August Favourites!

Hello Everyone! 

As we all know, August has officially come to a close which means I get to share with you some of the things that I have been loving throughout the month! Along with August ending, it is the official end of winter in Australia and I'm so excited for it to start warming up around here as the cold weather was really starting to get me down. 

So without further adieu, here are the the things that I have loved throughout this last month! 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe 

Source: http://www.sephora.com/dipbrow-pomade-P384060?skuId=1621028

I think everyone and their dog has heard about this product and, until recently, I couldn't get my hands on it. But, finally, it has gracefully entered my life. And I love it SO MUCH. I use it in conjunction with the #20 brush by Anastasia and my brows are on fleek every day of the week. In the beginning, I did find this product quite difficult to use which saw me sporting some serious texta brows, but this issue was soon overcome and I am now s l a y i n g the eyebrow game my friend. I love this because you only need a tiny, tiny amount and it allows you to get amazing definition, if that's what you're into. It sets your hairs into place, literally like concrete, to the point where you could easily get away with not using an eyebrow gel. So if you want bitch brows, this is definitely the product for you. 

Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer 

Source: http://www.sephora.com/argan-enlightenment-illuminizer-P395551?skuId=1690155

This is the serious glow giver. Recently I have been really into dewy skin, quite the shift from my usual love for flat, matte finishes, so this has been my saviour. I love to use this under or mixed in with my foundation to give my face a "glow from within". I also enjoy using this in a half moon shape spanning from along the top of my cheekbone up to my forehead, just above the arch of my eyebrow as well as the tip of my nose and the cupid's bow. Even though it is a product which contains Argan oil, it doesn't make the oiler parts of my face look too crazy, in fact, it almost has no effect. I also find that it extends the longevity of my foundation which is always a bonus. 

BECCA Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Opal 

Source: http://www.sephora.com/shimmering-skin-perfector-pressed-P381176?skuId=1538107

As you can see there is a bit of a theme going here with all the highlighting products but I seriously couldn't resist mentioning this. This is the most stunning highlighter that ever graced earth. It is my first BECCA product and it's safe to say that I will definitely be investing in more of their products. It's so gorgeous and pigmented and the best part about it is that it blends onto the skin so beautifully so you're not left with that chalky line of highlight that some products can give you. It also has no fallout which is great as it means that you don't end up with tiny bits of shimmer the whole way down your face. 

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Shimma Shimma

Source: http://www.makeupgeek.com/store/eye-products/eyeshadows/makeup-geek-eyeshadows/makeup-geek-eyeshadow-pan-shimma-shimma.html

Yet another highlighting product! Yes, this is an eyeshadow, however, I love this as a highlight. It looks so beautiful over the top of the Josie Maran product I mentioned earlier and even with the BECCA highlighter if I'm feeling like I want to go for the extra glowy look. I love a wet-look highlight when I'm going out at night and this provides me that, particularly if I spray my brush with a bit of MAC Fix+ just to further amplify the pigment. I like it. I love it. Stay fresh. 

MAC Lipstick in Honeylove

 

Source: http://www.justmakeupartists.com/system/tiny_images/images/302/large_thumb/Lipstick.jpg

This lipstick has taken over my love for Velvet Teddy. Yes, I said it. It is literally the perfect shade, I love it with all of my heart. It's a peachy-beige nude but it also has some pink undertones and I don't even know how to explain it but you need it in your life. It is a matte finish, I believe, but it is not at all drying, it's super creamy and amazeballs. The Matte formula is my favourite from MAC because I'm one of those people who constantly rubs their lips together and licks them and bites them so no other formula really lasts well on my lips, but this as great lasting power, particularly if you're like me. 10/10. 

So, those are all the beauty products I've been loving this month, now onto fashion/music/random favourites! 

Midas - Jeremiah 

Source: http://www.midasshoes.com.au/high-heels/jeremiah/w3/i1363772_1082470/

I have had a lot of mixed opinions on these shoes but I fricken adore them. I feel like I will love these more than my first born child. They're super comfortable as they are made of leather, although they did give me blisters on my toes the first time I wore them as they take a bit of wear before they are broken in. But it's a small price to pay for the perfection of these shoes. They are so versatile as they are like a heel, sandal and a boot all in one. If I could wear these everyday of my life I would. 

