What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

Also, I tag all of you to do this! If you do it comment the link down below so I can read it ^.^

Holly xx

Makeup is a pretty freaking expensive hobby. Why couldn't I just have gotten into stamp or button collecting? *sighs*

Today I decided to do something stupid and tally up how much my daily face costs. The result?

$250!!! TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS. 

And that's a pretty modest amount considering I went for a more basic look today. It's safe to say that I was taken aback. It got me thinking...

Am I an idiot for spending so much on make-up?

I am not a make-up artist or in a career which is dependent on looks (like being an instagram model or working at a makeup counter) so do I really need to be buying so much make-up? Little ole me is just a student soon-to-be operating theatre nurse. 

I guess having the basics is quite a normal thing, such as a foundation, concealer, mascara, and a few lipsticks..but is it normal to have at least five variations or everything plus an overflowing lipstick drawer? Not to mention the countless shades of lipstick I have which are pretty much the EXACT same. I have a fantastic collection of holy grail products but I find that i'm still left wanting to try out more and more things. It doesn't help that i'm always reading blog posts and watching Youtube videos which make me want to go out and buy everything mentioned.

The thing is: majority of people never notice if i'm using a new primer or mascara. But....I know. I know i'm wearing a new product which makes a speck of difference. 

To sum it up: I do think i'm slightly idiotic for spending so much on make-up. I accept that it's something I invest into which is going to have any returns. I'm not a big time beauty blogger getting paid for my reviews but you know what - I freaking enjoy buying make-up. I love it. And that's why I do it. Because despite it being an expensive hobby it brings me happiness. I love trying out new products, I love writing my little reviews, I love finding something that makes me go "YESS THIS IS THE BOMB DIGGITY"..I just love it. And it makes me feel apart of the this whole blogging beauty world. I love being able to read other bloggers posts about products and being able to say "yes I adored that as well!". 

So for now i'm going to keep having my occasional splurges buying make-up as it's something I enjoy and love doing. 

How do you feel about make-up? Do you ever have those moments where you're like "wait...is it silly i'm spending this amount on beauty products?". 

Holly x

I could go on and on about the chalet but i'll pictures say a thousand words so i'll just litter this blog entry with photos. 

Staying in Hakuba, Japan was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I can't wait to go back again sometime. 

Holly xx

Firstly my mum, two brothers, and I flew into Tokyo and spent four days there. It was a thrilling experience but quite overwhelming at some points because it so different from Australia. Luckily my mum has been to Tokyo two times so she was able to show us around. We spent a couple of great days there getting immersed into the city and it was so great that I definitely want to go back again.

Then the main highlight has been arriving in Hakuba. For those who don't know Hakuba is a ski village. My uncle and dad joined the rest of us here and we have been staying in a dreamy chalet. Will definitely be doing a few blog posts on Tokyo, Hakuba, and this chalet. The past two days I've been snowboarding my heart out and I've been loving it. It's my first time so it's been a big learning curve!

Am currently enjoying a bath watching Vlogmas with a cider that tastes like hubba bubba.

Hope everyone is having a great December!

Holly xx

So that was my birthday haul. I also got some money from my parents so I could put it towards my new camera - Canon G7X mark ii. My new camera is sooo good, very happy with it. :)

Hope everyone had a great November!

Holly xx

The Price...

$6 each - umm bargain!? Amiright?!

The Packaging...

I'd say they're pretty standard liquid lipstick packaging with the clear tube and doe foot applicator. Unfortunately one of the shades (Midi) got the dodgy end of the packaging as the top of the bottle is leaky when you open it. I thought perhaps it was just me with a dodgy lipstick but I saw on a makeup forum that it is quite the common occurrence for the liquid lipsticks to have slightly faulty packaging which makes them leaky. 

How It Applies...

Compared to many of my other liquid lipsticks these seem to be the most runny which made is slightly more difficult to apply as I had to work quick in fear it would drip down. It is a very pigmented formula and one coat does the job. 

