WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS CHRISTMAS?

My readers are very important to me. You guys inspire me to keep blogging whenever I check the analytics of my blog, or when I'm lucky enough to have someone comment on a post and start some dialogue. It's because of this that I've realised I haven't really checked in with you this festive season, which is abominable. The holidays are all about spending time with or reconnecting with those who mean a lot to you, and while I can't actually see your faces, you guys certainly fit into that category. 

So, how are you all? How will you be spending your holidays this year? I'd love to find out more about both you and your holiday plans, so let's chat down in the comments. There's only two days left of Blogmas, so we've got to make the most of this strong connection we've built throughout the month of December! 

MY FESTIVE RED LIP

I love a red lip, so it's no surprise that I have been rocking one this festive season. This year, my obsession has been the Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Standout. Although it shows up fairly pink toned and bright in photos, in person it is a gorgeous deep true red. This colour is also great for the festive season if you're planning on being in a lot of photos, because it whitens your teeth when you're on camera. Your teeth won't look as white not through the lens, but that's the price we pay for perfect photo memories, right?

What lip colour have you been loving this festive season?

MY GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Every year my mum makes a gingerbread house for Christmas, and every year we discover new ways to make it look fabulous (or absolutely terrible). This year was definitely the year that we tried our hardest to make it look good, and I think, apart from the roof, we succeeded. What do you guys think? What festive treats do you enjoy? 

CREATE YOUR DREAM EYESHADOW PALETTE TAG

There's no such thing as the perfect eyeshadow palette, at least, for me there isn't. I don't have money to throw at every palette I see, and I'm extremely fussy, so there are slim pickings in the perfect palette department. For this tag, I'm focusing on colour and finish, seeing as I can't comment on the formulas of some of these because I haven't tried them. (We don't even get Lorac in Australia.) 

1. Too Faced Natural Eyes, shades; top row + Silk Teddy and Nudie

When I first received this palette for Christmas a couple years back, I was absolutely obsessed with it. It was the only eyeshadow palette I had or needed, and it has remained in a special place in my heart for years since. Although I don't reach for it as much lately, the first row and first column contain five of my most loved eyeshadow essentials. I couldn't live without 'em. Pro tip: If you have black or very dark eyebrows that don't suit your brown hair in the slightest, you can lighten them up with a light to mid tone brown sparingly applied through. I do that with a mix of the browns in this palette.

2. Urban Decay Naked Basics 2, shades; all

If I had to take just one eyeshadow palette with me on a desert island, this one would be a strong contender. Lately I've been reaching for it everyday I wear makeup because it's absolutely perfect for a neutral/cool tone lover like me. I get equal use out of nearly every shade, although I don't reach for Primal as much as the others. Nevertheless, this entire palette definitely belongs in my dream palette.

3. NARS Eyeshadow Duo in St Paul De Vence, shades; 1 (pictured instead: Alhambra)

I don't own this, but I have swatched it in store and boy oh boy is it gorgeous. I'd choose the first lighter shade for my dream palette because to have a peachy/nectarine shade has always been a desperate dream of mine. Seriously, I need this shadow in my life. I'd just never be able to justify another NARS duo (I have one; Isolde, and I don't even use it that often).

4.  Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Fireball

Everyone needs a bit of fun colour in their life, and for me, that's wear Fireball comes in. It's the perfect colour for just washing over the lid, and it's absolutely gorgeous. Again, I don't own it, but my extensive research hasn't led me astray yet. I feel like this colour could also be substituted with Urban Decay Freelove, a peach with gold shimmer. 

5.  Lorac Alter-Ego Dream Girl, shades; 3, 4, 6, and 7

I will never be able to get my hands on this palette. Ever. Why do I put myself through this torture?! Okay, I'm a big neutral lover, but lately I've been craving the perfect summery colour packed palette. Shades 3, 4, 6, and 7 (I'm not sure if they have names) are exactly what I want. And I can't get them. Oh, the horror. 

6. Chi Chi Glamorous Eyes in Classics, shades; 2, 3, and 4 + 8 (not circled)

This isn't the prettiest palette, or the best quality, but it is an absolute necessity for my dream eyeshadow palette. 2 is a very warm mustardy brown, which is just always good to keep in my collection in case I randomly decide to embrace warm browns. 3 is my go-to eyebrow colour. 4 and 8 are very easy pale shimmery shades that I can wash over the lid with my fingers whenever I'm in a hurry. Love, love, love!

7. Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Sticks, shades; Gossip Green, Tempting Turquoise, Blamed Blue, and Bulletproof Beige

I love these, and I'm including them even though they aren't technically in the correct packaging for a palette. Who cares, right? These babies are beautiful, and although I don't have all of them, the blues, champagne, and green all look right up my street. I never go for bright greens, but mossy/olive greens compliment my olive skin and brown eyes. Also, I have this weird obsession with blue eyeshadow. I don't own any, but I feel a desperate need to get my hands on some. 

8. Too Faced Sugar Pop, shades; Rock Candy, Macaron, Peach Fuzz (not highlighted), Bubblegum, and Blue Raspberry

This, as well as the Lorac palette, was limited edition. It's already been taken off the Mecca website, so I am to be denied its beauty. Sad, considering that, although it doesn't look as beautiful as the Lorac one, it was basically my only chance to get a near perfect colour palette. It's the end of the world, but I can still dream that it's included in my dream eyeshadow palette. 

Well, there you have it; my dream eyeshadow palette. This list is by no means exhaustive, especially because I could certainly use more neutrals, but I feel like I've covered all my bases. This tag was fun, so be sure to give it a go yourself or create your dream palette in the comments below. I'll see you guys next time for Blogmas Day 15!

MY CHRISTMAS TREE

For today's Blogmas, I thought I'd share with you a (very grainy) picture of my family's Christmas tree for 2015. It never changes dramatically year to year, but I still like to add different twists to it each time we put it up. This year, my mum and I chose a slightly rustic theme, focusing on silvers, creams, and reds. It's still a fairly eclectic tree; there's no way we'd be able to restrict ourselves to a full blown theme with rules. Still, I love this tree and I'm proud of our efforts. How have you guys decorated for this festive season? 

CHI CHI VIVA LA DIVA MATTE LIPSTICKS REVIEW

T to B: Lady Bump, Boy Magnet, Bimbo

The Chi Chi Viva La Diva lipsticks are by far my favourite lipsticks of all time. I've tried Bourjois, Rimmel, all the usual Priceline suspects, but none compare to Chi Chi. These smooth, opaque, long lasting beauties will become a staple in your collection like they are in mine - I promise!

They retail for $18.95AUD, ranging in finishes (matte, cream, etc), and can be found in Myer and Target. I've picked up three mattes: Lady Bump, Boy Magnet, and Bimbo. From the swatches, you can tell that Boy Magnet isn't as matte as the other two. I do need to warn you, readers, that when I wear Boy Magnet it really doesn't look right. What I mean by that is that online and in store it is described as a matte red with blue undertones. When I apply it, it's more a true red/orange red. You'll also be able to tell that Lady Bump isn't as opaque as the other two shades. Not to worry, though, it is easily layered up to look extremely pigmented on the lips. Other than these issues, I seriously think these lipsticks are without flaw. 

Application is easy and stress free, which, coming from someone as lipstick-challenged as me, is saying something. Due to the creamy formula and shape of the bullet (which I'll address in the next paragraph), the lipstick doesn't drag on my lips or apply patchy so I can't work up an even layer of product. If you want to top up throughout the day, however, I suggest you blot whatever product you have on your lips before hand. This will make reapplying easier than if you just slap on another coat; with these lipsticks reapplying can sometimes mean a patchy look or getting that weird crumbly/peel-y affect. This, however, isn't a huge deal for me because these lipsticks last a good three hours on me before needing any attention. They also wear very evenly and fairly unnoticeably, so I bet you could get away with not topping up your lipstick at all. (Unless you're eating or drinking, then, girl, ain't no lipstick gonna survive that.) General housekeeping rules apply when it comes to taking care of the lip colour throughout the day or evening. 

The formulation of these lipsticks is insane. For mattes, the formula is very creamy and easy to wear, so I don't feel like I've got tar on my lips. Despite the creamy formula, however, they don't bleed or slip around, so I'm at a loss as to how Chi Chi kicked so much ass with a few li'l' lipsticks. Seriously. I will say, however, that because the formula isn't as dry as, say, MAC lipsticks, they do transfer. If you're eating or drinking, you'll need to top up. If you're getting ready for a night out and have a fiddly dress you need to slip over your head, apply the lipstick afterwards. To help avoid any pink or red marks all over your face and/or clothes, you simply just have to be wary of the fact that you've got crazy paint on your lips.

For those of you out there who're particular about scents, these lipsticks have a typical lipstick smell that wears down to nothing after application. It's very inoffensive, even if it only lasts for less than a minute.  

