Empties #15

Time to empty the trashbag into a dishevelled-chic flatlay! Probably the last empties of the year and I'm proud that I've gone through so many products. Enough with the preamble, because I know this post is going to be rambly as ffff!

Empties #12

It's empties time again, and I'm happy to say I've made it through quite a few skincare products! I'm really trying to focus on actually finishing (skincare and body) products before opening new ones, and so far it's working well. It also means I've been sticking to a consistent skincare routine which my skin is definitely thanking me for! Let's dig in, shall we?

Skincare // Nighttime Routine 2016

Hey guys! Today I'm finally wrapping up my skincare series with my nighttime skincare routine! I know that the past few months' posts have been pretty skincare heavy but I think this one will be the last (for a while!)! I must say though, an updated routine post was long overdue and I'm really happy with the routine I do have at the moment. In case you missed them, you can check out my posts about my morning skincare routine and current cleansers!

Skincare // Current Cleansers

It's been a while since I've outlined any sort of skincare routine on the blog, so over the next few weeks I'll be going over all the skincare I use day and night! Now, I use a lot of cleansers. So much so that if I were to put these in my day/night routine posts, they would be so long! So, I'm dedicating an entire post to them. I'll be sharing with you the products that I use to remove my makeup, cleanse and exfoliate my skin!

Empties #11

It's been a hot minute since my last empties! I try to get one of these up every quarter, but sometimes I just forget or keep putting it off until I finish a certain product because I'm sooo close. Anyway, this is the loot that I've come up with this time around!

New In // Skincare

Before I get into the post, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope y'all have a joyous Christmas break filled with fun, family and FOOD. I also hope you guys are having a better Christmas Eve than me...I'm working all day today unfortunately (hella unexcited as I type this up the night before). Working retail during Christmastime is the WORST. I'm kinda sad I didn't do any festive posts this year, I usually do a NOTD post or something but I just haven't had time, nor have I really felt that festive! Oh wells, everyone and their dog has gift guides and holiday tutorials up anyways! Today's post is just a roundup of some new skincare I've been trying lately. Sort of a haul but with mini reviews!

Empties #7

Slowly, but surely, I've been making my way downtown through quite a few products! Sort of justifies the huge amount of hair and skincare products I've come into the possession of...right? Anyway, let's dig into the empties!

Empties #6

It's that time again! The rare, but fairly regular occurrence of an empties post. I seem to have had an influx of empty cleansers and skincare in general (all the more reason to buy more hey? ;) ) and it was about time I rounded it all up and shared my thoughts on all the products I've finished!

The Best of 2014 // Skin & Hair

Happy new year peeps! I hope y'all had an amazing NYE. I had a rather uneventful night, though we had a barbecue with family friends which was quite fun and food-filled! I'm sure yours was much more adventurous ;) Well, today is my first "Best of 2014" post for you all, featuring my most loved skincare and haircare products from the year! I will have my makeup one up next week (probably) :).

Empties #5

It's empties time y'all! I actually haven't done one of these in quite a while, but I've accumulated quite the load of rubbish. Since taking the photos for this post, I've actually finished up/am near finished quite a few others, so expect another empties soon!

T.N. Dickinson's All Natural Witch Hazel

Wow whee, talk about a throwback. This was featured in one of my early hauls and for those first few months, I really did love this. Its basic ingredients are pretty much witch hazel and alcohol which isn't that great. I didn't actually find it too drying, but it wasn't great. I feel like it did help clear my skin to some degree, though I've moved on to far better and brighter toners.

Repurchase? No.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

Dang, I loved these pads. They are essentially pads soaked in a gentle chemical exfoliant which really helped keep my skin clear, helped fade dark spots, as well as improve my skin's texture. I'm currently back using my Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening toner, but I've now decided that a chemical exfoliant is definitely a skincare product I'd rather not be without!

Repurchase? Not right now, but totally in the future!

