Her Beauty Days

The haul contents were purchased at Priceline and Target.

Priceline

I have no reason to be here other than I wanted to check out some new beauty products (not a good idea!). I ended leaving the store with the following:

Beauty Essentials Nail Polish Remover (conditioning)
I think these were on sale; you can't go wrong with stocking up on nail polish!

Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural
I definitely do not need any more blushes in my collection, but naturally, I was drawn by those cute love hearts and pink packaging! Super happy that I purchased this for more than half price. I've tried it out and I love how I don't even need a mirror to apply this on - you can't go wrong with this shade!

Essence Metal Glam Eyeshadow in 03 frosted apple
I just love the colour of this shadow. A bit out of my comfort zone but I'm quite interested in experimenting with shades other than neutrals.

Essence 3D Eyeshadow in 02 irresistible purr-ple
Again, something out of my comfort zone. When I saw this in person, I was just overwhelmed how gorgeous it looked! The name of the shade is quite fitting, I couldn't resist to not purchase it!

Essence Kajal Eye Pencils in 08 Teddy and 23 Love Me Lavender
At under $2 a pop in an array of gorgeous shades, I couldn't pass up.


Target

I needed to pick up an under eye concealer that suited my skin tone and has a bit more coverage (didn't conflict with the rules of the ban I think...). I settled on Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser in Medium earlier and found out that it was on sale at Target yay! Unfortunately or fortunately, Chi Chi was also on sale; I've always been curious in their eyeshadow palettes (reminiscent of the Urban Decay Naked palettes) so I decided to pick up their Bases palette because the shades look simply lovely, plus it's something I'll get a lot of use out of. "Ok, time to remove myself from the beauty section", I thought after picking up what I wanted. But sadly, you know how the rest of the story unfolds and my eyes quickly spotted the Chi Chi Social Butterfly Gift Set on special for under $5?! Let me repeat myself, "for under $5!". I loved the idea of a phone case inspired eyeshadow palette and the included phone cases, sporting the Chi Chi brand. Even though I'm not a fan of the iPhone 5 case with the colourful zebra print, the price I paid for the eye palette was a pretty good deal! Additionally, I can use the iPhone 4 case - what a cute nail polish pattern! Don't you agree this set is quite similar to Too Faced's Jingle All the Way Makeup Palette?!

I hope everyone had a great day yesterday, filled with the love from family and friends!
For Valentine's Day this year, I decided to create a makeup look that utilises a majority of drugstore products. Dissatisfied with the number of Valentine's Day makeup tutorials I've encountered that encompassed a pink theme, I had a play around with my makeup collection. I wanted a look that promotes healthy radiance, simplicity and wearable for younger beauty enthusiasts. Additionally, this combo is suitable for a natural and effortless everyday look.

I've recently discovered some new readers of my blog who aren't familiar with the basics of makeup, so this one's for you! Furthermore, I'd like to share with you how I put it all together, ready to face the day.

I applied the Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector (Combination to Oily Skin) in Light on random areas on my face with my fingers. I then used my Real Techniques Buffing Brush from the Core Collection to blend the BB cream into my skin. I found that the BB cream's finish was dewy so I omitted a highlighter in this look.
To conceal my dark circles, I used the Benefit fakeup concealer in Medium, patting the product in gently with my fingers.
I dusted the Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder in True Translucent all over my face with my Real Techniques Powder Brush, to mattify and set my base.
For a romantic flush of colour, I applied the Essence Silky Touch blush in 20 Babydoll with my Real Techniques Blush Brush.

Eyes
I like to start my eyebrows off first; I combed the Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara in, to make my eyebrows more defined and in place. This is a great staple, a transparent gel mascara that is very natural looking on the brows.
For my eyelid primer, I used the Makeup Academy (MUA) Pro-Base Eye Primer. I was actually surprised at how well this product worked considering it is very inexpensive. For my eyeshadow base, I used the EcoTools Large Eye Brush from the Essential Eye Set to apply the lighter, "3D" shade from the Essence 3D Eyeshadow in 09 Irresistible Chocolates. I then blended the Benefit Hoola bronzing powder  into my crease with the Emily 217 Blending Brush (purchased from eBay), for a nice transition colour and added definition. For a bit of a highlight under my brows and inner eye corners, I used the same light shade from the Essence 3D Eyeshadow in 09 Irresistible Chocolates in conjunction with the EcoTools Highlighting Brush from the Essential Eye Set.
For long luscious lashes, I curled mine with the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler and applied two coats of the Australis Lash Length Extensions Mascara, a smudge-free fibre mascara that promotes elongated lashes!

To finish off the look, I opted for soft red lips that aren't too dramatic using the Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayon in Apple Crumble. These are the new limited edition lip crayons on the market; affordable (only $4.95) and reliable products, infused with a vanilla scent.

