Last week in pictures

Hey everyone!

I know I've been a little MIA lately, but seriously having a child takes up you're time 24/7!
Not that I'm complaining, being a mummy is the best :-)

So before I spam you're feeds with another update on Luka at the end of the week (she'll be 3months ahhh!) I thought I'd give you something non-baby to read about before then.
*well actually there will always be something about Luka that I'll add in my posts, she's my life, it's inevitable.

Last week was a pretty good one for me, I went shopping!
I didn't do a major haul though, I just picked up a few things I actually needed if not a few wants in there too, as Winter is slowly on it's way to NZ I realized how much I was lacking with cardigans. Here's what I got...

I brought this statement necklace from Collette Hayman for NZD$7 from NZD$26 SCORE!
It looks just like what you'll buy from J Crew with the exempt of it not being crystal (and of course not being ridiculously overpriced!) but it really doesn't matter in this case, I thought it was gorgeous and I've been layering it with other statement necklaces I have to give any plain outfit a POP!
Unfortunately you won't find this on her site as it was only available in store.

 

Next was this awesome wool felt floppy hat from Dotti for NZD$36. I have plenty of outfits to wear with this but the weather hasn't quite cooled down enough here in NZ (even though it is Autumn!) for me to wear it but I will be doing a few outfit posts with this when it does :-)

And here are the rest...

Glassons 'Everday' pink striped top NZD$14.99
Mirrou Boutique Leopard print cardigan NZD$30
ASOS oversized Baseball Tee NZD$27.12
New Look longline cardigan NZD$40.66


Luka was amazing the whole time too!
The routine I've been weaning her into has been working and I've been consistent with it even when I've been out with her which is really hard to do so I'm glad she's adjusting. I'll update on what routine I have for her on Friday...
In the mean time here's some cute snaps of my baby girl!

 

Andrei holding Luka after our photoshoot on Sunday. We won a $300 voucher from a comp I entered in a few weeks ago. They look so much alike!

 

I can't get over how much Luka has grown in the last 3months! She's definitely become more expressive and her face has taken more character in the last month, she's so gorgeous and gives me the most cutest gummy smiles!

Next up I took part in a competition held by Benefit Cosmetics NZ via their Instagram account to win a years supply of 'They're Real' mascara.
And guess what, I won! Well me and 3 other girls :-)
Here was my winning pic...

Can't go wrong with bed hair, long lashes and statement lippy :-)

 

I already had thing's planned for my mascaras, as I tend to use up a mascara per year than changing it every few months so I gave one to my mum, sister and my friend and of course kept one for myself :-)

 

So that was my week really, it was quite full on. Then again, every week is for me with Luka!

Hoped you enjoyed my latest and you'll hear from me soon.

 

 

XOXOX 

Benefit "They're Real" mascara

Hell I don't know the last time I've written something up about makeup.

Now being a mother I've had to come up with an easy way of applying a natural looking complexion that's suitable for any occasion so I can quickly get back to my little one.

This makeup application was done for Christmas Day last year :-)

This look is my go to.

Just a dash of foundation.

Dab of concealer.

Sweep of powder.

Puff of blush and a flick of my fave new mascara by Benefit, "They're Real".

Before

After

I purchased it in this blog post here and it's truly amazing.

I already have long lashes per the before and after pics but I can't help but dramatise them.

My eyes, I would say, are def my best feature. Sue me ;-)

Benefits review have been something I've easily agreed on as it pretty much states what I've found with the product.

Based on their stats from consumers:

94% saw dramatic length and volume

90% saw base to tip curl

94% saw visible lift

100% saw visible results

I find the ingredients non clumpy, well lubricated and distributes evenly on each lash thus giving each lash a dark dramatic coat and with being able to use the wand horizontally you can spread the lashes out evenly if they decide to stick together like mine do at times.

I also find the norm results which is long wearing, doesn't smudge and more length and volume.

The way I apply it though is pretty much the same as I've always done with mascara which is in strokes rather than what Benefit have recommended in wiggling the wand from side to side whilst stroking.

Actually I've found that works too to separate the lashes and define them more.

I've noticed more curl, length and volume, another given from Benefit for this product so I can easily say my review is as it's been stated from the amazing cosmetic company.

