Cosmetic Cupcake

Well it's definitely been a while. I've been in a blogging and nail rut that's lasted longer than normal but I'm slowly coming out of it now I think. I haven't polished my nails in over a month which is really unlike me! Since winter set in my eczema has been absolutely shocking and it's the worst it's been in many many years and the thought of acetone near my dry fingers and hands just turns me off polishing. I did manage to swatch the beautiful Chanel Mediterranée from the Summer 2015 collection though which is a nice way to slowly ease back into blogging.


What they say:

"The vivid skies and blue seas of the Mediterranean inspire a vibrant makeup collection.Bronzed skin and mesmerizing eyes create a radiant Summer look, while bold nails and colourful lips complete the effect."



Mediterranée is a stunning teal creme which instantly puts you in mind of the ocean, sunshine and a summer holiday in Cote d’Azur. Basically the total opposite of today's freezing and windy Sydney weather! 4 shades were released in the collection but Mediterranée is the standout and the only shade I picked up.

As soon as I saw swatches from Michelle at All Lacquered Up I knew I had to own it and I wasn't disappointed at all! The formula (as for most Chanel's I own) was wonderfully opaque, glossy and a dream to apply. I think the polish speaks for itself and 2 coats is pictured.




Bonus shot of the collection at Myer!



Details: The Chanel Makeup Summer 2015 collection is available now and the nail polishes retail for $39.

Did you pick up anything from the collection? Hope you've all been well!

The hubby and I aren't much for Valentines Day celebrations beyond a nice lunch or dinner however I am ALL for spoiling yourself or for your other half to spoil you with some new beauty products! Here are my top picks for Valentines Day this year with a mix of new and old products I'm loving:


Glasshouse Fragrances Verona - A dozen roses candle ($42.95 here):
I love the smell of roses and I absolutely adore the Glasshouse Fragrances candles so this limited edition is a match made in candle heaven for me. With the pretty glass packaging and delicate scent of Spicy Rose, Strawberry Leaf and Pink Amber it is the perfect candle to get you in the mood this Valentine's Day.

Stella McCartney - Stella Sheer:
I only realised after I was halfway through preparing this post that this perfume is no longer available sadly! I adore her range of rose scents and this version is light, feminine and perfect for the warmer weather at this time of year.

The Body Shop Smoky Poppy collection bodylotion ($16.95)* and body scrub ($23.95)*:
The limited edition Smoky Poppy collection is infused with real handpicked poppy flowers from the Ankara region of Turkey and consists of 7 indulgent products. I'm not great at describing scents but it's a somewhat musky yet sweet smell and different to what I normally use. The body scrub is filled with poppy seeds for a really intense exfoliation leaving your skin silky smooth while the hand lotion absorbs quickly to get your hands desirably soft.

Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush* ($21.95 here):
This palette alone is worth purchasing just for the pretty packaging! I use a soft blush brush to blend the colours together for a very natural glow. It's definitely one for fairer skin tones as it would need a very heavy hand for it show on darker skin tones.

Face of Australia Lip Paint in Fired up Fuschia* ($6.95 here):
The Face of Australia Lip Paints are a hybrid between a gloss and a liquid lipstick and give a super pigmented finish for a sexy pout. They wear well like a liquid lipstick but still give a glossy finish which I love. They come in 6 gorgeous shades but Fired up Fuschia is my favourite!

Face of Australia Lumi-tint in Hydra Heaven* ($12.95 here):
These Illuminating Sticks are a fantastic alternative to the popular (yet pricey) NARS Multiple and double as cream blush or as a face highlighter. They contain mineral oil and jojoba oil to lock in moisture and the formulas are creamy and very easy to blend to give your face a dewy glow without the hard work.

Help Me Ronda Hydration Balm in Sweet Rose ($9 here):
The new Sweet Rose scent is a new addition to Ronda's Hydration Balm range (which I reviewed last month) and it was released as part of the limited edition Vintage Love Package. I purchased the package during the pre-sale however there are still some packs available which include limited edition Emily De Molly Valentines Day lacquer and Loki's Nail Vinyls but the Sweet Rose balm should be for sale individually soon.

