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makeup

Beauty, Shop

My beauty pick of the week: Dior Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume mascara

7th June, 2018

If you want Bambi-esque lashes that look oh-so natural this is the mascara for you. Dior’s Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume mascara has some interesting new features that really set it apart.

Dior Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume mascara, $56

Once you find a mascara that works you want to shout it from the rooftops—so here I am doing just that! I’m sure most women are in the same boat as I am, in that they want a mascara that will make their lashes look thick and luscious. I’ve tried a fair few in my time but this is one product that really impressed me with the results I got. A few coats of Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume added a ton of volume to my lashes and achieve that abundant falsh lash effect.

Whilst the original Diorshow is quite the cult beauty product, don’t dismiss this version as just slightly newer incarnation. It’s got a few key differences that are really impressive. Firstly the tube is actually made of rubber which means it’s squeezable. Aside from being quite a novelty, by giving the tube a squeeze it’s said to warm up the formula inside. By doing this it allows the mascara to glide on a lot easier and really coat all the lashes. It also allows you to move the formula around inside so you don’t have to repeatedly pump the wand (a big no-no as it’s said to allow air in which not only dries it out but also introduces bacteria) to fully coat it.

A little coat goes a long way and really gives lashes a full effect that’s hard to achieve with a lot of other mascaras. Whilst a Dior mascara is a little pricier, the results you get are definitely worth it.

What’s your current fave beauty product?

Beauty, Shop

My beauty pick of the week: Charlotte Tilbury ‘The Dolce Vita’ eyeshadow palette

24th May, 2018

Charlotte Tilbury can really do no wrong. This eyeshadow palette provides a flush of colour for the eyes that’s punchy, yet natural and I’m officially obsessed.

Charlotte Tilbury ‘The Dolce Vita’ eyeshadow quad, $80

Eyeshadow palettes can sometimes be a tricky thing as you’re not always guaranteed to love all the colours. I’ve had instances where I’ve played favourites with the colours only to have one that goes unused. However I’m pleased to report that there’s no such issue with this little beauty.

As with most of the Charlotte Tilbury range the colours, the finish and the wearability of this palette is spot on. The copper, bronze and champagne shades all work together to create a beautiful warm, sun-kissed effect whilst still looking natural. I hate looking too overdone and I’ve found all the hues in this quad work harmoniously together to create the perfect finish.

Whilst providing the ideal flush of colour on my eyes, I’ve found that the colour in this eyeshadow quad has staying power. I can wear this all day and it still has the same intensity as when I first walked out the door. It’s perfect for those times when I just want to look a little more polished as I’m going to an event or an important meeting during the day, with it looking too over the top. I highly recommend this for those wanting a product that’s easy to apply but delivers a flattering finish with staying power.

What’s your current beauty fave?

 

Beauty

My beauty pick of the week: By Terry Baume de Rose lip care

9th May, 2018

Cooler weather means lips are generally prone to dryness and cracking—all the things you want to avoid if you want to healthy looking pout. This little pot of By Terry Baume de Rose lip care has been my beauty saviour.

By Terry Baume de Rose lip care, $82

I look after my skin religiously but I’m the first to admit that sometimes my lips were forgotten about. Cracked and dry lips are never a good look so I decided to do something about. After trialling a few different lip balms I came across this one By Terry, tried it, loved it and it has been on my bedside table ever since.

I wear this every night before I go to bed as it does a really great job of intensely moisturising my lips overnight. I always wake up with plump, smooth lips the next day. It’s also just the right consistency and is not too greasy or sticky. One of the benefits of this lip balm is that it also provides a nice little flush of colour if you want to wear it during the day. Also, the rose scent is really subtle but the aroma makes it a lovely experience to pop it on everyday.

And as an added benefit if you’re extra sun conscious, Baume de Rose comes with an inbuilt SPF15 to protect your lips from UVA and UVB rays. All this while giving you a totally kissable pout.

What’s your current fave beauty buy?
Beauty

My beauty pick of the week: Dior Lip Glow

3rd May, 2018

For those days when you want a bit of colour but don’t want to go to the effort of a full lip? This is the answer.

Dior Lip Glow, $49

If you’re constantly struggling to find the ideal lipstick shade then Dior Lip Glow could be the perfect solution. With the texture of a lip balm, this little gem has become my go-to on days when I want an easy to achieve pop of colour. Lip Glow reacts to the chemistry of your lips to create a custom shade that’s perfectly suited to you. So just use it as you would a normal lip balm and the finished effect is a flush of colour like a lipstick. Genius huh?

