Current wish list

Hi Lovelies,

Sorry for being a tad silent on the blogging front, it has been a somewhat hectic month!
With the month of May hot on our heels, I figured there was no better time to compile my want-worthy list, after all, May is my birthday month ;) So without further ado lets jump right into it.

In my opinion, nothing is more comforting nor homely in the midst of autumn and winter alike, than the sweet aroma of candles wafting through a room. Diptyque have just released their limited edition candle in rose duet. An elegant and equally delicate scent. The packaging is just as delightful, cotton candy pink paired with a sophisticated fuchsia purple, adorned with Diptyque's unique, signature emblem. Neither myself or my purse for that matter, can justify the $169.00 price tag, but a girl is free to dream, right?

The next product I have been lusting over is Glow - Ruby Crystal Retinol Hydracreme, made by well renowned skin care specialist, Dr Brandt. The name of this product it's self is a sophisticated mouthful, let alone the sleek pink packaging. This posh face cream is formulated with skin illuminators, optical diffusers, and micronized ruby crystals. It is deemed to refine the skins texture, thus enhancing the skins overall appearance, promote radiance and glow and restore optimal hydration. Skin saviour in a bottle?! 

Lastly is a new edition to Nars, the Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder. 

I often have the dilemma of finding a setting powder that doesn't leave a white pasty cast over the skin, so with that being said, I avoid translucent powders at all costs. However at long last I think I have found an alternative. This translucent powder is said to seamlessly set foundation and similarly, blend effortlessly over the skin.
This powder epitomizes luxury with its silky smooth touch. It minimises shine, whilst diffusing light. As always Nars products have a simple yet elegant design and this powder is no exception. This product is also available in two formulations, pressed and loose.

So that concludes my current wish list!
On a little side note, makeupbyhollymarie has officially turned one! Hooray!
Thank you all for your support ♥
picture credit 1,2,3

Fake Tanning

In summer we all lust for a glowing golden tan that suggests we've spent the holidays at an exotic tropical get away, realistically though chances of that are pretty slim and the closest a lot of us gals get to a gleaming sun kissed tan is the painful beetroot look, that ends up peeling off three days later. Despite the fact we are transitioning from the summer to autumn months, it is no excuse to slack off on the tanning front (although I do appreciate the cringe worthy thought of awkwardly standing in the nude waiting for your tan to dry in the midst of winter).  I am by no means a 'tanorexic' by any stretch of the imagination, but there is something so satisfying about rocking glowing bronzed limbs all year round. Therefore today I though I would share my top two fake tanners that I swear by for a deep, dark tan.

Xen Tan - Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe (Ultra Dark) : This is hailed as the 'best of the best' of fake tanners currently on the market by an array of beauty bloggers and vloggers alike. Xen Tan deem this product to be the premium sunless tanner, accompanied by olive undertones and delicious scents. Despite being ultra dark, this tanner, unlike most is really hard to 'stuff' up. Upon application you will notice it has a slight green tinge to the somewhat clay like consistency, an excellent guide colour when applying it to your skin. As for the smell, it contains green tea extracts and vanilla so doesn't leave you smelling like a stale biscuit! As far as I'm concerned, the only down side to this tanner is the sheer cost, $70 NZD isn't cheap for a tan! With that being said, it works out cheaper then getting a spray tan at most salons.

St. Moritz - Instant Self Tanning Lotion: This is a fabulous cheap alternative to tanners by St Tropez. This tan is so easy to use, and the results will leave you with a luxurious professional finish. St Moritz tan is quite obviously green based and as the name suggests, is of a lotion formulation, meaning that you have to work quite fast when applying to avoid streaks and staining. For newbies to tanning, I would recommend applying a thin layer of moisturiser prior - paying particular attention to knees, ankles and elbows, to ensure a even finish. It has an instant bronzing effect, which helps acts as a guide colour throughout the application process. This is quite easily my favourite affordable tanning lotion, the final results never cease to impress. St Moritz tanners retail for around $15 NZD and because of the rich dark colour, will go the distance.

