Tagged: make up

22/04/2013

MY BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

Guys, guess what? I burnt my left boob on my curling tong. It was on my bed and I was topless and I stretched across my bed to grab my phone and a very loud and very distinct 'SSSSSSSSS' sound was heard and white hot searing pain shot through my chest and I had, in fact, given my tit a 3rd degree burn. After the weeping (myself and the wound) and as it began to heal after about a week I began to put BIO OIL on it so that I wouldn't scar. The next day I could already tell a massive difference. I was like Jesus had come during the night while I slept and put his hand over my breast. The pervert. Anyway, bio oil...I'm about it.

I say this about every foundation I review on here but I am in love with this Stay-Matte foundation by Clinique. Fuck, I love all Clinique foundations actually! Especially when it comes to value for money. They are on average 50 bucks and whilst Armani Face Fabric is by far the Beyonce of all foundations, sometimes I just can't part with $90, you know? I did use this Stay-Matte stuff over summer though, when my skin is a little oiler than usual so I might change for something a little more dewy when this is up for winter. But I doubt it to be honest, because I can't fault this guy one bit. It covers, it stays in place, it doesn't crease, it's a dream basically.

Whilst at the Clinque counter I got suckered in to buy the powder as well. Truth be told, I'm not usually a fan of loose powder. Not because it is crap but because it seems messy and like a lot of effort, like you can't really carry it around with you and stuff. Well, I am glad I got convinced by that white robed minx to buy this because it sets my make-up perfectly. Also, remember how I had bought that Smashbox face brush? Well it goes perfectly with the Clinique loose powder. I enjoy powdering my nose whilst wearing my silk kimono and listening to Ella Fitzgerald. Ok, I did it once but I enjoyed it.

My favourite youtube beauty gurus Pixiwoo brought out a line of make-up brushes called Real Techniques and I am a huge, huge fan. I find that make-up brushes are the most irritating things to buy when you're not like this amazing make-up artist because you don't really know what you are doing, therefore you end up just using the shitty brush that comes with your products and those things are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. These clever girls have cut out all the crap and by crap, I mean the MAC cosmetics 59 and 567 and 235 number for their brushes...what a pile of wank! How confusing does it actually need to be? Not at all when it comes to these brushes! Go onto the site and the girls have done a tutorial on each brush and make it nice and simple for us everyday make-up users. Plus, they are cheap! And for Aussies they are stocked in Priceline. Winning all round ladies.

Another fabulous thing came into my life in yet another tube and it was sent from Heaven aka Evo. It is a sealant to put on the ends of your hair to help mend and/or prevent split ends and it works! If you bleach your hair or use heating tools or if you're not bald then you have split ends and they are evil little assholes. I love this stuff because you can put it on wet or dry hair! Because you know how you buy stuff that can only be applied to wet hair and you only remember that you have it once you have already dried your hair? Well, with this it dun matter! Oh what a small life I lead.

I have written many other beauty posts and you can spot them here

10/01/2013

My beauty essentials: the summer edition

Owlies I love the ocean...like love it. Living in the middle of the city has its advantages but living near the sea ain't it. I also adore summer and all it's trimmings. The smell of coconut oil on the beach, people are happier than usual, white wine suddenly tastes fine and when you are bronzed you look thinner, fact! Before I get to the consumable beauty essentials lets talk the beach! My sisters laughed at me when I did this last week but I was laughing last when I had a complexion to rival the latest edition of Photoshop! When you go for a dip in the sea, take a little of wet sand between your hands and GENTLY massage your face and body with it. After rinsing off with saltwater before taking a cold shower then dousing yourself in a rich body lotion and a good nights kip you will look a hundred bucks!

But now onto the most important thing after Sangria this summer....sunscreen!

This one by Neutrogena is without a doubt the best I have ever used and growing up in the Southern Hemisphere, I have used a few! These are the things I like about a sunscreen: Factor 30 TICK! Light and non-sticky on the skin TICK! Waterproof TICK! Comes in a mist for easy application and so that you don't need some chump to put it on for you TICK! Reasonably priced TICK! This guy has it all baby. And don't be put off by factor 30 because you will still tan you just won't burn. And I was very aware of burning this summer because I have recently become a red head and did not want to look like a lobster. Can you imagine?! However saying that...

