My Top 3 Foundations

This week I've decided to share my top 3 favourite foundations.

1. MAC Studio Fix Fluid

This is my all time favourite foundation! I've been using this foundation for nearly five years after my friend from the Weird and Wonderful Blog told me about it. I use the shade NW30 which is from MAC's cool tone range. This foundation has pink tones which suit my skin perfectly, the shade is a little darker than my own skin tone so I mostly use this for nights out or special occasions when I wear fake tan. It is most definitely a full-coverage foundation and lasts well all day on the skin. I do find I use it less in the summer months because I tend not to fake tan but I can't wait until it cools down so I can use it again!

Available from David Jones here or from Brown Thomas here

2. Estée Lauder Double Wear

I done a review on this foundation a few weeks ago but it has quickly become one of my absolute favourites. I have it in the shade Ecru and it's a perfect match for me. When I first started using it I applied it with make up brush but I recently seen on YouTube someone saying they use a damp beauty blender for application so I gave it a go. Oh my god the difference was unbelievably! As it is quite a heavy full coverage foundation the blender helps to dilute the foundation slightly and you're left with a smooth dewy finish. I've stopped applying it with a brush altogether now and would recommend this technique especially if you find the coverage cakey in some places. This foundation is perfect as well if you are suffering from acne or acne scarring as it gives a full coverage finish without the use of concealer.

Available from Boots here or from David Jones here

3. Maybelline Fit Me

I recently repurchased this foundation after I seen it on sale in Chemist Warehouse for $7! This actually used to be my everyday drugstore foundation for over a year. I ended up trying out other foundations instead when it ran out and completely forgot all about it. Now I remember why I loved it so much! It is a medium coverage foundation that is build-able and it lasts well throughout the day, it has a light liquid consistency to it and it applies beautifully onto the skin. I use the shade 125 Nude Beige, its slightly darker than my skin tone but it suits me during the summer months when I have a natural tan. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have a pump, but when I bought it in Ireland it always came with a pump so I don't know why it doesn't come with one in Australia. 

Available from Priceline here or from Boots here

Thanks for reading,

Colleen x

February Favorites 2015

Here's a rundown of what I've been loving this month hope you enjoy! :)

Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation (30 ml)

  

 I've had this foundation  for awhile but have rediscovered my love for it this month! I have it in  the colour 103 True Ivory and it is a perfect match for my skin colour. It is a medium coverage foundation but it is build-able. I mostly wear this foundation going to work, I put it on around 6 a.m. and don't take it off until around 6 p.m in the evening. It lasts well all day but it does begin to break down after awhile but it is easy to touch up. I wouldn't agree with the whole 25 hours thing but who wears their foundation for that long anyways?? Rimmel have also brought out this foundation in lighter nude colours recently so I might try them when this runs out. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a good, cheap day to day foundation. Just to mention it contains SPF 20 which is good for this HOT Aussie Summer we're having.

Available from Boots here and from Priceline here

Schwarzkopf Ultimate Repair Anti-Damage Hair Mask

Hair masks are a product I've only started using over the last few months. I style my hair often enough with a hair dryer and straightener, my hair is quite fine already so it can become damaged fairly easily.I use this hair mask to keep my hair hydrated during the summer months. This hair mask by Schwarzkopf is amazing! It only needs to be left on for one minute ( you can leave it on longer if you like) but my hair is super soft after I use it and it smells really good too. I use this mask twice a week on my hair but I will probably cut down to once a week when the weather isn't as humid. One thing I will say is that to apply most of it to the ends of the hair and a tiny amount to the roots if you want, because it can build up in the roots if its not washed out thoroughly leaving you with that heavy weighed down feeling after :(

Available from Coles here or find simmilar from Boots here

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Kate Moss Lipstick

I am so in love with this lipstick, I got mine in the shade 112. I got mine in Priceline for the unbelievable price of $1.47!! I purely got it at first because of how cheap it was but when I seen this colour I loved it. The shade is a deep red/ brown colour (perfect for the Autumn season) and for a matte lipstick I must say it is not one bit drying on the lips. Unfortunately I think the reason it was so cheap is because this shade is being discontinued!  I tried to find it on both Priceline and Boots' websites but it was the one shade they didn't have in stock, if this is the case I'm definitely going to have to stock up on some before it's sold out everywhere!

Benzac AC 5%

This is the best treatment for acne that I have ever found. Benzac is a water based acne gel that is used to treat the affected areas, it comes in different percentages and I think 5% is their strongest one. I bought this months ago for my other half when he was suffering from a bad break out, and only started to use it before Christmas when the same thing happened to me. It reduces the redness and size of a spot over night and after two days the breakout is non-existent! I use this regularly as part of skin care routine and it's definitely a must have product! 

