My Travel Makeup Bag (basically all my favourite products)

I'm currently down south in Margaret River for a long weekend getaway, so I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the contents of my travel makeup bag. These photos were actually taken during our Tassie holiday (and I never got around to sharing them), but everything is pretty much the same!

While I do have a fairly extensive collection of makeup, I tend to stick with my tried and tested favourites the majority of the time, but particularly when it comes to travelling. I usually go for a fairly simple look with light, shimmery shadow on the eyes and a brighter lip. 

This is basically what I use on a day to day basis, my "Capsule Makeup Collection" if you will...

1. Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer - I love this concealer because, as the name suggests, it does have a lovely natural finish, but also decent coverage. I like a really natural look to my makeup, so instead of wearing foundation, I tend to just pat this concealer onto any problem areas (mainly on redness around my nose and under my darker under-eye area), and then lightly dust a powder over to set. It gives a more polished look than bare skin, but still keeps things very natural. Pretty much a "no-makeup makeup look". I have also been loving the Shiseido Sheer Eye Zone Corrector. It's technically for around the eye area,  but I use it around my nose and chin too, just to cover any redness and it works well for me. I love the brightening effect it has. 

2. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Dim Light - If you read pretty much any beauty blog you would have heard of this product range before. The idea is the different powders "mimic the effect of the most flattering light", softening the way light reflects on the skin and concealing imperfections. I use this powder pretty much everyday, and I really do love the soft effect it gives. Particularly as someone who doesn't wear foundation on a regular basis, I love the overall smoothing and brightening effect it has - it's barely detectable, but just makes the skin look that little bit more perfect. 

3. Nars Laguna Bronzer - My favourite (and only) bronzer. I've nearly used this all up and will be repurchasing when I do. 

4. Mac Eyeshadow Quad - Brulé, Arena, All That Glitters, Wedge - I love that you can build your own mac palette and the quad is perfect for travel. These four have been my standard "everyday" eyeshadows for a long time now. I use either Arena or All That Glitters all over the lid, Wedge in the crease and Brulé just under the brow. It's light and shimmery and very brightening which I love. I don't often wear eyeliner but when I do I usually just use a darker shadow along the lashline which gives a softer effect. If I'm just bringing the one eyeshadow palette, I'll usually swap out Arena for Mac's Espresso eyeshadow. 

5. Urban Decay Naked2 Eyeshadow Palette - This is the only thing I haven't brought with me on this trip. It's a great palette with a large range of shades, but I do prefer the quality of Mac shadows. I just find them a little easier to work with so tend to reach for them first. This palette is great for travel though as it has everything you need (including a black shadow which I use as eyeliner). 

6. Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil - Soft Brunette - I purchased this pencil after watching countless youtube reviews of different brow products and hearing people rave about this particular one. I haven't tried any others, so I don't have anything to compare this to, but I'm onto my second one and still liking it so it gets a thumbs up from me. 

7. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara. This mascara gives pretty dramatic lashes which I like, but my favourite and the one I'll go back to once I've finished with this is the Maybelline Full 'N Soft. I prefer the more natural look it gives, but it can still be built up to give a nice full, thick look. I also always curl my lashes first with the Shu Uemura eyelash curler (the best eyelash curler ever - definitely worth the higher price tag)

8. Revlon Just Bitten Kissible Balm Stain - Crush - I love these balm stains because they really are a great stain. Apply, blot and they'll stay for hours. This particular colour is really beautiful. It's  pretty dark and intense when first applied, but once blotted it's a beautiful deep berry/pink that's very wearable.

9. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - Dragon Girl - This will forever be my favourite red. It's bright and bold but with a hint of pink that makes it really wearable, and the fact that it's matte means it lasts well and you don't have to worry about it ending up on your teeth! (A problem I had with the Nars Satin Lip Pencils). Also, this is apparently the lipstick that Taylor Swift wears ;)

10. Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - Nude-ist - My current favourite nude liquid lipstick for when I don't feel like wearing anything too bright. As you can see I like to bring a few different lip products - usually one red, one berry and something a little more natural. This one is definitely on the darker, more pinky side of nudes which is the only nude I ever really go for. I like the matte formula although it can be a little drying, so I'll probably look for something different when this one runs out. Anyone have any suggestions for a similar shade? 

11. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush - Exposed - My favourite blush that goes with every makeup look. I have quite a collection of blushes (and I do switch them up fairly often), but when I travel this is always the one I bring as it looks good no matter what lip colour or eyeshadow you're wearing. 

I hope you enjoyed this little look into my makeup bag. I always find it interesting to see what people bring with them when they travel (I love watching those videos on youtube - they're a real guilty pleasure!) What are your favourite travelling makeup products?

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

A Vampire Makeup Tutorial

Hello!

So today I have something a little different to share with you!

A couple of weeks ago, my sister asked me to do her makeup for a Halloween party, and I ended up turning her into a creepy looking vampire - inspired by The Vampire Diaries.

It turned out really well (if I do say so myself), so I thought I'd recreate it and film the process - partly just to record what I'd done in case I ever felt the need to dress up as a vampire again, and partly because I've been obsessed with youtube makeup tutorials for years and I was finally ready to dive in and give it a go myself!

Let me know what you think of the look and video (if you watch it... sorry it's a little awkward!) Hopefully it can give you a little inspiration if you have a costume party coming up... or maybe for Halloween next year? :)

Lauren

xxx

My Style Diary - Neon Nails

Hello! I hope you've been having a good Monday :)

Today I have another simple shorts and t-shirt outfit to share, but this time there's a little splash of neon thrown into the mix with this gorgeous new nail polish that I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas.

The polish is called "Painted Beauty" and was part of a Christmas gift set by Mecca Cosmetica called "Nailed: Neon Nights". It's a a beautiful bold neon pink colour that is seriously bright and perfect for summer. The formula is lovely and creamy, and opaque in two coats. Mecca's Gel-Effect Top Coat was the other polish in the set and left a nice glossy finish on my nails (I'm not sure they look exactly "gel-like" but so far it does seem to be quite a good top coat). I can't attest to the longevity of these polishes yet as I've only been wearing them for two days, but so far so good!

This is a limited edition set but there may be some left if you get in quick! I know Christmas is over, but if for some reason you're still in need of a gift for a beauty loving girl, one of these sets would be a good pick as they're a great product that is also packaged so beautifully -  it makes the whole "gift experience" that much more special. 

Okay, I'm off to have an early night now as I've been up since 3:30 am dropping the parentals off at the airport and then spent a rather large chunk of the day doing a huge wardrobe clear out.

I've been reading "Wardrobe Rehab" posts by Geneva from A Pair and A Spare for inspiration, but I'm still struggling to be really ruthless due to the hoarder in me and my incessant need to hold onto clothes for "sentimental reasons". Does anyone else have this problem or have any ways of combatting this?

I need your suggestions!!

Lauren

xxx

Top - Princess Highway

Shorts - H&M

Sandals - Therapy Shoes

Watch - Calvin Klein

Nail Polish - Mecca Cosmetica Polish in "Painted Beauty" 

Beauty Bits - The Red Lip Favourites

I enjoy wearing a red lip any time of year, but when December rolls around, it just feels extra appropriate and festive. I've included 6 of my favourite reds that look gorgeous regardless of whether you're in the midst of winter or going through a summer heat wave. Ranging from the bright and seriously vibrant, to slightly darker more sultry reds, these are some great ones to try out if you're looking for a new red lippie. 

