I am sure if you are in the beauty loving world, you would have heard of Jeffree Star. Built from MySpace fame, he is controversial, outrageous, and love stirring the pot. While I really don't agree with some of the shady things he has done, I can't deny that his brand he developed (obviously with a big team) Jeffree Star Cosmetics, has brought out some pretty damn good makeup. 

So what happens when you pair a big beauty brand with super affordable products, with one of the top beauty YouTubers? A bloody amazing palette, that's what! Shaaanxo or Shannon Harris from here in NZ teamed up with BH Cosmetics last year to make the Shaaanxo 18 Colour Eyeshadow + Lipstick Palette. BH Cosmetics have teamed up with a lot of beauty gurus in the past and I am so happy and proud of Shan that she has been able to collaborate with them too.

Let me introduce you to the brand new lipstick range from Maybelline - The Loaded Bolds*. These have been out in the USA for a little while now, but they have just made the shores of NZ and will be out in stores now. This range packs a huge punch with some super vibrant shades and also a white and a black lipstick...

There's something pretty special about an expensive tube of lipstick. For some, you may only own one or two, for others, higher end lipsticks might make up the majority of your makeup collection. There's no doubt though, that the first swipe of a new lipstick can definitely up your mood. But is it worth splurging on a $50+ tube of lipstick?

With a push these days towards a natural way of life, Antipodes lead the way in crafting beautiful natural skincare and makeup products that are cruelty-free and kind to the earth. I have used a few of their skincare items and they are all absolutely beautiful and so nice to use. They have just launched a brand new line of lipsticks - the Moisture Boost Natural Lipsticks*.

I feel like it's been a long time since I did a good old fashioned collective haul. Most of these products I purchased myself, but there are a couple of things that have been gifted to me by PR, so I thought I would include them here.

The matte liquid lipstick trend is not showing any signs of slowing up; more and more brands are releasing their take on the lip product, with M.A.C now extending their range of Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolors*. There are now 12 new shades in a range of muted neutrals and deeper tones that have got me so excited for Autumn/Winter!

Affordable and cheap makeup has come a long way since the $2 shop days - nowadays there are so many different and trusted brands to chose from that stock a wide variety of beauty and makeup products that don't break the bank. Australian owned, ulta3 is one of those brands, originally launching with lipsticks and nail polishes (for under $5!), they have recently been expanding into more skincare and tanning products and also adding more into their makeup line. Here are some of the recent releases from ulta3... p.s. there's a rainbow highlighter that shouldn't be missed!

Lip liners are a makeup must have for me - I wear them on their own all the time as I love the matte finish and they often last longer than any lipstick or even matte liquid lipstick does due to the light formula but high pigmentation of most lip liners these days. One of my favourite affordable brands, Maybelline, has just launched a new line of liners; the Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liners*. As a big lip liner lover (and I have tried quite a few), these ones are definitely up there with some of the better ones...

If you have not heard about Kylie Jenner's makeup line; Kylie Cosmetics, what rock have you been living under and also is there space for me?! I jest, I jest. But seriously, the hype surrounding Kylie's makeup line is global and these products sell out in minutes from being released (I do wonder though if they do that on purpose, if so, it's an amazing marketing ploy!) I resisted for a long time in trying the products, don't get my wrong it's not that I didn't want to but the shipping prices were steep and when converted to NZD for one Lip Kit, it was going to cost over $60.00. I managed to get these two Lip Kits for $60 from an NZ makeup buy/sell group pretty much brand new from a fellow blogger (thanks, Laura!) So is the hype worth it?!

If there is one M.A.C collection you should check out this year, make the Make Up Art Cosmetics Collection it. For the first time, they have collaborated with three famed makeup artists around the world who are pushing the boundaries of 'traditional' beauty and basically creating art in their work. Kabuki Magic, James Kaliardos and Diane Kendal have each created their own capsule collection of products based on things they use or products that they wanted but previously couldn't find in other products, hence creating the perfect selection for them in their signature style. I am so excited about these products and the whole idea of the collaboration.