Rose Gold Brushes (& 20% discount code!)

Simple Glam Girls  are a company with good morals. They want aspiring bloggers to aspire to great things, and have the most beautiful tools to do so!

This is where the Lush Rose Gold Oval Makeup Brushes come in! The Artis oval makeup brushes have been all the rage at the moment, but at $80+ for one brush, it's slightly out of the price range of the everyday makeup user. This is why Simple Glam Girls Brushes are so good, they're so well priced, and you get a whole range to try.

The rose gold set comes with 10 gorgeous brushes, ranging from large oval sized brushes, to small circular ones, to thin comb-like ones too. All of them are so unbelievably soft, and the bigger brushes are incredibly densely packed. They feel much more expensive than they actually are, and even though the handles are plastic, the brush itself is nicely weighted.  All the reviews I have seen so far have also said that they are simple to wash and wear well.

The application of liquid foundation with these is smooth and effortless. The motion takes a bit to get used to, after using a conventional makeup brush, but it's definitely something that I'm keen to use more! 

And the best part is... I have a 20% off code for you guys!
if you use BETHS20 at the checkout to buy the Lush Rose Gold Oval Makeup Brushes or anything from the Simple Glam Girls site, you can get 20% off!

Let me know if you guys try any of the Simple Glam Girls makeup tools, I'd love to know how you go! Tag me on insta @beth_searle and #ComeOval to the rose gold side!

Have any of you tried these type of brushes before? Let me know if you have any tips!

Beth. x



(For full disclosure I was sent these brushes for just the price of postage, but I was under no obligation to write this post).

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Lipstick.

So I was wandering the aisles of Priceline recently, looking for something to perk me up, and I stumbled across something on the L'Oréal stand, that I'd never seen before. Hadn't heard any bloggers talk about, hadn't stumbled across it on the website, nothing.

That product was the Infallible Matte Lipstick.  This product is a matte lip product like none I've ever seen before. The best way I can describe it, is as an eyeshadow for your lips. You untwist the end to reveal a sponge applicator with a powder-like product on it, you then swipe it on your lips, and voila, matte lip colour. The application is really simple, and non-messy, and the product is quite pigmented. The lasting power is pretty good too, I ate and drank, and it still stayed on. Some of the colour was removed from the middle of my mouth, but you get that with most lip products, so I wasn't overly fussed about that.

I chose the colour 004 - Oops I Pink It Again, which is a pink-toned red. The range has seven or eight shades that range from fairly neutral, to as bright as purple! So there's something for everyone.

Have you tried these? What else is new that I should give a go?

Beth. x

What I got for Christmas: 2015.

I was impatiently waiting for Christmas this year, as I was so excited to see the reactions of my loved ones, when they saw all the amazing things I bought them! I was also incredibly spoilt myself, and so I thought I'd share a few of the things I was lucky enough to receive on Christmas Day.

There wasn't a lot that I asked for in particular, I asked for practical things like socks, underwear, and a few items of clothing (which now I have to buy things like that myself, are brilliant gifts!) But apart from that, the rest were completely amazing surprises!

My sister got the Quay Australia 'My Girl' Sunglasses, and I was so jealous of them, and then lo and behold on Christmas Day I had a pair under the tree!
I also received a bluetooth speaker, which I have been using non-stop.
On the make-up front, I got the Chi Chi 'Viva La Diva' Lipstick Collection, which has four amazing shades in it, and ones I wouldn't normally choose myself, which definitely fuel my lipstick addiction. I also received three different perfumes... (Not sure if people are trying to give me a hint or?) I got the Katy Perry 'Purr' perfume, Britney Spears 'Believe' perfume, and Beyonce 'Midnight Heat' perfume. So now I literally have a perfume a day. The fragrances that I received are ones that I wouldn't normally choose for myself, but it's fun to branch out and try new things (to break my 'creature of habit' status!)

A few other bits  I got included both Pitch Perfect movies (with the sing-a-long versions!), Sam Smith's album, some beautiful charms for my Pandora bracelet, and a book of life advice from cats. I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful for all that I've received, and also glad that my family enjoyed their treats from me!

What was your favourite present this Christmas?