Other than that, I'm not sure what else there is to say. I love these lipsticks, because they are perfect for my needs. Even though the colours I own are bright and by no means natural, I think they'd be perfect for beginners or neutral-lovers because they somehow manage to look completely inoffensive.  Of the shades I own, I recommend them all, but none more so than Bimbo. It's a beautiful pink shade! I would warn you of Boy Magnet, though, because it really doesn't seem very matte or blue toned. 

Comment below your favourite lipstick (it doesn't have to be Chi Chi), or any queries you have about this Viva La Diva range. Let's get a little dialogue started. Happy Blogmas, everyone! 

Application: 5/5

Staying power: 3.75/5

Smudging/transferring: 2.25/5

Even wear/fading: 5/5

Pigmentation: 5/5

Shade true to the packaging: 4/5

Scent: 5/5

PINTEREST CHRISTMAS DÉCOR

Not my images. They belong to their rightful owners.

And here we have a collection of some of my favourite Christmas-y décor photos from Pinterest. I've combined both indoor and outdoor inspirations as a way of showing my lofty decorating aspirations for next Christmas. I can dream, can't I? Let me know in the comments how you like to decorate your house for the holidays (whatever you do or don't celebrate!). I'll see you tomorrow with another Blogmas post.

REAL TECHNIQUES BRUSHES REVIEW

T to B: Expert face brush, powder brush, stippling brush

I can only imagine how unpopular and unusual my opinions will be throughout this blogpost, because I must say I do not like these brushes. I know, I know, I'm crazy. I only ask that you don't storm my house with torches and pitchforks or cart me off to an asylum. If you must try the latter, at least make it a nice one. If you must try the former, please don't burn my books. Now we've got that out of the way, let's get onto the review.

Note: I've had these brushes for about two years. 

The Expert Face brush retails for $22.99AUD, the powder brush for $27.99, and the stippling brush for $24.99. The two formers are from the 'Your Base Flawless' range, and the latter is from the 'Your Finish Perfected' range. I'm sure, if you don't own these brushes, your initial reaction would be something along the lines of, "hot damn, they are overpriced!". They are indeed. For what they are, they're incredibly overpriced. I suppose we have to attribute that to the ridiculous costs of anything imported in Australia, but still.

I'll begin with the Expert Face brush, a brush beloved by many for the beautiful, natural finish it helps to create with foundation. Unfortunately, for me, there was no beautiful, natural finish. On application, it itched my face like no other brush I've tried (not that I've tried many). It smooshed foundation around my face, itching and scratching as I tried to make myself look presentable. As a result, I got a noticeably cake-y look that I could have avoided if I'd simply used my fingers with my foundation. Not impressed! This brush is also ridiculously dense, so whenever I wash it (I've stopped using it, but I still wash it to keep it clean) I spend ages by my bowl of water trying in vain to remove the product from the bristles. All in all, I genuinely don't understand what people see in this brush. 

Next, we have the powder brush, which is slightly better than the Expert Face brush. The head is a little bit smaller than my average sized palms, which makes for a very quick application. Great if you're in a hurry! Unfortunately, the bristles are still quite harsh on my skin. The word 'pokey' comes to mind as I'm prone to wincing when I use it. (If you, like me, have skin sensitive to brushes, avoid the eye area!) It also tends to pick up a lot of the base makeup I already have on my face, which probably wouldn't happen if the bristles were softer and more 'feather-like'. I do use it, though, whenever I put on makeup because it's the only powder brush I have big enough to make application quick and easy (the other being a small one from essence, which is fab for under my eyes and around my nose). 

Lastly, we have the stippling brush. I'm not sure what to say about this one because I don't necessarily hate it, it just simply rests in my brush pot, neglected. I've tried it with foundation, and it did no remarkable job. The final look seems to be slightly better than what I'd achieve with the Expert Face brush, though. I've tried it with cream blush, and I do like the result I get. However, this brush seems to absorb a lot of product, which is hella annoying. Ultimately, I guess you'd say I'm indifferent to it. I do use it, though, which is the main point. It just isn't great. 

Now, onto the packaging and design of these brushes. They come in a weird pouch thing that can be stood up if you want to display your brushes or travel with them. I find that pointless (I've already lost it, so I can't show you), but I know some people will appreciate it. The handles are a nice length, proportionate to their widths and head sizes (dirty...hehe), but I often find myself thinking that they're a little bulky–especially when I'm in a rush. Slimmer handles tend to be better for me, but that's a personal preference. I also don't like the flat bases they have. I know they were designed with travel and convenience on the go in mind, but they're very impractical for storing amongst other brushes. They simply take up too much room. 

