The Beauty Scenario Tag

I was tagged by Sophie from Born to Buy to do the popular 'Beauty Scenario Tag' created by Youtuber Lily Pebbles. Some of the questions are a bit hard for me to answer (you will see why in a minute) but this was definitely an enjoyable tag to do!

1. You have to get rid of all your foundation and only keep one high end and one drugstore. Which do you keep? 

The problem with this question was that I don't exactly have a whole heap of high end foundations. I have an Arbonne tinted moisturiser which I would consider high end because it costs $50 but it's really not that amazing. I also have a Bliv foundation which isn't quite as expensive at $32, but once again I'm not terribly impressed by it. The last possible contender for a high end foundation would be my Catalina Geo skin cover which I adore as an incredibly pigmented concealer but not at all as a foundation. Basically I can't answer that question for the high end part but it would easily be my Maybelline Superstay foundation for the drugstore choice. 

2. You go for an interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely? 

Ahhhh! I'm ashamed to admit that I hardly point it out to my friends and family, it's just one of those things I feel really uncomfortable doing. There is absolutely no way I would do that in a job interview, I would simply pretend I haven't noticed it!

3. You're not feeling yourself and you need a pick me up lipstick. Which do you go for? 

Either my Essence lipstick in All about Cupcake, Revlon lip butter in Berry Smoothie or MAC lipstick in Creme Cup. 

4. You go back in time for a day to your teenage years; How would you do your hair and make up differently? 

Well I'm still in my teenage years and trying not to make too many beauty mistakes that I'll regret but there have been a couple of things in the past that I cringe about. I used to wear my super long hair in a low, slick ponytail at the very nape of my neck that was really awkward and unflattering. I don't know what I was thinking! In terms of makeup, when I first learnt how to use liquid and gel eyeliner I would have a really thick and uneven line that just looked ridiculous! I was still practicing and hadn't quite managed to master the technique yet.

5. You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott cut but they hear you wrong and give you a pixie hair cut. Do you A. Smile, say thank you, leave and call your Mum crying hysterically, B. Cry in the chair and things get awkward or C. Complain to the Manager and demand a refund.

Definitely B! My hair is about ten cm short of being able to sit on it so a pixie cut sounds like the most terrifying thing I have ever heard of. I know I would get really teary if my hair was to be cut off like that and I don't think I would be able to hold it all together or demand a refund, so definitely just sitting in the chair and crying would be my response!

6. Your friend surprises you with a four day city beauty and you have one hour to pack. Which 'do it all' palette do you pack in your make up bag? 

Well doesn't that just sound lovely? I've mentioned this before but I'm not really a palette kind of girl, in fact I have very few eye palettes at all and they generally don't appeal to me (excluding the original Naked palette of course!). I would probably have to go with the Australis Paparazzi Perfect eyeshadow palette for this one because it has a nice selection of neutrals to work with. 

7. Your house had been robbed (don't worry, everyone is safe) and your beauty stash has been raided. What's the product you really hope is safe? 

I haven't really got anything that couldn't easily be replaced but I would hate to lost my MAC lipstick in Creme cup simply because it was a gift from a fellow blogger and I have such lovely thoughts associated with it. It makes me so happy whenever I use it and is a lovely piece that makes me appreciate blogging!

8. Your friend borrows your makeup and returns it in awful condition. Do you A. Just pretend you haven't noticed B. Ask them to repurchase it or C. Secretly do the same to something of theirs?

I think it would be a little bit of a mix of A and B. If it was a more expensive or treasured item I would probably make a bit of a joke about it being a little different to what I remembered when I lent it to them, but wouldn't directly ask them to repurchase it. I certainly wouldn't do it back to them because that achieves nothing!

Thanks for tagging me Sophie, this was a really fun tag to do!

The Book Lovers Tag

Being an avid reader, I could not pass up the opportunity to ramble on about my greatest love when I spotted this tag on Michaela's blog Where is my mind?

The Questions

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I personally do not remember when I first loved reading, but I've heard stories about how I would demand that Dad would write me sentences on a blackboard we had that I would read over and over, declaring that they were too easy and that I wanted harder words to read! I was reading at a really early age and instead of playing with dolls like other little girls, I always had my nose in a book.

2. Where do you usually read?
We have one of those lovely swinging chairs that is so comfortable to sit on. I love reading outside in the warmth under the shade of our nectarine tree, it's the greatest!

3. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?
I much prefer reading one at a time as it allows me to really get into the story rather than mixing up all the characters and plots, however rarely does that happen because my book pile is just too big and all the books too tempting to leave unopened!

4. What is your favourite genre? 
Being a young adult myself, of course I don't mind a good YA book from time to time. I also love the classics like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, 1984 by George Orwell and Perfume by Patrick Suskind. It's not really a genre but I find myself reading and enjoyed sad books!

5. Is there a genre you will not read?
Horror, fantasy and science fiction do not interest me in the slightest.

6. Do you have a favourite book?
Yes, but the problem is it is more like a favourite ten books! To Kill a Mockingbird is probably my longest standing favourite novel.