The Dior Lip Glow range has a great assortment of colours from pinks to deeper burgundy shades. This makes it easy to adjust the shades to match any occasion. So whether it be an on-the-go day that requires a subtle hue or an occasion that requires something a bit more vibrant, there’s guaranteed to be one that suits. The price point is also not as expensive as other designer lipsticks so you can afford to have a few different colours in your kit.

I’m not one to constantly reapply so I particularly love that Lip Glow achieves subtle lasting colour for a few hours. Plus when I wear it all day it nourishes my lips and leaves them feeling and looking supple. It’s a great 2-in-1 as I get all the moisturising benefits of a balm and all the colour of a lipstick.

What’s your current beauty fave?
Beauty

My beauty pick of the week: Maybelline New York The Burgundy Bar eyeshadow palette

26th April, 2018

Luxe, rich shades in one convenient location? Did I also mention that it’s available at a reasonable price point? Here area few more reasons why I am currently loving Maybelline New York’s The Burgundy Bar.

Maybelline New York The Burgundy Bar, $26.95

I am obsessed with burgundy eye shadow at the moment. I’ve always loved experimenting with darker shades (think browns and taupes) to achieve a classic smoky eye but I’ve recently branched out into burgundy tones. Given it’s new territory for me it was great to be able to work with such a comprehensive palette as I was able to mix and match to achieve just the right effect. There are 12 colours in total so I think it’s virtually impossible not to find the right colour combination to suit your complexion.

Compared to similar palettes, the price point of this product is also super affordable so it’s not a huge commitment if you’ve not really worn shades in this colour family before. There’s a bit more freedom to be able to trial it and see how it looks without worrying too much that you’ve spent a fortune on it.

As we head into winter I’ll be wearing a lot more richer eyeshadow shades to freshen up my beauty look. I have found that it really makes a statement without being too over the top and is a great alternative to the earthier colours I’ve worn in the past. This particular palette also has great staying power so I’m not constantly having to do touch ups. Perfect for those busy on-the-go days.

What’s your current fave beauty buy?

 

 

Beauty, Shop

The beauty buys you need to check out this week

17th February, 2018

In need of a beauty fix? Then you’re in luck because there are some amazing buys worth checking out this week. I don’t know about you but I think there’s just something about popping on a new lipstick shade or cracking open a gorgeous new makeup palette for the first time that offers up quite the thrill. Here are some buys that will have any beauty fan wanting to add to cart.

 

Bobbi Brown 5-in-1 Essential Face Palette

If you travel a lot or just can’t be bothered having to deal with multiple products then this will solve all your dilemmas. With everything from concealer, to bronzer to foundation in the one palette you’ll always look impeccable when you’re on the go—and significantly lighter in cosmetics too.

Dior Addict Lip Glow

If you can never find the right lipstick shade this is one way to guarantee the perfect colour. This is reacts to the natural chemistry of your lips giving you a custom hue that’s uniquely suited to you.

Charlotte Tilbury Golden Goddess Eye Palette

It’s hard to find a quad palette that has just the right shades (there’s often always a random colour that you’re not quite sure what to do with) but these are all gorgeous and quite wearable.

Kitsch Luxe Shower Cap

Oh the cuteness! Shower caps are often a necessity rather than an accessory but this solves that problem. If you’re not a fan of polka dots this range also comes in stripes and plain black.

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder

For a flush of “I just came back from an exotic tropical holiday” colour Tom Ford is your man. This bronzing powder not only gives great colour, the packaging is unbelievably chic. You’ll be looking for excuses to pull this one out for touch ups.

What’s on your beauty wish list?
Beauty

Met Gala beauty inspiration

4th May, 2017

The Met Gala is often referred to as the fashion Oscars with its incredible red carpet line up and next level outfits. And it’s not surprising. Under Vogue Editor Anna Wintour’s no doubt watchful eye you’d definitely want to be bringing your fashion A-game. This year’s Costume Institute Exhbition and Met Gala theme was Rei Kawakubo and Commes des Garçons: The Art Inbetween which called for avante garde outfits in a nod to the influential designer. Whilst there were some daring and experimental looks (hello, Rihanna!) that definitely made their mark, the beauty was also on point. Just take these ladies for example…

A post shared by Kate Bosworth (@katebosworth) on

Kate Bosworth does a severe scraped back bun and bold lip to perfection. It’s just further proof of the power of a really striking pout.

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on

Selena Gomez did simple and sleek for her ‘do but it shows that the lob may well be making a comeback. Poker straight and parted down the middle, this sophisticated hairstyle definitely commands attention.