I know people adore these brushes and their creators, but I simply can't get on the Real Techniques bandwagon. I am curious to try their eye brushes, though. Let me know down in the comments what your opinions are of the RT brushes. Do you think they're worth the hype?

Happy Blogmas, everyone!

THE PROCRASTINATING BEAUTY BLOGGER TAG

Another day, another blog post. Today, I have for you the Procrastinating Beauty Blogger tag which I found on The Makeup Honey Blog. Let's dive in!

1) Name a beauty regimen that you rarely do. 

Oh, god, there are so many things I avoid doing. I rarely do my nails, although I do go through bizarre phases when I just need to spend three hours doing them. There are a lot of things relating to my makeup routine that I rarely do, such as put on foundation; I prefer concealer. 

2) Is washing your makeup brushes something that you do regularly?

Um...yes...they absolutely get washed regularly...It's not like they're barely washed once a month, that's definitely not the case. 

3) How long will you last with chipped nail polish? 

If I'm going through one of my crazy must-have-perfect-nails phases, I'd be lucky to go a day with chipped nails. Otherwise, I could last until all the nail polish chipped off, which could be weeks. 

4) How long will you put off buying/replacing a beauty product, even if you need it?

I could probably get by without replacing a makeup product for a little while if I had to, but I absolutely cannot go a moment without my holy grail skincare products. If I have to make an emergency online Mecca order at midnight, so be it. I'm just glad my stash is so small so I'm not constantly replacing products. 

5) What is your worst beauty habit? 

I touch my face a lot, which I know will make my blemishes worse, but I can't help it. I also love to use old/kind of dried up mascaras. They just work so well!

6) Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?

Cleaning, which is weird because I love sorting. I'm kind of addicted to sorting out cupboards and draws, but when it comes to cleaning I just don't have the energy. I love it, but who has the energy to clean regularly? Not I!

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready to the last minute?

Hell no! I usually leave about half an hour to an hour to get ready. If I have to, I could push it to twenty minutes, but that is my absolute limit. 

8. Can you commit to spending bans?

Yes, I have to, so I've gotten very good at it. However, lately, because I've had less of a need to, I'm worried that it will be nearly impossible to get back into the swing of saving. 

9. How organised are you makeup and nail polish collections?

Well, I have like four nail polishes, so I'd hardly call it a collection. As for my makeup, I keep that very organised. While, at the moment, it's separated into two drawers of my dressing table (most used and least used), I make a point of being able to keep it in one drawer. 

I hope you guys have been enjoying Blogmas! Feel free to answer these questions yourself, whether it's in the comments or on your own blog!

WOULD YOU RATHER? BEAUTY EDITION

1) Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice makeup or nice hair and no makeup?

My hair is always messy, seeing as I do love to rock the "just rolled out of bed" look. So I'd definitely choose to have messy hair!

2) Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out?

I'd definitely have my eyelashes fall out. My eyebrows are quite big and dark, so they're a prominent feature that I'd look absolutely ridiculous without. Besides, wonders can be done with a thick liquid line and falsies, right?!

3) Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life?

Well, either way, with the hiked up prices of beauty products in Australia, I would very literally go broke very quickly. I suppose I'd choose Sephora, seeing as they have a wider range of brands. I dislike how both companies handle themselves in Australia, though, so it's kind of the best of a bad bunch.

4) Would you rather wear the lipgloss/lipliner look or the 80's perm?

I wouldn't dare touch my hair. Seriously. Lipgloss/lipliner look all the way, ain't no one messin' with my hair.

5) Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush?

I'd definitely prefer to leave the house with overdone blush. At least, that, I could get away with. The obvious foundation line is a classic makeup mistake with far too much stigma around it.

6) Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public?

Why...why would you ask this question? Can't you leave me with an ounce of dignity?! I guess I'd go for the biker shorts, although now that I'm imaging myself wearing them the MC Hammer pants are starting to look pretty good...

7) Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered?

I'm not bothered by tan lines, so I'd rather have them than a bad spray tan.

8) Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair colour?

Definitely bad hair colour, which is much more fixable than a cut. 

9) Would you rather have Instagram or Youtube taken away forever?

Easy: Instagram. I don't even have an account!

10) Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara?

