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Sunday 6 September 2015

Where Did I Go?



I've been putting off writing this post mostly because the longer I do the more there is to write. I've been in London for around three and a half months now, I've never been busier in my life I always have somewhere to be and as much as I love having so much to do I've been frantic with work and letting myself get a bit run down.

This week I've decided to make some serious cutbacks in drinking after work, I've started yoga again and have been sleeping my weekend away to try and get those hours back up after too many nights working and being out.

I can't express how different my life is now to 4 months ago. It feels like longer but in other ways it's gone so fast. I've met so many lovely people and two of them in particular have helped more than I could have imagined in terms of supporting me and helping me get set up. I'm going to do my best to get back to posting once a week because I do love having this blog as a creative outlet. Even if it's just a personal post about trips I've made it'll give me something to work on. Aside from that there are a lot of wonderful new products I love to bits that I want to write about. All the mad weeks I've had have taken their toll on my skin recently so I'm doing my best to go back to basics with my skincare.

In the mean time I'm going to go make the most of a sunny Sunday afternoon and will crack on with new posts for you soon.

Claire x
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Tuesday 7 July 2015

A Short Note of Absence

For any of you lovely people who have continued to check in on me despite my few weeks of absence I feel I owe you an explanation.

As I'm sure you're aware, six weeks ago now I moved to London. The last few weeks have been less about touristy stuff and travel and more about a my-money-is-running-out induced frenzy of trying to find a job and flat to live in for the long term. Thankfully I've found both of those, in the last week I've started a new job which so far I really love and moved into a beautiful house with some really lovely people.

While this has all worked out better than I could have possibly hoped it's been a very stressful few weeks and I've had little spare time to gather my thoughts at all let alone blog. I have a bunch of new products to talk about, more travel and lifetime posts planned and in the works, they just might take a little while to make into what I really want. I've never been about churning out content I wasn't happy with and I don't want to start that now. So once my life is a little more under control and I've had a little more sleep I'll be back into it on a normal schedule.

So to anyone who has kept reading, thank you. I shall be with you shortly.

Claire x
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Friday 19 June 2015

Travel Makeup Kit

When I was heading to Paris I wanted to pick makeup that would be versatile, fresh looking but also minimal as well. These products were perfect for that, creating a nice base the would travel well (because all up I did a hell of a lot of walking and training across that 24 hour period...)


For my base I of course went with my much loved Nars Tinted Moisturiser (I have to blend two shades together at the moment because my skin is being an awkward shade). Then I'd brighten the eye area with a little of my Nars creamy concealer. I love this combination because the concealer adds a lot of coverage and makes you look more put together while the tinted moisturiser is quite light coverage so you don't feel cakey or heavy at all.

To add a bit of depth I just brought my bronzer and brushed it over my cheekbones more generally as I didn't bring and blush this time. It also brings some warmth back so you don't look too "flat."

To finish off my skin I just swipe a bit of Watts Up on the tops of my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose, this makes you look lovely and fresh. If I'm feeling oily or it's a hot day outside I also set with MAC Careblend powder for longevity.



For the eyes I groom my brows with brow gel and while that dries I apply mascara and liner (this Nara liner really lasts all day, main reason it's so great for travel) and then fill in my brows with my trusty brow wiz. A little side note, this mascara is probably the 6th tube I've bought, I've never found anything better for volume and separating the lashes so well. It's the Maybelline Colossal Volume Express mascara.

Other great thing is this whole deal only takes a maximum of ten minutes to complete so you're out the door and making the most of your trip.

Any products you can't go away without?

Claire x
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Tuesday 16 June 2015

Paris Shopping - Huygens


During my trip to Paris I traipsed all through the streets with Google maps in front of my face looking for Huygens. I'd heard of them through a few bloggers who had gone there with Birch Box and knew it was one of the places I wanted to visit while I was there. The products are all natural with a large organic component to them as well. The best part is you can customise any products with whichever scent you like. 


The lovely guys in store showed me around, introduced me to the fragrances and after much deliberation I decided on the Ylang #1 fragrance for a candle and shower gel. It's a gorgeous fragrance that's sort of a cross between orange blossom and jasmine. Huygens describes it as "addictive white flowers, leathery and vibrant." I'm absolutely in love with the scent, it's a pleasant change from my usual fruity or vanilla/sweet products. It's quite a sexy smell but relaxing and lovely before bed as well. I've found it to be a very gentle shower gel to use even when my eczema is flaring too because it's such a mild formulation.