Beth. x

P.S. My favourite gift to give this year was to my sister. I got her the Le Grand Chateau eye shadow palettes from Too Faced, and Benefit's Hoola bronzer, which she has wanted for ages.

Super Sephora Spending.

As many of you may know Sephora has just landed in Melbourne! (And online too! http://www.sephora.com.au/) And I happened to be in Melbourne the day after it opened, so of course I braved the crowds and had a look. There was literally hundreds of people in the store when I went, which made it not the most enjoyable experience ever, but it is a beautiful store, with so many amazing brands, so I will definitely be going back!

I've been jealous of people who can access Sephora easily for quite a few years now (as materialistic and shallow as that sounds). However, because I've seen so much of what everyone else has bought from Sephora over the years, I knew exactly what I wanted to get!

The main thing I wanted to get was the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01. Every blogger who has been to Sephora has bought this and raved about it, so being the red lip lover that I am, I had to pick it up.  And it lives up to the hype! It's long lasting, non-drying, very pigmented, and cheap too (only $17)! It also smells like vanilla.

The next thing I'd heard a lot about and wanted to get was the Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in a purpley plum colour caller Aubergine.  Bite Beauty makes all of it's products with food grade ingredients, which considering we supposedly eat a lot of lipstick in our lives, is probably a good idea!  These are really creamy, an although it wasn't as matte as I would normally like, it still lasts quite a while.

I also picked up the Sephora Pro Brush Flawless Air #56. I haven't used this one yet, but the bristles feel really soft. These brushes were a bit more expensive than I had expected (the one I got was $45), but I've heard they're really good quality.

In the aisle of doom on the way to the checkout (whilst queueing for over half an hour... It was that busy...), I had two impulse buys.
I got the very highly spoken about Elizabeth & James Nirvana White perfume, which is absolutely gorgeous. Elizabeth & James is the Olsen twins perfume brand, and there is a black and white version of Nirvana, with the black one being deeper and stronger smelling.  Nirvana White smells very rosy, and I think it would be perfect for day or night. I will definitely be going to get the full size, next time I'm in store!

And last but not least, I bought the Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer , which is a really good primer, and makes makeup last all day, but is expensive for what it is ($30 for only 15mL).

What have you recently picked up from Sephora? What do I need to try next?

Beth. x

Priceline Haul. #feelingspendy

Every time I go into Priceline I seem to come out with something... It's hard not to sometimes! But this time some serious damage was done. So here's the overview of my shopping spree.

Most of this haul were repurchases of products that I love. Firstly, I got another bottle of the Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer. This primer isn't as siliconey as others I've tried and it feels quite light on the skin. It also really helps to make my base sit nicer on my skin and last much longer. 

Another repurchase was the Maybelline Colour Drama Lipstick in 310 (Berry Much). These are kind of a cheaper version of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, but they're a bit creamier, and don't have the same staying power as the Nars ones, but they're a quarter of the price!

Next was the L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Liner Magique in Transparent. This lip liner is perfect for all lipstick colours, which saves you having to buy a different shade for all of your favourite lipsticks. It has a kind of waxy texture, but it definitely helps stop my lipstick from bleeding, and makes it last longer.

L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Reds in Latitia's Red. These were a limited collection, and I had so many compliments when I wore this dark wine shade, I decided I needed to get a back up before they weren't available anymore! 

This shopping trip was the first time I picked up the Garnier Micellar water, and I was glad that I did! For me, it rivals Bioderma, and is very affordable. And even better, it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin!

The Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eye Shadows are incredibly popular products, so I picked up a couple more shades, from the Metals collection I got Inked in Pink, and from the original collection I picked up Bold Gold. I've tried other shades in this range before, and while they are brilliant eye shadows, I would say the lighter colours, (such as the pink) don't seem to last as long or be as pigmented as the darker shades such as the cult favourite Bad to the Bronze. 

So that'll leave me broke for a while!

What have you picked up from Priceline or the drugstore lately?

Beth. x

Youtuber inspired stocking filler ideas.