Chanel Dragon ($39 here):
There's nothing like a classic red creme and Chanel Dragon (fully swatched here) is a timeless and dramatic red lacquer that pairs well with any skin tone. It helps that the formula is amazing so if you're like me and leave things until the last minute you can apply just one flawless coat right before you rush out the door.

Have you tried any of these products? What will you be wearing this Valentines Day? Thanks for looking as always!

* Product(s) provided to me for consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion. My Disclosure Policy can be viewed here.

There are some shades that every lacquer collection needs and one of those is a classic red creme. It's chic and for me instantly boosts my confidence by adding that final touch to any outfit. Because red is a classic shade, it's worth investing in one that has a great formula and Chanel Dragon is my luxe pick that doesn't totally break the budget like the breathtaking Christian Louboutin Rouge. Plus it is perfect for Valentines Day which is just around the corner!


Dragon is an amazingly opaque and intense red creme that leans slightly cherry so it's an extremely wearable red for those that aren't used to wearing such a vibrant colour. It's fully opaque in one single flawless coat and the self leveling formula dries quickly to a glossy shine. Heaven in a bottle! I've yet to come across a Chanel lacquer that I haven't loved especially when their formulas are this amazing.

Pictured is one coat topped off with a coat of Cult Nails Wicked Fast top coat and this combination wore extremely well for me.


Close up:


Details: Chanel Dragon is available from Myer and David Jones stores and online for $39.

I'm currently in Hong Kong at the moment so I'll only be posting every so often! Make sure to follow me on Instagram or Facebook - I post lots of beauty and food updates! ;) I'm also trying this rounded shape for now as I've had a few breakages recently. What do you think of it?

Thanks for looking as always!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!

Thank you for entering!

Winner will be announced shortly
The last week of my belated 4th blogiversary giveaways is late unfortunately as I've been unwell but better late than never!! This week has been absolutely crazy at work which hasn't left much time for anything and as usual I'm so unorganised haha. This last giveaway is a little random but it consists of some of my favourite products!!


One lucky person will win:

Chanel Peridot
OPI Damone Roberts 1968
Face of Australia Screen Siren collection
Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayon collection - Apple crumble, Raspberry Coulis, Berry Brulee, Peach Parfait and Pie A La Mode
essence color & go polishes - hello marshmallow!, here's my number, crazy fancy love, me & my lover, date in the moonlight, misty rusty and absolutely blue and essence studio caring nail oil
Chapstick All Things Sweet lipkit
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sorbet
Revlon Girly
A huge thank you to Face of Australia for providing the Screen Siren and lip crayon collections for the giveaway!

How to enter:
- simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget thingy below!

Ts & Cs apply:
- open internationally
- must be 18 years and over to enter
- ends 24th August 2014
- winner must respond to notification email within 48 hours

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HELLOOOOOOOO everyone!! I am back home and it feels weird after being away for a month. I just want to continue honeymooning! It is nice to not live out of a suitcase but the worst thing about returning home is all the unpacking and laundry that needs to be done! URGH. We had an amazing time and I'll try to post some pics later but for now I have some of my hauls for you! We didn't really do too much shopping as we spent most of our time eating, sightseeing and doing more eating but I did buy a few polishes (of course!) and 2 big ticket items in Paris =D

This post is sponsored by Nuffnang and Clearasil.

It’s finally spring here in Australia! I LOVE this time of year as it means I can break out the pretty colours I put away for winter, dewy skin and enjoy a fresh-faced look. One of the biggest beauty trends this spring is the no-makeup look and a twist is the barely there makeup look as I prefer a bit of colour in Spring. To achieve this look it doesn’t actually mean one doesn’t wear makeup though! For me it’s about enhancing your features for a fresh faced look by working with colours that suit your skintone. We want to enhance rather than conceal our natural beauty! Because I’m quite fair I love using peach and pink tones and this look is often my go to for spring.


