My Top 6 Must-Have Make-Up Brushes

Hello Lovelies,

I hope you had a lovely weekend, I'm back this week with My Top 6 Must-Have Make-up Brushes. I was hoping to nail it down to 5, but it was just too difficult, as I think all these brushes deserve a mention. As you can see, yes, they are all Real Techniques By Sam and Nic Chapman brushes, but that is only because I think they are such a wonderful brand at such an affordable price. As well as a little description of each brush and why I love it so-god-damn-much, I've also included alternative ways I use the brushes, as they all can be multipurpose. So for any of you that are needing some assistance with purchasing make-up brushes, or any of you that are just wanting a little sticky beak into my top recommended make-up brushes, I hope you all enjoy !

 Real Techniques Powder Brush

First up is the Powder brush. This is honestly, one of the SOFTEST brushes, I have ever felt and used. The incredibly soft and slightly tapered bristles means it's perfect for powdering the skin. As the bristles don't pick up too much product, it means that it wont give you that cakey powdery look to the skin. It's also perfect for a quick application of blush or bronzer, as the brush head is so large and can cover such a large area of the face so quickly. It's also great if you like to bronze up your chest, neck or shoulders, if you're ever wearing your hair up or a low cut or strapless dress, just to give your skin some added colour and a glow

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Next is the Buffing Brush. The thing I love about this, is that it is a no fail brush to use for applying your foundation. With the dense and slightly fanned out bristles, it's perfect for buffing in your foundation, giving you an almost air-brush effect, without you looking cakey. It's also great for buffing in cream blush and bronzers, as well as highlighters, into the skin as well.

Real Techniques Setting Brush

As you can probably tell from the slightly wonky handle this brush is incredibly well loved. This was the first ever Real Techniques brush I owned and I received it as a gift on my 18th birthday, which is over *gasp* a year and a half ago. With long fluffy bristles, it's perfect for apply powder products to precise areas, such as if you were only wanting to powder your T-Zone or applying a highlighter to the top of your cheek bones. I also love to use it for applying concealer under my eyes, as well as using it to set the concealer with powder. I think having this brush for almost 2 years and it still being in wonderful condition, just goes to show how much I love it and what amazing quality these brushes are.

Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush

I can honestly say I use this Deluxe Crease Brush every time I wear eye shadow. With slightly dome shaped and dense bristles, it's perfect for effortlessly blending eye shadows to create a seamless transition in colours. If you're a lover of any kind of smokey eye, then this brush is perfect for you. This brush can also be used to contour smaller areas such as the sides of the nose and under the lip, as well as applying highlighter to the bridge of the nose and cupids bow.

Real Techniques Accent Brush

I'd definitely say this Accent Brush, is a must for any make-up brush collection. Though it doesn't look overly exciting, there are so many different things you can do with this brush. I love using it to smudge eye shadow or eyeliner to help add drama to a smokey eye, as well as using it to precisely place concealer on any spots I may have. You can also use it to place highlighter on the inner corners of your eyes to brighten them up and also on the brow bone to add dimension to the face.

Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush

Finally we have the Fine Liner Brush. Being a Virgo, when it comes to eyeliner, I am so uptight and finical about getting my wings even and this brush is almost foolproof at that. With tapered bristles, it gives you the control of slowly building up your eyeliner and wing, without applying too much product at once. This brush is also great at perfecting a bold lipstick, as it's the perfect size for tracing the lip line and smoothing out any bumps, for the perfect bold statement lip.

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I hope you all enjoyed this weeks post and got something out of it. If you have any questions about what brushes would be best for you, or about the Real Techniques brushes, I'd be more than happy to answer your questions. You can post them below or come and say hi on any of my social media accounts, that can be found in the side bar >

Have a fantastic rest of the week and weekend and I will see you all next Wednesday !

Veroniieecar :) xx

Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen Review

Hello Lovelies,

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and got up to some exciting things, I spent most of my weekend curled up on the couch with a heat pack and some chocolate... Yep, we all know what that means ! I'm back this week with a sort of beauty related review. About a month or so ago I picked up the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush and Built-In Whitening Pen and thought it would be the perfect thing to do a review on. I'm going to admit I was extremely skeptical at first when I saw on the ad that it promised whiter teeth in just 3 days, but I thought I would give it a shot and see what it was like. I had previously used the Optic White Toothpaste and had really good results with it, so I thought it was only fair to test out the toothbrush and whitening pen as well.

