New goodies that will sparkle your pants off

Friday. 12:00pm. For some reason, I had my heart set on getting a sparkly eyeshadow. I think it’s because I saw the new L’Oreal Paris Infalliable eye shadows in Shop Til You Drop. Off I headed to Priceline, and as soon as I walked into Priceline I spied the new Gucci Westman for Revlon collection… MY OH MY! The Revlon Expressionists Collection for Fall 2011 is a collaboration with Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman. The 17 piece-collection introduces the new Revlon Diamond Lust Eyeshadows. For some reason Australia is only getting this now?? It was a Fall 2011 collection. WEIRD. Here’s some of the products from the collection.

I challenge anyone to walk past that display and not be captivated by the sparkly goodness. So then I went to work swatching. Here’s what I got…

The Revlon Diamond Lust eye shadow in 110 Starry Pink. If you know me, you know I have a current obsession with pink glitter, and this does not disappoint! It has glitter pay off ahoy and the colour is gorrrrgeous. Oh and it was down to $15.96 from AU$19.95. WIN.

The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 025 Sky Line Pink (AU$21.95), which will most certainly become my new favourite nude lipstick… it’s a really light pink with a pearlescent shimmer in it. So pretty, and so in keeping with the pink sparkle obsession. I think I may layer this over a nude lippy thou… it packs a pearly shimmer.

The new Face of Australia Barbados nail enamel collection has hit shelves… and Priceline had 20% off Face of Australia. So I picked up ‘Bright Lights, Pink City’ and ‘Orange You Glad You Came?’ for the neat price of AU$3.96 each. These are such summery pastel colours and they have a pearl shimmer through them which gives them a point of difference.

I also just grabbed a Batiste Brunette Dry Shampoo (AU$7.99)… an absolute must have. Oh and heads up, they must have changed the design on the can to this ugly retro pattern sometime ago. I was confuzzled. It says NEW… but I think they’ve just redone the packaging. Not a fan Batiste… hire a new graphic designer.

Oh and just quickly… I want to show you my new wool cardigan (how nanna of me). It’s super cute and I foresee it becoming a winter staple. It will just layer so well with other things (i.e. clothes LOL). It’s from Sportsgirl.

It looks better on. 😛

I also have some new Benefit goodies that have just arrived but I will save them for another post or else this will go on forever. 🙂
Alright I’m off to go dance to this song… Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot. The boy asks me “Why do you listen to this music?” AHHHHUMMMM is he kidding? With lyrics like “so don’t change the dizzle, turn it up a little, I got a living room full of fine dime brizzles. Waiting on the Pizzle, the Dizzle and the Shizzle. G’s to the bizzack, now ladies here we gizmo”  who wouldn’t, fo shizzle?

[Image source http://www.fashionison.com/2011/10/revlon-expressionists-collection-for-fall-2011/]

A quick FOTD + 100th post

This is just a quick FOTD featuring my natural “going out soon… shit son I only have 20mins to get myself looking decent” look. And yes, apologies, I know the photo is crappola! My camera is out of action unfortunately… hurry up birf-day so I can get my snazzy new camera!!!

You all know the one… the natural ‘why yessum I do just look this good naturally’ look, using more than the average amount of makeup. Now let’s get into it…

Face

• Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Skin Primer
• Mixture of Face of Australia Liquid Mineral Makeup in Beige with equal parts of Maybelline NY Mineral Power Liquid Foundation in Creamy Natural (applied with a stippling brush for a flawless finish)
• Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer under the eyes and to cover any flaws
• Set base with Maybelline NY FIT ME Pressed Powder in 225 Medium Buff
• Illamasqua Powder Blush in Hussy
• Face of Australia Pressed Powder in Bronze as contour
• Benefit instant brow pencil in medium to dark to fill in the brows

Eyes

• Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in R.S.V.P all over lid from the Primpcess palette
• Benefit Powder Eyeshadow contour from the Primpcess palette (middle highlight shade) on browbone
• Benefit Powder Eyeshadow brown liner from Primpcess palette (dark brown shade) in the crease blended out and followed underneath the eyes in the lash line
• Lashes curled and then coated twice with Benefit Badgal lash mascara

Lips

• One coat of Face Of Australia Mineral Lip Shine in Oyster Shell
• Followed by MAC Lipstick (frost) in Angel

Tadaaaa… semi-useless FOTD picture:

And a poor attempt to capture my whole outfit. 😦 This look was for my date with Yolanda from Shopping Intervention. We went to Freestyle Tout for dinner and dessert… na na na naahhh nahhhhh look what we had:

Bread and Butter Pudding FTW! droollll

Let me know, was this of use to you? Or was it as useless as tits on a boar?

avoid winter’s cold kiss

Feeling dull? Winter not only takes its toll on your complexion, but can also be a prime suspect for chapped and flaky lips. Just as we pay extra attention to exfoliating and moisturising our skin in winter, we need to see the same is done for our lips.

