Beauty Bliss - Buy Makeup Online

The day has finally come- our favourite NZ Beauty Guru Shaaanxo has released her very own eyeshadow palette with her brand, xoBeauty!

With 12 beautiful shades that are half vibrant mattes, half super intense shimmer shades, and a mixture of neutrals and pops of colour, the Heaps of Sweets palette has everything you'd need for a gorgeous eye look. The shades are rich in colour, extremely pigmented and easy to blend. We're obsessed with the sweets themed packaging- even the names are on theme!

As with all xobeauty products, this palette is vegan and cruelty free.The Shades:
GUMDROP - A medium, warm purple with bright undertones. A fun pop of color for the lower lash line or crease. (Matte)
LOLLIPOP - Shannon's dream purple. A medium/deep purple with slight cool undertones. (Shimmer)
MACARON - A light warm neutral shade. Perfect for in the crease or all over for a simple look. (Matte)
SUGAR - A pale champagne with pink undertones. Perfect for highlighting or brightening any look. (Shimmer)
BONBON - A medium/deep indigo purple. Perfect for smoking out any eye look. (Matte)
CUPCAKE - The perfect taupe that goes with any skintone. Gorgeous all over the eye lid for a smokey look. (Shimmer)
BROWNIE - An essential chocolate brown. Use this to darken the outer corners or to create a smokey eye. (Matte)
PRETZEL - Shannon's dream copper that makes any eye color pop! Apply all over the lid for a gorgeous look. (Shimmer)
APRICOT - A medium coral. Gorgeous paired with warm shadows & a bronzed complexion for a summery look! (Shimmer)
VANILLA - A light cool toned neutral that leans purple. Perfect for an all-over look or in the crease. (Matte)
CARAMEL - The perfect all-over color to make your eyes pop, or in the crease & outer corner to deepen your look. (Matte)
HOKEY POKEY - A bright yellow with warm undertones. Gorgeous on any skin tone for a golden finish! (Shimmer)

---

We're also extremely excited to let our Wellington customers know that Shaaanxo will be in store on the 9th of November 2019 to celebrate the launch of the palette and meet as many of you as she can - the meet up will be going from 1:30pm till 3pm and we really hope to see you all there.

From Shannon: "Ever since I created my own beauty brand, xoBeauty, I have had a goal to create my own eyeshadow palette. I have been working on this #heapsofsweets palette for SO LONG and I'm so happy that it is finally here! In this palette you will find the perfect blend of warm and cool tones, colourful shades and every day neutrals, a one stop shop palette for day and night.

To all of my followers and supporters, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me. I hope you love this palette as much as I do! This one goes out to all of you! Stay sweet xoxo"

We're excited to have a selection of items from the Shane X Jeffree Conspiracy Collection arriving here at Beauty Bliss. The official launch date (in NZ time) is: 6am Saturday 2nd November.

THIS IS GOING TO SELL OUT!! We wish we had more, we really do. However, we urge you to consider shopping on jeffreestarcosmetics.com as we think our stock will sell out in under 1 minute. We love you all and appreciate your support.

We'll be stocking the following:

• Conspiracy Palette ($109 NZD)
• Mini Controversy Palette ($54 NZD)
• Velour Liquid Lipstick / Are You Filming? ($34 NZD)
• Velour Liquid Lipstick / I Gotta Go ($34 NZD)
• Velour Liquid Lipstick / Jeffree, What The Fuck? ($34 NZD)
• The Gloss: Shane Glossin' ($34 NZD)

Sorry, but the following will not be available: Lipstick collection, Bundles, Lip Balm, Mirrors, Bags, Clothing. We recommend you visit jeffreestarcosmetics.com to buy these directly.

---

Frequently asked questions:

Can I pre-order or reserve stock?
No sorry. The worldwide release time is the same for everyone. Be up with us at 6am for your best chance of securing stock!

Is there are limit on the number of items I can purchase?
Due to extremely limited stock we are restricting orders to one palette (of each type) per person. There is no limit at this stage for the lip products, however we reserve the right to cancel orders if we have reason to believe you are purchasing to on-sell.

When will I receive my order & how much is shipping?
Stock has been air-freighted over to NZ, so orders will be processed as soon as they come in. You should expect to receive your order Tuesday - unless you are in a rural area or there is an unexpected delay with Courier Post. New Zealand orders over $50 are shipped free of charge.

Will the products be available in-store?
No sorry. We expect this collection to sell out online before our Wellington store opens.

Can I pay using Afterpay?
Yes, all of our normal payment methods will be available.

Will you be restocking?
We are unsure at this stage but a restock within the next 6 months is very unlikely.

Does 'Adding to Cart' reserve my products?
No. Stock is not secured until payment is received. We are a small team in New Zealand facing our biggest launch ever and are doing everything we can to ensure that there are no website issues, but please bear this in mind. We can not guarantee you will be able to secure everything you want, however we of course guarantee a refund should you be charged and miss out.

Isn't the release date the 1st?
Jeffree's release time of 10am PST 1st Nov translates to 6am 2nd Nov here in New Zealand due to the time difference.

Your ghd gold styler is so much more than a straightening tool! With it's elegant round barrel, it's easy to create curls using your ghd gold.

Step 1: Section your hair using sectioning clips.
Step 2: Place your ghd gold root of one of the sections, and rotate 360° as you glide through to the ends.
Step 3: Repeat this technique, always working in one direction away from the face.
Step 4: Gently brush through the curls with a brush for an ultra-glamorous finish. Apply hairspray to set.

