Thursday 4 July 2013

Beauty Tag Mash Up

Hey there! A blogger I recently started following Maine Lyn (bananachocolatemaine), posted this mix n' mash of beauty tags. I looked like fun so I thought I might jump on the bandwagon too! (It's a bit of a long one, so you might want to grab a cup of tea)

Would You Rather: Makeup Edition Tag
1. Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?
I'd rather loose all my palettes and eyeshadows, there is something about mascara and lipstick that I can't give up!

2. Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?Even though I've been trying to grow my hair long for five-ish years, I'd rather chop it all off, as it would grow back eventually :)


 3. Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?
Coral cheek please!


4. If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or make-up?Well, I definitely spend much more money on makeup, butttt I'm pretty content with my current makeup stash so I'd have to say buy clothes 


5. Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner or eyeliner as lipstick?

Eyeliner as lipstick (note: have done in the past)

6. Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?
MAC is definitely the dominant makeup brand in my collection, but I'm tryingt o widen my horizons a bit and try new things so I'd have to lean towards Sephora!

7. Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

Definitely one eyeshadow and if I had to choose one, I'd go with MAC's Naked Lunch :)

8. Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?
Hmmmm I kinda do both already, but I guess summer clothes in winter.


9. Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

Probably bright, like pastels and whites, but to be honest I don't wear a lot of nailpolish anyway.

10. Would you rather give up your favourite lip product or your favourite eye product?
This is tough, probably favourite eye product, because I have like three other similar shades in my stash :)


11. Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?
These questions are really diggin deep into the soul, ummm probably messy bun, people always seem to compliment me when I wear them, which make me happy


12. Would you rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss? 
Never wear lipgloss?


13. Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?

Who doesn't love a sharpied eyebrow? ;)

14. Would you rather live without make-up or nail polish?
DEFINITELY nailpolish, 100%. I need ma makeup!


Beauty Brands Tag:
1. What is your favourite drugstore makeup brand?
Thats tough, its a tie between Maybelline and Rimmel, with Australis as an honourable mention! 


2.What is your favourite high end brand?
 Probably MAC (so original I know), as well as YSL and NARS!

3. A product that's raved about but you've never tried?
Ummmm Limecrime lipsticks, I want one so bad!


4. A product not worth the hype?
(This isn't so much a product, but a brush) MAC's 187 Stippling Brush, I barely use mine


5. Favorite hair brand?
hahah I don't know the first thin about hair! Probably ORGANIX


6.Favorite Nail Varnish brand?
I'm a Revlon gal :)


7. Favorite fashion brands/shops?
I'm a bigggggg fan of Glassons and Myer, plus a bit of Asos on the side. On top of that I like the actual fashion side of Zara and Topshop, but have only made a couple of purchases there.


Makeup History
1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup?
This might sound young for most of you, but I would have to say 12-13, mind you it was some mineral powder to cover up my acne and the occasional swish of mascara :) 


2. How did you get into makeup?
I bought my first makeup item on the recommendation of my best friend, but getting the hardcore makeup addiction I have now was definitely triggered by YouTube! Sidenote: I first subscribed a british girl called BigBeautyBox!


3. What are some of your favorite brands?
Like I said before; MAC, NARS, YSL, Rimmel London and Maybelline


4. What does makeup mean to you?
I don't really know how to go about answering this question, its definitely a big part of my life like, if you asked any of my friends 'whats one thing Ash loves?' they would all roll their eyes and say makeup. Its a hobby / borderline addiciton and something that I loveeee.


5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face, what would they be?
This is getting tough, um foundation (either MAC Studio Fix Fluid or Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation), Bronzer (Nars Laguna), Blush (MAC Fleur Power or Napoleon Perdis Coral) and finaaaally Mascara (I'm yet to find the golden one).


6. What is your favourite thing about makeup?

It gives you the opportunity to shape the way you are viewed by others and can demonstrate your personality or self image.  

7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup?
Look, by no means do you need to buy high end makeup, but you don't really need drugstore makeup either. Some drugstore products match the standard of high end and with others you get what you pay for, but all in all with high end makeup I think you are 50% paying for the quality of the product and 50% for the brand name. 


8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner?
Focus on finding a foundation that suits your skin shade, including getting the right undertone (cool/neutral/warm) and type (oily/dry/combination, then slowly you can build upon a simple foundation and try eyeshadows and eyeliner ect. Also PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT!


9. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube?
 I've been an avid watcher of beauty videos for four and a bit years now I'd have say, it has definitely grown immensely over that time. I would love to one day be on the other side of the camera making videos, maaaybe one day! It just makes me sad to see when some of the guru's are conforming to this fictional image of the 'perfect pretty beauty guru', just to up their viewers and loosing individuality, but anywhoooo.


10. What is one makeup trend you never understood?

Ummmmm probably those stick on lipstick/lip art trend? I can't really think of anything else.

Thank you for sticking around until the endddd, please feel free to also do this collection of beauty tags, it was a multitude of fun!
Ashleigh xo


Tuesday 2 July 2013

Maybelline: Illegal Length Mascara Review


Hey there! It's finaaaaaally school holidays (woo!) so I've had a chance to catch my breath and I'm going to try and get a few more blog posts up. To get the ball rolling, today I am reviewing Maybelline's Illegal Length Fibre Extensions Mascara.  

This is the first ever fibre extension mascara I have used, appose to normal mascaras that just coat your lashes with black, this mascara also consists of small fibres which build up on your lashes to add physical length. In the beginning I wasn't too keen on this mascara as I was applying it too close to the lash bed so the fibres were irritating my eyes throughout the day. But I have since learnt to mainly focus this mascara on the ends of my lashes. It is definitley a lengthening mascara, so I like to use it in conjunction with other mascaras (at the moment I've been using it with Revlons Lash Finder) just for that added ompf of length!

 It looks very black on the lashes, doesn't flake and I don't have any problems with smudging wooo! But the only downfall is its doesn't hold a curl well, which is something that I really look for in a mascara. In terms of the brush it made of real bristles which I really like, so it does a good job of separating the lashes. To be honest, I probably won't buy it again, just because I am now keen to try more lengthening mascaras. I don't think it is the best of mascaras in the world, but for it's inexpensive price I would recommend it!

 Side note: I have completely moved away from using waterproof mascaras, and my lashes have loved me for it. They are no longer as dry as they were anddddd it makes removing eye makeup 100 times easier!
I hope you are all enjoying your holiday break and I shall have a new blog post up very soooooooon! 


Ashleigh xo

Sunday 9 June 2013

Year Twelve Formal

Hey there! Last Friday was quite an memorable one, as it was my Year 12 Formal! The entire year level got dressed up, ate a delicious dinner and danced the night away. It was a great night seeing everyone all looking their best and there was a photo booth that printed out polaroids, a candy bar and top notch d-floor. Anywho, I just thought I might share what I wore, it was only a semi-formal event, so no silk gowns were necessary (and I believe this is the first photo I've posted of myself on my blog, which is exciting)!


Dress: Blesse'd Are The Meek 'Holey Smoke' Black Maxi Dress
I really love this dress, it was a really soft material and as you can see it has a reverse razor back with a huge slit  and some key hole cut outs. I really like maxi dresses, I wish I wore them more and this one you can dress up or down!

Shoes: ALDO 'Servedio' Coral Wedges
These were a little hard to find, as in Australia we are heading into winter so open toes shoes and coral in general is getting a bit scarce, but luckily about a week before the night I got my hands on these bad boys. It was a good decision wearing wedges I feel, because they were so easy to walk in and were comfortable so I could enjoy the night without sooking about sore feet

Clutch: ALDO 'Landaverde' Clutch
This clutch was just staring at me when I was trying on the shoes in ALDO and then when the shop assistant told me it was 50% off, I knew I had to get it.

Nails: Shellac Tropix (fingers) & Black Pool (toes)

Make Up: Napoleon
My make up was done by my brother's girlfriend, who is a Napoleon Makeup artist, I wish I had a close up of the look but of coooourse I forgot. The eyeshadows she used were absolutely gorgeous, she used the Swan Lake Prismatic Quad, which I am seriously considering purchasing it myself!

The very last thing I wanted to mention was I got my first ever spray tan! I couldn't have been happier with how it turned out! Some tips I have are to make sure you exfoliate a boat load everywhere the night before and in terms of timing, I got mine done on the Wednesday afternoon for a Friday night event.

I think that's just about everything, overall it was an excellent night! It really made me realise what an excellent year level I have and how much I am going to miss every single person next year! I love every so much and before I get too emotional I think I'm going to end it here! Enjooooy your weekend!
Ashleigh xo 

Saturday 1 June 2013

Empties #1



Hey there! This post is a little bit exciting for me because its my first ever 'Empties' post. I think they are a great idea, because you get to read a well informed opinion of a series of products, appose to just being presented with a haul or something where you don't actually hear about the quality of the products. If you do like this style of post, I highhhhly recommended you go check out Miss Heather Lauren, as she has done quite of few of these Empty Product posts and they are all reaally great! Anywho, let's get the ball rolling!



1. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub- I reeeeeeeeeaaaally love this daily scrub, I've gone through two bottles and my daily routine doesn't feel complete with out it. It's really refreshing and a little but tingling so you feel like it really is doing your skin some good. As well as the exfloliating beads which the skin feeling super soft! I have really oily skin with a boatload of black heads particulary on and near my nose, I wouldn't say it removed all of my blackheads, although it did dramatically reduce their prevalence and it is probably the best scrub I've found that does so. Conclusion: highly recommend!

2. Olay Enriched Night Cream- this was the first night cream I have ever tried so I can't really give well informed review as I don't have a point of reference, you get me? I will say that I did like this night cream, it was one of the cheapest ones and the morning after using it my skin always looked and felt better. I would recommend this to girls like me who are just starting out in the night cream business, I would buy it again but on the same hand I want to try something new.

3. Maybelline Makeup Remover- to be honest this make up remover wasn't the best, but it was cheap and I don't regret buying it. I would use it of a night and it would looook like all my eye make up was removed, but then when I woke up in the morning I still has black residue under my eyes. Buttt in saying that, I always wore water proof mascara, so it is never the easiest thing to remove in the first place. Overall, There is no harm in buying this product, but I personally wont be doing it again.
4. Natio Ageless Illuminating Primer- Natio is only available in Australia and New Zealand, so I apologise to all my international readers (which is most of you haha), but for the record I really like the brand and have used many of their products in the past. This primer was just a oversized sample and I think some people would really like it but because I have oily skin I don't think its the best primer for me. It assists with giving a dewy glow thus promoting a youthful look. The consistency was a little but watery for my liking, it was like you were applying a moisturiser to a degree and it didn't have that silicone-y feel which everyone seems to have a love/hate relationship with. I wont be buying the full size.

5. NP Set Pasarella Mascara- I really like Napoleon Perdis products and I really like the concept of NP Set, but to be be honest this mascara was just OK. I dont really have anything bad to say about it, but nor do I have anything good to say about it. Looook I just think you can get better quality mascaras for the same price.  (Worst product  review ever hahaha)

6. Rimmel London Exaggerate Eye Liner- I reeeeally like this eye liner, I'm sorry that all the writing has rubbed off the packaging, but I guess that just goes to show how much used it. Its a great liner for those just starting out in liquid liner, or who have a little trouble, as the felt tip liner makes it a pretty smooth process. I will just say that it does tend to wear as the day goes on, but nothing too terrible and I dont think this is the best liner for those who like a good clean wing, atleast I found it a bit hard to achieve. All in all I really like this liquid and have already repurchased as new one!

7. Chanel No 5 Eau De Toilette 50mL- this empty bottle has be hanging around for a while but I really wanted to include in my Empties post. I love this perfume, its expensive as anything, but I think its worth it. I love ittttttt, i love it, i love it and have already got another 100mL bottle!

Alrighttt, I think thats all from me! I know I have a picture of a face mask but I used it so long ago I couldn't summon up a review, I'm sorryyyy. And, I'm sorry for being terrible and hardly posting last month, YEAR TWELVE... it's quite a time consuming thing. Have a great weekend! 
Ashleigh xo

Friday 3 May 2013

Myth MAC Lipstick Swatch



Hey there! I won't do too much talking here, this is the up close and personal with the lipstick MYTH, as promised!
To describe this lipstick itself, it is simply a solid flesh toned nude (the swatches speak for themselves). It is a satin finish, so it goes on easily and doesn't overly dry out the lips but has great lasting power.  Because this lipstick is so close to my natural skin tone it will be great for causal days when I just want an easy lipstick that isn't toooo much or when I have a dramatic eye and don't want to make my lips a focal point!
This product retails for AU$36 from MAC Stores.
I think that's about all from me, I'm sorry this hasn't been an overly chatty post, yesterday I worked a fourteen hour day and I am beyond tired!
Enjoy scrolling through the pictureeees of this gorgeous lipstick and have a great Friday!




Ashleigh xo

Saturday 27 April 2013

MAC Haul!