I'd give up makeup brushes, seeing as my love for mascara surpasses even a mother's love. (Okay, not really...) I can manage pretty well without brushes, but I'd seriously struggle without mascara. 

11) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish? 

Sorry nail polish, but you've got to go. I never love you anyway!

12) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

I hate to be hot, so I'd brave the cold winds and wear summer clothes during winter!

13) Would you rather only use one eyeshadow colour or one lip colour for the rest of our life?

I'm not even a huge lover of lip products, but it's far more practical to choose them over eyeshadow. As much as I adore eyeshadow, I'm usually too lazy to put it on. You can change a look far more drastically with a variety of lip colours than eyeshadow. I guess I'll be wearing one eyeshadow colour for the rest of my life, guys!

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

You know how I said no one will ever touch my hair? Yeah... I'd have to chop all my hair off. Only because it will grow back, but with long hair I'd be very limited with my options. Also, long hair is too damn hot in summer. And spring. And autumn. Hell, it's hot all the time.

Happy Blogmas everyone! I found this tag here.

COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER VS CLUMP CRUSHER EXTENSIONS

T to B: Extensions wand, original Clump Crusher wand

Before you read on, please check out my review of the original Clump Crusher mascara. I'll be referring to it a lot during this post!

I bought the Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions mascara because my original Clump Crusher is slowly but surely drying out. Don't get me wrong, it's perfectly usable, I just felt like the debut of the Extensions mascara was a golden opportunity to try something new before my original Clump Crusher completely dries out on me. Even I, a girl who loves the look you get from slightly dried out mascaras, can't get anything from a tube if I'm basically applying the Sahara desert to my lashes.

The Clump Crusher Extensions retails for $18.95AUD, the same price as the original CC. The similarities don't end there, however, because I swear I can hardly tell the difference between these two mascaras. If you can't be bothered reading this entire comparison/review, I'll summarise it for you now: if you already own the original Clump Crusher, save yourself the money and don't bother with the Extensions. Same goes if you purchased the Extensions and don't have the original CC.

For those of you who want to stick around and listen in reverence as I talk of the magical Covergirl mascaras, hello! Enjoy your stay; feel free to grab a beverage and some snacks. Is everyone settled? Great, let's get down to business.

Firstly, I'll compare what the Covergirl website has to say about the two mascaras:

Essentially, the CC Extensions is a 'one-up' on the original. As you can see, it makes the same promises as the original CC, but they are just worded differently. You are left with the impression that the CC Extensions is like the big sister of the original CC, this time with a more buildable formula. The new formula for the CC Extensions (which one could barely call new; it's so similar to the old one), does make for a more noticeable effect on the lashes when you build up a few layers. Other than that, I can't really tell the difference between the two. The newer formula seems to be a little bit thicker than the original, which I like. 

Both mascaras give decent volume and length, but neither are very dramatic. You can build them up with three coats to give you gorgeous lashes, but if you're after drama I'm not sure they're for you. The real magic of these mascaras is found in their equally amazing jobs at separating your lashes and preventing clumping. But, again, I can't really tell the difference. 

I honestly can't think what else to say, because everything I said in my original CC review seems applicable to the CC Extensions. I suppose, to summarise, I have to choose a favourite. If I'm being honest, I don't have one. Once both my original CC and CC Extensions run out/dry up, I'll probably repurchase the Extensions simply because it's newer. 

I'm sorry this review/comparison was so inconclusive, but I'd like to point out that that's not entirely my fault. The CC Extensions was incredibly underwhelming; not nearly the sellout success that the original was because it's too similar to it's predecessor to deserve much hype. It's not a bad mascara, it's just as amazing as the original–but, as a new & improved mascara, it's supposed to be better. It isn't. 

CHRISTMAS MOVIES I HAVEN'T SEEN

I feel like this post will cause a lot of people a lot of stress. Let's jump straight in, shall we? 

1) Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
I know almost nothing about this movie, which really shows how interested in it I am. I used to think this was a Halloween movie, but apparently it's not. Don't judge me, the pumpkins and creepy dead people are very misleading. 

2) It's a Wonderful Life
I know literally nothing about this movie, apart from the fact that everyone calls it a classic. Can you tell I'm not very into Christmas movies?

3) Elf
This is, arguably, the most popular Christmas movie ever. At least, overseas. I rarely hear Aussies talk about it, but I know that doesn't denote it's popularity. Nevertheless, from the glimpses I've caught of it, I think it's terrible. Am I the only person who doesn't like Will Ferrell or these terrible "comedies"?