The lovely @chelseaellis_mua created a video to show just how easy it is to create a soft curl:

So as you can see, creating an awesome style is pretty easy! Some of the other great features of this styler are:

• Automatic sleep mode. Ever get paranoid you've left your styler on? Me too! Don't worry, this baby switches itself off if not used for 30 minutes.
• Heat resistant protective plate guard. This is kind of a big deal if you're shoving your styler into your gym bag.
• 25 second heat up time. Super fast!
• Professional length 2.7m cable. Power point kind of far away from your mirror? ghd's got you :)
• Optimum styling temperature of 185°C. This one is really important, and something cheaper stylers often don't deliver on. Any hotter damages the hair, any cooler and the result is compromised.

Our favourite YouTuber Shaaanxo is visiting Wellington! Come meet her in store and try out her brand new 'Heaps of Sweets' palette.

Date: Saturday 9th November 2019
Time: 1:30pm
Where: Beauty Bliss, 1/148 Willis Street, Wellington

Questions we frequently receive about Jeffree Star Cosmetics:

Are your Jeffree Star Cosmetics products authentic?

Yes. All the products from all of our brands are authentic and purchased directly from the brand or their authorized distributors. We are listed on the JSC Official Stockists page as an authorized retailer for New Zealand.

Will you be restocking a particular product or shade?

We frequently restock JSC products and participate in new launches. However if a product you're after was Limited Edition, it's likely that it won't be restocked. However Jeffree does re-release products in core packaging from time-to-time. Please feel free to contact us via email or Live Chat if you'd like to ask about a particular product.

Can I buy Jeffree Star products in store?

Yes! All of the Jeffree Star Cosmetics products on our website are also available to test and purchase at our Wellington store.

Will you be selling Jeffree Star clothing?

We don't have plans to sell clothing, we recommend buying these items direct from jeffreestarcosmetics.com

To celebrate 15 years of supporting breast cancer charities, ghd have collaborated with tattoo artist David Allen to create an original design based on his acclaimed work in concealing mastectomy scars.

For almost ten years now, David Allen, a Chicago-based tattoo artist, has made it his mission to help women reclaim their femininity after breast cancer and take back control of their body. Flowers are used as they symbolise life, rebirth and femininity, empowering women and giving back the control over their bodies.

We are proud to stock this collection here at Beauty Bliss where $20 will be donated from the sale of each styler to the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Shop the collection

The team at Rave for Good visited us to film a little intro video to Beauty Bliss :)

The #JAWBREAKER Summer collection from Jeffree Star is almost here! We've seen some amazing JSC collections over the years, but this one is without a doubt our favourite. Like previous collections, we'll launch in the early hours of the morning at the exact same time as Jeffree. 5am, Saturday 22nd June

We'll be stocking the following products:

• Jawbreaker Palette - $109
• Mini Breaker Palette - $54
• Brain Freeze Skin Frost™ Pro Palette - $69
• Velour Liquid Lipstick: Fully Nude (Peachy warn nude) - $34
• Velour Liquid Lipstick: Strawberry Crush (Neon strawberry red) - $34
• Velour Lip Scrub: Pineapple Juice - $19

The prices above are in NZD, include 15% GST, free shipping over $50 NZD ($60 AUD), Beauty Bliss loyalty points, and super fast shipping :)

All NZ online orders will be shipped on Monday 25th June using Courier Post's overnight delivery service. We have made arrangements to ensure that all orders are shipped this day, and unless there is a delay with Courier Post or you live in a rural area, you will most likely receive your order on Tuesday morning. There may also be a delay if you pay by Internet Banking, so Credit/Debit, PayPal or PartPay is the fastest option.

If you are located in Wellington, you can buy online and pick up from 10am on Saturday morning (when the shop opens). While there will be a small amount of stock reserved for the store, buying online at 5am is your best chance of securing stock.

If you are located in Australia, your order will be shipped Monday and delivery will be dependant on the shipping method you have chosen. Please see our Shipping page for prices & delivery estimates.

Watch Jeffree's full reveal video here:

For those of you who love ballin' on a budget- we've got a collection of makeup items that perform almost the same as their more expensive counter parts. We're here to prove that you don't need to spend a million bucks, to look a million bucks!

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer vs Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer

When Tarte released their full coverage, super matte Shape Tape Concealer, the internet went crazy. People claim it's the only concealer that covers their dark circles, acne and bad choices. Makeup Revolution liked the sound of that, but didn't like the price tag so they went and created their version of the highly rated concealer. Conceal & Define was then born, and instantly received compliments on how similar it was to Shape Tape in terms of coverage, longevity and even packaging.

Revolution also took it a step further and introduced "Conceal & Define Supersize" with double the product of the original launch. The original Conceal & Define is $9.95, and their supersize is $14.95. which is still significantly cheaper than the Tarte Shape Tape at $42 a tube.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette vs Makeup Revolution Velvet Rose Palette

The Anastasia Beverly Hills palettes are known for having highly pigmented, super blendable shades... and their hefty price tag. It's no secret that Makeup Revolution loves to create affordable duplicates of in demand products, and their Velvet Rose palette is almost a shade-by-shade replica of the ABH Soft Glam palette. With a combination of buttery mattes and high-impact metallics, this neutral palette is a must have in anyone's collection. $76 vs $11? I know what I'm going with.

MAC Lipsticks vs Wet n Wild Lipsticks

Mac have some of the most iconic lipsticks with shades such as Ruby Woo, Velvet Teddy and Diva that everyone recognizes. Most people would also consider them a bit of an investment at $40 each. Wet n Wild have come through with some extremely affordable dupes, that range from only $2.99 to $6.49 a pop!

Wet n Wild "Red Velvet" is as close to "Ruby Woo" as you can get without it being the real thing. Mac's "Velvet Teddy" made famous by none other than Kylie Jenner, is almost an identical mauve nude as Wet n Wild's "Bare it All" and the super vampy and sultry "Diva" by Mac is almost a spot on duplicate for Wet n Wilds "Cherry Bomb".