If you haven't seen any of the advertisement or the product in-store, the toothbrush and whitening pen come in plastic packaging - like any other regular toothbrush - and sit separately so you can see exactly what the items look like. The great thing I love about this product is that it is a two in one and the pen sits neatly inside the toothbrush, instead of having to have your toothbrush and tooth whitening products sitting separately.

Being an avid coffee drinker, I don't have the whitest of teeth, but I wouldn't say they're overly stained. Having had braces for 11 months, I like to take care of my teeth and help them to look as best they can, which is why I originally started using the Optic White Toothpaste. When I first used the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen, the toothbrush is like any other toothbrush, with soft bristles, as well as a rubber tongue cleaner on the back of the head, but the whitening pen is a whole different story ! Having used teeth whitening products in the past, I'm used to the gel formulas which you place in mouth trays and sit there until - if you're like me - you get sick of the build up of saliva, Yuck ! and the countless minutes you have to wait for the product to do it's thing.

The formula in the whitening pen has a slightly gritty feel to it, but doesn't have an offensive taste to it, which I find with many other whitening products I've tried in the past. It definitely does take some getting used to, just placing the product on your teeth and not having to wash it off. The thing that I'm most happy about, is that I definitely did see a slight difference in my teeth within a few days. I'd definitely recommend adding this to your current teeth whitening regime, or incorporating it into your dental hygiene routine if you're after a brighter smile

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I hope you all enjoyed this weeks review on the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen.
If you've used any products from the Optic White range, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience with them

Have an incredible rest of the week and weekend, and I will see you all next Wednesday !


Veroniieecar :) xx

Mini E.L.F Haul

Hello Lovelies,

Before I get into this weeks post, I just want to say a massive apology for not getting this up on Wednesday. If you don't follow me on Instagram, you wouldn't have seen the post I put up about not posting on Wednesday and posting on Friday instead. I was just having a couple of crappy days and didn't want to put up a happy and chirpy blog post when I was feeling pretty down, but don't worry, all is well now and I am back this week with a mini E.L.F haul - and by mini, I mean 3 products...

So lets jump straight into it !

E.L.F. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer - $8.00

I'd never heard much about any of the E.L.F concealers and needed a new concealer after running out of my much beloved Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer. I ended up purchasing the shade "Nude", which on the Australian website is the 2nd lightest shade, as I often find the lightest shades, tend to be quite pink. I don't suffer from bad under eye circles and most days could skip under eye concealer, but I love the effect it gives, just by brightening the under eye area and bring extra light to the face, as well as making you look well rested. This product promises "blendable, wearable, customisable coverage" and I totally agree that ! You can definitely build up more coverage if you suffer from bad under eye bags, or just blend out the product if you prefer more of a sheer coverage. I definitely recommend this product is you're after an amazing yet affordable concealer.  

E.L.F. Studio Baked Blush - $8.00

*Ignore my spotty neck and chest fake tan, it was exfoliating day :)

I only have great things to say about this blush ! I purchased mine in the shade "Peachy Cheeky", which contains different shades of pink and peaches as well as a slightly purple/brown pigment to give the blush some depth. If you're one who loves when products can double up with their uses than this is definitely a blush for you ! The baked blushes, can be used dry to achieve a sheer natural glow or wet with a dampened brush or sponge to create a much more vibrant and pigmented affect on the cheek. The blushes also contain Jojoba, Rose, Sunflower, Apricot and Grape oils, which help to hydrate the skin.

E.L.F. Essential Lip Stain - $5.00

I wish I had a super positive review about this lip stain marker. It would definitely work for someone who was just starting out with bold lip looks, as you don't get that incredibly opaque look as you would with a lipstick, but you still get a good amount of pigment. It also has a pointed tip like a normal felt tip marker, which means it's super easy to apply and and you don't have to worry about accidentally drawing over your lip line. Though it contains, Vitamin E to help moisturise and hydrate your lips, I didn't feel as though it made a difference to my lips and I found that the stain clung to dry patches I already had, which gave the overall colour an uneven look. The formula is quite watery, which means you often have to go over the same areas to help even out the colour, once it's dried. I hope mine just happened to be part of a bad batch of products,  as I love the idea of lip stain markers and would definitely want to purchase more, if they worked better. 

