Changes

Hey all :) I'm in the process of changing my URL to www.lanalovesthat.com as opposed to lanalovesthat.blogspot.com so please bear with me as I'm making changes to all links. Have a great day!

MAC Giveaway [CLOSED]

MAC Lippies. (photo credit unknown)

Hey guys! :) I thought I'd throw a little giveaway here on my blog as a thank you to my readers (if any) haha, and I'm not going to lie, throw my Blog out there a bit at the same time! I also thought it might be a fun thing to do. Make a post down below and let me know what shade you'd like to win :)

Rules:

- You must 'follow' this blog to gain a valid entry, to do this select 'Join this site' under the 'Followers' label (to your left)*

- For extra entries you can also follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Bloglovin, Twitter and/or Instagram, these are optional, you do NOT have to do this but it does give you more entries.

This giveaway IS international. The winner can pick ANY M.A.C shade of lipstick that they want and I will have them shipped out to them. The winner will be announced on this blog and/or Facebook and Twitter. Contact will also be made via e-mail. If the winner does not get back to me within 48 hours of the announcement I will pick another winner at random.

Please note; shipment can take up to two weeks dependent of where the winner lives as I live in New Zealand.

That's pretty much it. I will be monitoring the entries so it can stay fair for everyone. GOOD LUCK!

Starts 26/09/2013 00:00 Ends 26/10/2013 00:00

Find your M.A.C lipspiration here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*please note; no entries are valid if you have not publicly followed www.lanalovesthat.com by selecting 'join this site' under the Followers label.

Quick & Cheap - Everyday Makeup

On most days, I don't have much time to apply primer, foundation, powder, mascara, blush, eyeshadow (the whole shebang) so, this is my go to quick, natural makeup look just by using these 3 products (you don't even need brushes, extra yay!).

 Garnier Miracle Skin Perfecter - Medium $14.99NZD
5 in 1
- Hydrates for 24 hours
- Evens skin tone
- Corrects blemishes
- Illuminates
- UV protection SPF 15
(I concur!)

 Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara Cat Eyes - Glam Black (Washable) $23.99NZD
Good mascara but definitely not the best. I feel that it clumps my lashes together not leaving them very volumized at all. It does make a nice swept look however, as it promised :)

 Maybelline Baby Lips - Pink Blast $4.29NZD
The best lip balm EVER! This one leaves a very nice subtle pink shade and it hydrates your lips so well.

Bare face - eeek!

Step 1 - BB cream.

Step 2 - Mascara.

Step 3 - Tinted lip balm.

This took me under 5 minutes to apply! It's not a HUGE difference. But it will make you look a lot fresher. Perfect for most days, or when you want to keep your makeup at a minimum.

Tutorial Fail. Highlighting - the wrong way

Some of you may know that I've always wanted to start making tutorials and beauty related videos for YouTube however, being super busy I never have the time. Once, I decided (spur of the moment) to record how I highlight after applying foundation (yes I know, the foundation does not match my skin tone here ^). So, I gave it a try and this is what happened. I hope that it is at least somewhat entertaining for you to watch :). Faaaaaaail!

Huge Birthday Haul + Why I Hate/Love Online Shopping

Hi guys :) My birthday's coming up soon and I thought I'd spoil myself seeing as I devote all of my time to everyone else and never really buy anything for myself anyway (justifying my spending hah :P) I made a few online purchases and I'm putting them up with mini reviews and links to all of the websites (in the captions). All prices are in NZD.

Candy Girl - NZ

China Glaze Something Sweet, White On White & Make A Spectacle from Candy Girl.

Candy Girl is an online store for nail polish and nail art. They stock O.P.I, China Glaze, Orly, and more of the leading brands in nail polish. Each month all Candy Girl subscribers are automatically drawn to win $200 worth of product! The delivery was just so amazingly fast and lollipops were included in the parcel! I also received a free pair of tweezers. It was such a nice surprise, their customer service is beyond good. Going on to the colours, Something Sweet ($14.95) is a very light baby pink, White On White ($14.95) is as white as nail polish can get, and Make A Spectacle ($15.95) "An opalescent hexagonal glitter in a shimmery base" is the most gorgeous silver based glitter polish. What I love most about this glitter polish is that it doesn't go lumpy, it stays smooth. I was impressed at how opaque and fast drying China Glaze is. I would definitely repurchase these and more :). See how I used them below. 

Something Sweet with White On White & Make A Spectacle on the feature finger.

I only applied two coats, and it was absolutely opaque. I am the most inpatient person when it comes to drying my nails but I was so pleased to feel them dry within 10 minutes! There is also hardener incorporated into the nail polish which is a bonus. The polish lasted a good 3-4 days before any chipping started to happen and I wash the dishes like 4 times a day so that's very impressive. I didn't even use a top coat!