As for the other two products, they're skincare items and both have a rose base. The Cleansing Milk is a lovely product, similar to my much loved to 5 from Lush. It leaves a soft, hydrated feeling on the skin and does a great job of removing any left over makeup (I've been using it as the second step in my double cleanse).

The last product is a toner of sorts but really feeds your skin, it's lovely after Bikram yoga because the rose scented mist is really refreshing but is amazingly hydrating considering it doesn't contain any oil. I love using it before my serum every night while I'm fresh out of the shower and my pores are nice and open. It's a very soothing formula and helps prepare your skin to absorb the next product in your skin care regime.

I'm loving these products so far - next I'd love to try the dry oil next - the hardest part is deciding which essential oil blend to go for.

Would you try any of these?

Claire x
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Saturday 13 June 2015

Paris Photo Diary

Due to a bit of a hiccup with my visa I had to leave the country and come back into the UK to activate it. Which meant a trip to Paris was on the cards (what a pity). Aside from the language barrier it was a pretty relaxing trip, I went on the Eurostar, if you're going to go I highly recommend train over plane, much more space and far more comfortable.

Like the dick head I am I left my book behind (thanks to Book Depository I have another one on the way) but other than that the trip went without a hitch. The weather was gorgeous and the food was outstanding. On my full day there I got two pain au chocolat  (which I'd been looking forward to with much anticipation) and a filled baguette for €5.75.

Le robinet d'or

Canal st-martin

Canal st-martin

One of the places I really wanted to see was Huygens, I'd seen some Youtubers and bloggers go there with Birch Box a few months ago and the products looked gorgeous. It's a natural skin care brand all made in France, the shop smelled amazing and the staff there were lovely. I'll post more on what I bought in a separate post.





Canal st-martin



Gare du nord


This was a little rose garden in the middle of Paris I found, I stopped for a break from walking and lunch here. I walked through the city rather than catching the Metro, seeing as it won't be the only time I go to Paris I didn't go to all the big attractions. I'll save them for another day when it's not so frantic over summer.



Gare du nord

Gare du nord

As  much as I enjoyed Paris I was happy to be back in London. More Paris and travel posts to come soon.

Claire x
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Thursday 4 June 2015

Things I've Learnt About Travel



I've been in London nearly two weeks now but there's so many new things to get used to here. These are just a few thoughts and observations - expect a lot more.

  • There's never going to be a perfect time to go - you just need to make the decision that it's what you want a s what you should be doing.
  • People are what make a place - as amazing as it is to see the monuments and tourist attractions the things I always remember about holidays and places are the people.
  • It will take more than two weeks to sort your life out in a new country (much to my dismay).
  • You need a lot more money than you think you do, and probably less clothes.
  • On that note, laundry takes a really long time to dry in London, and even when it is dry it's still that sort-of-a-bit-damp feel.
  • Jet lag is the second worst physical feeling in the world, second only to a hangover. I went over fourty hours without sleep and slept for 10 the first night. Instantly accustomed to the time zone - fun tip for you there.
  • 10 cent coin from New Zealand look exactly like 1p coins in the UK and it's surprisingly frustrating,  
  • There's quite a good chance you will get sick in some way when you arrive, planes ready are bug ridden things.
  • You'll find the most mundane things amazing - like ice cream vending machines!
  • There will definitely be days you wondered why you left home and what the hell you're doing here (wherever "here" is).
  • Those days pass. Some days you'll just be walking around absolutely amazed at where you are.
I'll be back with a new post soon - sorting things in London is just about a full time job at the moment. 

Claire x


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Wednesday 27 May 2015

What's In My Cabin Bag


nip and fab, dragons blood, lush 9 to 5


I'd been planning my in-flight skin care for weeks, can you tell I was quite excited? I'd not been on a long haul flight in five years now and the last time I came out looking and feeling rather haggard. Keen to counteract that this time and keep my immune system up to scratch I've picked products that can easily be used on the go, will keep my skin hydrated, clean and some tablets for immunity to keep those airplane bugs at bay. Although I can unfortunately say I definitely am suffering a cabin cold my skin is doing just fine. Every plane and stop over needs it's entertainment and some bits to make you feel a bit more fresh (and human for that matter).

