Weekend Edit: Style #11

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Splishsplasch

Hello lovelies, It’s the end of another week and it’s also the end of my stay in Brisbane. Dylan and I are finally moving back to Sydney! Woohoo! We leave on Monday and to say it’s been a hectic past month is an understatement. We’re both utterly exhausted but just need to get over the final hurdle; cleaning our apartment and handing over the keys. For anyone who rents in Australia this part is a massive pain in the arse – yeah, I have issues with real estate agents (long story). With everything packed up and already in Sydney I thought I’d squeeze in one last post this week before we head down.

One thing I’m looking forward to most in Sydney is the cooler climate; I’m a winter/autumn girl at heart and can’t wait to dig out my wooly jumpers and coats. I managed to condense my wardrobe down to a quarter of it’s size during our pack-up (yes really) so would love to add a few neutral pieces to my almost non-existent wardrobe. Strangely it’s quite satisfying getting rid of everything and starting a fresh. While it’s unlikely I will add any of these pieces (my mac died this morning and probably can’t be salvaged, grrr) it’s nice to get a little inspired.

I’m not sure what my schedule will be like regarding posts next week (as we will be staying with family) but things will return to some kind of normality soon. Apologies if I haven’t been able to visit your blog and comment like I normally do, but I hope you all understand that it’s just the transition process and nothing more.

For now thanks for your support, have an amazing weekend and take care!

1. Jumper inspirations 2. Watch 3. Coat Inspiration 4. Rag & Bone boots 5. Grey Scarf

Guest post: Pretty in Pink over at aprettytripblog.com

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Splishsplasch

Today, I wanted to share something a little different with you. A few weeks back one of my favourite beauty & travel bloggers – Gillian, from aprettytrippyblog.com asked whether I’d be interested in doing a guest post over at her blog.

Firstly, I was completely flattered and then, without giving it too much thought (because I think Gillian is super awesome) I said hell yes!

Gillian has killer sense of humour, which is just one of the many (many) reasons I clicked with her from the very beginning. Her beauty and travel inspired posts are warm and engaging and she’s one hell of an enabler – just check out some of her haul posts (serious envy going on here!).

Pop over to Gillian’s blog and say hello – she’ll be so happy you stopped by (you can thank me later, hehe). Be sure to tell here I sent you, and while you’re there don’t forget to check out my guest post on pretty pink lipsticks.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Splishsplasch

I’ve been searching for the perfect eyebrow pencil for what feels like forever and I think I’ve finally found it. I’ve tried a fair few pencils in my time but nothing comes close to matching the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil. Honestly, everything I’ve tried up until this point has felt inferior.

First up I have to mention the sleek packing; it has a real luxe appeal and feels weighty which I like. Despite the hefty price tag ($48 AUD) I’m pretty impressed with the amount of product you get. I say ‘pretty impressed’ loosely because I haven’t had the courage to see how much actual product sits in the retractable mechanism (I’ve stuffed a few products this way before so I’m not wiling to take the risk). All I know is that I’ve hardly made a dent in the product and I’ve literally used it every day since I picked it up – so, I’m pretty impressed!

I also love the automatic/retractable pencil because it means I don’t require a sharpener, which in turn means I’m not wasting product. I can’t tell you how many pencils I’ve gone through while trying to sharpen a waxy product in humid conditions. It used to drive me bonkers. Never again (hopefully).

Hourglass-Brow-Arch-3 I have the shade Dark Brunette but at the time of purchase I really struggled between it and Soft Brunette. Three MUA’s later and I picked the darker shade as all three MUA’s said it framed my face better. I have to admit, the shade is a bit darker then I’m used to but it doesn’t look unnatural at all and that’s because there’s no red pigment in the formula. In case you’re curious Soft Brunette was a tad more grey in comparison.

Despite it’s appearance the pencil is super easy to use. I start off by grooming my brows with the included spoolie and brush my eyebrows down to reveal my natural shape. I then apply the product to the fullest part off my brow and continue filling in sparse ares with short, quick strokes. When I’ve achieved the look I’m after I finish by brushing my brows in an upward motion. I find I don’t feel the need to add extra products because the waxy texture adds volume and provides hold as is.For those who might be interested the Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil is “free of sulfates, phthalates, synthetic dyes, fragrance, gluten and vegan-friendly”.

In my opinion it’s very effective product and is a breeze to use. The wax to powder texture stays on all day so no more worries about my brows running a muck during the course of the day. I honestly love it and would definitely buy it again!

Just out of curiosity, has anyone out there tried the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor? I’ve heard it’s quite comparable (minus the price tag). I’d love to hear from you if you have and what you thought, particularly if you’ve tried the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil too.

Thanks for reading!