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation vs NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation

The Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation is no stranger to those who are big fans of matte, full coverage foundations. With it's smooth liquidy formula and incredibly high coverage, it's a foundation that people find themselves purchasing over and over. However at a price of $72, it's not exactly the most cost effective. So here comes the Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation at a pretty price of $29.95. While this formulation runs a little thicker, the coverage is comparable, if not more impressive.

---

Now, we're not against high end makeup at all. In fact, we love to splurge on some expensive makeup every now and then, but if you can get similar quality for a much cheaper price - why wouldn't you? Let us know if you know of any awesome dupes!

Jeffree Star is on fire with his new releases this year. We feel like we've only just met & fallen in love with the Magic Star Concealer, and now The Gloss is about to land in New Zealand!

The product details:

• High quality sheer gloss
• 2 finishes: Glitter, and Extreme Gloss
• Signature JSC packaging

The details:

• New Zealand Launch date: 5am Saturday 1st June
• Price: $30 NZD

The shades we'll have at Beauty Bliss:

• Sky High: Glitter finish. Pearl with green reflects.
• Ice Cold: Glitter finish. Pearl with icy reflects.
• Diamond Juice: Glitter finish. Soft champagne.
• Legends Only: Extreme Shine formula. The perfect nude.
• Wet Peach: Glitter finish. Soft coral with gold reflects.

FAQs

When do the glosses go on sale? They'll be available to purchase on beautybliss.co.nz at 5am on Saturday 1st June.

When will they be shipped? Because of the public holiday on Monday (Queen's Birthday), orders will ship on Tuesday 4th June.

Will they be available in your Wellington store? Will you have testers? Yes, we'll have all 5 shades in our Wellington store, but not until mid next week (approx 5th June). We'll post on our Instagram story as soon as the stock arrives.

Will you be stocking other shades? Not at this stage but please let us know if you are interested in other shades. Our customer feedback is what we use when we're making purchasing decisions! :)

You may have heard the buzz about The Ordinary: the effectiveness, the low cost, and the streamlined packaging that makes you feel as neat as a pin inside and out. Like most of us, however, you may have found yourself a little confused as to which products would be best for you.

That's why we're here, with this handy guide to help you figure out what The Ordinary is doing and why it does it so damn well. They have taken skincare to the next level and all it takes its a few spoonfuls of information for you to reap the benefits.

---

The Basics

The Ordinary has a straightforward approach to naming their products: they choose the main ingredient of each one and go with it. That's all, folks. Still, that can be pretty daunting when you're unsure as to what those actual ingredients are. At Beauty Bliss, we stock the cult favourites, so we’re here to help you understand what exactly you’re doing with all the new skincare you’ll undoubtedly fall in love with.

 

The Products

 

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

• What is it? A serum crafted for hydration, hydration and more hydration. This oil-free formula works to leave skin plump, dewy and fresh.
• What does it do? As The Ordinary tells us, our skin sometimes has a bit of trouble absorbing Hyaluronic Acid in the ways it's usually mixed into skincare products. For this reason, this serum contains molecules of HA of varying weight, so as to better aid absorption and keep the skin hydrated. The added shot of B5 promotes added healing and moisturising of areas that may need extra attention, aiding in the growth of stronger tissue.

HYDRATING | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Buffet

• What is it? This serum is a multi-peptide, anti-ageing wonder. It’s packed with the works, hence the cheeky name, and will do everything a bottle of serum can do to help your skin glow like Aphrodite intended. It also happens to be vegan, gluten-, silicone-, alcohol- and nut-free.
• What does it do? Everything a good buffet does: hits the spot, then keeps you coming back for more. It focuses on the varied signs of ageing and does away with them with its clever formulation and myriad of ingredients. More collagen is produced, more moisture is present, and your skin thrives.

ANTI-AGEING | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil

• What is it? As the name suggests, it’s a completely organic, cold-pressed Rosehip Seed Oil.
• What does it do? What doesn’t it do? The benefits are endless, from being a straightforward moisturiser to bursting with antioxidants, essential fatty acids and derivatives of Vitamin A. This oil is created with the promise of rejuvenating and repairing skin, able to aid with brightening the complexion, softening the skin and combating acne.

REPAIR & NOURISH | OIL

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

• What is it? An emulsion that is here to slow down the signs of ageing, breathing youth back into skin and encouraging natural processes to maintain that.
• What does it do? Its main goal is to act as an anti-ageing serum, helping skin cells to turnover quicker, as well as for them to grow healthier and stronger whilst remaining supple. As this sets in, it also slows the degeneration of collagen in the cells in an effort to preserve the skin’s elasticity. It should be used with caution when introducing it into your routine.

ANTI-AGEING | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%

• What is it? This serum is focused on uneven skin tones, texture and exfoliation. It’s pretty powerful, so needs to be used with a bit more care and consideration for your skin’s needs.
• What does it do? It’s here to help you erase the after effects of sun damage, acne and skin troubles. Besides reducing pigmentation and prompting skin renewal, this serum helps you “peel away” the dead skin at the surface as gently as possible to reveal the smoother, younger-looking skin beneath.

EXFOLIATING | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

Natural Moisturising Factors + HA

• What is it? Dry skin has met its match. This is a moisturiser that embodies every sense of the word, crafted for those struggling with papery and rough skin (whether it’s seasonal or all throughout the year).
• What does it do? This moisturiser not only nourishes and hydrates chronically dry skin, but hopes to train it adopting those traits through a combination of naturally-occurring ingredients that encourage healthy absorption and retention. It locks in moisture and can be used whenever you prefer.

HYDRATING

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

• What is it? An elixir brewed for the sleep-deprived, reaching out to those haunted by dark circles and puffiness that come hand-in-hand with one another.
• What does it do? It’s all about that delicate area under your eyes and brightening you up. Not only does this product want to actively help you to look more awake, it also wants you to feel that way. It work its gentle magic to reduce darkness under the eyes and reverse the effects of staying up way too late when you know you shouldn’t.