Available from Priceline here

Accessorize Black and Brown Leather Look Cross Body Bag 

This my all time favourite handbag! I've had this for a couple of years now but when I moved to Australia from Ireland it didn't make the cut and I don't know why! So when I was home last I made sure to pack it this time around. It has a moose head embellishment (which I think gives it a vintage look) and a big pocket both at the front and back. It goes with most things and I use it both during the day and at night. I get so many compliments on this bag,the only thing that I don't like is that it doesn't have a zip just a fold over top with a snap button so it makes me wary of pick pockets at times! 

Find similar from ASOS here or here

Thanks for reading,

Colleen x

Homeware Haul - Kmart, IKEA and Woolworths

                                  

I'm moving house very soon so I've been slowly collecting a few bits over the last few months to decorate our new place and make it feel more like a home! So I thought I would share some of the things I have bought. The majority of stuff is from Kmart with a few pieces from IKEA and Woolworths thrown in.

Ornament Pineapple $9 (Kmart)

My favourite thing I've bought by far is this ornament pineapple from Kmart. I actually bought this after I seen in one of Brittney Lee Saunders YouTube videos. I think it's perfect for having either on your bedside locker or on  a hallway table. It also has a removable top so you could use it for storing things like keys or other small objects! 

Mugs $1.90 each (Woolworths)

I picked up these mugs last week from Woolworths on sale. I actually only own 6 mugs in total including these ones. I remember when we moved house last year we had to buy all of our own kitchenware and completely forgot about mugs when we were doing so and never got around to buying any. I thought these would make a nice addition to our small collection! I love the colour of these and the floral pattern, I want to keep a theme of pastel colours for our kitchen if I can so I might get more of the in different colours during the week. 

Heart Candle holders $4/5 (Kmart)

I bought these candle holders around Christmas time and ended up using them as part of our decorations. I was thinking of using these as make up  holders instead when we move and use them to put mascara and lip glosses in. I'll have to see what kind of place we move to first but if not I'll probably put them either on a matlepiece (if we have one) or on a shelf in the living room. I think these were around 4-5 dollars I can't remember but I know that they still have them in stock in Kmart.

Mason Drink Jars $2 each ( Kmart)

I  got these as a present from a friend after she seen me admiring them one day. I've wanted something like these for ages to put smoothies in or cocktails on the weekend. These are such a bargain and the straws come with them, they're made of hard plastic so they can be used again. 

Fragrant Candles (Small $1 each, Large $6) (Kmart)

I adore the smell of these candles! I bought the smaller ones at Christmas to put into the candle holders (mentioned above) instead of using tea lights. I usually don't buy cheap scented candles because I find the scent doesn't really fill the room or last very long. In saying that I recently repurchased the apple and rhubarb candles because they smelt soo good and the smell did actually linger in the room when I used them. The rhubarb and apple one is a real sweet smelling candle but the rhubarb tones it down slightly so it's not sickly sweet. I got the larger candle after I was so impressed with the smaller ones. It's an exotic spiced berries and pomegranate fragrance.  As the name says it's more of a spicy scent the berries still give it that fruity smell and it has a slight cinnamon smell to it as well. I think these are a great cheaper alternative to Yankee candles especially if you're on a budget like me!

Candle and candle holder $2-3 each (IKEA)

I went on my very first trip to IKEA just before Christmas because the closest one to me in Ireland is 3 hours away! There were so many things I wanted but I said I would wait until we moved before I went spending mad in there! I picked up this Vanilla scented candle and a steel candle holder to go with it. I'll probably put this candle in our bathroom because I'm not the biggest fan of vanilla scents but I think a strong fragrance like this is perfect for the bathroom! I can't remember the exact price of these but I'm positive it was just under $5 for the two.

White Plant Holder $4/5 (IKEA)

I'm sure a lost of people will recognize this item! Most beauty guru's use these as make up brush holders and that's exactly what I got it for. Again I'm not completely sure of the price but it was under the $5 mark.

Set of Tea Towels $2.90 (Woolworths)

This item is probably a bit boring but I thought I'd throw it anyway! I got these in the sales after Christmas.They're supposed to be Christmas tea towels but I don't think the design is very festive. They tie in with my pastel theme and I'll probably just have these more for show than anything else.

Glass Trinket Box $2 (Kmart)

This was such a steal at $2! I didn't really know what to use it for at first but I loved the look of it. The removable lid has a butterfly for a handle. I've been using it to store my cotton pads in instead of keeping them in the bag I think it looks nice on my make up table! :)

 And that's it! 