And for a retail price of NZD$45 for the mascara it is an investment and my mascara's last me longer than the 3month time frame usually recommended so I will be getting my money's worth no sweat :-)

So that's my review, hoped you like it, here's the products I used to achieve the look in the photos:

Face

• Bio oil - all over face, neck and decolletage
• POREfessional primer - over cheeks, nose, forehead and chin
• Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in "Cheers to Me" Champagne over face and neck
• Boi-ing concealer in 01 light  on dark circles and blemishes
• Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Powder " Me Vain?" Champagne over face and neck
• MAC Peachy Keen blush 

Eyes

• MAC Old Gold Pigment over lid, light application
• They're Real Mascara on upper and lower lashes

*eyes can be taken from day to night with a smokey application

Lips

• Nivea lip balm

If you have any views on this or any of the Benefit products or any cosmetics that you think are worth a look at, let me know, cheers!

J'aime Milse

Yesterday was one ugly rainy day in Auckland and it also happened to be the day that I was to meet with a very good friend of mine who was visiting from Australia.

We both have ravenous sweet tooth's and kinda planned the day together around our stomach's and first to cross off on our 'foodie' list is this sweet boutique dessert restaurant in town called Milse (pronounced mill-sey).


The little restaurant is situated in The Pavillion in Britomart and it really is a hard one to find as it located at the end of a gorgeous fairy light lit walkway between a shoe store and another restaurant.

When we first stepped in we were greeted by a lovely staff member who explained what all the delectable treats were and backed off to let us decide what we wanted which took several minutes as my friend and I wanted the whole store!

The first thing we saw as we walked into Milse!

 

Mmmmm macarons!

Were the delicious gelatos were kept

 

After minutes of gorging our eyes with all the amazing handmade, and beautifully presented desserts we finally settled that we'd get two things each.
The first picture below was what I had chosen which was (L) a strawberry, lemon and pistachio gateaux (NZD$8) and a (R) double crunchy chocolate gelato stick (NZD$7).

And this picture below was what my friend, Minna, ordered.
(L) banana, caramel and chocolate verrine (NZD$8) and (R) black forest gateaux (NZD$8)

I can happily boast that both desserts were EXQUISITE and truly art on a platter!
The gateauxs were fluffy and just 'melt in you're mouth', the gelato stick was very rich but none the less the best chocolate fix I've ever had!
I didn't get to have a taster of what Minna had as I think both of us really just wanted it all to ourselves. But as you can see, it isn't very hard to understand why.

The one and probably the only time I'll eat dessert this fancy!

Haha! Not one of my best photo's, but it caught the sheer indulgence on my face!

The kitchen where the desserts are made. all open plan so you can see how the patisserie experts work their magic!

 The restaurant isn't very big, but has a lovely intimate setting.
No booking's are required, it's simply just a 'walk in' experience but you do have the option of takeaway, and if the dessert that you're wanting isn't displayed they make it for you before you're very eyes in the kitchen above.


*Image provided by Google.
The only seating in the whole patisserie.
We came on a good day as we were the only customers!

After our little sugar fix we then browsed around the city, chatted away and the next thing to cross off my list was a new mascara.

Picture as featured on my Instagram account (shaleyabrett_)

It only seemed fitting that I buy the product that has many cosmetic addicts raving. The one and only 'They're Real' mascara from Benefit!
I've been in need of new mascara for a year, I've been using a good one from ModelCo. but it's now drying up and clumping. After all it is almost a year old...
I haven't used it just yet, I just liked the idea of getting a photo of it near my eyes, but as you can see my lashes are already quite thick and long, I just like to dramatise them that little bit more :-)

Picked it up for NZD$43, and I don't think I'll need to purchase a replacement for another year or so, I like to stretch my makeup for as long as I can.
I'll be reviewing this shortly.

Random bit of humor we came across on our travels

Our final stop at The Occidental in which I chowed down on some homemade crispy wedges with sour cream.
YUM! 

 So that was my big day out really!
If you want to find more out about Milse you can check it out 'here', in the mean time I'll leave you with those photo's that you can devour 'guilt free' with you're eyes while I happily placed those calories on my hips for you ;-)

Until next time!