4) Miracle on 34th Street
Again, I know nothing about this movie. I'm guessing it involves a miracle?

5) Love Actually
I thought this was a Valentines movie, but according to everyone I've ever talked to it's actually a Christmas movie. Who knew? Well, the title is kind of misleading. It is just another movie about a bunch of different couples. Is there anything else to it? 

6) Home Alone 
Oh, man. This movie, for most people, seems to be another classic that they watch every festive season. I, however, hadn't heard of it until last year. When it was brought to my attention, it just looked like another bad family movie. 

If you've made it to the end of this post, you deserve a medal. I can only imagine the incredulity many people will feel at this list. Oh, well! Happy Blogmas Day 6!

DEAR SANTA

Dear Santa,
I do love these letters we send to each other. It's nice to keep in touch like this, don't you think? Well, you'll have extra correspondence from me this year because I'm sending you two letters. You can find the other one here. 

Anyway, how are the Reindeer? I know Rudolph was being a pain last time we spoke, so I hope he's stopped being so frustrating. That's teenagers for you, huh? I know he means well, and with you to guide him he's sure to do just fine. Funny, seeing as he's usually the one guiding your sleigh!

I'll be honest, I've been terrible this year. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find coal under the tree rather than gifts. It's not like I'm an outright horrible person, but I've made no effort to be a good person, either. I haven't been all bad, though! I absolutely killed it at school. I've spent the entire year focusing entirely on school, and it paid off. Near straight As both semesters.

Good grades isn't enough to wipe my name from the naughty list, and that's okay. I've not kept in touch with many of my friends, and I've been just as annoying ad Rudolph was. Maybe you could offer me a little guidance?

I suppose I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Santa. I hope you're Christmas deliveries all go well, and that you're able to settle down afterwards with Mrs Claus for a holiday. 

Love, 
Jesse. 

THE HOLIDAY/CHRISTMAS TAG

1) Which holiday do you celebrate?
If you read my 2014 Blogmas posts you'll know I don't exactly 'celebrate' Christmas. (I'm not very into celebrating holidays.) Technically, though, I suppose I do celebrate Christmas. Don't be fooled by my seemingly Grinch-y attitude towards Christmas, though, I do enjoy it!

2) What are you doing for the holidays this year?
My family and I do the same thing for the holidays every year, and I must say I really appreciate it. Depending on scheduling, we spend Christmas Eve or the morning of Christmas Day with my dad's side of the family. Then we spend nearly all of Christmas Day with my mum's family. This ritual gives me something to really look forward to; it's our tradition. 

3) What's your favourite holiday drink?
Um...water? I'm not a fan of seasonal drinks like Eggnog (do we even have that in Australia?).

4) Candy canes or gingerbread men?
What sort of question is this? Obviously gingerbread men! How could someone choose candy canes when there're gingerbread men on the menu?

5) What's your favourite holiday/Christmas song?
It's a tie between 'Last Christmas' by WHAM! and the Jimmy Barnes & Never Shout Never covers of 'Happy Xmas (War is Over)'. These are incredible songs, and I highly recommend you give 'em a listen. 

6) What's the weirdest gift you've ever received?
To be honest, I can't think of a really weird gift I've received for Christmas. I'm so picky that people usually ask me what I want, if I want anything at all. 

7) Have you ever made a snowman?
Well, considering I live in Australia and it never snows in most states and territories, no. The last time snow settled in Canberra was, I believe, 2002. Ugh. 

8) What is your favourite winter summer fragrance?
I modified this question so I could talk about summer (seeing as Christmas is in summer in the southern hemisphere). My favourite summer fragrance would have to be The Body Shop Indian Night Jasmine. It's a very rich, warm, almost spicy floral. Love it!

9) What is at the top of your list this Christmas?
Well, you can click here to read about my beauty wish list, but to be honest there's nothing that I'm really hoping to receive this year. Except maybe some Lord of the Rings merch - you can never have too much. 

10) What is most important to you about the holidays?
See, I could give a typical answer about spending time with my family so you all think I'm a really good person, but I won't do that. Why should I make more of an effort to spend time with my family during this specific time of year? My family are always important to me, so just because it's Christmas I'm not going to rank them higher on my priority list. The most important thing, to me, about the holidays is the atmosphere. Everything feels happier, even when you're stressing out about last minute shopping. Everything feels Christmas-y, and I love it. 