It's no secret that many Youtubers and other social media stars are turning to merchandising as another way to reach out to their fans. And as one of those fans, I have bought into it, spending way too much money on things I don't really need. However, with many of these product lines having Christmas ranges, I thought I'd show a few of my favourites that are probably going to end up in someone's stocking this Christmas.

I love the Zoella Beauty range (you can see a post on some of the other products here), and when I heard there was a Christmas range, I had to pick up a few things. The whole aesthetic of all the products in Zoe's range are gorgeous.

Firstly I got the Mini Fizz Bars, which are $17.36, but you can get about 6-10 baths out of the trio. I have tried the original Fizz Bar, and it is a nice subtle addition of scent and moisturising properties to your bath. 

Next I chose the Bath Bombinis, which are $21.70. They have the same scent as the original range, with soft inoffensive floral notes, which will appeal to many. The packaging of these is beautiful, and the jar can be reused after all the bath fizzers have been used. 

The cute Christmas packaging of the Two Balmy Lip Balm Duo ($10.85) had me putting it in my basket without even a second thought. The lip balms have a subtle smell and a slight tint to them as well. The packaging and price is perfect to pop in someone's Christmas stocking, or to split up and give one to a friend and keep one yourself! 

I've been wanting to try the Blissful Mistful fragrance since Zoella launched her range, but customs doesn't allow perfume to be sent via mail to Australia... So the next best thing was the Blissful Mistful Solid Fragrance ($10.85). Again, it has the soft floral fragrance of the rest of the line. Personally I don't think the scent is strong enough, as it doesn't linger very long on me, but it would be a perfect gift for a younger girl getting into makeup and perfume.

Another blogger who has recently released a makeup range that would be the perfect gift for Christmas is FleurDeForce. I purchased her Eyeshadow Quad in Cosmic Bronze ($17.34) and Lipgloss in Starry Starry Night ($15.17). 

The eyeshadows (as someone who is a relative newbie to eyeshadow) seem quite pigmented (especially the darker colours), and blend quite easily, with two mattes and two shimmer shadows in the quad. They also come with a brush, instead of the usual sponge applicator.

The lipgloss goes on very smoothly and is the least sticky lipgloss I have ever tried. It also has a gorgeous vanilla scent. 

Starry Starry Night on the lips.

 Have you tried any of these products? What would you like to see in your stocking this Christmas?

Beth. x

Huge Lush Haul.

It's that time of the year again! The time when Lush bring out their huge range of Christmas products, and as you will be aware from this post, I can't resist it. The scents of the Christmas range are ones that I love all year round, so I always stock up!

So I popped into Lush recently to pick up some of the many things I'd seen talked about online, to find them completely sold out... Thank goodness for the online store!

Here's what I picked up this year.

"Cinders" is a bath bomb that I have to pick up every year from the Christmas range. It smells of cinnamon and has popping candy to make your bath fizz.

In a gift pack with Cinders I got "Intergalactic". This one smells fresh like peppermint, and has a gorgeous colour that will look amazing in the bath. I don't think you can buy this one individually in Australia, but you can buy it in 'The Night Before Christmas' gift pack. 

Next from the Christmas collection I bought the "Holly Go Lightly" bubble bar. It smells very similar to Cinders, with a hint of lime freshness. 

When I saw the "Five Gold Rings" bubble bar, there were two main reasons why I instantly put it in my basket. Firstly, there are essentially five mini bubble bars, which saves you having to break it up, so you get the most uses possible out of it. And secondly, the vanilla scent! Although some people may think vanilla is a bit of a boring scent, I absolutely love it, and can't wait to use it!

My last pick from the Christmas range was the "Peeping Santa Bubble Bar". This one would have to be the cutest of the bunch, and it smells sweet and fruity like strawberries. It also has cocoa butter and shea butter, so will hopefully be very moisturising! 

"Phoenix Rising" is the bath bomb I buy from the normal collection when Cinders isn't available. It has a similar cinnamon scent, with a bit of extra spice, and it makes your bath a beautiful purple sparkly colour. 

I'm not normally drawn to the bubble bars, but when my sister picked this one up for me to smell, I was sold. the "Brightside Bubble Bar" smells like a glorious citrus blend, and according to all reviews has bubbles that last for ages!

What have you picked up from Lush lately?