Garnier Dark Spot Treatment Night

I found this serum really helped out with dark spots, skin texture and acne - very much similar to the FAB pads. It also acts somewhat like a chemical exfoliant with the inclusion of Glycolic acid, though in a serum form. It's quite an affordable way to get some chemical exfoliating-ness in your routine!

Repurchase? I already have!

Indeed Labs Hydraluron

Contrary to everyone else, I really did not see any difference when using this serum. I used it every morning and I honestly can't say it helped much in the way of my skin's moisture of hydration. Personally I found it very disappointing. It's probably just my skin type but it was for sure a waste of money for me.

Repurchase? No.

Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturising Cream

I did really like this at one point, but in comparison to other moisturisers I've tried (Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream), I didn't find this outstanding. It was sufficiently hydrating, but I only ever used it mixed in with a facial oil. I did also find it slightly greasier than other night creams I've used.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturiser

I got this as a plane freebie, and it was interesting to say the least. It had a very gel like, almost a bit sticky, texture which in theory sounds like it would be totally moisturising, and while on the lips it does feel that way, I don't think it really moisturised my lips very much. It's been a while since I used it, and I honestly can't remember what it was like. I guess that's a testament to how much I cared for it.

Repurchase? No.

Beauty Care Co Makeup Remover Pads

I think these have been featured in other empties posts. These are the cheapest cotton rounds I've found - they're $2 for 200 which is a bargain! That is, however, reflected in the quality. They are a bit fluffy and come apart easily, but personally I don't mind, and for something like cotton pads, I'd rather not pay a lot.

Repurchase? Yep, unless I find something cheaper!

The Body Shop Moringa Soap

This was nice while I used it. I really do like the Moringa scent, however the soap itself isn't amazing, especially for coming from a brand like The Body Shop. It leaves my skin feeling a bit taut, and not moisturised at all. I'll be sticking to my Dove Beauty Bars thanks!

Repurchase? No.

Indola Glamour Precious Oil

This was one of my first hair oils, and I must say I enjoyed it right up till the end. It did everything a hair oil should; left it looking smooth and shiny, soft to the touch and hydrated. While I did really love it, I think the L'oreal Mythic Oil has surpassed it.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Daiso Detergent for Puff and Sponge

Probably the best thing for cleaning brushes - and it's only $2.80! It cleans brushes really well with minimal effort. 

Repurchase? Definitely!

Rimmel BB Cream Matte

I got this little sample through their facebook page and I liked it enough to purchase it! It gives a really good coverage for a BB cream, a nice satin finish that lasts really well throughout the day on my combo skin. I tend to think of it more like a lightweight, light coverage foundation than a BB cream.

Repurchase? Well, I bought the full size!

Monthly Favourites // July 2014

It's July favourites time! This month went SO fast, legit. My first couple of weeks back at school were not cruisy, I was bombarded with assignments and due dates which made it feel like I never had a holiday at all!  I try to make time for commenting on and reading blog posts though it can be hard! I had a major writing sesh in the hols though, so most of this months posts, and for the next couple of months are all pre-written/scheduled posts. Anyways I have a few products that I've been really enjoying this month, that I wanted to share with y'all.

Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream

What with it being Winter and all, my skin has definitely gotten a bit drier, meaning I can get away with using a richer moisturiser during the day. This one is sooooo lovely and smells DIVINE (you were right Vanessa). While it's rich and uber nourishing, it doesn't feel heavy, absorbs well and doesn't make me any oilier throughout the day, even under makeup. I can even use it at night with rosehip oil, but I've been loving a different mosituriser for that...

Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream

(amazing segue right?) This night cream has been amaze for my drier Winter skin. It's so lovely and really quite a dense cream, though absorbs pretty well into the skin. I use it in conjuction with the Trilogy Antioxidant + Rosehip Oil which I mentioned in my last faves, and my skin has just been drinking it up. It feels uber soft and nourished. Love.