So, that's my Holiday tag! Feel free to answer these questions in the comments below! I'll be back tomorrow with more Blogmas.

SOULLESS BY GAIL CARRIGER REVIEW

Alexia Tarabotti is labouring under a great many social tribulations.

First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. 

Where to go from there? From bad to worse, apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire--and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. 

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plan embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

~~~

In this stunning Victorian paranormal novel by Gail Carriger, we are once more thrust into the Finishing School world, this time with almost entirely different characters and entirely different rules. While we are greeted by a few friendly (or, not so friendly) vampiric and lycanthropic faces, this novel isn't related to Carriger's Finishing School series, so be prepared for a wild ride about good ol' London-town. 

Alexia Tarabotti is 25 years old and a total disappointment to her family, not to mention soulless and in possession of a silver-tipped parasol which enables her to kill vampires. Kill 'em dead. She is a very interesting protagonist because while she doesn't have a soul and is totally independent & sassy, she's actually very self conscious and almost broken at the beginning of the story. Her family's disappointment goes beyond that of teasing and and exhausted looks, because she's basically ended up emotionally stunted (although that could be attributed to her not having a soul) and unable to appreciate herself in any way. Towards the end of the book, however, a certain Lord Maccon changes her mind in some very magnificent ways totally void of any social etiquette. I suppose he is a werewolf, though, so we can forgive him that. 

I love this book wholeheartedly. Gail Carriger's extraordinary elegance in her storytelling and plot weaving, and her humour reminiscent of Jane Austen's novels, make Soulless the brilliant book that it is. I do not use this Jane Austen comparison lightly, however. If you love Jane Austen and the paranormal or steampunk genres, you will simply adore this book. I know Carriger is inspired by Austen, so I can understand the similarities in humour, but it's more than that. Carriger writes with a talent and voice which makes me think of her as Austen, reincarnated. I'm not saying the's copying Jane Austen, either, because while her books are comparable to Austen's wit, Carriger has her own voice which she uses masterfully. 

I found myself laughing along with this book, enjoying our strong, decisive heroine's unconventional sense of humour. In this dark, seductive world of vampires and werewolves and preternaturals, Carriger applies clever humour to lighten the mood while never distracting from the main plot. Speaking of the plot, what?! I won't give any spoilers, but I will say this. You know those dreadful books whose plots seem jumpy and off kilter, like a record skipping as it plays? This book, thank god, is absent of that nightmarish quality I've found in an obscene amount of books. It simply glides, making complete sense even when the plot twists leave you staring at the pages with your mouth hanging open. That is probably what I appreciate most about this book. Carriger handles even the difficult, cheesy, or dark scenes with grace and elegance, making them flow smoothly from one chapter to the next, while keeping you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of naked werewolves and/or brutally tortured vampires. 

It is astounding how happy this novel left me. It left me so happy that I'm afraid to read the next book, for fear of everything going wrong. Especially because (spoilers!) there's a wedding at the end of the book that made my heart swell with joy as I read it. If you are partial to the Victorian era, beautiful/complicated men, strong heroines, and the paranormal or steampunk genres, you need this book in your life. You know what else makes me think you need this book? The fact that since I've read it I've been caught by random moments when my heart swells and my throat clenches, and I can't help but smile because I'm so damn happy. 5/5 stars, and I wish you all a Happy Blogmas.

COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER MASCARA REVIEW

When it comes to mascaras, Covergirl kicks ass every damn time, and you can quote me on that. Clump Crusher is by no means a new addition to their mascara line, but I still want to get a review up now as next week I'll be doing a comparison post with this and the new Clump Crusher Extensions mascara. 

Firstly, I should probably say that if I was stuck on a desert island, this would be the one mascara I would take with me. A bold statement, I know, but now it's out there I can't take it back. It's not like I'd want to take it back, because the Clump Crusher is everything I'm looking for in a mascara. It gives me a decent amount of volume and length, blackens my lashes, and defines & separates like no other mascara on the market. Again with the bold statements, but I can't help myself!

My tube is old (embarrassingly old), but that does negate my ability to give you an honest review because even as this mascara slowly dries up, it still does an amazing job with my lashes. So, let's get reviewin'.