Verdict of The Formulation..

THE FORMULATION SUCKS. It is sooo drying. When it comes to matte liquid lipsticks i'm a tough cookie - no matter how drying something is I will wear it unless it a) looks super drying and b) goes flaky. This lipstick is so drying that is flakes off my lips and actually goes into my teeth. MY TEETH. It also sinks into any nook and cranny in my lips making them look dryer than the Sahara. I asked my brother what he thought of it and he remarked that my lips looked super dry. Eek. Despite trying to make this product work (by putting a TON of lip balm on prior, scrubbing my lips etc) nothing is making it work. I really don't understand how some people can wear this product, it's far too drying and such a liability seeing as it flakes off. 

Worth the purchase?

Absolutely not. There are other liquid lipsticks out there which I would recommend over this, like the NYX liquid suedes and matte lip cream, or the Revlon ultra HD matte lipcolour. I tried a few Kylie Lipkits out last week (my friend owns 6 of them) and they are so much better. The Kylie Lipkit felt far more comfortable,didn't look dry, or go flaky. I wore Koko K and Candy K both for 6 hours and they lasted perfectly. In fact, I liked the lipkits so much that I'm going to purchase a few. The Colourpop Ultra Mattes were a big NO from me.

Has anyone else tried these by Colourpop - and was it a fail for you also?

Holly x

2. O.P.I 'Altar Ego' Nail Polish

3. Butternut Squash, Chill, and Feta Frittata from 'Clean Eating Alice'

4. Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer

5. Television Series

Since being on holidays I have had a lotta time to watch a load of tv series. I mean - why leave the house when you can live vicariously through the characters on a tv show? Okay I joke..but I really do love finding an addictive new series. 

I have started watching Suits again and it's been so good. If you haven't seen it it's a show about lawyers in New York which is full of drama. It's so good that we named our dog after Harvey Spector haha. 

Also The 100 was one of those shows I got obsessed with. You know when you basically don't leave the house for days because you are hardcore marathoning a show? Yep, this is one of those. Each episode leaves on a cliffhanger which makes you go "OH MY GOSH NEXT EPISODE NEXT EPISODE". 

I won't go into all the other ones I watch also (cause I feel like I need to make a full blog post on it) but I also watched and loved: The Tunnel, Luther, The Great British Bake Off, and First Dates.

What are some things you guys have been loving at the moment? Hope you had a good week!

Holly x

Anyway I need to stop talking and let the video do the talking. Let me know if you use this type of technique to curl your hair! And feel free to let me know how you curl your hair - any tips for me? 

Holly x

 Left to right: Revlon 'J-Los Nude' - MAC 'Viva Glam II' - Maybelline 'Daringly Nude'

So these are my six favourites, what is your holy grail nude lipstick? :)

Holly xx

After having visited 15+ countries it's safe to say I have accumulated a substantial amount of knowledge when it comes to travelling. I thought it'd only be suitable to share some of the top tips I have learnt! I definitely am no expert but these are the things that might be very helpful to you on your travels. 

1. Avoid bringing a bulky carry-on bag onto the plane 

When you fly it is easy to fall into the trap of bringing a lot of unnecessary things which leads to a bulky carry-on bag. My advice is to go as simple as possible: phone, wallet, travel wallet, iPod, headphones, an extra jumper (cause we all know planes ARE freeeezing), lip balm, a book, and maybe some snacks. Usually I just bring my Longchamp le pliage backpack which is small enough to fit under the chair but big enough to fit in all the essentials. I just find it's a lot less stressful having one small bag with limited items rather than having to haul around a bulky bag with a bunch of unnecessary items. As airports can be quite stressful places it is best just to simplify everything as much as possible. 

2. Buy a travel wallet

Best. purchase. EVER. I used to work at a stationary store (Kikki K) and we would sell these gorgeous leather travel wallets. I ended up getting one (of course) and I have found it to be the most handy thing ever when traveling. It has a space for: passport/s, boarding passes, cards such as travel money card, and international money. It's just nice having everything in the one place.

