Benefit B.right Deluxe Sample for Myer One Members

If you are a MYER One card member, you need to get onto this awesome exclusive sample for the new B.right skincare range from Benefit Cosmetics, just launched here in Australia.

I got mine on Thursday night, and it’s is awesome! I am already liking the ‘It’s Potent’ Eye cream. But you better hurry if you want this, as the offer is only till this Sunday (29th May) or until stocks last (which I assure you won’t be very long).

The sample pack contained cute mini sizes of:

• Triple Performing Oil-free Facial Emulsion SPF15 PA++ 8.9g
• Foamingly Clean Facial Wash  8.9 g
• It’s Potent Brightening Eye Cream 3 g

Only available at Myer stores in Melbourne City, Sydney City, Brisbane City, Adelaide City, Perth City, Bondi, Canberra, Castle Hill, Chadstone, Chatswood, Chermside, Doncaster, Garden City, Highpoint, Northland, Pacific Fair, Parramatta and Robina.

Conditions Of Offer: This MYER one Promotional Voucher is valid for one transaction only at Myer from 16/05/11 until 29/05/11 or while stock lasts, and cannot be used with any other offer. A MYER one Card must be presented with this Promotional Voucher and a limit of one voucher per transaction applies.

Print out the voucher from HERE

So make sure you take your MYER One Card and a print out of this voucher to your nearest Myer Benefit counter quicksticks to get your paws on this generously sized sample pack!

Action Hero ‘Activance’ and the Battle of the Hair Loss

I have been using the Activance Hair Stimulant now for well over a month and it has been quietly working away in the background, until now!! Lately there have been some stand out moments that made me sit up and think… HEY! This is actually working!!!!

Moments included:

1. At the Brisbane Beauty Bloggers Event, I volunteered my mane for a demonstration of the Cloud Nine The ‘O’ and Lauren McCowan (Creative Director and Stylist for Cloud Nine Australia) quoted “Sarah’s hair is in really good condition*”. As you could imagine, my insides were grinning like a Chesire Cat.
*that may or may not be the exact quote… something along those lines anyway.

2. When I apply this to my damp hair and proceed to comb it, the comb glides through my hair so easily and as a result, I have less hair breakage/fall out.

3. Typically, I lose a LOT of hair, and I have noticed since using Activance that my hair loss has decreased. Sure, I still lose hair, but that is always going to happen and is quite normal. I am happy seeing less hair on my bathroom floor and more on my head!

4. It wasn’t until lately, especially after looking at photos taken of my hair from the Cloud Nine ‘The Wand’ post, that I noticed my hair was looooong. I mean it had GROWN gurll! And that was with curls. Then, more and more people started saying it too!

So I know you are wondering… what in the world is this wonderful “silent hero” you call Activance?

Let’s take a look at this wonder product and what it claims to do…

a hairy situation

HA! That title doesn’t conjure up polite imagery does it?

Here’s the sitch hautees, I need YOUR help. I’ve been thinking lately of changing up my hair colour… and like any girl, when it comes to a big decision like that, we don’t just take the plunge willy nilly. So what I thought I would do is feature a few images of hair colours that I’m liking, and leave it to you girls to tell me which one/s you think I should consider.

Sooooooooo…

Should I do my hair like Leighton Meester, with a warm glossy brown and lighter almost auburn highlights placed randomly, like this:

Or go really dark, with a glossy chocolate brown all over, like Jessica Szohr:

Or go the complete opposite and lighten my hair, like that of the below Olsen Twin image (I think it’s MK, who can tell?):

Or should I stick with my balayage and just get it redone to look similar to this:

Oh and at the moment my hair looks like this, natural hair colour on top and balayage blonde on the ends (which have nearly grown out/chopped all off):

So please help me out and tell me which one of these photos you think I should opt for… you would really be helping me make up my mind. Gosh I’m so indecisive!

[Image Source: http://www.greathairstyletips.com/celebrity-hair-photos weheartit.com http://cuties.violetlebeaux.com ]

La Senza Lingerie Chermside Store Opening

Last night, I popped into Westfield Chermside to check out the grand opening of the new La Senza Lingerie store that opened up that day. And boy, you could not miss it! There it stood, all shiny and new with it’s bright neon sign and gorgeous girls at the front door. Not to mention the adorbs PINK carpet that was laid out at the entrance. Just my kind of store.

Everything, from the store interior to the lingerie, was cute and colourful. The stuff reminded me of a more grown up, sexy Cotton Body. Very similar stuff to Victoria’s Secret. Thought had been put into the actual display of the bra sets. As we all would know, there’s nothing more painful than when you’re trying to fish out your bra size, and the hanger is tangled in with the others, you’re pulling on it and eventually the whole contents of the rack come flying off! Well ladies, rest easy, cos the clever folk at La Senza heard our cries and have created a neat setup where only a few sizes are on display, and then when you go to grab your size, look down and you’ll see sets of drawers labelled by sizes, whether it be XS, S, M, L or A, B, C, D and so on. It’s like grabbing your pair straight from the panties drawer. Genius!!