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet No.40 "La Sensuelle" - One of the darker, cooler toned reds of the bunch with a slightly blue/berry undertone. The formula is matte but still very smooth and moisturising. Longevity-wise it isn't the best, but the plus is that it fades away nicely without leaving any awkward line around the edges of the lips. A perfect "winter red" for those of you in the Northern hemisphere, but I still wear it in summer too. This is definitely the most luxurious of six, but worth every penny in my opinion.  

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm "Standout" - A very similar but more affordable alternative to the Chanel lipstick above, with just a hint more pink. The matte formula is smooth and glides on easily, giving quite a satin finish that's only a touch more drying than the Chanel. The longevity is great and I find it lasts a good few hours, although you will need to re-apply after eating!

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil "Dragon Girl" - This is the newest addition to my red lipstick collection and has quickly become one of my absolute favourites. This is my perfect red and leans slightly to the pinker side. It is just a gorgeous, bright, vibrant red that would look great any time of year but is particularly perfect during the warmer months. The formula is spot on - matte but not drying and with good longevity. It's easy to draw on with it's pencil-like packaging and is just generally awesome. I can definitely see why everyone raves about these ones. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet "Hot Pepper" - On the more orangey side of the red spectrum, Hot Pepper is super bright and super long lasting (I'm talking hours and hours) with a liquid lipstick formula that dries down to a matte almost powdery finish. One application is all that's needed and you're good for the day. The only downsides are it can be a little drying, as well as being a bit of a pain to get off... but a lipstick that requires no touch ups? That gets a big thumbs up from me. 

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick No.720 "Fire and Ice" - Another warm toned red, this one is lovely and creamy, and just an all round beautiful lipstick. It is one of those colours that really lifts and brightens the face and I love pairing it with a golden eyeshadow.

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment "Cherry" - As it's name suggests, this is more of a tinted lip balm so is very moisturising and nourishing. It can give quite a bold, strong look if layered on more thickly, or can be sheered out and smudged in with your finger to give more of a natural stain, which is how I like to wear it. I've actually received quite a number of compliments about this particular colour and it's one of my most worn because it's just so easy and low maintenance. The only downside is it can be quite difficult to get in Australia (I picked mine up from Sephora in Malaysia), but if you can get your hands on it it's a great one to try.

L-R - Chanel "La Sensuelle", Nars "Dragon Girl", Fresh Sugar Cherry Lip Treatment, Revlon "Fire and Ice", Revlon "Standout", Bourjois "Hot Pepper"

What's your favourite red lipstick?

Lauren

xxx

Two New Beauty Buys

Last week I picked up two new goodies that were just so pretty that I had to share them on the blog.

The first is this absolutely stunning nail polish by Essie called Hors d'oeuvres. It is the sparkliest most glitter packed polish I own and perfect for this time of year (now that Christmas is well on its way!)

 It's chock full of slightly larger silver glitter pieces in a base of gold micro glitter. It's gorgeous layered over pretty much anything to add a bit of a festive feel to the nails, but it also gives a really cool gold/silver foil effect when dotted on all by itself. The only downside (which is to be expected from a glitter polish) is that it's a pain in the butt to get off!

The second naughty purchase is the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl which has been on my list for a very long time. I was finally pushed over the edge when I read that this is the shade that Taylor Swift wears (yes, I am one of those crazy fans).

This is the first of the Nars lip pencils that I've tried and I absolutely love the formula. It glides on easily and stays put, and despite it's matte finish I find it very comfortable on the lips and not too drying at all. Colour wise, it is the perfect red for me, not too orange or blue toned and with just a hint of pink. Its a very bright, vibrant colour that I think would look great on pretty much any skin tone. 

I have a feeling this is going to become one of my holy grail products and it's definitely going to be getting a lot of use, particularly in the summer months!

 I'm wearing it in this post if you want to see what it looks like on :)

Have you picked up any exciting new beauty bits?

Lauren

xxx

My Current Favourite Makeup

I love reading beauty blogs and always plan to throw in a few more beauty related posts on here, but for some reason it never really happens. Possibly because I always end up looking ridiculous in any close up photos I take of my face in my attempt to show you a makeup look (and therefore end up just dropping the whole idea of it).

