On the weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the Bloggers United event in Brisbane. I had purchased my ticket a few months ago and was uber excited. On the actual day I was filled with a lot of nerves, albeit I was mostly pumped, but very nervous at the fact that I was going to an event where I didn't properly know anyone. Eeeeek. In the end I gave my self a pep talk on the car journey there and told myself that it won't be as daunting as I think it is. Upon my arrival I met a bunch of lovely girls and felt at ease, us bloggers are all quite similar aren't we?
The event was great - it featured a few brands (such as BYS and Kiehls) which gave information about their brands vision and different products. It also featured two established bloggers on a panel who gave some advice about starting your own business and how to manage blogging. I don't see myself chasing blogging as a full time thing but a lot of their advice was really encouraging and beneficial. It also allowed time for mingling which made me really bond with quite a few other bloggers!

I think that's what I loved most about the event was getting to meet other like minded people. We were all so similar and have such a passion for creativity. It was really refreshing! Hopefully in the next few weeks a bunch of us are going to meet up again which will be great. I feel so cool now that i've finally made some blogger friends!

• Steph from The Soul Echo (just a gorg blog, her photography is amazing)
• Alex from Justashine (writes super cool interesting stuff like ingredients in makeup )
• Shivanni from Quarter Life Crisis (writing about life as a millennial) 

I have been an extremely good girl this year. I've become quite savvy with saving money and have repeatedly opted against going on huge shopping sprees. After months of being quite good and only splurging here and there on drugstore makeup I decided it was time to go to Mecca Maxima. Albeit I didn't go CRAZY and buy up the whole store but I did buy a few bits and pieces that I have been wanting for ages. I also got a free beauty box from Mecca so a few of these items are from that.

Nars Laguna Bronzer: Have been after this for agesss so I knew it was time to give in to the temptation. Used it once last night and so far I really like it.
Blush Duo of Hot Sand and Orgasm: A blush and a highlighter duo? Yes please! Orgasm has been a cult favourite for years so the beauty blogger in me just had to buy it.
Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lipstick in 'Perla': I've never tried this formulation and even though I thought I was done with my phase of liquid lipsticks..I just couldn't resist? As soon as I swatched it on my arm I had to buy it. Have worn these the last two days and I love it.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray: Not only does this smell amazing but it was only $9! As a big fan of dewy makeup and facial mists it was something I really wanted to try.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara mini: Got this in the beauty box, score! I really rate this mascara so i'm glad i've got another one.
Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lipstick in 'Rubino': Another mini from the beauty box. Haven't worn this yet but the colour it is right up my street.

My nanna has always been one of my biggest inspirations. At 87 years old she still has all the elegance and grace one could ever dream of having. She still loves colour coordinating her outfits, wearing brooches, doing her hair, and applying make-up. One of my favourite memories was taking her out on a spur of the moment shopping trip and once we got to the shopping centre she realized she forget to put on lipstick so she asked if I could apply one of mine of her. I just love that, at 87 years old still caring about how you look and wanting to feel nice.

I decided it would be a lovely idea to do a post on my Nannas tips on beauty. She has always been super glamorous and never lets me forget how all the boys would chase after her when she was younger. The pictures at the top are ones of her when she was in her early 20's. No wonder all the boys loved her!! Heartbreaker Nanna.

Skincare Tips:

1. "Always clean your skin before you go to bed and always put a good moisturizer on"

There are so many products out there that are designed to plump up your lips, today I am reviewing the Dior Lip Maximizer which is probably one of the most popular lip plumping glosses.

What does the Dior Lip Maximizer claim to do?
"Moisturizes lips and gives an incredible instant-volume effect for a glossy smile and full, plump lips, as if transformed"

What is the formula like?
It's enriched with collagen which is the ingredient that is supposedly meant to plump. I actually really like the formula of the gloss itself, in fact I would say this is my favourite lipgloss ever. It's quite thin, tastes of mint, and isn't crazy sticky.

Does it actually plump up your lips though?
I took a photo of my bare lips and then with the gloss on. I left the gloss on for a few minutes before taking the photo so it could sink in a bit. To be honest...it...slightly works? I feel my lips tingle once it's on which means something is happening to them. As you can see in the photo the gloss gives the appearance of my lips being bigger but there isn't a huge difference.