All of the Real Techniques and EcoTools brushes were purchased off iherb.com. You can use the code PCW095 to get $5 off your first order under $40 or $10 off your first order over $40.

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you would like future FOTD posts composed in a similar nature to this one, do let me know in the comments below!
So tell me, how do you do your "special occasion" makeup?

Anybody remember this song?


Because that's the song that played in my head the moment I picked up the Models Prefer Eyeshadow Quad in Hook Me Up.
I picked this up on sale for under $5 (half price!) at Priceline a few weeks back, partially because they reminded me of the Wet n Wild eyeshadow palettes, with the suggested use embossed into the product. For my benefit, they take the guesswork out of things - eyeshadow application for beginners like myself have been made a whole lot easier!



The eyeshadow quad features four shimmer shades - a champagne base, a gold lid shade, a purple-maroon crease shade with a pink sheen (gorgeous shade!) and a bronze corner shade.
Pigmentation is quite decent; the crease shade is noted to have poorer pigmentation than the other shades, albeit the problem can be fixed with applying them in a wet nature and building the colour up.
The shades are velvety but not creamy as other products plus they aren't chalky either.
I really adore the shade combination provided; the shades compliment my brown eyes quite beautifully.
The packaging is one aspect which I really dislike - it's what I expected from a brand as such, cheap plastic packaging that would easily break at the "hinge". Additionally, I found it difficult to open the quad without incurring damage to my nail polish.

Wear time without a primer underneath - 2-3 hours, by the fourth hour I noticed a bit of fading.



Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the product, considering I only paid $5 for them. It's not a bad product; I would suggest this quad to beginners in makeup and to those looking for something more affordable (but if you're looking for something that would give you more bang for your buck check out this palette.)

The product is made in China.

Limited (trend) edition with Justin Bieber thrown in the mix? You've got yourself a winner.
Just...kidding. I honestly have a love/hate relationship with the beibs.
However, I just couldn't pass up on these newly released edition from one of my favourite brands Essence featuring the boy/man himself.

Would you look at that?!


All of the Essence products mentioned in this post are made in Poland.
To see if your Priceline store is stocking this trend edition, please refer to Essence Australia's Facebook.

For myself, Christmas involves celebrating Jesus Christ's birthday.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wow, what a busy month.
I actually celebrated my 21st birthday just last week, even though it was nothing big because of the bombardment of assignments and exams.

A few days ago, when I headed out the door (hello uni!)  I actually bumped into the postman.
As usual, he handed me my post and I was so surprised to find it was my Lust Have It! box!
What a refreshing change to the box, I'm a fan!


October 2013's box is a 'Spring Race Carnival Edition'. I'm not heading to the carnival any soon but I'm very curious to see how these products can help one hitting the races.


1. Le Tan Wash Off Instant Looking Tan in Bronze (40 g)
Unfortunately, I don't use any tanning products but I'll be sure to pass this on to someone who might enjoy it more than I will. Aside from that, I think this is great if you're experimenting with tanning products or just want a temporary fix!



2. INIKA Mineral Eyeshadow in Platinum 12 (Full sized 1.2 g, RRP $25)
Initially, I was quite intimidated by the nature of the eyeshadow - it's one of those loose powder ones. I've actually never used these before but I'm quite excited - it's a lovely sparkly pale silver shade that can easily be an all over body shimmer! I'm loving the fact these can be used on the most sensitive of eyes (perfect for me!); it looks absolutely stunning on the eyelids. I pulled off the seal to get a closer look at the product (that's why it's a bit messy).

3. Paula's Choice Oil Blotting Papers
There's quite a lot of sheets here. Blotting papers are always handy for me especially midday or after a stressful situation! I'm eager to use these to compare them to other brands I've used.

4. evo Ritual Salvation Care Shampoo and Conditioner (50 mL each)
How cute are these bottles! Definitely caught my eye there. I don't have coloured hair but I do have weak, brittle hair which makes these useful.


5. Smitten Whipped Tinted Mousse Moisturiser in Cappuccino
I've never heard of this brand and I'm not sure what the size of this is. It's actually labelled as a foundation and moisturiser, instead of being a 'tinted' moisturiser. The shade is a bit too dark for me so I'll be passing this on to someone else. I love the whipped mousse texture and the matte finish but unfortunately, not the fragrance - not pleasant.

6. Princess Skincare Hyaluronic Acid Mask (Full sized, RRP $25)
This is one expensive mask! Skeptical of the price, I checked this out online and it actually retails more!
Perfect mask for my mum; I'll be sure to pass this onto her as she can really benefit from the reduction of fine lines and boost of firmness and elasticity.

