Gift Guide ♡ Guys!

Happy Sunday, lovelies!

So a few days ago I posted my gift guide for girls and I figured I would make it into a mini-series of sorts! Because I'm a bum and rely on my parents to give me money to buy presents for my family and friends, I usually keep it really cheap, but I try my best to find good quality things.

Now. Guys are asses to buy for. You never know what they've already bought for themselves, if they're gonna like it, if they even really want it. Ugh. Present buying drives me mad, and I'm guessing it drives you guys mad too.

So here are my relatively cheap gifts for guys! Enjoy!

1. An oversized mug with some crude saying.

Boys are always gonna be boys. We can't stop them, so we might as well go with it and have some fun along the way!

I actually kind of want this too

2. Scarf and beanie

This one is for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere where it's going into winter and it's going to snow and rain and be amazing and I want to live there.
It's cold, and everyone complains (especially me oops) so getting your guy in question a hat and scarf set is probably one of the best things you can do. I love this beanie from ASOS, which I think has 17% off, so go check it out! For a scarf I actually really really love this one, which is also from ASOS (ASOS is my life but it's mainly too expensive, sigh).

3. CHRISTMAS JUMPER

If you're really into corny, Christmassy things like me and you love forcing the people around you to get excited too (I bought a mini little Christmas tree over two weeks ago and it's sitting proudly in my room), then a corny Christmas jumper is the way to go. If you're a cute couple who do absolutely everything together, please don't do this, I will cry of loneliness.

ASOS models yum

4. Tickets to something

First off, I just really have to put this in. If your man is a risk taker/adrenaline junkie, TAKE HIM BUNGY JUMPING. He will love it, I promise. If your guy is more music-y, take him to a festival (Coachella for America, Rhythm & Vines for NZ, Big Day Out for Australia). There are honestly so many around and after Christmas it's upsetting.

And that concludes my short, (not really) cheap gift guide for guys! Please let me know what you thought, and feel free to follow because I do follow back, I promise :)

See you next time (probably later tonight sigh)
Laura x

Gift Guide ♡ Girls!

Hey my lovelies, happy Friday!

I have been sitting at my laptop for over an hour now trying to think of a post, while being distracted by the X Factor USA (I am actually really glad Tim Olstad is gone but Khaya was amazing tbh okay), and this gem finally bounced on me while I was reading through SprinkleOfGlitter's Guy's Guide.

Now I am terrible at giving presents. I usually end up either baking or giving money or (ssh) getting Mum to buy everything for me. This year, however, I am going to buy all the presents myself and I'm going to do it well. I hope.

So without further ado, here is my Gift Guide for Girls for 2013!

1. Lush

Anything from Lush is, in my book, perfect. I love the bath bombs the most, but a new favourite that I love the look and smell of is the 'Star Light, Star Bright' bath melt. Not only is it a sparkly star shaped melty thing, but it smells like HEAVEN. I'm not exaggerating at all. Really. It retails at $6.90NZD, so is super cheap for such a cute little product.
But I've got to include a bath bomb. I really do. I haven't bought a bath bomb in forever, but the one I like the look of most is the 'Fizzbanger'. First off, it is bright yellow which means fun bath, yes, and second, it is toffee apple scented. Toffee. Apple. Something you should probably know about me is that anything toffee apple will be my obsession for at least six months. Or until it runs out.

2. Sweeties

I have possibly one of the biggest sweet tooths (toothes?) in the world. If you know someone like me, then a chocolate/lollies/cupcake hamper will possibly give them heart pangs. Some good things to include, for sure, are:

• Fizzies (the small, bright coloured fizzy lollies that may or may not look like drug pills)
• Starbursts (do I even need to explain?)
• Chocolate block (Caramello, peppermint, Topdeck, etc)
• Something special, like flying saucers (paper like shells with sherbet inside)
• Chuppachups!!!! My obsession with these is not healthy.
• Basically anything.

You really cannot go wrong unless they're super allergic to something in which case, oops.

3. Vouchers

Yes, I know vouchers are usually a last-resort gift, but if you customize how you give them they're actually super cool. Instead of just putting the voucher in an envelope and saying 'Here', put a little sticky note on it saying something like 'Avaliable to use between so and so with your name here' and make it an occasion. Go get your makeup done at somewhere like MAC or Elizabeth Arden then have a complete girl's day out!

4. Concert tickets (or something alike)

This one is for the partners who are probably a little bit more willing to spend more. If you know you're not going to be breaking up with your girlfriend any time soon, then invest in two tickets to her favourite band, or book a wine tasting (if you're legal) or make reservations at a really nice restaurant (spelt it right first time!).

So that is my short (kinda) gift guide, please let me know what you think, and what your go-to gift is!

I really hope you enjoyed and I will see you next time,

Laura x

Summer ♡

It's gearing up for summer here in NZ and boy am I ready for it. After many rainstorms and cold snaps it's finally a gorgeous day. I'm writing this as I tan outside in the garden (don't worry, I've got my SPF!) but I just want to write a blog post and relax, so here are my summer essentials, beauty and otherwise!

First off is water. I've gotta keep hydrated at the beach, or when I'm just outside because it is hot! I really love infused water like strawberry and mint or mint and orange or just mint by itself. Can you tell I'm really loving mint right now?

Strawberry, watermelon & mint - yum!

Second is my SPF. Because of the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica, the UV rays are much stronger here than in America, so I go to my trusty Cancer Society in SPF30 for my body, and Neutrogena SPF45 for my face.

