It’s been a while since I last shared my favourite things so I thought it’s about time I update you. This post will be a mix of beauty, fashion and lifestyle favourites. I’ve compiled everything I’ve loved and currently loving in this post so check them out below.

I thought I’d start off with my beauty favourites and I’ve sorted it into skincare, makeup and haircare.

For skincare, I have these two heroes: Loveskin Waiwai Serum and the Volo Skincare Anti-blemish spray. I’ve been using these products religiously and I love them. Currently, my skin has been the worst it’s been for a year and a half but it’s due to me messing with my hormones with the pill etc. Anyway, before I wreaked havoc on my hormones, these two were my skin lifesavers especially last year. They’re both NZ brands too which is awesome.

I love Loveskin so much and I highly recommend it. I actually have a 20% off discount code (ASTYLECOLLECTOR20) if you want to try it out. I don’t get anything from it but you get a discount which is great. I will eventually write a specific blog post about Loveskin but at the moment, I’m just waiting for my hormones to balance out and for my skin to heal.

I limited myself to sharing just three makeup favourites and I cut it down to these three: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit palette, MECCA Cosmetica Enlightened From Within Illuminating Balm and the Wet N Wild Retractable Brow Pencil. 

The Hourglass palette was a limited edition one a few years back. I’ve been using it every day for work and I’ve hit pan on each one. I have two blushes left and a tiny bit of the finishing powder. Hourglass powders are so fine and so good. I think the palettes are worth it. The MECCA highlighter balm is amazing. I love this pot and it would last ages. For brows, the only thing I have used day in, day out is the Wet N Wild eyebrow pencil. I’ve gone through so many of these but it’s super cheap and works well.

For haircare, I have these three: Goldwell Dry Boost texture spray, Goldwell Curly Twist Salty Oil Spray and the OUIA Wave Spray. I was sent the Goldwell products and I started using them straight away. They both smell great and work well on my hair. I have my hair wavy/curly and the surf oil is a great product for my waves to last and for it to be less frizzy. The Dry Texture Spray is great at also keeping it together and add texture. I got the Wave Spray from Sephora in Melbourne as I heard it’s good and I love it. I spray it in the morning after I’ve unraveled my waves. It smells great and I’m almost out of it so I will repurchase this.

A few months ago, I got a lash lift at Brow Theory in Takapuna. I absolutely loved the result and it lasted around 7-8 weeks on me. I have dead straight Asian lashes so having the lash lift worked wonders. I actually preferred how my lashes looked without mascara most days. After my first lash lift, I started using the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Serum. I read good reviews online and decided to buy it because it’s probably the most affordable one out in the market at $25.99 from Farmers. I saw it work in a week and my lashes grew longer. I’ve now moved onto using Revitalash upon the recommendation of the ladies at Brow Theory but it’s early days so I can’t tell if it’s working yet. If you’re after a cheap and quick-acting lash serum, try this one instead.

I also want to give a shout out to the Silk Pillowcase. I started using one back in June and I haven’t looked back. I have seen a difference in my hair when I switched to a silk pillowcase and I don’t get the sleep lines on my face either! I highly recommend getting one.

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For my fashion favourites, I have two jackets:

I got this denim jacket from Target in Melbourne at the start of the year and I’ve used it so much since. Last time I had a denim jacket was when I was a little kid. This was quite affordable and I like that it’s not a stiff denim fabric. I loved pairing it with this pink Postie dress.

When winter finally came, I couldn’t wear the denim jacket any more so I bought a faux leather jacket. I wasn’t willing to invest in a real one because of the price but I saw this jacket from Postie and I am so glad I bought it.

Unfortunately I can’t find this jacket on their website anymore but this was $50 and I have worn it so much. On the left, I paired it with a knot front jumpsuit, also from Postie.

Lastly, I really want to share my awesome discovery of Bonds underwear. I hate wearing bras. I hate underwire bras even more as they’re evil contraptions and I can’t remember the last time I actually wore a bra with underwire. Thankfully I don’t have the biggest pair of boobs so I can get away with wearing bralets. This year I bought a lot of these Bonds Originals Triangle Bra from Farmers. They are so comfy and I have matching undies so I feel even better with them on. They’re for more every day practical wear but if you want something nicer, the Intimitely range will be the better option. I also have these ones for work because they’re padded so the nips won’t be noticeable. I swear by Bonds now and I can basically get rid of everything else besides my Lonely Lingerie (also a fave but more of a special day kinda thing).

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In terms of food, this year I started getting a Hello Fresh box every fortnight. I do it because it’s so convenient when I get home from work and I don’t have to think about what to cook for dinner. Everything is there and ready to be chopped up and cooked. I’ve enjoyed all the meals I’ve tried so far. There were probably two that were average but the rest have been great.

I know everyone seems to have tried Hello Fresh at this point but if you haven’t and want to give it a go, you can have 50% off your first box by using my code ANGTAG.

I have also tried a different food box called Fresh Start which has lower calorie meals. I enjoyed that too but it’s more expensive and you can’t choose your meals. If you’re after losing weight by cutting back calories, I’d recommend Fresh Start. If you want to be able to choose your meals and be more flexible in terms of how many meals you get per box, Hello Fresh would be a better choice.

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Fitness has been a big part of my life since I started going to the gym towards the end of last year. I initially joined the Council Leisure centre and they’re great as they have Les Mills classes. I really enjoyed going there and doing Bodycombat and Bodypump. However, I had to drive there which adds time and effort. I’ve also tried Classpass for a month and I enjoyed doing Reformer Pilates.

