The Wedding Face

Last week one of my beautiful friends, Michelle was attending a wedding and asked me to do her face for her. Of course I was more than happy to and she was also kind enough to let me photograph before and after and now she may be making future appearances on this blog
Her dress was a coral, lilac print and she wanted a purple toned eye to complement both her dress and lovely green eyes. For a Summer wedding I thought a nice soft purple eye would be appropriate and a few quick tweaks later on could take the look into the evening.

I started with Benefit's Porefessional Primer around the nose and a bit down the T-zone and prepped her eyes using Urban Decay's Original Primer Potion. As a base I used Maybelline 24hr Eye Tattoo in Barely Branded seeing as these things last for hours and hours. For the most part of the eyes I used a L'Oreal trio in 405- Stay Ultra Violet, Tease from the Naked 2 palette through the crease, Bootycall as a brow highlight and a touch of this iridescent LA splash glitter on the inner third of the lid for an extra touch of glitz and glamour! A small cat eye using Maybelline gel liner, a few lashings of Jordana's Best Lash Extreme and finally L'Oreal infallible eyeshadow in Purple Obsession smudged into the bottom lash line.

Brows were done using Wet n Wild Brow kit, some subtle bronzing around the edges of the face with MAC Matte bronzing powder and Nars Amour blush on the cheeks for a gorgeous pink glow.

As Michelle is slightly more pale than I am, I used her own foundation which was Napoleon Perdis Advanced Mineral Makeup liquid foundation and set her whole face using the Camera Finish powder.

A spritz of Urban Decay 'Chill' setting spray and voila! She was ready.

All of the brushes used were either Real Techniques, Sigma or Bdellium. I know this is a very brief rundown but I wanted to share this anyway. Maybe in the future I'll do a more step by step but usually I just wing it and make it up as I go along!

Product Reviews | The Best of the Minis

When it comes to things that are miniature in size, I'm a complete sucker. Whether it's deluxe samples or products that come in a small size, I can't resist, they're just too cute! (An advertiser's dream right here..) I've been collecting some of the miniatures that I have either acquired or purchased with a future blogpost in mind to share my thoughts and maybe endorse a few purchases..

Let's start with Benefit's Porefessional ($53AUD) There's no denying this is a serious 'cult' product that receives glowing reviews and I was lucky enough to get this deluxe sample size as a freebie with a magazine I bought when I was in the UK. Surprisingly this size lasted me a good while seeing as you only need a small amount and a year later I purchased the full size, again whilst overseas. This product is great for filling in pores and giving you an all around smoother appearance. Not sure how much this does in terms of mattifying your t-zone though but I do enjoy using it as more of a targeted area primer.

Origin's Super Spot Remover ($19AUD) Not a sample size, just adorably small. This may seem pricey for a spot gel but man oh man is it worth spending a bit extra. This stuff is definitely my go-to when my skin is acting out, I just pop it on before I go to bed and in the morning my spots are definitely reduced in redness and size. This dries it out without making the skin around the area too dry and flakey. I think this may be my second or third bottle..

Kiehl's Ultra Face Cream (from $34AUD) and Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense (from $38USD) Both of these deluxe samples were gift with purchase of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum as a little rejuvenating pack I think. For an oily skin gal like me, I think the Ultra Face Cream would be too heavy generally for everyday use but at one point my skin was looking quite dehydrated and flakey and this fixed it right up! Hasn't sold me enough to purchase the full size but a good product nonetheless and I scraped the mini jar dry. Daily UV Defense is still going strong and I put this on underneath my makeup when I know I'll be outdoors rather than inside at work all day. With an SPF of 50+++ it definitely has the tick of approval for Australia's hot, Summer days and I feel well and truly protected when wearing it.

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (from $25AUD) Hourglass, can you do no wrong?! Honestly, every product of theirs that I've tried, I've loved. It is quickly becoming one of my favourite high-end brands and this was no exception. This sample size came with my purchase of the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette and when I bought it the lovely assistant at Mecca Cosmetica slyly pointed out the free gift and told me I'd love it. Yep, she wasn't wrong. This primer is silky, radiant and beautiful and definitely gives my makeup lasting power for a long day at work and keeps my oiliness at bay as well as smoothing out my pores and general textural issues. And yes, I may have treated myself to the full size of this last week but in my defence I did have a voucher from Christmas to ease the blow to the bank account.

The luxury that is Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation ($72AUD) This little tester is in the shade B30 which I was trialling along with B20. I have overcome my anxieties about approaching makeup counters for samples especially when I could be spending my pretty pennies on products that I end up not liking, which has happened all too often in the past! The lovely assistant at the David Jones Chanel counter helped to match me and suggested I try both B20 and B30 in natural light and see how they sat and oxidised on my skin throughout the day and wear. I thought I'd include this cute tester tube in this post purely for how adorable (and as it turned out, quite impractical) it is. Together with the Hourglass Primer, this is a winning duo and I decided to purchase the full size in shade B20 and then I can just use bronzer to warm it up when I need to.