 Hey there! Here is a quick haul of five products I purchased from MAC earlier this week! Apologies for the iPhone quality photos today, this is just a once off! 
1. MAC Lipstick in 'MYTH' (Satin Finish)- I was in dire need of a quality nude lipstick and after doing some research A LOT of people recommended this lipstick! I will probably do a full post on this including swatches when I get my camera back! I also wanted to buy Coral Bliss, but unfortunately they were all sold out :(
2. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20-  Three concealers currently own are now all on their last legs (of course knowing my luck this happens to all of them at the same time.) I've always been keen to try this particular concealer and figured well, there is no time like the present! Although their are some mixed reviews on this product -I'm sure I'll give my 2 cents down the track! (I hope that was the right saying)
3.  MAC Pro Colour x 4 Compact- I have mentioned this in passing before, but I am slowly making the transition from potted eyeshadows to pan form. This is mainly they are looking too cluttered in my drawer, I think the new palettes look super sleek and you save $10 per eyeshadow if you buy the pan form! It was a win-win situation
4. MAC Eyeshadow in CARBON (Matte Finish)- This is just a basic eye shadow that every girl needs. I'm not sure why I put off buying it for so long, but I have already used it and adore it! It a true matte black with no undertones, its perfect and so versatile!

5. MAC 217 Blending Brush- This is actually my second 217 brush, I purchased another earlier this year and fell in love! I use it so often it's crazy, hence why I needed to buy another! It is the best blending brush I've every used, hiiiiiiighly recommend!

 That's all for my short and sweet MAC Haul, I think my purse was pleased I used A LOT of self control...I swear I would buy the entire store if I could. I am quite curious though, what is your favourite product from MAC, anything you would like to recommend me? :D
Have a lovely weekend!


Ashleigh xo

Saturday 20 April 2013

Everyday School Make Up

 Hey there! Here is a quick run down of all products I slap on my face at seven in the morning before I spend seven hours tediously gaining an education, five days a week. Enjoy!

After I’ve done my morning skincare routine, I use my daily moisturiser the Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser. Once that’s all soaked in the rest is history…

Garnier BB Cream- I use the combination to oily skin, I like this because it does has a great coverage for a BB cream, but doesn’t appear to be thick. Depending on the season or if I’m fake tanning etc. I mix the medium shade and light shade together accordingly, to get the perfect match. The lasting power is also quite nice, but it does fade on my cheeks which is why I also go in with my concealer…

Bobbi Brown Corrector- I use the shade ‘Light to Medium Bisque’ to conceal the dark circles under my eyes, (the ones I get from all the late night ‘studying’… ). I have plenty of good things to say about this product; great coverage, great consistency etc. But the downfall is it is quite pricey for such a small amount of product and you haaave to set this bad boy with a powder or it will crease like no tomorrow. If my dark circles aren’t too bad one day, I’ll just use my Maybelline Dream Lumitouch Highlighting Concealer, which is as cheap as chips and does a great job!

MAC Mineralize Concealer-this is the concealer I use on the tops of my checks when I need a bit more coverage or on any particularly stubborn blemishes. I do like this concealer, but I probably won’t be buying this again. It doesn’t have a greeeeeat coverage which is kind of a must for concealer… although that’s why I like it for school, because it isn’t too thick. It really just up to what you are looking for in a concealer, I know of people who love it and some who don’t but I personally didn’t think it was worth the price tag.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural- as you can see I do love this product very much and unfortunately it’s on its last legs. It sets everything perfectly and controls oil without making the face look flat. This is the second one of mine and I will have to run out and grab my third very soon!

NARS Laguna Bronzer- this is hands down the BEST bronzer I’ve ever used. Definitely a Holy Grail product and a staple in millions of other girl’s makeup bags as well! I use it to contour when I want it to look a bit more natural and then to just bronze up my whole face, usually with the typically ‘3’ brush motion. I highly highly highly recommend this bronzer to everyone, it’s worth every dime! (Side note: even my super pale friend loves this bronzer, so it’s great for girls who have struggled to wear bronzer in the past, it won’t look muddy or orange I promise)

Benefit Dandelion Brightening Face Powder- this product is basically a blush and highlighter in one, it looks absolutely radiant on the skin and very natural too. It’s very soft and flattering on the cheeks, adding a very subtle but healthy touch of colour to the skin.

 Maybelline Falsies Mascara- I must apologies, I somehow forgot to take a closer photo of it, my mistake! Anywho, this just brings everything together, makes me look more awake and I do love big eyelashes I must say. This holds a curl well and I don’t have to worry about looking like a panda halfway through the day!