Coconut Revolution Coconut Lip Balm in Cherry

This is a sweet little lip balm that smells and looks like Willy Wonka Redskins - yerm. Doesn't really remind me of Cherry at all, which is a good thing cos I ain't a fan of that medicinal cherry scent/flavour. It is slightly tinted, and the colour is buildable (though still sheer, obvs). I find this is really nourishing, and I've really been liking the sheer wash of colour it gives, and the easy tube format. 

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in shade 52 Light Beige

I've been wearing my Rimmel Matte BB Cream most days which I talked about in my last favourites, but for weekends or days/nights when I'm going out, I've been no doubt reaching for this foundation.I will definitely have a review up at some point, but to round things up; light-medium coverage, satin finish - not too dewy or matte, very natural - and really good lasting power, surprisingly! Love the packaging too.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original

This is a little sample sachet I got with my Naked 3 palette. Despite the rave reviews, hype and talk of this being the original and best eyeshadow primer, I actually didn't have overwhelmingly high hopes for it. I guess a few slightly negative reviews tipped the scales for me. I do really like it though, and have been using it everyday I wear eyeshadow! It works really well, my shadows only have minimal creasing by the end of the day and show up lovely and vibrant!

Jordana Fabuliner in Black

I haven't been wearing this heaps this month, my eyeliner wearing is rather sporadic, but I did a couple of times this month and really enjoyed it. It's a felt tip liquid liner, super black and although the tip is a bit thick, it still comes to a fine point, allowing thick and thin lines. I really like the lasting power of this too - it doesn't smudge, smear or fade throughout the day.

Max factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink

As I said, my skin has been a bit drier and I have a few dry patches on my cheeks (the acne isn't helping those at all either), so I've been opting for a cream blush as I find it just sits much nicer over dry skin. The finish is creamy and dewy, and I love this shade.

PS. Shiwashiful. reached a milestone of 300 followers this week! Thanks so much guiz! :')

(Hopefully noone's unfollowed me by the time this post goes up haha...)

Monthly Favourites // June 2014

Howdy! Favourites time again! I'm currently enjoying mid-year school holidays, which are always good because we get three weeks instead of two, but they seem to be speeding by :P. The first half of June was stressful to say the least, I had five exams spread within a week and there was little sleep to be had, and much cramming to be done. Glad to say that's over, but not looking forward to next term which is shaping up to be even more stressful...aah Grade 12...fun times. Anyway, let's crack on to the faves!

The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter

I got this travel size for my birthday and was actually really excited for it! These body butters get a lot of love in the beauty community - I've only tried one before and wasn't overly impressed, but to be fair I think it was a bit old :/ haha. This one however, I have been really enjoying! I was 'eh' about the scent to begin with, but I must say it has grown on me immensely! I actually have no idea what Moringa smells like, but it's florally, fresh and almost a bit Jasmine-y. The butter itself is lighter feeling than I thought it would be, it's been moisturising my dry winter skin really well!

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant +

Like I said, because it's Winter, my skin has actually gotten noticeably drier, and not just on my body! I've noticed my face is a little less oily and getting a tad drier in the cheek region. This Rose hip oil has been amazing for helping moisturise my skin! I simply mix four drops in with my nighttime moisturiser and I am set with moisturised, soft and plump skin when I wake up. I've also been adding a drop to my morning moisturiser some days and it doesn't make me more oily which is great!

Puretopia Hydrating & Soothing Facial Mist & Toner

Again with the drier skin, I've been really enjoying misting this after my regular toner some days. I find it really helps moisturise, soothe and refresh my skin. It feels really lovely and I'm abiding to Caroline Hirons' whole 'double toning' thing, not that I really care that much, but it does feel really nice and moisturising.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow palette

Huzzah! Didn't I predict it? Come holiday time, whenever I go out (albeit...not often (I have such an eventful life...)) I reach for some eyeshadow, and this has been the only palette I've been using! To be fair, it's only really because I want to experiment with the shades, test out the infamous UD formula, etc. A review post will be coming with my thoughts, and although I love the selection of shades and have been using them a bunch, I'm not sure that I've been blown away with it! 

