A LITTLE LUXE THAT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT

So I scored myself a pretty great opportunity interning at luxury haircare brand, Kèrastase, this year. 

I've always had a love hate relationship with my hair. It is naturally curly, quite thick and boofy and not in a cute beachy wavy way. As you can probably expect I've always coveted sleek, straightened, glossy locks. I haven't worn my own hair au naturel since I was about 14 after discovering the joys of the flat iron. This meant that while I could finally wear the hair I dreamt about it also suffered immensely from being jammed between two burning hot plates on the reg. 

Dry and damaged, my hair wouldn't grow past a certain length and while I realised it was growing from the root (hello colour re-growth) because the ends were so damaged it gave itself a constant haircut through broken ends dropping off.

 Any haircare brand that claims it will eradicate split ends completely is quite frankly feeding you a bunch of bee ess.

I've always been a bit sceptical on splurging on haircare...they're all mixed up in the same big pot right? Nuh uh girlfriend! Kèrastase contains the latest revolutions from the L'Oreal labs in Paris and has the most concentrated ingredients, making it top-of-the-line shiz for reals.

I can honestly say (hand over heart) after using Kèrastase products consistently for the past 4 months my hair has never looked or felt better! There may be no miracle cure for split ends (other than the big chop✂️) but Kèrastase is the closest thing to miraculous I believe there is.

That's some real shine there ladies!

Just as a small example if you compare my hair below after being washed and left to dry naturally and then after applying Kèrastase Elixir Ultime hair oil. This is an instant (closer to wearable) result!

The products are sold exclusively in specially selected Salons, you can find one through the salon locator on the Kèrastase website http://hair-salons.kerastase.com/?lgg=en_AU&area=au

 

Go treat yourself to some intense hair loving, it's completely worth spending some extra cash for products that will literally transform your hair!

DO I REALLY NEED A PRIMER?

What is primer and do I really need it?

The simple answer is Yes and No.

I completely understand the benefits of using a good primer, however I find some primers on the market have me believing you're just as well off using a moisturiser before applying your makeup.

Before I get into that, let's establish what a primer is...
 
Primer

noun

noun: primer; plural noun: primers

1. 1.

   a substance used as a preparatory coat on wood, metal, or canvas, especially to prevent the absorption of subsequent layers of paint or the development of rust.

   "apply three coats of primer"

If we look at this cosmetically, a primer is basically a cream or lotion applied before foundation to assist in a smooth and even application and to prevent your foundation being absorbed into the skin in a patchy mess. Some go further to improve coverage and lengthen the amount of time the your makeup lasts on your face.

 

In choosing a primer, or considering whether you actually even need one at all you need to establish how you desire your skin to look after applying makeup.

 

Do you want a matte look? Are you after a dewy glow? Do you want an even coverage and something that lasts all day/night?

 

If you are after a lighter coverage and more of a dewy appearance a primer can work similarly to a moisturiser and in this instance you can probably save your money here by purchasing a Sorbolene cream instead. 

 

 I find this is the case with Napoleon Perdis' Auto Pilot Pre-foundation Skin Primer ($59). While it smells delish and feels nice on my face, Face of Australia's Face Base Primer ($11.95) contains the same ingredients* and gives me an almost identical result, and if I'm completely honest, the good old Sorbolene cream will do very similar. It's important to note that these are all water based, which means that the foundation you are using would have to be the same water base(if you look at the first ingredients list on your products the first one will generally be water or 'aqua'). If you have an oil based foundation this is not an option. You may have had an experience when the foundation sticks rather than glides and bunches up in your hairline? Water and oil just don't mix.

 

 

 

(*The order list of the ingredients is also the same which means that, while maybe not in exact quantities, there is most of the same particular ingredients).

 

 If the aforementioned light-medium coverage, semi-dewy look is what your after I would suggest distributing your cash more generously towards another product than an expensive primer and popping in to Woolies for some fancy Vitamin E cream instead. If your foundation is oil based I would suggest a little bit of baby oil instead, let it absorb into the skin and wack on your foundo.

