March 2017 Favourites

I've been trying so hard to use new products but it's been proving to be a little difficult. This month I tried to share a few products that I love but haven't really shown much on the blog lately, plus a few random favourites to spice it up a little ;) Let's get to it!

Skincare
Mario Badescu Facial Mist - I feel like this is such a universal product. It's great for hydrating your skin morning and night, as a 'primer' before applying foundation, spritzing on a sponge to make your concealer blend out better and even a setting mist. It's just a great product, I definitely recommend it.

Origins GinZing Mask - I LOVE face masks, especially ones that you can peel off. This mask is just really refreshing and it has a citrus-y scent that slightly tingles but it feels great. It's meant to tighten and brighten your complexion and I have seen a slight improvement but nothing that's too obvious. I love it.

Aveeno Daily Radiant Moisturiser - This is a perfect daily moisturiser, super hydrating and not too thick so it's great for morning and night. It also claims to be brighten your complexion but I haven't seen too much difference however I think it has evened out my skin tone a little. It's a great moisturiser, although for a drugstore moisturiser it's a little expensive.

Amie Exfoliating Polish - I've been testing this out for a while now, and can proudly say that I love it. It makes my face feel super smooth, and although it is gentle enough for regular use I only use it once a week. It does however, leave a slight oily feeling on your skin afterwards but it isn't very heavy or noticeable. As it uses more natural ingredients, I do think it is due to the jojoba oil and moisturising butters that create that feeling. Did I mention that it smells like mango? That's a selling point for me!

Makeup
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade (Soft Brown) - I am starting to love this product again! I stopped using it for a while because I thought it was too bold for my eyebrows, but now that I have mastered the technique I love it. It allows me to get a great shape and using the brow brush gives a lot of precision. It isn't a lie when they say that this pomade does not budge, it lasts all day and will still look flawless at the end of the day.

Too Faced HangoveRX Primer - How do I even begin to explain this primer? Hands down my absolute favourite primer. It's hydrating, not too heavy, doesn't feel too tacky but still makes my makeup last all day. Also, it smells like coconut... amazing! Can you tell that scents are super important to me? Haha!

Revlon Sculpt and Hightlight Contour Kit - I'm not sure if I have mentioned this product on my blog before, but if I haven't lets just start by saying that it is the best drugstore contour palette you can get your hands on. It was co-created with Chloe Morello and if you don't know who she is quickly go to YouTube watch her videos and come back. She's an Australian Beauty Vlogger and she has absolutely nailed this palette. The light contour shade is perfect, especially if you are super pale like me. Get this palette.

Simple Glam Girls Rose Gold Oval Brushes - Another product that I don't mention on my blog too much is makeup brushes. I was recently kindly sent this set of oval brushes from Simple Glam Girls and I have to say I was a little skeptical about these brushes. I didn't think they would be effective at all and I had my doubts, until I recently tried them and Oh My God was I wrong! They are super gentle and blend foundation and concealer seamlessly. They are actually super light as well so they are easy to use. Definitely an investment that you will love! I do have a code for these brushes 'monniiblogs' which will give you 20% off brush sets and individuals.


Haircare
Fudge Purple Toning Shampoo - I haven't updated many of you in a while, but recently I have started going blonde and this shampoo has been a God send. You know that brassy, orangey tones you get? Well this gets rid of them, completely. It is a strong formula so it definitely works - if you are in the process of going blonde, or are a blonde, get this shampoo.

Random Favourites
Fitbit Charge 2 - Ahhh, I love my Fitbit! The Charge 2 measures everything that I need it too, and I got this stylish band too. I've been trying to get back into gym again and this really motivates as it allows me to track my time in the gym and I can choose which mode of workout I want it to record. It's a great investment - I love it.

DoTerra Essential Oils - I never thought I'd be one to get into essential oils however, here I am. I have a Lively Living diffuser that I use at night and have been mixing my DoTerra Oils before I go to sleep. My current favourites are Peppermint and Lavander - these two mixed together are amazing, it's super calming and also helps to clear my airways which is what I love! I want to try out so many oils, so please let me know what ones you are loving.

