cute ‘n cheap makeup storage

I had the idea in the back of my head for awhile, and all the girls on twitter were posting pics, so I finally decided… RIGHT! I AM GOING TO BUY SOME MAKEUP STORAGE. I kept an eye out for awhile, and observed where the girls found the best bargains for storage and I came to the conclusion that I had to check out Officeworks, no buts about it. This was cemented by the arrival of the Officeworks catalogue in my mailbox which presented me with a plethora of swoon-worthy and pocket-friendly options.

So on Saturday I pulled swerved (because the entrance comes up so quick) into Officeworks to check it out. Little did I know I would come out giddy and totally infatuated with my new purchase… here she is girls….

Her name is 3 Drawer Chrome Trolley- Frosted and for the cheap price of $28.98, she could be pleasing you and your hip pocket too. I was looking for something that was small enough to fit in my ensuite, and at 33cm x 39cm x 66 cm this one was ideal. There was a bit of assembly involved, but nothing too mind boggling (I when I say it wasn’t mind boggling, trust me! I’m the girl who can’t put Ikea furniture together for frigs sake). It has a chrome frame with a handy shelf on top, 3 good sized drawers with handles and has brakes on the front wheels (soooo important).

Her introduction into the household has really free’d up some space in my ensuite drawers and cupboard so I’m not rustling through them now trying to find all the hidden stuff.

Now for her glamour shots!!

Not sure the boy is too pleased with this new setup, but ahhhh well.

Note: I don’t have a massive collection to store so this was a perfect size for me, but if you need something a bit more substantial, then there is definitely other options for you, like this 10 drawer chrome trolley for $39.98.

And with all that money you saved, you can even buy yourself some more makeup.

Baha who am I kidding? We don’t need an excuse to buy more makeup!!

[Image source: Officeworks and my own]

weekend.snapshots

This weekend started with a Thai din dins with Mum, was spent absorbing culture at the 21st Century art exhibition at GoMA, followed by cupcakes and coffee, sushi train, makeup organisation, Italian food (so yummy, so full), and brownies!!! Oh and the weather was perfection… thank you Brisvegas for turning it on!! Why is it that only now we are getting our perfect summer days?

lightning speed lexi

<3

wall of wishes

wish ribbons

caramel choc cupcake

strawberry meringue cupcake

new makeup storage *swoon*

mmmmm

licking the bowl is the best bit

brownies+blogging=perfect

a little bit of...

Some may say I overindulged… I would say nahhh, that’s what weekends are for!  How was your weekend?

Photos from my Instagram

Friday Link Love

TGIF hautees!!!!!!!

Here is my blog link love for this fine Friday (and when I say fine, I mean fiiiiinnnneeee, damn weather you’ve really turned it on in Brissie this week).

 

‘Chele from Cosmetic Cupcake shows us swatches of the new, yet to be released (in May!) Molten Metallics collection of nail polish from Face of Australia and I can’t wait to get these cool colours on my digits!!

 

Lara from Swatchgirl has me lemming after this awesome Holo nail polish (it’s pink.. of course) and also a peachy nail polish by piCture pOlish.

 

Sassi Sam shows us the upcoming collection from M.A.C that no surprise… I want everything from!!

 

Annica at Haute and Stylish does an awesome review on a natural skincare line that is both cheap and delivers results! Winner!!!

 

Stef at The Lip Print shows us the Tom Ford Private Blend lipsticks she got… LOOOOOOVVVEEE.

 

Jacie from You’ve Got Nail shows us a haulage-palooza!

 

If you are curious about the new range of make up from the Illamasqua Toxic Nature range, Kim from The Plastic Diaries does a comprehensive post complete with swatches of EVERYTHING from the collection.

 

Have a great weekend Hautees, hope everyone has some awesome plans. I plan on going to GoMA (gallery of modern art) tomorrow with my sister, then a BBQ at mine and maybe see a movie with the boy. I think we’ll see Limitless.

Anyone have any recommendations for movies they’ve seen lately?

 

[Image Source: weheartit.com]

Chic Cheeks

Ladies, let me introduce you to a company that has done a wonderful thing and created a product that will cut our make up spending in half!! (you’re going to want to stay tuned)

Introducing… Chic Australia!