 

The primers that stand alone from moisturiser alternatives are the ones that are going to give you a more matte finish, extend the wearability of your foundation and give you a little sweat-proofness. Some of these contain salicylic acid which absorbs some of the oil in your foundation or gives you a really smooth feeling on your skin without being 'wet'. I didn't understand anything like this existed until a beautiful friend of mine who works in makeup gave me a sample of an Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($79). This shit is bananas. You can literally feel where your dollars have gone as soon as you apply this to your face. It's like velvet on your skin and even though there is no wet feeling to it your foundation just glides. This is the primer that made me believe in the benefits of primer. I probably wouldn't use this everyday just because I prefer a lighter finish on my skin, but it's perfect for a special occasion when you need your makeup to stay and especially when ever your likely to sweat. So if your off to impress some boiz in the club in Mykonos/Thailand/your local sauna, this is your new best friend!

 

 

 

THE VERDICT ON J bronze BY JENNIFER HAWKINS

I am an avid user of faux tans and have tried so many different tanning products. I recently decided to give Jennifer Hawkins J bronze tanning solution a try...and I really love it!

          

Former Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins at her Jbronze Launch August 2013

I was a little skeptical prior to purchasing this as it sits in the mid to high end price bracket (around $35). Having trialled quite a few tanning products before I have settled on a few preferences.

PREFERENCES

(What I want from a fake-tan.)

COLOUR: A green base over a red base; for a more natural,   olive-rather-than-orange colour pay off.

TEXTURE/PRODUCT: Generally speaking mousses over creams/sprays as they tend to provide the most even, smooth coverage and are most easily applied.

SMELL: Subtle at worst. 

WEAR: Fades rather than washes off in patches.

I purchased: 

J Bronze DARK TANNING MOUSSE.

COLOUR: J bronze is not green based but certainly not a red either. The mousse comes out brown with a slight grey/purple tone. The colour pay off once fully developed is a perfect golden olive colour. I really loved the result.

TEXTURE/PRODUCT: I chose the mousse as this is a general preference of mine. It was perfectly foamy with no runny product through it (as I have found with some other products) which provided a smooth, even coverage. It was light enough to give an even coverage too, not too thick or greasy. 

SMELL: A subtle scent of coconuts. Once developed a subtle faketan "tandoori chicken" scent but certainly one of the more subtle I have used.

WEAR: This self-tanner wears really well and fades rather than washing off too patchily.

All in all a really great product. You are certainly getting what you pay for.

My only critique would be that the packaging looks a little cheap in comparison to other mid-high end self-tanners eg. St. Tropez which looks a little more luxe in the bathroom cabinet. This great  product formula deserves a prettier package!

Where does J bronze sit compared to other tanning products I love?

1. St Tropez dark tanning mousse

2. J bronze dark tanning mousse

3. Bondi Sands self tanning mousse

4. Garnier Ambre Solaire self tanning milk

5. Dove Summer Glow

BACK TO BASICS

Ladies, it's time to get Nude. 


On your nails that is. So put your clothes back on and polish your paws with some of these fab shades of Naked.

 Essie Topless and Barefoot as featured on Lily Pebbles blog http://www.lilypebbles.co.uk

My own Essie Sand Tropez

Essie Jazz

OPI Let Them Eat Rice Cake

Essie has a really great assortment of nude shades. The polish is one of the better lasting varnishes I have tried. I would recommend a top coat, but generally I'll find myself reapplying every 3-4 days.

They are (finally) available at priceline for $16.95 -a little steep compared to overseas price but definitely a better quality polish.

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT WINGED LINER

The winged liner has been a staple look of mine for a few years now. Even still with all that practice I have good liner days and questionable liner days. The following photo guidelines tend to be more on the shaky questionable side, but you'll get the gist!

When I first started trialling this look I was using a large crayon-like black eyeliner pencil, while today I swear by Rimmel's Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Liner (NOT to be confused by Rimmel's Exaggerate Eye Liner- there IS a difference ladies and the result is not pretty). This particular liner has a fine brush rather than a firmer sponge and I find the brush much easier to use and it creates a sharper finish. You could use a combination of the two; the pencil/crayon liner to get the bulk of your shape and a liquid to sharpen.

If you are trying out this look with not a lot of practice under your belt I am going to recommend starting out with a soft pencil. Try to find a softer crayon like consistency that will glide on. LOréal Paris Superliner Silissime Eyeliner in 006 Seductive Black might be a good one to start with.

There are plenty of tips and tutorials out there on the big wide web demonstrating techniques to achieve the perfect liner; some might work better for you than others.

I break up my application into 3 sections and finish off the liner 'flick' last.