Last but not least, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($28AUD) This may seem like a gimmick and a completely unnecessary product but when you've got it, you can definitely see its necessity. I was lucky enough to pick this up at the Estee Lauder and Companies corporate store for a steal so I could justify the purchase. The minuscule wand is the perfect size for separating your bottom lashes without looking unnatural or clumpy. The formula is also non-smudging and long-wearing which is a must in order to avoid the sleepy panda look.

That's my wrap up of some recent minis that I've loved and as you've seen have influenced future purchases. These companies know how to rope you in!

Millie x

The Cult Candle | Slatkin & Co.

Candles.  They're a must. All year round.

Those three sentences could really sum up this post but I will elaborate. You may be able to tell that I'm a big fan of candles and really any other lovely aroma-making things like reed diffusers. I'm very sensitive to smells and honestly if it doesn't smell good or even pleasant; be it a bedroom, physical environment or person, I'm a little hesitant. Some people seem to only like candles in Winter but I definitely don't discriminate. I do prefer particular scents throughout the year though, so now as it's Summer here in Australia I prefer more coconutty, fresh, tropical scents whereas in the cooler months I prefer spicy, rich and warm scents to make my room feel nice and cosy. The other day my friend walked into my room and said "It literally always smells amazing in here" and that was a lovely compliment because I want my room to be a nice, inviting place where my friends can feel comfortable. This may seem a little exaggerated for some but I just really like things to smell nice, ok..

The point of this post is to express my love for Slatkin & Co. candles. The range that every YouTuber and their dog raves about in hauls and burns in the background of their videos for added 'atmosphere'. As I live in Sydney, sadly we have no Bath & Body Works where I can purchase these but I bought my first mini one in Dubai Mall on a stopover and I have been lucky enough to find some on eBay at an elevated price I'm sure. Of the few I've tried, 'Tropical Spice' is my absolute favourite which I have repurchased many times now, is described as "an exotic blend of cinnamon bark, spiced rum and Tahitian vanilla. It's amaze. It's my go-to Summer candle and it is always received well.

Slatkin & Co. candles come in various sizes and at the moment I have the largest 3-wick size of Tropical Spice and it has lasted me well over a month with regular burning. The scent is very powerful and does linger once the candle is blown out and with a suggested 40-65 hour burning time it is pretty good value for money especially if you can buy them instore in the States.  I bought a few new scents last week which have just arrived from eBay and they're Spiced Cider, Coco Lobo and of course a small back up of Tropical Spice. All smaller sizes so not sure how long they'll last but it'll be good for trialling the new scents.

What are your favourite candle/scent brands?

Millie x

Follow me on Instagram! - @beautylocale. 

The Newest MAC Additions

 Humid, Plum Dressing, Swiss Chocolate, Greensmoke

When it comes to eyeshadows, I generally prefer to spend a bit extra to get the quality that (one hopes) comes with the price tag. Don't get me wrong MUA's £4 eyeshadow palettes do have a spot in my collection and I do love their colour ranges and the quality is pretty good for its price. My favourites when it comes to mid-range eyeshadows are the usual - MAC, Inglot and Urban Decay all of which are great in their colour payoff, lasting power and extensive colour ranges. I started my MAC palette I think just over a year ago and I've slowly been building it up with thanks to many recommendations from blogs, youtube ladies and the like. As my dearest Dad was going to the UK, I thought it only right to take advantage and asked him to pick me up a few bits seeing as it is quite a bit cheaper over there. 

I narrowed my (ridiculously long) list down to a few bits but MAC eyeshadows to further fill my palette were always top of the list. I did my research well and noted down a lot of shades that I had heard or read recommendations for, googled swatches and finally narrowed it down to 4 shades - Humid, Greensmoke, Swiss Chocolate and Plum Dressing. I felt like branching out from my usual neutral shades that I always go for and thought some greens and a purple shade would be fun to experiment with. As I have green eyes, Plum Dressing should be quite complimentary as green and purple are opposite on the colour wheel and for some green tone eyeshadow may seem a bit daunting, outdated or slightly 80s but I've seen some gorgeous looks recently and I was sold! 

I have one (ONE?! How on Earth did you fill so quickly, Mr Palette??) spot left in my 15 pan palette so 
I am open to recommendations or maybe I'll just have to buy an insert..

Despite how unloved and unused they look, these shadows most definitely get a lot of attention and love. 
L-R: Soft Brown, Brule, All Races, Swiss Chocolate, Smut
2nd: All That Glitters, Woodwinked, Cranberry, Satin Taupe, Contrast
3rd: (TBC), Plum Dressing, Humid, Greensmoke, Carbon

MAC shadows retail for AUD $26 for shades in the pan or $33 for single shadows.