I do like me a bit of Reef Sun Tan Oil because summer just wouldn't be summer without something coconutty and I only use this on my legs because legs just don't tan do they? My rule is 30 from the waist up especially the face and 15 SPF from the waist down. This concoction served me well and I came out looking like this #nofilter

Ok maybe some filter but no make-up! The hashtag should have been #startledexpression

To keep that tan going use Palmers Natural Bronze body lotion. It gives you a nice golden glow instead of a Lisa Simpson glow, it smells nice and it dries fast! Definitely the best on the market...the supermarket that is. I think I may have mentioned this before? Oh who cares, I'm telling you again because its good OK?

More bronze shizz and it dun come cheap! This, my friends, is by the French house Guerlain and it is their Terrecotta Bronzer which has become a bit of a cult beauty product amongst those in the know. And I'm in the know. It cost $85 (!) but I bought it in October and have used it everyday and I still can't see the silver - if you know what I mean. It is worth every dang penny because it makes you look sensational.

This is the first time I have bleached or dyed my hair ever! Ok, I have put a box colour on from time to time to hide the three errant greys but it washed out two days later. This time actual bleach was applied. I am legit! Anyway, since I dyed my hair in the summer and am a water baby, a lot of it faded after all the chlorine and salt water. I highly recommend Fudge Paint Box as it literally does what it says on the can or in this case, tube. This in only one of my colours, there are four mixed to make this baby and I'm not giving you the recipe because I feel half of my appeal is maintaining an air of mystery. (I just can't remember)

Still on hair, I snapped this picture in my bathroom of my fave Evo styling products. The Mister Fantastic makes styling WAY more easier by allowing texture in freshly washed hair and the Love Touch makes your hurrr shiiiiiiine like a brand new penny! I absolutely love Evo products. They are quirky and quality and quick! The Queen of haircare! QQQQQQQ

Lez talk nailz. I no longer sport acrylics! I know I know, but they had to come to an end eventually. Instead I rock a very short, blunt nail in vivid colours. This time I chose this Esse number in 'bikini so teeny' because I base nail varnish purchases 50% on the name and the other half on the colour. Also, it goes great with red, don't ya think?

Enjoy your summer!

13/10/2012

My Beauty Essentials Part 11

I love make-up and skincare, I always have. My last 50 bucks would probably go on a lipstick before a new dress. I started doing these posts because I feel that there is so much in the media telling us to 'buy this' and 'try that' and how about those ridiculous mascara ads where the chick has lashes about a metre long?! And those air brushed to fuck ads of has been celebs? Good grief. In my experience, the best advice I've had in relation to all things beauty has been from friends. So consider me your friend, and here is my tried and tested advice.

EVO HAIR PRODUCTS

Yo, sometimes I get sent things to trial and thats cool, I'm down. I mean, its free shit right? But I'm not going to ride anyone's dick over something just to get more free stuff because that defeats the purpose of this post. Also, I am a writer before a product pimper thank you very kindly. Anyway! Let's talk about Evo. Someone at this particular PR company has done their research (theres a first) and sent me the volumizing range...Gluttony Shampoo, Bride of Gluttony Conditioner and Day of Grace Leave-in Conditioner WHICH I left in last night and today my hair feels bouncier that Beyonce's thighs oooooooo weeeeeeee. Yeah, you got me Evo. I like their quirky copywriting and simple packaging. I like how my hair smells, I like how easy it is to manage and that it doesn't coat my hair in silicone which is what all cheap hair products do to trick you into thinking your hair is shiny. The stuff ain't cheap nor is it expensive...we're looking at about $24.95 per product. They sent me these three in a delightful little red and white bag which is part of the Christmas Range. I think right now if you buy three products you get 20% off or something. Check out their site and they may sell it in a few select salons. Yeah, 'select' ya'll. We beez SELECT.

WATER

For as long as I live and breathe I will never stop harping on about how much you should drink water. Hands down, if I have been drinking and not washing my face properly and not getting enough sleep and my skin begins to look like a meth head's I have two words for you 1) water and 2) fake tan. But first, water. Water all day every damn day. On the hour, every hour. Dehydration is the source of all things bad i.e. bad skin, headaches, fatigue and many other shit things. I literally have to spend 2 days necking back H2O and my skin is back to its glowy, plumpy self. Hooray!

