Pat McGrath is a British make up artist, that was one renowned by Vogue as one of the most influential make up artists. And from these piccies, you can't deny her that title!




JOHN GALLIANO S/S 2010

For those of you who read my blog but don't follow me on twitter, you won't know my exiting news - I'm going to be an official Blogger for New Zealand Fashion Week. I'm super excited to be doing it. You'll be reading this on Monday, which is the day before my first day at NZFW. Eep.

Another fact about me- I live in Auckland, but only just. It's a hour and 15 minute train ride from here in Pukekohe to Auckland CBD, and the trains stop coming to Pukekohe after 8 at night. So, to make things easier (and cheaper) for both me and my parents whilst I'm at fashion week, I'm staying at my brothers flat which is in the CBD. And of course that means I'll need to have everything I need for the week on me, other wise I'll have to find some time to pop to the shops - not very likely.

So, here's what I'm planning on taking with me...


FACE

I plan on keeping my make up fairly neutral all over, and so I'm keeping face products simple. 

Rimmel Match Perfection foundation and concealer, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Porefessional Primer, Benefit Girl Meets Pearl as a highlighter, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. I've packed three blushes, ELF's St Lucia duo, and Rimmel 001 Spring Flower and 120 Pink Rose. I've yet to decide which one I'll actually wear though. Also I packed my Benefit Stay don't Stray primer. I do have a bronzer in the ELF St Lucia duo, but it's faaaar too dark for me. 



EYES

I'm wanting to keep my eyes nice and simple as I'm not going to have much time to get ready in the morning, so I've stuck to these;

A Revlon eye shadow palette with very neutral shades - I plan on mixing the middle two all over my lid, and using the lightest shade in the inner corners. I've packed the L'oreal quad in case one day I want to use the black eyeshadow as liner, rather than my Maybelline Gel liner. I'm also taking the ELF sheer eye primer, and a Rimmel Black Kohl eyeliner. Lastly, a Maybelline brown liner in case I want to use a less severe eyeliner, and to also fix my brows if they need it. I've opted for two mascaras - Benefit They're real and Maybelline the Falsies. I'll probably stick to the Falsies, but it's always good to have options.


LIPS

Cause I'm keeping my eyes very light and simple, I'm planning a pop of colour from my lips. It wasn't until I laid everything out to take a photo that I realised it's all very pink/red!

I can't not take my Lush Lip Scrub and Lip balm, purely because all the lipsticks I'm taking are matte.  I've got a Maybelline lip liner in red, and a Rimmel lip liner in pink. I've got my ELF Lipstain in red, which I'm not a massive fan of, and my mini Benetint. The three lipsticks I'm taking are my favourite, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte lipsticks, in shades 106, 107 and 111. One pink, one red, and one plum/red.

BRUSHES

I have a confession to make. I'm obsessed with Rimmel. I find all the products work for me, and they're all very affordable. 



Match Perfection Light perfecting radiance foundation - shade 010 Light Porcelain- I LOVE this foundation. It gives a medium coverage which I prefer.  It has a SPF18, which means with a layer of sun cream underneath I feel happy that I can wear it all day and I won't get sun burnt (I usually have to reapply sun cream during the day). It leaves you with a natural finish - not too shiny but not too matte. I find it difficult to find a foundation light enough for me but this is a pretty perfect colour match. Set it with powder and it lasts all day. 

Match perfection 2-in-1 concealer and highlighter - shade 010 Ivory- I love this concealer. Just like my foundation, I find it difficult to find a concealer light enough to use under my eyes to brighten them - I'm usually the lightest shade - so the fact this is a highlighter as well is ideal. It blends so easily which is perfect for the under eye. I usually hate concealer applicators where the brush is on the end of the tube, but for under eye I really like it with this product. I don't use this on all my other blemishes though- I prefer to use a different brand as this is not super thin, but not thick enough to cover spots and blemishes.

Fix & Perfect primer- 001- When I first opened the tube, my eyes nearly fell out of my head. It is orange. It freaked me out, but once applied and blended the colour is gone. I don't find it minimised my pores, but my foundation did last longer.

Stay Matter Powder- there's surely not a person out there who hasn't heard of this powder. All the reviews or people I have heard talk about this product just rave about it. It reduces shininess and helps fix your make up. I have this in two shades 001 transparent and 003 peach glow. Peach glow was an accidental purchase. I find if I use this, I find that I have a lovely orange glow. I tend to use this as an eye shadow just to neutralise the colouration on my eyelids. Transparent is what I use on my face.