Face of Australia Blush in the shade Nutmeg

I won this in a giveaway and initially was not really into it, I will admit, the formula leaves a bit left to be desired. It's a bit sheer and not overly soft or smooth. I have been loving it though, especially in combination with the Naked 3 palette and the lip product I'll talk about next. It's like the neutral rosy blushes I've come to love - a nothing-y shade on the cheek - but slightly more of the peachy-pink variety. It has a slight shimmer but it's not overly noticeable. It just adds a tiny flush of natural colour to the cheeks which is very complimentary to a stronger eye look.

Maybelline Colour Elixir in Caramel Infused

This shade is pretty much the perfect my lips but better, and it's rosy, warm tone goes perfectly with the Naked 3 palette. The formula itself is really lovely and lives up to the hype. Glossy, yet balmy with no stickiness and good colour payoff.

Rimmel Matte BB Cream in Medium

Technically I haven't used this tube yet, but I got a sample sachet which has lasted me a good few uses! I really like the finish of this, it's not entirely matte but doesn't have any sheen or dewiness to it. It looks really natural and the coverage is pretty good for a BB cream, light but slightly buildable. The colour is a little orangey looking which was a bit concerning, but it seems to blend out really well, and ends up being a pretty good match for me! Good things on the longevity front too.

Monthly Favourites // March 2014

'Tis that time again...favourites time! I am almost finished up all my assessment for my first term of grade 12 which is scary stuff! I'm excited though to get into the holidays (obvs) so that I can do some more bloggy things and also catch up on tv shows and books ;). Anyways, because I've just been at school (and attempting a spending ban, which will inevitably end with the coming of holidays) I haven't been using many new products. I did however manage to scrounge together a few things I've been enjoying this month!

Organic Everescents Organic Pink Grapefruit & Ylang Ylang Leave-in Moisture

If you guys didn't already know, I have pretty dang damaged hair which is the result of me having not had it trimmed for moooooonthss but it also means it's super long :) I am getting it cut soon anyways! I haven't been using any heat on it though so it's been better than it would usually. This leave in conditioner has an interesting consistency - one akin to a body lotion which makes it interesting to use. It says you can use it on dry hair, but I prefer it on damp hair as it rubs in and absorbs much better without making the hair feel weighed down or slightly greasy. My hair isn't particularly soft the next morning, but definitely feels nourished so I think their name of leave-in moisture is quite accurate. When I choose to do 'no heat curls' (twisting my hair into little bun danglies and pinning it (sort of like Princess Leia, but not)) and use this, I find it makes the curls much nicer and also my hair softer as it is soaking in it, as opposed to rubbing all over my pillow.

Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturising cream

This has been my night cream for a while now and one that I've really been enjoying. I mix it in with my rosehip/facial oil and the combination is really lovely and moisturising. It doesn't irritate my skin in the slightest (as the name would suggest) and I just find it to be a nice, basic moisturiser. Dry skins could even use this during the day I think.

Heroine Make Lasting Mineral BB cream in shade 2

As you know, my daily routine consists of using one of my three BB creams. Though I haven't been using this one everyday, I've been using it often and really like it. It deserves its own full review though so I won't go too in depth. I find this to be my highest coverage BB cream (light-medium but very buildable) and have the longest staying power. Seriously, this stuff controls oil and stays looking nice for the whole day. Even from 7am to 8pm I've only got an oily t-zone (which I would usually get with other products at 3 or 4pm). Awesome product!