OIL OF OLAY MOISTURISING LOTION

I think I have mentioned this before in another post? Well what evs, I'm mentioning it again. Honey, I have tried every moisturiser you can imagine. OK, I exaggerate I haven't really, mainly because I don't have a load of paper but even if I did I would still probably go for this $10 number from the supermarket because the shit agrees with me. Sure, that other $150 stuff may transform me into a butterfly but for those that just don't have the money, this will do you perfectly fine.

SOME OF MY STAPLE MAC LIPSTICKS

Bombshell - A lovely, everyday lippy. Put gloss over it at night for when you want that slutty look...you know what I mean.

Lady Danger - Red with a hint of coral. I think this is everybody's fave though so apologies for not being very original.

Impassioned - A delightfully fun hot pink! It's nice as a shock of colour across your face.

ILLAMASQUA SKIN BASE FOUNDATION

This song sums up everything I have to say about this blemish killing, skin firming, complexion enhancing magical potion...

25/03/2012

Take my advice…I don’t use it anyway SPECIAL EDITION: My Beauty Essentials Part 9

HEY YA'LL!! Sorry. Caps. I've been to gym and had 3 coffee's so I'm feeling a little ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNGGGG! Ya know?

Anyway, let's get cracking...

Guys. I'm annoyed with myself . Wanna know why? Because I have only decided now to get my hands on YSL TOUCHE ECLAT. I don't know what the Hell I was thinking fucking with anything else. It's like a cult under eye concealer, and me having hereditary dark circles under my eyes I thought I'd just ignore the best thing on the market. Yup. I'm a moron. Apparently one is sold every three seconds world wide! You can literally get them everywhere and they are always about $50...some discount pharmacies do it for 25 bucks (so I've heard) but I'd pay thousands to be honest. I look about 1.5 years younger and no one will tell you are hungover with this smeared under your peepers. Truth. I got mine off STRAWBERRY NET...free shipping holler! What a website! What a concealer! Go get 'em!

Went into MAC yesterday to get my usual setting powder (God dudes must read this and think 'WTF?') and took my 6 empty MAC containers and got my free lipstick. Yo, did you know they do that? It's a genius idea. Other cosmetic companies should follow suit. Unless they do and I don't know about it? Tell me your secrets! I am set with bright lipstick colours because of my vast LIME CRIME collection, so I go for a kissable pink for everyday wear. I spoke once about BOMBSHELL which is the colour I usually go for but SURPRISE SURPRISE they had no stock. Do you guys find MAC are always out of stock of errthang? Well I bloody do. Well I guess it was a blessing because I tried this colour called PLEASE ME. And it does. So I guess it's a win. Plus it was free. So I'll stop whinging.

Speaking of MAC, I usually buy their FLUIDLINE which I have spoken about before. However, it's like nearly $40. And I'm watching dem pennies at the moment, so I was like fuck that. I copped this MAYBELLINE EYE STUDIO for $16 just at the supermarket and it was actually the most intelligent thing I did all week. It comes with the brush and the consistency is not as gel like as the MAC one but my God there is virtually no difference hey... I am actually never going to buy the MAC one every again. There. I said it.

In other supermarket purchase reviews, Let's talk hair. ORGANIX is quite frankly the bomb. I used to buy the Brazilian one which I reviewed last year and then I tried them all out, you know, just so I didn't get bored...and ding ding ding we have a winner! I am all over this Coconut goodness. My hurrr feels just wonderful and it smells like the beach. What's not to love? OK usual supermarket brands are like $5 to $8 and this one is $15 but you can't really put a price on good hair now can you? I find it straightens easier and is way more manageable since using this and you know what? I'm worth it.

Oi my mum bought me this Sarah Jessica Parker fragrance for Christmas and I was like, 'Bitch you crazy' - but I am going to eat my words on this one because it actually ain't bad. It's my Monday to Friday work fragrance and I get loads of compliments! (OK like 2 but still) and the bottle is quite pretty and SJP is the lesser evil of celeb endorsed shit so yeah, I am down with COVET. Try it! In fact, it's almost winter (or summer if you're reading this in the Northern Hem) so maybe it's time for a fragrance makeover? Treat yourself.