Glameyes eye shadow - 200 Spicy bronze- I got this last year in a 'mystery make up bag' from Grabone. It is a beautiful bronze colour, perfect for your crease. It's easily blended and very glittery. I like to do a neutral paler colour over my eyelid and this is in the crease and blended into my lower lash line.

Lasting finish colour blush - 120 pink rose- The jury's still out on this product. I love the colour in the pan - a beautiful dusky rose- but I think it's the wrong shade for me (I think it's too dark). It is easily blended and sits beautifully on the skin with only a light shimmer. I think it will be ideal for someone with a skin tone slightly darker than my own. You will need a light hand though- it is very pigmented.

Scandaleyes thick and thin eyeliner- This is a basically a liquid liner felt tip with a pointed tip, allowing you to easily draw both a thick or a thin line. I love this pen. I find this so easy to use. You can start with the pointed tip to get your perfectly thin line and then build it up from there. The pen itself is so light and thin that it's super easy to grip and use. 

Scandaleyes waterproof Kohl eyeliner - 001 black- This is the perfect pencil for the tightline and waterline. It has good staying power and is so smooth and easy to apply. You barely need to apply pressure and it will go on. Both the Scandaleyes products I have are easily removed by make up remover. 

Top to bottom- 106, 03 and 111

Lasting finish by Kate Moss lipstick - 03, 111, 106- I LOVE these. There's such a range of colours, and I've stuck to just these three for the moment. They're are all so easy to apply and stay for a good amount of time. 03 is a dusky pink nude. This is the only non matte shade I have and I like to wear it as an everyday lipstick. 111 is a bright red matte shade and 106 is a matte bright pink. These shades I like to wear as a bold colour, or use a brush and blend it so the colour isn't quite as bold. I tend to wear them more if I'm going out. They all have individual scents which are just delicious.

What's your favourite 'drug store'/affordable make up brand? Comment below

xx

I saw some other people do blog posts like this, and thought I'd do my own... :)

I chose 10 things that I want more than anything but can't bring myself to buy - either they're more difficult to track down and buy here in New Zealand, or my unemployed state is stopping me spending my precious savings.... basically if I won the lottery and went on a spending spree, this is what I would get ;)

So here's the list!

10-
 Benefit liquid tints



These have always intrigued me - using a liquid to colour your cheeks instead of the usual powder.   Benefit has four different lip and cheek stains - Chacha tint which is an orange shade, Benetint which is a rose tinted shade, Lollitint which is a paler pink and Posietint - my favourite- which is a more natural 'poppy pink' shade.  Benefit also has High beam, which is a 'luminescent complexion enhancer - or highlighter. Just a sweep (and blend) of each, and you're skin will have a healthy blush and glow.

At $57 each for the tints and $49 for High Beam, they're definitely a purchase I'll have to consider (and save) before I buy, but a definite 'one day' purchase.

9 -
Mac make up



I feel as though this may be on every girls list - Mac makeup.   I'm not going to lie, I want a bit of everything. But... I can probably afford one eye shadow and one lipstick and lust after the rest. But I have a plan.

When I (hopefully) get a job, I want to start building my Mac collection. Once a month, I want to head down to the Mac store and buy a new product. One month it may be a lipstick, the next a mineralize blush, the next a concealer. That way I'll have a small collection building but not feel bad about buying all the products, as the purchases are spaced out. Perfect.

8-
 Doc Martens



 I've always wanted a pair of these, but Mum and Dad didn't let me have any growing up. But now, at 19, I feel as though I am grown up enough to own for and care for a pair of these shoes.  They are the perfect shoe to wear with so many different outfits. At about $250 per pair, a bit of saving will be needed before I feel confident to part with the cash.

7-
Clinique 3 step skin care

I've heard rave reviews from so many different people about the thee-step skincare products. I have combination skin that is always breaking out, no matter what products I use, which makes me want to try this out just to see how it goes.




It's called '3-step' because you purchase a products to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize.  They have options for different types of skin, so you're sure to be covered ( I missed out Clarifying lotion #4 - for oily skin in the picture, oops).

My choices would have to be Liquid Facial Soap for combination oily skin, Clarifying Lotion 3 and the Dramatically Different Moisturizing gel.  Those products would cost US$78 together - which as you can imagine, NZ prices are a lot more - off the top of my head, last time I checked, prices were closer to $78 per item (of the largest sizes).