With all self tanners it is advisable to protect the palms of your hands in order to prevent unwanted  staining, by applying your choice of tan with either a tanning mitt or disposable gloves. Personally I prefer gloves over a tanning mitt as I find it allows you to be more thorough with the application and you can dispose of them hassle free. 
If you have any tanning recommendations I'd love to know!

Holly

Current Favourites 

Hi lovelies

I know I haven't posted for a while, so today seeing I'm at home sick (boo!) I thought I'd do a current favourites post for y'all.

Starting with skin care - lately my skin has been a mess (stress has been a detrimental factor) so I decided to up the ante with my skin care routine. Recently I've been trying out a few La Clinica products as they are almost completely natural and also because we stock them at beauty school, therefore I am eligible for a discount - the perks of being a student! However the two products that have stood out to me the most is firstly the Micro Dermabrasion facial scrub from the Glycolic and Vitamin C range. The beauty of this scrub is that it contains the same exfoliating granules as a micro dermabrasion machine. Due to the fact that this is quite an abrasive exfoliant, I aim to use it every other day. Exfoliating is crucial in all skin care regimes, as it encourages desquamation,  cellular renewal and prevents the skin from looking dull and lifeless.
The second product my skin has been loving is the La Clinica rose hip oil - from the anti ageing range. This product is 100% pure certified organic. Despite the misconception that oils are only beneficial for dry and mature skin types, rose hip oil works wonders for people with oily skin (like myself) or acne prone skin. It works to rebalance the skin, as rose hip oil has a similar composition to our skins natural oil - sebum. I have definitely noticed an improvement in my skins overall texture and appearance, it looks significantly refined and has a noticeably healthy glow.

I've also been addicted to one of my newest makeup addition - the Napoleon Perdis 'The One Concealer' This is a life saver in a jar. Seriously creamy, doesn't dare to budge, eliminates pigmentation, pimples and stubborn under eye circles. The lightest touch of a finger and all nasties are gone. It's air brushing in pot. 'Nuff said. Although this gem only contains a small amount of product, you literally only need the tiniest amount seeing that its extremely creamy and melts into the skin using the warmth of your fingers.

Next up are two beauty and makeup gurus that I seriously can not get enough of!

New Zealand blogger Lizy from Beauty By Lizy and Australian YouTube vlogger Monique of  mla1x. Both these girls are phenomenal, super talented and not to mention drop-dead-gorgeous. I admittedly stalk their blog and youtube channel waiting for them to submit something new! (In a totally non creepy way of course!) If you aren't already following these beauties, be sure to check them out and show them some love, I'm sure you'll love them just as much as I do!!

My next favourite isn't even remotely beauty related. I've always been a coffee lover, but as of late I have been obsessed with trim caramel lattes. I know they're a hugely naughty indulgence, but they are quite simply to die for. If you live in the Manawatu, I would definitely recommend heading down to the O.E cafe in the square, for a silky and luxuriously sweet latte. Your taste buds will thank you!


My last favourite is my Orly nail polish in the colour Oh Cabana Boy; a totally obnoxious, but gorgeous hot pink, almost verging on neon. It has a subtle fuchsia shimmery undertone. It looks stunning on the toes, with nude strappy sandals for the transition between summer and autumn.

This photo does not do this polish justice, it is much more vibrant in reality!

So there we have it. What are your current favourites? I'd love to know!
For those of you who may be interested, on my nails I'm wearing O.P.I Teenage dream as an accent on both thumb nails, and O.P.I Don't touch my tutu.
Keep an eye out for my up and coming collective haul.
Holly 

Mini collective haul -  Addicted2

I'm a self confessed makeup-shopaholic, so you can only imagine my sheer excitement when I stumbled across a New Zealand based online makeup store. So without further ado, here are my latest purchases...

