This is not a crime!

Note I've cheekily included a self portrait of me wearing fake tan and makeup in all it's glory ;) Hehe. Issy I think you've made your point clear...  

Today I have the stupidest rant ever but for somer reason I felt it a necessary task in my daily agenda. Topic? Makeup and fake tan (and other body/appearance changes of the like).

I love using makeup and I love tanning myself because it makes me feel more confident and I personally like the look. Not only that but I have an obsession with trying out new products and it just generally makes me happy to experiment around, try different looks and so forth. It's not a crime! So why do people have such a big problem with it?

I'm so sick and tired of those around me (not you guys, obviously I love you guys being like-minded and all) saying things like, 'you shouldn't fake tan, it's bad for your skin' or, 'why on earth are you putting makeup on, you don't need it'...I do it because I bloody well want to! And it's certainly not to make you happy.

I also get my all time favourite question (note sarcasm), 'why do you waste so much money on makeup and beauty products?' and the answer to that question is because to me, it's not a waste. I believe that if whatever you're spending money on is making you happy and is of great use to you, then why would it be a waste? It's a totally personal thing. To me, I would be wasting my money if I went out and bought some hardware equipment because that's not what I'm interested in and what I like.

Furthermore, the same applies to everything else in life whether it be dying hair, piercing yourself and getting tattoos etc. Just because I don't personally like tattoos for myself, it's not to say I'd put someone who does to shame. I just can't understand why people feel the need to pick on other people because they've decided to be an individual and do what makes them happy. The individuals are the people I most admire.

I guess what I'm trying to say (attempting to calm myself down here) is if you love not wearing makeup because it makes you happy then continue doing that. Just like if you love wearing makeup, no matter how much of it you wear, keep doing it. Happiness and confidence is the best kind of beautiful. Those who matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter. 

Note: Everybody is beautiful in their natural state and you shouldn't feel the need to change in order to impress or please somebody else. Thought I better make that point clear too hehe (Oh Issy, where are you actually going with this?).

I know so many beauty gurus have talked about this topic before but it can't hurt to bring it up again and keep bringing it up until people start to understand.

What are your thoughts and opinions on this topic? I'd love to hear them :) 

xx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

How to: survive formals!

It has come to my attention that although I thought the days of formals and dressing up to the nines for a social ballroom event were well and truly behind me, I still have a few left in the bag (aka. apparently colleges like to throw a few formals in the mix too). Getting ready for another formal myself, it reminded me of how much fun these nights are, however I do have a few tips to make sure you don't have any last minute freak outs or stresses...and I'm speaking from experience.

1. Stay organised!

I was definitely the kid at High School (and still am) that left everything to the last minute. I'm talking 3 days before the event and I still didn't have a dress, much to my dates distress (he even offered to buy one for me ha ha).

It really does help to think ahead and start looking early because this way you'll be 100% confident and happy in what you're wearing, and you may even have time to hunt down a bargain too. It will also mean that you're not the girl left with little dress options left because your friends have already snatched up the good dresses. Whenever we had formals at school, people created a Facebook page and posted the dresses they bought on this page so that nobody else could buy the same one and go matching. Crazy I know, but it happens...there's something to be said of the saying, 'first in, best dressed'.

On that note I have a funny story: one time I found the perfect dress for formal after hours and hours of searching, only to have the shop assistant tell me I couldn't buy it because a girl from my school bought the same one yesterday. Gee, thanks.

2. Save the guilt of spending too much moola and do a few DIY's/low budget tricks!

If budget isn't a problem for you then by all means, go right ahead and buy that designer dress, but I'm sure a vast majority of you out there don't have as much leeway in the cash department and that's ok! I found that although I enjoyed treating myself to a fake tan done professionally, I didn't need to go all out to get my nails done etc. as it's all too easy to do it yourself.

