SEPHORA and MECCA MAXIMA // BEAUTY HAUL

SEPHORA AND MECCA MAXIMA

 I definitely don't go make up shopping as often in Australia as I did in the UK. Prices out here are pretty steep when it comes to cosmetics and where me and my boyfriend live doesn't have any department stores - so no Mac, no Estee Lauder, no Dior.. So for a birthday treat my mum sent me over some money to buy some new make up and I got Adam to drive me all the way to Sephora and Mecca Maxima. Here's a little look at what ended up in my shopping bag and if you want any of the products reviewed, let me know in the comment section below.

KAT VON D Shade and Light Contour Palette

Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush

Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow 

Alpha H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Resurfacing Mask

Sephora The One Mascara 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Palette in Sundipped

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

La Vanilla Perfume

Sephora Contour and Highlight Stick

Sephora Algae Eye Mask

Sephora Eye Kohl in Nude

Sephora Handbag Fragrance in Mango 

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Benefit's Brow Collection

** I WAS GIFTED ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS FOR REVIEW

Benefit have always been a company that has been so generous towards me. They have always supplied me with their latest releases, so I could share them with you all and I am so grateful. Their new brow range landed at my family home in the UK and my mum forwarded them to me in Australia, so they've had a long journey, but I've finally got my hands on them and I've been trialling them the last few weeks.

The Ka-Brow, is an intensely pigmented brow pomade, then comes with a hidden, fine synthetic brush, to make it easy to fake those hair strokes. The pomade is creamy and pigmented, making it so easy to work with but it sets after a few minutes and stays in place all day long. I like to layer the Gimme Brow on top, to add some texture to my eyebrows. This has small fibres in that cling to your brow hairs and make them look thicker.

The Goof Proof brow pencil, has a spooly on one end, which is brow necessity, and a creamy pencil on the other, it's a little thicker than the one I usually use, but it makes it such a fast process doing your brows. I prefer to use this when I want natural, softer looking eyebrows. If you're a fan of finer pencils, they've recently released a Precisely My Brow eyebrow pencil with a finer tip.

 Browvo! Conditioning Eyebrow primer is the last of the products I was sent to try and this is almost like a brow gel. It sets hairs in place and works well with powder layered on top.

My top pick? The Ka-Brow eyebrow pomade which has a built in brush.

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New In Beauty // candle co byron bay

In Byron there's one shop that makes my little beauty lover heart flutter and that's the Candle Company. A cute little shop hidden away in the arcade off one of the main roads, which is full of oils, candles, skin care and make up. Higher end make up, make up flown over from America, exciting new brands, the hottest products.. Ah. I let myself browse in there once every 6-8 weeks, to see what's new in and the girls are always so helpful and friendly, never pushy and always throw in free samples, or sometimes even free products. They remember you by name, and even know my boyfriend Adam who I drag around there reguarly in case I run out of space to swatch products on my own hand, or if I can't decide between scents. He loves it. Really.
 These are the goodies I picked up from my most recent browse and I'm so happy with all of them. Let me know if you want any swatches and if you're in Byron, go have a look and say Hi to the girls in there!

- ESSENTIALS, all essentials, of course. -

KYLIE jenner lip kit in Dolce K

BEAUTY blender sponge

MODEL rock cosmetics liquid lipstick

COLOURPOP lipliner in BFF2

SMASHBOX halo highligting perfecting powder bronzer

SHANGHI suzy lipstick in Baby Lavender

BECCA highlighter in Moonstone

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Arnhem Byron Bay / Willow Lace Bodysuit & Maple Maxi Skirt

Born into a gypsy lifestyle of colour and beauty, flower child Arnhem Bickley spent her early years travelling around Australia and the world with her hippy parents. Drifting through different communities and festivals and living in teepees with no electricity or running water, a heightened sense of creativity emerged in young Arnhem, who began sewing clothing for her dolls at the age of four.

This bohemian spirit flows into every piece of Arnhem Clothing. Her range is characterized by distinctive, custom signature prints of vintage-inspired floral, tribal and earthy designs, heavily influenced by the wilderness and beauty of her home in Byron Bay.