How I Met Your Mother - I love this TV series so much. I'm watching it again for about the third time, and it never gets old. Thank you Netflix for providing the goods!

Instagram Favourites
This is a little different to all my other favourites posts but I have been loving these accounts lately! @Jade_beauty_ and @makeupbyindi_ 

Let me know some of your favourites for this month below - I love checking out new products!

You can read my previous favourites posts, here!
And my last post will be here!

Also, please follow my instagram! I'm trying to build my instagram following so I will follow back, just leave a comment below :) 

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Printiki Review: You Are Worth Printing!

I'm sure you've noticed that everyone is literally attached to their phone these days, and with that would come so many photos that are daily memories. With the current social media outlets that are available we find ourselve sharing so many of these memories over the internet, but I think it is really important to have those photos printed.

I was incredibly lucky to have been approached by Printiki, which are a photo printing company, who allowed me to print 30 photos. I can stress how easy it is to order prints through this service, you can upload photos from Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, Google and even from your computer and they deliver them straight to you! 

There's a variety of styles to choose from, however I was offered the Square M prints and they are a perfect size to keep in my diary or even just on my bedside table. The sizes are almost endless, from square polaroid style photos to retro landscape prints, you are also able to order photo books and posters (unfortunately aren't available to ship to Aus)! 

Shipping your prints to Australia are so affordable too! $4.95 for economy and only $10 for tracked shipping. Go and check them out!

I'm all about having keepsake type photos, so I decided to print a few photos from a friends wedding, a few quotes and just goofy photos of my friends and family. I love how they turned out and I'll definitely be ordering more!

From my experience, it is incredibly easy to use. It's as simple as uploading your photos and choosing which style you are wanting - personally I love the Square M prints. I'm so happy to have these prints now, and I think it's definitely worth spending the money to get them. Plus the prints are exceptional quality!

If you are after inspiration, check out the Printiki Instagram - they share some amazing DIY's and inspirational posts.

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Over Hyped Beauty Products?!

I'll admit, I've seen a few of these kind of posts/videos going around lately and thought I'd write about the products I use that can be a little over hyped. I feel like this post could be a little controversial but I do like most of these products so I'm definitely not bagging on them! Let's be real, I bought a lot of these because they were talked about so much, so I've provided a mini review and my opinion on whether they are worth the hype or not.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade $32

I think it's pretty fair to say that this product is over hyped WAY too much. Yeah I think it is a great product but it can take some time to get used to. Personally, I think there are better brow products available but when this brow pomade was released it was the first kind of brow pomade to be on the market, so I do think people rushed to try it out and it got a lot of hype. As long as you're light handed with the product you can get amazing results with it, but it's quite easy to go overboard.

Is It Worth the Hype?

Absolutely, I would buy it over and over again.

Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation $49

This is actually a product I have mixed reviews on. It is super full coverage, which is why I think it got a lot of hype when it was released, plus it has so many shades in the range it is easy to get a good match. It's quite a thick product which I think is what I struggle with, it looks super patchy on me so I'm not sure if it is really worth it however, some people are able to make it work.

Is It Worth the Hype?

Personally, no. I didn't like it, and I didn't understand the hype behind the product at all.

RCMA No-Color Powder $27

Everyone knows this product is talked about by everyone in the beauty industry and seems to be a staple for a lot of beauty influencers and makeup artists. I have only recently jumped on the bandwagon and I was literally in aw of this product. It's a super lightweight setting powder and I do think it is something you need in your makeup bag.

Is It Worth the Hype?

Yes. If you need a setting powder, get this one. 100% worth it.

Nars Laguna Bronzer $58

Just a little disclaimer first of all, the Laguna bronzer I have is part of the Hot Sand/Laguna duo, so it isn't a full sized product. Okay, with that out of the way the product itself is actually really nice. When I first started to get into makeup the one product I would hear about ALL the time is the Nars Laguna Bronzer and it has taken me around 4-5 years to actually get it. I do think it is a product that is hyped within the beauty industry but it's a lovely bronzer and adds the right amount of warmth to your face.

Is It Worth the Hype?

