Quick Friday FOTD =

Yay it's Friday and the start of a long weekend here in New Zealand. We have Monday off work due to the Queen's Birthday! Woop woop :) Thought I'd share my quick Friday FOTD which was semi inspired by Selina's recent post!

♥Face:

MAC Studio Fix Fluid & Powder in NC20
Revlon Concealer

Napoleon Colour Disk #85 (pink) as blush

♥Eyes:
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study (base)
CS 88 Shimmer Palette - White/Gold colour: 1st row, 3 down (lid)
MAC crochet e/s (small amount on orbital bone)
MAC carbon (lower lash line)
CS Gel Liner - True Black (waterline & upper lash line)
MAC Zoom Lash Mascara
♥Lips:

MAC Lovelorn lipstick

Forever 21 Nude Lipgloss

ELF Blush & Bronzing Powder

I recently bought the E.L.F. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder. I had read a lot about this product and many people call it a possible dupe to the Nars Orgasm/Laguna compact. I already own NARS Orgasm blush (love it) & NARS Laguna bronzer has been on my wish list for a while. Therefore felt this ELF compact would be worth trying out, especially because it was a bargain at only NZ$16.90 (or online for only US$3)!

What does the  E.L.F.’s website say?
"Create a healthy and natural glow all year long. The Blush highlights the cheeks to add a flush of color, while the Bronzer accents and contours cheekbones for beautiful definition."

Swatched on skin, no flash

(Bronzer quite heavily swatched to show colour)

The compact, which contains a blush and a bronzer, looks very sleek and similar to the NARS packaging. But the E.L.F.’s one isn’t rubbery, which makes it easier to clean. It comes with a big mirror but no brush. I don’t mind that since I never use those brushes that come with products anyway - they are never any good!

There's a good amount of each product in this compact. The powder is finely milled but not very well pressed which makes them a bit on the powdery side. So use a light swipe with your brushes. Both shades are very pigmented and a little goes a long way. The bronzer is great for contouring but like I said use a light hand because otherwise the colour may appear a bit muddy & you'll end up looking like a bit of a drag queen :p The blush gives you a nice peachy pink glow with light flecks of gold shimmer. Very wearable.

FOTD wearing the bronzer & blush

Eyes: Sleek Storm Palette - gold & brown eye shadows

Lips: MAC Creme D'Nude l/s & NYX Whipped lipgloss

Overall think this compact is pretty good value for money! Nice blush & the bronzer is a little bit dark but OK for contouring if lightly applied. NARS laguna is still on the wish list though..haha 

Happy Hump Day & Book Tip

Hi my lovelies, it's that time of the week again; Happy Hump Day!

Think the above quote is so true.  I always feel a little sad when I finish a good book!  On the subject of reading, I thought I would share with you all the book I have recently finished reading and just couldn't put down!

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Synopsis: "Leningrad 1941: the white nights of summer illuminate a city of fallen grandeur whose beautiful palaces and stately avenues speak of a different age, when Leningrad was known as St Petersburg. Two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha, share the same bed, living in one room with their brother and parents. It is a hard, impoverished life, yet the Metanovs know many who are not as fortunate as they.
The family routine is shattered on 22 June 1941 when Hitler invades Russia. For the Metanovs, for Leningrad and for Tatiana, life will never be the same again. On the fateful day, Tatiana meets a brash young officer named Alexander. Tatiana and her family suffer as Hitler's army advances on Leningrad, and the Russian winter closes in. With bombs falling and the city under siege, Tatiana and Alexander are drawn to each other in an impossible love. It is a love that could tear Tatiana's family apart, a love that carries a secret that could mean death for anyone who hears it.
Confronted on the one hand by Hitler's unstoppable war machine, and on the other by a Soviet system determined to crush the human spirit, Tatiana and Alexander are pitted against the very tide of history, at a turning point in the century that made the modern world.

Mesmerizing from the very first page to the final, breathtaking end, The Bronze Horseman brings alive the story of two indomitable, heroic spirits and their great love that triumphs over the devastation of a country at war."


This book had been recommended to me by so many friends but when I finally started reading it I do have to admit it took me a little while to get into it. But once a few chapters in, I started loving it & couldn't put it down! It is so well written, very passionate (...mind blowing love scenes *blushing* haha) and I found it very interesting to read about the history of the war & people starving in Russia. 


Once I finished this great read I definitely wanted MORE....and..... lucky me in this case, there is! I have started the 2nd book in the "series" of 3! The Bridge to the Holy Cross (or also known as Tatiana & Alexander) goes on where The Bronze Horseman ended and goes more into Alexanders history.  I am fully addicted and excited that once I finish this one there is even a third book to fuel my addiction called "the Summer Garden". YAY! Have any of you read this series by Paullina Simons? If not, I definitely recommend it :)

NOTD Incoco "Heart Breaker"

Do you want perfectly manicured nails from the comfort of your own home plus at the fracture of the cost that you would pay at a salon? Try these - Incoco Nails! I discovered this product about a year ago when I wanted get a french manicure. I got their french manicure kit and was SOLD! It was so easy, fast and the polish lasted without chipping for days!

What they promise:

"The revolution in Nail Polish. The world of nail polish as you know it is about to change forever! Finally there is an answer to the spills and smears of messy nail polish bottles. Incoco self-stick 100% nail polish strips. No other product can provide base coat, colour coat and top coat in a single dry self-stick nail polish strip. In minutes, you can have a professional manicure that lasts up to 14 days."


Incoco's Dry Nail Applique kit comes complete with: 20 colour strips, Cuticle stick, Mini buffer/file & Polish removal cloth.


Pro's
♥ Great colour selection. The Incoco Nail Polish Strips come in a variety of styles including 30 solid colors, 4 glitter shades and even french manicures so you are bound to find something you like.
♥ Good amount of strips. Each pack comes with 20 stickers in different sizes. Not only do the extra stickers make it easy for everyone to find a match, it also allow room for mistakes. 
♥ Very easy to apply and remove. 
♥ Super natural looking results. These look so much like real nail polish no one can tell they are stickers! The finish is also very smooth and glossy and you will never have to worry about uneven application or cleaning up cuticles.
♥ Time efficient. It only took me 5 minutes to get both hands done and since they are not liquid, you don’t even have to sit around waiting for them to dry up. Perfect for those who have zero patience...(like me)!

♥ Great longevity.

♥ Reasonable price. Each pack only costs around NZ$12.95, which is a lot cheaper than getting your nails done at the salon. But unlike regular nail polish, these are not reusable and you will not be able to fill in any gaps when your nails are growing out. 
Con's
♥ No real con's. But if they were cheaper that would mean I'd purchase them more often!

How to apply?

Check out their website for the complete range of colours available. The French Manicure range is AMAZING. They make super easy to get perfect french tips. My favourites!

Today I applied the the colour manicure in "Heart Breaker". Very cute soft pale pink! It reminds me of OPI's Mod About you. Don't my nails look so clean and perfectly manicured? Could never get results like this with liquid polish with my unsteady hands ♥ Love it! 

Photographed with necklace I was wearing today.  Thought they looked so pretty together :)