7.  What is your least favourite book?
Typically I am one of those people who feel compelled to complete a book even if they hate it, however books that I hate don't really stick in my mind - I've got too many amazing books filling up my brain space!

8. What is the longest book you have ever read?
Probably Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which according to Wikipedia has 870 pages!

9. What is the last book that you bought?
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov which I am studying for an English assignment. I've not read it yet but I think it will be a little confronting as the whole idea of it is quite full on!

10. Do you prefer reading library books or buying books?
I love owning my favourite books because then I can underline things in them and put little notes in them, however I always borrow a book from the library first before I invest in it, just in case I don't like it.

11. What are you currently reading?
Underdogs by Markus Zusak (so far it is not nearly as good as The Book Thief).

12. What is currently on your 'To Read' list?
I totally made this question and added it to the tag myself, but I think it is important. Believe it or not I have over 80 books on my list (what can I say, I have a lifetime to get through it!) but one title that I constantly hear about is 'Eleanor and Park' by Rainbow Rowell so I am dying to get my hands on that!

Hopefully you enjoyed my natterings about my favourite books. If you also love to read I would love to see your responses to this tag (and hopefully pick up a new couple of books to add to my 'To Read' list.)

The Lipstick Tag

I was tagged by Amanda from Thai Tales and Basmah from Lacee & Lattes to do the highly popular (and super fun to read) Lipstick Tag. Being the avid lip product lover that I am, I personally can't think of a more suitable tag for me to do.

The Questions

1. How many lipsticks do you own?
I have 28 technical lipsticks (balms, stains, crayons, creams, glosses, and butters not included!) and 93 lip products. Oh God.


2. What was the first lipstick you owned?
I'm not 100% sure if my memory is correct, but I believe it is a Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Metallic Mauve, which I actually still own but would never wear in a million years. It is this awful, painfully frosty pink that I used to think was the bees knees. Back in the day I wrote a cringe worthy review on it...read it if you dare.

3. What is your favourite lipstick brand?
When it comes to lipsticks I've not yet found my favourite brand, but for overall lip products Revlon absolutely smashes it out of the park.

4. What is your most worn lipstick?
To date, my most worn lipstick is actually probably the cheapest one I own, and that is an Essence lipstick in All About Cupcake. I find that this is the most incredibly perfect shade with a level of pigmentation that is just right. I love it so much and it is so darn cheap.

5. What is your favourite finish?
I love creamy lipsticks, the ones that you can tell are moisturising and comfortable to wear simply by looking at them!

6. What was the last lipstick you bought?
I myself didn't buy it, but the last lipstick I received was MAC's Creme Cup as a birthday gift from a beautiful blogger. It's my first ever MAC lipstick, one that I have practically wanted since I was born and her kindness literally blew me away. I feel like a real beauty blogger/lipstick fiend now that I own a MAC lipstick!

7. How many lip products do you currently have in your bag?
I included both my handbag and my school bag and here is what I found...

- Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm in Guava
- Maybelline Baby Lips in Anti Oxidant Berry
- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendeazvous
- Essence lipstick in All About Cupcake
- Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla and Macadamia

No wonder I'm always losing lip products, I'm carrying so many around!

8. What is your favourite red lip colour?
My favourite Red lip colour is Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic, and my favourite red lipstick is the Revlon Colour Stay Ultimate Suede lipstick in Finale.

9. How do you store your lipsticks?
I store some of them in the acrylic lipstick holders that everyone seems to have, and the rest in buckets/mugs (in the same way that you would store makeup brushes).

10. Which lipsticks are you currently lusting after?
Which lipsticks aren't I currently lusting after?! I definitely have my eyes on more MAC lipsticks after having had my first taste of them. I couldn't narrow down the shades I have my eye on, so here they all are: Lovelorn, Crosswires, Coral Bliss, Please me, Watch me Simmer and Russian Red!

Thanks for tagging me ladies, I had a lovely time answering these questions. It's also inspired me to wear some of my less popular lip products too! I tag Sheri from Behind the Frames, Mishelle from Mishelle's Sleepy Time and Jasmine from Sweetaholic beauty.

20 random facts about me

As you may have noticed, I've been really getting into these more personal, non beauty related tags recently. I don't imagine everyone would love these but I do have some beauty posts dispersed within them too.

I decided to do a simple '20 random facts' tag today!