Arnhem creates elegant pieces with an effortlessly feminine yet playful style. All Arnhem Clothing has that one off feel about it, with nothing mass-produced.

Arnhem Clothing has quickly grown to become one of Byron Bay’s iconic fashion labels, with celebrity fans including Isabel Lucas and the Veronicas. Arnhem has amassed a huge following around the world …..and we’re just getting started.

MAPLE MAXI SKIRT OFF WHITE - also available in black and maroon $69

WILLOW LACE BODYSUIT - PEACOCK AND WHITE - $20 

 Arnhem is a Byron Bay based label, they're not mass produced and always have a simplistic beauty to them. Whether it's the material, the unique patterns, the detailing on their lace items or just the cut of the clothing themselves, they design and make really gorgeous clothing. I'm late on the bandwagon with Arnhem and only recently discovered their range when my friend Zoe told me about their sale and I picked up a few pieces. If you've not heard of the brand before either, now is the perfect time as their sale is still on and there's heaps of bargains to be found! They do ship worldwide, it is a little pricey - around £15 but the clothing is beautiful and if you snag something in the sale, you'll of saved money even with the cost of postage!

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Texturise your hair with Charles Worthington

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray - £6.99

I LOVE this stuff. I've always been a hater of hairspray - crispy hair is just yuck and it makes my hair so difficult to brush out the next day so I tend to opt for volumising sprays that add the right amount of hold and texture to my roots and ends. One of my friends recommended this product to me and since then I've repurchased it about 4 or 5 times. It's only £6.99 in Boots, plus the whole range is currently on offer 3 for 2, and it's amazing! It's lightly fragranced, non sticky and adds heaps of volume to the roots of your hair and enough texture and hold to the ends that it keeps your style in place. It's comparable to the Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finishing spray and Kerastase Powder Bluff but better. This is HEAPS cheaper, so easy to get hold of and it works so much better for me than the high end versions. This works especially well if you have long hair, fine hair or hair that just struggles to hold volume. Buy it now, thank me later. This is a hair staple for me, along with Batiste Dry Shampoo, obviously.

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Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation Review.

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation - £34

Packaging

Becca always has such minimalist packaging that manages to ooze simplistic luxury. The kind of brand that knows that you don't have to over exert yourself in the packaging department because the product speaks for itself. This foundation comes in a frosted glass bottle with a twist off metallic lid, as you untwist it the centre pops up and this is how you dispense the foundation as it has a dropper. This means you get the perfect amount of foundation for application. 

Finish/Coverage

This is definitely a foundation for those who love a radiant finish. Combination and oily skins will have to be very careful with this, a foundation with such a dewy finish although it looks beautiful it's just not long wearing for us. I can use this when I'm going out for the evening for a few hours but any longer and I'd have to powder and prime so much it would completely take away from the beauty of this product. Dry to normal skins, would love this - it's a very thin formula, it blends beautifully - I like to apply it with a stippling brush to get as much coverage out of it as possible, but saying that it's still a sheer/light coverage. Lisa Eldrige says it best though when she says if you have great skin, opt for a foundation with a light coverage then go in and spot conceal - have people telling you how beautiful your skin is, not how beautifully your foundation sits. Not gonna lie though, I'm a lover of full coverage, conceal the f outta my face type of products 90% of the time. I am from Essex after all.

Anything I should consider when I buy this foundation?

It transfers. It transferred on me, but again I'm combination/oily. I would say get yourself a light powder that sets the foundation whilst still letting the luminosity of the foundation show through. Get yourself a Mac Mineralise Skinfinish Natural powder or the Bourjois Healthy Mix powder. I picked up the shade Medium which is comparable to an NC30 although as it's a sheer coverage if you're a little off in colour it's pretty forgiving and wont show.

 Summary

This foundation is beautiful. If you're a lover of luminous skin, a glowy finish, a sheer coverage and hate the feeling of foundation of your skin - this is perfect for you. It's a really luxurious formula and truly encompases the idea of a high end foundation, but be wary on oily skins.

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