Great skin is always the perfect canvas to start any makeup look but especially for the barely there makeup look! It’s a huge confidence boost when you can leave the house wearing minimal makeup or having only used just a few products. The Clearasil PerfectaWash can help you put your best face forward every day without makeup with the Super Fruit Extract and Soothing Plant Extract formulas to help soothe and protect against blemishes for visibly clearer skin. Something I think all of us ladies covet! The Clearasil PerfectaWash dispenses just the right amount of cleanser using the unique automated face wash dispenser that delivers exactly 1.5mls of product each time.


The automated dosage system prevents drying out the skin using too much product and active ingredients can irritate the skin and cause further problems. My skin is still a little on the dry side from winter and the formulas contain Vitamin E and antioxidants which are known for their soothing properties so are gentle enough for daily use. They’re dermatologist tested and with the combination of pimple fighting and beneficial ingredients it’s perfect for all young adult skin types to help attain clear skin.



I love a dewy finish in spring so I used the Clinique Even Better Foundation in 01 for a slightly heavier coverage than I would normally use as I find can get away with not having to use concealer when my skin is behaving well. It evens out my skintone and covers any blemishes or acne scarring well. I set it with Face of Australia Translucent Powder and I lightly swept MAC powder blush in Hipness on the apples of my cheeks for a just pinched look. I couldn’t resist a bit of highlighter so I used Benefit Watts Up highlighter on my cheekbones!

For the eyes, I primed my lids using Too Faced Shadow Insurance and applied a very soft wash of pink using MAC eyeshadow in Ego and highlighted my brow bone using MAC eyeshadow in Shroom. I used a teeny bit of the dark brown shade from the Stila eyeshadow trio in gold glow in my outer corner and added Illamasqua Powder eye shadow in Synth to the centre of my lid. I lined my eyes lightly using Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Juju and 2 coats of Dolly Wink Volume mascara and one coat of Clinique Bottom Lash mascara in black.


For the lips I used Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Flirt for a sheer peach lip. I prefer using these lipstick-balm hybrids in the warmer months for a more natural look.


Fancy trying out the Clearasil PerfectaWash yourself? I'm giving away a Clearasil PerfectaWash Automatic Facewash Dispenser & Refill to ONE lucky reader! All you have to do is answer the following question:

Have you tried the new Clearasil PerfectaWash, what were your thoughts?
Leave me a comment with your answer below for your chance to win! The competition is open to Australian residents only and ends at 5pm AEST on October 28th 2012. The winner will be chosen by Nuffnang. See Terms & Conditions here.

Good luck!

I thought I would do some posts to show you my beauty lemmings as I'm forever lusting after products! It also allows me to show you upcoming releases and perhaps enable you to spend lol. I'm on a spending ban due to wedding, new apartment etc. so unfortunately I shall have to wait a while to try these lovely products. I've actually been really good and I've resisted purchasing anything beauty related for myself for weeks now! *pats self on back*


OPI Vintage Minnie minis ($24.95) - 3 cute pink shades and top coat! Available from August 2012.

Estee Lauder New Pure Color Gloss in Limited Edition Sequins Finish ($42) available from July 8. I really enjoy the Pure Color Glosses! They wear wonderfully and these are LE - I'm such a sucker lol.

OPI Nothin’ Mousie ‘bout It from the Minnie Mouse collection ($19.95) - I LOVE heart glitters! Even though I already have 2 from Nicole by OPI I still want this haha. Available from OPI stockists from August 2012.

Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo eyeshadows ($11.95) - I love love LOVE cream eyeshadows and these have finally been released in Aus. Darn you spending ban!!

Shu Uemura gold eyelash curler ($40) - my absolute Holy Grail eyelash curler. It now comes in luxe gold! Available now from David Jones nationwide.

Clinique Chubby Sticks will be available in 8 new shades ($35) from July 29. I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I adore my Chubby sticks!!!


OPI Suzi & the 7 Dusseldorfs and Unfor-greta-bly blue ($19.95) - these are my picks from the upcoming Germany collection. Available from August 2012.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow ($50) - there are 4 new shades being released for the Summer 2012 Miami collection and they are great neutral colours. I love my cream shadows! Available from August 2012.

