6 Beauty Hacks you can't believe you were living without!

Best of the Beauty Hacks

I'm about to let you in on some of the best wee beauty secrets around that will save you boatloads of time, energy, and help avoid some major frustration!

1. Heated eyelash curler

Don't feel like paying around $40 for an expensive heated eyelash curler, to give your lashes that added volume? The answer is super simple. Before using your eyelash curler hold it under the hairdryer for around 15-20 seconds, then pop it on your lashes for a stress free curl!

2. Easy eyeliner

If you're like me and hate putting on eyeliner because it looks like you have literally taken a black crayon to your eyelid, then this ones for you. Once again you want to take your eyelash curler and line the top rubber curler section with some eyeliner, which will then transfer into a neat line upon application, simple as that!

3. Get more from your foundation

One thing that drives me insane about liquid foundation is the waste! If your using a sponge, or pouring it onto the back of your hand you will understand that a lot of product can get left behind. My first suggestion is to ditch the sponge, and get yourself a flat top stippling brush (my personal preference), or a foundation brush if thats more to your taste. These brushes don't swallow up half as much make up as your sponge will, and there also much easier to clean and more hygienic. Another tip is to squirt the foundation (one pump, or amount at a time) straight onto the brush, and then spread onto your face. Not only does this save a TON of product, it also makes your foundation easier to spread, and doesn't leave you with that make-up coated hand. You may need to wash your brushes out a wee bit more for this, but it is totally worth it!

4. Save your broken beauties!

Ever had a melted lipstick or shattered eyeshadow you had to throw out because you thought there was no way to fix it? Turns out its super simple! For a broken lipstick hold a hairdryer or lighter to the break until it softens, then press the broken piece back on top, and smooth the edges. Place the tube in the freezer for around 20 minutes, or until it seems ready! For a shattered palette, wrap a piece of glad wrap/cling wrap over the top to avoid mess and using a small tool (i use the end of an eyeshadow brush) smash up the pieces until they are even smaller. Then, add small amounts of alcohol (one that won't leave a smell) to smooth it back over with a spoon and leave to set. Your palette should be good as new!

5. Quick dry your nails

If your ever in hurry when painting your nails, or just impatient like me, try popping your freshly painted nails into a bowl of cold water and leave them for a few minutes, They should be dry and read to go once you remove them.

6. Spritz it right

Ever sprayed your perfume, only to have the scent disappear minutes later? The trick is to spray your scent onto heat points such as behind your ears, in your elbows and wrists and behind your knees, to keep the scent going. Through out the day, as you get hotter in these points, you will be able to smell your perfume waaayyyy better.

Hope these helped ad thanks for reading

Love Becca :)

xo

Super simple home decor

Home Decorations you can do yourself

I recently moved into a new apartment, and wanted some new ways to decorate, without spending a fortune. Here are some easy ways to spice up your space!

I love collecting old classics with amazing covers, and decided to put some on display, with a wee New York snow globe on the top (this ones from typo). I put this on top of my small  bookcase, as it ties in well, but means it doesn't look so bare. These books were super inexpensive at around $5 for all of them at a second hand bookstore. You could also check out antique stores or book sales. 

I also wanted to decorate my coffee table without taking the whole thing over, so I opted for a small plant, candlestick and a book. 

I chose to put the plant (which was $3 at the warehouse) in a jar, as i thought being able to see the soil would be a bit different. The jar is also from the warehouse, another bargain at only 70 cents! I also really loved this copper candle stick, and it matched my grey and wood coffee table perfectly. Its also from the warehouse, in the 'Gatsby Collection' for $12. The artesian pizza recipe book is sufficing until I hunt down something more coffee table appropriate.

This next idea is so easy, and probably my favourite. I decided to make a firefly jar of my own, with a mason jar (easy to find at the supermarket, craft stores, ect) and a battery operated string of fairy lights ($3 at Bunnings or Kmart). I love having these wee fairy lights on later at night as they are super cute and give out a much softer light. 

This last one is again using a mason jar (I have an obsession!), which I filled with semi-precious-but really cheap- wee stones and crystals. My jar still has a way to go, but it does have some stones like quartz, jade, agate and topaz, all of which can be easily tracked down at a spiritual store, or your local market.

I hope these super simple tips gave you some ideas (I am in no way a professional at this sort of stuff!) for spicing up your space. Stay tuned for a festive christmas version on decking out your house.

Thanks for reading,

Love Becca :)

xo

Top 5 perfume recommendations

Hi blog-arinoes!

Welcome to my top 5 perfume recommendations!
Out of all of my perfumes, these are my absolute favourites, and have proven popular with many other people too.

1. Daisy, Eau so Fresh
 by Marc Jacobs

This perfume not only smells amazing, but the bottle is beautiful! The oversized gold cap is adorned by 6 rubberised daises, with a sneaky pop of yellow. This sweet fruity floral scent is perfect for spring, or during the day.

2. Viva La Juicy,
 by Juicy Couture

This wonderful bottle has a quality appeal with its solid glass, golden crest and large pink bow. With its sweet, floral smell and undertones of vanilla and caramel, it makes great wearing in summer, and as both a day and night scent.



3. Reb'l Fleur,
By Rihanna

I do have to admit, this bottle is not one of my favourites, but the combination of floral tones, crisp powder, coconut and slight musk are huge redeeming factors.  Reb'l Fleur has a certain warmth to it that makes it perfect for a night out or autumn/winter months.