If you’re in the market for an up-do why not try Reese Witherspoon’s pinned back pony. The clips and looped through features just elevates it from an ol’ ordinary red carpet hairstyle.

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on

You can always count on Jennifer Lopez to bring ample levels of glamour wherever she goes. This look has a decidedly vintage vibe with the bold Bambi lashes and the 60s style tresses and looks classic with just the right dosage of drama.

A post shared by Alexa (@alexachung) on

On the opposite end of the spectrum Alexa Chung opted for her signature tousled hairstyle and minimal barely there makeup. Perfect for the woman who wants to look polished without looking like she spent an inordinate amount of time getting dolled up.

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on

Never underestimate the appeal of a high pony with loose, relaxed waves. It looks red carpet ready but easily transitions to after party mode seamlessly. A bold smoky eye and nude lip come together for a look that’s pretty and understated.

Beauty

A day in the life of my beauty routine

25th April, 2017

I am the first to admit that my days of having an extensive beauty routine are over as I simply have way too much to do in my day to spend it dealing with a huge arsenal of products. I’m all about a regimen that is quick, simple but most of all, effective. This is what I do in a day…

My morning starts with cleansing my face, applying Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum and then finishing with a hydrating moisturiser. I’m all about great skin and the most important step in my skincare regimen, is serum. The Advanced Ceramide Capsules conveniently comes in single-dose capsules which makes it easy to use. It’s highly potent and I’ve found my skin just drinks it up and my complexion has improved as a result. I’m all about great skin so this step is important. Now that Sophia is a little older she loves to watch as I go about my routine so we always spend the morning together as I get ready.

My day is varied so I could be spending it at work one minute, shooting a What I Wore post for the blog or hanging out with the girls the next so my makeup has to be appropriate for several different scenarios. My makeup routine mostly consists of applying a good base then applying eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, then curling my lashes. I also apply a highlighter to my cheekbones to accentuate them. I’ve managed to get this down to as short a time as possible as I need to get out the door fast!

Given I’m all about a quick beauty regimen I’ve managed to whittle down my top shelf beauty products to a few key beauty items – essentially what I can’t live without. What are they? Check out the video below to find out what gets my tick of approval and gets prime position in my beauty collection.

At the end of the day I like to unwind and prep for bed by taking my makeup off then cleansing my skin. I’ll then apply the same Advanced Ceramide Capsules to help my skin restore and replenish overnight. After that it’s lights out in preparation to do it all again the next day!

This post was created in collaboration with Elizabeth Arden.

Beauty

Get a designer beauty fix that won’t break the bank

2nd March, 2017

@allure

Who says a designer fix has to involve dropping four figures on a handbag? If you’re in the mood to treat yourself then why not get a hit of luxury in the form of designer beauty. I know one of my all time fave additions to my makeup bag is Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation and Chanel’s Vitalumiere – it’s a designer hit minus the big dent on the credit card, and hey, it’s great cost per wear as they’re both definitely something I use on an almost daily basis.

Designers such as Givenchy, Burberry and Tom Ford have distilled their chic aesthetic into quality beauty ranges that look pretty fabulous, too (in this instance you can totally judge a book by it’s cover). With each brand expanding into everything from lipsticks to eye shadows, I’ve picked out a few of my faves for a beauty hit that will definitely dial up the glamour…

 

Beauty

The beauty products I always have on hand

23rd February, 2017

I know some women tend to have a lot in their beauty kit but I’ve managed to keep it down to only the essentials to ensure that I can get through my makeup routine fast! I don’t have a lot of time to spend getting ready these days so the less steps I have to go through the better and these are the products I always have on hand…

Foundation: I buy a quality foundation to ensure a great finish. My favourites are Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and Chanel Vitalumière.

Mascara: This is a constant in my kit as it really helps to give my eyes some definition once I’ve applied my eye makeup. I use ModelCo LashXtend.

Eyebrow gel: I use the a clear brow gel by M.A.C to keep brows in place after I’ve filled them in with a pencil.

Eyeshadow: M.A.C eyeshadows are my favourite. I always tend to go for neutral colours as I find I can wear it naturally or build up the colour for a slightly smokier eye.

Cream blush: I love the consistency of M.A.C Cremeblend blush as it gives a really great hit of colour but is really easy to apply. I use the shade Something Special.

Moisturiser: I am constantly going through moisturiser so I don’t spend too much on them. At the moment I’m using QV cream and Nivea Moisturising Fluid.

Lip balm: My lips can get a little dry so I always make sure I have a lip gloss on hand but also Lucas’ Paw Paw Ointment to keep my lips hydrated.

What beauty products do you always have on hand?