Chanel Route Des Indes De Chanel - illuminating powder with shimmer. I have no idea when this comes out in Aus BUT I WANT IT..

China Glaze Summer Neon collection - neons are so hot right now! I don't have enough neons in my nail stash unfortunately.

Clinique Even Better Dark Eyes Circle Corrector - I have bad undereye circles and I'm really curious to try this out when it's released here which will hopefully be very soon!

Do any of these new products take your fancy? What are YOU lemming at the moment? Thanks for looking as always! =)

I haven't done a haul post in a while so I thought I'd show you a few recent purchases over the last month or two. I'm on a spending ban so I don't have much at all to show you! Just a few items I had to get haha.


I picked up the WAH nails Book of Nail Art as soon as it was released! I love love love WAH nails designs. I ordered directly from their online shop and it was signed by Sharmadean Reid too! I justify this purchase as research for nail art ;)


I missed out on Chanel Peridot when it came out so I was so happy when I saw it on sale on Ozsale. Even though I was on a spending ban I just had to get it!


Awesome Tammie helped me haul some Real Techniques brushes! I have been lemming these for sooooooooo long and finally bit the bullet and got them - I really needed a brush overhaul. They were 20% off too so even better! THANK YOU as always for helping me get these Tammie =D She also helped me purchase Revlon Whimsical which I swatched for you here.


Some lemmings fulfilled thanks to Apothica - Guerlain Meteorites Perles in Teint Rose 01, Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in Rose Diamond and Paul & Joe lipstick in 26.


My new Asics runners. I haven't done proper exercise in AGES and I am determined to get fit!

Have you hauled anything recently? Thanks for looking as always!

When I was in Hong Kong a few months ago, I picked up my very first Chanel blush - Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel from the Spring 2012 collection. I went into the Chanel makeup store determined to only pick up the Rouge Coco Shine in Flirt but somehow walked out with both! x) I am a sucker for Spring collections and just couldn't resist this gorgeous pink peach blush. It is just so darn luxe like all other Chanel products!


What they say:

"The luminous hues of sunset are now captured in one elegant highlighting face powder. Subtle gradations of rose, coral and peach can be applied on their own or blended together to highlight and sculpt the face or achieve an overall warmth and radiance.

To create freshness, use all of the blush shades as a harmony and sculpt your face using the beveled brush. For a healthy look, apply only the pink shade to the upper cheekbones and temples. For a glowing complexion, use the sun-kissed effect of a cloud of peach."

It's packaged in the signature chic Chanel black and white compact and comes with a beveled brush and velvet pouch. Sooooooo luxurious!!


Blush Horizon de Chanel is described as a highlight powder and has strips of dark pink, rose, coral, white and peach which can be swirled together or used individually. My blush brushes are way too big to use the strips individually so I prefer to use them all for a soft glow.


Swatch - left is the top half of the blush, right is the bottom half of the blush (excuse the scaly hand):


Swirled together:


FOTD:


Products I used:

Face:
Skin 79 VIP Gold CollectionSuper+ Beblesh Balm BB Cream
MAC Select Cover-up concealer in NC20
Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder
Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel

Eyes:
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Rehab

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Flirt


Overall: Blush Horizon de Chanel is a beautiful and very wearable blush - perfect for Spring! The texture is smooth and gives my cheeks a gorgeous subtle pink glow. It's not supposed to be super pigmented and just gives the skin a lovely healthy glow. I like to swirl the colours together and I find it starts to fade after about 8hours.

While I love it, it pains me to say that it's not the most unique blush out there and not really worth the exxy price tag. It's great if you have pale skin (like me) so that you can use it as both a highlighter and blush for a pretty pink glow. For those with darker skin it might now show up as well as a blush but would be great as a highlighter. You can't go past the fact that it's GORGEOUS and that it's Chanel though and I'm happy that it's my first Chanel blush. It's so wearable and I will definitely get my money's worth from it as I'll be wearing it a lot!

Details: Being a limited edition item unfortunately I don't think it's available any more, BUT you may be lucky. It retailed for $90 here in Aus, $58US in the US and $540HK in Hong Kong.


