Let’s try this again


Well hello there!

This blog – Beauty by a Sparrow – has stalled over the last, say, eighteen months. 

To be fair, I’ve also stalled over the last eighteen months. Health scares, dramas, university, life decisions, changes, relationships, laptop break downs (more stressful than the relationships tbh) and a few major game changes in the beauty industry sit between this post and my last. 

So I figure, let’s start fresh! 

We’re entering autumn, a season of change, and I’m hoping as we settle into cosy-tea-weather, that these blogs will keep you company while the leaves turn.

If you’re new – hi! Welcome! I’m Sparrow (working title, like Lady GaGa but less cool) and this is my blog for all things beauty. Wanting some background? I highly recommend the 12 Blogs of Christmas 2016. Boy howdy was that a mad year of beauty highs and mistakes!

I hold an Honours degree in Ancient Civilisations, and currently work in the beauty industry. SKIN IS MY THING. I’m obsessed, and passionate, and I’m a reformed St. Ives’ scrubber (Zoe Foster-Blake forgive me).

I hope you enjoy my blog, and stick around for more posts in 2018!


Tweet tweet x

Fast February

Hello little birds!

I don’t know about y’all but I blinked and February was GONE, plain GONE. We’re already in the last week. It’ll be March far sooner than I’d like it to be. I had so many plans for this blog for February but as we all know, life is what happens in the interim.
So without further ado, here’s an update on the things making my life easier (and prettier) during this rapidly disappearing month!


(pictured L-R; TopShop bikini top, Sportsgirl earrings, Sugar & Cotton ‘Unicorn’ make-up brushes, Neutrogena Hand Cream, Dr Dennis Hydration Booster, La Mer ‘The Renewal Oil’, Urban Decay Illuminated Trio, This Works Energy Boost, Too Faced Sweet Peach Creamy Oil Gloss, the Modern Renaissance Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills, Samantha Wills Bohemian Bardot ring, Quay sunnies, Mecca Cosemetica Mineral Sunscreen, Byredo Bal D’Afrique EDP)


TopShop Frill Bikini Set

Years ago I bought a pair of Alannah Hill bikini bottoms on discount that were white and navy striped. High waisted, flattering, rouched at the front, perfect! Except… no matching top in my size. Oy.
So for the last few years I’ve mixed and matched different tops, never quite finding the right one. This summer, however, we’ve had a break through!
The perfect shade of blue to compliment the stripes, a flattering frill, and a top that holds the gals down. This top does come with a matching bottom, but as said, bottoms were well taken care of.

Sportsgirl Tassel Earrings

Rose gold, and opalescent stones, and little beads and aahhhh. I saw these earrings in store and I don’t even really remember picking them up, I just sort of walked out with them in a bag? Like the need to purchase them was so strong I forgot actually purchasing them? Anyway they have become my favourite go-to statement accessory, and earned themselves some mass Instagram love the first time I wore them. And of course rose gold – how could I not?

Sugar & Cotton Unicorn Brushes

Ooooh boy. If you saw my Instagram post a few weeks back you’ll know all about these dreamboats. Ethically made brushes from a new start up, crafted to look like unicorn horns, with part of the proceeds going towards US student literacy programs. What’s not to love?!
They’re so, so ridiculously soft and just so damn pretty I know I’ll love them forever.

Neutrogena Hand Cream

This $7.50 hand cream comes pharmacy recommended and it’s the only thing that takes care of my weird psoriasis-dermatitis-eczema thing on my hands (that are always dry anyway) that oddly comes up whenever I’m super stressed? Anyway this balm is a literal life saver. I’m talking my hands being so badly chapped and dried that they were cracking and bleeding – this is the only thing that helps them and does a proper job of it.

Dr Dennis Gross MD Hydration Boost

Ohmygod do I love this stuff. Ohmygod ohmygod. It can be used as a serum, mixed into moisturiser, mixed into make up, pressed on top of make up… Ah!
I use this as my serum and my skin loves it. Plump, juicy skin results and I don’t get that awful ‘tight’ feeling during the day, even if I’m wearing a full face of make up.