A few tips I have for saving money at formals are as follows:

- Before you hit the more expensive dress shops, try shopping in a factory outlet first. I actually bought one of my formal dresses at the DFO (direct factory outlet). I found it on a sample rack (which is great considering it was the only one in existence so I couldn't possibly match my friends) from Charlie Brown and it was reduced from something ridiculous like $300 to $90. B-b-bargain!

- If you're like me and you already own a million and one nail polishes, try and do your own nails to save money for something else like a fake tan (if you're into that sort of thing). I know it's tempting to get them done but to be honest, if you're tight on money, nails aren't the most important thing. Nobody is going to see them in photos and I highly doubt anybody will notice that you've done them yourself, as long as there aren't any chips.

- Now I always got a fake tan done professionally because it's me and I fake tan all the time, but you could easily do this yourself at home. Just make sure you test out the tan before the formal as you don't want to look like an Oopma Loompa.

- Follow tip one and stay organised. The less time you have, the more tempting it is to cash out on getting other people to do your own dirty work!

- If you're confident with doing your own hair and know exactly how you like it, I would highly recommend doing it yourself. I got my hair done twice at the hair dresses and to be honest, I much preferred my hair when I did it myself...many of my friends had the same problem. I actually know a few girls that hated what the hair stylist did to their hair so much they went home and pulled it out only to do it again themselves...what a waste of time and money!

3. Makeup!

Yay, this was the most exciting part for me being the cosmetic obsessed person that I am! Makeup was the one thing that I really enjoyed splashing out on and having a proper makeup artist do it rather than myself. I would search online for different looks that I liked and screenshot pictures of them, along with a picture of my dress to show them so that they could match up my dress and my makeup (ain't nobody got time for green eyes and a bright red dress).

For my first formal I had my mum's friend do my makeup who is a makeup artist for TV shows...lucky me! I remember when she came to my house I was gobsmacked as she went to her car to grab the makeup and came back with over 3 huge suitcases. Nevertheless she did an excellent job and I was super happy with the outcome...if only I knew how on earth she did it!

For the next 2 formals I went to MAC and had them do my makeup. It cost me $90 and was fully refundable, meaning I payed $90 to get my makeup done and I also received products up to $90 afterwards. This was ultra handy because I didn't feel like I was wasting money and was also able to buy whatever lipstick they used on me so I could top it up during the night. I think they did an awesome job and I discovered a lot of products that suit my face when observing them do my makeup.

Here are pictures of the different makeup looks I got done.

Makeup and hair done by TV makeup artist #1

Makeup done by MAC and hair done by hair dresser #2

Makeup done by MAC and hair done by hair dresser #2

Makeup done by MAC and hair done by me #3

Makeup done by MAC and hair done by me #3

4. Have a great time, smile, be confident and take lots of pictures :)

I hope you enjoyed this post, it was like taking a trip down memory lane. I could literally go on for pages and pages but I'll spare you all the reading, so if you need any more advice or I didn't cover something, let me know and I'll do my best to help you!

Much Love 

xx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

January Favourites

Considering I've been blogging since November 2013, I figured it was about time that I did a monthly favourites. I love reading these types of blog posts and watching them on YouTube so here, I am going to do my very own.
Sit down, relax, make a cup of tea...this is going to be a long one!

1. MAC Sheen Supreme lipstick in 'Bare Again'.

I've been meaning to write a blog post about this amazing lipstick for yonks! I'd like to say I have an excuse for not doing it but really, who am I kidding...I'm just incredibly lazy *sigh*. Seriously though, I cannot recommend this lipstick enough. Very moisturising, very easy application and an absolutely gorgeous, natural finish. I find myself reaching for this lipstick more than any other lip product I own as I never feel like my makeup look is quite complete without it. This lipstick is really nice when you're going for a natural look on an everyday basis or if you've gone for big, extravagant eyes and want to finish off your look with a simple lip colour.

Rrp: $36 (this lipstick is possibly a limited addition)

2. LOREAL True Match Foundation in 'N2 Vanilla'.

Hands down my favourite foundation of this month...and several months before that too. I've written a product review on this foundation already which you can check out HERE.