Thanks for looking! =)

Hi ladies! I'm finally back after my long absence. I've been back home now for a few days but I've been so rundown I haven't felt like doing much at all let alone come home and blog after work. Plus I got food poisoning a few days ago argh! So annoying! Anyway, here is my haul post for you all which is much requested every time I go to Hong Kong =) I didn't have a lot of time to shop this trip but I actually came home with nearly the same amount of stuff as I usually do or more even *shakes head* I work better under pressure what can I say! Looking at my previous HK haul posts they all sort of look similar.. I always tend to stock up on the same brands and things haha.

WARNING: This post is INSANELY pic heavy! I was going to split it into 2 posts but I couldn't be bothered xp I'm making up for not blogging for so long I guess!


I'm not responsible for creating any lemmings!


My nail polish haul for this trip. Not a lot because I have a crazy amount of untrieds! I limited myself to picking up some lemmings which included Color Club Where's the Soiree, OPI Alpine Snow (I needed a new bottle), 3 of the Essie Luxeffects and Zoya Roxy. The BK holos are getting discontinued so I stocked up on a few colours to include in swaps. Also a Lajour duochrome recommended to me by my fellow polish and food lover Abby. Thanks for the tip Abby! Also two magnetic polishes from a random brand I came across too.


These Canmake polishes deserve a pic on their own! These are their new Nail Topping Coat polishes to create easy ice-cream nail art. They also released a chocolate coloured polish (pictured on the left) with some adorable pastels to help create the look. I was itching to get the pastels too but had to show restraint every time I walked past a Canmake counter since I have dupes at home =( I am SUPER excited to try these out!

Hi ladies! Today I have for you the second product that Adore Beauty very kindly sent over for me to try a little while ago - Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Orange Blossom. I haven't tried Laura Mercier products before so I very excited as I've heard many good things about the face products. Plus it's blush - I love blush! As it's getting warm here, I decided to choose a peachy colour to try out.


What they say:

"Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour is a sheer light blush that easily glides on your cheeks to create a flawless naturally blushing look. Infused with natural botanicals, this product will soften and nourish your skin. With light-diffusing properties the Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour ensures easy and even application every time."


The blush is packaged in a sturdy dark brown case and includes a mirror which is always extremely handy in my opinion.


Orange Blossom is a light pinky peach shade with fine golden shimmer through it. It reminds me of a lighter and less glittery version of the popular NARS Orgasm - think of it as the daytime version of Orgasm! I didn't swatch it heavily in the pic below so it appears quite light on me (I'm NC20) so you can probably just make out my swatch. Don't be fooled by the "Orange" in the name though as it's not orangey at all but a peachy pink.

Swatch:


When applied:


A recent FOTD using Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Orange Blossom:


Products I used:

Face:
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in 06
YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch in 1
Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Orange Blossom*

Eyes:
elf eyelid primer
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study
Stila eye shadow trio in gold glow
Face of Australia liquid eyeliner in black*
Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes Extra Long mascara

Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion


Overall: Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Orange Blossom is a gorgeous blush that's perfect for the warmer months! It's a very flattering shade and I think it would look great on all skintones. I really like that Orange Blossom is light giving me a lovely natural flush of colour - it gives a nice healthy glow. Alternatively, you can build up the colour very easily too if you want a stronger cheek colour. In spring and summer I prefer a more natural look but I don't want to look like a ghost either so this is perfect. Orange Blossom applies nicely and blends well.

The downside is the size of the product. It's actually a lot smaller in size to what I expected and also in comparison to other blushes containing only 3.6g of product. However it should last you a while! Because Orange Blossom is so light, I found a sheer application will start to fade after a few hours unfortunately.

Details: Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colors are available in 8 shades and can be purchased online from Adore Beauty and Myer and David Jones stores nationally for $48.

For US ladies, Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colors are available in 14 shades and can be purchased from the Laura Mercier online store for $24US.

Have you tried Laura Mercier products before? Let me know in the comments below what you'd recommend me to try next! Thanks for looking as always ladies =)

*Product(s) sent to me for consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion. My Disclosure Policy can be viewed here.