This Aussie owned cosmetics brand was founded by make-up artist and beauty therapist Lois Yaghoubour, who launched the brand out of a personal passion to create an all-in-one product that would have the ability to leave one looking perfectly preened and beautiful all day without any touchups whatsoever. After in-depth research and development, Chic Baked Contour Powder was born, a 7-in-1 wonder product.

Chic Australia Baked Contour Powder features a lightweight, easily blended formula to define and sculpt the face and body for 12 hours of radiance. This long-lasting, dome shaped powder is slowly baked on a terracotta plate for 24 hours to reduce mess and includes light-reflecting pigments to highlight and contour the face and body for added luminosity. Formulated with liquid minerals, the powder includes mica, kaolin clay, mother of pearl, iron oxides, titanium dioxide and silica. It is versatile and travel-friendly, packaged in a convenient, stylish black compact with a handy mirror (of good size).

This product has 7 actions in 1 compact. It can be used as a blusher, bronzer, eyeshadow, lip colour, eyeliner, highlighter and contouring powder and can transform your complexion from drab to fab anytime! The powders produce a lightweight high frost finish that will accentuate your features for a natural radiant look.

There are eight different shades in the Chic Baked Contour Powder range, to suit every skin type and colour. The range of shades include everything from a pinkish highlight colour, a rosy blush colour, to your bronze colours (see range of colours below).

The shade that I have been using is BanksiaBloom (RRP $49.95 AUD), a deep cocoa colour with specks of gold for an even and natural tan glow. I found this shade to be perfect for everything from contouring and bronzing to a perfect coppery eye shadow. Even though the BanksiaBloom shade features a gold fleck throughout, the pigment is so finely milled and smooths on the skin so evenly that the result is natural and luminous. It’s great as a contour as it eliminates the need for a matte contour bronzer AND a highlighter – just apply this and go! Perfect for travelling when you’re forced to downsize your make up stash (OH the Horror!!). I also love that this baked powder is mess-free, unlike so many other bronzers that leave powder over every surface.

The below pictures show the colour swatched heavily on my hand with flash, applied under the cheekbones as a contour, and lastly, applied all over the eyes as an eye shadow.

Here are some other ways to use the Chic Baked Contour Powder:

Tip 1: Dust this shade lightly over your lipstick to accentuate your lips and give them a subtle glow.

Tip 2: Apply this shade with a big powder brush all over your decolletage to give the illusion of a nice bronzed tan without the fuss (and orange hands).

An added plus, Chic Australia does not test their products on animals. To find your nearest stockist click here and to find out more about Chic Australia visit their website – www.chicaustralia.com.au

[Image source: Chic Australia and my own, please do not use without permission]

I was kindly sent this product for consideration, as per my disclosure statement, this did not influence my opinion in any way and all reviews are of my own honest opinion.

Illamasqua Toxic Nature

On Thursday, Australia saw the much anticipated ‘Toxic Nature’ collection from Illamasqua hit stores. The idea for the collection was born when Creative Director Alex Box was stranded in Dubai during the Iceland volcano disaster, and it got her thinking of the rise in natural disasters and how it was Mother Nature’s way of fighting back and trying to rid herself of the toxic invaders that are the human race.

How Illamasqua describes the collection:

In retaliation against the genetically modified society that plunders it, the landscape has issued forth a torrent of hybrid shades. Corrupted hues glister amongst muted tones – extreme, intoxicating versions of their original selves.

This is an atomic-botanical environment where survival is key and camoflague by colour is the path to existence.

We scoured the abandoned toxic wastelands of the world to create an eclectic selection of corrupted hues for the eyes, lips, nails, face and body. Flitting effortlessly from poisonous pastel to hazardous neon, this cataclysmic mix of brave new tones take your look to the outer limits of nature’s palette.

Become a herald of the new age of Toxic Nature with uncharted night-time make-up.

The collection features two new sheer lipglosses in Divine (fuschia pink) and Torture (warm coral peach), 6 new cream pigments in Emerge (Peach), Bedaub (Mint), Dab (Lilac), Hollow (Toffee), Delirium (Rose Taupe), Mould (Grape), 5 new nail varnishes, two new lipsticks in Flare (a bright orange) and Atomic (a bright fuschia red) and a Precision Ink in Glister.

New Cream Pigment

The Toxic Nature collection has spawned a wild spray of corrupted colours and poisonous pastels in an intensely colour-rich, crease resistant, matte formula that introduces a brand new product to the Illamasqua range.