Blush and Lip combo: Clarins Rouge Hydra Nude in 04 Nude Caramel and Tarte 12hr Amazonian Clay blush in Exposed
If I ever had a makeup habit, it would be that I match my lips and cheeks (thinking about doing a post about my fave lip-cheek combos) because using shades of completely different colour families seems weird to me - even though I haven't really tried it. Regardless, I think it looks nice to have a bit o' cohesion through the facial. My fave combo this month has been a subdued one and along the lines of nudey-pinky-mauve, though the lippy is a tad more peach. I've already done a full review on the lipstick, but one for the blush is yet to come. I do have a few gripes with the blush that I'll explain in the review, but ultimately I do really like it. Exposed gives a lovely natural nuded-rose flush to the cheeks that looks slightly sculpted.

What have been your favourites in March?

Collective Haul // January 2014

Hallo people! Today I have quite the large haul to share which I've accumulated throughout January and also the end of December. The after Christmas period is the best for sales, and y'all know I love a good sale. It's a long'un...

Of course I had to pick up a few nail polishes...

Essie Marshmallow 

I found this in the clearance bin at my local Myer for only $5! This is actually a shade that I've wanted for a while - a white jelly that would work really well in combination with a lot of different glitters for a jelly sandwich. They also had a few other shades but I decided I didn't need them :P

Sportsgirl Pink and Space Jam

These were both on clearance and came down to about $2 and $3 respectively. I've already done a NOTD with Pink here. 

Ulta3 Stop the Press

This is from Ulta 3's glitterati collection from July last year and I only happened across this polish at the end of December. This was the only one I wanted from the collection so I'm super glad I found it! It's a mix of black and white matte glitters which are starting to filter down finally into mainstream brands!

Skincare stuff...

Trilogy Rosapene Day & Night Collection (Limited Edition)

I found this in my Priceline for half price which brought it down to $18. Considering the Rosehip oil alone retails for something like $30, I thought this was an excellent deal! I'm also nearing the end of my Kosmea Rosehip Oil so I'm excited to try the Antioxidant +!

Sanctuary Spa Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser

I actually bought this full price :( ($20) haha, but I realised I was in desperate need of a new cleanser. I haven't heard an awful lot about this one (some good, some bad) but - please correct me if I'm wrong - it seems to be the only Hot Cloth Cleanser available in a drugstore setting. I didn't feel like ordering online again and I do like trying new products!

Sanctuary Spa Radiance Exfoliator

I purchased this in the Priceline 40% off skincare sale so it came down to $12. I haven't tried many face scrubs and none aimed specifically at radiance, so I decided to pick this up.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

Again purchased in the 40% off sale. This is my third tube so that should speak for itself!

On to the makeup!

Stila Under the Mistletoe palette

I've already reviewed this here and if you've read it you'll know I'm not too impressed with this palette. It was only $12 so I'm not too sad but I was caught up in a whirlwind of wanting to try some Stila products!

Maybelline Fit Me concealer in shade Medium

I'm running semi-low on my concealer (I've hit considerable pan) so I thought I'd pick this concealer up. I've heard some pretty darn good things about it and it seems like everybody owns it! I payed full price ($15) for it which I'm pretty annoyed about as Maybelline goes on sale all the time but oh wells.

Benefit Go Tropi-coral Lip and Cheek kit

If you remember my wishlist, my friend bought this for me from America (thank you Yasmin!). It was about USD$30 (with tax) and actually, considering the dollar rate is actually pretty bad, I don't think I saved that much. It retails here in Australia for $40 so I probs could have bought it here but regardless I'm super happy to have it!

NYX Powder Blush in Terra Cotta

I was really excited to hear that NYX was rolling out into Targets around Aus but sadly my local Target isn't stocking it! I find that really annoying as it's pretty much a brand new Target...grrr. So anyways, I only managed to get to a stand recently. I bought this as I've heard about its similarities to NARS Lustre and also it's just a gorgeous shade! It retails for $9.95 which isn't too horrific.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr blush in Exposed

Another item Yas picked up for me. I had my heart set on either the Tarte blush palette from the holiday collection or the Stila convertible colour palette, but both were sold out. This guy was my next preference because I knew I had to try something from Tarte considering they are extremely hard to get a hold of in Aus. These blushes are raved about by anyone who has ever used them and Exposed is a popular shade that is different to my typical peachy-pinks!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in Shimmering Sand

I've seen this floating around in the clearance bin for a few months now, but finally picked it up upon seeing the $2 sticker on it. It actually rang up to a mere $1 at the till so even better! It's quite a moussey-liquid texture that is slightly glittery but overall a nice warm golden-tan shade.