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I hope you enjoyed this weeks Mini E.L.F Haul.

I'd love to hear if you've tried any E.L.F products and what your thoughts on them were !

Have an incredible weekend and I will see you all next Wednesday 

Veroniieecar :) xx

Maybelline Color Sensational Bold Matte Review

Hello Lovelies,

As winter is fast approaching us Southern Hemispherians - is that even a word ? - I find my self both excited about the new wintery hues I can wear, but also sad about saying sayonara to gorgeous summery pops of colour. Being a massive lover of make-up, of course I couldn't completely leave summer behind and as soon as I saw this Maybelline Color Sensational Bold Matte in "Matte 1 Peach", I knew I had to have it ! 

I picked mine up from Chemist Warehouse - a discount chemist in Australia - and payed $8.48 as it was on sale but they retail for $16.95. The Bold Matte range contains 5 different shades, including a nude, a peach, and 3 reds. On the Maybelline website, they promise "More vivid colour, packed with brighter matte pigments to infuse the most luminous shades without drying your lips" as well as "Enriched with honey nectar for visibly moisturised lips with an incredibly smooth touch.

The lipstick is a gorgeous shade of neon-pink. Even though the name suggests its matte, I wouldn't say it's not completely matte, more a semi matte, slightly velvety finish, as it still keeps some moisture on the lip. Each colour comes packaged in a colour coded casing, which means you don't have to check the bottom of the tube to check which colour you've picked up. The inner casing where the lipstick sits, is a gorgeous mirrored plastic, which gives an added chic feel to the packaging. 

Though it contains moisturising properties, I'd definitely recommend making sure your lips are well moisturised before applying it, as dry patches will be made more obvious due to the finish of the lipstick. If you're not a fan of a semi-matte finish, or prefer more of a glossy finish, you could always add a coat of clear gloss over the top, to give some added shine to your lips, without disturbing the actual colour of the lipstick.

 It definitely lasts a good 1-2 hours, depending on whether you're eating, drinking, etc, plus the added bonus is even once its worn off, your lips still have a pink stain to them. Another great thing about this product I found as it began to wear off, it didn't wear off like a normal lipstick would - leaving you with a bare lip and horrendous lip line - instead I found this gradually faded evenly, into a slightly less pigmented neon pink, until you were left with a slight pink stain to the lip.

If you're looking for an affordable long wearing lipstick to add to your collection, I'd definitely recommend checking out the Maybelline color Sensational Bold Matte range.

I'd love to here if you've tried out any of the Maybelline Color Sensations and your experience with them :)



Have an incredible rest of the week and I will see you next Wednesday !

Veroniieecar :) xx

Currently Coveting #2

Hello Lovelies,

So when I was organising what to write about this week and looking back at old blog posts to get some inspiration, I realised I am well overdue for my monthly "Currently Coveting" post, I will be doing this sort of like a "monthly favourites" post with a mixture of things I'd love to try out. If you haven't seen my previous currently coveting post, I will link it at the end of this post for you to go and check out :)

H&M Fake Fur Waistcoat. For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to rock a fake fur vest and now that winter is well and truly on its way, I think it would be the best time to invest in one. This one is a little pricey, costing $79.95, but if you are wanting a good piece of clothing to last and are going to a lot of wear out of it, I think it's completely worth it. I just think they are so versatile and can be worn both day and night. I'd pair this with a simple long sleeve top and a pair of skinny jeans, finished off with a  pair of ankle boots or over a midi bodycon dress for a bit of a unique twist and some warmth on a night out.