More often than not, our poor lips are left neglected resulting in a less than ideal lip condition that ultimately sees us skip the lippy in the cooler months.

Follow these simple steps to get your lips back to prime condition and flaunting a statement lip in no time.

Scrub Up! 

As the temperature drops, the need to exfoliate your lips rises. The best way to get rid of forbidden flakes is to use a lip scrub, such as Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub (1). Over the sink, apply a small amount to your lips and scrub away. The sugar granules will naturally exfoliate your lips and the scrubbing action also stimulates blood flow and will add some plumpness to your pout!

Tip… If you can’t get your hands on a lip scrub, DIY lip scrub at home by mixing brown sugar with a small amount of olive oil.

Balmy Nights

Once you’ve ditched the dry lips, keep them in top condition by applying a conditioning lip balm during the day and before bed. Keep and eye out for super moisturising balms, such as Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid (2) a rich and creamy whipped lanolin lip treatment with organic lemon oil that naturally exfoliates dry skin on lips; or Blistex Lip Conditioner (3) which contains two proven moisturisers – Aloe Vera and Cocoa Butter along with Vitamins A & E to replenish moisture, soften and smooth the surface of your lips – great to apply before lipstick.

Twice as Nice

Don’t shy away from colour this season. While you’re typically going to wear black in the colder months, why not inject some colour into your look with new hybrid lip products, a perfect mix of a lip balm and lipstick, these products are a double delight. They contain a range of moisturising ingredients to keep your lips flake free, all whilst giving your lips a pop of colour.

During the day, opt for products that offer a mix of natural colour and hydration, such as the Face of Australia Mineral Lip Shine (6) or the Clinique Chubby Stick (7), which come in a range of colours and contain super-nourishing ingredients to keep lips soft and hydrated.

For a bit more glamour, try Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colour (4) a lightweight lipstick that features a Hydratendre complex to help soften, soothe and condition lips – even boosting their ability to hold in moisture – for plumper, smoother and healthier-looking lips.

Try a bold look; rock a bright statement lip using a long lasting lipstick containing ingredients that stop your lips from drying out. Ciccone Cosmetics Lipstick in Voluptas (5) is a high coverage, lasting red lipstick with the added benefits of Evening Primrose oil and Jojoba Seed oil to nourish the lips, and is the most gorgeous shade of red to take you well into the night.

Abide by these cold season commandments this winter and your lips will love you for it.

Written for and originally posted in Charlie Magazine Issue 4

[Image source: http://www.polyvore.com/tumblr/thing?id=25087949]

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 ]

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]

fairy floss

You know that lip product that you just keep reaching for, even when you have a dozen other lip prods in your handbag? The one that has earnt its special place in the all exclusive “go with me everywhere” makeup bag? Well I think I have found “the one”… and let’s just say, she is as sweet as she sounds!

I call her ‘Floss’ (yes I know that makes her sound old, but let me tell you she’s not) but others would know her as Face of Australia Mineral Lip Shine in Fairy Floss (RRP $12.95).

FACE OF AUSTRALIA has created the perfect go-between natural lip colour – not sticky or shiny like a lip gloss and not as heavy as a lipstick. FOA Mineral Lip Shine combines natural mineral pigments and hydrating ingredients for lasting moisture and colour. The silky formula contains no synthetic dyes and shades range from light sheers to thicker creams.

Fairy Floss is a sheer candy pink shade that gives your lips a gorgeously sheer slick of pink with a pearlescent finish. It makes your lips look full and plump. Below is fairy floss on my lips.

I love how FOA have hit the nail on the head here and created a lip product that is neither a lip gloss nor a lipstick but a beautiful in-between hybrid of both, a beautiful moisturising and non sticky lipstick/balm that keeps your lips in prime condition and can so easily be applied without looking in the mirror! WINNER!!!

Oh and check out the benefits:

FACE OF AUSTRALIA Mineral Lip Shine is infused with natural mineral pigments to deliver radiant shine and sheer colour with no synthetic dyes. FOA Mineral Lip Shine contains antioxidant vitamins and skin hydrating ingredients to keep lips soft and protected. Natural sun protection filters shield lips from everyday environmental aggressors and boosts the recovery of the skins’ natural moisture level.

