Easy Dress

The difference between Day and Night Cream (and why you need both).

2012-01-30T16:36:00.000-08:00

I am often asked about moisturisers and whether or not you can use your daily moisturiser at night. This post was prompted by a conversation I had with a woman in her mid thirty's in the skin care isle at a supermarket.

She was looking for a day time moisturiser and after watching her debate with herself for 10 minutes while I was reading the back of fake tan bottles, I stepped in. Within a few minutes I knew her skin type and had selected a moisturiser for her, she then asked me about night creams and whether or not she could just use the day time moisturiser instead of buying another cream.

The answer is 'yes, you can, but you shouldn't'.

Here's why:

Day Creams

Daily moisturisers have a thin consistency, they're light weight and quickly absorbed. They're designed this way so your skin doesn't look glossy through the day and so that you can layer make up on top of it.
They're hydrating and refreshing for the skin and have a long lasting effect. They're often cooling so that your skin will relax and any night time puffiness will vanish.
You will commonly find an SPF in your day cream, this takes away the need for an additional sunscreen.
Day creams are commonly oil-light or oil-free. This will help to keep your make up in place and control your natural sebum throughout the day.
On a hydrating/nourishing scale, day creams usually sit at about 5/10. They're not designed to be a treatment for your skin.

Night Creams

Night Creams are a heavier cream, they're thicker and deeply nourishing. They don't absorb as quickly, allowing them to sit on the skin surface and slowly absorb, treating and repairing each layer of skin gently.
They're commonly oil rich (although oil-light and oil-free night creams are available). The oils in night creams are designed to soften and protect your skin from fine lines and wrinkles. Night creams commonly have a collagen booster in them, especially creams targeted at those aged 30 and above. This helps to naturally fill in fine lines and prevent future lines from appearing.
Night creams are designed as a rich, hydrating treatment that cares for and protects your skin.

"So, if night creams are so good why don't you just use a night cream during the day as well?"

Well, night creams are typically heavy. Make up won't sit on top of them because of their rich base, you'll find your blush is sitting around your jaw line by lunch time. And while they are nourishing, we've all heard the saying 'too much of a good thing'. Over hydration can cause skin problems such as break outs and dermatitis, it can also flare up eczema.

Using too many creams and oils on your skin can stop your skin from producing it's own natural oils and hydrating itself. The aim is to give your skin a good treatment at night and just a 'helping hand' during the day with a day cream. This way your skin still works too protect itself but it gets a break too.

If you really enjoy your day cream and want to use it at night too, you can always boost it with a little Jojoba or Rose Hip oil. Take your regular day cream, add a drop or two of oil and blend it gently into your skin. The hydration from the oils will help to restore, repair and treat your skin while you sleep.

Kora Organics Vitamin Enhanced Lip Balm

2012-01-29T21:42:00.000-08:00

On my venture towards a more Natural Skin Care Routine in 2012 , I have been looking around at all the different skin care lines available. Kora has been the main line to catch my attention so far so when I was browsing through my pharmacy and spotted the full range of products I had to buy something. The lipbalm seemed like a good introduction to the brand.

It contains incredibly nourishing Jojoba, Avocado, Rosehip Oils. It's organically flavoured and contains vitamins C and E to nourish and resurface the lips. After applying this in the morning, my lips were hydrated right through until the afternoon. I applied it again late afternoon and then again at night time. For me, only three applications of lip balm a day is pretty amazing.

I am constantly applying lip balm and am dedicated to making sure my lips are always soft and hydrated. I was surprised at how much I like the Kora Lip Balm. I didn't think I would enjoy it so much because it doesn't contain any of the typical chemicals that would usually treat and hydrate lips.

The balm will stay put for hours on end I never have a chapped feeling.

At $24.95 for 6.5mls, it definitely not a cheap lip balm. For those who don't suffer excessive chapping, applying morning and night would definitely be enough to keep your lips soft and hydrated. If you do find that your lips dry out more often than they should, an extra application of the balm during the day will help. Because you don't need to use as much of the product as you do with other lip balms it will last a lot longer and the price can be more justified.

100% of the ingredients are natural and 88.8% are from Organic Farming certified by ECOCERT Greenlife, Kora doesn't test on animals, this product is Vegan and is Australian made and owned.

No Sulfates, Parabens, Synthetic fragrance, Synthetic colours, T.E.A., D.E.A., Glycols, Silicones, PEGS. Ethoxylate and Formaldehyde free.

My Skin History and exprience with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

2012-01-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

As you probably know, one of my Beauty Resolutions for 2012 was to develop a more natural, organic skin care routine (click here to see all of my 2012 Beauty Resolutions).

Before I start the transition, I thought it would be a good idea to post about my skin history, followed by a post on my current skin care routine and then update with my progress throughout the year.

I can honestly say that if you're walking down the skin care isle at your supermarket, I've tried 80% of the products. If you're browsing a pharmacy, I've tried all of those too. Here's why:

I always had clear skin as a teenager. Sure, I had the occasional spot or two but I never had anything that could possibly resemble acne. I've always taken care of my skin, removed make up, washed my face etc so I thought I was on the acne-free home stretch for the rest of my life.
On my 22nd birthday I received a lovely gift, a giant blemish on my jaw line. Awesome, right? Within a week, I had 5 or 6 blemishes in the same area. I had never dealt with acne before so I didn't really know how to treat it. I scrubbed my face raw every night, applied toners and spot treatments throughout the day and started building my own skin care isle in my bathroom. Within a month, I had acne spreading across my jaw and down my neck, primarily on the right hand side. It wasn't just simple spots either, it was dark purple and red blemishes that just wouldn't go away.