Frends "Layla Rose Gold" Headphones.  Whether I'm just hanging out in my room or on the tram heading into the city, I'd be lost without my trusty earphones, but when I happened to stumble upon these Frends Headphones, I was seriously in awe. Given that they are $180, I could never bring myself to purchase them , let alone trust myself with a pair that expensive, but that doesn't mean I can't continue to lust over them, right ? Featuring a fabric cord, means you won't find yourself in those situations where the cord has managed to tie up into endless knots - we've all been there - as well as a 3 button microphone, which allows you to use them as you would, like any other pair of earphones. I love that they have a more chic feel to them compared to your regular apple earphones and you can personalise it by choosing the colour of the metal detailing - of course, I had to choose Rose Gold

River Island Black and White Colour Block Swimsuit. I know, I know, you're going to ask me, why on earth have I decided to include a bathing suit, but I couldn't resist after spotting it during a recent online shopping search. When I first saw it, it reminded me of a one piece you'd see a bond girl sporting. With black side panels and a mesh band around the waist, this will emphasise a gorgeous hourglass figure as well as creating a curvier silhouette, for more slender bodies. The piece also includes molded cups with underwire and detachable straps for some added support, for larger busts.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer. Though we're heading into winter - well the southern hemisphere as least - and the winter skin trend tends to be a matte finish, there is no way I can go without a little highlighter. Illuminiser and highlighter can do wonders for your face and bring so much dimension as well. By highlighting an area of the face it brings it to the foreground and makes it more prominent, it can make your nose appear slimmer and more lifted, it can create a fuller looking lip, higher cheek bones, the list goes on. This cute illuminiser compact can used as both a highlighter and a shimmery eyeshadow and comes in a handy case, which can fit in your make-up bag, for touch ups you may need

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Collection. I feel as though this eyeshadow palette doesn't even need an explanation, but of course I'm going to give you one anyway. The first thing I need to mention is that these eyeshadows actually contain pure cocoa powder, which is where it gets its chocolate scent from. The palette is made up of 16 shades, with a mixture of both matter and shimmery shades. 2 of the shades are shimmery highlight colours, which could also be used on the face, as a substitute for an actual highlighting powder. The other great thing about this palette is it comes in a sturdy metal case, instead of an easily breakable plastic one. The palette also comes with a booklet containing how-to's for 3 different eyeshadow looks, to assist you with using the palette. To purchase this in Australia it will set you back around $75, which is a lot of money to spend on an eyeshadow palette, but I'm sure there's plenty of people who will tell you it's definitely worth it. With enough time and Google searching, you would be able to purchase it from overseas, though the only issue is that shipping tends to cost quite a lot, due to the distance.

B-Tox Tea: Weight Management. Ever since I started following this company on Instagram, I have been constantly amazed as the transformation photos they upload of people who have used their teas. Queen B create a range of different drinks, including teas for weight loss, PMS relief and assisting with sleep, just to name a few, as well as green coffee, Acai berry coffee and hot cacao. The one that I've been most interested in is the B-Tox Tea for Weight Management, I've seen so many amazing posts about this tea being used alongside a healthy diet and exercise regime, to help assist with weight loss, as well as, detoxing the body. I know many people don't like the idea of these sorts of products, or don't believe they actually work, but I would definitely be more than willing to give this a go and see if it benefits me in any way.

The Village - Series 2. Looking back now, I can't even remember how I first got into this show, but I am so glad I did ! I have a massive thing for period dramas, I think because part of me would love to know what it was like living in those times. Set in the 1900's, the 1st series covers the years 1940-1920 and is seen through the eyes of a character, Bert Middleton. It's set in Derbyshire, England and revolves around the Middleton family farm, as well as the village and people living there. The series covers so many areas in the characters lives, from Bert's fathers drinking problem and his brothers struggles going to and returning from war, to the upper class Allingham families mentally unstable daughter and her reclusive disfigured father, just to name a few. According to reports, the 2 series is currently being filmed, which means I will have to wait a while until it has aired, but if it is anything like the 1st series, it's definitely worth the wait !

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Currently Coveting #1

I hope you all enjoyed what I am "currently coveting". I'd love for you to leave me a comment below or on my Facebook, twitter or Instagram and let me know what you're lusting over at the moment.

I'm planning on making the 1st of each month, the day which I post a new "Currently Coveting" blog post, if it does end up interfering with my current blogging schedule, I will still upload it on the 1st of that month and move that weeks post to another day

Have an incredible rest of the week and I will speak to you all next Wednesday ! : )

Veroniieecar :) xx