For on the Plane
I mentioned the Nip+Fab products recently in this post and have been using them religiously ever since. The pads are a great, quick way to cleanse and hydrate while the serum creates a barrier between your skin and the air.

For the Stopover
I find washing my face and brushing my teeth make me feel more like myself after a long haul flight. My much loved 9 to 5, Very Gentle moisturiser and Kiwi Seed Eye Cream are always lovely at a quick pick me up.

Other Bits
As mentioned I do love being able to brush my teeth during transit - I loved having Lush toothy tabs as I didn't need another heavy tube (adding more liquid to my already full ziploc bag). Chewing gum is great for after meals if you want to freshen up but don't want to use the airplane bathrooms (which I really didn't). A book is always necessary anyway but especially on a trip this long, I'd been saving Gone Girl for weeks and am loving it. Finally I recommend some hand sanitiser to keep hands fresh after meals, touching all those baggage trolleys and doors.

I'll have some more London related posts soon I hope - currently in the grips of a horrible cold caught on the flight but expect to hear more soon.

Claire x
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Monday 25 May 2015

Made it to London!


After an unbelievably long flight to London from Singapore (seriously it was like being in purgatory it felt like it was never going to end). This is just a quick update to say I'm here and will be back to regular posting ASAP.  And by ASAP I mean as soon as the jetlag and cold I caught on the plane is gone. I'll have my what's in my cabin bag post up soon with more travel-y blogs once I've got my photos edited and looking pretty.

Claire x


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Tuesday 5 May 2015

Dream Team: Big Hair


Ahh, big hair. The elusive dream for those of us with fine and straight hair. Even with a shorter do I still struggle to get that volume and messy I-woke-up-like-this look. However since my birthday shop (still recovering from that, sorry bank account) I have found a few products that word beautifully together for low maintenance, easy volume.

The first of which I've mentioned before is Big shampoo from Lush. It's got quite a thick consistency, smells heavenly and is filled with sea salt. It's great for removing oil treatments from your hair, adds a lot of shine and, as the name would suggest, helps make your hair look bigger.

Now, the real stars of the hair show are the next two - both are the first Bumble and Bumble products I've ever tried. I'm very impressed so far. While my hair is still damp I spritz the Thickening Spray through my roots and crown of my hair and massage it through. I usually prefer to let my hair dry naturally as I find this gives more of a tousled look but also reduces heat damage to your hair. After that, I apply the Surf Spray to the ends of my hair and scrunch it in, this helps get that wave going on and gives you lots of texture. Both of these products have a more masculine smell to them (in my opinion) but I don't find it lingers so don't let that deter you.

Sometimes if I really want to amp up the wave I'll tie my hair in a bun while it's still slightly damp, once you let it out it has a good strong wave that will really hold.

Best part about these products is you can have freshly washed hair the first day after you apply them, then the second day they give your hair a lot more texture for a messy up-do. The less you wash or heat style your hair the healthier it will be.

Do you have any volumising favourites?

Claire x
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Nip+Fab Dragons Blood Skin Care

nip+fab, nib fab dragons blood fix


It takes a lot for me to change my skincare routine, I'll be the first to admit. I read about the Nip+Fab brand for the first time on Victoria's blog In The Frow, I was rather intrigued. Naturally I did stupid amounts of research into the products and decided on the Dragons Blood Fix trio of products.

Initially I bought them for my flight to London (*insert heavy breathing cat meme here*) because the products are small (under that important 100mL capacity) and sounded great for travelling with. The Dragons Blood range is designed to be lightweight but super hydrating due to the hyaluronic acid content (you know how I love my hyaluronic acid). The serum and face pads in particular appealed as being able to wash my face without water in transit and hydrate with a serum sounded perfect.

In short they'll definitely be in my cabin bag with me (a post with full what's-in-my-cabin-bag coming soon) but I'll give you a run down on what each product is like more specifically too. I bought the kit of all three Dragons Blood products from ASOS.

The cleansing pads are really great - unlike conventional face wipes I've tried these don't burn or dry out your skin. You feel very clean but with nourished and soft skin - definitely a winner for removing makeup say before the gym. And yes they're totally fine to use around your eye area too.