1. I love the behind the scenes features some DVDs have almost more than the movie itself!
2. Handwritten letters are just about my most favourite things in the world
3. Waterfalls, thunderstorms and sunsets are the most incredible things nature has to offer
4. If I could be any book character I would be Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird
5. I love list making and don't think I could survive without lists
6. Going on a mission trip to Cambodia is the best decision I have ever made
7. I love fairy bread
8. 8 is my favourite number
9. I don't think I've worked on anything as long as I have this blog
10. When I was little there were 5 things I always wanted: a trampoline, a house with stairs, a lava lamp, a tree house and those pin toys. At 16 I have achieved 4 of those 4 things.
11. The word 'wean' makes me feel sick. Not because of its meaning, purely because of how it sounds.
12. If I could live in hot weather (at least 28 degrees) every day, I would.
13. At this stage in my life, I never want to live anywhere else. I do however, want to travel.
14. I think studying biology is just so exciting. The complexities of the human body and human life is mind blowing.
15. I'm not a huge fan of Christmas.
16. Florence Welch is my favourite singer of all time.
17. I still miss primary school, and I'm in year 11.
18. My most worn piece of clothing is a tatty jumper from a state sports carnival I played netball for that my Mum nearly didn't buy because she thought I wouldn't wear it and it was expensive. It's faded and stained and all the fleece from inside is gone, and it is still my favourite piece of clothing, years later.
19. I am highly organised at school but my bedroom is always a complete mess.
20. I am hopeless at cooking. Absolutely disgraceful!

I love being nosy and hearing facts about others, so feel free to make up 20 random facts of your own if you want too!

Book Q&A

Books are probably my longest standing friends. I honestly believe there is nothing nicer in the world that sitting and re-reading your most loved book, all tattered, dog-eared and falling apart because you have flicked through those pages so many times.

I saw a book Q&A tag on Hayley's blog from Water Painted Dreams and I couldn't resist. I know it's not beauty related, but fellow book lovers will understand my need to do this!

What are you reading right now?
I literally just finished an incredible book called Unwind by Neil Schusterman. When I first borrowed it from the library I had no idea that I was going to love it so much, and that it would be so challenging and thought provoking. I'll be purchasing a copy for myself!

Do you have any idea what you'll read when you're done with that?
I have had a stack of books piling up for so long now. Included in that pile is:
- Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- The Great Gatsby byF. Scott Fitzgerald
- Watership Down by Richard Adams

They are basically all books other English classes in my school have read but I haven't had the opportunity to because our class reads different texts (Shakespeare, yuck!).

What 5 books have you always wanted to read but haven't gotten round to yet?
The books I listed in the previous question!

What magazines do you have in your bathroom/lounge right now?
I haven't read magazines in ages, actually.

What's the worst book that you've ever read?
That's a tough call, I've read some pretty horrendous ones. I really don't like fantasy books much.

What book seems really popular but you actually hated?

Goodreads

Well I've never actually read the Twilight books but I saw one of the movies (who knows which one) and that was so painful to get through, so I imagine I would feel the same about the books!

What's the one book that you recommend to just about everyone?
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. This book has so many memories, thoughts, experiences and people attached to it for me, it's amazing. To Kill a Mockingbird is another that I adore.

What are you favourite 3 poems?
Sadly I just don't 'do' poetry, it is just not my thing.

Where do you usually get your books?
The book depository.

Where do you usually read your books?
In bed or on a picnic blanket in the backyard with my dog in summer when the sun comes out.

When you were little did you have any particular reading habits?
I would read before bed every night. I also had a habitat for flying through an entire book in one sitting and then having 6 days off, then repeating that process over and over.

What's the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn't put it down?
Unwind, the book I just finished. It was 1am on a Thursday night when I closed it and went to sleep. That Friday morning was hell.

Goodreads

Have you ever 'faked' reading a book?
Kind of. For English we had two texts to read and write a comparative essay on. I had read both (Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee) of them before so I knew very well what they were about, but I may not have actually read them for the project. I received an A+ for that essay though so it wasn't too bad...

Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?
I borrow books from the library because the cover is nice, but the books I buy are ones I have read beforehand and loved.

What was your favourite book when you were a child?
I enjoyed the Harry Potter books when I was little.

What book changed your life?
No single book has been life changing, but them all together, collectively, certainly has.

What is your favourite passage from a book?
She laughed when there was no joke.
She danced when there was no music.
She had no friends yet she was the friendliest person in school.
In her answers in class, she often spoke of sea horses and stars, but did not know what a football was.
She said there was no television in her house.
She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow.
She was the faintest scent of cactus flowers, the flitting shadow of an elf owl.
We did not know what to make of her.
In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the min merely went through and away she flew.

Goodreads

- Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

Who are your top 3 favourite authors?
Jerry Spinelli, Harper Lee and Markus Zusak.

What book has no one heard about but should read?
My sister lives on the mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher.

What is your favourite classic?
To Kill a Mockingbird.

Oh my goodness, I loved doing this tag! If there are any fellow book worms, please do this because I would love to read your answers!

Beauty Blogger Tag

I was tagged by Margo from Pretty Panda Makeup to do the Beauty Blogger tag (created by the Beau Bow) and it's taken me a little while to get around to it, but I'm finally doing it!

Questions & Answers:

1. Name a beauty routine you rarely do.
Using a primer before putting on my makeup.

2. Is washing your makeup brushes something you do regularly?
No way...I can't even remember the last time I washed my brushes (disgusting, I know).

 3. How long will you last with chipped nail varnish?
I can handle it on my toes but on my fingers it comes off as soon as possible!