I love this so much, I just reapplied it whilst writing this. I will definitely be going and purchasing a back up of Fairy Floss.

And did I mention FACE OF AUSTRALIA don’t test on animals?! AND… their prices are super cheap! AND THEY’RE AUSTRALIAN! Yeah that’s right… RUN! Don’t walk.

RRP: $12.95

Stockists: Priceline, Kmart, Big W and Selected Pharmacies Australia Wide or call 03 9338 5222

[Image Source: FACE OF AUSTRALIA & my own]

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.

weekend.snapshots

Busy busy weekend again… full of shopping and eating (THE.BEST!) Weekend kicked off with a Friday night dinner with the beauty girls (Annica and Yolanda) at this great Mexican place at the Emporium called Guzman Y Gomez. So cheap and yummy! Saturday morning was spent shopping with a friend (we made it a mission to find her a great foundation so we stopped at MAC and Chanel) and of course squeezed in some Sushi Train before I was off again on my way to Dreamworld for the advanced screening of Rio in 3D with some friends. Saturday night sleepover, MORE shopping (where I picked up a new lippie and Lush goodies) and then finished the weekend off with Italian (AGAIN) with my besties.

 

Awesome lil boudoir inside a shop called Kitten D'Amour

A 'selfie' in front of the awesome brass mirror at Kitten D'Amour

Picked up the new Australis HD blush

Oh Behave yourself... my new MAC sheen supreme lipstick

Lush haulage!!!

New Easter Egg bath bomb!

mmmmmm garlic breaddddd

Images from my Instagram 🙂

playing with the new kid on the block

Last Saturday, Annica and I decided it was about time we check out the Illamasqua counter at Myer in the Brisbane Queen Street Mall and treat ourselves to a day of makeovers and retail therapy (and some scrumptious sushi thrown in for good measure). Illamasqua is relatively new to Australian shores and the response from bloggers nationwide is a resounding YIPEEE! We booked ourselves in to see Suzanne for a tour and a bit of a play.

After ‘ooooh’ing and ‘ahhh’ing over all the amazing make up, we both decided to pick out a few eye shadows that we normally wouldn’t go for and see what look Suzanne the MUA could create for us. Naturally I gravatate towards the more natural browns/taupes (typical smokey eye colours), so I decided to go for pastel pinks and purples.

Here is what was used for the eyes:

Powder eye shadow in Toxic

Powder eye shadow in Cancan

Powder eye shadow in Synth

Used as a highlighter on my brow bone and above the crease was Halcyon, an awesome liquid Illuminator

Finished off with liquid eyeliner and mascara, taadaaaa!… the finished result on the eyes!

The face was touched up with the Rich Liquid Foundation in #200 and Powder Foundation in #210. Cheeks were contoured with Powder Foundation #325, gorgeous pale pink Powder blush in Nymph high on the cheekbones and bronzer to finish in Writhe.

Used on the lips was Lipstick in Over, a bright coral pink with a matt finish; and Intense Lipgloss in Mistress over the top. I loved Mistress (the intense lip gloss) and I bought it for myself.

 

Here is the overall finished result, I felt like I should have been attending a Miami beach party afterwards. The look was very bright but still suitable for the day time. Loved all the products used, and loved the finished result!

Annica and I all done up thanks to Suzanne at Illamasqua counter Brisbane.

I picked up a few products (reviews to come) and I really want to go back and get some more, especially that pale pink blush Nymph which was all sold out at the time 😦

Everything is such high quality and highly pigmented. It would make a great addition to any make up lovers stash!

If you want to check out Illamasqua for yourself, here are the details:

Online at:

www.illamasqua.com

At Myer stores nationwide.

QLD

Myer Brisbane City, 91 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Myer Robina, 167-191 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina QLD

 

[Image are my own, please do not use them without prior permission]

Summer Beauty Routine

So I’ve decided to do my version of the Summer Beauty Routine that Jess of the belle lumiere did here

Feel free to re-post (as I did) on your blog as well.