I perfected the art of concealing and covering up every trace of acne on my face but every night when I removed my make up, there it was, a glowing, bruising jaw and neck. Lovely.

I tried product after product, all of them failing, none of them strong enough. I invested hundreds of dollars into these lotions and serums that did nothing.

After about 6 months of battles, I went to my doctor to be referred to a dermatologist. I left my acne uncovered so she could see what was going on, as soon as I walked in, sat down and turned to her she said 'What's going on with this' in her Russian accent while pointing to my chin. 'Oh this? This is just a biology project I decided to grow on my chin, do you like it?'

She asked me a few questions, examined my jaw with a magnifying glass (like you'd really need it) and gave me a prescription to have an ultrasound. 'An ultrasound?' I asked, 'of my face?'. 'Not of your face, of your ovaries'. Gulp. She handed me another prescription for a line of blood tests and sent me on my merry way.

An ultrasound and a few jabs later and I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and my hormones were through the roof.

PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders, effecting 5-10% of women in reproductive age (11-47). The healthiest woman in the world can still be diagnosed with PCOS and it comes in various different strains from just causing simple acne right down to ovarian cancer and infertility. In most cases, PCOS can be left untreated and may go away itself or you could have it flare up again throughout your reproductive life. It's genetic and can be passed down through generations in your family, it's usually not harm full but it's always a good idea to have it properly cared for.

In my case, acne was really the only external sign. Some women may find their menstrual cycles have a dramatic change or you may have severe mood alterations. The signs and symptoms are varied from woman to woman. An imbalance of hormones is a very common side effect of PCOS. For me, I had elevated estrogen and lowered testosterone which is what was causing my acne. It was like my body was going through puberty again, a time that we all want to repeat I'm sure.

I had the option of a further inspection of my ovaries which would have required surgery but was advised by my doctor that it wasn't necessary, that I would balance myself out for the time being and that in a few years I can go back and see what I need to do. My PCOS is permanent, it's unlikely that it will disappear but it's not severe enough to have removed without risk of infertility.

It's been about 18 months since I was diagnosed and it took about three months after my diagnosis before my skin started to calm down. I took balancing hormones for two months and then chose to go off them because of they made me tired and irritable.

Currently, my skin is clear. I'll see a few blemishes at certain times throughout my menstrual cycle but nothing that is a concern or can't be covered up. I use strong skin care products to combat any sneaky acne but I don't really feel like I need it anymore. My only real problem now is the excruciating period pain that I'm learning to endure, but we won't get into that.

If your skin or menstral cycle suddenly changes, see a doctor. PCOS is very common and always needs diagnosis/treatment whether it's mild or severe.

For more information on PCOS, see the following links:

http://www.managingpcos.org.au
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycystic_ovary_syndrome

MAC 'Shop MAC, Cook MAC' Collection (For Autumn 2012, Australia)

2012-01-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

MAC SAYS:

Try and Buy a delicious, delovely, delectable, divine, degorgeous, de-with-it, degroovy assortment of Eye Shadow x 4 in wearable brights perfect for Spring. Treat yourself to Lipstick in heavenly hues, mouthwateringly Kissable Lipcolour and Cremeblend Blush. This Spring, shop ‘til you drop with a tongue-in-cheek collection that elevates the everyday into the extraordinary. Whether it’s detergent or diamonds, produce or Prada, everyone loves to shop, shop, shop!

Each season MAC will bring out one big collection and a few smaller collections, this is the big collection for Autumn (Spring Collection in the US).

Tendertones
While all MAC Collections drum up conversation, the most talked about item in this collection are the Tendertones. Tendertones were first launched years ago (I believe in 2007) and they're a creamy, tinted, jelly lip balm that caused a craze amongst fans. They've been talked about ever since and their return has driven up even more excitment. Tendertones have been long lusted over by fans of the first launch and those who have heard so much about them since. Much of the conversation is speculating wether the Tendertones will be made with the same formula. MAC is notorious for relaunching a product that we haven't seen for years and it being slightly different to what people remember. I have never tried Tendertones but I will be grabbing plenty to review on this blog (hopefully prior to the Australian release).

There are plenty of amazing products launching in this collection from eyeshadows and powders to gel liners and nail polish.

See below for more details and let me know what products you would love to try!
I have listed a price range for each item, MAC Collections in Australia can vary in price.

All items are limited edition unless otherwise specified.

