LIP PICKS!

I've had lots of people ask me about what my favourite products are, so I've decided to start with my lip products.

As you guys know, I've been trying to work on creating more content, more often for my YouTube channel, and so here is another video for you guys to watch!

(Let me know in the comments how you prefer to get your beauty secrets. Do you like videos, or do you like to read and look at pics? A mixture of the two?)


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A fresh new look!

What do you all think of the new blog layout???

I'm going to try to change it with the seasons, just to keep the look fresh and occupy my creativity a little bit.

So...opinions, please. Do you like the warmer new patterned background and reversed layout, or did you prefer the blue background with the daisies?

I have also been switched over to the new YouTube layout, which took me forever to set up properly and create art for, although I will be changing that again soon because I'm not entirely happy with what I have there right now .

Review: Australis stayput foundation and Ready set go finishing powder.

Happy Monday, readers! I know I've been really slack over the last week or so, but I've been very busy putting together some new Youtube content, and updating the look of the blog basics and the YouTube channel, which should be updated sometime this week.

This look was created using Australis
products. If you'd like to see a tutorial,
let me know in the comments.

And here is the
"flash photography" picture that was missing
from the video.
As you can see, for a face that looks so flawless under natural light,
 it's certainly not a great look when the flash illuminates it.

Today, I have a review for you. I've got a new way to achieve a flawless-looking face, and I've found some really awesome products to help me out with that. First is Australis Stayput Foundation, which is so smooth, medium-full coverage and feels like absolutely nothing on your skin! This stuff just stays and stays all day. I went out to work my butt off at Point Nepean on Thursday and after 10km of hiking and climbing, sweating and wiping my face, it stayed put. I'm really impressed with it.

Next, is their Ready set go finishing powder, a true translucent powder (HD powder) that sets makeup amazingly.

I loved both products, and put together a video review for you guys to watch.


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LUST HAVE IT, APRIL 2013

My Lust have It box arrived yesterday, and I was less than impressed.

I know every month some of us have to get the "crap box" of the lot, I just have trouble understanding why there are generally 2 or 3 really great boxes and one full of crappy or duplicate products. Surely they could share out the value more evenly amongst their subscribers?


Anyway, here is a video of the unboxing:

Sally Hansen Magnetic Effects Nail polish

I received this little gem in my April bellabox and I couldn't wait to try it out, but because I had my Salon Effects tattoo strips on my nails, I had to wait!

By now, you've probably all seen these kinds of nail polishes. They all have magnetic particles which are repelled or attracted by the magnet that's used over them when they're wet to create a pattern, and when they dry that way, they stay that way.

This one is a lovely bronze colour which will get worn to death in my house. I even have some ideas to throw it together with an OPI liquid sand polish that I have for a bit of a mix-and-match manicure.

It's really easy to use. The only drawback is that you have to be really careful  not to get too close to the wet polish with the magnet and wreck your polish, but you also don't want to be too far away. This one has a great little guide thingee on the cap, which helps, but you still have to be especially careful of your angle.

You can find this anywhere Sally Hansen products are sold, including Priceline, Pharmacies, Target, Woolworths, KMart, BigW, and Price Attack.

Tattoo designs from Sally Hansen nail effects

When I was in Priceline the other day picking out some goodies to qualify me for the Beauty Bag, this little gem literally threw itself off the shelf at me, and I instantly loved it for a bit of playful colour and semi-tacky awesomeness.
I think it's a great idea every now and then to just go completely silly with your nail art and rock something that you usually wouldn't. These stood out, maybe it was the butterflies, maybe the lovey-dovey writing (I'm currently quite loved-up myself), I don't know. I just liked them. I've had so many amazing comments about them from people out and about, so I figured I should share them with you.

Sally Hansen Nail Effects strips have been around for a while. I did a post back in October about their Halloween designs. They are so easy to use, you basically just peel the backing off them, line them up with your nail, smooth them on and file off the excess. They are instantly dry (though I always put a coat of top coat over them to increase their longevity) and so far, after a week of wear, I'm seeing virtually no wear at all on them. In fact, I'm going to have to remove them soon because my nails have grown and they are moving away from my cuticles now.

Go check them out today, they are available from KMart, Target, Big W, Priceline, Price Attack, Myer, David Jones, Woolworths and pharmacies.

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Makeup Storage Solutions#1: Storage drawers from Officeworks!