Glasshouse Fragrances Triple Scented Candle in Tahaa

Source: http://www.peteralexander.com.au/shop/en/peteralexander/home/glasshouse-fragrances-candles-226551--1/glasshouse-fragrances-triple-scented-candles-350g

THIS SMELLS LIKE HEAVEN ON EARTH! Literally if I could smell one smell for the rest of my life it would be this scent. It is a vanilla-caramel scented candle, which is perfect because sickly, sweet smells are my absolute favourite. I love burning this for a few hours before bed as it leaves this amazing aroma in my room and it just smells so amazing that it puts me to sleep. I would not recommend this candle if you don't like the smell of a caramel slice because that's exactly what it smells like. Normally candles give me an awful headache but this, for some reason, doesn't and that makes me very happy. 

And my last favourite is.....

BADLANDS - HALSEY

Source: http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music1/v4/07/e9/ff/07e9fff8-173e-f449-82a0-1eb8895f3f03/cover326x326.jpeg

I had been highly anticipating this album ever since I first heard of Halsey and I was not disappointed. IT'S AMAZING. I'm cheating a little here because I obviously haven't been loving this record all August as it only came out on the 28th, however, I have been listening to it non-stop since Friday and that's what really matters. It's just an amazing album that I very much enjoy listening to. I love every song on the record and I love that, from start to finish, it tells a story. It's probably my favourite album of this year, it's life changing. 

So, that's everything that I have been loving this month! I hope you've enjoyed this weeks post and let me know in the comments or on twitter (@ashleecalamity) what you've been enjoying in August! 

Lots of Love, 

Actually By Ashlee xxx

The Best Haircare Product Ever??

Hey friends!

I'm back! It feels splendid to be posting again, I've missed it so much! The last month or so has been crazy busy hence I haven't been able to even stop and write something that's remotely worth reading for you guys. But alas, I am here now and here to stay, for now at least. 

While I've been away I have tried an array of new beauty products, one of them being a hair-care product. In the last couple of weeks I had started noticing that my hair was becoming really dry, dull and super tangly and eventually I just got sick of it. Every time I did my hair for an occasion I felt really insecure about it because it looked like wire. So, I thought, enough is enough and I went on the hunt for a new shampoo to replace my not-so-trusty Garnier Shampoo. 

After reading many reviews online I settled for this bad boy right here: 

Source: http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1602945-main-hero-300.jpg

IT. IS. FRICKEN. AMAZING. 

It's the Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo. Bloody unreal. 

You would not believe how amazing my hair feels after using this shampoo. I'm not even kidding, I've only used it twice and I've noticed such a difference in the way my hair looks and feels. Bumble and bumble use a sulphate free formula in this shampoo which, I believe, is the reason why my hair feels so incredibly soft and smooth. Sulphate is the chemical used to produce bubbles in shampoo which is a consumer technique as, if a shampoo does not foam, it is popular to assume that the shampoo isn't actually doing anything. 

Sulphate is also commonly known to strip the hair and skin of its natural oils in large quantities which is what can cause the hair to become dry and dull. It is also very bad for chemically treated hair and I've been colouring my hair since I was 13 so, inevitably, my hair has been damaged quite a bit. So, this shampoo ticks all of my boxes. It still foams because, I'm guessing, it uses an alternate chemical but I don't really give a rats bum hole because my hair looks glorious so whatever forever. 

The thing I thought when I first tried this shampoo was that it would make my hair greasy within one or two days due to the fact that my hair was so smooth and shiny, however, my hair lasts just as long, if not longer, in between washes now than what it did with my previous hair-care routine. 

Another thing I love about this is, because it's so nourishing and moisturising, I can use my toning conditioner every time I wash my hair. I had to avoid doing this previously because as it is toning the hair it can be quite drying, but I find with the sulphate free formula and the 'invisible oils' (whatever that means), that is not longer an issue for me, so I can have fabulous hair all the time!

When I get out of the shower I like to towel dry my hair and spray a few pumps of the Macadamia Natural Oil Nourishing Leave-In Cream, which, to be honest isn't really necessary anymore because my hair is smooth and silky without it due to the Hairdresser's shampoo, but I still like to use it anyway because it keeps the hair healthy and extends the life of coloured hair which, lord knows, I need. 

The smell of this shampoo is delicious and it leaves my bathroom (and my hair, of course) smelling lovely for days after I've wash my hair but it's not an over powering smell that would give you a headache. One of the downfalls that I can think of about this product is the packaging. The moment I took the bottle into the shower and it got wet, the label started to flake off which I don't really mind too much because, like a potential boyfriend, it's what's on the inside that counts. 

The other negative about this product is the pRICE. Damn, this baby is $39 for my fellow Australians (or $31 if you're American, I see you guys!) which is veeeeery pricey for a shampoo, but in my eyes, you can't put a price on healthy hair. This dead stuff that grows out of our heads is with us for life so we have to look after it! 