Lipstick - $36-$41)
Innocence, Beware! - Light yellow pink (Cremesheen)
Naughty Saute - Bright pepto pink (Cremesheen)
Watch Me Simmer - Bright pink-orange (Amplified)
Quick Sizzle - Bright pink (Matte)
Dish It Up - Berry pink (Lustre)
Runaway Red - Rich red-blue (Satin)

Kissable Lipcolour ($32-$41)
Flaunting It - Grey mauve
So Vain - Muted dirty coral
Scan-delicious - Blue fuchsia
Woo Me - Light pinky nude
Enchantee - Light blue pink

Cremeblend Blush ($41-$46)
Optimistic Orange - Bright orange
Florida - Bright coral
Restores Dazzle! - Rich plum

Eyeshadow Quad's ($76-$81)
Shop & Drop - Hypnotizing (frosted grey mauve), Sugar Shack (light pink), Power Boosted (Violet), Shop & Drop (depp blue).
Call Me Bubbles - Call Me Bubbles (light tan), Fresh Daily (orange), Brash (Frosted reddish copper), Full of Flavour (coral).
Colour Added - Laundry Daze (light yellow), Colour Added (Bright Yellow), Self Serve (deep grey), Pre-Packaged (muted turquoise)

Studio Careblend Pressed ($44-$55) (All Permanent)
Medium - Soft creamy beige
Dark - Deep caramel

Fluidline ($32-$36)
Midnight Snack - Soft black
Wholesome - Blackened brown
Added Goodness - Blackened mauve

Tendertone Lip Balm SPF 12 (Price unknown - I assume around $32-$36)
These will sell out incredibly fast, get in quick if you'd like one.
Hush, Hush - Sheer gold with yellow gold pearl
Purring - Sheer tangerine with pearl
Hot ‘n’ Saucy - Soft cherry red
Tread Gently - Soft lime green with yellow pearl

Nail Lacquer ($22-$26)
Al Fredo - Bright acid green (Creme)
Salad Dressed - Mid-tone dirty aqua (Creme)
Kid Orange - Coral (Creme)

(ALL images sourced from Temptalia.com)

OPI 'Lucky Lucky Lavender' Nail Polish Review (NOTD)

2012-01-26T18:59:00.001-08:00

Lucky Lucky Lavender is a long running favourite summer shade for me. It's incredibly lilac with a very strong pink hue. If hot pink and pale lavender had a baby, this would be it. It's a pale colour but is still bold enough to be a statement. It would work best on light-medium or darker skin tones. If you have fair skin and have a yellow undertone you might find this washes you out a little. If you're fair and have a blue, pink or neutral undertone (like me) the colour will work fine.

The only problem I have with this formula is that it can be slightly streaky in places. OPI has this weird way of creating sheer colours and then turning them opaque, it's almost like the particles of colour have difficulty bonding together sometimes. It's not so bad that you look at your nails and see streaks but if you're looking up close it will be noticeable.

Bobbi Brown Rose Gold Collection (for Autumn 2012 - Australia)

2012-01-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

The newest collection from Bobbi Brown is inspired by her beloved rose gold wedding band. As a rose gold lover myself, I'm typically excited by the collection (especially the Rose Gold Shimmer Brick - swoon!).

I am a long time lover, but small time buyer of Bobbi Brown however this collection really excited me. Bobbi Brown focuses on wearable make up, make up that enhances natural beauty. Her collections are always lusted over and for a good reason too - everything is simply beautiful.

Bobbi Brown cosmetics are incredibly easy to wear for simple, effortless beauty.

The Rose Gold Collection includes two shimmer bricks, six lipsticks and four lipglosses. I have my eye on a shimmer brick and lipstick, details are below (prices are the Australian retail price):

Shimmer Brick Compact - $85
Rose Gold - Soft golden pink
Wild Rose - Soft pink

Rich Lip Color SPF 12 - $44
Pink Peony - Peony pink
Lilac - Lilac
Wild Rose - Pink
Miami Coral - Coral
Nude Rose - Pink nude
Beige Gold - Golden nude

Rich Color Gloss - $42
Pink Sorbet - Pink
Angel Pink - Soft pink
Pink Cocoa - Dirty pink
Pink Gold - Golden pink

All items are limited edition

Maybelline 'One-by-One' Mascara Review

2012-01-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

I had such high hopes for Maybelline One-by-One, I had heard that One-by-One would fix every flaw I have ever had with my eyelashes leaving me with the most perfect, pristine lashes I could dream of.

Maybe my expectations were a little too high. Maybe I was lining myself up for disappointment because really, perfect lashes in a mascara bottle? I need Ardell 108's and Duo Glue for that.

I'm going to review the mascara on what it claims to do first, then give my overall opinion. It seems like the most fair way to go about this.

Okay, so the tag line for this mascara is 'bold without the bulk' which absolutely does ring true with what the mascara can do.
One-by-One will not clump, it's a very wet formula and will coat every single lash will it's own layer of mascara. Lashes won't stick together, they won't look heavy, they will hold curl and they will remain separated throughout the day. You can apply this mascara effortlessly and have a full coat in just a few strokes.

However, in a normal application of One-by-One, the volume isn't there. Maybelline promotes 'Clump-Free Volume' for this mascara but doesn't specify how much volume you can expect.

I have long but sparse lashes, I need a mascara to bulk them up and give me the volume I wasn't naturally blessed with. One-by-One coats each lash but you need to use a lot of the product to build up volume. Having said that though, you can apply 10 coats of One-by-One and it still won't clump.
On it's own, this is a great quality in a mascara. You can build up volume, you can define and lengthen, you just need to put the time and effort in to do it, not to mention the amount of product you need to use.