3. Read up about scammers
Unfortunately this is a real thing. One time in Paris we read up about a scam where a con-man would walk up behind a couple, "pick up" a ring, ask if it is theirs, give it to them anyway..and then a few minutes later walk back over asking for money for the ring. Sneaaaaky! There are so many different types of scams! Common ones include people approaching you with clipboards saying they are raising money for a certain cause..people "helping" you figure out public transport machines and then demanding you pay them for their help..etc. I don't want to scare anyone but just read up on them and be aware.

4. Find the balance between taking photos and enjoying the moments
The balance is actually really important: because photos are great for the memories but with taking lots of photos comes to issue of living through a camera. I've watched people stand in front of the Eiffel tower for over an hour with their selfie stick trying the get the most "instagramable" photo and it just frustrates me. I do think it's important to get lots of quality photos of your travels though. As a general rule of thumb when I travel I try and spend the first few minutes getting photos and then I put my camera away and just look around and explore. So try and find that balance so you're actually soaking it all up but still getting lots of great shots you can look back on.

5. Try to be flexible
No matter how planned you may be, when you travel things don't always go to plan. Planes can be delayed, hotel rooms may be double booked etc. The best thing to be is someone who can just roll with it and be flexible - whether it's by being patient or making other arrangements. I've found the best stories can come from situations where things were unplanned and spontaneous.

6. Live like a local
Sometimes this can be a little tricky if you're only in the city for a few days but when you can try and take notice on how the locals live their life. Whether it's by the locals getting up early to grab an espresso and croissant or drinking sangria at 5pm in the afternoon, try and take on those things and implement that into your time there for a more authentic experience.

7. Stray from tourist locations every once and awhile
Just because you are a tourist doesn't mean you have to be like a typical tourist. Sure, it is great to see lots of the worlds famous monuments and museums but try and divide your time up with being half tourist and half explorer. For example, when I was in Paris I walked everywhere. Even though there was the metro I could have easily taken I preferred walking the streets to the destinations as along the way I found many hidden gems. Come to think of it: 90% of the time the best moments I have had travelling have been in the un-touristy areas. Would definitely urge you to give it a go (but common sense is advised, don't be walking into any shady back alleys or areas! ha).

8. Let yourself rest
Sometimes you can think traveling is all GO-GO-GO but it doesn't have to be like this. It took me awhile to realise this as I had the mindset that I needed to be doing something 24/7. Realistically: if you're traveling for a solid amount of time you need your rest.  Traveling is blooming exhausting. You walk for most of the day, you do many things, see many things..and by the end of the day you'll most likely feel exhausted. So don't push yourself too hard when you're tired otherwise chances are you won't be enjoying yourself cause you are,.....well, tired. Instead let yourself relax: read a book in a coffee shop, watch an episode of Friends on your iPad, have an early nights sleep. By doing this you won't get burnout and will have more quality time exploring the next day.

9. Disconnect yourself from social media
Now i'm not saying give it all up completely where you're traveling, because it's nice to still message friends occasionally and post a nice photo, but limit yourself on it. As hippy as this will sound: traveling is one of the best ways to grow in yourself and find clarity because you can disconnect yourself from your world and find yourself lost in anothers. By constantly messaging people and checking your facebook/instagram/snap feeds you aren't really allowing yourself to disconnect. One of the best things traveling can do is give you a new perspective so don't take that for granted.

10. Read travel blogs
There are tons and tons of great travel blogs out there which have been incredibly helpful. Gone are the days of solely relying on a lonely planet book to inform us of what to do/where to go but now are the days of travel bloggers. By doing this I have learnt a lot of useful information, such as: you should pre-book tickets to tourism spots to beat the MASSIVE queues. So whenever you're struck with the question "what should I do in this city?" turn to the travel blogs to give you lots of inspiration and ideas.

Without Eyelash Primer

 With Eyelash Primer

The Verdict?