REDUCE PUFFINESS | DARK EYE CIRCLES | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

• What is it? An exfoliating solution that is made for unclogging pores and treating problem areas/concerns.
• What does it do? Keeps you clean. Skin can grow clogged or full of grime and dirt that definitely doesn't need to be there. This solution is either an answer to problem areas, or an all-over application that helps your skin to breathe as it should. The BHA in this solution helps to gently "unglue" dull/dead skin so it can shed naturally from the surface.

FIGHT BLEMISHES | EXFOLIATE

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%

• What is it? A gentler version of the Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone (below). Made for lightening scars and reducing the appearance of blemishes, this cream is a softer solution to tackling skin issues.
• What does it do? Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C. It acts as an antioxidant that helps with pigmentation and the signs of ageing whilst protecting you from harmful free radicals. The main ingredient is both light- and oxygen-stable, as well as not susceptible to degradation in water. This cream will gently aid with scarring, unevenness and the signs of ageing whilst remaining stable.

REDUCE PIGMENTATION & SCARRING | ANTI-AGEING | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

• What is it? A brightening antioxidant, concentrated on reducing uneven skin tone, particularly effective due to the complete absence of water. 
• What does it do? Vitamin C is a much beloved ingredient when it comes to skincare. It's known for its brightening properties when applied to the surface, able to smooth away leftover scarring and hyperpigmentation in the long run. Studies have found it's only effective in concentrations higher than 30%; said concentration loses its impact in water, which is why this formula is completely water-free and remains stable in silicone. Silicone also has a particular smoothing effect on skin, leaving a light, velveteen sensation behind.

REDUCE PIGMENTATION & SCARRING | WATER-FREE

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

• What is it? A serum made for reducing the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion, completely oil-, alcohol- and silicone-free.
• What does it do? This serum does its best work with redness, scarring and hyperpigmentation. It can be used in both the mornings and the evenings, and helps with maintaining correct oil levels on the sensitive skin of your face. Additionally, this serum can help with reducing the occurrence of breakouts themselves.

REDUCE PIGMENTATION, BLEMISHES, SCARING & CONGESTION | WATER-BASED

SHOP NOW

 

---

 

The Routine

So, you’re probably wondering how you begin to incorporate all of this into your current skincare, right?

You need to understand your own skins needs and concerns, then choose what will help you best. Where relevant, we’ve included whether the products are oil- or water-based, as this determines when and where you’ll add them into your routine. A simple flow of products should follow: cleansing, toning, water-based products, then oil-based products and/or creams.

Depending on your skin type and worries, be wary of mixing products that don’t agree with one another, and of the different times at which certain products should be used. You don’t have to use everything all at once (and certainly shouldn’t), because you never want to overwhelm your skin. Instead, take things step-by-step and introduce products that you feel will benefit you the most.

If you find yourself really unsure of what to do, feel free to contact us. We can figure out what you need together.

See you soon! Raashka.

Glycolic Acid seems to be popping up a lot in the skincare industry lately so what exactly is it, what does it do and is it worth the hype?

Now I'm no scientist but I'm going to give you guys a slightly better insight to Glycolic Acid while still keeping it as simple as possible.

I'll start with some basics. Skin has a pH level of roughly 5.5. Anything with a pH of 8-14 is classed as an alkaline, anything with a pH of 0-6 is classed as an acid.

Most soaps and shampoos have a pH of 8-11 making them efficient at removing excess oils and sweat. Toners are slightly acidic (roughly a pH of 4) to help re-balance the skin after the use of cleansers and soaps. A healthy pH means happy skin.

---

So what exactly is Glycolic Acid and what does it do?

Gylcolic Acid is an acid (duh) that is part of a group of active compounds known as Alpha Hydroxy Acids, also know as AHA's. Once it's applied it reacts with the upper layer of the skin (the epidermis) and weakens the bindings that hold dead skin cells together.

This allows the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin) to be exfoliated to reveal live skin cells giving a fresher, more even complexion!

 

What strength should I be using?

It really does depend on what you're wanting to achieve, how sensitive your skin is and how frequently you're wanting to use it. Because it's an acid, if it's not used correctly you can do more damage than good.

• Anything above a 10% concentration is high and needs to be used with knowledge and caution. Talk to a specialist before using anything with this sort of strength.
• Most Glycolic Acid products that we stock (and that are suitable for daily use) are between a 5% and 7% concentration. Using milder concentrations can provide the same benefits as a salon strength peel with less risk of adverse reactions. The more sensitive your skin is the milder the concentration should be. 5% is a really good starting point and is generally the most common concentration.

Things to keep in mind

• Glycolic acid makes skin more sensitive to the sun. You should be wearing an SPF everyday anyway but it is VERY important when using any kind of AHA's to avoid any damage to the skin.

• On application a little bit of tingling is normal but if there's any burning or uncomfortable sensations wash it off.
• Always follow the product instructions. The people who make these products know what they're talking about.
• Vitamin A products, some medications and other AHAs can can cause reactions. Talk to your doctor before introducing any AHAs into your skincare regime especially if you're on medication that affects the sensitivity of your skin.
• Always, always, always do test patches before introducing AHAs and new products into your regime and always do your research before spending your hard earned dollars on products.

So to sum up: - Glycolic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid. - It's highly effective at exfoliating which helps to brighten and even the appearance of skin. - It restores skin to a healthy pH when used in milder concentrations, and helps to minimise the appearance of blackheads, texture and acne. - Knowledge and a good SPF is important when using these products to avoid damaging the skin.

We have a blog post on The Ordinary range which is a great way to start learning even more about these specialised treatments, what works well together and what doesn't.