I've decided to bite the bullet though and go ahead with this one (despite the silly photos!) as it's a makeup look I've really been loving, and I wanted to share with you some of my absolute favourite products. 

I've been going for a super simple, very natural look lately, skipping foundation and instead just using my favourite Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer and a dusting of the Hourglass Ambient Lightning Powder in Dim Light.  It's a really great concealer that I rarely see mentioned on beauty blogs, and the powder gives a beautiful finish. 

I then use a little bit of Nars Laguna Bronzer to add some warmth and the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed for a touch of colour. This is by far my most used blush as it goes with any lip colour I wear.

For the eyes I have been loving Mac's Arena eyeshadow which is described as a "soft gold-peach with pearl" that is very subtle but perfect for brightening up the eyes. I rarely wear eyeliner partly due to the time consuming nature of it and partly because I like the no-eyeliner look, but I always finish off with a good few coats of mascara - the Maybelline Full'n Soft mascara has been a long time favourite. 

For lips, I've been using the Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Cherry which gives a really pretty and subtle pinky-red colour. It looks super bright in the tube but can be sheered out, and because it's a balm, it's  obviously very moisturising. I do tend to switch out my lip products quite a bit, but this is the one I've been reaching for the most lately. 

And that is it!

I always love reading these posts - it's like getting a little sneak peak into someone's beauty bag and often a great way to decide which new products to add to my list, so hopefully it's been at least a little helpful or interesting :)

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

Products

* Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer (Light Medium)

* Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Dim Light)

* Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Exposed)

* Nars Laguna Bronzer

* Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil (Soft Brunette)

* Mac Eyeshadows - Arena all over the lid, Wedge in the crease, Brulé as a highlight

* Maybelline Full 'n Soft Mascara

* Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (Cherry)

Beauty Bits - Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet

I will admit that I have a slight addiction to lipstick.

Most other beauty products I can resist and I (try to) keep them to a minimum, but when it comes to lip products, I have very little will power and my collection is getting a little out of control! 

So, despite reading great reviews about the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet's on a number of my favourite beauty blogs, I tried to resist... When I spotted them on sale at Priceline the other day for $10 however (normal price is $24), I caved...

It was worth it though, because let me tell you - they live up to all the hype! Seeing as I'm so fond of them, I thought I may as well add my two cents, so here we go...

They're a liquid lipstick with a matte finish that are super long lasting. Unlike most matte lip products I don't find them to be drying at all (provided you use a lip balm first) and they actually have a really nice, slippery feel on the lips that is very comfortable. 

The doe-foot applicator has a pointed tip which makes precision application nice and simple, and once they set, they stay put all day until you take them off. Seriously - these don't budge at all! As someone who always forgets to reapply, that's a huge positive - particularly when we're talking about such bright bold colours. 

I've tried out three of the eight colours in the collection and have been loving them all. The first two would probably be a little more appropriate in the summery months, but I love a bold lip all year round. 

First up we have Number 02 Frambourjoise, which is a stunning strawberry pink colour that walks that fine line between pink and red. Just gorgeous! (It's my favourite of them all)

Next is Number 03 Hot Pepper, which is a vibrant, fire engine red that is seriously bold. The orangey-red is a lovely warm colour that really brightens up any look and is what I'm wearing in the photo above.

Number 07 Nude-ist, I would describe as a dusky rose colour, more muted than the others and much easier as a "wear every day" kinda colour. This is exactly what I'd hoped the Hourglass Opaque Rouge in Rose to be. Unlike the Hourglass one, it can be layered without getting cakey or flakey and doesn't settle into the lines of your lips (and is a fraction of the price! - bonus!) 