The price range of everything was also another pleasant aspect. Briefs and G’s were around AU$9.95 – AU$12.95 (from what I could remember) and Bra’s were anywhere from AU$19.95 – AU$39.95. There were quite a lot of deals too, like buy one bra get the second for $10. So if you’re in the market to buy some bra sets, this is definitely one to check out. I have my eye on some ah-mazing orange lace bra and panties set. Aren’t the patterns just swoon worthy?

La Senza even have a beauty range consisting of lip glosses, nail polishes, moisturising sprays (yes sprays) and EDT sprays. The moisturising sprays caught my eye, they were only AU$12.95 and one of them smelt like strawberry and coconuts – deeeeelish!

There are quite a few La Senza stores opening up around Australia in the coming months so keep an eye out or go to www.lasenza.com.au for more information.

neon dare

It’s blindingly beautiful, and even all the celebs are bang up for a bit of neon pink. Working on both pale and tanned skin, the neon fuchsia pink lip is a fun and flirty way to liven up your look. The joy of this trend is that there are no rules, you can still wear it with a dark smoky eye à la Gwen Stefani, or with just a slick of liquid eyeliner like Emma Stone.

Kelly Osbourne loves the new Candy Yum-Yum Matte lipstick (AU$36) from the M.A.C Quite Cute collection, and is seen sporting it on many occasions. Maggie Gyllenhaal took the neon pink trend to the red carpet at the 2010 Oscars by wearing Nars Semi Matte Lipstick in Schiap (AU$58) and Emma Stone wore Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage (AU$54, from the new summer collection) at this year’s Met Ball.

My question to you is, do you love it or loathe it?

Would you dare to wear it?

[Image Source: SassiSam , MadisonPlus , Hollywood Celebrity Gossip News , Zimbio , Bellasugar.com , Stylist.com ]

amazing face

BEAUTY ANNOUNCEMENT: put it in your moleskin diary, iCal, fridge whiteboard, set up a special alarm, hire one of those messenger pigeons, whatever you do, just be sure to keep the date June 27, 2011 highlighted in your mind.

WHYYYYYY? Well only because the best book E.V.E.R will be released in stores, that’s right… I’m talking about our much loved beauty editor/novelist/dating expert/moustache lover Zoë Foster and her much anticipated beauty book - Amazing Face: clever beauty tricks, should-own products + spectacularly useful how-to-do-its.

Oh. Em. Gee. get. me. to. thee. bookstore. come. June.

And here’s the bad boy  girl herself: (cos seriously a beauty book has to be a girl right?)

Sometimes a lady just needs to know how to do the definitive smoky eye, or how to choose the perfect shade of lipstick or eye shadow. And there’s no reason she shouldn’t know which foundation or moisturiser is best for her, either.

All the answers are here, in this top-to-toe beauty extravaganza.  Former Cosmopolitan and Harper’s BAZAAR beauty director Zoë Foster suggests makeup colours and brands for every occasion, skin care routines and products for every age, and step-by-step instructions for winged eyeliner, sensational red lips, foolproof tanning, simple updos, sexy-second-day hair, and much, much more . . .

Available in book stores from June 27, RRP: $39.95 (Penguin Aus.)

Are you going to grab yourself a copy?

[Image source: Penguin Books Australia ]

Liebster Blog Award

What am I cheering about? Well, I have been awarded the Liebster Blog award by the gorgeous Haute and Stylish. Yayyy! Thank you Anni.

So what is it? The Liebster Blog Award is designed to bring well deserved additional recognition to those bloggers with less than 300 followers. If you receive the award you link back to the blogger that nominated you and nominate 3 more blogs.

So firstly, thank you to Annica from Haute and Stylish, who awarded me with the Liebster Award. Go check out her blog, she’s such a gorgeous thing and can do a mean winged eyeliner!

And here are my nominations for three lovely blogs run by three lovely girls, that are all deserving of the Liebster Blog Award:

Yolanda from Shopping Intervention - her blog is the best to check out when being thrifty and you want to know where you can get your cheap beauty fix. Great honest reviews, and great hauls (she shares my love of Priceline) she’s the budget beauty buy queen. Oh, and I love the fact that she will walk all over the city with me to find a place that serves Gyoza dumplings to satisfy my dumpling cravings! hehe.

Melinda from Mumma In Heels - I’ve loved Melinda’s blogging ever since she was over at ‘The Girl In Red Heels’, and now at Mumma In Heels (which will soon be mummainheels.com). We both share a love of The Kardashians, and I just adore the pics of her lil’ man ‘Pacman’ Preston. She does a great mix of celebrity, beauty and mummy related blog posts.

Eleanor from Days Like This - I love when I can just start talking to someone (over twitter) and it feels like you have been friends for ages (which was the case with Eleanor, she is soooo kind), and El has a cute blog with awesome imagery, beauty posts mixed in with personal posts, informative posts and even interviews.

So there you have it, thanks again Anni, another award to tuck under my belt… (bahahaha don’t I sound like a big shot, kidding). Please go check out these blogs mentioned, and share the BLOG LOVE!!!!