Illamasqua Concealer in CC 325

I saw this at the Illamasqua counter in the sale section (which by the way had some amazing products for really good prices!) for only $6 so I decided to grab it. It's a deep brown shade that I thought I would use for cream contouring. So far, so very good, but I'll save the deets for a review!

Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayon in Berry Brulee

After seeing a few swatches, I knew I wanted to pick up this shade from the limited edition collection of lip crayons. They retail for only $5 and Berry Brulee is a gorgeous wearable berry-purple. The formula is amazing too!

Revlon Living Lipstick in Blase Apricot

I saw - what I assume - was the whole line being clearanced at Myer for $6 a piece. I initially dismissed them on account of their old lady looking packaging, but this shade caught my eye. It's a really pretty pinky-peach with a lovely soft, creamy and pigmented formula.

Clarins Rouge Hydra Nude in Nude Caramel

I stumbled across this at Terry White for only $10. It has a formula akin to the Revlon Lip butters or L'oreal Nutri shine lipsticks. The shade is a peachy-brown nude that comes out slightly lighter that it appears in the tube.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp

Of course I had to buy this. I've heard a ton about these and this shade in particular. I'll save it all for a review! It retails for $12.95 which I thought was a bit steep...but girls gotta do...

I'm also very happy to have a Sephora bag. Teeheee :D

Non-beauty stuff!

Kikki.K Fun for Everyday set

This was reduced to $11 which is AWESOME for Kikki.K stuff! It's from the Christmas sets but the stuff inside is absolutely adorable. Inside is a notebook, cards and envelopes, two pens and two magnetic bookmarks.

Kikki.K Celebrate Today Iphone Case

If you sign up to be a Kikki.K member, you get a $10 voucher on your initial sign up and on your birthday. There's no minimum spend, only that they have to be full price. This case came down to $2.95 and I love the pastel, simple pattern. It also came with a screen protector which I was in dire need of haha.

Dusk Tropical Summer Mood Reed and Candle set

This set from Christmas was marked down to $12. I love the scent a lot. It's a fresh and crisp, slightly fruity but also sexy scent that is perfect for summer.

Phew! That was a long post! Props to you if you actually read it all! I'm planning on going on a spending ban as I'm really content with my collection right now, and I really don't desperately want anything (shocker) for now. I'm also starting to save up for a possible trip to New Zealand at the end of the year (fingers crossed!). It shouldn't be hard to stick to the ban as I'll be back at school anyway, leaving little time for shopping! 

Skincare Routine | Night

Hello all! The second part of my little skincare 'series' is up today and it is my nighttime skincare routine! I've reviewed most of the products I mention in full so hopefully the post won't be too rambly! This one is a little more involved than my morning routine so let's dive in!

First up for cleansing:

I really like using creamy cleansers at night to help remove the majority if not all of my makeup (other makeup removal products will be mentioned in my next skincare post!). These two are my most used. I remove both with a face cloth. 

Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser

I've already talked a bunch about this and done a full review so I will spare the nitty gritty! This is super nice and creamy and it melts away makeup! It leaves my skin feeling nice and soft and is a really great, basic cleanser.

Natural Instinct Cream Cleanser

I've also reviewed this here. I find this thicker and heavier than most typical cream cleansers, so I find it works very similarly to the Soap & Glory. It doesn't remove makeup as well and doesn't leave my skin as soft but it is still a really great cleanser!