L-R: Hot Pepper, Frambourjoise, Nude-ist

They look a little glossy in the photo above, but once they dry they are completely matte

As you can probably tell by all the gushing, I really love these liquid lipsticks. They're the best I've tried and I'd definitely pick one up if you're a bold lip lover.

If I remember correctly Priceline has 30% off all Bourjois at the moment so now would be a good time to snap one up!

(Sorry for enabling!) :p

Lauren

xxx

Beauty Bits - Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream

Hello hello :) 

So I'm finally sharing a little beauty post today, which I've been meaning to write up for ages. Before I begin though, I do want to start off by saying that when it comes to foundations and skincare, I tend to play it quite safe and stick with what I know works for me. That does unfortunately mean that I don't have a whole lot to compare to, so it's probably best to take this review with a pinch of salt.

I just really wanted to share my thoughts on the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream, because it's a product I've fallen in love with over the past few months.

Let's start off with a bit of background information.

Clinique claims that this CC cream will "instantly colour correct a range of complexion concerns - redness, dullness and sallowness". It's supposed to give sheer to moderate coverage, with a lightweight texture and a "naturally radiant" finish. It also offers oil-free hydration and SPF 30. 

The CC cream is more about "colour correction" (as you could probably guess from the name), as opposed to coverage, so in terms of covering blemishes, it's not going to perform as well as say, the BB cream (which I haven't tried). 

The thing that I find interesting though, is the skincare element. It's supposed to not only provide colour correction while you're wearing it, but actually help to correct your skin tone over time (or so the lovely lady at the Clinique counter told me)

Now, onto my thoughts...

 At first when the Clinique sales person put it on my skin I was a bit unsure, as she applied quite a lot of product, and it appeared quite heavy, making me look very made up (and I'm someone who likes a very natural looking base - I don't like the feeling or the look of having my skin all covered up, and usually I go for either a light mineral foundation, or none at all). I asked for a sample to take home however, and after applying it myself, using just a very small amount of product and blending it in really well, I fell in love with it. 

It is quite a thick consistency with a slightly sunscreen-y scent, which isn't too overpowering. When applied lightly, it gives a gorgeous, fresh, glowy finish that's very natural and it actually does what it claims -  correcting the redness in my skin and helping to disguise my dark under eye circles! It is quite a light coverage, but for me if there's anything more to cover, I find concealer does the job.

The best way I can describe it is that it's like a thin veil that doesn't cover up or mask imperfections, but sort of glides over the skin and adjusts the colour, evening everything out and just making the skin look better and healthier. I find it actually starts to look even better as the day goes on, sort of "melting" into the skin and really blending in nicely. 

My favourite thing about it though, is that I actually notice an improvement in my skin after wearing it. I can't describe it exactly, but my skin just seems to look less blotchy and more even toned and just healthier, the day after I've worn it (Now I guess I could just be imagining this, but I don't think I am!)

The one downside for me is the shade selection. From what I've read there are 9 shades available, but only 5 have been released in Australia. I have it in "Light" which is perfect for me in the autumn months, but in the summer it was just a tad too light for me (and the next shade was too dark). It's a shame, because it would be perfect for summer otherwise, given the SPF 30.

There seem to be mixed reviews on this product with a lot of people finding it disappointing, but I think that it really depends on your skin type, what you're looking for and how you apply it. For me, I have dry, sensitive skin, with my skin problems mainly being redness and the occasional blemish. When I'm looking for a foundation/base, I like something light that's going to even out my skin but not cover it all up. That's what the CC cream does.

I think you would like this product if you have normal to dry, fairly clear skin, and just want something that evens things out, without covering everything up. If you have oilier skin, or you're looking for something with a medium to heavy coverage, this isn't for you, as it's quite moisturising and definitely doesn't cover up all imperfections. (Although you can apparently use it as a base under foundations - I haven't tried it this way though).

My suggestion would definitely be to try it out at the counter and also ask for a sample to take home so you can try applying it in different ways. The look you get definitely varies depending on application method. 