Rrp: $29.95

3. REVLON Super Lustrous Plumping Lipgloss in 'Rosy Pout' #04.

The name of this lipgloss is a little misleading as it doesn't do the best job at plumping your lips, but it makes up for it's lack of plumping in all other departments. I find this lipgloss to have a very natural, non-sticky formula and the colour is gorgeous. Basically, this lipgloss is one of those staples that everyone has lying in their handbag at some point or another, ready at hand when your lips are in desperate need of a pick-me-up, or even to finish off a lipstick with a nice gloss. I find myself applying this product over the top of lipsticks often as it makes my lips seem bigger and more lustrous.

Rrp: I bought this lipgloss on sale for $10 but I can't find it on the website which gives me a bad feeling it's not on sale anymore. Sad face. Worth having a check in your nearest drug store though!

4. MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed.

This product is a definite must have. If you haven't already heard of the glorious transparent powder, it's basically a white coloured powder that you can apply over the top of your foundation or complete face of makeup to help set the makeup you've applied and to help it last longer (of course it applies transparent and not white). You can also transform any creamy lipstick into matte, just by dabbing a bit of transparent powder over the top. Genius! The reason this product has made it to my January favourites is because it's been a stinking hot Summer here in Australia and when your face starts to sweat, your makeup tends to slide off and applying a bit of transparent powder now and then throughout the day helps to keep it all in place. That and who likes to walk around with a sweaty upper lip? Not me, that's for sure.

Rrp: $42

5. MAYBELLINE eyeshadow palette in 'Chic Naturals'.

In my opinion, no makeup bag is complete without a natural eyeshadow palette that can be used on an everyday basis. This is just that. Simple, beautiful shades that I can apply without seeming too obnoxious. Although this palette has shimmer and I might prefer it if it didn't, it was a very cheap palette from the drug store, the pigmentation is quite good and the colours are just devine. Since I've been using this palette, I've had so many compliments on how I've done my eye makeup. I highly recommend you get your greasy little hands on this one!

Rrp: I bought this eyeshadow palette at Chemist Warehouse for $15. I'm quite certain they are still on sale as I've seen them in many drug stores of late but am unable to find the original price on the internet. Still worth having a look in your nearest drug store!

6. SPORTSGIRL Self Tan Cream.

Slightly ironic that I'm saying one of my favourite products from the middle of Summer is a bottle of fake tan, but I'm one of those people that tends to become a hermit inside on a really hot day rather than go lying in it (yep, I'm a Winter person through and through)...so in this case, it's very necessary!  This fake tan is cheap but most of all is an easy application with no streaks and gives you a beautiful, healthy and natural looking glow without it actually looking like you've applied any fake tan. Nobody to date has recognised I've fake tanned myself when using this product, but rather thought I'd just been out and about in the sun (little do they know.. hehe). It does wash off after a couple showers but is so easy to re-apply and you can prolong it's life by regularly applying moisturiser.

Rrp: $12.95

7. TONI&GUY Heat Protect Spray.

I started using this heat protect spray more and more throughout January for the sole reason of my hair needing a little extra TLC throughout the hot, Summer days. I love the smell of this spray and I find it does it's job of protecting my hair from heat and de-frizzing (we all know how crazy, frizzy our hair can get on a really hot Summer day) nicely. Easy buy from the supermarket and definitely worth each cent.

Rrp: $17.47

8. LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub.

You may be very confused and surprised to see this in my monthly favourites considering I spent my the whole product review post on this scrub complaining (if you haven't read the product review, you can do so HERE) but it's somehow made it...
Well don't fret. I still stand by my words in saying this lip scrub smells and tastes horrible, but it's just so convenient! I don't have the time (or more to the point, I'm lazy..damn it) to make my own lip scrubs all the time and have been finding myself picking this product up weekly.
I'm going to have to buy this baby in bubblegum flavour as I hear it is much more pleasant smelling and tasting than the popcorn scrub.

Rrp: $9.95

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? What were your favourite products of January? 

xxx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin