November Favourites

I was inspired to reappear from by blogging hiatus from browsing through Etsy and Pinterest today, it really made me feel like doing something creative.

Over the past few months I have on and off been living away from home which involved smart minimal packing so I wouldn’t have to cart a whole lot of unwanted stuff here and there. So when I thought to do a favourites post I didn’t look too further than what I have in my makeup bag.

Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay

I know this palette is nothing new to share with you however with Christmas around the corner I thought it may spark someone’s interest as a gift idea. Cooler in tone than its predecessor, the Naked palette, Naked 2 had twelve beautiful neutral eye shadows that are vibrant, buttery and a breeze to blend. Since purchasing this palette a little over a month ago I have been using it almost every day, my favourite shades are Half Baked, Verve and YDK.

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Alhambra

 

This duo is my no fuss, up and out the door shadow. The metallic rose and sparkling champagne complement each other so nicely and both colours look beautiful on their own or applied with a damp brush for a deeper dazzle of colour.
 

Juicy Couture Original Fragrance

I purchased this at the very end of November hence the slight usage; however I have purchased many bottles in the past (so it totally justifies being a November favourite). To me it reminds me of warm summer nights in Honolulu, Hawaii where I purchased my first bottle. It is a sweet fragrance with top notes of watermelon, mandarin and passion fruit however to me it smells of fresh cut frangipani’s.

Urban Decay Primer Potion Original

Again, this product needs no introduction. A cult beauty staple, the Urban Decay Primer Potion allows shadows to stay put all day with little creasing and increased vibrancy.

Inglot Freedom Quad

This is a rediscovered favourite, just like the Alhambra duo, this quad creates a quick no fuss look. I feel all colours complement each other nicely and create the perfect every day natural eye.

Stay Pretty Pro Longwear Blush by MAC

Released with the MAC Office Hours collection, Stay Pretty is a matte pink blush. As it’s Pro Longwear formulation I find it has good staying power and it provides a nice, pretty flush to the cheeks.

Springsheen Sheertone Shimmer Blush by MAC

A part of MAC’s permanent collection, this blush was actually a gift from my fiancé. Springsheen is a peachy/coral with a golden shimmer and because of its sheertone formulation blends nicely into the skin without the disco ball look.

Sun Dipped Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder by Mac

Released with the Hello Sailor collection, Sun Dipped is a Bronze with gold micro glitter. I was a little apprehensive when I purchased this as I had a strict matte bronzer policy however Sun Dipped has become one of my favourite bronzers and I use it everyday to contour or frame my face.   

L-R: Stay Pretty, Springsheen and Sun Dipped

Have you tried and loved any of my November favourites? Do you have your own favourites to share? Please comment I would love to hear from you.



PHOTOBOMBED.. Millie decided to fly over to check out what I was up to.

 

Tonic Australia Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway, I really appreciate your support.

The winner was chosen at random via the True Random Number Generator by random.org

And the winner is...

Congratulations Sereniityy.

I hope you enjoy the Tonic Soy Wax Candle and Goat's Milk Soap. Please look out for my email and reply with your details.

Tonic Australia Giveaway CLOSED

Tonic Australia has provided the opportunity for one lucky subscriber of Beauty Soiree to win a prize pack from their Heritage Gardenia range containing one Gardenia Scented Soy Wax Candle and Gardenia Goats Milk Soap.

I was lucky enough to receive both the scented soy wax candle and goats milk soap to try myself (see post here) and was impressed. So I’m very excited to be able to share these beautiful products with you.

Conditions of entry:

This giveaway is open internationally and will close Sunday 12 August 2012 at 8pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Winner must be a public follower of Beauty Soiree through Google Friend Connect (GFC) and will be eligible for 3 entries in the giveaway.

Winner will be both contacted via email and via blog post on Beauty Soiree.