The way I like to use it is:

1) Moisturise really well before applying (even though the CC cream is quite hydrating, I still find it applies much more smoothly when my skin is well moisturised)

2) Squeeze out a pea sized amount and dot it all over my face

3) Blend it all in with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush

And you're done!

All in all I really enjoy using this product. I'd definitely recommend trying it out at the counter if you're after something light!

Hopefully this was helpful for some of you. I'm no beauty blogger and I know this was rather rambley, but I actually really love this product and had a lot to say! I'll try to keep things more concise next time!

Thanks for reading!
If you managed to get this far - let me know if it's something you'd like to try, or your thoughts on it if you already have!

Lauren
xxx 

Valentine's Day Nails

This was my first foray into nail art, and I quite like how it turned out, so I thought I'd share how I created these Valentine's Day inspired nails. It was actually very easy so if you're a beginner like me, don't be afraid to give it a try! It's probably too simple to even need a tutorial, but I know that I for one am clueless when it comes to nail art, so here's a step-by-step description of what I did. 

1) To start off I simply painted my nails a base coat and then 2 coats of a pale pink polish

2) Once that was completely dry, I used a tooth pick to dot the brighter pink polish into the shape of the heart. I found it easiest to place a little blob of the polish onto a piece of paper, and then make sure I only had a tiny amount on the tooth pick.

3) At this point, I felt like the heart needed a little defining, so I used a white polish to dot around the edges

4) On my index finger, I used the same pink polish to create "Valentines themed" tips - it's supposed to look like the top of a love heart. I found it easiest to do it in 2 strokes, starting from the centre and moving outwards.

5) Then once that was dry I painted over it all with a top coat

Hopefully that makes sense! I know for some people I'm proabably pointing out the obvious, but I often look at pictures on instagram and think "how the hell did they manage to do that!"

The polishes I used were:

Revlon Colour Stay Base Coat and Top Coat

Essie - "French Affair"

Kit Cosmetics - "High Impact"

Rimmel Nail Tip Colour - "Porcelain"

Let me know if you try out any Valentine's Day themed nail art!

Lauren

xxx

Christmas Gift Ideas - For Her

Hello :)

I get a little overexcited when it comes to Christmas shopping and I wanted to share my excitement by putting together a little guide for gift ideas - one "For Her", and one "For Him". I've been meaning to write this post for a few weeks now, and seeing as I've just spent most of the evening wrapping Christmas presents, I thought this would be the perfect time to finally sit down and get it done. Hopefully this gives you a little inspiration if you're stuck for ideas!


Clarins Face and Body Gorgeous Getaways Set
 Clarins has a whole range of beautiful gifts sets available this year. It's one of those brands that has universal appeal - even my Mum who isn't into beauty products at all really loves Clarins. This set is perfect because it mostly contains the basics and nothing too "fussy" which she wouldn't use. I'm sure whoever is lucky enough to receive a Clarins gift set would really appreciate it.   

WillowTree Sculpture
 I've been fortunate enough to received a couple of these gorgeous hand painted sculptures as gifts from my parents. They're so beautiful in their simplicity, and each one represents an idea, (for example, the ones that I have are "Love" and "Happiness", and the sculpture in the picture above is "Abundance". I think they make lovely, meaningful gifts. Here's a little snipped from the website.  
The sculptures are rendered so as to suggest elegance, simplicity, peace and serenity. Forms reveal their expressions through body gestures only... a tilt of the head, placement of the hands, a turn of the body. Emotions are left to the viewer to discern, which makes them personal and powerful. Willow Tree is an understated line that speaks in a compelling way.

Photo Frames 
I personally love photo frames and this set of four frames from Kikki.K would make a lovely gift for someone who likes home decor. They'd look  great hung up as part of a gallery wall (which is on my list of "Things to do in my future house one day"). Another good place to look for frames is Country Road - they have a great selection!
For a really personal gift, you can't go past a beautiful framed photo of you and the person you're giving it to. (As you may be able to tell, I really like sentimental, meaningful gifts). 