The serum is probably my favourite of the three - very hydrating and smoothing without being greasy at all. I love using it in the morning under my daily sunscreen, it's the perfect base for makeup to sit on and I've found everything sits in place a lot better when I've used this too. Lately I've noticed my skin has been less oily during the day too - I can only put that down to this serum seeing as nothing else in my skincare has changed.

The mask is like a more intense version again from the serum, I like to use it the "extreme" way (because I'm hardcore with my skincare ya know) by putting a thin layer on just before bed then washing off in the morning. It leaves your skin plumped and my fine lines are all gone (I'm only 23 but yes I still see those little crinkly bastards).

I've also noticed my skin seems to be breaking out less lately as well - blemishes don't look as red or angry and none of these products sting or irritate skin that's breaking out - major plus for those with sensitive but blemish prone skin.

Suffice to say I can't wait to try more from this brand, next on my list is the Glycolic Fix range (if you read my recent wishlist you'll know the ones I mean). Boots Advantage Card here I come.

Have you tried anything from Nip+Fab?

Claire x
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Tuesday 28 April 2015

Monthly Favourites: April

April is my birthday month and the first month of the year that really starts to feel wintery. I've got a few new season bits this month (mostly birthday presents, birthday presents from myself or bought with birthday money (I said birthday too much). Anyway - lets crack on. 

daniel wellington, cellini, samsung, lonely hearts

The first wee birthday present (to: me, love: me) was a Daniel Wellington watch. I'd been eyeing these up on the wrists of various bloggers. I'd fancied a more delicate "ladies" watch with a smaller face and leather strap a while and when I saw a discount code I couldn't really say no, could I? It needs to be on the tightest "rung" to fit my tiny wrists but the face is beautiful, about the same size as my much loved Michael Kors watch. I think leather watches almost improve with age as the leather softens it gains more character. Definitely a lovely piece to have. 

The next favourite was mentioned in a post earlier this month - Tootsi lipstick by Colourpop (you can see swatches here). I'd never really tried brown nudes before but this is such a gorgeous beige/browny nude. It looks a little different on everyone but it's a new favourite of mine. Dark enough that you can go pretty neutral on the eyes if you choose to but still lovely for the evening with a more dramatic look too. The fact that it's matte also means it lasts a good long while especially paired with the lip pencil counterpart of the same name. To give you an idea of how much I love it I've just repurchased another lip pencil and lippie to take with me to the UK. 

daniel wellington, cellini, samsung, lonely hearts

If you've read my "About Me" you'll know I can't resist lacy stuff. Lonely Hearts underwear is the stuff dreams are made of. So comfortable, beautifully made and they make you feel amazing too. Generally I've stayed away from soft cup bras but the extra straps on these and the fit of them is so flattering and comfortable. My boobs have moved in, unpacked and aren't going anywhere. I bought the black and white in the Blair design (with matching underwear of course).

lonely hearts lingerie blair

My final two for the month are my new Cellini hand bag - luxuriously oversized with sturdy straps, a split pocket and plenty of little nooks and crannies to keep mobile phones and lipsticks safe it's amazing. Mum got this for me mainly so I'd have something larger for the plane to the UK - my usual bag is a little too small. This greige toned bag is faux leather but feels beautifully soft and is large enough to fit my travel compendium, a book and my tablet (amongst other hand bag essentials of course).

Last but not least is actually an app - Fotor is a photo editing app, since I've started using it I find it even easier to made my blog photos look more like I've always wanted them to. Great for a beginner it has features that are easy to navigate and can give you some of the effects you can get from a DSLR camera but through editing rather than photography. There's a lot of auto-adjust templates for you to use too and a nifty collage feature which I've used on several occasions.


That's all from me for this month - next monthly favourites will be published from London (eeek!).

Claire x
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Wednesday 22 April 2015

Anastasia Brow Round Up


These are the latest additions to my Anastasia brow family - of course you can read about the dip brow if you're interested here. I did an order off Beauty Bay (one of the many presents I bought for myself for my birthday *ahem* nice cover Claire). I love the brow wiz I currently have but wanted it in a slightly darker shade. While I was at it I thought, why not get a few more bits to go with it?

The brow gel I used to use has since dried up/run out (Benefits Gimme Brow for those of you interested) and the Anastasia tube seemed a lot bigger, less expensive and goes on clear. I've used it for a week or so now and I'm very impressed, like the dip brow it has serious lasting power. I can put this on over the brow wiz pencil first thing and they'll still look immaculate even after a day at work and a gym session. It can be a little crunchy if you're too heavy handed but that's something totally down to personal preference and application technique.