And there we have it folks, that is what I wear to school on a daily basis! For some this might seem like a lot but to others it might seem like hardly anything, personally I am quite content with the finally product and I promise it doesn’t actually take too long! If you are interested in what brushes I use then I have a separate post here!
 I think I’ll stop yakking on now but if you have any questions about anything or are up for a chat, please comment or email me: ashsbeautybag@gmail.com (even if it’s just school related)! I hope you are all having a lovely day and have fun at schooool!


Sunday 14 April 2013

Benefit's Watt's Up Highlighter Review

 Hey there! On today's agenda I have a few snaps and a quick review of Benefit's renowned highlighter Watt's Up! A quick background on this product; this was a Christmas present to me from my family last year and it came in the 'Perk Up & Away' Gift Set. It comes in a very cute and quirky purple tube. You wind it up at the bottom and apply directly onto your cheek bones and then you can blend it out with the sponge applicator at the base. I personally apply it directly onto my cheekbones and blend it with my fingers, then with the excess I lightly run it down the bridge of my nose and cupids bow etc. 


Now onto the actually product, it is described as a 'soft focus highlighter for face'. I could bang on about this all day, but basically because it is that tan/golden highlight colour, it easily blends into foundation seamlessly  unlike white highlighters which can look a bit to obvious and I find it easier to apply than powder highlighters. So it is a creamy consistency which makes blending a dream, and then dries to a powder like finish. It has a great lasting powder and in my opinion just looks better as the day goes on! Unfortunately the rest of my highlighting products are now reserved in my draw, collecting dust because Watt's Up has become the number one, definitely better than any other highlighting product I've tried. 

Its not the cheapest highlighter on the block, nor is it the most expensive, coming in at AU$30 for 9.4grams. I love it and think it is worth it, because it has repressed any urges I have of buying any other highlighters and I know that it is going to last a very long time. I'm not sure if this is worth mentioning but I am a NW20 skin tone, or 'natural beige' in a lot of drug store foundations. I only say this for those who are thinking of buying this who have a pale complexion, you might need to get an opinion of someone of a similar skin tone, because like I said it is golden but blends well, so it might be a little bit too dark or it might be perfectly fine, I just can't confirm it. All in all, I highly recommend this product to everyone, but especially to those who are new to highlighting!

Ashleigh xo

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Chanel Eye Shadow Quad in 18 Kaska Beige Review




Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow
18 Kaska Beige


Hey there! (Scroll down to bottom for personal update) Look I'm just come out and say it, I really reeeaaaally DO NOT recommened this quad. Phew, I'm glad I got that off my chest, if youre interested to here why though, keep on reading! (EDIT: After reading what I have just written I must say it doesn't reflect my normal professionalism, but if you're reading this then I must have decided to post it anyway!)
I bought this product quite some time ago (back when I was young and foolish) and didn't do a lot of research into it prior. Infact this was my exact mentality of purchasing it:
1. OMG OMG OMG CHANEL...I must have it.
2. I'm sure it going to be great, it is chanel after all
3. Its worth the money because theyre neutral shades, so I'll get plenty of use of it
4. It will be like my naked pallette only more compact and classier
 WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

Basically this pallette costs a limb and the colour pay off in return is awful. In the swatches above^ that is me pratically scrubbing the eye shadows to get a lil somthin' to photograph. Personally, if im going to pay thaaaat much for four eyeshadows, I would like to actually be able to see the product on my lovely little lids. I admit they are pretty to look at in the pan and the packaging is oh so chic, but at the end of the day this quad is just sitting in my drawer collecting dust. I do love how Chanel are thoughtful of their customers, as they provide a little booklet on how to apply the shadows and a protective velvet bags as well. Anywho, here are some pretty pictures of it...

Sorry this is quite a negative post (and a bit crazy, I'm quite excited if you can't tell), but I thought this needed to be said, but keep in mind that this is only my opinion, I'm sure there is someone somewhere in this world that loves this quad... maybe.

It's not letting me make those images any bigger, I'm very sorry! 