Beth. x

Head to head: Micellar waters.

Micellar water is a game changer when it comes to removing your makeup efficiently and effectively. They have gained cult status over the past few years, with Bioderma being the name that comes to mind when you think of what sparked this skin care revolution.  I personally love the concept of micellar waters, especially as someone with very sensitive skin.

I have tried three different micellar waters from different ends of the price spectrum, and two I've already repurchased, while the other didn't make the cut.

The one that I tried first was Bioderma. I'd heard beauty bloggers and vloggers talk about it for ages, and so when in landed on the shelves of Priceline in Australia, I was all over it. It's not cheap, at about $30 for 250mL, but personally I think it's worth the money. My skin is irritated quite easily, but this doesn't affect it at all. It removes make-up (and even waterproof mascara) easily, without having to pull and tug at your skin. There is no scent, and it leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed.

I had put off trying the Garnier Micellar water, because I didn't think anything could be as good as my beloved Bioderma. It is at the other end at the price spectrum at $13 for 400mL. It does a very similar job to Bioderma, although it does require a bit more product to do the same job, but at that price, that isn't an issue. Again, it didn't seem to irritate my sensitive skin, which was great. I rarely wear waterproof mascara, so I am unable to say if it effectively works on that. I personally find that there is a weak scent with this one, that did initially put me off, but I have gotten used to it now. So all in all, a brilliant lower end micellar water.

Lastly I tried the Sukin Micellar Water. I have tried other Sukin products in the past, and found that my skin doesn't seem to be irritated by them, so I thought I would give this a go. It's paraben and sulphate free, and organic. The floral scent of this is much more pronounced than the others, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, when I used this it made my skin tingle and go red and patchy. I also found that I needed to work harder to get my eye makeup off than I did with the other ones. It's $10 for 250mL.

What is your favourite micellar water? Is there other ones I should try?

Beth. x

Mecca Haulin'

I'm lucky I don't get down to Melbourne very often, because my bank balance doesn't really approve. Every time I seem to go into Mecca just for a browse, a basket just falls into my hand, and before you know it, I've walked out with a bag of goodies...

This trip I stocked up on some of my favourites and finally bought one of the most highly praised concealers ever.

The first thing I picked up was the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade vanilla. Now, if you've been reading beauty blogs or watching beauty vloggers in the last 3 years or more, you will have heard about this, many call it a holy grail product. I quite like it. The colour is a good match for me, and the staying power is brilliant, it's great for use under the eyes and all over the face, and doesn't get too cakey. I only have two problems with this... 1. It does crease slightly under the eyes, (although I do tend to have big wrinkles under there anyway, so that was bound to happen), and 2. It's quite hard to justify $40 for a concealer, it is great, and it will last me a very long time, but there probably are cheaper alternatives.

The second thing I picked up was the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you will know all about this product! I've been through two of these already, and I'll happily call it my favourite lip product of all time. It's a gorgeous blue-toned red matte lipstick, that applies so easily and lasts all day, simple as that. Again, because it's Nars there is a $34 price tag, but that's a pretty decent price to pay for true love.

Last but not least I re-stocked my favourite Soap & Glory Hand Food. This smells really sweet and fruity, and it sinks into the skin really well. Priced at only $10, it's the perfect hand cream for the changing weather.

Is there anything you guys would suggest for my next Mecca splurge?

Beth. x

Outfit catch-up.

Who doesn't love a good ootd? I know I do!
I love when I put a certain combination of clothes on that makes me want to have a photo shoot and show the world. In reality, I don't have a photographer that can follow me around, snapping all my favourite outfits, but a good old selfie does the job to document them!
I hope you find some inspiration from some of the "selfie worthy" outfits of the past few months!

(I'll put links to as many of the things as I can, as they will have much better pictures of the item than I will!)

My 21st outfit.

Dress: Portmans

Belt: Portmans

Shoes: Pied a Terre via Famous Footwear

Longline Cardigan: Lily Loves @ Target

Singlet Blouse: Lily Loves @ Target

Jeans: Topshop Ripped Jamie Jeans

Shoes: Doc Martens 1460 8 eye boots

Top: Lily Loves @ Target

Jeans: Topshop Ripped Jamie Jeans

Shoes: Doc Martens 1460 8 eye boots.