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10/02/2012

Take my advice…I don’t use it anyway SPECIAL EDITION: Beauty Essentials Part 8

Here we have it folks, the new things I love to use and then convince myself that they were worth every penny via the medium of the interwebz.

BARRY M is no secret to our UK buddies who can cop this fantastic brand all over the place in their cold ass country. They srsly do errrthang and do it well. I would buy this stuff over MAC any day if I had the convenience of it just down the road or something. Anyway, I only own a couple of make up brushes and some nail varnish. It's weird for me to own nail varnish actually because I always get my acrylics done every 2 weeks on the dot and I'm not one of them people who take in their own polish...ya know? I bought some on my last trip to the UK because I wanted blue toe nails to match my blue mood. Then the other day the nail lady effed up my nails so big time and I couldn't be arsed to go back and get her to do it again so I painted my girls blue. See...

I love me some BARRY M. Give their lippy's a go as well, they have more colours than South Africa.

Meet my new boyfriend. *pause* OK so as I've gotten older my hair has gotten finer and my bathroom floor now has a luxurious mane, therefore I have been forced to leave my hair au natural which is curly. Curls = body and Lord knows I need it. So, I was inspired by Rihanna (yes really) and thought I'd curl my curls! CRAZY. Not really. Any hoooo I went to PRICE LINE to get me some tongs. BOY WHAT A VARIETY! I ended up choosing this guy because it's tapered at the end and it gives your curl bounce at the root and makes the end a bit tighter. I am so glad I did this because it just kinda adds a little more POW! (yes pow) to my hair and gives them more definition. HAHA I sound like a wanker. Well....so is your mum. I am all about BABYLISS I gots the hair dryer and the electric rollers. This thing was only $70 and goes right up to a heat setting of 25 degrees! Plus it's ceramic coated and when it's not hot you can...yep. Also, look how the little buttons make a face kinda haha! OK so after you've curled your hurrr...

Toss your hair forward and spray liberally with L'OREAL ELNETT HAIRSPRAY. This is cult hairspray and is used backstage at all the shows darling. It has been on the circuit for yonks and I kinda want to get the woman on the can tattooed hmmmm...dun steal my idea! The can is huge and will last forevs and is only 10 dolla and the best bit is, is that it is non sticky. HOO RAH.

Apologies to LIME CRIME because they asked me ages ago which lipstick I wanted so I could talk it up for all ya'll. Now I'm not one for blogging shit just because I got something for free but if I like it then I shall and I have been banging on about Lime Crime since 2009. So I asked the lovely PR lady for MY BEAUTIFUL ROCKET because I have wanted a really orange lipstick for a while now. OK I'm lying. I wanted it because M.I.A wore it in this video...

Here is a rather professional photograph of me sporting it...

I luuurve the colour. It's a nice summery change from red and it goes on easily...but to take off not so much. It left a bit of a orange stain but I worked it by putting some Vaseline over the top and it gave a nice subtle day time hue. Um hello magazines, aren't I just a natural at being a beauty editor? Gimme.

So if you look at the photo of me above and squint you will see no lines around my eyes. Stop squinting and WHOAH. OK slight exaggeration but times a ticking and shit is getting realz so I invested a whopping $18.95 and get a free NW magazine on this 'life changing' caffeine enriched roll on formula for the eyes by GARNIER. I GUESS it's working...I can't really tell. I'll let you know in 30 years.

Perfume time! MAYBE BABY by BENEFIT is my mother fucking jam. Well it was, because I lost it. Waaaahhhhhhh!!!!! God and it's my 'date scent' it's so playful and provocative. I'm not one to share my perfume secrets but this one is cool because it's a special occasion thing not my 'signature scent' HAHA imagine your signature scent was by J-LO ! HAAAAAAAHAHA! I'm not impressed I lost this because it was virtually brand new and now it's gwaaaan

Whomever has it, spray it behind your ears, knee caps, in the crease of your arm and a light dust in the hair and then get naked. And then give it back.

09/12/2011

Take my advice…I don’t use it anyway SPECIAL EDITION: Beauty Essentials Part 7

It's that time again! The time where I give unprofessional and probably misguided advice on products that I think are the bizz nizz. Fuck those beauty ads (Max Factor make lashes 6 times longer? Max Factor should make condoms) listen to your Mama Owl.