Personal Update: I am so very sorry I haven't been posting much as of late, I promise I do have a reasonable(ish) excuse, although you can be the judge of that:
1. Year 12! Recently it was  the end of term rush where every subject decides to give you a SAC which of course requires a boatload of studying and took up most of my time
2. I recently turned 17 & it was Easter, so my time has been spent a) throwing a birthday part for 70+ people, b) seeing family and c) consuming far too much chocolate
3. As mentioned I turned 17, which also turned into me thinking about what I am doing in life and thinking all things about the future, I might dare call it a quarter life crisis. But regardless, I have survived and belive it or not, I think I have finally decided on what I want to do with my future (or atleast the next 7 years). So if anything, I have had quite a rewarding crisis and now that I have worked out my hopes and goals, I can properly focus on those instead of worrying about what they should be... does that make any sense? It make sense in my teenage head, but to the rest of the world... maybe not. Alas, all is well and I think (fingers crossed) I will begin blogging on a more regular basis. Thank you all for sticking by meeeee! I hope you are all well
Ashleigh xo 

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Soap & Glory's Soaper Heroes Gift Set Review

 Hey there! About a month ago, I ventured to the heavenly Mecca Cosmetica and came across this godsend,  Soap & Glory's 'Soaper Heroes' gift set  (AU$34.95 OR £13.00) b. A while ago I made a wishlist post which contained a couple of the products found in this gift set, so when I found it I knew I had to buy it! It is basically just an array of Soap & Glory's best sellers in smaller travel/sample sized products. It is perfect for those who, like me, are scared of commitment, so you can just try out the products and see what you like before you commit to a huge full sized product. Genius, I know!
A quick rundown of what you get:
Top (left-right): 'Flake Away' body scrub & 'The Righteous Butter' body butter
Bottom (left-right: 'Girligo' moisturising body mist, 'Clean On Me' shower gel & 'Hair Supply' hair repair mask.

Flake Away body scrub (50mL)
This is possibly my new favourite exfoliator, I usually use it before applying fake tan or when trying to remove it and it works a treat! It is very much a basic sugar scrub that smells divine  but it may leave a slight oily residue if you don't wash it off properly.







 The Righteous Butter body butter (50mL)
This is also a gorgeous product, it does a great job of doing what it is supposed to; moisturising! It is pleasantly scented but nothing too overpowering. I can't really fault this product.

Girligo moisturising body mist (75mL)
I have never tried anything like this product before and to be honest it was probably what I was least excited about getting, but I think I was too quick to judge. It has a very fresh, clean scent and lightly moisturises the skin. I have used this a could of times in conjunction with The Righteous Butter prior to fake tanning. I spray this stuff all over my extremities and then only use The Righteous Butter on drier areas such as my knees. It has made such a difference with the longevity and seamlessness of my fake tan and my skin loves me for it, so I am one happy girl. 

Clean On Me shower gel (100mL)
This is described as a skin softening shower gel and it does just that! I really like the clean scent, so you don't have to worry about it clashing with your perfume or some other scented product and it lathers nicely.

Hair Supply hair mask (50mL)
This hair mask can be left in for 3+ minutes for a deep condition or you can use it on a more regular basis and use it as though you would conditioner. It makes my hair feel like I just left the salon, I reeeeeeeally like it, but it does tend to make my hair that little bit oilier quicker. This would be great for those with dry hair though!

Overall I am extremely happy with this purchase, I will definitely be going back a repurchasing some of the full sized products once these travel sizes run out. This was my first time purchasing Soap & Glory and I was really impressed. It was cheaper than I expected (only AU$34.95 OR £13.00) but that doesn't compromise the quality of the products. I wouldn't call them luxurious but they are better than a lot of products I have tried in the past and that are on the market! Sorry I talk so much, next time I'll try and have a shorter post hahaha.
I hope you are all doing well!
Ashleigh xo

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Maybelline: One By One Volum’ Express Mascara Review

One By One Volum’ Express Mascara 
I am going to try my best and make this review a bit short and snappy because I am absolutely overwhelmed with homework/study that I should be doing right now! I bought this mascara back in January I believe (it was featured in my first little drugstore haul), mainly because it was on sale and I knew my well loved 'The Magnum' mascara was slowly reaching the end of its days. (P.S. you can check out a review of that mascara  HERE). I was hoping the One By One mascara would be a good replacement, but unfortunately I was sadly mistaken. I am just going to come right out and say it, I reeeeaally DO NOT recommend this mascara!
 The main reason why I don't like this mascara is because it smudges and flakes worse than anything I have ever used. In it's defence I am used to using waterproof mascara, (until recently I found out how detrimental that is to your lashes) but still the fact that I cant last a day a school without this causing panda eyes is a bit unforgivable. I also don't like that wand (although now I am just getting fussy with personal preference), it does do a great job of separating each individual lash, but the wand is so flimsy and rubbery that it was just annoying and unpleasant to apply. I won't go into too much more detail on the wand, as you can see the shape/size of it in the picture below, But I am sure some people out there really like wands like that, I know some of my friends do. It definitely lengthens the lashes quite well but cannot hold a curl to save it's life! The one thing that I do like about this mascara is that it comes off at night extremely easy, but like I said, it doesn't have great longevity in general. 