4. How long do you put off buying/replacing a beauty or nail polish product even if you need it?
This never really happens because I have so many 'backups' that have accumulated, but if it did...let's just say I don't put off an opportunity to purchase makeup!

5. What is your worst beauty habit?
Probably not washing my brushes or keeping my mascaras for much longer than the recommended 3 months.

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off all the time.
Maths assignments have been my latest problem. I will procrastinate in any way that I can. Often I find myself on youtube watching videos I don't even like because I just can't handle the thought of working on a ten page maths investigation!

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready until the last minute or not?
I usually allocate a good amount of time to get ready, although not when I'm going to school!

8. Can you commit to spending bans?
I sure can! I think the fact that, being a student, I don't have all that much money to spend may be an advantage, but I'm really quite good at sticking to spending bans.

9. How organised is your makeup and nail polish collection?
Not overly organised to be honest.My makeup is sorted into type (ie. eyeshadows in one spot, blushes in another etc.) but nothing fancy.

10. What is the longest time you've gone without writing a blog post?
A couple of weeks. Often I have 3 or 4 sitting in my drafts ready to be posted when I'm not feeling inspired to create new content.

11. How many hours a week do you spend writing/editing posts?
It used to be a lot more, but now I probably spend about 2 or so hours writing and editing a week. Life just keeps getting in the way!

12. Are you a spender or a saver?
In general a saver. I save for months and then deliberate about buying something for months. I'll research it and wait months and months, and then if I still want something after all that time I'll buy it!

3. When is it easiest for you to blog?
Literally the only time I have is on the weekends.

14. What makes writing behind a computer comfortable for you?
I write about what I enjoy. I don't worry that I may have limited knowledge about something because it is just my personal experiences and opinions of things. The beauty blogger community is just so lovely and supportive too, so it makes writing fun and easy!

15. What’s your worst makeup/hair habit?
I get really lazy with waterproof mascara and often don't bother to spend time taking it all off. I don't do anything to look after my hair whatsoever!

16. One quote that you wish the world would live by?
It's not a quote but I think if we spent more time thinking about others as opposed to being so focused on ourselves, things would be a lot better.

17. How long do you spend getting ready everyday?
On a school day it takes me about 15 minutes to get dressed and do my hair and makeup. On the weekend I'll take about half an hour.

18. Who is your favorite blogger?
I really love Australian bloggers - probably because I can relate a little more, and because I can read a review on one of the products mentioned and am able to actually purchase it (unlike being jealous of all the American and English brands I don't have access to!)

19. Who is a blogger that you read who deserves more subscribers than they have?
Rebecca and Tashi

20. One thing you're excited about in the upcoming year?
It will be my final year at high school, so that is pretty exciting (and scary!)

21. Your most awkward blogging moment?
Without a doubt, all of my first posts. They were painfully short and boring, and the photos atrocious!

22. How long does it take you to prep for a post?
Taking photos of products is the most time consuming part, as well as cropping them and uploading them. Once I have an idea for a post it doesn't take me long to write them.

23. Are you wearing pants(jeans/skirt) right now or are you actually wearing pyjama bottoms?
I don't think I've ever blogged in my pyjamas!

24. What are you most proud of in your life?
I'm proud of having survived some really tough moments in my life, and the person that I am today because of them.

So that's the beauty blogger tag! If you've managed to get this far, thank you! If you would like to do this tag, go ahead!

Beauty things I love

I wrote a post of all the beauty things I hate and thought it was only fair if I made a list of all the beauty things I love, after all, there are loads of things I enjoy when it comes to beauty.

1. Cleansing my face
For some people their skincare routine is such a chore and they find themselves going to bed with a full face of makeup on because they just can't be bothered washing their makeup off, but luckily for me it is a task I enjoy. There is nothing nicer than giving my face a good cleanse and feeling squeaky clean.

2. Getting my eyeliner perfect first shot
I know everyone can relate - managing to perfect your eyeliner first try is the greatest feeling ever. Ever. Alternatively, mucking aroung for twenty minutes trying to remove the smudged black mess that seems to have been smeared across your eyelids and cheeks is just about the most frustrating experience in the world.

3. Finding products half price
This isn't really related but finding a product you have been waiting SO long to get, only to get to the checkout to see that it is half price is just amazing. I may be guilty of yelping for joy and running back to the stand to pick up five more when this has happened to me in the past...

4. Finding the perfect lipstick
Lipstick is one of those things that can look gorgeous or absolutely hideous. It takes time to find the perfect shade for a particular occasion, whether it be an everyday shade (in my opinion the most difficult to stumble across) or one for a special night, but when you do it stays with you for life.

5. Applying mascara
I don't wear mascara all that often because I am loyal to the waterproof kind and it is hell to remove, but when I do wear it I thoroughly enjoy the application process. I don't know if anyone can relate to this, but it's so relaxing running the wand through my lashes. Weird? Okay...

