2016 Update

So this is one heck of a delayed post!

After finishing the semester at the end of 2015, I got thrown into the vortex of retail labour that is every Christmas season... which took up basically my entire November and December. Amidst all that chaos during finals and work, I also moved out of the share-house I was living in. The place seemed okay in the very beginning but I absolutely could not take it any more living there, especially with an insanely uptight and unreasonable landlord, a barely-usable kitchenette, crappy shower in the shared bathroom and of course the lack of noise I was able to make (i.e. blow drying my hair). Not to mention I was melting most the time because of no-aircon regulations in the stuffy heat-trapped attic-room.

I've now moved into a much better place with a mutual friend (I knew her well enough that I wouldn't mind living with her) in a very new apartment just two suburbs from the city centre with everything I could hope for!

Since it all calmed down as January hit, I was able to go back home to Brisbane for a good 10 days to spend time with some friends, family and of course my cutie patootie Labrador Gemma!

After I got back, I jumped straight into work again, but now that it's January, I'm not as crazy busy as I was the last few months. I just celebrated my 22nd birthday and now looking forward to some chill time in the next few weeks while my holidays last!

To kick off 2016, my first post is going to be another home-related post. Just a tour of where I am living and how it looks now from a room that was unfurnished.

Balcony

Once you walk in - my room is before the switch on the left.

From the dining/living - it's an apartment, meaning it's not super spacious or anything.

Kitchen

Dining - I decorated the place with some Christmas things!

Living - mainly just the couch and TV.

Le bathroom (I have my own bathroom - I will do a what's in my bathroom tour later on :)

The grand view after opening my bedroom door. I attached my own curtains and rod because I dislike blinds :(
I picked a black one because it matches the floor (almost black carpet) and also because it looks kind of industrial.
I am planning to get another set because I was terrible at estimating length at IKEA and I want to put fairy lights behind them! 

I usually keep the blinds closed because the sunlight coming in during the day makes the room very hot.

My double bed is the Hemnes one from IKEA, with same bedding as before.
I did have to buy my own mattress as well, but I'm not complaining because I sleep like a baby now!

Industrial bookshelf from Kmart ($50), I avoided showing my table and dresser because.... THE MESS

I updated my wall with these three (I purchased them from Society6) once I got the right frames.
All three frames are from Kmart, the square ones were $4 each and the copper one was $10.

Same lamp as before. I also avoided taking photos of the shelves because... THE MESS
Once it's more organised like the way I want it to be I shall update!

Wardrobe is a typical slidey-mirror one that is split into two. The other half has shelves/drawers.
I avoided that other half because...THE MESS

Once I tidy up everything meticulously I will probably do an update on my makeup/dresser, and my closet. I got a ton of new makeup items over Christmas and my birthday from my lovely friends, as well as more bathroom products!

Ciao! x

Zoeva

I've finally succumbed to the beauty of these higher end make-up brushes. I was torn between Sigma and Zoeva, but I was intrigued by some of Zoeva's make-up products so I thought I'd give these ago. Plus, they're pretty good looking!

My old brushes - I have a couple of $5 ones from a chemist outlet, are alright. Not that good, just alright. The handles themselves are pretty crappy, but the brush is okay, except for some light shedding.

These Zoeva brushes though, they feel soooooo luxurious. Handles are HEAPS better quality (my old ones frequently separated from the brush part) and the brushes are super soft and dense.

So this is everything I ordered from beautybay (there were a few options for Zoeva products). I got a free Mario Badescu travel set with my order!

The verdict:

• The brushes are amazing.
• The eyeliner is also great - I use it more as a eye shadow by blending it out, and it lasts for a super long time. 
• The lipstick is better than any drugstore brand I have tried. (I have yet to try high-end lip products.) Formula wise, it's creamy, smooth and not too matte or not too glossy. The lid is magnetic too, a bit like the nars lipsticks.

I would highly recommend Zoeva! Their makeup products seem to be on point, as well as being affordable! I am keen to get my hands on the eyeshadow palettes too, they seem to be well worth the money.

♥

First Ever Proper Candle Purchases!

I always thought burning a candle was literally just burning money, but I enjoy the smell so much I can kind of see that a candle is more of an environment accessory - like aromatherapy. I've bought lots of super cheap candles before and now I can immediately tell the difference. Better brands like Glasshouse, Ecoya, Diptyque, Yankee etc are much more pricey but they do burn so much better.