Overall, this box did not disappoint. I liked the contents even though I don't plan on using all of them.
You've got a bit of value, diversity and nothing was deemed 'useless'! My favourite item would have to be the INIKA eyeshadow; so gorgeous and versatile! There's also the inclusion of vouchers to use including one for the tanning spray and for a purchase on The Iconic.

So, what did you think of this month's box? Have you received yours yet?
If you haven't, you can sign up here for their monthly beauty box that retails for $19.95.
You can use the code Herdays to get $5 off your first box!

Have a beautiful day everyone!
And for those tackling assignments, exams and stress (or any hardships), wishing you the best of luck!

(This box was provided for my consideration.)

Considering some of the products alone would cost you more than a 'yellow note', the deal online was quite reasonable!

For the "Best of Benefit" kit, you can choose 4 items - from the categories provided, complexion, cheeks, eyes and bonus gift! The products from this kit came housed in a cute pink makeup case/bag. I love pink and makeup bags always come in handy, so this was definitely a winner.

My order wasn't complete without adding in the Hoola bronzer. I've always wanted to try bronzers but the drugstore ones didn't appeal to me as much as this one.
Being the usual me, I had to make one last stop to the sale section to pick up the Cabana Glama makeup kits which were half priced - only $18! Knowing my friend's shared love for Benefit cosmetics, I had to pick one up for her as well.
The Cabana Glama makeup kit contains:
- Hoola bronzing powder with brush (4g)
- Posietint Poppy-pink tinted lip & cheek stain(2.5 mL)
- Some Kind-A-Gorgeous Medium the foundation faker for medium complexions (3.5g)
- Eyeshadow palette - Peach Fizz, Bronze Buzz & Cocoa Pizzazz
- double-ended sponge applicator

I went over $125 which was quite dreaded but I'm happy to say I got free standard international shipping. With every order, you can select two samples to try out so I selected the Stay Flawless sample and the Fine-One-One sample because I would love to try these out!

Overall, I'm a very happy customer, partially because I've finally had my hands on Benefit's Benetint! And partially, because I couldn't stop squealing at all the pretty packaging.

If you're interested in Benefit cosmetics, check out the link here.
Additionally, if you're interested on my take of reviewing any of these products, please let me know!

I hope you enjoyed this post!

So, did you recently take up on this offer? What do you think of these products? What Benefit products do you love?
Feel free to express your thoughts in the comments section below!

Not too long ago, Priceline had a half price sale on Maybelline cosmetics.

Whether it's the original Naked palette, Naked 2 palette or the most recent instalment, the Naked Basics palette, there's has been a bit of a commotion surrounding on the performance and usage frequency of these eyeshadows.

On having the luxury of sharing experiences with the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, my admiration for these eyeshadows have grown and I endeavoured to expand my collection with the hopes of incorporating more products from the Naked range.

Not long after, I welcomed the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette into the family.

Prior to investing in these products, I have read countless blog posts on the aforementioned products. A popular contender in the rise of neutral eyeshadow palettes, or should I say, a much more affordable brand, MUA cosmetics (Make Up Academy) has made its name in various posts associated with Urban Decay's Naked eyeshadows.

MUA has released the Undressed and the Undressed Me Too palette, being dupes for the Naked and Naked 2 palette respectively. Unfortunately, the former palettes are sold out at the moment, but I pounced on the MUA Heaven and Earth eyeshadow palette on news of free shipping (with purchases over £20) I received from hearsay.

I couldn't resist not purchasing this for such an affordable price of £4 and after reading the reviews on makeupalley!





The Heaven and Earth eyeshadow palette features 12 warm neutral shimmer shades ranging from shade-worthy champagnes to brilliant browns. This palette has got you nearly covered for neutral shimmer eyeshadows! We're just lacking a bit of a brown-black shade here.

Prepared to be overwhelmed by the numerous shades you can utilise as highlighters, crease shades and base shades! Create multifarious eye looks, from subtle schoolgirl to promiscuous princess!



For only £4, I was very surprised by the quality. Expect decent pigmentation, easily- blendable shades that have a rich, velvety texture! You can dismiss the idea of chalkiness here!

As for the packaging, it's very sleek and compact. I wasn't at all disheartened by the flimsy plastic case. It's super light weight and if you take care of it, it will stay intact for quite a while.

A dual ended applicator brush is included in the palette. This is a great alternative to brushes, plus it minimises fall out (yes, there is just a bit) during the transfer process from the eyeshadow to your eyelids.

Overall this is a great product! Paired with my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, I've got the best of both worlds - shimmer and matte eyeshadows!

I highly recommend this palette for those starting out with makeup and wouldn't mind a shimmer eyeshadow palette. This is also great for those who don't want to fork out for the high end brands and these make great gifts for your girlfriends!

You can pick up this palette here.