6. Testing perfumes
I swear the reason all those perfume bottles in Myers are consistently empty is because of me. I absolutely love wandering around spraying perfumes onto those little cards. Half the time I have never heard of the perfume in my life, and often I don't even like how it smells, but it is just so exciting sniffing them all out and eventually finding one to fall in love with.

7. Applying foundation with a brush
Applying foundation with your fingers is alright, but when you use a brush it just makes it that much more exciting and feels lovely. It's like giving your face a mini massage before going about your business for the day. It also makes your skin look considerably more flawless, although does use so much more foundation that normal. I reckon I can deal with that...

8. Sharing my adventures with the world
Yes, you knew it was coming, beauty blogging is the best part about it all and makes everything just that much more exciting. If I wasn't a beauty blogger I guarantee I wouldn't find the whole process nearly as enjoyable.

I would love to know what beauty things you love doing!

*I included a couple photos of the toadstools I found in my garden because let's face it, they look adorable!*

Beauty things I hate

Though my love for all beauty related things has grown significantly since falling in love with blogging, there are still those aspects of it all that I just can't seem to warm to, in fact there are somethings I just downright cannot stand. I thought I'd make a post about them because I have a feeling that some of you may relate.

1. Shaving my legs
I know, I know, there is nothing appealing about hairy legs, but I actually hate shaving my legs so much that I go to extreme lengths to wear long pants at every opportunity (TMI? Sorry). The time and effort it takes, only to find that I have accidentally shredded myself to bits and that I have some hideous rash because I pressed too hard, is just not at all worth it and despite my discomfort when sporting hairy legs, I will do it because it is worth it.

2. Brushing my hair
Brushing my hair sucks. I can't stand it. It's super long, therefore super knotty, therefore requires an unreasonable amount of time and effort to maintain. As much as I hate it, unlike my attitude towards shaving my legs, I do not neglect my hair and with great self discipline manage to brush it thoroughly every.single.day What an achievement! I will note, however, that there is no better feeling than someone else brushing your hair.

3. Blow-drying my hair
Another opportunity for you all to call me crazy for having such long hair, but I can't stand blow drying it. For those long haired ladies who are currently yelling "Oh my gosh yes, I can relate" at your computer screens, I am so glad you have an understanding of the sheer amount of time that it takes to get my locks dry, and I appreciate your empathy.

4. Putting on nail polish
Now I know I am just getting horribly lazy here, but painting my nails is another one of those things I just can't seem to find myself enjoying. I guess it is not so much the action of painting my nails but rather the waiting for them to dry, watching the painstakingly slow seconds of the clock tick by. Thank God for fast drying polishes like Essence Colour and Go and Rimmel 60 seconds.

5. Removing glitter nail polish
No explanation needed here - removing glitter nail polish is hell.

6. Moisturising my legs
Clearly I do not consider my legs to be of great importance, because yet again this is an area in which severe neglection occurs. Does it concern me enough to change my ways? No way on Earth.

7. Washing my brushes
I know for sure that many of you share my pain. Last time I checked it was months since my brushes were last washed...Gross? Totally, but secretly I love it.

8. Removing mascara
I am best friends with waterproof mascara, so it goes without saying that getting rid of it at the end of the day is like a nightmare. I am very susceptible to lash loss and racoon eyes and it's not pretty.

9. Filing my nails
It makes me sick thinking about it. Since I was tiny I could not handle having my nails filed, it makes me feel so uncomfortable and I get goosebumps and eugh. Does anyone know how I feel?

10. Face masks
It bothers me that face masks are so effective, because if they were useless I could allow myself to avoid them like the plague, but the fact that they do work means time after time I go back and use one, only to remember how much I hate them. It feels as though I've been baking out in the sun for a couple of years and my skin has gone all leathery and shrivelled. It's the most horrific feeling ever.

So there we have a somewhat long list of beauty things that I hate. It was oh-so enjoyable compiling this list and having a good old whinge, so feel free to do so yourself if you have the time - I would love to read yours!

Updated "How much is your face worth?" TAG

Back on October 26th 2011 I completed this highly enjoyable yet somewhat shocking tag and since the products I use on a regular basis have changed drastically, I thought it would be interesting to see how much the results have changed. I don't use any of the products featured in that last post on a regular basis... except perhaps the BYS blush and the Maybelline Baby Lips. Oh how I have changed!

I know for a fact that I use more products of a significantly more expensive nature, though a lot of them have been given to me either as gifts or to complete reviews on for my blog, so I don't feel too bad for what I believe will end up being a ridiculously expensive face!

I will also admit that I don't use these products everyday (this is more makeup than I would wear on a normal day) but I would wear this if I was going shopping or out for lunch or an occasion like that. Of course, my lip products and eyeshadows are forever changing too because I have so many to play around with.