La Mer ‘The Renewal Oil’

This has been a long time coming, and by that I mean, I’ve saved my pretty pennies and used vouchers and waited until I absolutely could not live without this anymore. The Renewal Oil combines Miracle Broth with natural actives to revitalise and restore the skin. For me? It takes care of dry patches, evens my skin out, helps any blemishes to heal themselves up a little quicker, also aids in preventing blemishes from happening sometimes, and gives my skin that Chrissy Teigen glow which really, aside from everything she cooks and her #goals marriage and cute bubba, isn’t that what we all want? Hot tip from Clare at Mecca; sleep in a layer of this over Sunday Riley’s Good Genes (which I’ve raved about before) for the best, glowiest, freshest skin of yo’ life. It’s actually life changing skin care.

Urban Decay Illuminated Trio

I’m sorry to say this guy was limited edition, but I’m not sorry to say that I got it and I love it and and and just look at the swatches! Look at them! Look at the pigment! The shimmer! The glow! 


I love layering them one over the other for a multidimensional, unique glow look. I also love brushing the shade ‘Oasis’ over my shoulders and collarbones on a night out.

This Works Energy Breathe 

My best friend during stressful, thesis, I-can’t-do-this-anymore-and-I’ve-exceeded-my-daily-caffeine-limit friend, this guy has actually been helping me get to sleep on these particularly sticky, awful summer nights. Something about the aromatherapy benefits must really work with my system – my head feels clearer, my body unwinds, and I can feel myself relaxing as soon as this guy’s rolled over my pulse points. Is it a placebo affect? I honestly don’t care. To be able to fall asleep within 10-15 minutes of going to bed is amazing for me and my highly strung brain. So regardless of whether it’s “real” or not, it’s a winner for me.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Creamy Gloss Oils in Tickle Me Peach


You may have seen me sporting Stila’s Venezia on my Instagram posts because I love the coral-red shade – however matte lips aren’t always my best friend because my lips are almost always dry (like the rest of my skin). But I love that coral-red shade! Enter: new lips from Too Faced. Cream oil glosses that mildly stain the lip, provide hydration, smell like peach pie, and look really, really cute in Boomerangs. Check the swatch for colour pay-off – so bright! But still so buildable and creamy! Peachy perfect.

Anastasia Beverly Hills, the Modern Renaissance Palette
 Yup. I did it. The Insta famous, gorgeous, pigmented, heavenly palette is finally mine and as I’ve already said those pigments GOT ME SHOOK. 
Check the swatches.
YEAH. THOSE ARE REAL COLOURS. The Burnt Orange in particular is a new fave. Add the fact that I’ve studied Renaissance history and art quite a bit in my time, and this palette is well on its way to being one of my most coveted beauty possessions.
















Samantha Wills Bohemian Bardot Ring

Almost like red lipstick, but in jewellery form. Pretty much, no matter what I’m wearing or doing, if I put this ring on I suddenly feel a heck of a lot more sophisticated and cooler than I actually am. I adore Samantha Wills jewellery and I find the white stone works with pretty much everything in my wardrobe, whether it be boyfriend jeans and a tee, or a sun dress and Chucks.

QUAY Australia sunnies in Modern Love

These cat eye, matte black framed sunnies are not only my favourites, but they cover my whole eye area (I’m constantly getting burnt under my eyes which is the worst place to be burnt aside from the butt) and protect my eyes from sun strain. And they just look so gorgeous on! Gotta love being sun smart and chic.

Mecca Costmetica Mineral SPF 30

I’ve raved about this already but I need to go again because it’s seriously so lovely. No reactions, no break outs, and more importantly, no sunburn. I love this as a daily option, but also underneath my make up. My only tiny qualm is the pump doesn’t always want to be my friend, but even then it’s so easy to twist open! Yay for being sun smart!

Byredo Bal D’Afrique, EDP

This scent was inspired by Paris in the 1920’s at the beginning of the Modernist/jazz movement. Think the movie Midnight in Paris in parfum form. Personally I love it because it kinda smells like cake? Think heady summer evenings, buttery smooth vermouth and low jazz on a hot night, a haze of cigarette smoke in the air with the quiet French chatter in the background.