The best foundation I have used ever. I know I have said this before about Armani Face Fabric but seeing as I'm not a millionaire, I went the Clinique route. They ain't 'cheap' per say but they are cheaper than most and hot damn value for money. I think this is like $30 ... around there. I bought this in the UK and I am never looking back! (or at least until my next beauty post) I love it because it covers all the shit yet is light and lets the skin BREATHE....whatever that means.

Before foundation comes primer. Apparently. I was so anti priming hey...I thought it was just a money making racket. But since some beauty salesperson twisted my arm I have realised that it is indeed a crime not to prime. I have used a few but this SMASHBOX baby has come out with the gold medal. Honey, your foundation will never last as long as it will with this genius film underneath it. So worth it. In actual fact, I'm wetting my knickers over the brand SMASHBOX in general of late. So much so I copped this brush as well...

At $70 it weren't cheap but hey, as they say, it's an 'investment'. I was just so sick of cheap brushes leaving their bristles all over my mug. For one, I am half Portuguese so I have enough threatening facial hair to contend with, let alone those fibres that fall out of knock off make up brushes. Plus this brush flutters butterly soft over your precious pores.

Staying on the subject of skin, do ya'll moisturize your entire body? Whaddya mean NO?! Hop to it chicken, else you have the threat of Donatella Versace esque hide hovering over your head when you're like 50. You don't have to drop a bunch of clams either, this Garnier shit is the bomb! It's only like 6 bucks from your local supermarket and it makes your skin feel like skin of child. Don't forget to rub it in your boobs too!

I am a big lover of eyeshadow. If I were sent to a desert island and I could only take 5 things it would be: sunscreen, a man with a face like Beckham and the abs of Jesus, a jar of mayo, a flick knife and white eyeshadow. I love white eyeshadow. Blended into the corners of your peepers and on your brow bone it will make you look wide eye'd and bushy tailed no matter what. Currently I am using this one by URBAN DECAY and the colour is POLYESTER BRIDE' ...haha, I love colour names in cosmetics! They are often the deciding factor in my purchases.

I am on the hunt for a new perfume. This Comme one just finished and I can't re purchase because it's summer and this is quite possibly the heaviest scent to ever grace my body. Apparently if pure gold had a smell, this is what it would smell like. Yup. I looooooved it for winter but for summer I kinda want to smell like a girl that would take you to Heaven but give you Hell. If you know what I mean.

Anyway, I hold the belief that a girl should never buy her own watch or her own perfume so if someone is offering I am after anything in the Diptyque range ta!

The end!

07/09/2011

Take my advice…I don’t use it anyway SPECIAL EDITION: Beauty Essentials Part 6

It's that time again! The time where I justify all the money I spent on tryna make myself look half decent. So with no further adieu...

It's the skin edition! So for a while there I was a bit skint and I was using something I got at Woolies for a fiver to wash my skin. Eurgh. I don't even really want to talk about it in front of my pores because I'm sure they don't want old memories of them being violated to come rushing back. Anyway, when my bank balance starting looking a bit healthier, so did my skin. I hit up Mecca Cosmetica (Space.NK in the UK) and I went for this bottle of love from Philosophy. I've used it before and it was amazing and I don't really know what I didn't continue the habit. It's not even thaaaaat expensive really at $54...considering its like giving yourself a mini microdermabrasion every single day and it makes your complexion look as though you've born again. It really is quite wonderful and I have seen a VAST improvement in my mug. It's also helped that I have drank gallons of water everyday. Girl I'm telling you, it's all about the H 2 the O.

THIS guy is a bit lovely. Do you use primer? Yeah neither did I until about 5 months ago. I used to use that Benefit Dr FeelGood shit but NO MORE! Not until I met this guy by a brand called MURAD. Not only does it smooth your face, it is also slightly tinted so you can wear it on it's own when you aren't in the mood to get all the slap out. Like I wore it on it's own for Sunday brunch the other week. Although I did end up getting served by the waiter I kinda have a crush on so I do kinda wish I went the whole hog BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.