Third is a super cute swimsuit! This year I'm leaning towards a supported floral bikini (have to keep the boobs in place!) from amazon. I'm not quite sure what brand it is, as Amazon don't have online shopping, but I will keep you updated. I also would really like a black and white polka dot one but I haven't seen too many around.

Next, waterproof mascara and cream products. I don't want to terrify kids when I go to the beach, so a little makeup is a must. My go to look this year is any waterproof mascara, Maybelline BB Cream in Light, and just a peachy cream blush to give my cheeks some colour.

I'm also going to need some protection on my lips. I love my Maybelline Baby Lips, and also the Elizabeth Arden lip balm. I know the Elizabeth Arden one is expensive, but it is so worth the money, I've had mine for over a year, I use it everyday and I've still got quite a bit left. It moisturises really well, and has amazing protection from the sun. Staple!

I think it's part of the Eight Hour range, but here's a quick pic.

Lastly, I need to have a good book to read. I've been wanting to read the Divergent series for a little while now, and I think this summer is going to be the perfect time to get started. I also would love to read both new books by JK Rowling as I love my mysteries and murder stories.

That's all for this post, hope you enjoyed it, and a new post will be up soon! What are your essentials for summer?

Laura x

Maybelline 24Hr Super Stay Foundation Review ♡

Hey everyone!

So today's post is going to be a review of the Maybelline 24Hr Super Stay Foundation. On the recommendation of Tanya Burr in one of her videos from last year, I purchased this foundation from Farmers, retailing at $36.49, without GST (15%). In New Zealand, even drugstore makeup is expensive. Thankfully I had a discount, taking it down to $29.99. (Around £15, i think)

My colour is Sand Beige, which is yellow toned.

My first impression of this foundation was positive. It applied like a dream and lasted the 3 hours I had it on for, admittedly all I did was homework.
It is quite thick, and you do need to buff it in like any full coverage foundation, otherwise it has the potential to go cakey quite quickly.

Last night I was lucky enough to go to the OneRepublic concert in Wellington, and decided it would be a perfect time to fully test the foundation. I have extreme combination skin, with dry patches around my lips and a really oily tzone. This foundation showed shine six hours after I applied it, with no blotting at all which is really impressive. It didn't cling to my dryness at all and overall wasn't heavy or cakey once buffed in.

Now I definitely agree with the twenty four hour staying power this foundation claims to do. I get really tired really quickly when I've been out, so when I got home I simply wiped it off and went to bed. This morning however, when I washed my face there was still quite a lot around my ears, which I missed in my sleepiness. 

The only thing I really do not like about the foundation is the pump - or lack thereof. Because it's a 'drugstore' foundation I don't know where I'm going to be able to get a pump that fits. Let me know if you know. The bottle feels like glass, but may well be a sturdy plastic.

I love this foundation because of it's full coverage, long lasting power and because it feels nice. Definitely worth the money.

What are some other products I should try? Any recommendations?

Laura x

Would You Rather | Beauty Tag ♡

I lied.
My review on the Maybelline Foundation will be up sometime later this week, but because I have nothing to do for a few hours, I decided it would be fun to do a tag!
Since I am extremely new to the blogging scene, no one has yet tagged me in anything, but that is no excuse.
Plus I just love answering questions about absolutely anything, so this is perfect.

1. Would you rather lose all of your Mascaras, Eye Liners, Lipsticks, and Lip Glosses or lose all of your Palettes and Eye Shadows?

Since I do wear glasses most of the time as contacts are a pain, I always go for extremely simple eyes and bold lips, so I would rather lose my eyeshadows.

 

2.Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

I would never be able to cut it again, I could never part with my hair.

 

3. Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek? 

Can I say neither and go with a peach cheek?
 

4. If you had £1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or make-up? 

Oh. Um. This is difficult. Probably clothes.

 

5. Would you rather apply Lipstick as Eye Liner, or Eye Liner as Lipstick?

 Eye liner as lipstick, everytime.

 

6. Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora? 

Mac, as there's no Sephora in New Zealand.

 

7. Would you rather only use one Eye Shadow colour or one lip colour for the rest of your life? 

One eyeshadow colour. I'm a lips girl through and through.

 

8. Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter? 

Summer clothes in winter, they're just so much easier. Plus cute sundresses!

 

9. Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

Dark nails, no doubt about it.

 

10. Would you rather give up your favourite lip product or your favourite eye product?

Lip product. I need my mascara.
 

11. Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

Messy bun, so much easier and if my hair was a mess, it's so simple to hide.

 

12. Would your rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lip gloss?
Never use lipgloss because I love my mattes!

 

13. Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or Sharpie them on everyday?
Oh I would sharpie them on, definitely.

 

14. Would you rather live without make-up or nail polish?
Nail polish, hands down.

So that is all for this post, and if anyone reads this then I tag YOU to do it!

See you next time,

Laura x

PS questions taken from lucyabigailsmith

Hello!

Welcome to my blog.
This blog will hopefully be a beauty based blog, with reviews, favourites, things you should avoid (:o) with some lifestyle posts as well.

A little about me:

My name is Laura, and i live in the tiny little country of New Zealand, where everything is ten times more expensive than the rest of the world.
I adore makeup and clothes and shoes.
My favourite colour changes everyday.
I bought a tiny blue Christmas tree yesterday :)

Stay tuned for my next post, which will be a review on the 24Hr Stay Foundation by Maybelline.

See you next time,
Laura x