Diary
For this one I think you really need to be close to the person you're giving it to, as they may very well have already picked up a diary by the time Christmas comes around. If you're sure they haven't, Kikki.K has some really cute (and functional) diaries.

A beautiful candle
There are so many different candles to choose from!  
The one in the picture above is from Country Road and has a lovely fresh, subtle fig scent. Other places/brands that have really nice candles include Tigerlily, Bed Bath and Table (my favourite is the Vanilla Bean Candle by Ecoya), and Archipelago which you can find at Kit Cosmetics in Myer.

Frankie Magazine Calendar
I'm giving this to my sister this year (I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog so hopefully it's safe to say that!) 
Frankie is her favourite magazine, and this Calendar has some beautiful prints which I thought that she could maybe save and frame one day. 

New York Cult Recipes Cook Book
Another gift I'm giving my Mum. My parents recently went on a trip to New York,  so I thought this book would be nice to add to her collection, and to remind her of her trip. It has some really tasty looking recipes that are a bit different to what you might find in a typical cook book.

Clarins Luscious Lips Christmas Gift Set
Another Clarins gift set. Now, I'm not a lipgloss fan (too sticky and troublesome), but I seriously love the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors. They feel so lovely and moisturising, smell (and taste) like vanillarly, chocolatey goodness, and add just a subtle natural shine. Perfection!

Jo Malone
I've become a little bit Jo Malone obsessed since discovering the brand when I was in London last year. Their scents are so beautiful and unique and would make for a very luxurious and special gift. I'm so happy there's now a Jo Malone Counter in David Jones! They have a whole range of products - Colognes, Candles, Bath products, and they package everything so beautifully. Fragrance can be a tricky thing to buy as a gift, but if you have a general idea of what the person likes, I don't think you can really go wrong with Jo Malone. 
They are expensive, but if you're looking to treat someone, this is where I would go.


Anyway, I hope this was helpful, and if not, hopefully you just enjoyed the pretty pictures! I love reading these kind of posts/watching gift guide videos, so this is just my little contribution! :)
If you go to my polyvore page, there are links to where you can find most of these things (although I'm not sure all the prices are exactly right). 

I hope you're having a lovely night! Part 2 "For Him" should be coming soon!

Lots of Love
Lauren
xxx

My Style Diary - Red Dress and Cranberry Eyes

Good morning! :)

Firstly, let's just address the fact that yes, my legs are ghostly white, and I desperately need a little sun/fake tan! The other day, my dad actually said to me my legs were so white I looked anaemic! (He meant it in a caring way I'm sure... :p)

Anyway, I wore this out for dinner with Tom the other night. We don't often go out on "dates", so it was fun to have the chance to dress up a little! I love the colour of this dress (even though it does seem to emphasise my ghostliness), and it's one of those dresses that is just easy to throw on, so you can look put together without really trying (as you can probably tell, I'm all about that!)

I had a bit of fun with my makeup that night too, playing around with some new eyeshadows. I usually tend to stick to neutral, more natural looks, but I felt like experimenting, so this is what I came up with! :)

Anyway, have a lovely Sunday!

Lauren

xxx

Dress - Tigerlily

Shoes - Forever New

Beauty Bits - Purple Champagne Makeup Look

 

On Saturday I had a bit of time and was in the mood to play with make-up, so I thought I'd do a (very subtle) purple eye look, as I was off to watch the Dockers play in the AFL Grand Final. As I said in my last post, I am not a football follower, but thought I may as well jump on the Freo bandwagon, and it was an excuse to have a bit of a play with colour.

It's a very simple look with a champagne colour all over the lid, purple eyeliner smudged along the lash line, and a browny-plum colour in the crease. It's very subtle, and perfect for those like me who are a bit too scared to wear a full-on coloured eye look. 

