had been told three or four times that I looked really nice (apart from when my best friends and I all sat down at our table and pronounced that we all looked amazeballs), which was very flattering. Nearing the end of the night, the most popular girl in our year level and her friend came up and asked me to take a picture with them. As I walked across the ballroom to the photographer behind this girl, I was complimented FOUR TIMES. Mostly by people I don't even know, once by a boy I had not talked to since primary school. It is amazing how just being associated with the popular girl makes people compliment you. Teenagers are weird.
5. By the end of the night, my shoes had hurt my feet so bad that I could barely walk straight. I looked super drunk as I stumbled down the street to the car, though I obviously wasn't. Getting into the car, I got the car door stuck on the very high gutters on the side of the road and was unable to shut it. That meant that I had to get out of the car (still stumbling on my near-bleeding feet) so that the car was slightly higher and the door could be shut. It was at this point that a boy I know came along the street and attempted to help me, hitting me with the car door and sending me ass first back into the car. Boy did I look drunk at that point. The boy then proceeded to laugh at me as I tried to situate myself back into the passenger seat, I was not amused.
Thank you for putting up with my silly stories that you probably don't care about at all. It is just a nice post for myself to look back on more than anything but I hope you got something out of it too.
Lots of Love,
Shannon
