Over the past twelve months I've had the opportunity to test a lot of products; some were good, some were average and some were truly remarkable. I've compiled a list of make up, hair care, skin care and miscellaneous beauty favourites of 2013, the stand out products that have really surpassed everything else in my collection, and today I'm here to share the first instalment with y'all, the make up bits!
December 31, 2013
December 24, 2013
Giveaway Reminder, Update and Apology!
December 24, 2013 |
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Today's post is about getting a few things done. First and foremost, I'm here to remind you about my Christmas giveaway. My giveaway will be ending on Christmas night, meaning you've got plenty of time to get your entries in and make them count!
I have two prizes that I'm really excited about on offer (only one prize pack ft. above and I really want to give everyone an opportunity to get their entries in. To enter, click here.
My second and third can be combined in to one big sorry. Sorry! Sorry I've been such a crap blogger. In the past month I've uploaded ten posts. Ten! What is this? I try to aim for one post every day (every second day at the most) so being so intermittent with my uploading has really been bugging me. The truth is, I've just been busy and tired. Work is busy but crazy and the last thing I've felt like doing after work lately is sit at another computer for a few hours. I have some time off between Christmas and the New Year and I plan on taking the time to catch up and work on some new content. I really hope I do because I have so many posts to share with you all!
How have you been?
December 16, 2013
Ciate Limited Edition Mani Month Advent Calendar: Day 1 - Day 15
December 16, 2013 |
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nail polish
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review
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swatch
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Last week, eleven days into December, I picked up the Ciate Limited Edition Mani Month Advent Calendar. I know that buying an advent calendar eleven days into a month is somewhat unconventional but, well, I was in Mecca Cosmetica and it was calling my name. And, after all, nail polish isn't makeup so I'm not breaking my Make Up Spending Ban, right? Plus, I got to open eleven one the first night and, let me tell you, it was awesome!
To see what has been in my Ciate Limited Edition Mani Month Advent Calendar up until this point, keep reading!
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December 13, 2013
Christmas TAG
I had planned to write a review today but I came home to see that I'd been tagged by Natalia from Glossy Confidential to do the Christmas TAG. If you haven't checked Natalia out before, please do. Both her blog and YouTube channel are great! With only 12 days 'til Christmas (oh, holy crap) I thought it was the perfect time to do it so here we are.
What's your favourite holiday movie?
I love Christmas but, for some reason, I never really get into Christmas movies. The first two that come to mind are Jingle all the Way and The Grinch. Jingle all the way is a ridiculous movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger in it. I'm not sure if I could count it as a favourite because I could never decide if I even liked it as a kid but it sure was memorable!
What's your favourite Christmas colour?
I wasn't really aware that there were Christmas colours as such. I've always been quite content the good ol' traditional red and green combination, though I do love it when people mix it up. I've seen quite a bit of turquoise around this year and that pleases me. I love turquoise.
Do you open presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning. Always morning.
What's your favourite winter fragrance?
I don't keep my fragrances seasonal, nor are we in winter, so this question is a little irrelevant to me. I've been loving Wonderstruck and Wonderstruck Enchanted by Taylor Swift, Honey by Marc Jacobs and Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture.
Favourite Christmas smell?
Probably peppermint. I think I'm one of the only people that doesn't get all reminiscent when smelling warm, spicy scents. When I smell mint, peppermint in particular, it's like taking me to Christmas day though. Oh, I love me a candy cane.
What's your favourite holiday drink?
I honestly don't have one.
Candy cane or gingerbread man?
Candy cane for sure! I hate gingerbread. I love ginger in meals but, in my eyes, ginger has no place in baked goods. I never enjoy it.
Favourite Christmas Song?
I have a couple. As a child I loved The Wiggles' cover of Feliz Navidad. It was just catchy. As for right now? I downloaded two Christmas albums from iTunes this year so I could play them at work and so far I quite like them both. From Kelly Clarkson's Wrapped in Red I really like Winter Dreams. From Taylor Swift's Holiday Collection album I love Silent Night and, well, every other song.*
*I saw her live last night so I'm fan girling a bit - don't mind me
Have you ever made a snowman?
Nope. Never. I've never even seen snow.
What is most important to you about the holidays?
It sounds so cliche but it's definitely the time spent with the family. Being an Aunty is one of the most amazing blessings and being able to spend Christmas with my nephews is amazing. Last weekend I put my sister's Christmas tree up with my brother in law and their son, my nephew, and it was great. Mr 4 had a great time and seeing his joy was enough for all of us.
This Christmas will be exceptionally magical for me. About 10 weeks ago I became an Aunty for the second time and I'll become an Aunty for the third time on Monday, meaning I will have two fresh baby nephews to spend Christmas with this year.