I don't reckon I've ever bought the same brand of foundation twice in a row hey. I think it's because I always go somewhere new to stock up and then I bump into a sales assistant who is obviously trying to hustle a certain brand and seeing as I am a sucker for this shit, I end up being swayed. Well. I'm glad Chris from Mecca swayed me because I love this Bobby Brown stuff. It does what it says on the can 'Natural Finish' check. 'Long Lasting' check. Mabes a bit light for my liking but you can put it on as thick or as light as you want. It's cool, I like it and will probably be great for summer. Although I'll probs be pimping another guy in a month but that doesn't mean I'm not a fan of Bobby.

White eyeliner is THE SHIT. Seriously. Especially after a big night. It totally whitens and brightens and makes your peepers look less like black sunken swamps in your hungover sockets. Any brand will do really, but what I like about this Mr Frosty from Benefit is that you can also kind of use it as a highlighter on your brow bone and smudge it in the corner of your eye as well. If you have small eyes this is the product for you! And if you have huge OWL like eyes like me, then this will actually almost make you look anime. I ain't even kidding yo!

Ya'll heard of AESOP? It's from right here in Melbourne but it has become a cult favorite worldwide. I think. I dunno if it has actually BUT IT SHOULD BE. I am addicted to hand creams....mainly 'cause I'm getting old (er) and the hands are the tell tale signs to an old bird. So I keep my mani fresh and my hands smooth as fuck. Aesop is pricey for sure but sooooo worth it hey. There is notable difference when you use this stuff, and I know EVERYONE says that there is notable difference after most things but would I lie to you? Well I might do, but not about hand cream. The little screw top cap thing is a bit annoying though, I won't lie. Like when you've squeezed some out and you have cream on your hand then you have to hold it weird and put the lid back on then you drop it etc etc, but hey it looks cool and I get it. I am so down with AESOP!

Let's talk huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrr. My friend Asha the hairdresser is probably rolling her eyes as she reads this (I see you bitch!) but she did my hair a few weeks ago and was all like, 'Honey! What the Hell are using on your hair!?' And I was using some shit stuff, I'll admit it. It's when I was tryna save so suck me. I was also hating my hair at the time and I thought it's because I was in really bad mood and that effected your hormones and therefore you hair YEAH YEAH YEAH I KNOW. It's because my shampoo was shit. So I copped this stuff by Organix. Oh sweet Jesus of hair. My hair went under a makeover with just one wash. Soft and manageable and Brazilian smelling. Lush. Plus this stuff has keratin proteins in it so it kind of trains your hair to stay the way you style it. Like I have a fringe for instance, and it would look amazing when I went to bed and when I woke up....not so much. NOW I wake up and its still exactly where I left it, straight and behaving itself. What a novelty hey? I am never straying from good shit again!

How let the GIOGO girls tell you about their tresses...laterz!

GIOGO Hair Show from GIOGO Girls on Vimeo.

06/06/2011

My current beauty essentials Part 5

Lemme tell you, I love make-up. It's soul purpose in it's little perfectly packaged life is to make you look better! Unlike fucking garms that make you look fat and get you all depressed when you can't fit into a size 10 anymore! Ehrm. Moving on.

Look at this...

It's the 88 eyeshadow palette from COASTAL SCENTS for $13 US. Now we know how strong the Aus dollar is atm so flex hard wit yo credit card Aussies because shits cheap. Even if the dollar wasn't on a winning streak, this is really reasonable for a multitude of colours that will last you frikkin ages. I went through this phase a while ago of being absolutely addicted to beauty tutorials on youtube, and every one of those bitches were banging on about Coastal Scents and how reasonable it is yadda yadda so I got it. Besides, I ain't forking out 40 clams for a single fushia pink eyeshadow from MAC when I'll probably wear it once and look like I had conjunctivitis AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU! It comes in matte and shimmery...I went with the former.

On to more pressing matters, let's talk fighting the seven signs of aging. Never in my life have I been more insulted when I went to the schmancy Lancome counter looking for a pressed powder and got advised, no TOLD to start 'investing' in anti aging cream. Why I never! But then...she does have a point. I might as well start now seeing as my twenties are about to leave my life quicker than the last man I had in my bed. I SWEAR TO GOD I AM NOT LYING WHEN I SAY THIS SHIT WORKS BEFORE YOUR EYES. I totally looked 19 and a half again after I 'apply this to my eye area'. And so it bloody should for over 50 bucks a pot. But hey, I figure I spend about $300 a time giving my car a service which I will probably sell in 3 years but my face is for life...you know?