If I had to choose the product which surprised me the most it was the Colourpop Ultra Satin Lips. When I originally did my Colourpop order I added two to the cart just to "try out". I wasn't expecting to get obsessed with them but I did. I ended up ordering another and will go back to order more. As you may have read in my last Colourpop review (here) I was disappointed with the Ultra Matte lips as they were horribly drying and flaky. The Satin Lips on the other hand are incredible.

What I like about them is that they pack a punch with pigment. One swipe is enough to completely coat your lips, and it doesn't apply patchy at all. They go on quite liquidy and then dry down to a satin finish. I find they are comfortable to wear and last a decent amount of time (5+ hours). Last night I wore Echo Park and only had to re-apply once in the night. They do transfer but they don't budge around on the lips.

So if you are someone who is not entirely into ultra matte lips but still want to give liquid lipsticks a try then this is the product for you. Colourpop has free international shipping until the 31st of December so if you want to make an order then now is a great time to do it.

Rounding up a whole years worth of favourite beauty products was easy-peasy. This year was a mix of trying out new products whilst also sticking to good ole favourites. Some of these products have already been mentioned in my 2015 favourites post here but I thought I would add them in again seeing as I have stuck to them religiously.
1. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer 
This year was the year I got into primers and after trying out a couple this would be my favourite of the bunch (Too Faced hangover primer is a close second!). It smooths out my skin and is a good base for applying foundation.

2. Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint in Shell
This is my go-to full coverage foundation as it provides a seamless finish without looking cakey. For best application I usually blend this in with a beauty blender. A bit on the pricey side but for me personally it's been worth it.

3. Nars Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc
The perfect dewy looking foundation which is great for everyday wear. Sadly i'm running out of this but I am repurchasing soon as I can't be without it!

4. Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in shade '2'
This packs a punch with coverage. When it comes to concealer I only like full coverage ones as anything else can't compete with the darkness of my under eyes. Has been mentioned on my blog since the beginning of time but I will forever be recommending it.
5. Too Faced Soulmates Blushing Bronzer in Carrie & Big
This is the bronzer I reach for everyday and it never fails me. It also can double up for a subtle contour due to it being slightly cooler toned.

6. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping
My holy grail highlighter. It compliments my skin tone well and can either be a subtle or bold highlight. Unfortunately it was limited edition but if it ever comes back I will stock up on a few.

6. Topshop Cream Blush in Illicit
I'm not a big blush girl but I liiike this a lot. It's subtle but still gives your cheeks a nice rosy colour. I don't wear blush everyday but this is the one I reach for the most!
7. Revlon Eyebrow Liner
I'm pretty lazy when it comes to my eyebrows so I like this as it's quick and easy. One end has a comb and the other has a small pencil which is nice for filling in my little eyebrow gaps.

8. Loreal Brow Artist Plumper in Translucent
Sometimes i'll only wear this on my brows and nothing else as it combs my brow hairs in the right direction and keeps them put. This has become part of my everyday routine.
9. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Another product that was mentioned in last years favourites but definitely worth mentioning again as I have used this allll year!! Out of all my mascaras it just gives the best volume and curl. Of course it's a HG and something I recommend to all my friends. :)

10. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
Although it doesn't look it I have used this palette tons of times! I just like how warm toned it is and how you can do a mixture of everyday looks to night time looks. So glad I finally got my hands on it in February.

11. Colourpop Supershock Eyeshadow in Sequin
It was difficult narrowing down which particular Colourpop Supershock shadow to mention as I literally love every one I own but this seems to be the most used. These are so incredibly pigmented and have great staying power. I use this particular shade either all over my eyelid or in the centre of a smokey eye look to give a halo effect. Do yourself a favour and try these, the formula is insane.
12. Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Alyssa
Although I only purchased this in the second half of the year it has already been bumped up to my favourite lip product ever. Can't you tell how much it is used by all the writing being rubbed off? Haha. It's a beautiful everyday pink which lasts well considering it isn't matte. Just love, love, love it.

13. MAC Viva Glam II lipstick
My perfect nude lipstick as it's cool toned!! This is something thrown into the handbag all the time.

14. NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake
I'm not a massive gloss girl but this was what made me get into them again. It's not too sticky and goes well over so many different lipsticks. Will definitely be buying more of the butter glosses, they're too lovely.

Whether you're involved in the beauty world or not: you would have heard about all the hype with matte liquid lipsticks. Despite them being around for quite a long time they didn't make quite the impact as when Kylie Jenner released her liquid lipstick line. Since then each brand has brought out their own version of the liquid lipstick trend with some being great and some being "eh".

I first heard about the Colourpop liquid lipsticks when they were said to be the same as the Kylie Lipkits except at a much more affordable price. Since then they have been on my radar so when Colourpop had a promo stating it was free international shipping when you spend over $50 I knew these would be one of the first things i'd add to my basket. I purchased the shades Midi and Clueless.

No matter how much you're into make-up a great nude lipstick is something every girl should have. I'd consider them to be a secret weapon, something you can just apply on the run to feel all that more put together. Last year I had a massive nude lipstick phase and since then I have dwindled it down to these six which are my go-to. Luckily for you guys - they are all drugstore except for the MAC one! I do enjoy a good high end lipstick but I also love the feeling of finding a gem among the drugstore brands.


When it comes to a nude lipstick I prefer it to be a matte formulation but there are a few that are exceptions. J-Los Nude (Revlon) is the most recent purchase, it's hydrating and gives a nice subtle pink tint on the lips. Viva Glam II (MAC) is a great cool toned lipstick which I like to pair with a smokey eye, it's a satin finish too which is my favourite MAC formulation. Daringly Nude (Maybelline) is in the comfort matte formulation which is exactly what it says it is, I feel like this is the truest nude colour out of them all. Aquarius (Colourpop) is very similar in colour to Viva Glam II but slightly more hydrating and almost has a glossy finish - i've REALLY been loving this one lately! Stockholm (NYX) is a matte lip cream which goes on like a mousse but dries completely matte, it doesn't feel too drying though thank goodness! Stockholm is something I like wearing on 8 hour shifts as it lasts a long time and I only need to re-touch it once. Pa-Ree (Australis) is verrrry similar in formula to the NYX soft matte lip cream, this shade looks quite similar to Koko K by Kylie Cosmetics.

I purchased this eyelash primer a few months ago when I attended the launch of NYX in Priceline. The launch was a blur as there were so many other shoppers rumaging through the various stock that I kinda just grabbed at anything. Admittedly, I always knew that an eyelash primer was kinda gimmicky. I can understand priming your face so it can hydrate and prep the skin for foundation, but....eyelash primer? Like do the eyelashes really need to be primed before appyling mascara? Still there was a part of me hopeful it would kinda work.
What the eyelash primer promises to do: "Primes and coniditons lashes for optimal mascara effects of length and volume"

What is actually did: Firstly, I was a little confused on how to use this. It may seem quite straightforward to some people but what confused me was 1. how much I apply and 2. do I need to wait for it to dry to then apply mascara. All the packaging says is: "Apply 1 to 2 coats to your lashes prior to applying your favourite NYX mascara.". Um...okay then. So I added two coats to my eyelashes, let it dry for 30ish seconds, and then applied my maybelline lash sensational mascara.

And guess what it did.....nothing. It did nothing at all. In fact, my eyelashes looked less voluminous than they usually do. Somehow the lash primer actually weighed down my lashes but there was barely any curl that my mascara usually gives me.

So a few days later I tried to give it another go and curl my eyelashes prior so perhaps they would stay curled. I applied the primer and mascara. Unfortunately the curl completely died as my lashes were weighed down once again. I removed my mascara and started from the start again without the primer and my eyelashes looked SO much better.

Since then I have tried to use this on a number of occasions to see if I can work it out but it's just been a complete fail. I tried to look on other blogs to see what I was doing wrong but all I found were a bunch of negative reviews on it. I actually couldn't find any positive reviews on it.

I took these photos yesterday (sorry they're a little dodgy, getting eyelash shots are hard!) which show the difference in wearing it and not wearing it.