Back in June, a new gym opened close by called ALLFIT. My sister and I signed up on their opening weekend and I’ve been going ever since. This gym has different classes such as boxing, pilates, spin, yoga, HIIT and the machines on the floor are all new and great. I like how it’s within walking distance to my house.

I prefer group classes and that’s how I enjoy working out. My favourite is boxing. It’s such a great stress reliever for me and I love feeling so strong afterwards. Pilates is also great for toning. So far I have managed to go 2-3 times a week and I walked there and back during the middle of winter! I love it. It only took 29 years for me to enjoy some form of physical activity! Haha. My advice is to find a workout you love because if you keep forcing yourself to do something you don’t enjoy it’s not sustainable.

Because I’ve been really motivated going to the gym, I finally treated myself to a matching activewear set. My first one is this Lorna Jane set that I got during one of their massive sales and has been a favourite of mine since.

It wasn’t cheap as most of my activewear are from Kmart or opshopped but I love how I feel when I have it on. The tights are so comfy I wear it at home just lounging. I also don’t know how the bra is so supportive yet makes my boobs look great. Hahaha. It’s awesome.

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This last part I thought I’d share my favourite media stuff such as books, TV shows and music.

I started to read a bit more this year and these three books have been my favourites so far.

Becoming by Michelle Obama is a great read. I really enjoyed learning how she started and the behind the scenes of what’s it’s like being in the White House. I think she’s amazing and inspirational. Educated by Tara Westover is a thrilling book. It’s a memoir and she talks about how she grew up in a radical survivalist family who did not believe in education and modern healthcare.  It’s not an easy book to read especially there is abuse and violence but I couldn’t put this book down. Everything I know about Love by Dolly Alderton is a must read for any woman. It’s hilarious and so relatable.

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So my favourite TV shows are on Netflix:

Schitt’s Creek is the best. It’s hilarious and I love the characters. I was recommended it ages ago but didn’t get around to watching it until a few months ago. I highly recommend it. David is my favourite character but his whole family is so funny.

I also love Queer Eye. It’s a feel-good, heartwarming show and I get emotional watching it. I need a fab 5 in my life and I wish Jonathan Van Ness is my best friend. The other two I want to mention are Brooklyn 99 and Kim’s Convenience.

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Lastly in terms of music, I haven’t listened to anything besides Taylor Swift’s new album Lover.

I’ve always liked Taylor Swift and the first concert I ever went to was her Speak Now Tour. Over the years she’s brought out great albums, Red being my absolute favourite but Lover is almost beating it right now.

She’s so good at putting feelings and emotions into words and I swear there is a Taylor Swift song for every emotion I’m feeling. I love this new album. I have so many favourite lines in her songs.

1. Daylight

I heard this song and instantly loved it. I even loved it more when I read her explanation that she chose to put this song last as it recognises past damage and pain but shows that it doesn’t have to define you. I related to this song the most.

♫ I don’t wanna look at anything else now that I saw you
I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you
I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night
And now I see daylight, I only see daylight ♫

Also, I LOVE the outro:

I wanna be defined by the things that I love
Not the things I hate
Not the things I’m afraid of, I’m afraid of
Or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night
I, I just think that you are what you love

2. Lover

I just love this song and it makes me want to slow dance every time I listen to it.

♫Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out, and take me home (Forever and ever)
You’re my, my, my, my lover♫

♫My heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue
All’s well that ends well to end up with you
Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover
And you’ll save all your dirtiest jokes for me
And at every table, I’ll save you a seat, lover♫

3. Cornelia Street 

This is my sister’s favourite. It’s a great one.

♫And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends
I’d never walk Cornelia Street again
That’s the kinda heartbreak time could never mend
I’d never walk Cornelia Street again♫

4. False God

I slept on this song til about last weekend when I realised how amazing it was. The saxophone beginning and just everything. I also love this sexy side of Taylor Swift. Haha

♫I know heaven’s a thing
I go there when you touch me, honey
Hell is when I fight with you
But we can patch it up good
Make confessions and we’re begging for forgiveness
Got the wine for you♫

5. Death By A Thousand Cuts

It’s the breakup song in this album and apparently it was inspired by the movie Someone Great (I loved this movie too).

♫Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts
Flashbacks waking me up
I get drunk, but it’s not enough
’Cause the morning comes and you’re not my baby♫

♫You said it was a great love, one for the ages
But if the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?♫

♫My heart, my hips, my body, my love
Tryna find a part of me that you didn’t touch

My time, my wine, my spirit, my trust
Tryna find a part of me you didn’t take up
Gave you too much, but it wasn’t enough
But I’ll be alright, it’s just a thousand cuts♫

6. Paper Rings

This song sounds like it could be in the soundtrack of 10 Things I Hate About You.

♫I want to drive away with you
I want your complications too
I want your dreary Mondays
Wrap your arms around me, baby boy♫

Okay I’m going to stop although I also love The Man, Cruel Summer and Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince because this will end up as a full review / quote of my favourite lines of every song in her album.

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I hope you enjoyed this long blog post. If you made it through the end, thank you! I had a lot of favourite things I wanted to share. I haven’t done a favourites post in such a long time and I actually enjoyed writing this. The things I’ve featured in here has made me happy and I hope you found some it useful.

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