 I was watching some of my YouTube favourites the other day, and Ainsley (@TheAinsleeyx on YouTube) had bought herself an awesome set of drawers to keep her makeup in. She was showing how she stores her makeup, and these really caught my eye. It was even better that she told us (her viewers) where she got them and how much they cost her, and I got my bum straight down to Officeworks for a set for myself!

I'll start with the price. At $38.85 for the 10-drawer version that I got, this is an absolute steal! You can get them in rainbow colours or black, grey and white, and I think there was a clear drawer version too.

I comes flat packed, but it's super simple to set up. I literally assembled the entire thing in less than 10 minutes and had it in my room ready to go.

The only thing I did add, for a bit more organized storage, was some little stationery organisers (for pens, etc) which look like cutlery dividers (which you could also use, I just wasn't sure of the size) that cost me $3 each at a little cheap store near home.

The drawers are all plastic, and I don't think they'd stand up to being roughly handled a lot, but really, I'm using them as makeup storage, so they aren't going to be roughly handled. Everything inside them is quite delicate.

At the top, there is a metal plate (table, type thingy)where I keep my brush, and some hair ties, and my coffee cup (haha!) and it's a great surface for sitting a mirror on to actually apply your makeup, so it kind of doubles as a little vanity table.


This style also comes in a 6 drawer version for $32, which I'm going to buy next week for my skin and hair care products (so that I can have lovely clear shelves with beautiful things on them, not half-used bottles of goo). The 6 drawer version will fit perfectly into a little space I have in my bathroom.

For $59, you can get a 12 drawer version, which is shorter, but twice as wide. That would be awesome to have, too.

I'd have these things all over my house if I didn't have kids to go lurking in the drawers, pulling out whatever interests them.


With that said, though, I may buy them a 6 drawer one for their art supplies.

Because they are on wheels, these would make a great investment for makeup artists working from home, or even as salon trolleys. They really are versatile.

How do you store your makeup?

Priceline haul and beauty bag!

Right now at Priceline, for the next week or so, there is a really awesome deal! Spend $60 amongst the brands included (Bourgois, Sally Hansen, Australis, ModelsPrefer, Savvy by DB, Rimmel London, Manicare, Eco Tools, Kiss, Revlon, I'm sure I've missed some, the point is there's lots to choose from!) and you automatically get their Beauty Bg with over $200 of products inside!



The top photo here is what I bought to get it. Total was $63.28.

The middle picture is the contents of the beauty bag. WOW!

At the bottom is a better picture of the Sally Hansen Nail strips that I bought. I couldn't wait to put them on! I'll do a tutorial later in the week on how to apply nail strips and decals.


For an even better look at the contents, check out my video below!

Go long! Brand new from Australis: long wearing lipstick.

This week I received an awesome package from Australis, containing their entire Go Long lipstick range!

They are long wearing (up to 10 hours!), kind and caring (with vitamin E, white tea leaf extract, rosehip oil, and mango butter) that feel really lovely and creamy on your lips, not sticky or dry like some long wear lipsticks can be.

I'll follow this up with some makeup looks and more in depth opinions next week, but I wanted to give you guys a look at these as soon as possible. Check out my video with first impressions and swatches of all 8 colours!



Fair disclosure: Australis sent me these products free of charge for my consideration. I am under no obligation to review them, but endeavour to give you guys accurate reviews of products that I genuinely enjoy and recommend.


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Bellabox April 2013.

This month, I was seriously considering cancelling my subscription to bellabox. The boxes in the past few months just haven't excited me like the ones towards the end of last year did, and I was feeling a bit disappointed.

Then, today, this arrived.

8 sample items, most of which are really relevant to my needs, and within the entire purpose of these boxes, which is to let us try samples of products or brands that we haven't tried before. So, what's in there? Let's have a look.

CELLULIX GLACIAL MINERAL GEL - a face mask, which contains negatively charged molecules to draw out the positively charged bacteria from your skin. It's all a bit scientific for me.

LASH CARD - exclusive to bellabox. A product that I feel is kind of pointless and silly, but I see where the gimicky nature of it will attract buyers. It's basically a guard for your mascara to stop it from clumping up and/or getting on your eyelid.

INDIO SKIN TONIC - An active toner which uses natural botanicals to actually guard against moisture loss.

AYURDA SKIN PERFECTING MOISTURISER & bonus firming and toning lotion sachet - Natural ingredients do wonders for your skin by increasing blood flow and evening out skin tone.