Remember, everyone's skin is different so do your research instead of buying something just because it worked for someone else.

Till next time, Courtney xx

The new Limited Edition 2019 ghd Festival Collection has arrived! Each year ghd release limited colourways of their famous products and this one certainly doesn't disappoint - it's a soft rainbow coloured dream, taking inspiration from Dancing Queens of the Carnival Scene.

THE HEADLINER

The main event is the platinum+ styler. Hailed as the world's first 'smart' styler, this hair straightener actually predicts your hair's personal needs and adapts accordingly. So depending on the thickness of your hair and how fast you're styling, it'll actually adjust it's own power level to give you the best possible result.

It also turns itself off after 30 minutes if it's not in use - a handy feature which has saved my forgetful butt a few times already!

SMOOTH & SLEEK STAGE

Next up is the famous ghd gold, in a limited edition rainbow colourway. She's a little easier on the wallet than your platinum+, but delivers outstanding professional results. Because of the sleek round barrel, the gold is great for waves and curl styling too - not just straightening.

BLOWOUT STAGE

Finally, the classic ghd air hair dryer has had a gorgeous festival makeover. With a powerful 2100W professional-strength motor, you can create incredible styles that look like you've stepped straight out of the salon. In fact I've noticed recently that the Air is a popular choice for Wellington hair stylists.

---

And that's the list! Last year our Limited Edition ghds sold out in record time, so don't wait around. These ones will be gone before we know it :)

 

Jeffree Star Cosmetics has dropped ANOTHER amazing collection: the Blue Blood Collection. This collection includes his sixth eyeshadow palette, Blue Blood.

This stunning palette is unlike anything else we stock at BB so we are so excited for it to arrive! In true Jeffree Star fashion, Blue Blood's packaging is a little bit extra (the best kind). Inspired by a jewellery box and a coffin, this 18 pan palette has the same layout as it's sister palette Blood Sugar and includes a beautiful selection of mattes, glitters and shimmer shades. With it's array of cool toned blues and greens and a few nude shades to blend it all together this palette is a cool toned queens dream.

 

First Row:

• Cullinan: Icy white with a metallic finish
• Mintea: Mint with a matte finish
• Crystal Flesh: Champagne with a metallic finish
• I’m Cold: Powder blue with a matte finish
• Untouchable (pressed pigment): Soft peach with a matte finish
• Priceless: Peachy tan with a matte finish

   

Second Row:

• Power: Deep slate gray with blue undertones and a matte finish
• Blue Blood: Sky blue with a matte finish
• Deceased: Deep cayenne blue with a metallic finish
• Ice Tray: Soft pale blue with a metallic finish
• Blue Monday (pressed pigment): Vibrant blue with a matte finish
• Flourishing: Bright teal with green-blue undertones and matte finish

 

Third Row:

• Wealthy: Soft beige with a matte finish
• Celebrity Skin: Soft brown with a matte finish
• Entitled: Metallic teal with a glitter reflect
• Ocean Ice (pressed pigment): Metallic royal blue with a glitter reflect
• Cremated: Dark gray-green with a matte finish
• Undertaker: Deep blue with a matte finish

 

Like the rest of his range the Blue Blood palette is cruelty free and vegan. We are so excited to be able to stock this gorgeous palette.

Till next time, Courtney xx

Welcome to the new GHD Glide!

The first professional hot brush from GHD which tames and smooths dry hair quickly and effortlessly.

Feature Breakdown:

1. Ceramic technology and ionisers: helps to tame hair and eliminate frizz.
2. Combination of high density shorter and longer bristles: means that larger sections of hair can be styled with ease.
3. Heated to 185ºC: This is the optimum temperature for styling; any hotter than this damages the hair, any cooler and the results are compromised.
4. Sleep mode: Switches itself off if it is not used for 60 minutes – which is great for safety and ease of mind!
5. Professional length 2.7m cable

 

As someone who values every second I can stay in bed the GHD Glide is something I'm definitely excited about! Something that brushes my hair aswell as taming and eliminating frizz? What more could someone want!

 

Until next time, Courtney xx

This half skull look looks super impressive, but is actually pretty simple!

1. To start, I drew a rough line over my nose and cheeks with Kryolan Clown White so that I knew how far to take my foundation and regular beauty makeup. I used clown white as it's really easy to smudge out if I make a mistake. This will be covered up later so don't stress about making it precise.

2. I then did my regular makeup on the top half of my face, using the Revolution Velvet Rose Palette to do a bold, dark smokey eye, and topped it off with some xoBeauty Cupid lashes. With all the intensity that's about to happen on thee lower half of my face, i wanted to make sure my eyes had some drama and didn't disappear into my face.

3. To start the skull makeup, I filled the lower half of my face in with the Kryolan Clown White, and set it with the white shade in my Velvet Rose palette to ensure it wouldn't slip around or mix with the gel i'll be using for my skull detailing. Using a white eyeshadow also helps with coverage, since it contains pigment rather than a translucent powder. This makes the white more opaque.

4. I used the Ebony Brow Pomade from Revolution to start drawing in the skull details. You could use a black gel eyeliner for a more intense effect, but i wanted to keep it a tiny bit softer as well as make it easier on myself to remove product if i make mistakes. Looking at a reference photo of a skull helped me figure out where to start drawing in my teeth, nose and cheek bones. The next steps are optional and require sfx products. I think it looks awesome at this point but adding in the latex and blood really takes it to a new level.

5. I wanted to look like my skin had been ripped up and was revealing my skull underneath, so for that i had to make some fake ripped skin. To create this effect, I ripped up bits of tissue, then coated the top of each piece in MakeupPlus liquid latex, and applied it over the line I drew across the centre of my face, making sure my pieces vary in size and shape as we want this to appear random. Once it was in place, I put a bit more Liquid Latex along the top to secure it. Make sure there is no latex securing the bottom of your tissue, we want this to be loose.