Overall I think that there a million and one other mascara options out there in the same price range that do a much better job than this one, (black smudging and flakes under your eyes is never a good look in my books!) I think I might just pass this mascara along to my sister, because I have got a fresh tube of the Maybelline Falsies mascara just waiting to be used! I am usually a fan of Maybelline mascaras, so I was quite surprised with how much I didn't like this one. 
Anywho, thats about all from my end! I hope all is well where ever you may be & have a lovely day!
Ashleigh xo




Sunday 17 February 2013

Makeup Products Finding A New Home

Hey there! This is a post that is pretty much in direct reference to my previous post, 'Makeup Confession', about cleaning out my makeup and not hoarding products that I never really use. I went through my makeup collection as promised and have picked out a handful of products that (for whatever reason) go untouched and will be given to a couple of my friends. There were a some 'if, buts and maybes,' over a few products that narrowly missed out on making this post, so I will be keeping a close eye on them and try to use them over the coming weeks to get my final opinion on them. Anywho I will stop yacking on and get started on the products and why I no longer want them! :)
NYX Rouge Cream Blush in (left) 09 Orange & (right) 05 Glow
I had heard some great reviews on these cream blushes and because you can't get NYX blushes here in Australia, I went a little bit crazy and bought three without even swatching them whilst holidaying overseas. I think the main reason why I haven't gotten on well with these blushes is because I have quite oily skin and their staying power isn't very good. When I applied these to my cheeks it honestly just reminded me of when I had acne on my cheeks in my younger years. They are quite greasy (not good for my oily skin at all) and seemed to just amplify the imperfections of my skin. I can't say it's specifically this cream blush to fault as these were the first kind of cream blush I have ever tried, I just dont think I am much of a cream blush kind of gal! A friend of mine is keen to try out some NYX products so I thought they might better off in her hands. As I said I did by three blushes, so I am hanging on to one of them; 'Natural,' just to give it a few more goes and see if I can make it work for my skin a little better. Side note: to increase the saying power of these blushes you can always set them with another powder blush, although to me that just seemed a little bit relentless and applying the cream blush in the first blush seemed a little pointless if I was just trying to cover it up.
Bobbi Brown Diamond Dust Shadow in Snowflake
Before I jump in I just want to point out that this eye shadow is no longer available from Bobbi Brown as they were from a collection with two other shades a few years ago I believe. It is basically a very icy white shadow that is really chunky/flaky. I guess that shouldn't exactly be a surprise considering the name of the product! I thought it would be a great inner highlight but it just doesn't look that great, it doesn't adhere well to the skin and the fact that is is so chunky is a turn off for me. 

Napoleon Perdis Colour Disc in #20
I love a lot of things about this eye shadow; the pigmentation, the texture, the packaging ect. It was actually a birthday present to me last year from my brothers girlfriend who was a training makeup artist for NP at the time, so whether or not these were available to the general public I am unsure (sorry), but I do know that the packaging overall has changed! So the only reason I am passing this eye shadow on is because blue is not my colour... at all, what. so. ever. I can't see myself pulling off a blue eye shadow look in a million years! Hence, I am giving it to someone who I think may actually be able to pull off a blue eye. I do however, have three other colour discs in more wearable colours which I do love and adore!

Napoleon Perdis Ultra Pearl in #27
Much of what I said before about the colour disc does for this product as well! Somehow it has an even more luxurious texture; so smooth and blends like a dream. To be honest I was a bit on the fence about getting rid of this eye shadow, because it is so lovely, but I have a friend in mind who I know will get a lot more use of it than I! I have more golden eye shadows than I need, and this one is just that little bit too yellow for my liking! That being said I wouldn't mind coming across this formulation of eye shadow in a few different shades!
Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll On
Essentially this product is supposed to brighten under your eye (surprise surprise) and reduce the appearance of dark circles. To be blunt; I couldn't notice a difference when using this, actually it might just land it's way in the bin because it isn't really a product I would recommend for anyone. However, (it's not all bad news) I have used another Garnier roll on treatment for under you eyes which is tinted and uses caffeine I believe to immediately reduce dark circles/puffy eyes, and I really did enjoy that. So if you're interested, definitely give that one a go, its called the Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller.