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

After lusting over this gem, for what seemed like an eternity I finally took the plunge and snapped up this bad boy. This palette epitomizes glamour. The quality of the colours are incredible, so rich, creamy and pigmented. It features twelve gorgeous taupe based colours ranging from soft delicate neutrals through to striking statement must haves for creating an out-of-this-world smoky eye. It also includes several matte and satin colours with amazing colour pay off. If you are familiar with many YouTube gurus, you'll be well aware that this product is deemed a holy grail product. It does come at a slight cost - $109.00 NZD to be exact, but I guarantee you that it's worth every penny.

The next product I purchased was the MAC studio fix powder in NC20 for reference. This powder is fabulous worn as a setting powder. I find that because it has medium to full overage, it really works to give the skin a beautiful airbrushed affect with a luminous finish. Provided that its blended and diffused over the face evenly, it doesn't look cakey in the slightest, which can be a downfall for cheaper alternative, medium coverage powders. This powder can also be worn alone, I like to buff it into the skin with my Sedona Lace Kabuki  brush (watch this space for a review), for a 'my skin but better' look. A little goes a long way with this powder, so you definitely get bang for your buck. It comes in a little compact, with a decent mirror, so is perfect for those that live life on the go. If you love the look of flawless skin (who doesn't?!) then this is a necessity for your makeup bag!

Lioele BB Cream - Triple the solution. I'm so glad I finally got my hands on the much hyped about Lioele BB Cream. As I'm sure you are all more than aware, BB creams are much the go on the beauty front. For a small history lesson (or in case you've been living under a rock), BB creams originated in south-east Asia and were developed to protect skin that had undergone surgery and laser procedures. They have an varying amount of benefits for the skin e.g whitening, anti inflammatory and soothing. They have been dubbed the 'all in one' beauty product of the moment, working as a spf, moisturiser, primer and foundation. The consistency of this cream is wonderfully smooth, and the coverage is medium yet easily build-able  The only down side to this product is the limited colour selection, in fact there isn't a colour range. Light beige is the only available colour. So I would suggest if you're not a fair skin gal, mixing in a touch of liquid bronzer for a seamless colour.

My last purchase was MAC lipstick in Shy Girl - I am a total lipstick junkie, any excuse to buy a new one and I'm there with bells on. It's even more satisfying when you don't have to leave the comfort of your house in order to get your mitts on one. MAC shy girl has always appealed to me. Something about the creaminess and versatility of a delicious coral toned nude just sucks me right in. Needless to say when I saw it in stock on Addicted2, I just knew I had to have it (that is, despite it's rumoured tendencies to dare I say it... melt! shock horror) When in one piece ;) , the formulation of this lippy is perfection on the lips. Creamsheens are one of my favourite finishes - second to amplified. They glide on so silky smooth, allowing you to build up the opacity and intensity until your heart is content. As mentioned prior, because this colour is so versatile it's must have. Nothing beats having a lippy on hand that can be worn for both day and night looks.

So there we have it girls thats my Addicted2 haul. If you would like to see any of these products used in a makeup tutorial in the near future, then let me know in the comments below. 
Holly X

How to: clean makeup brushes.

Hi Gals, I've decided to start a new segment on my blog - the how to files. Every so often I'll offer advice on how I carry out anything beauty or lifestyle related. If you have any recommendations on posts you would like to see featured on this blog, then be sure to leave a comment. Now getting right into it...

For us makeup fanatics, makeup brushes are essentially the tools of our trade. As I'm sure you'll be aware, it's of significance that they are maintained in a manner that will promote longevity and cleanliness. We wouldn't get down and dirty (with our hands!!) then apply our makeup without ensuring they were sparkly clean! The same applies with brushes. Personally, I wear makeup five if not six days of the week, as it's required  for beauty school, therefore I try and schedule the time to wash my brushes once a week (any more than that would be slightly excessive - ultimately, over washing brushes can have an adverse effect). I like to make this process as simple and pain free as possible. Cleaning brushes doesn't require horrendously priced brush cleaners, as matter of fact baby shampoo, a gentle body/shower gel, or an anti-bacterial hand wash will suffice. The process consists of several easy and straight forward steps that will leave your brushes looking brand spanking new. 