Dress: Lily Loves @ Target

Boots: Floral Doc Martens

Top: Kmart

Skirt: Sportsgirl (similar)

Shoes: Pied a Terre via Famous Footwear

Top: Glassons cropped t-shirt

Skirt: Target midi skirt

 Shoes: Doc Martens 1460 8 Eye Boots

Jacket: Sportsgirl 'Editor' Jacket

Blouse: Sportsgirl bow-neck blouse

Jeans: Topshop Ripped Jamie Jeans

Shoes: Doc Martens 1460 8 Eye Boots

Let me know if you have any suggestions for pieces to add to my wardrobe! :)

Beth. x

When something just has to give.

I had been posting fairly consistently on this blog for almost a year back in March. I was really proud that I'd managed to get myself motivated among all the other things on my plate. But then I went back to uni and it all just fell apart... The stress of my third and final year of my degree, studying for the medical entrance exam, and work and life commitments just overwhelmed me, and something had to give. Sadly it was this blog for a little while.

But I'm back!

I've got a load of ideas for future posts that I hope you will enjoy.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Beth. x

The nail polish removing trick that you need to know.

I don't wear nail polish very often... Partly due to the fact that I just can't seem to apply it neatly, partly due to the fact it chips far too easily and annoys me, but mainly because I hat trying to take it off.

Once you've applied a few layers, removing nail polish with a cotton pad and nail polish remover is a massive chore, and takes far longer than it needs to, (well it does for me at least!)

Enter the Maybelline Express Remover, my little pot of joy.
You put your finger in the jar that contains nail polish remover-soaked sponges, twist it around, and voila! Nail polish removed in seconds! And while it doesn't seem like much, not having to struggle with scrubbing off nail polish, makes me incredibly happy!

What beauty hacks or lazy girls beauty advice do you have?

Beth. x

What's in my bag? - Miss Shop 'Tokya'

I just updated my handbag. It was one that I loved, but it had gotten to the point where it was too tatty to pass as a bag anymore. So I popped into Myer and the first bag I saw I fell in love with.
the Miss Shop 'Tokya' Sling in Black is a simple yet stylish bag. With one main zipped pocket, with a flap over the top, and a small zipped pocket at the back, it manages to fit all the rubbish that I carry around on a daily basis and more.
It's made from a textured faux leather, (I assume it's fake because of the $29.95 price tag), and has gold detailing.

So what do I cram in the bag?

Most importantly I always have my keys, wallet (mine is this one from Billabong), sunglasses, and phone.

Next I have a little pouch that contains a compact mirror, some concealer (I have an Arbonne one and a Collection Lasting Perfection one), my Travalo with the perfume I'm wearing, a roller ball version of Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs,  a couple of lip balms (I have the Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm and the Sukin Nourishing Lip Treatment), and two lip options (Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, and Rimmel Apocalips in Luna).

And finally I have the important bits such as, a bottle of water, pain killers, headphones, a pen or two, breath mints, breath spray, bandaids, and another lip option! (J.Lo's nude from the L'Oreal Collection Exclusive).

What do you carry around in your bag?

Beth. x

Is there such a thing as being too busy?

I am the type of person who can't say no. You want me to work extra shifts? Done. You want me to catch up for tea and a movie? Sure thing. You want me to do extra work for uni? Love to.

It gets overwhelming at times. I get stressed. I cry. I swear I'll try an cull back the things that I do, but it never happens. Why? Because I can't not be busy, and I like to prove people wrong.

Currently I work three jobs, as well as attending uni full time (which also requires an hour and a half commute), as well as trying to maintain a relationship, catch up with friends, keep my family happy, get some exercise, and study enough so I can pass the medical entrance exam so I can get into medical school. This seems like a lot, and it is, but if I only had half of these things to do, I would most likely be twiddling my thumbs at home... That, or finding another big commitment to take on.