I think it is. I will probably end up buying the full size product once this has run out.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner $28

Another Kat Von D product that is constantly talked about on YouTube, Instagram and the rest of the blogging community. If you've been reading my posts for a while you are probably already aware that I love this product. It is one of the main eyeliner products that I reach for on the reg.

Is It Worth the Hype?

I'm sure you know what I'm going to say but yes, it's worth all the hype.

IT Cosmetics CC Cream $58

This product is quite a new foundation that I thought was talked about a lot mainly due to it being lightweight but provides full coverage. It is a Colour Correcting cream and there isn't too many of these types of products on the market, so the hype probably was due to that. It also has SPF 50+ which is super important for a foundation. Personally I think it can be a little oily on my skin but I'm still trying to work with it as I love the coverage it provides.

Is It Worth the Hype?

I'm on the fence. Personally, I don't think it is amazing but definitely worth having in your collection.

L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation $29.95

Don't lie to yourself about this one, it was super over hyped! So over hyped, that I had to buy 2 of them. Do I love it, not really. Although it is a matte formula, I feel like it gets oily on my skin but keep in mind I do have oily skin. They shade range isn't that great, I use the lightest shade and it is still dark and not to mention that it does oxidise through the day.

Is It Worth the Hype?

Not really. There's so many better matte formula foundations that are available.

Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits $29USD

You and I both know that this was super hyped and I can totally understand why. Of course I had to try them out, even though shipping costs are ridiculous and in the end probably wasn't worth it, I still had to get something. I bought the KoKo K and Exposed lip kits and wasn't too impressed to be completely honest. They can be quite sticky and tend to crack and fall apart once they are dry, so I don't see why everyone rushes to buy them. In all honesty, they could have changed formulas since I purchased mine so I will probably have to check another colour and see how they compare.

Is It Worth the Hype?

Nope. They are fine, but way too over hyped for what they actually are.

Tarte Tarteist Clay Paint Liner $33

Okay, final product. I had been dying to get my hands on this liner by Tarte as I had heard so many great things about it, and also because I love Tarte products. I love how it comes with a liner brush, it makes application so much easier and it's kinda cool being a little squeezie tube kinda thing. The only problem I have with this is, it is hard to get product out I have to squeeze the tube for ages before I get anything. Also you have to go over your lines so much for it to be pigmented, which can be quite frustrating when you just wanna do your liner and go.

Is It Worth the Hype?

I'm going to say yes, mainly because it is a good product.

This was a bit of a different post to what I'm usually used to but hopefully you enjoyed my little review. I say this at the end of almost every post but I'm really hoping to get back into a schedule over the next few weeks so let me know what kind of posts you'd like to see in the future!

Let me know what you think of these products and if you believe if they are over hyped or not?

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February 2017 Favourites

Well, I've been a little slow getting this favourites post together but I finally have it sorted, my February favourites! I feel this month I'm a little short on favourites but I have a few new items I'll share with you anyways.

Firstly, an old favourite the Nar's Sheer Glow foundation (Mont Blanc). I recently ran out of this foundation and definitely needed to stock up again. I love that it is lightweight and isn't completely matte. 

Another oldie that I've been loving is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (Trooper), this product is still amazing to me. It is super long lasting and I love the brush tip, it creates the perfect winged liner.

Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara is clearly a favourite. I'm fairly certain I mention this product in every monthly favourites post but I've been using it so regularly this month I'm surprised I haven't run out!

Now a few products that are new to me, firstly the RCMA No Color powder. I can now see why this product is so hyped - it is a great setting powder. I don't necessarily 'bake' my foundation or concealer so I don't use it for this purpose, however I do find it makes my makeup last all day and prevents creasing.

The Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild is a product that I questioned buying for months and finally I bit the bullet and bought it. It's actually quite a subtle blush which is what I look for in a blush as I don't like having a bright blush. 

Lastly, a few skincare products that I've been using. I've heard about the Aveeno range for quite some time and I recently bought the Daily Scrub and Daily Moisturiser and I have been loving them. My skin has definitely improved, even though I don't have too many skin issues normally, and is actually much brighter. 