Face:
Alina Professional Primer - $39
Garnier BB Cream - $15
Maybelline Superstay 24 hour foundation - $22
Catalina Geo Concealer - $40
Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer - $18
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - $19
Nude by Nature Illuminator - $23
Bourjois Blush - $20

Eyes:
- Inglot Eyeshadow Palette - $31
- Bloom eyeshadow duo - $10
- Urban Decay Ink for eyes eyeliner - $20
- Covergirl Lash blast length waterproof mascara - $18
- Essence Clear Brow Gel - $3.50

Lips:
- Maybelline Baby lips - $4
- Revlon lip butter - $22

Total: $304.50

I am not really surprised at the grand total because makeup in Australia is crazy. Thank goodness all the products that I purchased myself I managed to get on sale!

It is a bit strange to think that I could have made it so much more expensive though, with a $65 dollar blush from Bellapierre, Primer potion from Urban Decay and a $50 foundation from Arbonne, the addition of a bronzer, lipgloss and more expensive lipstick.

Have you ever counted up how much your face is worth? Do you think it would be a bit too much for comfort?

TAG - The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger

I was tagged by the lovely Dawn over at See It, Love It, Swatch It to do a very interesting tag, The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag. When I first read Dawn's post, I knew it was something that I had to do - it describes me rather well!

Rules:

1. You must copy and paste these 'rules' onto your post when you write it, it doesn't take long!.

2. You must state that this tag was created by 'The Beau Bow' and link www.thebeaubow.blogspot.com

3. You must thank the person who tagged you at the start of your post (link their blog as well) -follow them if you're feeling nice!, and then at the end of your post state who you tag, and then comment on their blog on their latest post to let them know you tagged them, and link your post so they can see what to do.

4. Title this post 'The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger TAG' so everyone knows what it is about.

5. Have fun! :)

The Questions:

1. Name a beauty regime that you rarely do. 

I never ever use a toner, simply just cleansing and moisturising instead. Despite this, I think I own about 5 toners. I also rarely use an eye primer (I have been getting better with face primers though!) because I have no trouble with creasing or making my eyeshadows last.

I will tell you what I am good at though - taking my makeup off before bed. I do that without fail, and I am so very proud of that!

2. Is washing your makeup brushes something you do regularly?

What?! You're meant to wash your makeup brushes?! 

Just kidding, I'm not that bad but I am pretty hopeless. Does that bother me? No.

3. How long will you last with chipped polish?

It will be off by the end of the day, I can't stand chipped polish.

4. How long do you put off buying/replacing a new beauty product?

To be really honest, I have so many products at this stage that if I run out of one (which hasn't happened in the makeup sector yet, only skincare) I have another that is able to replace it already in my collection.

5. What is your worst beauty habit?

I would have to say my worst beauty habit is collecting so many products that I will never be able to get through completely. It doesn't help that I'm not actually allowed to wear makeup to school (Not that I want to wear a whole lot, but a little bit every now and again would be fun to play with!) so I only get two days a week to go crazy!

6. Name something non beauty related that you put off doing all the time.

Studying for upcoming tests and writing snail-mail letters to a friend of mine. I love that we write letters to one another but it takes a lot of motivation to actually put pen to paper and start it!

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready to the last minute or not?

No way! I get ready well before I need to leave. I have this funny thing where I hate how my makeup looks straight after application, when it's all fresh and funny looking. I only start to like how it looks about half an hour after application, so I have to do my makeup early in order to wait until it looks nice before I leave!

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

I've not ever undertaken a formal spending ban but I am pretty sure that I could do this fairly easily. The majority of purchases I make are because I have money burning a hole in my pocket, but in the scheme of things I actually don't buy that much. Usually I wait a couple of months, spend a whole heap, then wait another couple of months, so on so forth.

9. How organised is your makeup and nail polish collection?

It's okay but I don't really have the right kind of storage to make it all nice and pretty. I know where everything is and I am able to see it all displayed in front of me, so I guess that is good. 

10. What is the longest amount of time you have gone without writing a blog post?

The longest time I have gone is one month, but I had one month's worth of posts already written so that posting continued regularly and you weren't able to notice.

This tag was so much fun to complete, so if you are interesting in doing it yourself, go for it!

Most Worn Things for Summer TAG

I saw this TAG on Cherie's blog and whilst I was reading it decided I had to do it too. I worked out well then, when I saw that she had tagged me! Thank you Cherie!

Basically it is a collection of your most worn things for the summer (which I am terribly sad has come to an end).

1. Nail polish
Though I don't wear nail polish a whole lot, I think my most worn nail polish for this summer was any of my favourite reds, like my polishes from Essence, Innoxa or Ulta.

2. Hair Product
Though I am painfully lazy when it comes to my hair (and unfortunately I am finally starting to see the results) I do use at least one product on my hair - the Salon Confidential Repair Ends Mender, which prevents and heals split ends.

3. Bag

This was so easy as I use the same bag all the time, just my regular, boring, brown 'satchel' style bag with buckles. I also loved my $15 purse, the greatest buy I have had in a long time!

4. Shoes
Though they look a little wintery, my most worn shoes would have to be my black flats from Rubi shoes, with the little bows on them. I wore them so much that the soles fell off but I had a backup anyway!

5. Clothing item
This is a tricky one, but I guess it would have to go to denim shorts in general, which I wore to death!