Step 1: Dampen the bristles of the brush by holding under a constant stream of tepid water (tepid - think of goldilocks and the three bears, not too hot or not too cold). It's of importance that you clean your brushes under a running tap and opposed to in a cup/bowl of water, as over time if you are constantly emerging the entirety of the brush in warm-hot water it may cause the glue to break down, thus resulting in excess shedding bristles!

Step 2: Now that the bristles are damp, take a small amount of your chosen cleaning product* squeeze it into the palm of your hand (I use Lush's snow fairy shower gel, nothing beats the sugary sweet smell of candy floss scented brushes to bring you to your senses first thing in the morning!). Using small circular motions, coat the brush head. You may begin to see the colour of product from your brush on you hand, that's when you know it's time for step 3!

Step 3: Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, once the water runs clear, and there is no remaining product visible, you know it's a job well done.

Step 4: Lay all clean brushes out on a fluffy hand towel for half an hour, you can then move them to an upright position to ensure all bristles dry in the correct formation and shape.

And that's a wrap, you now have squeaky clean brushes. 

*If you have highly sensitive skin, or acne prone skin, I would highly recommend using a gentle fragrance free or non comedogenic facial cleanser in place of a shampoo or body wash, as it is less likely to irritate or cause un-necessary breakouts!

For those of you who may be intrested, I'm wearing Mecca's cassandra on my nails.
(brushes featured are real techniques and napoleon perdis. I brought all my real techniques brushes from Here and NP brushes can be brought online Here)

P.S I have added links to all the social media outlets you can find me on, if you fancy a little look. All you have to do is click the corresponding icon! If you do check them out, then be sure to follow me for updates on my blog!

Holly X

Why hello there

Sorry I'm a little late to the party, but happy 2013!!

Apologies for the lack of post as of late. I've got a few exciting posts in the pipelines, so be sure to have your eyes peeled for those in the up coming weeks.
Holly X

picture credit

Skin Care Review featuring Montagne Jeunesse

Hello Dolls,

A few weeks back I was contacted by Montagne Jeunesse, who expressed their interest in me to review a selection of their beauty products. I jumped at the opportunity - of course. I mean who doesn't love some pampering every now and again?!

(disclaimer: despite being very kindly sent these products at no cost of my own, it in no way influences my opinion. I assure you my opinions will be 100% honest and my own)

Montagne Jeunesse use natural and pure ingredients whenever possible and use naturally derived ingredients as opposed to chemical enhancers and additives. They are also against animal cruelty which is a big plus!

They were very generous and sent me eight sachets of products to test out (five of which are shown above)

My first impressions were the packaging of the products is quite overwhelming. I found them somewhat confusing, perhaps due to the several languages. The products themselves though were of a great quality and I enjoyed using them. I found the facial masques the most intriguing, I received a range of facials, varying in formulations. My favourite being the Aromatherapy mud masque. The smell of lavender and jasmine infusion was very uplifting and calming. I found my skin looked much more radiant and rejuvenated afterwards. I would definitely recommend this for anyone in need of some serious relaxation.  I found the Aloe Vera face spa masque (second from the left) somewhat bizzare! It is literally a fabric sheet in the shape of your face. Although the concept seemed odd, the results were great, my skin felt so fresh and invigorated due to the green tea extracts. (A lot of the masques have enough product for several uses, which gives you some value for money.)

The hair mask was another I was keen to try. The formulation of the hot conditioning treatment was so rich and thick. After towel drying my hair I applied the ultra shine serum which made my lacklustre hair appear more shiny and healthy, it also smelt gorgeous.

Over all I would recommend these products to anyone after a once off pamper session.
If any of these tickle your fancy, you can check out Montagne Jeunesse here or alternatively stop by there Facebook page and say hello. They are also available at farmers department stores too.

Hope you're all well, and enjoying your spring holidays.

Holly