Life Pharmacy - NZ & Makeup Direct - NZ

Sugarbaby Instant Tan (L) Life Pharmacy and Sugarbaby Salt Scrub Makeup Direct.

Both Life Pharmacy and Makeup Direct are NZ based with super quick delivery. Sugarbaby Suntanned Sweeties - Instant Self Tanning Mousse ($26.99) has to be the best self tanner that I have come across. It won't really last more than 4 days but the fade is gradual and even. It's a mousse so it's very easy to apply and it's very workable. There's no streaking at all and it goes on bronze so you can see where you're applying it. It does get darker over 3-5 hours as it develops and you can re-apply it for a deeper tan. The outcome is more yellow than orange. The cons are that you need to leave it on for quite long (8 hours at least) or overnight. If you remove it too early, most of it will be removed. The smell is nice but quite overwhelming (honey and almond like) too and it lingers for a couple of days no matter how often you shower/wash your hands. Yes, your hands will stain unless you wash and scrub them straight after. Exfoliating prior to this is a must. Sugarbaby - So-A-Glow Salt Scrub ($26.99) is a gentle exfoliator that smells like pineapples and coconuts (yum!). It leaves a very nice natural glow and healthy skin. Great to use prior to fake tan application or every 2-3 days in general. Concentrating on areas of dryness (elbows, knees) gently apply a generous amount and rub it in gently with circular motions. Super pro - Sugarbaby test on suntanned sweeties, not animals :)

Manic Panic - NZ

Vampire Red from Manic Panic.

Before using Vampire Red (Schwarzkopf Intense Red and Red Passion) on unbleached, dark hair.

I've been experimenting with red hair lately, and thought I would use Manic Panic in Vampire Red ($24.90) to boost up the vibrance because box dye fades really quickly. After reading some reviews I'm a bit anxious because of the stain factor. If anyone has used this colour or any Manic Panic products please let me know your opinion. I'm 'dyeing' to use this! What I already like about Manic Panic is that their products are all vegan! They don't use any harsh chemicals so it will condition instead of damage your hair. Great for in between permanent dye jobs. You can also mix colours together for a more custom shade and there is also a pastelizer available. I bought this off an NZ based Manic Panic site and the delivery was quick, they even changed my order per my request after I placed it. I initially ordered Wild Fire, but figured my hair was too dark and Manic Panic advise that Vampire Red shows nicely on dark unbleached hair. 

Xenia - Australia

Dilemma Body Suit & Bow Shorts from Xenia.

Xenia is a women's clothing store. International delivery is estimated at 7-14 business days for standard shipping and 3-5 business days for express at a higher cost ($45AUD) I took the risk and opted for standard ($15AUD) and it arrived quite quickly, on a Saturday too which is a bonus. I was planning to wear this outfit on my birthday night out however it didn't fit me all that well. I am usually a size 10 up and 12 down so I opted for size L (12) in both the bodysuit and shorts because I wanted the bodysuit to be more baggy. However it barely fit. Ordering from a few different Australian sites I have noticed that their sizes run a bit small so always check their size guide and measurements prior to ordering anything, to double check. With the bodysuit you need to wear a skirt or shorts that are very high waisted as the material changes quite high up on the bodysuit, which is a shame because this top would look nice worn more casual with a pair of jeans. There are snap domes which come in very handy and overall it is so gorgeous but with the shorts I purchased to wear with them, it just wouldn't work together. The staff are very kind and helpful and they even helped me pick out what would go with what :) The 'Dilemma' Bodysuit in Mint on sale ($30NZD) is a gorgeous shade of mint, sheer chiffon fabric with snap domes and a deep plunge. The 'Bow' Shorts in black ($45NZD) are so lightweight, flowy and comfortable, they are very short however but they would look really nice with stockings underneath. I would definitely buy from Xenia again, I would just triple check measurements. 

Boohoo - Ireland

Amora Super High Peeptoe Wedges & Tilly Metal Trim Sunnies from Boohoo.

Another blunder, I did not expect the shoes (Amora Super High Peeptoe Wedge $60NZD) to be THAT high, it's almost ridiculous. On the website they are captured at such an angle that, yes they look higher than most wedges but not THAT high, being a relatively tall person already, I had to pass up on wearing them too. The size was perfect and the material is really nice. They are a bit odd to walk in because of the extra height, but they are as comfortable as most other wedges. They would look great and add nice height to someone shorter. I also purchased some sunglasses (Tilly Metal Trim Sunglasses $15) , they don't suit me though (I'm terrible at this online shopping judgement thing) but they do the job, so I'll probably still wear them. I was worried about ordering from Boohoo because they have a lot of negative feedback regarding to late deliveries and wrong items. My items took 10 days from my order date to arrive on standard international shipping, I would recommend that if you were to order from them to order at least 3 weeks in advance if you needed the items for an occasion/event. Free NZ shipping on orders $35+ estimated delivery time up to 8 days. Don't even bother trying to return/replace items if you're not in the UK because it will cost you dearly, and take up to 2 months to get sorted. Try to sell them on, unless of course you received a faulty item in which case they should refund you.