Links are in the titles because I figure if I love something maybe you’ll maybe like it a lot too. February was literally a blur, but these favourite things made it a fun, buttery-scented blur!
Until next time,

Tweet tweet xx

Pool Time

I’ve started swimming!
Oh, I already told you all that. Well, what I didn’t tell you was how I’m managing all that chlorine exposure, and what fills up my pool bag each time I head to my local swimming hole.
Gotta tell ya though, it’s only been two weeks but swimming laps has already made such a difference – I’m sleeping better, I’m thinking more clearly, and I’m just feeling better in general.





So first things first (I’m the realest) I’ve invested in a good, proper pair of bathers; a black Speedo suit with a zipper up the front, shelf bra support, and chlorine resistant fabric. It’s actually super comfortable, and the fit is really flattering. I’ve also bought new goggles (because my old ones are MIA) by Vorgee called the ‘Dorsal’ in pink (duh) that fit very securely and keep water out of my eyes better than any pair I’ve had before.

I don’t do the swim-cap thing, mainly because I don’t own one, but also they remind me of childhood swim lessons and I HATED those rubber domes of doom that would leave red raw marks and snapped painfully on my forehead. So for now they’re a no-go.
My actual bag is an oldie but a goodie, with three different compartments, the back two being foil lined and fairly waterproofed, perfect for wet towels, thongs and bathers. The middle compartment is where I stash my clear toiletries bag and other Very Necessary Swim Things.

At home, I cleanse, and pop on a little Bright Eyes eye treatment from Goldfaden MD, followed by Drunk Elephant Hydra-B Gel. Then I pat a HEAP of oil over my face (lately I’ve been favouring Goldfaden MD Fleuressence, Chantecaille Rosede Mai oil, and Flora by Sunday Riley) to act as a barrier against the pool water. Over that I pop on Mecca Cosmetica’s Mineral Gel SPF 30 and walk over to the pool.
Once I’m there, I jump quickly under the shower, and then smother my hair in Bumble& bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner and whack it up into a bun. I’ll then rub either Lucas Paw Paw or my Lanolips Multibalm into my cuticles to protect my nails and hands. It’s all about building barriers between my skin and the pool chlorine.
And then I swim!

As soon as I’m out I jump in the shower – priority is getting the skin as clean as possible. I cleanse with Glam Glow Thirsty Cleanse to try and give back the hydration lost in the pool, and wash my hair with the Bumble & bumble Hairdressers’ Oil shampoo and conditioner. I have a body wash from a hotel toiletry set, and a mini body lotion as well.  Believe it or not, the body wash doesn’t quite cut it and I often get home still feeling chlorine-y, so I’ll usually have another shower or scrub with some Frank Bod to make sure my skin is really well and truly chlorine free.
Once home I’ll also opt for a hydrating mask like Thirsty Mud, or a Karuna sheetmask, to really, properly apologise to my skin for stripping it in the pool. And of course, finished off with more facial oil, because it’s nice to feel nice y’know?
Should any changes come up with this pretty solid (thus far) pool routine I’ll let you know.

Until next time,
Tweet tweet xx



The January Edition

Hello

We’re eleven days into January and I’m pleased to report I’ve accomplished two of the things I really, really wanted to do in 2017.

First; Zoe Foster Blake acknowledged my existence via emoji and it was glorious. I posted via @beautybyasparrow on Instagram about aiming to complete more Teeny Tiny Acts of Love (#ttal) this year and the ethereal @ZoTheySay seemed to like that sentiment quite a bit. As you can imagine on the third of Jan I was pretty chuffed, borderline hysterically excited over it all. EEEEE!





Second, I finally did exercise that wasn’t incidental (i.e. wasn’t just me running for the train/running on the shop floor/squatting to reach into drawers) and swam laps at my local pool. Got myself some schmick new bathers from Speedo (chlorine resistant and a built-in shelf bra!) as well as cute new goggles and did the thing. The swimming thing. Swimming, swimming, in a swimming pool… breaststroke, sidestroke, fancy diving too, oh don’t wish you never had anything else to do but.. I digress.