1. I begin by lining the centre part of my eyelid. I apply it to the thickness I want the liner to go, keeping in mind that the centre of my eyelid will have the highest eyeliner line...if that makes sense? (I want the liner to taper out at the ends of my eye into a finer, sharp line, and the inner corner of my eyelids to be tapered into a narrow line also.)

2. I then take the liner to the inner corner of my eye, narrowing the line as I go. 

3. I continue by taking the liner to the outer corner (narrowing as I go again), stopping short of the very end before I create the flick.

4. I start my flick by drawing a line that follows my lower lash water line in the direction of the end of my brow.

5. I then join my liner to this line and finish by filling in the gap. 

The best example of what I personally do, I found on Pinterest:

Obviously practice makes perfect with this kind of makeup technique. A pencil will make it easier to smudge out the line if your not quite down with perfect precision yet. It creates a softer look but still deepens and defines your eye makeup a little more.

You can purchase Rimmel Glam'eyes liquid eyeliner at virtually any supermarket, chemist or pharmacy for around $10.

AN EVENING WITH VOGUE X MECCA AT THE LANGHAM

Last night I attended an event held at the Alto Rooftop at the Langham in Melbourne, An evening with Vogue, where Vogue Australia Beauty Editor Sigourney Cantelo and Mecca Cosmetica's Head of Artistry Tony Baumann presented some key makeup trends for Spring.

Four keys looks were presented and modelled over the evening including: 

* Polished, 3-D Skin: Radiant and Contoured 

* The Statement Lip: Bold Confident Colour 

* Contoured Eyes: Soft, Elongated & Elegant 

And finally 

* Foiled Eyes: Modern Metallics.

Over Champagne and canapés, Tony shared some tips and tricks on how to stay on trend this season.

He controversially suggested to use lip liner after applying lipstick especially to those unpracticed in applying a statement lip. Tony explained that it can be quite daunting to try and apply a clean line with a lip pencil to bare lips, that rather it can be used to 'clean up' a lipstick application from the bullet. The look was demonstrated with a bold orange/red lip. Tony suggested alternatives to this look. For the colour-shy he recommended applying a balm and then lip pencil over the top to create a more subtle stain. He also suggested for those with pale skin to try more of a coral than bright orange/red.

Sigourney was unsure of Tony's suggestion to skip moisturiser/face oils before applying makeup for an event (personally, I was in the same boat- I LOVE a good face oil), he defended this by theorising it would give your makeup more staying power. He also promoted the use of a hydrating facemask to use the night before an event to eliminate the need to moisturise before applying your makeup to help it 'grab'. 

Other great tips included embracing face powders, particularly very light-weight, fine powder for setting your makeup such as NARS loose powder. Tony also praised cream to powder highlighter, NARS Multiple, in South Beach or Copacabana.

If there was one standout feature to take away from the evening it was the use of the Stilla Magnificant Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in the Foiled eyes demonstration. It's a great product to update any eyeshadow look, easy to use and you only need the smallest amount to pull off 'chic and modern'. I can't wait to get my hands on the Metallic Merlot shade, it's to die for ♥

WHAT'S IN MY PURSE

What's.In.My.Bag

(Clockwise.from.top.left): Gucci.Flora.Fragrance, Marc.Jacobs.Watch, RUSSH.Sept.Oct.2007, Beyonce.The.Mrs.Carter.Show.2013, Miu.Miu.Sunglasses, Chanel.Creme.Rouge, Napoleon.Perdis.The.One.Concealer, YSL.Vouge.Volupte.#13, Chanel.Rouge.Allure.#90.Pimpante.

Chanel.Rouge.Allure.#90.Pimpante.

YSL.Rouge.Volupte.#13

(Clockwise.from.top.left): Jila.Sugarfree.Peppermints,Tiffany.&.Co.blue.box,Chanel.frames, Fujifilm.Polaroid.Camera,Bobbi.Brown.Eyeshadow.Palette, Napoleon.Perdis.Perfect.Poppy.Lip.Pencil,BYS.Lipstick.Start.Your.Engines, RUSSH.Sept.Oct.2009,Versace.Bright.Crystal.Fragrance, Ralph.Lauren.Fragrance.

BYS.LipStick.Start.Your.Engines.

Napoleon.Perdis.Perfect.Poppy.Lip.Pencil.

BYS.LipStick.Start.Your.Engines.