The brow wiz as mentioned is already a favourite, the spoolie at one end is great for brushing brows up to the desired shape (which also adds some fullness and thickness to your brow too). The retractable pencil on the other end is great. It's a very fine point, waxy and not overly fragile like a lot of pencils can be.  All round solid product, I think it'll travel well and will probably end up in my carry on when I fly out in a months time.

Finally we have the Pro Pencil. It's a soft, concealer like pencil. it goes on very creamy and is sort of a waxy texture as well. Not sticky at all but great for covering up any brows that are growing out between trips to the beautician. Also acts as a lovely highlighter on the brow bone is you're not a fan of the pearly/shimmery finishes that a lot of highlights come in.

Have you tried any of these?

Claire x
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Thursday 16 April 2015

A Wishlist

I have a few things on my wishlist at the moment - given that I'm leaving the country in about a month I can't really afford to load myself down with more bulk. However duty free shopping is a beautiful thing. Most of these are either bits I'll aim to pick-up after I've gone through customs or when I'm in the UK and can spread out a bit.



Lately I've been trying the Nip+Fab Dragons Blood skincare range (more on that in a future post). After creeping through their website and other skincare ranges I'm rather keen on the Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix range. My skin is still quite breakout prone despite the fact that I'm 23 (what the hell is this delayed puberty?) and the Glycolic Fix range is designed to clear away dead skin, brighten your complexion and clean out your pores. I'm especially interested in the pads, the mask (who doesn't love a good mask?) and the serum. Lets just say once I get to England getting a Boots rewards card will be as high a priority as an Oyster card.

Next on the list is a beautiful perfume I've yet to purchase but have tried in store several times. I already own the EDP extreme version but next on the list is Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb EDP. It's a sweet fragrance with slightly fruitier notes that will be lovely for spring, it has an almost honey like quality on my skin once it's settled. Suffice to say I know what I'll be using my duty free vouchers on...

Another duty free item I'm planning on purchasing is a bottle of Cointreau - it's deliciously refreshing on ice after a long day at work and it pairs with Baileys beautifully as well. If you've not tried it it's an orange flavoured triple-sec, quite strong on the alcohol content but is a very versatile drink to have in your cabinet.

Finally I just found this little beauty on instagram the other day - Bali Body Tanning Oil. Now that I'll be heading back into summer in England (timed that one well didn't I?) I can bring out the summer shorts and fake tan. This sounds like a lovely natural skincare addition and I think it'll be a pay-day purchase next week.


Have you tried any of these?

Claire x
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Tuesday 14 April 2015

Autumnal Lips and Tips

It's officially the end of summer here in New Zealand and I must say I'm always excited by autumn. Warm days but cooler nights, I can wear my much loved skinny Levis again and of course the makeup trends get darker along with the weather. I've got a few stunners I love for the cooler months because who doesn't adore dark berry shades?


My personal favourites if I want something a little on the dark side are a bold MAC lip. Vino lip liner stops the lipstick from bleeding (which you especially don't want with darker lip shades). As the name suggests it's a gorgeous wine shade with a burgundy kind of tone - somewhere between a red and a purple. It's absolutely stunning and looks different depending on your skin tone too. I find more olive tones make it look more red whereas when you're a little pasty face like myself the purple tones are more dominant.

I top that off with Darkside by MAC, it's an amplified formulation which is one of my favourite varieties. Super pigmented with a semi-matte finish it complements the Vino liner perfectly. It casts a little red in the photos (I spent an hour and a half on these photos and I still feel like I didn't *quite* capture everything just right) but like the liner it shows differently depending on your skin tone. It's a very deep berry/plum shade on me which is lovely.

To pair with I love Lincoln Park After Dark by OPI, it's been a constant on my nails for several winters now and I don't think it's going away any time soon. It's definitely a purple toned polish but in certain lights looks more black. It's very flattering on shorter nails with a squoval (square/oval) shape.



What are your winter must-have shades?

Claire x
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Sunday 12 April 2015

I'm Moving to London!