Point is, both of these things have contributed to my overall idea for 2017 – not a resolution, or a goal, because they come with pressure and guilt and other shitty things – that idea being just to be healthy in 2017. Properly healthy! Not super fit or a clean eater or ripped body or any of that business, just healthy. In every way, too – I’m one of those people that get so caught up in whatever it is they're doing that physical activity, mental health breaks, and sleep, become second priority. I’m guilty of it especially when I’m studying or trying to do too many things at once. And maybe a teeny part of me didn’t feel like it mattered if I didn’t eat right or work out enough, because maybe I didn’t matter.

Well that attitude is staying the heck back in 2016. I like me (and I hope you like you too!) and I need to start treating myself a bit better. Beauty can be a handy shortcut to small acts of self-care. Each time you choose to take care of yourself, whether it be as simple as washing your hair, or as big as a full body massage, or even just painting a new colour on your tootsies, you’re deciding you’re worth looking after. And I sincerely hope you always feel like you’re worth caring for, and that your health – as well as your beauty routine – is a priority.

TO MORE FUN THINGS!









This month is already flying on by, and I’ve already had to repurchase some faves. “Which faves?!” you ask. “I’m telling you now!” I shout back, srsly guys learn to scroll…

HOURGLASS
Mineral Veil primer, because it’s been FREAKIN’ HOT and water resistant primer is your friend. Sweat can take a backseat to my foundation when I’ve got that guy on. SPF 15 because again, it’s been FREAKIN’ HOT, and light colour correction. Ah, the love I have for this primer!
I’ve hit pan on Luminous Light Ambient Powder (which is so totally devastating), so I went ahead and got the Ambient Lighting Wardrobe to replace it. Three more new Ambient Light Powders to play with, yay! Mineral based, glowing, and foundation setting. What more could a gal want?

URBAN DECAY
I went through my All Nighter setting spray so quickly in this heat, so I wasn’t surprised I needed a new one so soon. This time I opted for Chill, which is a hydrating setting spray that leaves the skin with a frosted sheen. Hoping it’ll be as make up securing as its predecessor.

FRANK BOD
Do I even need to tell you? Do I even need to explain how much I adore this scrub? And Frank knows I adore his body cream. I’m on my fifth tub. I think I’m going to have to stock up because if they ever stop making it I’m screwed.

BUMBLE & BUMBLE
Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner – for starters it smells like happiness. I bought the mini for my swimming bag (yeah guys I have a swim bag now, it’s a thing). The theory goes that if you wet, and then smother your hair in conditioner, chlorine can’t penetrate the hair shaft as easily, thus minimising the damage. I tried it at my last swim and when I got out of the pool my hair didn’t feel totally horrible and stripped, so I’m tentatively confirming the theory works?

And that’s all for me! What are you favourite, must-replace-ASAP-products? Tell me, let me snoop in your make up bags…
Until next time,

Tweet tweet xx

DECEMBER



Y’know how you watch someone do something you can’t, and aside from your first thought being HOLY SHITSNACKS THAT’S COOL, your next thought is, “Oh I wish I could do that”.

Well I get that every time I watch Natasha complete a make-up application.

So at the end of this year, after watching her (not in a creepy way, like, in an admirable/we work in the same space way) talents she asked if I wanted a make up shake up session and I said a wholehearted all capslocked YAS because I have zero chill (literally zero, ask Tash and all of my friends and family).

We picked a day and I went over to her studio/house and we ate pasta with bacon, and then got stuck into changing up the mug of mine.
Natasha created two looks for me; one that was signature Tash glow, and another heavier, smokier look.

I prepped my skin with Eve Lom Hydration Serum, followed by La Mer Soft Lotion.

From Natasha;
SIGNATURE LOOK


 

I’m all about glowy skin and have a less is more attitude towards coverage. To get flawless coverage that looked minimal I mixed 1 part Ellis Faas with 1 part Josie Maran Illuminator (half foundation half liquid gold TBH) applied with a Zoeva flat kabuki.