What are your favourite shadows- colours, brands or whatever else? 

Millie x

Follow me on instagram-  @beautylocale 

Christmas Beauty Wishlist 2013

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I would put together a few of the beauty bits that I wouldn't mind receiving this Christmas. Beauty products are great for those girls (and boys) who like me, are beauty obsessed and love to try new things especially with so many companies bringing out amazing gift sets for the holiday seasons. Sadly, as I'm in Australia we don't get access to a lot of these like the glory of all glory sets that places like Sephora and UK stores stock however that doesn't mean we are left out completely.

My new job has meant that I'm now working in the city and sometimes a girl can't resist a cheeky window shop or swatch. One place that I seem to be gravitating to more and more is Mecca Cosmetica which is located in Myer as well as a freestanding store in the Galeries Victoria. Mecca Cosmetica if you are unfamiliar stocks beloved brands such as Nars, Hourglass, Stila and many many more. Their sister store Kit Cosmetics which is conveniently located very nearby stocks Smashbox, Too Faced, Korres, Soap & Glory and many many more. Mecca and Kit in particular are stocking some amazing sets at the moment suiting low and higher end budgets which would be amazing last minute gifts in the lead up to Christmas or for the people that you just don't know what to buy them!

Family and friends have been asking me what I would like for Christmas and as this year was my 21st and I was fortunate to receive some amazing gifts, I've found it a bit difficult to think of one thing that I would really love. In saying that there is always something beauty that I have my eye on. Here is a quick run down of my best picks!

NARS Velvet Lip Matte Pencil $39 - not in any particular shade, the pinks and reds both look stunning and I would get use out of any of their shades. I sadly missed out on the recent Guy Bourdin lip pencil set which apparently sold like hot cakes so if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one, I am quite jealous.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder $66 - this is a serious luxury product in terms of price point and I haven't been able to bring myself to spend the money on it yet (*keyword yet) but I have a feeling that once my current MAC matte bronzer hits pan, this beauty will be my next choice. Following the rave reviews of every youtuber and blogger, I've definitely been sucked in by the hype.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation $90- again this product is on the list due to the incredible amount of hype it received online this year. I haven't been colour matched nor tested it because every time I went to a counter they had run out of the little pots to put the tester in so this is not a definite match for my skin type but it is a certainty on the 'To Try' list.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation $68- this I picked up a sample in the shade Sand  when I purchased a corrector and lipgloss recently. I've used Bobbi Brown foundations when I was younger and seemed to get on with them quite well and in terms of this particular formula I took recommendation from Anna of Vivianna Does Make Up. The shade matched me really well, was a good coverage and from memory I think I only had to touch up and re-powder once throughout the day which is pretty successful for my oily/combination skin.

Lush Sea Spray $12.50- being Summer here the tousled beach look is still very much in and it seems like almost every company is bringing out their version of a sea spray or some kind of texturising spray. I've tried the Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Spray which I did enjoy so I would like to compare the two especially as they are very different in price. Also I always love Lush products for their natural ingredients.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation $68- even though as I mentioned I have oilier skin, I've read many reviews on this foundation from girls who claim to have a similar type and they still rave about it. So I'm keen to head to the lovely girls at Mecca and get their opinion as well as colour matched.

Bobbi Brown Blush Brush $82- this amount of money for a makeup brush for just an everyday gal like me, I even question. However it is claimed to be amazing and award-winning which I believe due to its great tapered shape and production. Also, Estee from Essie Button raves about this brush and she is another lady who always sucks me in with her recommendations.

Sorry for the rambling, Christmas and new beauty bits is all very exciting for me and there are definitely more products on my mental wishlist but I will not bore you any longer. I am definitely wanting to head to a Dior counter in the next few days and check out their new products for the season, the packaging looks enough to entice me!

Millie x

Introductions

Helloooo blogosphere, 

So after much deliberation, I have decided to start myself a blog. This will be a place for me to share anything and everything when it comes to beauty and lifestyle. As a self-confessed makeup and beauty addict, I thought this to be the perfect way to share anything I think may be useful to anyone else as well as product reviews (as well as I'm sure lust/wishlists) and some lifestyle bits and bobs. 

To tell you a bit about myself, my name is Millie and I'm from Sydney in Australia. I have a passion for travel and languages and have always had a love for fashion, make up and all things creative. I'm currently studying but now that my semester is over I thought it was finally time to start this blog that I've been thinking about for months. As well as an avid YouTube watcher, I'm always trawling the many beauty blogs out there for new and exciting things. There is so much out there and so many amazing 'gurus' but I hope to share things that not everybody is aware of. Beauty is more than skin deep, it has the ability to liberate and give confidence; it is a way of expressing creativity. For the moment when I have no time to paint on paper, I choose to paint my face.  

Millie x