6. We now need to make this the same colour as our skin to create a more realistic effect. I applied a small amount of my Revolution Foundation Stick to the tissue, but this doesn't quite cut it as it's being applied onto bright white tissue, so it will appear lighter than it does on skin. To fix this, i set the foundation with my theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer to deepen the shade so it blends in a little more seamlessly with the rest of my face.

7. The final (and my favourite) step - blood! I used the MakeupPlus Thick Stage Blood as it still runs and creates realistic looking drops, but very slowly as it is a much thicker consistency. I used a brush to apply generous amounts under the loose parts of the tissue & latex, allowing it to drip down my face.

1. The first step is to start with a 100% clean face, no moisturiser, no oil, no primer. I find these interfere with the longevity of the wax on the skin and can cause it to start slipping around.
   
   
2. Scooping out a pea sized amount of Kryolan Cine Wax with a makeup spatula I warmed it up on the back of my hand, this makes it easier to apply and to smooth edges down. Pulling the skin along my jaw taut and with the lump of wax now on the end of the spatula, I start at the corner of my mouth and drag the wax outwards and slightly upwards; making sure the majority of the wax is at the start and middle and thins out towards the end of the soon to be wound.
   
   
3. Now that there's a rough shape take the edge of the spatula and slice down the middle of it, don't worry about it being perfect, the chunkier and fleshier it looks the better.
   
   
4. Now taking an old Beauty Blender I covered the whole thing in a coat of Makeup Plus Liquid Latex, I also brought some up around the outside of my mouth making sure to avoid putting it on my lips. This adds a little bit of texture and helps to make the look flow. 
   
   While the liquid latex dried I then did the rest of my makeup.
   
   
5. I used primer all over my face (I didn't put it on the wax), I then used L.A Girl Pro Matte foundation and the Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer and set it all with Kryolan Translucent Powder. Because the wax isn't flesh toned I used my old Beauty Blender to pop a little bit of foundation over the wax once again to help the wax blend in. I also used "Frat Boy" and "Bahama Mama" from theBalm for blush and bronzer. I used a couple of the warm browns from Revolutions Flawless 4 palette to create a soft smokey eye. For my winged liner I used Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner and for my waterline and tight liner I used LA Girl Ultimate Auto Eyeliner in "Ultimate Black". The final touches for the eyes are Carousel Cosmetics Faux Mink Lashes in In A Daydream.
   
   
6. The next step is to start adding some dimension to the wounds. Using the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner and a very fine eyeliner brush I blended this into the areas that I wanted to appear the deepest (under chunks of wax, through the middle of the wound). I then used Unicorn Blood by Jeffree Star Cosmetics to add into the center of the wound and to blend in with the edges of the black. I also used some of this on the outside of the wound in some of the deeper grooves of the wax. Next I used Redrum by Jeffree Star Cosmetics to blend very lightly on the wax to give a fleshy pink colour. I also used this on the inside of the wound aswell to help the other two shades blend together nicely. 
   
   
7. To create the clown detailing on the face i used a Sigma E05 Eyeliner brush and Unicorn Blood from Jeffree Star Cosmetics to roughly draw and fill in the triangles above my brows, I also used this to fill in my brows. This was also used for the dots and lines below my eyes. 
   
   
8. The final step is blood. I used the Kryolan Scratch Blood to go over top of the detailing done with Unicorn Blood in the last step. I then put some on the inside and along the edges of the wound. I also smudge some on my brow bone and on the sides of my nose. You can also use Kryolan Thick Stage Blood to make it a little bit more messy and creepy.

UPDATE: These products have now arrived in store. Shop here

So Revolution have done what we've all been wishing for: released a stick foundation! With a price tag that totally feels like you're saving money by spending it, what's not to love? They've successfully caught our interest, and now it's time to find out if they live up to the hype.

The Fast Base Foundation boasts a full coverage, easy to apply satiny finish that guarantees maximum satisfaction. As you can see, the shade range extends across the board - and the team has hinted to adding even more in the near future. The foundation first popped up on radars when it caused quite a stir after Instagram star Kadeeja Khan (@emeraldxbeauty) released a video of her trying it on for the first time. Now whilst a ton of products can claim to be full coverage, the harsh truth is that we won't really know until someone without perfect, airbrushed skin tries it out (I'm looking at you, Leighton Meester). Khan's video of her achieving perfect coverage with a few, simple strokes, however, had the beauty world taking a step back.

So Khan's dubbed this stick foundation a "God send," but what about the rest of the world? It turns out there's a pretty wide dome of consensus going on, with people claiming this foundation is an alternative to Hourglass' famous Vanish Seamless Finish foundation stick (sans the hefty price tag). Plus, thanks to the similar packaging, the foundation has also been used as a contour stick. Since it's got a pretty hydrating formula, it works best with dry/normal complexions, but oily/combo skin types shouldn't shy away - all you'll need is a great setting powder and you're on your way

To top all of this off, Revolution have promised us that this must-have is cruelty-free and vegan. Just when we thought they couldn't possibly rope us in further! This brand certainly knows how to outdo themselves. Word on the block is that the official launch video actually cast its diverse range from browsing social media platforms. How cool is that?

The great news for you guys is that The Fast Base Foundation is en route to Beauty Bliss - and that means en route to you, too. We'll have it in store pretty soon, so if you want to grab one ASAP, sign up to our alert list below.

See you soon!

Raashka

We're ecstatic to welcome Shaaanxo's incredible brand xoBeauty to Beauty Bliss. This brand is high quality, affordable, and one of our all-time favourites.