Additional entries:

Tweet about this giveaway mentioning @BeautySoiree (additional 2 entries)

To enter complete the Entry Form below:

The Original Beauty Blender

I haven’t been satisfied with the way my foundation and stippling brushes have been applying my foundation recently. I found the thicker consistency of my foundation (Rimmel Wake Me Up) teamed with the synthetic fibers of my brushes left the finish streaky and hard to work with.

I’ve read many good reviews about the Beauty Blender Sponge (one that comes to mind…Keeping Up With Me) and I decided to purchase one to see if it would revolutionize the way I apply my foundation.

The Beauty Blender has been designed to ensure makeup application is foolproof. It's egg shaped design allows even coverage to larger surface areas such as your cheeks and forehead and its narrow rounded tip is perfect to cover trickier areas like the corner of your nose and under eyes.

To use, you apply your foundation or concealer using a stippling (dabbing) motion, as mentioned above it allows even coverage and a flawless finish - I would be very surprised if you were dissapointed with this product after the first use.   

Conventional makeup sponges often soak up a lot of product forcing you to use a lot more than you need however with the Beauty Blender you dampen the sponge in water prior to use which eliminates makeup soaking into the Beauty Blender and assisting in proving a flawless finish to your foundation.

The Beauty Blender almost doubles in size when wet

Sponges (especially damp ones) are prone to be a bacteria breeding ground so be sure to clean after each use. The Beauty Blender line does have its own cleanser product available to purchase separately or together in a pack however, I have been satisfied using my Elf Anti Bacterial Brush Shampoo.

The Beauty Blender has shaved off minutes to my morning makeup routine as it makes makeup so quick and easy to apply and because it’s a soft sponge (similar feel to memory foam) no effort is required when wanting to create a flawless finish.

The Beauty Blender can be purchased in various outlets online and in store internationally, visit http://www.beautyblender.net/buy.html for further information. I purchased my Beauty Blender online at Crush Cosmetics for $24.95 (AUD).

Brand Spotlight: Tonic Australia

Image from tonic.net.au

Founded in 1992, Tonic Australia was created by Melbourne duo Toni Joel and Nikki Horovitz and consists of a product line featuring stylish bath, body and home products.  

The wide product range from shower caps, body creams and lotions to candles and diffusers feature stylish on trend patterns and are 100% Australian made using local natural ingredients or materials.

Image from tonic.net.au

I was lucky enough to have been gifted a few of Tonic Australia’s products to trial as well as gift pack to provide one lucky reader during a Tonic Giveaway.  

Eco Sachets

In their stylish print, Tonic has made warding off bad smells and bugs look good. Hang these little aromatic sachets in your cupboard, pantry or draw and allow the sweet herbal aroma to linger. I have been using these in my intimate draw as well as my wardrobe to add a little fragrance to my garments.

Heat Pillow

These come in an array of different prints and contain organic barley and lavender and have been a god send throughout the past few weeks of winter. Allow a quick two minutes in a microwave for an optimum warm cozy temperature.

Gardenia Scented Soy Wax Candle

Ahhhh, my love of floral scents and candles combined!  Soy wax candles burn longer than your traditional candle and Tonic boasts a burning time of up to 45 hours. Incased in a beautiful jar with floral print, Tonic candles don’t just look good they smell amazing too – the scent smells of fresh picked gardenias.

Gardenia Goats Milk Soap

Goats milk is amazing for those with sensitive skin and is both nourishing and cleansing. I found this soap lathers well and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized. Again, this soap is from the Gardenia line so its floral scent is very appealing.

Tonic products make the perfect gift for that special someone who has it all. You can find Tonic products in boutique giftware stores, department stores and online at http://www.tonic.net.au/

Stay tuned for my Tonic Australia Giveaway featuring a Gardenia Scented Soy Wax Candle and Gardenia Goats Milk Soap prize package for one lucky winner.

Disclaimer: Please note that the above mentioned products were provided for review consideration and giveaway however all opinions provided in this post are honest.