I can't say anything bad about this mascara because it does exactly what it claims to do. Give you bold, defined, separated lashes that won't clump.
It doesn't claim to give you super-mega-crazy volume, nor does it claim to leave you with a phenomenal length. It's a mascara for definition and that's exactly what it does, and does well.

For that alone, I give the mascara a 10/10.

On a personal note, I think that in the promotion of this mascara, Maybelline should really focus on advertising what this mascara really does, give amazing definition. Words like 'bold' and 'fatter, flirtier lashes' don't really describe what One-by-One can and will do.

Also, the add for this mascara makes me angry:

This is not an accurate representation of what the mascara (or any mascara) will do. I'd rather see an add of with the model actually wearing the mascara than an add with a model wearing multiple pairs of false lashes that have nothing to do with the mascara at all.

OPI 'No Spain, No Gain' Nail Polish Review (NOTD)

2012-01-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

'No Spain, No Gain' is a bold burgundy colour that is heavily accented with a purple hue. It's incredibly easy to wear because the burgundy leans towards the 'blue' side of the colour wheel, making it flattering on most skin tones. It's great for lighter skin because it will neutralise redness, giving the illusion of more tanned skin. It's great for darker skin because of the purple contrast and the way it reflects, it's almost like an illuminator for your hands.

It's an incredibly wearable colour and has a great wear time.
It's a typical OPI cream finish, effortless to apply and opaque in two coats.

I had a hard time photographing this colour, the shade is as accurate as I could get it but it might be a good idea to google more swatches of the shade before purchasing :)

MAC Lipstick Giveaway! 2012 (OPEN)

2012-01-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

Time for another giveaway!

You'll want to follow me on Twitter for this one:

@ohrebeccalife

I've recently been blogging about my love of MAC Lipsticks and have decided to

give away 4 to my readers!

This giveaway is aimed at my Twitter followers but because I know that not everyone has a twitter account, anyone can enter through my blog.

The rules are very basic but please click here for the full terms and conditions of all EasyDress giveaways and the Privacy Policy.

To enter you must:

Be subscribed to EasyDress.org through Google Friend Connect. To follow my blog just click the blow 'follow' button the the left of the screen, right above my list of followers.
Comment on this post answering the following questions:

Name:
Country:
The lipstick I would like is:
(If you would also like to leave your email address in the comment it would be helpful but it isn't required. If you win I will find an alternate way of contacting you.)

Each person who comments on this blog post will receive one entry into the competition, however, you can receive up to 13 extra entries on Twitter!

For extra entries you can:

Follow me on Twitter here, this will give you 3 extra entries into the draw (leave in your below comment that you have followed me).
Tweet the following short paragraph about this competition, this will give you 1 extra entry into the draw (up to 10 entries). I will be able to see each tweet so you won't need to notify me that you have sent it =)

Tweet this:
Follow @ohrebeccalife and go to http://bit.ly/wEYgsK to WIN 1 of 4 MAC Lipsticks! Courtesy of #EasyDress.org

Four winners will be chosen at Random to win a MAC Lipstick of their choice valued at $36 (Australian Dollars).

You must follow my blog before entering the competition.

Just click on 'Join This Site' to the left of the screen, under the 'About Me' section.

There are no exceptions to this rule, you must be a follower to be a winner.

You can follow with a Google/Gmail/YouTube, Twitter or Yahoo account.

Of course there are rules and requirements:

You must follow my blog, just click on 'Join This Site' to the left of the screen, under the 'About Me' section. There are no exceptions to this rule, you must be a follower to be a winner.

Following EasyDress.org and posting a comment on this post will give you one (1) entry into the giveaway. Following me on Twitter HERE (@ohrebeccalife) will give you three (3) entries into the competition. Tweeting the above mentioned paragraph will give you one (1) additional entry into the competition for each tweet, you may do this up to 10 times.

The total amount of entries you can receive per person is fourteen (14)

MAC Viva Glam and Limited Edition lipsticks are unavailable for this competition due to varying availability.

Only enter if you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy policy found HERE.

Winners will be chosen at random using random.org.

There will be 4x First Prize winners of one (1) MAC Lipstick

The total prize value is $144 Australian dollars.

The giveaway will be open until 11.59pm AusEST on the 3rd of February, 2012.

The winners will be announced on the 4th of February, 2012.

Winners will have 24 hours to contact me with their confirmed shade requests once I have sent them an email notifying them that they are the winner. Failure to do so may result in another winner being chosen.

This giveaway is open internationally, anyone can enter.

Previous EasyDress.org winners may enter the competition

It's all very simple and fun!
Good luck!

Rebecca

Top 10 MAC Lipsticks

2012-01-22T04:21:00.000-08:00

It took me a hours of swatching and tough-decision-making to narrow down my MAC Lipstick collection to just 10 favourites. Mostly because I don't buy MAC Lipsticks unless I really love them and think they're unique. I only have two or three that I don't wear regularly and only two that I don't like at all. But, hard tasks must be finished so here is my Top 10 MAC Lipsticks, in no particular order.

I am listing the shade name, the finish and a quick description of the colour, followed by a picture of the shade. For more information on lipstick finishes or if you're not sure what words like 'Cremesheen' and 'Lustre' mean in the lipstick world, click here to see another blog post on the subject.