Known for their high quality makeup brushes that are manufactured in Italy, and their gorgeous false lashes, xoBeauty is a brand on the rise. We're so humbled to also be the first store to showcase this brand offline - come and visit us to see what all the fuss is about!

xoBeauty Single Lashes

Of the 20 lash styles, we're most excited about "The Soulmate" and "The Romantic".

"The Soulmate" lashes were designed to make you stand out! They are super flirty, long, thick and wispy. These unique lashes have both black and warm brown hairs to subtly highlight your eye colour. They still appear very dark once worn though, so there are no worries about blending these in with your black mascara and eyeliner.

"The Romantic" lashes were designed to create a bit of length, and a bit of volume. They are super full but do not take over your eyes, so they can be worn day or night. Tapered on the inner corner for comfort, and finished off with a beautiful flick and curve on the 'Outer V' to elongate your eye shape. These have an invisible lash band so you can wear them without eyeliner if you wish.

Lipsticks and Liquid Lipsticks

The Luxe Liquid Lipsticks go on opaque and dry down to a comfortable, cream finish. Exfoliate your lips, then apply a thin layer for best results.

These colour pair nicely, and wear great on top of an xoBeauty lip liner. It's best to avoid oily foods when wearing these as the oil breaks them down making them wear off faster. BB staff member Gemma rocks the shade "Impavid" and is also wearing Faux Mink Lashes in "Illusion"!

Single Brushes and Brush Sets

xoBeauty makeup brushes are high quality and hand made in Italy. One of our favourites, the Vegan Rose Gold Brush Set, contains twelve professional quality brushes for both the face and eyes. Each brush features a soft white handle and luxurious rose gold ferrule and metallic rose gold writing.

Visit Us

The xoBeauty range is available online and in our physical stores. Come visit us at 210 Broadway Newmarket (in Auckland), or at 148 Willis Street (in Wellington), we'd love to show you our favourite items and let you have a play with the lipstick and highlighter testers :)

It's getting closer and closer to that all-important day: Mother's Day. In just a short time, mums will be waking up to runny eggs made by their ambitious-yet-hopeless kids, but still manage to be sincerely touched despite the tea having gone cold a good half hour ago. That's the magic of mums, isn't it? They're proud of us no matter what, they love us unconditionally, and they've cared for us like no other. If you're looking for the right way to reward your mum alongside a lot of love, hugs and failed attempts at cooking for her, you're in the right place.

 

Cloud Nine is always a good gift idea, whether your mum wants pin straight hair or luscious curls, it has the means to make her dreams come true. My personal favourite is The Waving Wand, a matte black wand that creates anything from perfect curls to gentle waves in a snap. Cloud Nine products have built-in temperature control, a handy option that lets you find the ideal heat for your hair. They feature a mineral-infused coat, an innovation that not only protects the hair further, but leaves it looking freshly conditioned and smoother than ever. A nice little touch to top this off is the special glove included: it'll keep your mum's hands safe and sound, even if she does happen to be distracted by a sudden and dramatic emergency you have over a missing jumper. The Waving Wand also has a useful kickstand, so it can rest against any surface without damaging it. If that's not enough, the wand turns itself off after thirty minutes if it hasn't been used, which is especially useful when you've all finally managed to leave the house and inevitably start to wonder if it was left on.

 

The second great option for your mum (yes, I'm going to be giving you guys multiple, because I totally know how picky mums can be) is the Eye of Horus Award Winning Gift Box. Quite a mouthful, but so, so worth it. To begin with, Eye of Horus is a brand known for its attention to traditional beauty, incorporating many natural ingredients into their products (such as organic Moringa oil and beeswax), which ensures that sensitive eyes will not be bothered. This gift box includes the best of the brand: Goddess Pencil in Smokey Black, and Goddess Mascara in Black. The Goddess Pencil is a deep black, kohl eyeliner, both water- and smudge-proof, creamy and easy to apply with no parabens in sight. A personal favourite of mine, the Goddess Mascara is just as dark, free of clumping or smearing, with an hourglass brush that makes application an absolute dream. This duo comes in a custom Eye of Horus Gift Box, making it a limited edition - so don't leave this one on the back-burner for too long.

 

Alpha H is a celebrated brand among everyone here at Beauty Bliss - and we imagine it will be with your mum, too. There's nothing this brand doesn't do excellently, whether it's a cooling eye cream or a refreshing toner. With both the Vitamin Profiling Kit and The Essentials Collection, you'll be spoiled for choice. The Vitamin Profiling Kit features four vitamin serums (A, B, C and E), with four different uses for flexibility and range.

• Vitamin A: a serum used only in the evenings, added into a nighttime routine to help firm the skin and prevent wrinkles.
• Vitamin B: all about moisture retention, naturally upping the amount of collagen and toning down any redness.
• Vitamin C: an antioxidant, known for its clarifying benefits and the radiance it brings, able to lighten pigmentation and improve complexions.
• Vitamin E: commonly known as "Vitamin ER," is a repairing magician, its ability to help skin out of tough spots and heal itself unparalleled.

With these four in your mum's skincare kit, she'll have the means to tackle any issue she faces in that superhuman way only mums can. If mixing and matching isn't her forte, however, The Essentials Collection is a safe fallback. It's comprised of a Cleansing Balm, Hydration Concentrate, and Hydration Cream. To begin with, the balm is a four-in-one miracle, functioning as a cleanser, toner, make-up remover and balm, rich in essential fatty acids and rosehip oil. Next is the Hydration Concentrate, an oil honed from comforting plant oils that is made to help mature, dry and sun-damaged skin. Finally, we have the Hydration Cream, infused with sea minerals and youth-restoring peptides so it can keep skin feeling fresh and moisturized throughout the day. This set is a reliable option if you find yourself unable to choose despite all my lovely advice.