I'm gonna talk foundation for a second. When I lived in Western Australia, temperatures were so bloody hot my face used to melt off. Literally. So I tried my hardest to work out how to keep stuff from sliding off my mug the minute I walked outside into the furnace. Living in the cooler temps of Melbourne have defs helped with the issue, but guurrrrlll you gots to prime! i.e. put a layers of some kind of oil absorber between your skin and the make up. I have heard of hundreds but I bought this one from BENEFIT called Dr. FeelGood and let.me.tell.you.....it does what it says on the can! My face feels like the velvety skin of a penis when I put this shit on. It also absorbs all the the oil on your skin...that is, if you have a natural amount of oil. If you are prone to be a bit of an oil slick, then you might need something more er...industrial.

The next step was this bad boy...

A stippling brush. I got the MAC one but you can find these duo fibre bad asses all over the shop. I would drop the coin on them though because cheap brushes shed and I am half Portuguese so I have enough fucking hair on my face already. ANYWAY. The idea of using this brush is to not sweep your foundation on with it but to 'stipple'. For example, you take a bit of make up on the back of your hand or whatever and dab the white bits on it and then start stippling your face in a dabbing motion. You know how like the more pixels (series of little dots) there are on a digital photo the clearer it is? Same with this. You start stippling little dots all over your face and keep going and adding slowly until your face is covered. a) you use a hella less 'product' and b) it literally gives an air brushed effect. I swear! Try it if you don't believe me. It's amazing.

After that you need to 'set' the stuff so I got this stuff...

I can't even begin to think what they are gonna say at customs when I decant a bit of this in a plastic bag to take on the plane. Do not be put off by it being white, it is actually clear when it goes on your face. I didn't really want yet more make up to go on top of the foundation but I wanted to set it and this stuff is great! It's clear silicone in powder form and glides (yes glides) on your skin and keeps all your stippling in place! I love it! The only thing is, there isn't really that much in a container (you greedy MAC bastards) but other than that, I am hooked hey. It's called MAC Prep and Prime. And I do now. All the time.

Another good finishing powder is this mineral powder by MAC...

It's good for night time. It obviously is a little bronze (which I love) but again, it doesn't go on as dark as it looks here, it just kind of leaves your skin silky and slightly sun kissed. It's called MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and it pretty much polishes your face. The lovely Sarah from all dolled up fame used it on me over the weekend and this was the result ...

If you can look past the fact that Zitney Spears is doing a world tour on my chin at the minute, you will be able to tell the sheen that my skin has. I really like how my skin looks here and it is really down to this mineral powder stuff.

Did you even know that Palmer's DID skincare? Neither did I! And I LOVE the coco butter goodness of the body lotion so I bought this recently from the supermarket when I was buying tampons just to see what it was like. I only got the night cream because I thought it might be a bit heavy but it is actually just enough! I am in love with this. It smells amazing and I swear my skin improved since using it which is a result because after spending all my cash on that Lancome wank fest I wasn't exactly skipping over to the ATM, so any bargains that actually work are fine by me. And a bargain this baby is at only 8 dollarzzz.

That's all from me! The only other thing that can sort out the 5 piece luggage set from under my eyes is some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz so g'night Owlies! x

05/04/2011

The Queen of Lime Crime

I while back I interviewed Doe Deere from LimeCrime cosmetics for YEN which went to print, and I discovered it on their site as well a couple of days ago. I'm all for double exposure

Lime Crime do reeedeeeekulos lipstick colours in blue, yellow and more Barbie pink than Barbies tiny little plastic pussy. You should check it out and colour your face in here and read the chat I had with Doe Deere - the lady behind it all here

22/03/2011

Take my advice…I don’t use it anyway SPECIAL EDITION: My current beauty essentials Pt 4

Gather round ladies, Mama Owl gwaan tell ya what I use on my mug. Fuck, I'm no 'beauty guru' (beauty guru's don't say fuck for one thing) but I know what I like and I am just a little bottomless pit of opinion, so HEAR ME NOW!!