XOXOX

Benefit VS M.A.C

"San Francisco's best known makeup brand specializes in cute names that spell out what it's products are supposed to do and Benefit's new generation formula's are effective. This foundation is one of the best I've tested lately and with nine shades you wont struggle to find a colour match.

It glides on easily with a hydrating texture that provides good, lasting coverage and the bonus of SPF 25" - Janetta Mackay, NZ Hearald on Benefits Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation.

Couldn't agree more.

Sorry about the long wait! But since my last post which outlined my purchase of the 'How To Look The Best At Everything' makeup kit, I've been met with glowing, flawless skin which on the plus side feels smooth, and incredibly lightweight!

Here today my friends is my 101 on the kit :-) 

1: POREfessional Primer / 2: Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation / 3: Boi~ing concealer / 4: Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow powder / 5: Swiping brush

• POREfessional Primer

This little beauty is sheer gold!
It fills in fine lines and pores (obviously) so when I apply my makeup it glides on smoothly and gives me better coverage.
I apply a very small amount to my forehead, chin, cheeks and nose. The final result, my skin feels like silk and my pores are noticeably smaller :-)

• Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation 'Cheers to Me' Champagne

The highly talked about foundation is exactly as it is per the review above.
It's hydrating and feels nourishing on you're skin.
It also has a skin brightener added to the formula so you're skin is literally left GLOWING and looking B E A UTIFUL without the added heaviness and looking like you've gone shades darker or making you look like you've made serious contact with a cake!
Another plus, it has SPF25 locked and loaded to take on the suns harsh rays and it's so easily absorbed that when I applied it a little more for extra coverage it still felt like I wasn't wearing makeup.
Despite it not being the right shade for me (I'm supposed to have 'Ivory') it looked pretty damn close to it!
The pic below was taken just as the sun shone through, but it's pretty much how it looks anyway.

Benefit's result. Makes my skin look amazeballs lol!

• Boi~ing Concealer in 01 and 02

I've been in need of a good concealer for a long time!
Trying to match this was a bit of a mission as the foundation I was using wasn't my right shade so I ended up blending the two together to get the right tone so it didn't look obvious.
What can I say, it has fantastic coverage! And it even made my eyes look brighter as if a highlighter was sued plus it got rid of my dark under eye circles :-)
I love it, but I think I'll find better results with my true foundation match as it was quite a mission to blend both to get the right tone.

• Hello Flawless 'Me Vain' Champagne powder

I would definitely say that not only can you use this to set you're foundation but you can also use this by itself over a primer.
It brightens skin, has a silky lightweight finish and just makes the whole look I was aiming for complete and....well...flawless!
This also sets perfectly so fine lines and pores are incredibly unnoticeable.

Wearing no makeup. My skin has cleared up dramatically since my healthy cravings kicked in! 

So yeah, my skin looked way worse than this...

  

 

M.A.C result 

So now that you've seen my Benefit verdict, here's my M.A.C 101....

• M.A.C Pro Longwear Foundation NW20

"A comfortable, long-wearing foundation that gives up to 15 hours of wear in any environmental condition. Lightweight and creamy, applies and blends easily leaving the skin feeling soft and free to breathe all day while controlling oil. Specially treated micronized pigments help give a smoother, more flawless, natural finish with stay-true colour."

 

            

 

 I may have that more when I started using it. But in saying that now with all the changes I'm going through I'm not exactly finding it as easily absorbed as it once was.
Today I find it still lightweight, stay true to colour and blendable as I apply it, but after I've used concealer and finished off with a powder I find (and feel) that the Pro Longwear sits like a cake on my face, and after a few hours my face feels greasy and I have to cleanse my face a few times before it's completely removed!
Plus I'm finding it makes my fine lines and pores more prominent and it's just not doing the trick for me anymore, thank goodness there isn't much left of the bottle!
I'll save some till after I've had my baby and see how I d, but so far Benefit's Hello Flawless is giving me what I need, sorry M.A.C I think this is where my relationship with you're foundations end.

So that's really it. I'd say I'm about 99.9% Benefit Cosmetic converted!
But just a word to the people that still love M.A.C foundations, this is just one opinion if M.A.C works for you then by all means keep using it! It is a world renown brand afterall :-)

Next on my Benefit purchase list is more POREfessional primer, Fakeup concealer and 'They're Real' mascara!

XOXOX