I've been waiting to write/publish this post for months now and I'm sitting here just about bouncing off my seat, frothing with excitement. This has been in the back of my mind since late last year and only really came together in the last few months. I had to sort a passport, a visa and book a one way ticket (I think the ticket was the most intimidating thing about the whole ordeal!).



One of my best friends in London just so happened to have a room opening up in her flat in early July. I was intending on going over for a long holiday anyway. After certain events last year and the fact that living in London for longer than a few weeks is too good an opportunity to pass up I decided to move. Expect a lot more personal and lifestyle posts in the coming months - I've got six weeks until I leave (actually less than that now!) and only four and a half weeks left at my current job.

Almost can't believe it's actually happening but once I bought my British pounds and my five year visa came in the post it all fell into place. I'll be seeing a friend I've not seen in two and a half years, I'll be there for the ruby world cup (*cue excited heavy breathing*) and get another summer in. Best ideas I've had really isn't it? Already have my book for the plane sorted (struggling to not read it now...) and a London guide book to get me started.

Just a few of the things I'm looking forward to:

  • Seeing this angel face.
  • Getting a Boots loyalty card (for real I am so excited about Boots). 
  • Visiting the Natural History Museum. 
  • The rugby world cup - live and in the country I'm living in (I feel a trend coming on - might need to follow the world cup around from now on?)
  • Going to the Lush Day Spa - this has been on my bucket list since they opened the first one and now I can finally go. 

Claire x
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Tuesday 7 April 2015

First Impressions: Colourpop Cosmetics

Having read numerous reviews,  viewed swatch videos on YouTube and pouring over the Colourpop website I made myself a list to order for a birthday present to myself. I've been wearing these non stop since they arrived, I've swatched everything and will highlight a few of my favourite shades too. Everything from Colourpop is cruelty free, only $5 USD (except the blushes) and they are all amazingly pigmented. 

I haven't yet tried their blushes and highlighters but will definitely be making another order soon to stock up on my favourite limited edition Spring collection bits. 

colourpop, colourpop cosmetics, colourpop eyeshadows
colourpop eyeshadow, colourpop lala, colourpop game face, colourpop desert
colourpop, colourpop bandit, colourpop mooning, colourpop hustle, colourpop drift

Describing the consistency of these eyeshadows is a little difficult – they’re sort of a cross between a mousse like texture and a MAC paint pot. They’re not sticky to wear at all and feel very light on the skin. I’m not sure why but they don’t seem to really stick to/apply to your lid with brushes that well, though applying with your finger gives amazing colour pay off. They recommend tapping the colour directly onto the lid with your fingertips and I've definitely found this the best way to apply them myself.
I try to concentrate the colour strictly on the lid then blend out towards the crease with a dense brush. The effect is beautiful, they blend a dream and layer up really nicely too if you want to use more than one shade. To do a crease colour I just place colour on the outer corner and use windscreen wiper movements to blend across. To be honest the duo-chrome type colours like mooning mean you could use one colour alone for a smokey eye and look like you've used three. 

In terms of the colours themselves – if you've been following me for a while you’ll know I love colours that compliment blue eyes. Three of the shades are very coppery and gold tones while the other four are red/purple based. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I think Bandit and Desert are the ones I like most. They’re both very wearable day to day and have a beautiful almost pearl finish while still being quite matte and of course look stunning together too. 

The other more intense shades are stunning too – Mooning is indescribable, it’s sort of a black base but with a red and rose gold shimmer through it. I've also found Drift to be a great dupe for Cranberry by MAC and Game Face a dupe for Coppering. 

colourpop lippie stix, colourpop tootsi
colourpop lippie stix, colourpop bossy, swatch
colourpop lippie stix, colourpop bichette, swatch

As for the lipsticks I think I’ve found a new favourite. Tootsi is a part of the Spring collection, I’m not sure if that means it’s limited edition but I’ll definitely be buying a few more very soon to bolster my collection. It’s the most gorgeous mauve/grey/beige nude. I was a bit worried it might wash me out a bit but the first day I wore it I got a lot of compliments at work. It’s a shade that makes you look like you’ve put the effort into your lips without being as ostentatious as one of the reds. The matte finish is very flattering, not drying at all and incredibly long wearing as well. I only needed to touch this one up after lunch and I’d been wearing it for six hours. Definitely recommend getting the matching lip pencil too for longer wear and more intense colour pay off.