I realised when looking at these photos that I could have done it all with just the Naked 2 palette and purple eye-liner, but I was having a bit of a play with my make-up stash, and ended up using the MAC Illustrated Face Kit as well (you can read my post about it here)

Here's a quick run-down of what I did

1) Maybelline Colour Tattoo in "Barely Branded" all over the lid as a base. 

2) "Booty Call" from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette on the inner half of my eye

3) "Plum Reduction" from the MAC palette in the crease. 

3) Purple eyeliner along the upper and lower lash line

4) Champagne eyeliner on the inner half of the lower lash-line (mine is from Shiseido, but has sadly been discontinued)

I smudged and blended it all together, added some mascara, and that was it!

I also used MAC blush in "Dame", a Revlon Balm Stain in "Crush", and painted my nails with Essie's "Bangle Jangle" which is a really pretty lavender colour. 

So that's it!

I'd love to hear how you like to incorporate colour into your make-up look :)

I hope you're having a lovely day

Love Lauren

xxx

PS - I'm sorry for the extreme close-up!! :p

On My Wish List # 2

I was just having a bit of a play around on Polyvore and I thought I would put together another Wish List post of some of the things I've been lusting after lately. Quite often I don't end up purchasing a lot of the items on my list, but it is nice to have a little reminder of things to save up for (and it helps prevent too many impulse buys)!

1. Jo Malone Cologne

I don't actually have once particular fragrance in mind, but I was in David Jones the other day and had a chance to stop by at the Jo Malone counter. It's so exciting that we have Jo Malone here in Perth now! The fragrances are just so beautiful and unique. There's something about them that sets them apart from so many other perfumes with each one being really distinctive, and none of them having just a "typical perfume smell" which I find with many others I try. I am very picky with scent but I love so many of the Jo Malone colognes... I have difficulty narrowing down which is my favourite! When I was in Europe I picked up the English Pear and Freesia, and the Rose Water and Vanilla scents. I love how now when I smell them, I'm instantly transported back to my holiday. That's the amazing thing about scent. It's also why I only tend to buy them if it's a special occasion. Having a special memory attached makes the scent that much more magical (particularly when buying a Jo Malone fragrance which is definitely one of the more pricey brands!)

2. French Connection Knit Jumper

This is such a gorgeous jumper. I love the white lace poking through at the bottom paired with the grey knit. It's so cute and would be such an easy piece to just throw on. I'm hoping they have it in store so I can try it on because I don't usually have the best of luck with sizing when shopping online! 

3. Calvin Klein Rose Gold Watch

This is still on my list from last time. Every time I walk past CK I go in and look at it, but I just can't bring myself to spend $400 (or around that) on it! I came very close the other day to splurging... but I managed to resist in the end. 

4. Forever New Lace Top

I've had my eye on this one for a while, but I actually ended up buying it the other day! It's a lovely soft lace material, not at all scratchy or uncomfortable as some lace can be, and the "latte cream" colour, as it's described, is just up my street. I'm excited to wear this so expect to see it in an outfit post soon!

5. Mac Eyeshadows

My parentals are going to New York next week and my Mum has been kind enough to agree to picking up a couple of make-up items for me while she's there (it's just so much cheaper in the US)! I've been in Mac multiple times swatching a tonne of colours, trying to decide which ones will be the best. I only want to get colours I know I will use, and I'm probably going to limit it to 4 so I can put them in a quad. I already own Woodwinked, and I'm hoping to add  All That Glitters, Wedge and Brule to my little collection. :)

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

There's been a lot of hype around these blushes on YouTube, and I'm dying to try them out! This looks like such a beautiful natural blush colour and I've heard very good things about them. It's just a shame they're so hard to get in Australia!

So that's what's on my wish list at the moment. What are you lusting after right now?

Love Lauren

xxx