This mascara retails for $18.95AUD, and comes in the shades 'Very Black' and 'Black/Brown'. I can't comment on the brown shade because I don't use brown mascaras, but the black shade is indeed very black as the name would suggest. It's highly pigmented, but not so much so that you need to be worried about showing up to work or school one day looking like you've dipped your eyelashes in tar. 

Covergirl have also done a great job with the formula of this mascara. It isn't so wet that you have to wait around for a few minutes before you apply another coat, let alone walk out the door. Whoever was in charge of formulating this mascara has found the perfect middle ground between dunking your face in Octopus ink and scraping your lashes with a cactus. In conjunction with the slightly curved, short bristled plastic/silicon brush (which you should use both sides of to crush those clumps!), clumpy lashes will be a thing of the past. This also means that, for those of you who are partial to dramatic, voluminous lashes, there's no need to worry about spidery or goopy lashes. 

With one coat, I get amazing definition/separation, and some decent volume and length. With two coats, the separation and definition I achieved with one is preserved while I get even more length and volume. With three coats, I get serious length and volume. Like, wow. L & V city right here. I've also noticed that while it doesn't seriously add curl to my lashes, it won't make them droop even with three coats. If you're after some serious curl, this is something to keep in mind. I'd recommend the Bourjois Beauty'full Volume mascara if you're after something natural that also holds a curl. 

I think I'll call off this rave review before I start gushing, but I do seriously recommend this mascara as well as all other Covergirl mascaras. I give this a 5/5 stars, and will definitely have a tube of this in my collection at all times! Comment below, what's your opinion on this mascara? What's your desert island mascara? Happy Blogmas Day 2, everyone! 

MY CHRISTMAS BEAUTY WISH LIST 2015

Not my images, they belong to the respective brand websites

These stunning products are very out of my price range and completely unrealistic to even fantasise about, but that won't stop me. I don't expect to receive these gifts for Christmas, but it's really fun to just creative wish lists for the hell of it, you know? So here's my (pricey) Christmas Beauty Wish List for 2015.

1. NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Alhambra - $50AUD
I've read countless reviews of this duo and swatched it in-store at Mecca Cosmetica, and I must say it is stunning. It's beautiful shimmer isn't over-the-top, making it a perfect everyday eyeshadow. I've gotten to the point of staring longingly at pictures of it on my favourite beauty blogs. It's bad, guys. Oh, why can't I be rich and frivolous?

2. Jo Malone London Perfume in Wood, Sage, & Sea Salt - $185AUD
When this was first released, there was a lot of buzz on the internet. I haven't even smelt this perfume (you can't get it where I live, I believe), but from the thousands of reviews I've read it sounds like just the fragrance for me. I'm dying for Jo Malone to be sold at Mecca Cosmetica, but I doubt that will ever happen. For now, I'll be content with simply imagining the scent of this ridiculously expensive perfume.

3. Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer - $42AUD
I have to use my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer sparingly because it's so pricey, and I can only get it when it's my birthday or Christmas (I sound like I'm complaining, but that's very reasonable). Because of this, I'm always scouring the internet and shops for products that will do a better job. While I love my NARS concealer, this Urban Decay one has received rave reviews which would make me feel less guilty when it comes to buying it. It also just looks awesome, doesn't it?

4. NARS Eyeshadow Duo in St. Paul De Vence - $50AUD
I've been after the perfect peachy toned eyeshadow for ages, but I've been so spoiled by brands like Urban Decay and NARS that I can't find one in places like Priceline or Chemist Warehouse for a reasonable cost. Even my darling Chi Chi can't compete with St. Paul De Vence, which is saying something, because their Glamorous Eyes palettes kick ass. I know I don't need this NARS duo, which is why it is only on my wish list, and there is shall remain. It is pretty, though.

5. Zoeva Complete Eye Set - $80-90AUD
I was lucky enough to receive some Zoeva eye brushes for my birthday last year, and I absolutely adore them. So much so that I need ("need") a second set to give the first one a break, as those brushes are looking very tired and dirty. I've not tried face brushes from them, because I don't really use face brushes anyway, but I assume they're of the same high quality. It's also better value for me to go for an eye brush set rather than a mixed or face brush set, thus more justifiable to have more eyeshadow brushes.

6. Demeter Fragrance Library Colognes in Clover and Daffodil - $29.75AUD
I do love my fresh scents, and Demeter provides every one I could ever want. I don't need any, hence them being on my wish list, but the brand has so much hype surrounding them (particularly in America), that I really want to give 'em a go. It's a shame that to ever purchase them, I'd have to go to Sydney or order online from a website I don't know if I trust. Darn you, Demeter!

I hope you all enjoyed the first instalment of Blogmas for 2015. Let me know what beauty products are on your wish list down below, no matter how extravagant!