Both red shades I bought are great colour pay off as well. Bossy is a very “true” red – neither very blue nor orange toned it sits in the middle of the road. I would use this as more of a day-time red than the Bichette but can definitely transition into night time wear too. I find to get the real colour of this one you do need the lip pencil on underneath otherwise it seemed to cast a bit pink on me.

Bichette on my skin tone I feel is best kept for the evening, it’s a very intense blue-red. It's very eye-catching and almost a little bit vampy red (but then perhaps that's just because I'm so pale). Both Bichette and Bossy are very creamy and pigmented to apply like a dream. Again, both are matte shades and lasted a decent long while and neither bled (I put this down to lip pencil use again). I'm gradually getting myself more used to using bold colours like this, Colourpop is a great way to go as with a five dollar lipstick if you find you rarely wear it, you haven't lost a lot of money. However that said I've loved wearing both the eyeshadows and lipsticks and will certainly be trying more in the future. 

Claire x

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Thursday 2 April 2015

Read, Eat, Listen, Do #5


Read - The Incarnations.
It's a book I'd seen in Whitcoulls recently and quite fancied the sound of. The main character, Wang, is a taxi driver during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His soul mate if you will from previous life times has found him and starts writing him letters about their past lives together. I'm only a few chapters in but it's quite addictive reading so far - again it's very different from the kinds of books I normally read but the beautiful cover and references to ancient and recent history really intrigued me.

I've also recently picked up Remix magazine - if you're less of a book person and more of a beauty, fashion and celebrity kind of person this magazine is beautifully presented and has something for everyone. I read it from cover to cover this weekend just gone. Not to mention Kylie Jenner is on the cover - I feel like I should keep her on display. How beautiful is her makeup in this?

Eat - Hummus.
Man I have been getting through masses of this stuff lately. I put it with every snack and lunch time meal - on rice crackers, in sandwiches with chicken and tomato, whatever is a flat surface that can carry a copious amount of this delicious chick pea spread. I love the plain variety with just garlic and lemon - it's also pretty filling and is great for days I'm going to the gym. I love it with olive pitas, shredded chicken and baby tomatoes.

Listen - The Black Keys.
I've only really discovered these guys in the past few months but I'm hooked now. Unfortunately they're no longer coming to New Zealand but they're definitely on my "to see" list. I especially love Brothers out of all their albums - song favourites include She's Long Gone, The Only One and Fever.

Do - Planning.
I can't say exactly for what just yet but it's something that had been in the works for a while and I'm incredibly excited about it. I'll be able to say officially in a few weeks.Something incredibly exciting is on the cards - the biggest change my life will have ever had. I'll definitely be doing a lot of blog posts on this in the weeks to come.

Claire x
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Tuesday 31 March 2015

Monthly Favourites: March 2015


samsung tabS, samsung tablet

meadowlark hexagon cocktail ring, rose quartz ring


I've not written a monthly favourites post in a while and the last few weeks I've found a few new things I really love. It's a lot less beauty oriented this month but I always love seeing miscellaneous bits people enjoy too. I'm expecting the next couple of months will be pretty hectic (I can disclose why in a few weeks) so if I go MIA for a while you'll all know why. I'll do a full disclosure closer to the time - long story short some very exciting things are in the works. Anyway, as always I ramble too long so I'll shut up and get on with the important stuff.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe
If you've been following me a while you'll know I've been a fan of the Anastasia brow products a while. You can see my first impressions of the dip-brow here. I've been using the brow wiz for a while now and it's gradually taken over my brow territory fromy its waxy brother. The little spoolie at one end is great for getting brows into shape then the wind up nib at the other end is very fine meaning you can get a great looking shape and create very natural "hair like" strokes rather than a general washboard colour like the pomade provides. I've just bought it in a darker shade as well because I always love a more intense brow in the cooler months.

LUSH Mask of Magnaminty
This mask in short is heaven for problematic and high maintenance skin. This is the self preserving version and it's absolutely gorgeous. I've just about finished the large tub and have got about 10 full (very generous) masks out of it. The mint is very cooling and refreshing, the honey is calming and antiseptic for spotty skin in a very gentle way. The smell is super fresh and even though it's quite scrubby it's mild enough to use frequently. My skin hasn't looked so clear in years and I put at least part of it down to this mask. I'll definitely be repurchasing.