If you're in Australia you can purchase this shampoo from Mecca Cosmetica or Mecca Maxima stores, depending on which you have closer to you and many other online stores if you would like to check it out! 

This is me, signin' off. 

Actually by Ashlee xxx

My Current Beauty Favourites!

Hello to you my chums!

Today I bring to you my current beauty favourites! Makeup is something that I've been interested since I was about 11 years old but only really started testing out new products and trying out new looks in the last year and a half. So here is a collation of my current beauty favourites. Enjoy!

So my first favourite beauty product at the moment is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Source: http://mecca.com.au/nars/radiant-creamy-concealer/V-015503.html#start=1

I bought this concealer not long ago to use to highlight my under eye area as well as conceal any dark circles that I might have. Unfortunately the colour that I was matched to is much too dark to highlight when I'm not fake tanning but is the perfect colour to spot conceal or highlight when I do have fake tan on. I love this product because it's so full coverage and it truly does conceal my dark under eye circles that I was so fortunately blessed with. Note sarcasm. It covers up blemishes like a dream, however I do find that it can slide off the areas of my face that are more oily, like my chin but it can be easily avoided by applying a good powder. If you live in Australia, like me, you can find this concealer in Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca Maxima stores and it retails for $36.

My next favourite is by MAC and it's their Velvet Teddy lipstick.

Source: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=29770058

I had been trying to get my hands on this lipstick for the longest time, ever since I heard Brittney Lee Sauder's rave about it on YouTube. It's such a popular product and it seemed like almost everywhere I went it was all sold out, until I finally found a store that actually had it. This lip shade is the perfect Kylie Jenner nude. It gives you that kind of 90s vibe as it is a browney-beige nude with slightly peach undertones. I think it's perfect for pale to medium skin tones but could also work for darker skin tones as well. The formulation is matte but it's super creamy and not at all drying as well as being super opaque and pigmented. It's my perfect lip shade! This lipstick retails for $36 in Australia.

This next favourite goes perfectly with Velvet Teddy! It's the MAC Lip Pencil in the shade Boldy Bare.

Source: http://img.makeupalley.com/7/4/1/7/2704123.JPG 

I have been wearing this lip liner constantly as of recent, so much so that I've gone through two since March. This lipliner is a stunning nude shade that can be worn pretty much under any lip shade darker than itself or underneath lighter nudes to deepen the colour and add some dimension. This liner paired with Demeter by Napoleon or Velvet Teddy is my perfect lip combo and it can look amazing on all skin types. Because it is a lip pencil it can be quite drying so I tend to steer away from wearing it on it's own. I like to pair it with a clear gloss just to add some hydration to the lips to prevent them from looking all cracked and chapped.

My next favourite is for the eyes and it is the NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow in the shade Opal Coast.

 Source: http://www.narscosmetics.com/USA/opal-coast--hardwired-eyeshadow/0607845020936.html

This eyeshadow is a limited edition shade as a part of the 2014 Holiday Colour Collection and has been discontinued. However, you can still purchase what stock is left of this product off their website and from some Mecca stores as that's where I got mine from about a month ago. I bought this eyeshadow for my school formal as I wanted to wear a silver and black smokey eye to match my dress. I was in my local Mecca Maxima store swatching a bunch of silver eyeshadows and I was so impressed with the colour payoff that this shadow has. It's super shimmery and gorgeous, perfect for a dramatic look for a night out or lightly swiped across the lid, blended with a cool toned brown for a simple day look with a bit of sparkle. It is a pure satin white eyeshadow with silver reflects which is what gives it that silvery effect. If diamonds were crushed into an eyeshadow, it would be this one. It's heavenly. Because it's so shimmery it does have a lot of fall out, so I would recommend using something like a shadow shield to prevent getting glitter under your eyes or simply apply your eye makeup before doing your face, which is always good to do with any eye look. You can also take the pigmentation a step further by using a few sprays of something like a MAC Fix+ spray or the Smashbox Primer Water. This eyeshadow retails at $25 USD on the NARS website.

This next favourite is the Kat Von D Lock-it Tattoo Foundation.

 Source: http://www.beautezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Kat-Von-D-Foundation-4029.jpg

I love this foundation because when it says it full coverage, it means it's full coverage. All you need is about a pump and your whole face looks flawless! It does have a matte formula so it's more suited for people will more oily to combination skin types or that don't like a dewy finish. I, personally love the matte finish as my skin can get quite oily in my T-zone and chin area throughout the day. It's a really long wearing foundation, even for people with super oily skin. It's so long wearing to the point where I have been out at a party and gone to bed not being bothered taking my makeup off and I've woken up the next day still sporting a full face of makeup. The collection also has a great colour range of colours and undertones. I'm in the shade light 45 which is great for those of you with light skin and a yellow undertone. I picked this product up in Sephora in Sydney in March, I am unsure of the Australian price as they don't have an Australian site, but it retails for $35 USD at the American Sephora.