6. Accessory
I don't wear a lot of jewellery - not because I don't want to but because by the time I have figured out my clothes and makeup I just forget to put on jewellery! I do, however, always remember to put on my favourite ring.

7. Foundation
In summer I like BB creams and tinted moisturisers more than foundations. Subsequently, my most used foundation was the Garnier BB cream. I don't love it (I find it really quite greasy) but it does the job.

8. Bronzer/Blush
I used blush more than I did bronzer (strangely) and I continually turned to my Bourjois Blush in Rose Frisson.

9. Lip product
As lip products are my absolute favourite, I use so many. It was really tough to pick my most used lip product but in the end I realised that my most travelled was my Nivea Fruity Lip Balm in Guava. Gorgeous!

10. Mascara
Unlike my most used lip product, this was a no brainer - my Covergirl Lashblast Length Mascara in waterproof was my one and only choice. Occasionally I would change it up with my Avon daring curves one, but because it was not waterproof it didn't tick all the boxes for me.

11. Eyeshadow
I stuck to neutrals all summer (of course) but I changed which palette they were from. I explored an Essence quad, Australis palette, Maybelline Quad and Essence eye souffle but in the end it was a Bloom eyeshadow duo that I used most, though only the bone/champagne shade.

12. Fragrance
Of course, my Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. Incredible.

TAG - Confessions of a beauty blogger

I wasn't tagged or anything but I think this is a fun post that I have seen floating around the place.

1. How many hours a week do you spend planning/writing/uploading posts?
This is really hard to say but for each post it takes about half an hour to an hour to write, half an hour to take photos and upload them, fifteen or so minutes to edit, and then another ten or so minutes of mucking around. That said, some posts are considerably shorter or longer than others. It's too hard to say really.
2. Are you a spender or a saver?
It comes and goes in waves. I'll save my cash for a couple of months and then in one shot I'll spend a whole heap. Then I'll save it all up again and then spend it all at once. I am much more of a saver than a spender though.
3. When is it easiest for you to write your posts?
Definitely at the end of the day from about 7pm - 9pm.

A familiar sight to a beauty blogger!

4. What makes writing posts comfortable for you?
Writing is a way for me to relax, it's just something that I do. Blogging is nice because I can unwind from a long day and write about something that I enjoy but something that isn't too brain stretching, so it relaxes me. I don't know what makes writing comfortable for me, I just like it.
5. How long do you spend getting ready everyday?
During the week I take about half an hour to shower, dress and do my hair and makeup (unless I wash my hair, then it takes an additional 15 minutes to blowdry it). On the weekend I don't spend any time on it at all, unless I'm going out, and then it can take up to an hour to get ready.
6. What is your favourite post on your blog?
I don't really have a favourite post, but I do enjoy my post on 'Beauty blogger lingo' because it was quite humorous and other bloggers were really able to connect and shares my experiences.
7. Who is a beauty blogger that you think deserves more subscribers than they have?
The first people who immediately come to mind are Cherie and Mishelle. They have wonderful blogs and deserve more followers, please check their blogs out.
8. What's one thing you're excited about in the coming year?
I'm travelling to Cambodia in the middle of the year as part of a group to build houses for orphans and the surrounding community. It's going to be a pretty harrowing experience, and I expect I will come back a very different person, but it's an incredible opportunity that I am really looking forward to.
9. What has been your favourite blogging moment?
Definitely when I gained my first follower, as well as the first time I was contacted to review a product for a brand. Those two experiences were points where I really went, "Oh my gosh, people actually want to hear about what I have to say!" Even so, every new comment and follower reminds me of how awesome blogging is!
10. How long does it take to prep for a post?
I don't really have to 'prep' for a post...I just write it when I come up with an idea. Testing out the product and getting a really good idea of what it is like for a review is what takes the longest.
11. Are you wearing jeans/skirt right now or pyjama bottoms?
Jeans. I don't think I've ever written a post in my pyjamas.
12. What's your worst makeup/hair habit?
Makeup - I'm pretty lazy when it comes to removing waterproof mascara. If it doesn't come off with ease, I tend to avoid potential lash loss from excessive mascara removal and just let it come off in its own time. I also touch my face a lot, and I can't resist squeezing my pimples. Terrible I know (and not a bad makeup habit anyhow!) but who can resist?

Hair - The fact that I am so careless with my hair. I do not look after it in any way. I literally just wash it and tie it up - no treatments, fancy products, nothing at all. It's no wonder I have so many split ends...

So there it is, I enjoyed writing this tag and I hoped you enjoyed reading it. Feel free to tag yourself if you are interested.

TAG - Why do you wear makeup?

I pinched this tag from several people's blogs - I hope you don't mind!

1. When did you start using makeup?
When I was about 12 I started becoming interested in makeup. I remember my Mum teaching me how to apply different products properly. I wore tinted moisturiser, the lightest coat of mascara and lip balm and that was enough for me. I then started wearing more makeup (blush, eyeshadow, bronzer...the works) when I was about fifteen. Initially Maybelline, BYS and Savvy were the only brands I was actually aware of. Thank goodness my knowledge of brands has expanded since then!