Diva - Australia

Gold Chain Link Necklace, Gold Big Facet Ring & Gold Arrow Cuff from Diva.

For some simple gold accessories I went to Diva. I purchased the 'Gold Chain Link Necklace' ($34NZD), a ring from the Australian Next Top Model line 'Gold Big Facet Ring' ($15NZD) which I believe is now on sale and a gold arrow cuff bracelet (not available online anymore, unsure of the price). Diva ships really quickly, and they arrived far quicker than most international orders. For imitation jewelry at a cheap price I always go to Diva.

Lippy - NZ

Cleo dress from Lippy/Wildpair.

When the outfit from Xenia didn't work out for me, I bought a backup dress from Wildpair (NZ based) Cleo Dress ($49.90). It's quite a stunning dress, with a really unique pattern on the skirt part. But it didn't suit me at all, it didn't compliment my body shape in the slightest, it's very figure hugging. It was marked down from $109.00 and I should have gone with my instincts. It would suit someone with a straight body frame, otherwise it looks quite odd and accentuates all of the rolls that you may have. One cool thing about this dress is that it's designed to fade, for a vintage look. Wildpair and Lippy (now conjoined) are always so quick with their delivery, it's free for NZ and Australian customers, I have always loved their products, but their sale items have just never worked out for me.

Pagan Marie - NZ

Cute personal packaging is always a nice surprise!

Freedom Cross Over bodysuit from Pagan Marie.

Lime Crime Poisonberry also from Pagan Marie. 

Top swatch one swipe, bottom two.

So once again, I was on the hunt for another outfit. I've followed Pagan Marie for quite a while and loved most if not all of the clothing they get in, but being the cheap mama that I am, I always opted for other more affordable sites. I can definitely say, you get what you pay for. Forking out a little bit more will almost always guarantee you better quality products. I purchased the Freedom Bodysuit in black ($69) and a Lime Crime lippy in Poisonberry ($29). Lime Crime's also vegan and smells so fricken, delicious! The bodysuit is purely amazing, it's loose and comfortable, yet very evening-esque. It also has snap domes which is highly convenient, and for my birthday I'm going to pair it with either the bow shorts from Xenia or a frilly black skirt (both highwaisted) with the nude pumps (see below). Pagan Marie also have free (super quick) shipping NZ wide, reward points, and lots of giveaways so be sure to follow them on Instagram (here). You can also 'Like' the Facebook page so you can get updated on all of their new arrivals, and the staff are just as lovely as it gets! So helpful, so kind and they genuinely love what they do. I'll be back!!

Number One Shoes - NZ

Lorelyn heels from Number One Shoes.

Number One Shoes have just recently introduced online shopping to their website. I scooped these cute little heels for $59.99, not the cheapest (for Number One Shoes) but well worth the money. I've bought heels from here on one other occasion and they were of really great quality, they're still going strong. You do have to sift through their products, but there are a lot of hidden gems and they have good deals too. Delivery within NZ took 3 days from the day that I placed the order. I LOVE these shoes, they add length and I really like that they have a hidden platform. I'll be wearing these many times!

Moral of the story, if it's on sale, there's a reason why. Never shop online if you're in a hurry and need things pronto because if it doesn't work out, you'll end up stressing out like I did. If you must, opt for stores that are based in your country because shipping will always be cheaper and quicker. In the end, I'm selling the items that didn't suit me and it all worked out fine. It pays to try things on first, and if you hate shopping IRL like me, double check and think about how the items will look like on YOU, not a perfect fit airbrushed model. I like to Google items if I'm unsure and look for someone wearing them for a more realistic perspective. Consider all aspects like, shortness/length, will it cling to your body or compliment it. Find out which materials are used and do a little research on them. Fabric plays a big factor in how outfits sit on your body. Check the websites specific size guide and clothing measurements as they change from site to site/brand to brand. Returning orders is a hassle, so the more wary you are. The less chance you'll be disappointed.

In saying that, I find online shopping more convenient because I don't have to go anywhere, sure there's a wait, but it beats sifting through stores and there is a wider range of things available to you. 

Thank you for reading my post, I hope it was informative!