They're definitely something I want to try out, but are a bit expensive to the time being.

6-
Naked 2 Palette 

I feel as though everyone and anyone has this palette apart from me </3
I love all the colours in the palette. You can make the perfect night out smokey eyes, but equally as easy, you can make perfect everyday neutral eye looks. This palette is all you need - 'Foxy' and 'Verve' are perfect inner corner highlight colours and under-eyebrow highlights, 'Blackout' is perfect applied along the lash line as an eyeliner, and the other colours will mix perfectly together.

There are many different online shops both internationally and nationally that you can buy the palette from ranging from Fishpond selling it for either $48 (!?!) or $160, or Beauty Bliss who are selling it for $129.

5-
Good makeup brushes 



I own very minimal make up brushes - just enough for day to day wear (lets just say day to day is only foundation, concealer and mascara usually). I would love an entire collection of brushes. The number 1 brushes I am lusting after are the Real Techniques brushes.  

They are raved about and used by everyone, which makes me confident in my (future) purchase. The fact that some many people use them and love them just makes me want to use them too.   I would love to buy the 'Sams Pick' collection, so it's just tracking them down left to do!

4-
Benefit's The Porefessional

This is yet another highly raved product that I can't wait to have in my hands. It is a primer suitable for all skin types, and advertises that it 'quickly minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin'. That alone sells the product to me.



I'm not going to lie, the next three products are all splurges. They're the type of items that one day when I have my dream job, I can save up and buy them. But, hey, for the meantime, there's no reason not to stare!

3 -
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Frission



This is my #1 most wanted nail polish, even though its close to US$30 a bottle!  It's a beautiful pale pink nail polish, with gold shimmer. It's a perfect pale pink/nude colour, but the gold adds a touch of glamour.  I know US$3o may be a bit excessive for a bottle of nail polish, but I have struggled and struggled to find a 'dupe' colour anywhere near this. It's a colour that I fall in love with more and more.

I have an idea where I may be able to buy it in Auckland, and I keep telling myself that when I get the job, this will be the perfect everyday colour - all the more reason to get a job!

2-
A Burberry coat 

There is something about Burberry, and more specifically the coats, that turn me into a little 'heart eyed emoji' everytime I see them. The Burberry website is a very tempting place for me. 

There is nothing more grown up to me than a nice, good quality coat, and I'm not going to lie, I can't wait for the day where I have saved up all my pennies and can afford to buy myself one. I would love one just like in the picture about, but in black - I think a nice black coat will go with any outfit.

1-
A Chanel 255 bag



I feel as though I don't need to write anything here. Lets just stare at the bag and try not to all even more in love with it. The bag pictured is what I want to buy, one day when I save all my pennies. I may be 40 by time I can afford it, but, it's definitely worth it.

This bag is one of those bags that was a love at first sight moment. I can't pinpoint when or where I was when I fell in love, but I know how desperately I want one.


There's my lust list!

xxx

Images c/o withinthemakeup.blogsot.com, www.drmartens.com and google.com!

I have an obsession with Lip balm and I'm not afraid to admit it. There is not an hour that goes by where I don't obsessively apply some sort of lip products.  I have come close to tears on occasions where I have lost my favourite lip balm, or left it at home when I've gone to work. I have finished countless tubes of lip balm, which i see as quite an accomplishment - one of the few things I manage to finish.

My favourite lip balm of the moment is Maybelline babylips in anti-oxidant berry. I has a scent that I find i can still smell when it is on my lips - and it smells delicious, like a fresh summer smoothie. I don't find the taste too over powering.  For me it lasts about half an hour (unless I eat/drink) and once worn off, leave my lips nice and soft. By habit I usually put some on every hour or so. 


One lip balm I can never fail is Nivea Essential Care lip balm. It is a lip balm that I have used for as long as I can remember.  It is another long lasting lip balm that really does help soften your lips and help moisturize your lips. It is a cheap but good quality lip balm that you can buy in most places that sell make up/beauty products - including the supermarket.

(I tried finding my Nivea Lip Balm to take a photo for you, but I have temporarily misplaced it :( )

Another frequently used lip balm of mine is the Lush Honey Trap lip balm. It just smells amazing - a combination of honey, white chocolate and vanilla. It is quite a pricey lip balm - NZD$10 for 10g, however only a small amount is needed to be applied at a time, helping it last longer, so ends up being good for the money you spend. The one downside of this lip balm is that it is in a tin rather than a stick - you're left with sticky lip balm fingers after you apply.