[Image Source: http://lastuff.tumblr.com/page/3 and Google Images ]

NOTW: piCture pOlish Sunset

My ‘Nail of The Week’ was a bright neon coral nail polish by Australian brand piCture pOlish in the shade Sunset! This is an “in-your-face” bright shade from the company’s ‘Neon’ range.

The colour is a bright orange with serious kick; it comes up much brighter in real life than the following photos depict (if you can believe that?!!!). It’s definitely a summery statement colour…

This was using 2 coats of Sunset and I used O.P.I Start to Finish Base & Top Coat. These photos were taken on the 2nd day (without flash) and as you can see there’s only a little bit of chipping around the tip of some nails. The formula was a breeze to apply, a great consistency and didn’t streak at all.

The piCture pOlish range of nail polishes are available online from the piCture pOlish website for AU$9.95 each and they ship internationally.

This product was kindly gifted to us in the #BBBE (Brisbane Beauty Bloggers Event) goodie bags, but as per my disclosure statement, this did not influence my opinion in any way and all reviews are of my own honest opinion.

nearly nude

As Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) comes to an end, I have noticed a huge trend in many of the shows with regards to the lips – they are bare, understated but certainly not forgotten.

I like to call this trend the ‘nearly nude’ – using a nude coloured lipstick close to the colour of your lips, to perfect the nude lip look.

Napoleon Perdis mastered this look at the Carl Kapp and Thurley shows at RAFW 2011, which saw the models look polished and innocent, with flawless skin and a nude lipstick that would have us tricked into thinking that they woke up with those perfect pouts and inner glow.

Carl Kapp

Thurley

For both these shows, Napoleon Perdis used the Napoleon Perdis Devine Goddess Lipstick in Hess (AU$33) on the models. This is a slightly pink nude and would look perfect with a smokey eye or just a bare face look.

For that flawless base, the Napoleon Complex Skin Renewal Serum and Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer were both used for each look to create a perfect working canvas, with the Carl Kapp look using the China Doll Foundation, Mighty Concealer Pen and Mattifying Mineral Powder to give a porcelain matte finish; and the Thurley look using Advanced Mineral Makeup.

And to achieve those luminous cheeks from Thurley, Napoleon Perdis used Light Patrol Luminizer Palette in Pink Ice.

The ‘nearly nude’ look is so easy to do yourself, and isn’t high-mainty or time consuming. Join me in jumping on the nude bandwagon (not literally guys… gross! Who rides nude on a wagon?! sheesh)

Another trend I’m noticing is the un-kept, brushed up brows…do any of you like that look? I don’t know about you, but I like my brows to look neat and well groomed.

[Image source: Napoleon Perdis, The Facial Company]

RAFW 2011 Get the Look: Alice McCall with Jon Pulitano for Cloud Nine

Hautees, you could only take my word for it about how amazing the new Cloud Nine Wand, but the proof is in the pudding pictures with Jon Pulitano for Cloud Nine styling the hair for the Alice McCall show last night using the Wand. The look is relaxed boho with a soft girly touch.

STYLIST: Jon Pulitano for Cloud Nine

SHOW: Alice McCall

VENUE: The OPT, Overseas Passengers Terminal

DAY AND TIME: Wednesday, May 4^th, 7.30pm

ABOUT THE COLLECTION: Decadent, feminine designs, inspired by a Parisian high tea.

DESIGN INSPIRATION: This collection refines the relaxed bohemian quality that is so much a part of the Alice McCall signature, evoking a romantic, decadent world of modern elegance inspired by the old-world sophistication of a Victorian Tea Dance.  The Dansant invites us to a Parisian high tea that spills out into a garden scented with soft music and antique blooms.

Set against floaty sun ray prints, sheer sculpted silhouettes are bordered by delicate flocking and contrasting white collars.1940s tailored scalloping adds an elegantly eccentric touch.

DESIGNER QUOTE: “The hair and make-up work together with the garments to create the final look. For the show Jon is creating a relaxed loose plait with a textured wave at the front. The feel is very natural and he is using product to give a textured modern silhouette.”

THE HAIR LOOK, quote by Jon Pulitano: “The look for Alice McCall is all about relaxed boho with a soft, polished finish. I used the Cloud Nine Wand through the front to create beautiful, soft waves that were brushed out for a polished and sculptural effect. The hair also featured a 70′s style long, loose plait for a bohemian edge.”

HOW TO RECREATE:

• Section hair into a deep side part
• Prep hair by misting it with a volumising spray, and blow-drying smooth using a round brush, creating a soft texture with body
• Leaving out the front section of hair from the top of the head to the top of the ears, take remaining hair and create a long, loose, plait.
• Working with the front section of hair, take large, vertical sections and using the Cloud Nine Wand on 150 degrees, create beautiful, soft movement. Wrap the hair from the larger base to the middle of the wand for a more relaxed and polished feel.

• Once all hair is curled, use a bristle brush to shape and mould waves for a beautiful, polished finish.
• Finish by misting style with a light hold hairspray.

PRODUCTS: Cloud Nine Wand, RRP is $270. Stockist number 1300 C9hair.

[Image Source: Primped and Agency G for Cloud Nine, for media info related to Cloud Nine please contact The Mint Partners]