At the time of this blog post, all of the lipsticks mentioned are in the MAC permanent collection, none are limited edition or discontinued.

Impassioned - Amplified Creme
Very bright fuchsia, incredibly long wear time.
A very bright bang of colour.

Vegas Volt - Amplified Creme
An incredible orange-tones coral, long wear time.
Bright colour but without being over-powering or attention-grabbing.

Chatterbox - Amplified Creme

A bright pink with a red tone, very wearable throughout the day.

A great lipstick if you like colour but don't like your lips to be a statement on your face. A great shade for all skin tones.

Lovelorn - Lustre
I've gone through three of these, I love the colour.
It's perfect for those not-so-perfect lip days.
You can have dry, cracked lips and no one will know with this colour on.
It's a mid-tone pink with a blue hue, which means your teeth are going to look super white with it on.

Syrup - Lustre

This shade is the same as Lovelorn in the sense that it is perfect for not-so-perfect lip days.

Incredibly easy to wear and incredibly flattering.It's a mauve-pink, not bright, not light, not dark.

It's a my-lips-but-better colour for those with pigmented lips.

Angel - Frost
Angel, commonly known as Kim Kardashian's favourite lip colour, was my first and my most loved MAC lipstick. It's a cult favourite because it is so flattering on every skin tone. It's a nude-pink without being nude, it's pale without being washed-out, it's pigmented without being a stand-out. It's all-in-all the perfect shade.

Fanfare - Cremesheen
Fanfare is a mid-tone pink with a yellow hue, it's coral for pink lovers.
I am always asked about my lipstick when I wear this shade, it's unique but not loud.

Snob - Satin
This semi-matte pink gives a bright bang of colour and is an instant face lift on a tired day. MAC describes it as a 'Mauve', it's not, it's pure pink. It wears for a really long time and is flattering on light to medium skin tones.

Up The Amp - Amplified Creme

This lipstick is commonly seen on Mona and Aria on 'Pretty Little Liars'. I love the shade because it can be worn as a gorgeous deep pink-purple, or it can be worn lightly for a pale wash of lavender hue. Purple toned lipsticks have been seen in every fashion show for the new year and if you're going to invest in on, this should be it. It's versatile, flattering and gives a loud yell if you need it too.

Kinda Sexy - Matte
MAC describes Kinda Sexy as a neutral pinky-rose, and that's exactly what it is. It's a great nude for any skin tone, it'll appear darker on lighter skin tones and lighter on darker skin tones. It's great to tone down lips if you're playing up your eyes and it's great if you just need something to even out your lip colour. It's a great shade too have, one I use often.

I'll be posting a MAC Lipstick Giveaway in the next few days - stay tuned!
You'll want to follow me on twitter for this one:

@ohrebeccalife

http://www.twitter.com/ohrebeccalife

Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara Review

2012-01-18T21:38:00.000-08:00

'They're Real' is an amazing lengthening mascara. I've never seen any mascara give as much length as this one does. The best part about it is that it only focuses on length, not on volume. If you know me at all you know that I love a voluminous mascara but this one is different.

If you have short lashes you know how hard it is to find a mascara that adds length and subtle volume that doesn't make your lashes look even shorter than they already are. The trick with short lashes is lengthening and separating, not volumising. 'They're Real' does just that, the only volume you get is the natural volume that a layer or two of mascra will cause.

It's quite innovative in the fact that it doesn't really have a tip at the end of the brush. The bristles go all the way over the 'tip' of the brush so you can use it for those shorter lashes in the inner corner or to get right to the root of those hard-to-reach lashes. It gives a bit of a nod to Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara in that sense.

It doesn't give any curl but it does lift lashes, opening the eyes and creating more length. It's easy to remove with make up remover and it stays put throughout the day.

Anyone with short lashes or voluminous lashes will love this product for it's lengthening properties. I have naturally long but sparse lashes and still liked this mascara as a base underneath a volumising mascara. Instant length and definition.

This is such an innovative product, hats off to Benefit.

Seche Vite vs INM Top Coat

2012-01-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

I have a story for you:

I have been using INM Top Coat for years, literally years. I believe I purchased my first bottle in 2006, at the same time that I purchased my first OPI Nail Polish. I had no experience with top coats prior to INM and just went with what the nail artist told me to buy. For years I was using INM and was so incredibly pleased with it that I couldn't think of switching to anything else.

Then I found YouTube, which meant I also found a Seche Vite obsession. Every time I painted my nails I thought about Seche Vite and all the rave it was causing online. It isn't available in Australia and I eventually just brushed it off and continued using INM.

It needs to be said that I never had a problem with INM or the way it performed, I loved it, it was perfect. It's just that ringing obsession that everyone had with Seche Vite was ringing in my ears and I knew I was missing out on something.

When I went to California this spring I ventured into Sally Beauty Supply and like a shining beam of light, there was Seche Vite. I purchased a bottle, then at the register I pulled over another bottle and purchased two. I figured, hey, I've been needing Seche Vite in my life for years, I may as well keep a back up bottle.

Tucked neatly in my suitcase, wrapped in tissue paper, my two bottles of 'miracle in a bottle' ventured back home with me. A few days after I arrived back home, I took out the little bottles that were going to revolutionise the way I wear nail polish and proceeded to paint my nails.