4. Wonderstruck,
By Taylor Swift

The bottle is very cute, with an opalescent purple colour and a golden chain with small figurines attached. The scent also stays true to the bottle, with a very, very sweet honeysuckle, fruit and vanilla mixture. While I love this smell, I would not recommend it for those who are looking for a more mature signature scent! Great as a playful spring or summer perfume.




5. Midnight Fantasy,
By Britney Spears




Now, as I'm sure many of you know Britney makes great perfumes, and this is absolutely one of them! Fruity, sweet and a little bit nutty (seems like a good description of Britney, actually) this perfume comes in a rhinestone bottle with a plastic, light purple bottle collar to match. I love how playful and versatile this scent is!

Of course, this is only my opinion, and I would love to hear what your favourite perfumes are in the comments!

If your looking for any further reviews on these perfumes, or any others you have been eyeing up, I recommend this website:

 Fragrantica

Just pop in the search bar the name of the perfume your interested in!

Also, here are some perfume retailers I recommend :)

Farmers Department store: Farmers perfume department

Perfume NZ:Perfume NZ (also have reasonable shipping)

Thanks for reading!

Love Becca :)

xo

P.S Come find me

Instagram: Beccamay19

Online shopping sites for New Zealand

I know most of us love a good online shopping session, but I do find that one of the biggest struggles with New Zealand and Beauty products is finding online sites that offer great products, at good prices and shipping that doesn't cost you $500 and a valued body part.

And so, after much experimentation, I present to you, my top 10 sites (in no particular order) I myself use and love for all my shopping needs!

1. Iherb.com

IHerb offer a great range of products, including real techniques, elf and physicians formula, at great prices you would be hard-pressed to find in New Zealand. Their shipping is also very reasonable, with $8NZD for standard shipping that arrives in a good time, or $4NZD for shipping that takes a wee bit longer. Don't just take my word for it, find them here!

http://www.iherb.com

2. Cutie and Beautie

Second is an adorable wee site called Cutie and Beautie, which at first visit seems very confusing!

Turns out they also sell children's clothing, but don't let this deter you! They offer a mix of overseas brands, jewellery and the likes of Lioellle, NYX, Skin79 as well as the more well-known products including Michael Todd, Lorac, Lime Crime and L'Oreal. Another great bonus is that they ship usually between 2-5 days, and I've never paid over $7NZD for shipping :)

http://www.hikosencara-nz.com

3. Beauty Bay

For your high-end make-up requirements, I find Beauty Bay is the way to go.  They stock all the most beautiful products including Too Faced, Urban Decay and Anastasia Beverly Hills, and the best part? Free International Shipping!!

http://www.beautybay.com

4. Fishpond 

Now, my relationship with fishpond has had its ups and downs, but after much experimenting, I have devised a plan to get the best from their beauty department. I find that if I search for particular products, everything is suuuupper expensive! However, if I select lowest price, and have a scroll through, I can usually find a great deal. Fishpond also offer free shipping (Hooray!), but the wait time can be excruciatingly long, depending on whether it ships from the US or not. My advice; you can still get a great deal from Fishpond, but be prepared to wait!

http://www.fishpond.co.nz (To the website)

http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Beauty (To the beauty department)

5. Whitening Lightning

Now you may have heard of whitening lightning, with their ever-growing popularity in the beauty world, and I must say, the praise is well deserved! With the few products I have tried of Whitening Lightning's, I am absolutely in love (I 100% recommend the brow bar to go). With a combination of beauty products (nearly always partnered with great sales!) teeth whitening packs, and tons of discount codes (some of which offer free shipping), this is not a site to be missed. P.S most of these discounts can be found on you tube in the videos of the best beauty gurus.

http://www.whiteninglightning.com/shop/cosmetics-make-up/

6. xo Beauty

For more specialised products of brushes, lashes, and the new super cute hair ties, go no further than xo beauty, owned and created by New Zealand beauty guru Shaaanxo. For well made products, these prices are reasonable, and shipping is only $4NZD

http://www.xobeautyshop.com

 Shaaanxo's channel

7. Ebay

Ebay are great for cheaper alternatives to products, as well as offering products up for auction which can often be hard to find. Many buyers will offer free shipping, and while some products can take awhile the great customer service ebay offers makes up for it, with customer ability to open disputes and request refunds. 

http://www.ebay.com

8. Asos

Asos are great for both clothing and beauty products, offering quality, high end products of both make up and body care. While a lot of the items can be pricey, they do often have sales on, from which you can snatch up a great deal! They also offer free shipping when you spend over $40NZD, otherwise shipping is $7NZD and arrives within 7 days :)

http://www.asos.com

9. Feel Unique

Feel Unique are an English website that offer a wide range of beauty goods from high-end to lower priced items. While they do offer around the same prices as some New Zealand stores, they also offer a lot of products that are hard to find, or are not stocked in New Zealand. Shipping is freeeee when you spend over 10 pounds (approximately $20NZD). They also offer a range of health, lifestyle and male beauty goods. 

http://www.feelunique.com

10. Beauty Bliss

This New Zealand website offers a great range of products that can often find hard to access. While I would recommend grabbing brands such as elf from cheaper, previously listed websites, they do present a nice array of more expensive goodies. They also offer flat rate shipping for only $4.50NZD, or free pick up for those in Wellington.

http://beautybliss.co.nz

And here we have it, my top ten online shopping websites for the best beauty deals for 

New Zealanders!

(Of course, this is not just limited to New Zealanders, everyone is invited!)

Thanks for reading!

Love, Becca

xo

P.S, Find me here :)

Instagram: Beccamay19