2. What was the first makeup product you bought that you loved?
I always loved my lip balms, but the first real makeup product that I remember loving was my Savvy by DB lip gloss in Pink Diamond. I lost it, bought another one, lost it, bought another one, used it up and then bought the one that I still have now. It has since been discontinued.
3. What is your most used eyeshadow?
For an everyday look, my Bloom Eyeshadow duo in Waikiki (the champagne shade) and for a more dramatic look, my Essence eye souffle in Pas Des Copper (my favourite eyeshadow ever) The problem is that it is now discontinued, therefore I am too scared to use it because I know I won't be able to replace it.
4. When did you begin loving makeup?
When I was about fifteen and started discovering all the brands and different products. It was then that I actually learned about techniques for application and watched/read FOTD videos/posts.
5. How do you feel without makeup?
Going without makeup doesn't really bother me. I feel most confident with a BB cream or foundation, but as for mascara, shadow, blush etc. I am totally fine to go without. If I know I'm not going to be venturing any further than the local supermarket for the day, I won't bother applying any makeup.
6. What do you like about makeup?
Makeup is so much fun. For me, fashion is alright, something I do pay attention to in the sense that I want to look good, but makeup is what excites me the most. If I have the choice I wear jeans and a black shirt so that I can do whatever I want with my makeup, whether it be simple eyes and bright pink lippie or smokey brown eyes and a neutral gloss. I just find it so enjoyable transforming my face and enhancing the features that I love the most.
7. Three Holy Grail items.

My Essence eye souffle in Pas Des Copper, Maybelline Baby lips lip balm(s) and Covergirl lashblast length mascara. 
8. Why do you wear makeup?
Makeup to me is just a fun way of presenting myself to the world, a confidence booster and a way for me to relax. Wearing makeup means that I am able to blog about makeup, which for me has been a lifesaver last year in terms of helping me relax and stop thinking about some of the not-so-nice things that have gone on offline. It has introduced me to an amazing world of blogging and beauty and that is really quite special.

TAG - My Makeup History

The idea for this tag post came about the other day when I found some of my old makeup that I hadn't used in a while. I found some of the makeup that had been my favourite, the stuff that I would use on a daily basis and considered a staple part of my collection and was quite surprised (and perhaps slightly embarrassed!) that I ever liked it.

As I began writing this post I found that it would work better as a TAG so I decided to create one myself. Please let me know if someone else has created something like this before me and I will change it immediately to give them credit!

TAG - My makeup history

Answer the following questions and take a picture (or two) that relates to your answers. (My top picture shows white eyeliner, an answer to one of my questions).

1. How long have you been wearing makeup: A couple of years, though more seriously since starting this blog.

2. What was your favourite makeup product in the beginning: Lip balm

3. What is your favourite makeup product now: Lipstick

4. What were some of your favourite brands in the beginning: BYS, Maybelline

5. What are some of your favourite brands now: Essence, Face of Australia

6. How would you describe your makeup 'style': Natural and Neutral

7. What is your everyday makeup like: A light layer of foundation/tinted moisturiser, neutral eyeshadow, touch of blush and a pink lip tint

8. What is your 'going out' makeup like: Foundation, bronzer,brown eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick

9. What makeup look are you known for: Light pink lips, shimmery brown shadow

10. What is the worst beauty crime you have committed: I've always been pretty conservative though I did have some pretty awful untamed eyebrows for a while there!

11. What is the worst beauty crime you are proud to have not committed: Orange foundation with horrible lines around the jaw where it stops

12. What is a trend you were part of but now aren't a fan of: I used to line my waterline with bright white eyeliner (not even nude/skin tone liner, bright white!) because I read somewhere that it brightened the eyes. It didn't look too bad, but it wasn't overly flattering. I also used to pack masses of shimmery white shadow in the inner corners of my eyes. I like a bit of light shadow there, but it was borderline dangerous considering how strong the light reflection was, I could have blinded someone!

13. What is one trend you are proud to say you were never part of: I never went for the super heavy, caked on foundation look with dark, thick eyeliner and black shadow which I am pleased about (a trend so many of my peers went through!)

14. What is one look you will never ever go for: Neon/ridiculously bright eyeshadow - I am much too scared to do something like that, but it really isn't my taste anyway

15. If you were brave enough to wear any look, what would you go for: Winged liquid liner and bright red lips!

16. An old HG product of yours: Nivea Fruity Shine lip balm Pink Guava

17. A current HG product of yours: Face of Australia Lip Crayons

I tag specifically:
Jasmine from Sweetaholic Beauty
Emma from Smudged liner and split ends
Ellie from Elliebeaa
Tara from Still Blushful
Abigail from Shrinking Wallet
Char! from It's Charr
Alia from Taking over the world one pair of shoes at a time



I would love for others to take part in this TAG, please link any post you do so I can read it too!