Six neo-toxic colour mutations create the ultimate in textures on your face, eyes, lips or body. Apply with an Illamasqua brush or simply use your fingers for a buildable, water resistant, highly pigmented finish. Layer under Powder Eye Shadow and Pure Pigments for intensity.

I was lucky enough to be sent the Cream Pigment in Delirium (the rose taupe colour) and I was over the moon! I love this colour… it’s so adaptable. You can use it all over your eye lids as a creaseless, waterproof base; you can even use it on your lips. Use to adorn eyes by applying with fingers or a brush for a buildable, matte, water resistant finish. Layer under powder eyeshadow for an intense effect. I wore it as an all over base colour, on top of my M.A.C paint pot in Bare Study, and it didn’t move or crease all day. I applied it with my fingers and blended it out, then added powder eyeshadows over the top. I can vouch for the crease free wear. This extrememly pigmented cream would be a great little number to have in your makeup stash to pop on before doing a smokey look of any kind.

Cream Pigments retail for AUD $44.00. Click here to find your nearest store location.

New Sheer Lipgloss

Come out of the shadows with a high-shine punch of sheer corrupted colour. Toxic Nature sees the rebirth of two candidly intoxicating elements of Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss; Torture and Divine. Super glossy, with a sensual, sheer colour designed to enhance your lips, use on its own for added pout or layer over lipstick for lips that mean business. I was sent the Sheer lipgloss in Divine – a deep fuschia pink – but don’t let the intensity of colour in the tube fool you, it applies sheer on the lips and gives a subtle pink sheen. The lipglosses have a pleasant scent (kind of like strawberries) and I find these to be less sticky than the intense lipglosses.

The above photo is the lipgloss applied alone with nothing underneath. I love the colour and I also find the formula to be quite hydrating.

Sheer Lipglosses retail for AUD $33.00. Click here to find your nearest store location.

Here is a FOTD featuring the Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Divine and the Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Delirium as an eye base with Napoleon Perdis Taupe eyeshadow in the outer corners, Napoleon Perdis Champagne loose dust above the crease, M.A.C Mega Metal eyeshadow in Top of the Posh all over inner lid and Napoleon Perdis White Gold loose dust in the inner corners of the eyes and brow bone to highlight.

[Image source: www.illamasqua.com www.vampyvarnish.com and my own, please do not use without my permission]

I was kindly sent these products for consideration, as per my disclosure statement, this did not influence my opinion in any way and all reviews are of my own honest opinion.

baby lips

Maybelline New York has done something really cool and brought out a lipsmacker range for adults called Maybelline NY Baby Lips (AU$3.95) available in four tempting flavours:

• Energizing Orange
• Smoothing Cherry
• Menthol
• Anti-Oxidant Berry

I’ve got to admit, the cute packaging drew me to the product, but then I found out that it’s a real pocket-rocket of a product.

Why You’ll Love It:
Say goodbye to basic lip balm and rediscover the lips you were born to have!

• Lips are instantly moisturised for up to 8 hours.
• Contains active care ingredients, such as shea butter and centella.
• Vitamin Complex delivering powerful anti-oxidants.
• SPF 20 for protection against harmful UV rays.
• After 4 weeks lips are deeply repaired, completely reborn. Guaranteed.

For Best Results:
Apply lip balm daily to deliver moisturised, soft and comfortable lips. A great base for your favourite gloss or lipstick.

Now I can’t say that you will end looking as good as the model above, but you can bet that your lips will look better than ever. These lip balms are super hydrating thanks to shea butter, centella and vitamin complex. And for those of you who don’t know, centella is a herb that is an effective remedy for various ailments, one being skin conditions.

This baby (zing!) is my go-to. It’s a lifesaver for when you have cracked lips, and you decide last minute you want to wear that super pretty but super drying lipstick! Just apply baby lips before applying lipstick and it will instantly condition and hydrate them; this balm has even replaced my trusty paw paw lip ointment.

What really swayed me to get this product was that it included a SPF20 for protection against harmful UV rays, something that a lot of lip balms are missing. I am very diligent in applying sunscreen to my face every morning, and my poor lips used to miss out – but not any more! I purchased the Anti-oxidant Berry flavour and I am loving it so much that I may have to go and get some of the other flavours for back ups.

Maybelline NY Baby Lips are available at chemists, Priceline, and participating Woolworths and Coles store. They are definitely a great buy and a welcome addition to my handbag/desk/make up draw/clutch.