Clarins Gentle Exfoliant

I do apologise that I still haven't done a review of this yet! Hopefully with a bit more testing I will do a post! I use this as a typical toner and it feels like one too. It is super gentle but I definitely feel like it has helped the overall condition of my skin - including its brightness.

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Night

I've done a review on this guy here and I'm still loving it! With the bevy of other dark spot, skintone evener outers I feel like my acne scarring is fading (slowly but surely) and the overall tone of my skin improving! This product, I think, is definitely a substantial factor!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

Again I've spoken soooo much about this product and done a review. Basically, it's one of my Holy Grail products, this is my second tube! I love this for helping clear blemishes and keeping them away.

Kosmea Skin Clinic Rose hip oil

Review here, love this rose hip oil! I find it helps hydrate my skin immensely and is in general a great all rounder skincare product.

Soap & Glory Night in shining armour Cream

Great night cream that I've reviewed here! Not too thick (great for nighttime use) but very moisturising. Nice and basic!

Trilogy Eye contour cream

This is a nice eye cream that is relatively thin in texture and sinks into the skin well. I find it mediumly moisturising and after late nights, I don't wake up with my usual puffy eyes - so that's a plus! I could see it being effective for both day and night use as it's not too rich.

Lush Grease Lightning Spot Treatment

Again, reviewed here. Not the hugest fan of this but I'm using it up. I don't find it particularly amazing at clearing acne but it's better than using nothing!

Not too many steps to my nighttime routine...but probably more than your average sixteen-year-old. 

What do you guys love using at night?

Monthly Favourites | April 2013

Hey guys, it's time for my April Favourites! I am just baffled that we are already almost halfway through the year - where did it go?! Anyways, these are the products I've been using throughout the month.

For the makeup bits:

For base, I've been absolutely loving the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation. I picked this up off of Ozsale and have been using it for the past 2-3 weeks. I just love the finish, texture and coverage of this product! It's a dream to blend and looks so natural on the skin. I'll have a full review up soon though!

For blush, I've been using the Essence Home Sweet Home blush in the shade 02 Wool-d you cuddle me which I have a review on here. It's a really pretty peachy-pink shade that looks really nice and natural on the cheeks and imparts a beautiful glow. I find it also lasts a really long time too!

On my lips has been the L'oreal Nutri-Shine lipstick in the shade Pink Nude which I have a review on here. Awesome, super flattering peach-pink-nude shade. Love.

For mascara I've been using the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus which was actually in my January Favourites also (review here), while I've been using it throughout the months between, I've just been gravitating towards it a lot this month. It keeps my curl and looks wonderfully natural which is just my cup of tea!

Eyeshadow wise, gotta give it to the Maybelline Color Tattoo in the shade Bad to the Bronze which I've also reviewed here. I don't often wear eyeshadow day to day, on weekends if I want to though, this has generally been my pick! So easy to slick on, beautiful shade to boot! Though it does crease on me, so a primer is needed underneath.

For some sort of 'skincare' bits:

As the aforementioned mascara is waterproof, to remove it I love Lancome Bi-Facil. This is an awesome eye makeup remover that removes waterproof mascara really easily, I just soak a cotton pad and hold in over for 30 seconds, wipe it away a couple times and ta-da! I only have a mini and probably won't purchase as it is quite exxy, but a lovely product!

Lately, I've been really getting into face masks and absolutely adore what they do for my skin. This month I've been loving the Origins Clear Improvement mask which is a white clay and active charcoal mask that really cleans out those pores. It makes my skin feel super clean and fresh and helps bring acne to the surface, and I've found it's helped with it in general. I've used this sample size 3 times and am itching to pick up the full size!

I've been using the Trilogy Rosehip Oil for a few months but particularly this month I've been loving it. Especially after face masks, I find it really helps inject some moisture back into my skin and brightens and smooths a bit too. I just use 2-3 drops and press it into my face and it works a treat!

So those were my favourites, some old and some new!

What have been you guys' faves this month?