When I had finished I held my hand up to the light and gazed at my super shiny Seche Vite nails. I thought about my bottles of INM sitting in my closet, crying over their replacement. But my nails were so shiny! INM has a great shine to it but Seche Vite glowed.

Then, things started to turn sour.

At work the next day I noticed scratches in my nail polish. 'Hmm' I said, 'not good'. By the end of the day I had a corner at the base lifted and a chip on my index finger. I thought 'maybe I did it wrong' and continued to apply another coat on top that night, I powered through, convinced that it was my fault and not the fault of this so called 'miracle product'. By the end of the next day half of my nails were almost matte because of all the scratches in the top coat. I removed the nail polish completely and tried again, two days later, scratched to infinity. I tried again, scratched, scratched, scratched. Peeling nail polish, chips everywhere and no sign of that life changing staying power that I was promised. I tried both bottles, both did the same thing.

'WHHHYYYYY!' I screamed. Actually I didn't, but I felt like it inside. I spend years craving a product that I hated just because someone else liked it and it had a better brand name.

I went back to INM, groveled for forgiveness, and repainted my nails with the top coat that had stuck by me for years. The top coat that always worked and held my nail polish on for a week at a time.

I guess the moral of the story is that just because something has a brand name, or just because it is a coveted or cult item, doesn't make it better than a lesser known product. INM is reliable, it's strong, fast and less expensive. It's easier to find and just works.

Not only that but Seche Vite contains Toluene, a hazardous chemical that has been removed from most nail polishes (even the cheap ones) and is also not commonly found in products in Australia. I don't know why Seche Vite still continue to use toluene, it's known to be dangerous.

Team INM!

Chanel 'April' Nail Polish Review (NOTD)

2012-01-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

Last, but not least, from the Chanel Spring Collection we have 'April' a gorgeous burgundy red with hints of taupe and lilac. The colour is still flat and muted, just like the other shades in the collection, but is still rich and warm. If you're new to dark shades or have fair skin that struggles to pull off dark shades, this is the polish for you. It's deep and rich but doesn't push it too far, it's a very wearable colour and perfect tone for any skin tone. The thing I love most about this polish is that the colour still pops and stands out even though it's a muted shade.

For a day-to-day basis, this has to be my favourite nail polish from the collection. The application was the easiest (even with the cursed Chanel brush), it went on smooth and completely streak free. If you wanted the colour to be a little lighter you could get away with one coat, rather than two.

In my experience, Chanel nail polishes have an incredible wearing time. They can stay on for over a week without chipping.

As for the other nail polishes in the collection:
See my review of Chanel 'May' here
See my review of Chanel 'June' here

Chanel 'June' Nail Polish Review (NOTD)

2012-01-17T19:47:00.000-08:00

Chanel June is a gorgeous faded apricot cream colour. It is a flat colour with no shimmer, no glitter, no dimension of any kind. It sits perfectly on the nails, adding a splash of colour without being 'in-your-face' loud.

I generally tend to stick to either dark colours, or pinks and reds. Orange tones have never been 'my thing' because they never flatter my fair complexion. Often they will make my hands look pale and blue toned. June is different, it compliments my skin tone and it would definitely compliment darker skin tones as well (I won't say it will compliment lighter skin tones than mine because lets face it, I'm practically see through). This shade would look stunning on tanned, olive, brown or darker skin. It's a universal colour.

The only bad thing about this polish is the brush. Like all Chanel nail polish brushes, it's thin and can be difficult to work with if you're not experienced. It takes a few fill in's and dotting to get this nail polish too look even and erase any streaks. I think it's because of the colour but out of all the chanel polishes I have tried, this one was the hardest to work with. But it's still wearable and you'll get the hang of it after a few atempts.

In my experience, Chanel nail polishes have had an amazing wear time (over a week) and stay looking pristine as long as you use a top coat.

As for the other nail polishes in the collection:
See my review of Chanel 'May' here
See my review of Chanel 'April' here

Moroccan Oil - Hair Treatment

2012-01-17T18:00:00.000-08:00

If I could figure out a quick way of posting myself singing 'Halleliuja' at the beginning of this post, I would.

Would it be too extreme to say that Moroccan Oil changed my life? Yeah, probably, but it wouldn't be a lie.

I use an obscene amount of heat on my hair, it's heavily colour treated and quite long, meaning that my ends are old and need extra care.

I use treatments, hair masks, heavy duty conditioners and all the at-home remedy's in the book to make sure I have incredibly soft, silky hair. But nothing, and I mean nothing, works as well as Moroccan oil.

Depending on who you ask, you will receive varied responses on how much of the product you should use. Some people say that one pump of oil is too much for their hair, others (like me) use up to 5 pumps in an application. I think it depends on your hair length and texture. I have fine hair that is naturally very curly from my ears down. I straighten and restyle it every day so the heat will dry out my hair over time. Moroccan Oil helps to restructure my hair, keep it soft and smooth while making it incredibly shiny and silky. I put 3-4 pumps in my hand, rub it between my fingers and work it through the ends and up the lengths of my hair. I don't find that I need to be careful to avoid the roots so I will run whatever is left through the rest of my hair. I will occasionally take an extra pump and run it back through the ends again.