Samsung Tab S - 10.5 inch 32gig
This is my new baby, I'm writing this very post on it right now. I wanted something small and portable that was good for editing photos on in a basic way on the run as well. A few if my favourite features include the photo editing program, super easy to follow and it saves a copy of each edit you do in case you change your mind. The Playlist generating software is amazing too - there's little grid keypad that you swipe over to decide your mood and it creates a Playlist for you just from that. The image quality is amazing and of course it's very light and user friendly. I'll need a laptop again in the future but in the mean time this is more than adequate - in the very least I can keep up with my blog posts much more easily.

Panasonic RP-DJS200 headphones
I love listening to music, it's on when I'm in the car, going to sleep,  in the office - just all the time really. Because of that and listening to it with ear buds that sit right in your ears which in the long run isn't fantastic. Years ago I had some great Sony headphones similar to these so thought it was about time I replaced them. Short of spending 500 bucks on some Beats by Dre (my budget is not oriented that way...) these were a great alternative.

Meadowlark Hexagon Cocktail Ring
I'd had my eye on this ring for a while and finally purchased it about a month ago. The rose quartz is so muted but beautiful and is quite understated for such a bold design. I had to order it especially due to my tiny fingers and it was well worth the wait. Meadowlark is hands down my favourite jewelery brand and this is one of my most loved pieces by them.

Claire x
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Tuesday 24 March 2015

NailHür Nails - Try Ons and Review

nail hur, samantha, batalash nails

nail hur, glamazon, stiletto nails

Up until recently I had always been dubious about sticking acrylic nails to my fingers. I knew the glue and removal process could sometimes be quite damaging and given my propensity to be a bit *ahem* rough I thought it was also quite likely I'd end up snapping my nail off and taking my real nail with it. I had heard Samantha from Batalash mention she had done a collaboration to get a set of acrylics of her signature style made.  Naturally I investigated that because who doesn't want some black Sam talons? I bought my first two sets on sale - yes you need to pay for shipping but even to New Zealand it's pretty minimal and the nail sets claim to be reusable - for $15 ND I thought even if I only got one use it was still cheaper than getting a set done here.aside from that shipping was super quick too.

For my first order I bought the Samantha and the Glamazon sets - both are stiletto nail styles and each set comes with 24 nails in various sizes. I was a little worried given my miniscule pinky finger they might not fit but there are extras inside each box for stupidly small fingers if you're like me too. They also come with glue, instructions and a nail file to shape your nails after you've applied them.

In terms of the nails themselves I loved them - I repurchased again before I'd even removed my first set. I've since also tried the Cosmo Chic set but found they didn't wear as well as the stiletto counterparts did. They're incredibly easy to apply - I just picked out which nail was going where, lined them all up in a row and then glued them on. The instructions tell you to apply a drop and then stick them on, I found if I spread the glue out a little more they applied better, we're less prone to popping off and the edges didn't peel or separate as quickly.

nail hur,  snap on nails


Both sets wore fantastcically but I especially liked the Samantha set, they were easier to file, felt like real nails and are quite flexible meaning they sit on top of your natural nail quite nicely.  The Glamazon was great too though a little harder to shape and the matte pink nails were showing a bit of wear around the edges after a week. However from normal nail observation distance (do you all get what I mean by that...?) they still got plenty of compliments.

In terms if removal it's very easy to get them off - I would recommend not being too heavy handed with the glue though as its better to have to reapply sooner rather than having to rip the nail off because it's growing out. All you need to do is soak your hands in hot water for a minute or two and gently pry the nail off with a cuticle stick. I usually did this after a week of wear, often the top of my natural nail was a little rougher than usual but again this really depends on how I aplied the glue and how long I'd been using acrylics for already. After about 5 weeks of continual use my nails are a bit weaker but all I needed to do was buff the top layer gently to get rid if any rough bits. I don't think I would recommend these to people with very brittle nails but if you are keen for acrylics I'd say these gems are the way to go. On the odd occasion that I did knock a nail about it usually just popped off leaving no real damage to my natural nail at all for those of you as clumsy as me.

I've got two sets of these nails waiting for me now - all up they create a very strong statement and are super fun to wear (who needs a tea spoon to get my tea bag out of my tea when I essential have tweezers on the end of my hands?!).

Would you try these? (For more photos of these nails check my instagram)

Claire x


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