PROPLENISH MARINE COLLAGEN SACHETS - I'm a little afraid of these. I have 3 of them...and you're supposed to dissolve it in water and DRINK it. It's for giving you a glow from within, and assisting in the health maintenance of hair, skin and nails.

SALLY HANSEN MAGNETIC NAIL COLOUR - Now this is right up my alley. It's the same as all the other magnetic colours, and I really like the bronze colour that I got. At $16.95 RRP, the box just paid for itself.

CEDEL DRY CONDITIONER - Yup, that's right. Dry conditioner. It was only a matter of time.

I'll give these samples a go in the coming week and let you know what I think!


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Tested: Dove Pure Antiperspirant

As you all know, I've been on one hell of a health kick lately, and exercise is a big part of my new lifestyle. Dove sent me their new Pure antiperspirant deodorant to try out, and I've been giving it a real run for its money (pardon the pun!).

Now, we all know that Dove products take care of our skin, with their 1/4 moisturising cream formula, but with this product, it's what they leave out that helps the most.

No fragrance - less irritation, and for people like me, that means for your nose as well as your skin. I'm very particular about the kinds of scents that I can tolerate, and more often than not, will opt for a fragrance free product over a scented one.

No colourants- again, less chance of irritation, or allergic reactions.

No Alcohol - won't dry out your skin, and guess what that means? Less chance of irritation!

No Parabens - which is awesome for me, as a woman, because I have enough natural hormones of my own. I don't need to include Oestrogen-mimicking chemicals into the mix.

This is a fairly basic product, so there isn't a lot I can tell you about it, or how to use it, that you won't already know. It comes as a roll-on (my preference) and as a spray, and boasts a massive 48hr performance time. I actually haven't tested that, because I'm a shower-every-day kind of gal, but I can tell you that it lasts and works through tough workouts, long walks and jogs, and when there's sweat running down my face, my underarms are dry and they don't smell. At all. Of anything. just the way I like it.

Dove deodorants are available in most pharmacies and supermarkets, and beauty stores like Priceline.

Definitely worth trying.

Fair disclosure. Dove sent me this product free of charge, for my consideration. I was under no obligation to review it. My opinions are always my own, and I always endeavour to bring you accurate reviews of products that I genuinely enjoy and recommend.

Amazing skin care from Innoxa! Wrinkle cream that actually works.

About a week ago, I received an amazing care package in the mail from the awesome people at Innoxa. Their Renew skin care range is specifically aimed at ageing skin in the 35+ age range, but at 32, I feel like it's the right choice to keep me looking fresh-faced for as long as possible.

First, I'll talk about this specific range and the benefits that I've experienced, and then I'll tell you all some really great news about how you can get this pack (or a similar one in a skin care range better suited to your skin) for a really awesome value pack price, including a gorgeous display tin!

I'm always a bit skeptical when it comes to "magic" creams and lotions, claiming to turn back the hands of time and make you look 12 again. As we age, I feel that there is a certain amount of graceful ageing, and a certain amount of taking care of oneself that contribute to you looking the very best that you can at any age. For me, that means that I dye my hair, and I try to take care of my skin as well as I possibly can, not to prevent the ageing process, but to avoid looking like I've mistreated my skin over the years. I think once we all accept that ageing is a part of life, we can all get on with the process of actually living a lot more easily.

With that said, I've been using this skin care rage for a week now, and I'm seeing definite improvements in clarity, hydration, and the reduction of lines on my face! I didn't have a lot to begin with, but the skin around my eyes is noticeably smoother, and where I have a large-ish scar by my left eye, it is actually improving the appearance of the scar, which has been there for almost 30 years!

My scar used to be deep and puckered-looking, but as you can see, it's now barely noticeable. With makeup I can now cover it so that it's hardly visible at all, and though I feel that our scars tell the story of our lives, we are all after a flawless face for special occasions, aren't we?

Below, you can see the range as I used it. The triple action gel wash lives in my shower, and it has tiny little beads in it, as you can see. You only need a tiny bit of this, as it is very thick and goes a long way. It leaves my skin feeling clean and toned.

Then, I use the advanced anti ageing eye creme, very gently, all around my eyes. Again, a little bit goes a long way, and you don't have to use a lot of it to see great results. I should add that I'm only using it once a day. Last of all, the anti-ageing and firming moisture lotion, again in small amounts. 2 pumps out of the bottle is plenty for my thirsty face.
Once that all soaks into my skin, I can go straight over it with my choice of makeup for the day, confident that I'm looking radiant.