This here is MAC's gel eyeliner pot or better known in the 'bizz' as FLUIDLINE and they call it fluid because it is. Fluid and smooth and long lasting. Not only on your lid, but this little demon lasts a bloody age. I've had this pot near on 5 months now and shit's still just giving and giving. You need an angled brush....exhibit A...

I have the MAC one as well. I mean, I was buying it from there and stuff and they gotta do their little upsells and flog you all the necessary apparatus. It's not like you can use this shit with your finger, the brush is uber essential, you'd think they'd throw in hey?! Anyhow, it's not that expensive this eyeliner stuff, it's only like 40 bucks, the brush ain't too far off that. But really, unlike boys, brushes last relatively forever if you take care of them. I tell ya, that little angled shape on this brush combined with that pot of black magic will give your eyes wings that'll make ya fly like Air Jamaica girl.

OK so I always thought brush cleaners were daylight robbery bullshit. UNTIL my sister the make up artist used this in front of me one day. I swear to God it's like it magically gave her new brushes. It's $20 a pop though which is a bit exsy but I just had to have it for my own very unimpressive brush collection. *FYI - I am not on some kinda MAC sponsorship here* Seriously though, you gots ta clean your brushes. It's uber gross not to. Once I didn't for weeks, and suddenly Zitney Spears was world touring on my jawline. Look, I'll be honest though, I probs won't buy this again...it didn't last very long and you suddenly get hella paranoid about cleaning your brushes so it starts getting well $$$$$$$$, so I found this vid by Michelle Phan on youtube, and if you can look past her sugary sweet voice, her video's are pretty wow. CLEAN THEM BRUSHES!

I know right! How addictive is it watching this shit? They make you feel like you will be a better person or something if you invest in your beauty regime. And you know what? I believe them.

Yup, no more MAC to be seen here! It's all about NARS baby! I love this fucking foundation. And so I should...it was one hundred thousand dollars minus the hundred thousand. Sheer Glow Foundation by NARS is the best foundation I have used after the Armani Skin Fabri c I told you about in a previous post. It comes in a matte and a dewy formula. I really wish I got the matte formula. I could seriously round house kick that girlie who convinced me into getting the 'dewy' more 'youthful' finish. Hmmm...nothing fucking youthful about dewy finish make up in 40 degree Western Australian weather missy! Other than that, it goes on like melted butter. You have to use your hands cause it has clay in it, so you have to warm it in your palm for a bit. Ask the girls to give you a little tester and I swear, you will love it. My colour is called 'Barcelona'. It's probably why I bought it actually because I love Spain. I chose my car colour 'cause it was called 'Madrid Black' ha ha! I don't even have any Spanish in me! Although I have had...

Moving on!

This is called 'Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish' - what more convincing do you need exactly? I love REN bath products, I aways have. It's just so damn luscious. I cop mine from Mecca Cosmetica here in Aus, in the UK you can get it from Space Nk and nearly all of the department stores. In South Africa they sell it in Woolworths ... God SA, we have come a long way hey? In America...hmm, probably Sephora? Look I dunno alright! Google that shit, I'm not your one stop shop for links. Geez.

Blah blah blah...only buy expensive shampoo yadda yadda yadda. OK. Salon products are amazing, I agree. But so are their damn prices! The best supermarket shampoo I have used EVER is this TRESemme stuff. It's a French word for Pete's sake, it must be good! In all serious though, I have found that my hair has been most manageable after using this stuff. It's about $10 for a humongous bottle and while it's not ideal, it certainly does the trick, well for me anyway.

And from one French powerhouse to another, oh la la CHANEL mademoiselle? I hardly ever cop nail varnish 'cause as most of you know, I get my nailzz did on the regular, I don't however, have regular pedicures so I paint my own tootsies, and usually with something by Revlon. But my God I could not resist this colour! The colour is called Nouvelle Vague and it is gaaaaawwwjuuusss! I got me a little tan over the summer, and this looks so cute on my toes. My toenails look like itty bitty mini swimming pools down there. Oh hey guys!

And thats a wrap on my little beauty 4 1 1. You can read my other one's here, here and here.

Any suggestions or wanna share what you're using? I am looking everywhere for a decent concealer and face primer, what do you suggest? Be honest. 'Cause the dark circles on my eyes put fucking Penny the Panda to shame.

Love ya x