It's a total gimmick. This eyelash primer did not do what it promised and actually made my mascara application worse by wearing this. Despite it being $12.95 it is definitely not worth it. 

Has anyone else used an eyelash primer? 

Holly x

Was going to ramble on about the movies/tv shows/music I have been loving but seeing as my "short" post isn't so short anymore I think i'll leave that for another post. 

What things did you love in October? Anything I should be trying out?

Holly xx

Hope everyone has a lovely week!

Holly x

EYESHADOWS

At $5 a pop these eyeshadows are a total bargain. If you're not familiar with Colourpop eyeshadows the texture is unlike the usual formula. It's really difficult to describe as it isn't as dry as a powder, but then it's not as creamy as a cream shadow. I'd say it's a hybrid of both a powder and a cream. They are intensely pigmented and are best applied with fingers, or if you must: synthetic brushes. I have found that these are incredibly long lasting as well. Would absolutely recommend these to everyone. Will definitely be picking more of these up. 

Get Lucky: An intense ultra-metallic liquid-like true gold

LaLa: A true rose gold

Sequin: A copper penny like shade with silver and gold glitter

Drift: A true cranberry shade in a pearlized finish

Porter: A warm burgundy with gold multi-dimensional gold glitter on top in a metallic finish 

Bae: A rich eggplant purple with an emerald, and turquiose, glittery duo chrome metallic finish

HIGHLIGHTER

Even though I felt like I was okay in the highlighter department I decided on buying this to give it a try. I don't own any gold-based highlighters so I thought it could be a nice addition? This was the most expensive of the lot costing $8 but I still think that it's very reasonable. I've worn this a few times and I reallyyyy like it. 

Wisp: A golden champagne with highly reflective hues of gold duo chrome finishes 

ULTRA MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICKS

These ultra-matte liquid lipsticks are a product that I had I heard lots of good things about, particularly being dupes for Kylie Jenners liquid lipsticks. I think i'll have to do a full blog post on these to really go into the nitty-gritty details. Basically I'm not a massive fan of these at all. Although a steal at $6 I won't be buying any more. 

Midi: A soft neutral beige 

Clueless: A dusty mauve pink

ULTRA SATIN LIQUID LIPSTICKS

I'm a huge fan of KathleenLights and she's actually the first person I saw do a video on Colourpop cosmetics. Since then I have seen her bring out collaborations with Colourpop and they have all looked incredible. When the free shipping offer came about the number one product I wanted to try were her ultra satin lipsticks. These again are $6 which is such a bargain! I have been wearing the shade "Alyssa" to death, it's such a pretty colour which would suit majority of people. These satin lipsticks aren't transfer proof but they are super long-lasting and not drying (which I think is the perfect combination really). I will definitely be purchasing more of these as they have become my favourite lip product of the moment. 

Alyssa: A neutral dusty pink

November: A mid-tone warm peachy pink

LIPPIE STIX

Again, these were apart of a collaboration with KathleenLights. As you may have guessed from the previous products in this post...I go for very basic/everyday wear kinda shades which is exactly why I was drawn to these two. The lippie stix are only $5 which again is so so cheap. I am surprised at how much I like these. When I purchased them I thought they would be something I could wear every now and then but no: I wear them most days now. If i'm not wearing one of these i'm wearing one of my ultra satin lipsticks. This is the kind of product you can just throw in your handbag and apply on the run. They're very pigmented and apply so easily. This is another type of product that I can't wait to buy more of. These have been such a success!

Aquarius: A soft pink nude in a matte finish

Lumiere: A dusty mauve pink in a matte finish

Overall I am super impressed with Colourpop as most of the products were of such high quality considering how affordable they were. I can't wait to try more (..except the ultra matte lips..). 

Has anyone else tried Colourpop? If so - what products should I try next?

Holly xx

p.s Until the end of the year Colourpop is doing free international shipping so I would definitely recommend jumping on this opportunity while it's around otherwise shipping is hella expensive.