My next favourite is the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Intense Black.

 Source: http://cdn1.feelunique.com/img/products/26665/Stila_Stay_All_Day_Waterproof_Liquid_Eye_Liner_0_4g_1366631824.png

This liner is a m a z i n g. It's given the name 'Stay All Day' for a reason. I have worn this eyeliner to bed so many times after a night out and woken up with perfect winged liner in the morning on multiple occasions. The colour is also a really insanely pigmented black that has a satin finish. I normally like my eyeliner to be as matte as can be, but I love this liner so much, it's my favourite liner I've tried so far. It's a felt-tip end that's really fine which allows for a super precise application so it's great for winged liner looks or creating thin lines. It retails at Mecca stores for $26. 

My next favourite is probably my favourite current favourite and it is the MAC Studio Fix Powder. 



Source: http://www.beautezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MAC-Studio-Fix-1092.jpg

I normally tend to drift away from high end powders because I find that all powders do the same job. After hearing so many positive reviews about this powder I thought I would bite the bullet and purchase it since I was running low on my regular Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. After using this powder I noticed a difference in the way my makeup looked straight away. It gives it a really nice, velvety finish and helps to make your makeup stay on a lot longer. Since this is a powder foundation it offers quite a lot of coverage, but without looking cakey. I normally apply this product as a finishing powder over a foundation when I'm going out or just on its own with a bit of concealer for school and everyday wear. It's definitely a very pricey product at $49 but I believe it's worth it. 

My next favourite is the Christian Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in Over Black. 

Source: https://media.douglas.de/726939/900_0/DIOR-Mascara-Diorshow_Iconic_Overcurl.jpg

My mum gave me this mascara as a sample that she got for free and the moment I used it I put away my Benefit They're Real Mascara and switched to this one. It gives the perfect amount of drama and is perfect for someone who loves long, thick lashes. It's got a great formula that doesn't smudge under your eyes every time you sweat or if it starts to rain. My only downfall is that the wand is quite big so often times it will touch my eyelids but its easy enough to fix with a cotton tip and a bit of eye makeup remover. It's also quite expensive as it is a Christian Dior product but the quality is so worth the $52. 

My second last current favourite is the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Palette. 

Source: http://www.itcosmetics.com/naturally-pretty-vol-1-matte-luxe-transforming-eyeshadow-palette

I picked this palette up from Sephora in Sydney and instantly fell in love with it. I love this because all of the shades are matte and can be used both wet and dry. What also sets this palette apart from the rest is that there is a 'Transforming Pearl' shade which transforms any matte shade in the palette into a shimmery shade. This is perfect for taking day looks to statement night looks. The range of shadows is great with mostly warm shades with a few cool tones as well and all of the shadows are super easy to blend. The pigmentation isn't the best but they're super build-able which is great for people starting out with makeup. Another bonus is that the shadows don't contain talc and are anti-aging as they only contain ingredients that are good for your eyelids. Again, I am unsure of the price in Australia but it retails for $42 USD on the American Sephora website. 

My last, but certainly not the least favourite current favourite is the Cover FX Contour Kit. 

Source: http://www.coverfx.com/contour-kit.html

All of the shades in the palette are super creamy and easy to blend which made learning to cream contour an absolute dream. The contour colours aren't too orange or ashy and the two highlight shades are perfect for highlighting the under eye area and the tops of the cheekbones with one shade with shimmers and one without. The palette also comes with a diagram to show you where each shade goes which is great for beginners. I love cream contouring with this palette and popping a light coverage foundation over the top when going on a night out to make my cheekbone game super strong. I then follow it up with powder, bronzer, powder contour, blush and highlight to bring the look to the next level. The collection of contour palettes also has a great colour range suiting different skin colours and undertones so there will definitely be one suited to you. This palette retails for $48 USD on the CoverFX website. 

So there we have it, those were my 10 current beauty favourites! Let me know in the comments what your current beauty favourites are as I love to try new products. 

This is me, signin' off. 

Actually By Ashlee xxx

*Disclaimer* 

I am by no means trying to brag about the makeup that is featured in this post. All of the makeup I have is bought with my own money or given as gifts for birthdays, Christmas etc. All opinions are my own as I would never endorse a product that I don't love or recommend to anyone.