Thanks for reading,

Colleen x

Micellar Water - Swisse vs Garnier

Unless you've been living under a rock, I am sure you have heard of Micellar water! I've been using micellar water for the past few months instead of makeup remover wipes, unlike wipes it's really gentle on the skin and doesn't leave a residue behind on the skin. I much prefer it as I've often had rashes break out on my face due to wipes, so this has been my Holy Grail product! Micellar water contains tiny molecules called micelles which are fatty acids, these micelles act like magnets attracting the make up away from your face! I decided to compare two different brands of micellar water and see the pros and cons of both.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All in 1 (400ml)

I think this brand is popular with most people especially in Ireland. This micellar water is the more expensive of the two at $12 but I actually bought this bottle for half price in Priceline recently. I find the price of it here in Australia ridiculous as it is sold in Penneys in Ireland for less than €4! It's quiet a big bottle at 400ml which is value for money at least. It claims to last for around 200 uses. It doesn't have much of a scent to it and it's clear in colour. I use a cotton pad with this and usually one does me to take off all of make up. It isn't the best for completely removing eye make up it can take a couple of go's to get off liquid liner. It evaporates of the skin almost instantly so you don't have to go back with a second pad to absorb the excess. Overall the price and struggle to remove eye make up are a con for me but the scent-free liquid, evaporating formula and generous amount of product more than make up for this! 


Swisse Micellar Makeup Remover (300ml)

I actually only bought this brand because it was cheaper than the Garnier and I was on a budget that week. I got this bottle in Woolworths for $9 but I seen on the Priceline website they charge $10.99 its technically only a $1 in the difference. Also this is only a 300ml bottle so what you save on money you lose in product. This micellar water is a scented one it smells strongly of cucumber which is kind of a turn-off. It is a natural derived and free from harsh chemicals. This product does remove makeup in one go like Garnier but you are left with your skin feeling like its soaked so you need to use another cotton pad to absorb the rest of the moisture left on you skin. Overall the cons definitely outweigh the pros in this case.


I think Garnier is the winning product and would defo recommend it to anyone looking for a good cleanser to remove makeup that is kind to the skin. I do however think in the case of both products you would need to buy a good eye makeup remover because these just don't cut it! 





Thanks for reading,

Colleen. x

My January Favourites

Since today is the last day of the month I decided to share some of my favourite products for the month of January.  It's a mixture of make-up, hair and skin care products.

Soap and Glory Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff (300ml)

First up is a body buff by Soap and Glory, I actually only bought this because Mecca Maxima didn't have any Flake Away left in stock. It's a combination of babassu oil, sea salt, jo joba and mandarin oils.  This smells amazing and leaves my skin so smooth! I almost prefer it to flake away, its really thick so it's great for scrubbing off dead skin! It's especially good for the legs if you fake tan. It leaves skin feeling smooth and soft. I paid $16 for my pot but it lasts so long I've had this for just under two months now and have just under half a tub left. Definitely great value for money. (It's also available in Boots for €11.29)

L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation (30ml)

This by far is my favourite drug store foundation! Every time I wear it I get compliments on how good my make up looks. I bought this after I seen Lauren Curtis reviewe of it in her top 10 foundations and raved about it.

 My True Match is in the colour Rose Vanilla, it's more of a pink-toned foundation and matches my skin tone perefectly! It's a medium-full coverage foundation and it lasts well throughout the day. It also gives a nice dewy glow. I bought my True Match in Boots in Ireland and paid €14.99, it's available in Priceline for $29.95 which is definitely a price hike but I always wait to buy more expensive products when Priceline have their 40% off flash sales!

Real Technique's Expert Face Brush

This brush has changed my life! It perfectly buffs out any foundation. The bristles are synthetic and 100% cruelty free. It easily blends both cream and liquid foundations. As far as make up brushes go Real Techniques is extremely affordable, I got my brush in Super Drug for around €12 and I know they are stocked in Priceline here in Australia because I've bought a number of their brushes since discovering this one!

Benefit's World Famous Neutrals 

I was fortunate enough to get a  MYER gift voucher for Christmas so with it I bought this pretty pink eye shadow palette from Benefit. I absolutely love the packaging for this! It contains 6 eye shadows two creaseless cream shadows and four long wear powder shadows. The cream shadows come in little pots in the colours 'r.s.v.p'  which is a metallic rose pink colour and 'no pressure' a metallic light brown. The four powder shadows are called 'call my buff' which is a pale lemonade colour, I use this shade as a highlighter, 'thanks a latte' is a metallic mocha colour suitable as a base. 'Pinky swear' is a pale pink which is perfect for the brow bone or the inner corner of the eye and finally 'quick, look busy' is a matte dark brown shadow and it can be used for defining the lash line. All of the colours are neutrals as the name says and can be used to create both a day or night look. I thought this palette was really good value for Benefit it cost $44 which I was really surprised about because I also bought Hervana blusher and that was $53 alone! This palette would be ideal for someone who is just starting their make up collection.