Business helps me keep productive in life, because when you're on short deadlines you don't have time to slack off! It also helps me appreciate the downtime I get so much more. When I have a day off work/uni, I celebrate, sleep in until lunchtime, and wear my pyjamas all day. It's small things like this, that make the work all the more worthwhile.  The results of the work are also rewards in themselves. That HD I got? I'm over the moon. The extra $50 in my bank account? Means I can have a treat. 

And even though the process of gaining these rewards is stressful, and there are a lot of blood sweat and tears shed (lots of tears... Ask my family!), I wouldn't have it any other way, because these hurdles that I'm overcoming now, will help me down the track.

As with everyone, it's not just getting to your goal that matters, it's the way there that counts. We can't all earn millions, have our dream jobs, and know everything right at the start... (Even though at times I wish it was that simple!)

Are you the type of person who likes to keep busy? Or tends to take too many things on?

Beth. x 

You don't know what you have until it's gone. #Beautyproblems

So, I ran out of my favourite moisturiser the other day. My holy grail, 'save my skin' product, the La Clinica Clear Skin Oil Control Day Cream.

This may not sound like a big deal, but when you have to get your skincare products sent to you from stores on the other side of the country, because your skin reacts to most products... It's a big deal.

In between the disaster that was running out of moisturiser (who thought opaque packaging with an airless pump was a good idea?!), and the arrival of the package that contained my new one, the moisturiser I used caused my skin to break out and look incredibly greasy.

It was then I realised how much I love my La Clinica moisturiser, and how much I need it in my life, with it's lovely lemon scent, and it's skin clearing abilities. You really don't realise what you have until it's gone.

What product could you not live without? Do you have any other #Beautyproblems ?

Beth. x

My nude = J.Lo's nude.

I don't normally wear nude lipstick. If I'm wearing lipstick, I go by the mantra: go bold or go home. However, L'Oreal have recently released the Collection Privee 'The Perfect Nudes,' with a nude coloured lipstick that corresponds to a particular celebrity. And while this whole idea seems quite gimmicky, I was intrigued to see which celebrity's nude I would match up to.

When these finally arrived on the Priceline shelves, I spent ages swatching them and comparing them to my skin tone in the mirror. I eventually decided on J.Lo's nude. This shade is the exact shade of my lips, so it's perfect to even out the colour on my lips, and add a bit of shine and sheen to the lips.

In the bullet this shade looks quite brown, but on the lips it is the perfect 'your lips but better' pink. It helps even out the colour, and give a bit of glow.

The packaging of these is quite luxurious, with matte black outer packaging and gold detailing.

The only problem I have is with the smell. These lipsticks are quite heavily fragranced, so if you don't like that, these might not be up your street.

And the more exciting news, is that there is a collection of reds coming out in the same line! I will definitely be picking up some of those!

Who is your nude?

Beth. x

Maybelline vs Nars: The matte lip pencil battle.

My name is Beth, and I have a strong love and addiction to the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. They last and last, they're easy to apply, and the shade range is amazing (Cruella and Damned, anyone?). However, at $44 a pop, on a student budget... It's not the most budget friendly purchase. (NB: Mecca Cosmetica haas recently lowered the price of the Nars pencils to $34... Still not that student friendly in the scheme of things!)

(Bottom to top: 510, 140, 310)

Enter the Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencils. They've finally hit the shelves (of Priceline) in Australia, after months and months of European bloggers and vloggers raving about them! With a colour range that includes many shades that are exact dupes of the Nars ones I was already impressed. Formula wise, these ones go on slightly easier, because they are slightly (only slightly) more glossy. They also feel a bit more hydrating as well. They last really well, lasting through eating and drinking. The only problem with the slightly glossier formula, is that it is a tiny bit more prone to smudging. But for the bargain price of $9.95, the Nars pencils are already a distant memory for me!

I picked up the shades:  510 - Red Essential, 310 - Berry Much and 140 - Minimalist, with 510 and 310 being dupes for Nars Cruella and Nars Damned respectively. 140 on the other hand is more of a pink/peach nude colour.

The packaging of the Maybelline pencils is glossy, compared to the matte black of the Nars, which means the lids aren't quite as secure... But they're less than $10, so I'm not going to dwell on that!

Are you glad these have finally hit the shelves in Australia? Which shades do you like?

Beth. x