Let us know what you end up picking for your mum! All ideas are welcome below, because everyday is Mother's Day in my world and I'm always on the hunt for what to get for her next. :D

See you soon! Raashka

UPDATE: The Blood Sugar palette has sold out! We don't know if it will be back however please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates.

If you hadn't heard yet, Jeffree Star recently released his 3rd eyeshadow palette called Blood Sugar, which sold out in an incredible 3 minutes on his website! Jeffree is known for his fun and colourful makeup line, which is a best seller here at Beauty Bliss. He released this palette as part of his Love Sick collection alongside some other goodies including the Mini Red & Pink Lipstick Bundle, but we are incredibly excited to get our hands on the Blood Sugar Palette!

 

photo: @angelamarytanner

Since this new palette will be coming to Beauty Bliss soon, we wanted to share some information about the palette, give you a run-down on the shades, and of course give you some makeup inspo for when you pick this beauty up. This palette, along with all Jeffree's other products, is 100% vegan and 100% cruelty-free.

Let's start with the packaging. Blood Sugar is very different to anything else we've seen on the market so far. Jeffree Star says the inspiration behind this entire palette was from the medical field, doctors, dentistry and sugary sweets (of course!)

This one of a kind packaging consists of a luxurious red faux leather case similar to a medical kit. It opens and closes with a metal clasp and comes with a white sleeve over top. With shade names such as Sugarcane, Candy Floss, Prick, Extraction and Cavity, you can definitely see the inspiration behind the entire palette.

 

photo: @angelamarytanner Moving on to the shades inside the palette, Jeffree kicked it up a notch with Blood Sugar as it has 18 shades! They range from his incredible Matte formula, some gorgeous Metallics and even 1 pressed glitter/pigment. From a matte white, cool and warm toned browns, pops of pink and red, dark purples and more, this palette has endless possibilities.

The size of these shadows are a little smaller than his previous eyeshadow palettes - Beauty Killer and Androgyny, however you are getting 18 shades instead of his usual 10.

We think this palette is absolutely gorgeous, and we cant wait to get our hands on it soon. If you're interested in being the first to hear when our stock arrives, you can join our waitlist below.

We've recently added a few new L'Oreal Paris products to the website so I thought I'd give you guys a little bit of an overview.

Paradise Range

L'oreal Paris' new Paradise range looks to impress with its stunning rose gold packaging and on trend products. The range even features their first pot based brow pomade!

We decided to just dip our toes into this range and just get the one product, it was so hard to pick just the one but we went with the Paradise Brow Pomade. The ultra-precise slanted brush allows you to easily create the brows of your dreams, especially when used with this highly-pigmented, matte formula that glides on smoothly but is also long wearing and smudge resistant!

We're all about long voluminous lashes here so we're also looking at getting the Paradise Mascara in! The soft wavy bristle brush holds the maximum amount of formula and with 200+ bristles, will catch every lash for a dramatic effect. This volumising and lengthening mascara delivers a full lash fringe that’s feathery soft. No flaking. No smudging. No clumping. What more could we ask for from a mascara? (UPDATE: The Paradise Mascara is now in stock!)

 

Infallible Range

Behold, the newest additions to L'Oreal Paris' Infallible range! These new goodies definitely help to round out the range by offering a dewy finish foundation and three new target primers.

The Infallible Pro Glow Foundation boasts up to 24 hour wear with a hydrating finish that is never dull and never greasy which is perfect for those of you who have a normal - dry skin type. This lightweight and creamy formula is a medium coverage foundation that instantly hides imperfections for a radiant complexion.

L'Oreal Paris have also introduced three gorgeous primers to the Infallible range. Primers are a must in the process of creating that perfect base and these are three i definitely want in my personal collection!

 

First up is the Infallible Mattifying Primer, this primer is perfect for those of you who have normal - oily skin. The mattifying priming base will help to reduce shine and prevent oil from separating foundation on the skin.

Redness be gone with the Infallible Anti Redness Primer, this primer is great for those of you that have redness and uneven skin tone that you want to balance out. Balancing pigments even you skin tone while the light green tint helps balance out redness in the skin. This primer also provides the perfect hydrating base for those with dry - normal skin.

Lastly, the Infallible Luminizing Primer, this is the one I'm most excited about! The Lumi Magique Primer has been given a face lift and it now falls under the Infallible range. Thanks to the translucent correcting pigments that help brighten and luminize the skin, this primer i like a real life filter for your skin.

 

L'Oreal Paris totally nailed these products and I can't wait to see what they come out with next!

Till next time,

Courtney xx

This year, Gemma and I took off on a quick trip to Sydney for IMATS. We were keen to have a look at some sneaky new release products, discover some new brands, and meet some of our favourite people in the industry.

We met the king of liquid lipsticks, Jeffree Star, and introduced ourselves as retailers of his brand here in New Zealand. He was incredibly lovely to talk to and keen to hear how kiwis were enjoying his lipsticks. We were able to give him some great feedback and let him know how excited we are about his new products launching in 2016.

I asked about his new bullet ammunition lipsticks that he's releasing next year, and to my surprise he pulled a few testers out of his gorgeous Chanel handbag to swatch on my hand. There's not a lot I can reveal except that several of the shades will match shades in his liquid lipstick range (the best ones!) and that they smell amazing. We can't wait!

We also got to meet the lovely Amy from Sugarpill (aka @shrinkle). Amy always has the best outfits and her IMATS one didn't disappoint. I was really excited about her new Pretty Poison lipsticks that were sneakily released at IMATS but won't be out officially until January. I'm now the proud owner of "Girl Crush" - a bright vibrant pink. I absolutely love it and the packaging is amazing, so as soon as these are available for us to stock we'll be expanding our Sugarpill range - watch this space.

Other highlights included Ben Nye, Makeup Forever, Dose of Colors (omg 'Stone' is my new fav!), and Morphe.

~ Toni xx