Model's Prefer Mineral Blush

I picked up this blush in Priceline a few weeks ago because it reminded me of the Hourglass blushes. It's a two tone blush that is really pigmented ( I've inserted a swatch next to the blush). I got the colour 'Spring Fling' and it leaves such a nice glow on the skin, it's the perfect colour for these summer months. I paid $12.99 for this blush which is kind of pricey for such a small pot (3.5g) but it's really worth the money in my opinion.

Tarte Light Camera Splashes Mascara

When I was on holidays in Sydney I went to the newly opened Sephora store. I was really disappointed though because a lot of stock was sold out!I did however pick up this Tarte mascara, I adore the packaging it gives it an expensive look.I remembered Tanya Burr talking about this mascara in one of her videos so I thought I'd try it out. As the name implies it is a waterproof mascara with a short fiber wand. It makes my lashes look longer and fuller. This mascara cost $29 which isn't too bad for a high end product. 

Cien Q10 Eye Contour Cream

I used to be really bad for taking care of my skin and have only recently started a proper skin care routine. I'm only 26 but it's never to early to start wrinkle prevention! I got this eye cream from Lidl and it's so nice on the skin. The skin around my eyes is so soft since I started using it. I loved it so much that I brought a few tubes of it back from Ireland with me, I'm down to my last tube so I'll have to get on to my Mom to post some more over to me ASAP! The best thing about this eye cream is that its only €2.99!

Maybelline Brow Drama

I love this brow mascara from Maybelline, I have it in the shade dark brown. I use it after I've applied my NYX cake powder to my brows to brush out the powder and hold my brows in place. The small brush makes it so easy to apply and it stays in place all day!  I bought this in Priceline for $12.95 and it's also available from Boots for €7.49. 

Boots Coconut and Almond Leave-In Conditioner

Since moving to Australia using a leave-in conditioner is a must! My hair can get so dry in the heat and it's perfect to use after swimming in the pool or going to the beach. This conditioner smells sooo good!  I use it just after I shower and leave my hair dry naturally. It leaves my hair feeling soft and smelling amazing all day! I got this in Boots awhile back but it is such great value at €1.99!

Mac Brave 

This lipstick definitely lives up to all the hype. It's a satin lipstick so it's not drying on the lips and has good lasting power. It is the perfect nude! I usually wear it with Essence' lipliner in 'Satin Mauve', the two go so well together! I bought this in the Duty Free on my way back to Perth so I only paid around €17 for it, I know in MYER Mac lipsticks cost $36 which is really expensive so I'll have to save in order to re-purchase it!

And that's it! Let me know some of your favourites for this month :)

Thanks for reading,

Colleen x

Product Review: Estée Lauder Double Wear

I recently jumped on the band wagon and gave in to buying Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-In-Place make up. I decided to see what all the fuss is about!

Prior to using this foundation I had read some reviews. I was wary that it may break me out as I seen this was the case for some people. This wasn't the case for me and I already had a small break-out on my chin before I applied it.

I decided to wear it for Australia day, it is a full-coverage foundation so I used a pea-sized amount and applied it with my Real Techniques expert face brush. It didn't feel too heavy on my skin and gave really good coverage without any concealer. The only problem I did have with this make up is once it is put on the skin you can't apply more if you miss a patch or want to touch it up, because it can become 'cakey' and you're left with lines wear you attempted to fix it.

I was out all day and when I came home that night  I was surprised  I didn't look like a sweaty mess as it around 37 degrees that day! My make up still in place and barely any had transferred onto my sunglasses which is usually the case with most of my foundations.

Overall I was impressed with the lasting power of this foundation, at $50 (for a 30ml bottle) a pop I think it is definitely worth the money! The only down fall is that the bottle doesn't come with a pump! I think I would definitely re-purchase this product

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know your experience with this foundation. :)

Thanks for reading,

Colleen x

About Me!

Hello,

I'm Colleen.

Just a little bit about me, I decided to start a blog to talk about the things I love! I have  a lot of free time on my hands lately so I thought it was time to put it to use writing about my interests.

Some of these things include make up & beauty, fashion, travelling and keeping fit. I'm by no means an expert in any of these areas but I thought this would be something fun to do for myself.

I'm originally from Ireland but have settled in Australia for the time being taking in all of the beautiful sites. :)