Now I leave you with this adorable image…

My lip balm brings all the dogs to the yard!!!

[Image source: www.maybelline.com.au ]

Friday Link Love

Happy Friday peeps! I don’t know about you but I am so ecstatic that it’s finally Friday! Bring it on! I am heading off tonight with the beautiful Annica from Haute & Stylish to a Laneway Catwalk show in the Valley called Stiletto in the Ghetto! Should be fun (if the rain holds off). I am also looking forward to dumplings… yumm.

Here I share a bit of link love for some bloggers that have done some awesome posts over the week:

Jade from Jade Musing shows us some swatches and a FOTD using some hot new products from the Illamasqua Toxic Nature collection.

Holly from Am I There Yet shows us her glowy skin and va-va-volumious hair which she achieved with these new products.

Go and check out what Jess from Miss J Shopaholic is up to… she’s had a makeover/transformation from Illamasqua and does a great video on her glowy makeup routine!

Lilit from Makeup and Macaroons shows us her mini MAC haul and photos from her lunch/dessert date with Jade from Jade Musing.

Clare from Cclarebear.com gives us a bit of a teaser of the new Flare lipstick from the Illamasqua Toxic Nature collection.

Jacie over at You’ve Got Nail shows us her cute as haulage and makes me want to do a trip to Melbourne asap!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I haven’t got much planned… catching up on blogging and maybe a spur of the moment dinner outing?? I am babysitting my little sister on saturday night and I am going to take that time to slip back to my childhood and get her up to speed on some good ol’ Disney classics – Beauty and the Beast and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! Ahhh bliss.

What’s your favourite Disney movie? I can’t choose just one… I think Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin are up there for me.

[Image source: thedisneyprincess.tumblr.com ]

Illamasqua Mistress

Remember back when I had my ‘makeup for my alter ego’ done at the Illamasqua counter Myer Brisbane (read here) and I said that I purchased a few things? Well here is one of them… the Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Mistress! A vividly orange/coral gloss with the sticking power of a Lady Gaga song (I’m banking on the fact that you like Lady Gaga songs here).

Here is what Illamasqua say about the Intense Lipgloss range:

“Come out of the shadows with high-shine, colour-rich Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in a wide range of bold colours. Create lips that look full and glossy, without feeling sticky. Draw attention to your lips, and to you.”

The packaging is a tube with a nifty angled application top. You can apply it with the tip or a lip brush. The product itself is quite thick and opaque and you can apply it full on for a dramatic look or pat it down for a subtle wash of coral (probably good for those girls wanting to rock a coral lip but a bit shy of the coral lipsticks).

I took the below photo under a bright light to show you the intensity of the colour. But being a coral, it can throw either more pink or more orange depending on the light.

I didn’t use a flash or have very good lighting for the last photo (taken with my camera), surprisingly I got a better match in true colour representation from using the camera on my iPhone 4 (ahhh love you Apple) in the first four photos. I hope you can see how intensely pigmented it is. You can wear this by itself, or over a coral lipstick as demonstrated below, using Illamasqua ‘Over’ lipstick shade.

The intense lipgloss is a bit sticky but not in a bad way. I feel like it needs to be so that it lasts on the lips. The intense lip glosses would be good for lasting all night at a party but I wouldn’t recommend slapping this on right before a dinner date – once you start eating and drinking it will transfer off. If you shy away from bold, bright lips, then I would recommend maybe trying the other range of lipglosses from Illamasqua – the Sheer Lipgloss range.

The colours in the range are all gorgeous, and I can’t wait to go back to Illamasqua and try more.

Illamasqua is available at Myer stores. The Lipglosses retail for AU$33 (7ml). Check out www.illamasqua.com for their range of bold colours in the Intense Lipgloss range and to find your nearest store location.

[Image source: Images are of my own, please do not use without prior permission]

February Favourites 2011

Napoleon Perdis Mascarathon

From March 7th – April 10th Napoleon Perdis celebrates Mascarathon – take in any full size Mascara, from any brand, and receive $5 OFF the purchase of any Napoleon Perdis Mascara.

Whether it be volumising, lengthening, defining or conditioning, there are 8 different formulas to choose from ranging in price from AUD$25 – $35. To take advantage of this special offer head into your nearest Napoleon counter or shop online here (if buying online don’t forget to enter MASCARATHON at the checkout to get your $5 OFF any mascara purchase).