In memory

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Splishsplasch

Sorry guys, no regular post today … it just doesn’t seem right. I like many of you, are just learning about the Malaysian airline tragedy and it’s breaking my heart. My love and prayers go out to the family and friends who grieve the loss of their loved ones. Such an aweful thing to happen and I’m lost for words. These tragic sort of events remind me that life is too short, so get out there and live, laugh and love. Forgive those who’ve hurt you and remember that you only get one shot, so make the most of every minute. Take care lovelies!

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YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks in 03 Rose Libre

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Splishsplasch

To say that I was ecstatic to try my very first YSL Kiss & Blush is a huge understatement Nothing excites me more than discovering new treasures particularly when they’re from the beauty department. I realise that sounds a little shallow but sometimes the mind needs a little time-out, wouldn’t you agree?

Back to the YSL Kiss & Blush and once again YSL have made it pretty easy for us beauty lovers to pull out our wallets and hand over our hard earned cash. Sure there might be a little trepidation at first (hello steep price point), but the Kiss & Blush are pretty hard to resist once you’ve given them a whirl. I mean take a look at these babies – are they not the prettiest things you’ve ever seen? Granted they look like fancy bottles of nail polish, but that’s part of the allure wouldn’t you say?

When I initially heard YSL was launching a 2-in-1 lip and cheek product I was super excited. I spent a considerable amount of time trawling through online images. I knew choosing just one shade (from a sea of pretty colours) was going to be the hardest part.

I’m usually a bright lip kinda girl but after some deliberation I chose the shade 03 Rose Libre which under normal circumstances, isn’t a shade I would have gravitated toward. 03 Rose Libre a neutral mid-toned pink which has the slightest bluish tint that just works for me – it’s just easy.

The air whipped luminous texture feels very lightweight on both the lips and cheeks. As a blush it has a lovely translucent finish (sans shimmer) that imparts a really lovely and healthy sheer wash of colour, that just so happens to make me look like I’ve just gone for a winter run. On the lips, it appears much more matte. Admittedly there is a little slip on first application but it eventually sets. It doesn’t cake when being built up and the longevity is good but not amazing (if I’m completely honest). What I like most about this product is that it works as a multipurpose product meaning there is less to throw in my makeup bag plus it’s great for when I want that match-matchy look.

This is by far my favourite launch in a long time from YSL and I’m looking forward to adding more shades in the future, when my wallet permits. Have you tried these yet?

Weekend Edit: Style #10

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Splishsplasch

After black and white comes stripe. Yep, I’ve basically summed up my wardrobe. Striped pieces are a real wardrobe staple for me and just so happen to be one of my favourite things to wear (just ask my boyfriend). Not only do they add an element of interest but they’re also a classic graphic element making them timeless and super easy to wear no matter what the occasion.

Over the last few weeks I’ve steadily made my way through my wardrobe picking out bits that have seen better days or just don’t fit anymore. Sadly I’ve had to say goodbye to a few stripey friends as well. While I haven’t bought any new pieces I’ve been getting lots of inspiration on how to style my favourite print, which is half the fun really.

How do you like to style your stripes? Let me know in the comments below.

As always have an amazing weekend and I’ll catch you next week.

1. Leather & Stripes 2. Ring 3. Sweater 5. Stripes 6. Zebra

This happened: Shiseido Shimmering Cream Shadow in Sunshower (OR313)

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Splishsplasch

Last week I shared a couple of new purchases one of them being the Shiseido’s Shimmering Cream Shadows which I picked up in the shades Leather and Sable. If you remember that post I also mentioned I had to pull myself away from a third shade, called Sunshower (OR313). Well, I couldn’t get it off of my mind so when I just so happened to stumble upon the Shiseido counter while out shopping, there was no way I was going to walk away a second time. Is it wrong to divulge that I actually feel at peace now? Please tell me I’m not alone here? Sunshower (OR313) is the perfect subdued copper with a hint of toffee and golden rose. It’s off the charts gorgeous and I’m completely enamored with it. On my brown/hazel eyes it’s really flattering (if I do say so myself) but I suspect this shade would look lovely on all eye colours, depending on how you use it. When it comes to eye makeup some of you will know that the no-makeup makeup look is a look near and dear to my heart, however every now and then I like to step outside my comfort zone and branch away from safe neutrals. While Sunshower isn’t bold or garish, it’s definitively a shade that playful but also casual at the same time. I won’t go into detail about why I love these cream shadows but if you’d like to find out more I have a whole post dedicated to the reasons, which you can find here. Honestly, Shiseido have done an outstanding job with these cream shadows and they are one of my favourite finds of the year. They are definitely deserve a lot more credit in my opinion.