October was a weird month but in the end everything turned out peachy because 1. I got offered my dream job 2. I had a lot of fun adventures with friends and 3. I booked tickets for a trip to Japan in early December (a.k.a  next month!). When it comes to beauty though, nothing has really changed. I'm the type of person who will continually use a product for awhile before switching it up. When I looked at my make-up bag I picked out the items which have been stand outs and these were what were the result of that.

1. Hourglass Hyluronic Skin Tint in the shade "shell"
Now I haven't been using this everyday as it's pretty exy ($81!!) and I don't want to waste it on work or casual social outings. So instead I've been saving it for more special occasions like dinners or events. I find this is the type of product which makes your skin look gooood. It evens out the skin tone, provides a really decent coverage, and just makes my face look healthy. It is super expensive though so I would recommend getting a sample first to ensure you're going to love this product. All in all I think it's worth the purchase and i'm surprised there aren't many other bloggers who have talked about this!

2. M.A.C Fix+
I've probably mentioned this in another monthly favourites post but alas it is getting another shout out! This has been used everyday and now it's just a natural part of my everyday routine. It just makes the skin look fresh and gets rid of any areas which have been victim to too much powdering. It's no wonder this is a cult favourite.

3. Colourpop eyeshadow in 'Sequin'
This has been the answer to my make-up prayers. For awhile I have wanted a rose gold eyeshadow as the one in my naked 3 palette just isn't pigmented enough to work with. Luckily this works a treat as it's not only a beautiful colour but is sooo pigmented. I've been impressed with all Colourpop eyeshadows but this one in particular stands out.

4. Shu Uemura eyelash curler
A cult classic, this eyelash curler does stand out from others. I used my manicare one for years and never thought there was any point in getting the Shu Uemura one cause "eyelash curlers are all doing the same thing" but nooo, this does it so much better. SO much better. If you have straight lashes like me then this may become your best friend.

5. Colourpop LippieStix in 'Aquarius' 
As you can see in the photo above: this product is quite battered. But this just means that it is well loved! And it is indeed! It's just a great everyday nude shade which you can easily throw in your handbag. Everyone needs a product like this.

6. Colourpop Ultra Satin Lipstick in 'Alyssa'
If i'm not wearing the Aquarius lippie stick then I'm wearing this. It's one of those shades that looks so pretty. It's the kinda thing I pop on when i've gone quite basic with the rest of my make-up and I want a lipstick to jazz it up. It's super pigmented and very long lasting. For swatches of Colourpop cosmetics see this post.

7. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
I used to own this agesss ago but unfortunately my dog chewed on it!! Until now i've been without a makeup sponge but I decided it was worth purchasing again. Since getting this I haven't applied my foundation with any other brush! Would definitely recommend if you haven't gotten into the world of beauty blenders/sponges yet.

 If there is one brand that I have wanted to try for a LONG time: it is Colourpop. Unfortunately being an Australian is a curse on beauty lovers as shipping is always ridiculously expensive. Paying $25 on shipping?! Um, nooo thank you.

So when Colourpop sent an email stating that it was FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING WHEN YOU SPEND OVER $50 I jumped on the opportunity. It was all perfect timing, I had just finished a grueling two months of unpaid internship and it was imperative I treated myself in the form of make-up. I watched a bunch of youtube videos and read a lot of blog posts to help me decide on what to buy.

When I was in grade 10 getting into makeup I knew nothing compared to what I know now. All I knew about was foundation, concealer, mascara and lip gloss. Oh and the odd occasion of wearing eye shadow when my sister would use me as a practice doll for her makeup skills. I learnt most of what I knew from my sister and my mum, who used predominantly high end brands. When I did start buying my own cosmetics I bought a bunch of crap products because I didn't know any better! My foundation always looked cakey and orange, my concealer would be superrr drying, my eyelashes were clumpy from my cheap mascara, and my lip gloss was always so sticky that my hair would get caught in it (...so cute ha).

So I thought I would write a post for those new to make-up who are wondering what should be in your kit. This is a post I wish I could have used when I was 14!! In my opinion: when you're first starting out I would recommend just getting the basics of foundation, concealer, mascara and a lip product. I have added in a bunch of other products though in case you fancy diving into different things such as highlighting or wearing liquid liner. You can get so many great products at the drugstore which is why I recommend starting out with these products and then perhaps branching out to high end products later on.