I was incredibly hesitant before trying Moroccan Oil ('You want me to put OIL in my HAIR??') but it doesn't leave hair oily at all. There is no oily residue and it doesn't effect how often I need to wash my hair. It also speeds up the drying time of your hair so you can use less heat.

This is the one hair product that I refuse to go without. I have used it for over a year every time I wash my hair. I can't say enough good things about Moroccan Oil, it's truly a saviour.

(Note: I have tried other brands of Moroccan and Argan oils and nothing is as good as the Moroccan Oil brand.)

What's In My Bag? January, 2012.

2012-01-16T04:31:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because of my naturally inquisitive nature but I love rifling through other peoples hand bags. I sling my day-to-day life over my shoulder each morning. I curiously stare at the size of another woman's handbag on the train and guess all the things she may be keeping in there.

Ever since I started blogging, one of my most requested posts was a 'What's In My Bag' post. I generally keep my handbag pretty clean, I throw so much in there that it ends up weighing a ton in a couple of days.

I also have started switching to a smaller bag on the weekends when I don't need so many items with me at all times. I'll start off by listing all the things that I will keep in my 'weekend bag' and then continue on with everything that will be thrown into my 'weekday bag'.

1: Wallet
A staple, of course. I carry a Marc Jacobs Continental Turn-Lock Wallet. I love it, it's the perfect size.

2: Phone
Because I needed my phone to take the picture, I've left my phone cover in it's place. I carry an iPhone 4s, the case is a diamante base with a lace overlay. I have a lace obsession, I found it on eBay.

3: Lipstick
On a good day I will only have 4-5 lipsticks in my bag, but usually you'll find at least 10. They're usually MAC because they're the lipsticks I will commonly reach for but you'll often find a Chanel or Revlon lipstick in there somewhere.

4: Keys
Of course, I can't get anywhere without them.

5: Hand Cream
I hate the feeling of tight or dry hands, hand cream is a must. I love Lush 'Helping Hands' hand cream, it makes my nails really shiny too.

They are the five things I will have in my weekend bag, I'll have all of the previously mentioned plus all of the following in my weekday bag.

6: Headphones
It's the little red triangle thing in the middle of the picture. It takes me a car ride, train ride, tram ride and a walk to get to work, headphones are mandatory. I use HeartBeats by Dr Dre.

7: Card Wallet
I have too many store cards and loyalty cards to keep in my wallet. I have too many to keep anywhere, actually. I keep use a separate little wallet to keep them all in, though I should really sort through them all.

8: Hairspray
Because you never know when you'll need it, it's also great for removing nail polish in an emergency, tutorial coming soon!

9: Tissues, Towelettes and feminine supplies.
Tissues, obviously. Towelettes because I hate when my hands aren't clean and I use public transport. Feminine supplies are in the little Moxie tin, I also keep band aids and Panadol in there. Multi-tasking!

10: An umbrella
This goes in and out of my handbag, depending on the season. Even though it's summer at the moment the weather has been changing rapidly. I'd rather carry an umbrella for no reason then carry a hair straightener in case it rains.

11: Dental floss, medications, band aids, nail file and a pen.
Dental floss is a must, I use easy-floss so I don't have to deal with the whole 'string' thing. Pain killers, etc. Band Aids, because I'm a female that wears shoes. Need I say more? I used to carry around nail scissors but I've been pulled over at airport security too many times too keep buying more. I have now chosen to carry a simple looking nail file.

12: Make Up essentials
Mascara, powder and a nude lipliner have a rightful place in my handbag. The mascara is MAC Opulash, the powder is MAC Pressed Blot Powder and the lipliner is MAC Naked.

13: Perfume
I am not about carry around a glass bottle of perfume in my handbag, it would smash before I even left my house. I use a Travelo refillable spray bottle, let me know if you'd like a review on it. At the moment I am carrying Aquolina.

14: Snack bars
Quick lunches on the run, forgotten breakfasts or just general pangs of hunger can be quickly solved by having healthy snack bars on hand. I love these Choc Macadamia No Numbers bars from Go Natural. They have no additives, no preservatives, no added or fake sugar. The ingredients list reads simply 'Dates, Macadamias, Almonds, Cocoa', no numbers. They're delicious and only about $1.50 from supermarkets.

15: Receipts
Because no matter how hard you try, they are going to accumulate and they are going to take up more room than they should and wrap themselves around the one object you're hunting for.

Juicy Couture 'Viva La Juicy' - Perfume Review

2012-01-15T16:27:00.000-08:00

Viva La Juicy has very quickly become one of my most loved scents.

It opens with a burst of berries and mandarin, as well as honeysuckle and jasmine.

As the perfume cools down, notes of warm vanilla and caramel sneak through and mix with the earthy sandalwood and amber.

Honeysuckle stays strong throughout the entire wear of the perfume but the final scent you receive is a warm, toasted vanilla with a hint of burnt caramel and soft sandalwood.

The wear time on the perfume isn't fantastic (about 3-4 hours) but I find that it lasts longer when sprayed onto clothes or hair.

This is my second bottle of Viva La Juicy, the first bottle I had was 30ml, this time I opted for the largest size, 100ml.

The bottle is gorgeous, the detailing around the Juicy Couture logo is fantastic. The bottle doesn't look cheap, it's heavy and sturdy, the pump is strong.