Ecoya's caramelised fig smells divine, like a burnt caramel + nutty scent. If you think Glasshouse Tahaa vanilla is too sickly and sweet but you like the 'caramelised' food sort of smell, you might like this one. It doesn't smell overly like fig which I was a little bit disappointed by, but I still think it smells soooo good. Ecoya candles are almost always full price, as is Glasshouse, but oh my god I got it during a 1-day 40% off sale at Myer *glorious hallelujah music* It was down to $21 from $34.95.

My old manager who is a candle wiz told me that soy wax doesn't spread scent as well and burns faster.
However, I think the smell spreads just fine, and I don't think it burns crazy fast or anything.

I've already used 1/4 of it, and as you can see it's burned very smoothly and there isn't some crater around the wick.

I tried so hard not to light this one until at least end of November... and I failed. It's a Christmas/Autumnal scent which Australia just never has because our Christmas is boiling hot. We don't get crispy red leaves and pudding and pies and mulled wine and beanie season this time of year.

But since I love love love spicy scents - this one basically smells like Christmas spices but a bit lighter, more fresh and fruity, like the woods. Even though it was $29.95 (again, I got it 40% off for $18), $4 less than the Ecoya in a similar size, it burns just as well and spreads the smell brilliantly!

It's a bit weird because these two I picked up are fruit-based scents (or so they are meant to be) and I normally like warmer, woodier or even cakey scents. They don't smell exactly like the description, but they smell absolutely great anyway! I'm going to try save most of the Aromatherapy one until closer to Xmas!

♥

Make-up Organisation

So this is the very small "desk" I mentioned in my previous post - it does a pretty good job as a make-up table. I pretty much brought all of this stuff from Brisbane, except the 2 acrylic organisers which I bought online for $10 (catchoftheday) and the acrylic jewellery organiser which I bought from kikki.K (it's actually originally a stationary set).

My little set up - I spend about 15 minutes sitting on this most days.

It's not exactly that neat, but I don't have enough space to store this stuff or I use most of these everyday.

My kikki.K homeware to hold some of my tools!

I usually pick one of these two before bedtime for some extra relaxation.

Trying out this Elemis face wash - maybe with my Clarisonic. I like it on its own though!

Stocked up on my fav Burt's Bees cleanser I've been using for years. I purchased the cleansing oil for $10 because
I ran out of my Dr. Lewinns one, I have yet to try it. Hopefully it does the job, it's so much more affordable!

These acrylic organisers are so handy. It fits most of my basic stuff.
I have day products on the left and lippies on the right.

Daniel Sandler blush obviously not a lippy..

Light foundation, contour, concealer, blush, face powder and a tiny eyeliner brush.
I only really use the concealer one everyday because I just my brushes in my cups most of the time.

My purchases in August when I went to the Estee Lauder corporate shop before I moved down.

I originally got the Mac foundation for my mum - it was too pale for her so I tried it. 5/10.
It clings onto dry patches and is probably a a heavier coverage to what I usually prefer.
This estee lauder powder is a fab dupe for Hourglass luminous light!!! (It's shimmery, just not in the photo.)

Night-time skin/general skincare I don't use in the shower. Nothing much different really. Toner, serum, moisturiser.
I use the La Roche-Posay when my skin is congested, and my Moreish one when I'm drier than normal.
The second Burt's Bees hydrating lip balm is honestly the best I've used - better than any pawpaw product.

Random stuff like hair bits, unused make-up, jewellery cloths.

Dental stuff/refills for random things.

My watch collection. I know, I'm out of control.

Finally got my hands on this much larger glass case from kikki.K. Look how pretty *u*

All my powders/palettes I use almost everyday. 

Hair brushes and things in my old acrylic holder.

Stocked up on more Antipodes serum because my Apostle one is almost out!
Myer had an AWESOME 40% off sale so I felt more adventurous and got this one I've never seen before.
I usually use the H20 one or the Apostle. 

Stuff I use infrequently/extra stocked up items.

I rarely paint my nails - I find it kind of stressful and it chips so quickly because I'm rough at work/I peel it off...

I stocked up on my powder from the EL corporate store (I'm almost finished with my current one) and I still have yet
to try this philosphy set I got from David Jones ages ago - I got SUCH a good deal in it.
It was around $25, for a full-size day cream and small night cream. I have NO idea why. 

♥