I'm not as hardcore as some people about Christmas but I do really like this time of year. I love how everyone comes together (eg. My workplace is extremely multicultural and a week or so ago my Muslim colleagues were assisting in putting our Christmas tree up, most of whom had never done so before).
Thank you so much, Natalia, for tagging me!
I tag -
Jasmine from Sweetaholic Beauty | Abigail from The Shrinking Wallet | Rachel from Rachael Jade | Jenny from Shopping Queen Jen | Mishelle from Mishelle's Sleepy Time | Kate from Minted Beauty
I also tag you! Yup, everyone!
I also tag you! Yup, everyone!
Click above to enter my Christmas Giveaway
December 12, 2013
Top 5 Summer Nail Polish Picks
December 12, 2013 |
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nails inc
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Revlon colorstay
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shocking pink
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summer
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top 5
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I absolutely love painting my nails, especially in summer. While I don't really succumb to nail trends as such (paint your nails with what you'd like when you'd like, I say!), I have been totally smitten with pastels and neons and I love changing up my nail colours. In saying that, there are a selection of nail colours that I keep coming back to so I thought it was time I shared them with y'all!
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cleo
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colour and go
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essie
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hello marshmallow
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ita
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le vernis
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mint candy apple
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nail polish
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nails inc
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picks
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Revlon colorstay
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shocking pink
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summer
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top 5
December 11, 2013
1 Skin Solution Christmas Gift Guide
1 Skin Solution is one of my favourite Australian beauty boutiques. All of the 1 Skin Solution products are handmade by the amazing Raylene using all natural ingredients to nourish, exfoliate and soothe your skin without stripping it of its important natural oils. With Christmas coming up, Raylene has created some amazing gift packs and I thought it was time to share it with y'all!
December 10, 2013
Urban Decay Naked Basics Review and Swatches
December 10, 2013 |
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I've had the Urban Decay Naked Basics eyeshadow palette in my make up collection for quite some time now and, for some reason, I was never really sold on it. I thought it was a nice palette, yes, but I didn't see what the fuss was. That is, of course, until last week when something clicked and I fell head over heels for this perfect little palette.
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December 07, 2013
The Foundation Files: High End Foundations
December 07, 2013 |
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foundation files
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hd foundation
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high
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le teint touche eclat
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MAC
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make up for ever
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mat velvet +
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studio fix
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yves saint laurent
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I have a real love affair with foundations and I find myself trying a lot of them. I've decided that I'd bust out the foundations in my collection for a series called Foundation Files. I'll talk about the ones I love, as well as the ones I don't like so much, by splitting them up into categories, with my first being High End Foundations.
I'm a bit of a sucker when it comes to high end beauty. I'll be sucked into the a brand, a product name and amazing packaging but, ultimately, I buy high end foundations on the recommendations of other people, mainly YouTube gurus and bloggers. I almost always get a sample of a high end foundation before purchasing it, purely because they're such an investment!
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make up for ever
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mat velvet +
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studio fix
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yves saint laurent
December 06, 2013
NYX Butter Glosses Review and Swatches
December 06, 2013 |
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Meringue | Vanilla Cream Pie | Apple Strudel | Peaches and Cream
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December 05, 2013
ANNOUNCEMENTS: New Layout and Update
December 05, 2013 |
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If you've just opened up this blog post you might notice something quite different about Born to Buy. Yup, I've had a make over! I couldn't love my new layout any more than I already so and I am so excited to be able to share it with you all! The amazing Grace (I didn't even mean to do that, I promise) from Urban Hype Creative has done such an amazing job and I couldn't be more grateful. Honestly, people, check her out. She's incredibly talented and so well priced!!
Other than that, I don't have a lot else to say other than a big sorry!! I've been slacking on the uploads a bit lately and I don't have an excuse other than I've been lazy and work has been exhausting! I've been so busy at work lately and the last thing I've wanted to do is come home and go on another computer. It's no excuse, I know, and I'll try to be better!
Anyway, thank you for stopping by and, more importantly, what do you think of my new layout?
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December 03, 2013
The Make Up Buying Ban
There comes a time in every beauty obsessors life when she takes a step back, looks at her make up collection and just whispers 'holy shit...'. That day has come for me. I have more make up than I know what to do with and I couldn't bare to part with any of it (and before you wonder, it's not funky - don't worry). With all this in mind, I've decided it's time for another spending ban.
This time I'm banning myself from buying make up only, thank goodness. It will be a bit like a Project Pan challenge only I don't have to use up a certain amount of products to finish. For now the ban will only go for the month of December (gotta be able to shop in the Boxing Day sales), though I may increase it, especially if I'm noticing my savings account increase.
With Christmas coming up, I figure this is the perfect time to do it because I've just started my Christmas shopping so I could definitely use the extra cash. Huzzah!
Have you participated in a beauty buying ban? Do you think I can do it?!
Click above to enter my Christmas Giveaway