I am a sucker for Micellar Water and this Amie Gently Cleansing Micellar Water* is great! I normally use the Garnier Micellar Water but find that it stings a little sometimes, however this one doesn't. It is mostly natural products so it feels nice and refreshing and also smells amazing.

If you missed my previous favourites post, you can read it here.

Also I've been quite active on Instagram lately, you can follow me here.

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*The Amie Gently Cleansing Micellar Water was sent to me, however I am not paid for this review.

Valentines Day Look

Hey guys! I'm back with another makeup look, this time it's a collaboration with Veronica. We both decided to do a Valentine's day look using the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette. Be sure to check out Veronica's look on her Instagram!

To start off the eye look, I used the Too Faced Born This Way concealer and then set it using the shade White Peach  from the palette. To start building up the peachy tones through the crease I used Georgia and Puree, then added Just Peachy and Candied Peach to add in the pink tones. It took quite a while to get those colours to build up but I kept blending and adding colour.

To add some more depth and smokiness, I started to add in some of the Peach Pit shade, however this shadow isn't super pigmented so I went back in with Charmed, I'm Sure and smoked out the outer corner. I really wanted the lower lash to stand out so I used Delectable with a flat brush and really pressed that colour into the lower lash line and gently blended it out. To highlight the inner corner and brow bone, I used Nectar and coated my lashes in the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara and that was the final eye look.

For the rest of the face, I used the Too Faced Hangover primer and then went in with a damp sponge and applied Nars Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc. Under my eyes and in the centre of my face I blended out the Born This Way concealer.

To add some colour I used the Nars Liquid Laguna bronzer and then set that using the Nars Laguna bronzer. On the rest of my face I used the RCMA No-Color powder to bake under my eyes and set the rest of my face.

For my eyebrows I used the ELF Eyebrow kit then used the Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild and went over the top of that with Nars Hot Sand highlight. To finish off the look I used the Too Faced Melted Metal lipstick.

I hope you liked this Valentine's Day look. Be sure to follow my Instagram and to check out BeautybyyVee as well.

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January 2017 Favourites

Well, after taking a month off blogging it is definitely time to get back into the swing of things. To kick it all off, what better way than to start with my first lot of favourites for 2017!!

Tarte Tartelette in Bloom palette
I absolutely adore this palette and I regret not buying something from Tarte sooner. The shadows are super pigmented and blend easily. This is definitely a palette I use everyday, the shades are perfect. I used it in this tutorial over Christmas. I've also provided swatches - which you can find here.

Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara
I've been reaching for this mascara a lot lately, it really defines and adds volume to my lashes.

YSL Black Opium
I finally purchased this perfume, and I love it! It's quite a strong scent though, but I do love it.

I'm kinda starting to think that this is mainly a post to just praise all Too Faced products.

Too Faced HangoveRx primer
This primer is super hydrating - I love it. Also, it smells like coconut which is always a bonus in my books. I only have the small sample size but I'm definitely going to buy the larger product.

Too Faced Born This Way concealer
At first I was a little hesitant about this concealer as it didn't offer plenty of coverage but I've come to really like using it. I usually pair it with the Urban Decay Naked concealer so that I can get the coverage but I like how this isn't super bright and it doesn't crease as much under the eyes.

Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray
I had heard too many good things about this setting spray that I had to try it out. I have been using it for a few months but with this terrible Queensland summer heat I've been reaching for it a lot more. It does make my makeup stay all day and really helps my makeup settle.

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Thanks to Jamie, I absolutely love this product. It is super hydrating and makes my makeup go on so much easier. I love it. It may be a little expensive but definitely worth the extra $$.

I did want to mention a product that I have been using for a while, which is the Drunk Elephant Pekee cleansing bar. I think I have been converted to this brand and I've only tried the one product. My skin honestly has never been better - super cleansing, non drying and doesn't leave my skin feeling too clean. I just wish this formula wasn't a bar of soap - it isn't too much of an issue, I just feel like I lose a lot of product to the soap holder.

Like always - link me to your monthly favourites or let me know below what products you've been loving!

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