Before bed, I always use the same two products. Before brushing my teeth, I use my Lush Bubblegum lip scrub. Straight after I use that, I put on some of my Lush Honey Trap lip balm. I then brush my teeth and do everything else I normally do before I go into bed. Then, once I'm settle in bed I put some Vaseline on my lips. First thing in the morning, I check my phone and then put some more Vaseline on, and then about an hour later put some lip balm on - that really helps keep my lips as soft as possible. 

The Lush Lip Scrub and Lip balm is perfect to use right at the beginning of your make up routine, so by time you've done you're face routine your lips are moisturized and smooth enough to put your lipstick on perfectly. 


xx

If there's one make up look I wish I could pull of in everyday life, it would have to be the  Chanel S/S 2014 Couture fashion show. Peter Phillips created a masterpiece on each and every models eyes.



For the face, the make up was left plain and simple - with only a slight blush. The lipstick was left as natural as possible. Nails were a pale pink/nude colour. But it was the eyes that made the whole look. Heavy black winged eye liner on the upper lid, teamed with a gorgeous glitter under the eye. 

Photo courtesy Vincent Lappartient for CHANEL, Vogue

The full list of make up used:

(All Chanel)

FACE:
Hydra Beauty creme  US$87
Perfection Lumiere Velvet Eclat Lumiere foundation (not yet released - due out in April)
Correcteur perfection long lasting concealer  US$40
Poude Universelle Libre natural finish loose powder US$52
Joues Contraste blusher in shade Espiegle US$43

LIPS:
Rouge Coco Shine in shade Satisfaction US$32.50

NAILS:
Le Vernis nail polish in shade Frission US$27.50

EYES: <3
Ligne Graphique de Chanel in shade Noir-noir US$34
Le crayon Kohl in shade Clair US$28
Mascara La volume de Chanel in shade Black US$30
Chanel Lash curlers (US$34), brow kit and pencil (US$29)

Under the eye, applied using eyelash glue was pieces of chunky holographic and silver glitter.

An amazing make up look, with a not-so-amazing price tag: US$437!

This look, however, can be simply replicated, at a much lower price tag;

FACE:

Moisturiser:
Hydraluron is a frequently recommended  moisturiser by so many other beauty bloggers and youtubers- unfortunately I've yet to try it as I can't buy it in NZ anywhere easily.
I personally use a vaseline moisturiser as my skin isn't too dry.

An alternative to moisturising is using a primer - such as maybelline dream smooth primer or smashbox photo finish foundation primer.  Although Smashbox primers are expensive, only a small amount is used at a time so it will last you a while. 

Foundation:

My go to foundation is Rimmel Match Perfection. I use the shade 010 Light Porcelain (the lightest shade, which I do get paranoid every so often about it being too dark).  Rimmel Wake me Up is another highly raved about foundation, unfortunately I can't find a shade to match my skin tone.   Nars Sheer Glow is also a good foundation, but a bit more pricier.

Concealer:
I personally use the Maybelline Fit me concealer as it works for me, and I found a shade to match my skin tone, as like in foundation, I couldn't find a Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in my shade. Another highly recommended concealer is Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer- unfortunately I can't get this in NZ.

Powder:Rimmel Stay Matte.

Blusher:
A dupe for Espiegle is Nars Sex appeal, which is still a bit pricey. It is also similar to MAC Foolish me. Benefit Coralista is also similar as is Maybelline #301

Lips:
Rimmel Lasting finish by Kate Moss #14, Borjois shine edition lipstick #26 or Wetnwild mega shield lip colour SPF 15, shade 360s Birthday Suit.

Nails:
The only nail polish similar to Frission is OPI Kim-pletely in love. Frission is a beautiful pale pink, with gold shimmer.  Instead of Frission, you could try a pale pink such as Essie Sugar daddy/not such a pretty face, Maybelline colour show Born with it or OPI hearts and tarts. On top of that you could add a gold glitter nail polish such as Sephora I found a pot of gold.

Eyes:
Liner: Maybelline and Borjois and Rimmel all have good liquid liners and gel liners, depending which one you would prefer to use. 
Rimmel scandal eyes is a very good eyeliner pencil that is both cheap and good quality.
For mascara both Rimmel and Maybelline have an excellent range of mascaras, covering Volume, length and definition of lashes. 

For the glitter, Urban decay, Nyx and Chichi all have glitter eyeliners, which would be an easier and less time consuming option to putting individual pieces of glitter under your eyes.

xxx