On areas that need more coverage such as the chin and under the eyes, I buffed concealer using a fluffy domed shadow brush – this allows you to  blend the edges seamlessly and make concealer almost undetectable, it just looks like skin.

The skin always looks fresher with cream and liquid products so I always like to work with cream colours first. Stila convertible colours are my fave because they keep their shine and don’t dry matte and for cream highlighter I can’t go past Copacobana (by Nars). Skin was set with Hourglass Diffused Light (on a fluffy brush applied very lightly), warmed up with Luminous Bronze Light and extra glowed with Mecca Enlightened.

My take;
I still can’t believe that Tash took products I already used and made me look completely different with them. Natasha also gave me a very soft, semi-natural, glowing bronze-based eye that I really loved. It wasn’t overly dramatic but it was a little more lined that I’d usually go for and I loved it. Thought we did have an almost hiccup – Tash forgot I’m allergic to Too Faced Chocolate Bar (I KNOW I’M SO UPSET) and almost came at me with it haha! Luckily we went for Too Faced Sweet Peach instead (palette returning soon, according to Snapchat!) which provided all the warm, rosy-bronze shades you see below. Natasha also used a Stila Smudge Stick along my waterline to create that super sexy, not-too-overdone look.

Natasha’s Take;
DRAMA EYE

 

Black smoky eye using MAC paint pot in Black Ground. It’s super pigmented and dries fast so use synthetic brushes – natural bristles just don’t cut it here. I applied this shadow all over the lid and pressed MAC Black Track shadow on top.

The trick to making a black smoky eye non-intimidating is to blend it out with brown, so I used a medium brown shade by Inglot and Too Faced Natural Matte (Sexpresso and Risqué – mostly under eye) on the border of the eye crease I used the orange shadow in that palette. Warm tones always soften it out and make it much more wearable. Use natural bristles here if possible!
Then I used a Stila Smudge Pot for the waterline and upper lash line – no flick, winged liner ruins smoky eyes and that’s when it becomes a glamour eye.

Amp up the skin with a deeper blush shade and add a bit of contour – Paloma by Nars here!

My take;
Not gonna lie, when Tash was getting her brush worked into the MAC black pot shadow I had a teeny tiny minor freak out because I’ve never ever ever EVER put black directly onto my own lid. Minor panic. Total faith in Natasha, but black is a tricky colour. And my version of a smoky eye almost always involves a wing (that was an interesting moment, I’ve never considered my make up style glam but whaddya know?). All of the layering, blending, dabbing, brushing, smoothing, buffing and smudging was incredible to experience. Natasha made it look easy as anything, never once faltering, even when my eyes pulled their “There’s-nothing-wrong-but-we’re-going-to-water-up-ANYWAY” trick. A favourite for every and any make-up artist I’ve ever had touching my face.

When she had finished I felt like a new woman. My eyes were a different shape, by far more sultry than anything I’d done before, and my wide, big eyes were actually a benefit here, because often smoky eyes lose half their effect when the eye is open. I was a bit chuffed to hear my big ol’ bug eyes were good for something.

Tash popped a Smashbox exclusive lip on me, Phil, a beautiful, perfect pinky-nude and that was beautiful too.

We did a bit of a photo shoot and I gotta tell ya that was probably the best bit. Tash told me to be serious and sexy and sultry and anyone who has a friend knows the minute you try pulling serious sexy faces this happens;



Ten minutes later we had some great shots and a cute Boomerang to boot.

WHAT I TOOK AWAY
I’m on the right track with Ellis Faas and Josie Maran. The way I apply my concealer has completely changed, and whilst I haven’t yet attempted the smoky eye on my own, I have tried the glowy bronze look and I found it easier to do after Natasha’s tips!

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME FOR THE 12 DAYS OF BLOGMAS! Enjoy Christmas and New Year’s, little birds, and I’ll see you for more beauty-ful adventures in 2017.


Tweet tweet xx
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