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Passion
Somehow I managed to get this product confused with the Revlon Just Bitten KISSABLE BALM STAIN (which I looooooooooove)! This however is not something I would recommend at aaaaall, its basically just a pink texta/marker to draw on your lips! I only used it about twice, but I am told they dry out super quickly as well, I really urge to not bother with this product at all, ever! (Promise me you wont?)

NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in 05 Brunette
I also bought this whilst I was holidaying just to try something new, because I had never come across something like it before. It is two different shades of brown (basically just eye shadows) and then a little pan of wax used to set your brows. I already have thick eyebrows and when I use something to try and fill them in or anything, I just look ridiculous! I was chatting to a friend and she was telling me how she was looking for a new brow product, so I just thought I should pass this along to her, as I struggle to see myself wearing it outside the confinement of my bedroom. I really have no comment on the quality of the product as I don't have any experiences with comparable brow powders and I only used it a handful of times (sorry, I know that is really not even a slightly helpful)!

There we have it folks, that is the first of my makeup clean outs! If you are interested in reading the post 'Makeup Confession', I will link it HERE! All in all, I think the people I am giving these products too will be happy to receive and it is actually quite a nice, refreshing feeling to pass these on!
I hope you are all having a loooovely weekend,
Ashleigh xo

Saturday 16 February 2013

Makeup Confession #personalpost


Hey there! Now I’ll apologise in advance if this kind of post doesn’t appeal to you, it’s not my typical sort of post but it is definitely something I wanted to share with you all. This is beginning to sound like it’s something super serious diary entry but it really isn’t that big of a deal. 
Basically I started collecting makeup about two years ago, I had been interested in makeup for A LOT longer than that, but because of my young age I didn’t have the finances to, let’s say, ‘support my obsession’ until two years ago. At the time I will admit, I was really naive and had the mindset ‘the bigger my collection, the better my collection’ so over time I’ve accumulated a ‘larger than your average’ makeup collection. In saying that I am merely comparing it to the amount of makeup my personal friends outside the blogging/YouTube world have, in comparison to many YouTubers my makeup collection would well… not even compare. I guess what the funny thing is that it was watching all these big Youtubers with HUGE makeup collections two years ago that made me want to collect as much as them, but now something inside me has changed and I am almost cringing when I watch some of the makeup collection videos that in the past I would have loved. I don’t want to spend my money (and on a bigger scale; my life) collecting 50+ blushes that will sit in a drawer collecting dust for years. I want to spend my money travelling, helping others and spoiling the people I love. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are many people in this world who can do all of the above and own 50 blushes, but I personally can’t see myself having the best of both worlds (at this point in time anyway). By no means do I think makeup is a waste of money, nor will I stop purchasing it, but I am definitely going to start shopping more wisely and have the mindset of QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
I think this has kind of been in the back of my mind for a while but what has really persuaded me to make this post was Jenn Im from ClothesEncounters. She didn’t directly make any statement like what I have just made, but from observing her and her showing her own makeup in a few of her videos, she just seems to have a good amount. Not a million different eye shadows and blushes, just the select few which she enjoys and then the most variable product in her makeup was a few different shades lipsticks. I think I am starting to get overwhelmed a little bit in the midst of my own collection – ‘so much makeup so little time’. I even find myself for some unknown reason holding on to cosmetics which I genuinely don’t use or even like, probably because in the past I thought it made my collection look good, but in reality it’s just collecting dust. So I am going to do a clean out of my makeup and ship the products I don’t particularly enjoy to my loved ones, because they will probably enjoy them more than I do!

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Source: weheartit.com
Sorry now I am just waffling on and on! Basically to do this in a quick summary:
1.       I am going to reduce my makeup purchasing, minimalize my impulse purchasing and do a bit more research in to products prior to purchasing  to limit the chance of me being disappointed in them or wasting money
2.       I will clean out my makeup, passing on unwanted items to a new home
3.       Focusing on using the products that I have!
4.       Opt for QUALITY over QUANTITY

I assure you my makeup collection isn’t actually that big, but for me I am just starting to find it a little overwhelming I suppose. Also, I don’t want to come across as hypocritical when I post future hauls and all, because I by no means am saying am never buying anymore beauty products, the purchases made will be more thought through and will get used regularly!
I hope this didn’t leave the wrong impression but it probably does seem a bit weird coming from a beauty blogger, buuuut I guess I am a bit of weird beauty blogger (& that’s how I like it)! Please leave your thoughts below, as I would love to read and reply to them all :D

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend!

Ashleigh xo