How I save money when buying makeup + TIPS

It's been a while since I've made a blog post but since it's currently in the school holidays, I thought I would try and kick start my blog again. It might not be up and running regularly when the semester starts up again but my Instagram sure will be! (@ALLUIRE)

I’ve had numerous people asking me how I buy all my makeup products and apart from the obvious answer of working hard and saving up my money, it also comes down to where I buy my makeup from. In Australia, even though the price of makeup has slightly improved, in comparison to other countries within the world it’s still extremely expensive. I hardly ever buy makeup in Australia unless it’s the core necessities or a limited edition product that I am absolutely dying to get my hands on. The times when I do buy makeup, which to be honest has become a bad habit of mine, I usually purchase from overseas. I am lucky enough to have relatives who often travel and are able to pick up a few goodies for me as it’s cheaper in comparison to Australia. But down to the nitty gritty, I thought it would be helpful to share some of my tips on saving money when purchasing beauty products.

1. Do your research.

Before diving in to buy a product, make sure you research about it. You don't have to do thorough research like you're doing a school project but ensure to find more about the product such as other people's opinions and reviews. This will help to see whether it will suit your personal skin type or your personal preference. No one likes buying a product that is raved by a sales assistant but when you actually try it, it’s nothing alike how they described it to be. Check out the price in your local Sephora or Mecca and compare it to other online stores such as Beauty Bay or even the online Sephora store as there are sometimes discounts available. Also with some clothing stores such as Peppermayo they stock beauty products which may also have discounts. You never know when there might be dramatic price differences so it’s worth the check!

2. Buy from overseas for selected products.

I am not saying that all products are cheaper overseas than within Australia but the majority are. Of course you need to include added tax and the conversion rate at the time when purchasing from America for example. As I know the price of Nars products are about the same here as in America. However, if you are not going overseas always check out online department stores such as Nordstrom and Selfridges as you can order products there to be sent to Australia. I recently bought my Tom Ford products online from Selfridges and I saved roughly $30 (excluding shipping) which is a lot of money!

3. Ask for samples first.

Whenever I am wanting to try out or buy a new foundation, I usually always ask for a sample first. Not only does this help me decide whether this particular foundation works for my skin tone but also helps save me money as buying a $60+ foundation is extremely pricey and you don’t want to be wasting your money if it doesn’t suit you!

I hope my tips have helped and if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask! Also if anyone has any particular blog posts that they want to read, I am open to any ideas so comment down below.

Happy smart shopping!

Whitney x

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag

I recently came back from a trip to Japan and I thought I would share my beauty travel essentials with you!

BASE

Starting off with moisturising beforehand to prep my skin, I then apply my MUFE Mattifying primer to ensure that my makeup stays on all day during my adventures. Next, I buff the Two Faced Born This Way foundation into my face using my ZOEVA Silk Finish Brush. I then apply underneath my eyes with my ring finger the Bobbi Brown Corrector in the shade Bisque. This concealer counteracts the dark undertones underneath my eyes as it is a salmon coloured concealer. I Would highly recommend this product! Then after using a damp beauty blender, I apply my Nars Creamy concealer on top of the salmon coloured concealer. To ensure that the concealer does not crease throughout the day, I set it with my Laura Mercier Translucent Powder by using the baking technique utilising my beauty blender. Nobody wants a oily face throughout the day, so I set my face with the Bare Minerals translucent powder using my MAC 129 Brush.

CHEEKS
To add some colours to my cheeks I apply my Nars Deep throat blush and to bronze my face I apply the Nars Laguna Bronzer in the "3B" motion which is from the temples to the cheekbones and down the jaw. Lately a good highlight is all the rave, so I applied my Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector onto the tops of my cheek bones with my xoBeauty Fan Brush.

EYES/BROWS
As I only wanted a natural look, I didn't bring any eyeshadow with me on my trip to Japan. I firstly curled my eyelashes with my Shu Uemura eyelash curler (This is the best curler!) and applied the Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara. Then to give a bit of oomph to my brows, I used my Benefit Gimme Brow in the shade dark.

Be sure to checkout my beauty instagram @alluire, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

All About Foundations

Hello Everyone! It's been a while since my last post but I thought I would kick start the new year with a brand new post. If you know me well, you would know that I am addicted to buying new foundations as I love trying out different formulas. 

I could go on forever about all these foundations but I thought I would highlight my favourites within my collection.

NARS SHEER GLOW

This foundation gives amazing coverage and makes your skin look so natural! This is one of my favourite foundations considering I have two shades depending on the season as my skin changes shades. With no spf, it means that it photographs beautifully within photos with flash photography. So there is no worry for a white face! I usually buff it into my skin with my ZOEVA silk finish brush to give it a flawless look. The only concern with this product is that if you have extremely dry skin or some dry patches on your face it might accentuate  them as the foundation clings to the drier skin. So make sure you moisturise or prep your skin beforehand. 

TOO FACED BORN THIS WAY

I was in search for a foundation that would be compatible with my skin whilst in the colder climates and I found this little gem! Keep in mind that I have combination skin, this foundation did not cling to my skin in the colder climate during my trip to Japan. With this oil-free medium to full coverage foundation it is so easily bendable within the skin which creates a flawless finish. I usually like to apply it with my beauty blender for a more natural look.

CHANEL PERFECTION LUMIERE VELVET

This is my most recent foundation purchase and I love it to bits! This light coverage is great for summer days as it is light on the skin but it still gives great coverage. It is suited to normal - oily skin so it is perfect! I love how natural it looks and the best thing is that it doesn't leave me at the end of the day looking like a shiny ball! It also lasts all day ( I always use a primer and powder though!)

Hope you enjoyed this blog post and if you want an in-depth review of any foundation or have any questions, make sure to comment down below! 

Whitney