Without further ado, here is my current beauty routine:

Face

Cleanser: Alternating between L’Occitane Foaming Rice Cleanser and the Clarisonic refreshing gel cleanser with the Clarisonic Plus Sonic Skin Cleansing System

Toner/Mist: Natio Rosewater and Chamomile Gentle Skin Toner

Exfoliant: ASAP Daily Exfoliating Face Scrub with AHA

Moisturizer: Ultraceuticals Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 30+

Facial mask: Lush Cosmetics Cupcake mask

Makeup Remover: Nivea Visage 3 in 1 Waterproof Makeup Remover

Night Treatment: Ultraceuticals Ultra A Smoothing Complex/ Trilogy Rosehip Oil

Eye Cream: Trilogy Rosehip Oil

Spot Treatment: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum

Body

Shower Gel: Palmolive Naturals Nutra-Fruit Shower Gel Pomegranate

Body Lotion/Cream: The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Lotion / Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion for Medium to Dark Skin

Anticellulite/Firming Treatment: PriceLine Body Essentials Body Brush (dry body brushing)

Body Exfoliant: The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub

Hand Cream: Vaseline Dry Skin Conditioning Lotion (at work) or HissyFit Handy Work SPF 30 (at play)

Lip Balm/Treatment: Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (day) and Lucas Paw Paw Ointment (night)

Perfume: D&G No 10 La Roue De La Fortune (day) and Kim Kardashian EDP (night)

Nail Polish: Essie Haute As Hello, Essie Ballet Slippers, Essie California Coral

Hair

Shampoo: Care Shampoo by Nak

Conditioner: Lush Cosmetics American Cream

Leave-In Treatment: Moroccanoil

Mask: Wella System Professional Luminous Hair Mask

Heat Protection: Nak Sea Potion Leave-in Repair Treatment

Volumising Product: Juice xagerate styling and volumising mousse

Shine Product: Wella System Professional Luminous Hair Mask

Hair Spray: Sunsilk Co-creations Plumped Up Volume hairspray

Makeup

Primer: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid SPF 15 Foundation in Creamy Natural (day) / Napoleon Perdis Foundation Stick in Look 1 (night)

Tinted Moisturiser: HissyFit Saving Face SPF 50 in Sand

Concealer: Benefit Boiing in Medium (02) and Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector

Powder: Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish in Look 4

Cream Blush: Bloom Cosmetics Sheer Colour Cream in Coy

Powder Blush: MAC Blush in Peachykeen / Benefit Coralista / Benefit Dandelion / Benefit Hoola (Bronzer)

Liquid Highlighter: Revlon Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in 020 Pink Light

Powder Highlighter: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle / MAC Highlight Powder in Rose Olé

Mascara: Maybelline THE FALSIES mascara

Eyeliner: Napoleon Eye Pencil in Brown Sugar

Cream Eyeshadow: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP

Powder Eyeshadow: Napoleon Perdis Colour Disc in Irid Taupe and Napoleon Ultra Pearl Shadow in Champagne

Highlighter Shadow: Napoleon Perdis Loose Dust in White Gold

Lipgloss: ModelCo Lip Lights in Pink Sea Shell

Lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink #7

[Image Source: weheartit]

Bling in the New Year!

I still can’t believe today is New Year’s Eve. Wow… didn’t 2010 just fly by!? I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to 2011!

I believe that the New Year is going to be a fantabulous one… so I’m going to “bling” in the New Year with a statement necklace as part of my NYE outfit. Statement necklaces are the most affordable way to vamp up an outfit, and/or if you’re just like me, can’t be stuffed battling middle earth the shopping centres trying to hunt down ‘THE’ party dress (that no other man and his dog is already wearing).

I love Kim Kardashian’s style, so I’m thinking of opting for a sleek modern statement necklace in black like that of the House of Harlow 1960 leather stations necklace, as seen on Kim below.

Tomorrow I am going to head straight to Lovisa, the fashion jewellery and hair accessories mecca! They have some awesome statement necklaces that won’t break the bank! Huzzah!

Loving the black Edgy Short Necklace (AU $29.99) from their burlesque range (my first pick because it looks similar to the House of Harlow 1960 necklace).

 

 

Here are some other favourites from Lovisa.

 

 

I will be teaming my statement necklace back with a black top or singlet, my purple Sportsgirl bodycon skirt and my Sportsgirl Shia Cut Out Wedges in Mushroom (AU$149.95), see below.

As I will be wearing a purple skirt I was thinking of doing a baby pink lip using Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in #7 Lingerie Pink (AU $55). What do you think? I think the gold packaging is trés chic and oh so suitable for NYE.

 

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all “bling” in the New Year with a bang!

xx h&h

[Image Credits: nicolerichiefashion.blogspot.com, lovisa.com.au, www.yslbeautyus.com, fifi.com.au ]