A little bit more about the products, now. They are full of antioxidants, vitamins and natural botanicals. They are not tested on animals. They are available at Myer, Priceline, and selected pharmacies nationwide.

So, what's the value pack deal, you ask? Well, you can get all three products (or three products in similar packs from their "thirsty skin" or "super sensitive" ranges) in the gorgeous tin pictured at the top of the page for $49.95 (thirsty skin pack $39.95!) Considering the moisturising lotion is usually $28.95 by itself, the eye creme is $24.95 and the gel wash is $17.95, you're saving a massive $21.90 and you get the tin for free!

Pop into stores today and have a look for it! It's definitely worth trying out for yourself!

Fair disclosure: Innoxa provided these products to me free of charge for my consideration. I was under no obligation to review them. My opinions are always my own, and I always endeavour to bring you accurate reviews of products that I genuinely enjoy and recommend.

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Eye of the tiger: Nails with a little extra..grrr...

I know it's been a really long time since I have done a nails post, and I tried doing the natural nails thing for a while, but this weekend, I went to a wedding and I wanted to look my best, so I got my acrylics re-done and I feel like myself again!


For the wedding, I wore a black dress with some ruffles and draping detail, so I wanted to keep the nails quite simple, but at the same time, add just a little pizzazz to them, so I decided on a nude base with tiger stripes, and a swarovski crystal accent on one nail.

I can't remember where I got my swarozski nail art crystals from. I know that you can pick up something similar in most stores that sell nail polish, and most definitely online. EBay have some really great options.
I started with my favourite nude polish, Glints of Glinda, from OPI's Oz the great and powerful collection. Two coats is enough for an opaque base, and I let that dry completely before going in with my nail striper to create the tiger stripes.

I've done a tutorial on my youtube channel about how to make the tiger stripes, so go check that one out (tigger nail art tutoral).

Last of all, on the ring finger nail, which I covered entirely in the stripes, I placed a swarovski crystal accent, attaching it with a tiny bit of clear polish. Once the stripes were completely dry, I coated everything with clear polish, working from side to side so as not to streak the stripes the wrong way up the nail.

And that's it, it's a really simple look, with lots of personality. Try it out for yourself!

You can look forward to lots more nail tutorials and look-books now that I have my beloved acrylics back. They are costly to maintain, and they are so damaging to the natural nail underneath, but I do love them, and I feel like it's a worthwhile investment.

I'm with the band: How to smell like a rockstar (in a good way)!

 I am always really excited when I receive surprises in the mail, and when this one arrived, I was super-stoked. What could it be? It was a black box from Australis, with a pink ribbon.

I carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the top of the box and WOW! Brand new perfume sprays from Australis in wild new scents to suit the budding rockstar! As always, the packaging is pink and black, which I absolutely LOVE!

As for the scents, I really like them both.

"Get your rocks off" is a combination of berry, coconut, mango and apricot, a fruity scent that reminds me of summer.

"Wild at heart" is a fruity, flirty floral with touches of lily and violet, perfect for a day out at a music festival!

Here's the best part: Who wants one for FREE???

Right now when you make any online purchase from www.australiscosmetics.com.au, you get a free perfume spray! (subject to availability)

Alternately, you can find these at Priceline, Big W, K Mart and all awesome pharmacies.

Go try them out for yourself. at $4.49 RRP, you can't go wrong!

The awesome people at Australis cosmetics provided this product to me free of charge for my consideration and review. As always, my opinions are my own and I have not been paid for my review.

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Makeup look: ChiChi real minerals loose pigment quad

When I was in Target last week, i managed to pick up a ChiChi real minerals eyeshadow quad in these amazing greens, and I thought I would share the look with you guys.

Green is one of my favourite colours to use on my eyes, and I really love the depth that can be achieved by building and layering a look to suit a certain event or season. Green reminds me of springtime, so for the aussies among us who are heading into autumn and winter, it can be a bit of a pick-me-up, with the grey skies outside.

Below, I've swatched the colours on my arm. I basically just swatched them with my finger, onto my bare arm with no eyeshadow base underneath.
Using a base like Too Faced Shadow Insurance or Urban Decay Primer Potion will intensify the colours, prevent creasing and make them wear longer and stronger.

There are two colours that are more sheer, and two more vibrant ones with a better colour payoff. I used the lightest colour as a highlight up under the brow bone, then the second sheer colour all over the lid. I was going for a slightly more subtle look than you -could- go for with these colours, so i then just swept the darker green into the outer corner and up across the crease for a little added depth.

I used a green eyeliner crayon from essence along my top and bottom lashlines, and finished it all off with a good coat of MAC Plushlash.

I really love the colours in this quad, and I can definitely see using them often. The only drawback with these pigments is the packaging, which is quite messy and awkward to use. It means that you waste product every time you use it, and I don't like to waste things.

I'm thinking of maybe modifying the existing packaging, or perhaps I'll depot into more user-friendly containers so that I can use them without the mess and waste.

The texture of the mineral powders is lovely, and they build really nicely. I can't wait to try out some more looks with these shadows!


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March Favourites - with a twist!

This month I thought instead of posting favourite products, I'd shout out a few of my favourite brands of March 2013. I had quite a few favourites from a few different brands, so I figured it would be better to group them together for you.

So, without further ado, here they are, in no particular order:

Dove:

I particularly like their new pure antiperspirant, which they snet me to try out last week. As you all know, I've been working out like a maniac, trying to get in shape and build my stamina for Tough Mudder in September. A hard-training girl needs a hard working deodorant, and this one doesn't disappoint. I'm really pleased with its performance, and I'll continue to use it well into the future. It takes care of my skin at the same time! Multi-purpose products always get a really big thumbs up from me. Stay tuned for a proper review of this product next week.

Australis:

You guys know that I have a soft spot for Australis, because they were one of the first cosmetic brands I ever used, and because they are kind to animals, and they have really awesome products, all under $20 each. That's just a massive winning combination in my book, and the fact that their newest products dropped in March and are amongst my top picks EVER, meant that they HAD to be included in my favourites this month.First, we had the curve ink eyeliner, which is awesome. Then the bronzing primer, which is innovative and amazing, the pout pastes which rival most top end brands in colour payoff and stay-put-ness, and then there's their new perfume sprays, which I haven't reviewed yet, but are really lovely.

Australis are onto some really awesome new things. I'mm looking forward to seeing what's next for them.

 Lonvitalite:

So, about a year ago, I tried their 24K gold face mask, and I fell in love with it. At the time, they cost almost $60 for 5 masks, but I still thought that they were worth it.
Since then, more recently, they have reworked their entire business plan and not only are they far more easily available on their website, but they have more than halved the price (They are now less than $30 for 6 masks). They've also restructured everything and you can buy packs that have every eye, face and hand mask that they make for an unbelievable $20! I've bought so many of these masks in the last month, because I'm using them as a special reward when I have really good days in training.
I'm really pleased with the new Lonvitalite, and I really hope that the new plan is working for them, because I intend to continue purchasing their amazing products.



Essence:

I just discovered these guys when I was in Target the other day. I was surprised by the quality of their product for its amazingly inexpensive price tag (most of their products are in the$2-5 range).

I've tried out their concealer pen, eyeliners and eyeshadows, and I'm really impressed. I know you guys like a bargain, so get out there and have a look for essence products. You definitely won't be disappointed for the price.

 MAC:

My tried and trusted high-end brand. I've invested in a few more eyeshadows, some pencils, lipsticks and even a mascara, which MAC are not particularly praised for, but I really love my Plushlash mascara. It has an almost rubberised finish to it, and it lengthens, adds volume and generally fills out my lashes beautifully. It then doesn't run if I watch a chick flick and cry my eyes out, which is always a bonus.

My favourite day-to-day eyeshadow look right now consists of A wish come true from their "A tartan tale" collection, and Spectacle of yourself from their "Mega metals" collection.

I love MAC products and will continue to add to my collection as I'm able.

Last but definitely not least:

"What is this mix of brands?", you say? Well... this is my most favourite brand of all. Dollar Cosmetic Club!

Everything in this picture, brand name items, Lancome, Maybelline, L'Oreal, Rimmel, Revlon, all came from Dollar Cosmetic Club and they all cost me $1 each!
Yup, just a buck, for awesome brand name products. You've seen me review them before, so you know the deal and I've assured you of its legitimacy, so they definitely make my favourites list for March, because they had some really sweet deals that I took advantage of.

So, what was your favourite brand or product in March? Let me know in the comments section do that I can try it out too!

I'll BRB...

Unfortunately, I'm laid up with a nasty upper respiratory tract infection. I'll be back to blogging in a few days as soon as I'm feeling better.