I would categorize the scent as oriental, gourmand and mildly floral.

Bliss Steep Clean - Face Mask

2012-01-12T03:41:00.000-08:00

As I sit here with a green face, literally, I was contemplating blog posts for today.
You may have noticed my little poll in the top left of the screen, they are four of my upcoming blog posts and I'll post them in order of highest requested.

Until the poll has finished I have been a little stumped on what to write but then I thought 'Hey! I have a green face! Let's post about that!'.

Bliss Steep Clean has become a staple in my skin care routine, it's an amazing product for many reasons.
For those who don't know, Bliss is an elite spa in New York and although I have never had a chance to go there myself, I have tried a few Bliss products over the years and absolutely loved them.

I was browsing SkinStore.com for a an oil control face mask with microdermabrasion. I saw the Bliss logo pop up and bought the recommended product straight away.

I was going to put my review into my own words but the description that Bliss gives of the product describes it perfectly:

"Bliss Steep Clean® Mask is a pore-plunging, clog-clearing, professional-strength facial mask that transforms skin into a scene of extreme purity in just 15 minutes. This skincare essential exfoliates dead skin cells for a smoother complexion, prevents clogged pores to minimize breakouts, minimizes large pores, and brightens skin. It is a must-have for all (but especially congested) skin types."

I have revealed to you all before that I have always had a problem with forbidden pores and my constant hassle with unclogging them. Although this product doesn't clear them completely, it does a mighty fine job. It's a dermabrasion product which means that it dissolves dead skin cells and leaves your skin incredibly soft, you know, that oh-my-gosh-I-can't-stop-touching-it kind of soft. It brightens skin and leaves you feeling incredibly clean and fresh.

The bottle contains two creams, a blue cream and a yellow cream. These aren't mixed in the bottle so it also contains two pumps. The bottle asks you to push the pumps down together to mix the product but I find it a lot easier to press them individually to make sure you get an equal amount of each cream.

Pump out two pumps of the blue cream and two pumps of the yellow and mix together on your fingers. Apply to washed, clean skin and let it sit for 15 minutes (occasionally I'll go for 20 minutes). Then gently remove the mask with a warm, wet towel.

The thing I think I love the most about this product is that it doesn't sting, it doesn't tighten, it doesn't set or harden, it doesn't feel like anything other than a hydrating cream on your face. I hate face masks that I have to sit and put up with while they burn my skin. This is gentle and effective, no pain at all.

When I take off the cream my skin is glowing, healthy and so clean (some may even say it's steep clean..)

The bottle costs $54 on SkinStore.com (plus $14.95 shipping but shipping is capped at $14.95 so you can buy as many things as you want) and I honestly believe that it is a bargain, even at $54. I have used this about six times (once a week for six weeks) and I think I have about two thirds left (another 12 applications, another 12 weeks).

It's suitable for all skin types and if you have combination/oily skin I highly recommend.

Chanel 'May' Nail Polish Review (NOTD)

2012-01-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

Chanel May is the post perfect, delicate pink I have ever seen in my life.

I had to open with that, it's true.

I applied this in the car so please excuse the mess (I'll fix it up later). Not only is this colour so perfect in the bottle, it applies exactly the same colour. The brush gives a great application but it is quite small in comparison to others. I can imagine that when the polish gets older and starts to go thicker it might be hard too apply.

The polish is a light soft pink cream, no shimmer, no glitter, nothing over powering. It looks great against my fair skin, unlike most soft colours that just look washed out and neutral. It's very complimentary, not at all bold, just pristine and beautiful.

~~I will report back on the lasting power/chip factor after a few days.~~
Six days later and I am incredibly impressed. Even after house work over the weekend I don't have a single chip or fault in the polish. I have a very slight lift around my cuticles but nothing that makes me want to remove the polish (and I remove my nail polish as soon as there is even one flaw). I will remove the polish tonight (because I've already gone over my time limit for wearing the same colour nail polish: see my '2012 Beauty Resolutions' here) but not because I have too. I could see this polish easily lasting another 4-5 days. Amazing!

As for the other nail polishes in the collection:
See my review of Chanel 'June' here
See my review of Chanel 'April' here

WINNERS ANNOUNCED! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

2012-01-10T02:11:00.000-08:00

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

I know you're all going to skip to the winners anyway so I'll start with that.

1st Prize:
A MAC Eye Kit!

4 x MAC Eyeshadows of your choice
1 x MAC 4 Slot Compact
1 x MAC Eyeliner. Your choice of Kohl Pencil (Smolder or Teddy) OR 1 x MAC Black Liquid Liner
1 x MAC Opulash Mascara

Total prize value of $178 (Australian)

THE WINNER IS

CLAIRE

2nd Prize:
A MAC Lip Kit!

1 x MAC Original Lipstick of your choice
1 x MAC Lipglass of your choice

Total prize value of $71 (Australian)

THE WINNER IS

BELLA

The three winners of

1 x MAC Original Lipstick

for refering a friend are:

Steph v L
Stefanie Gl
Ana Kn

(There were a few Stefanie/Steph's and Ana's so I have added the first few letters of your last names)

I will contact ALL winners by email for their shade selections and postal address, please do not contact me. This prevents other people from emailing me stating that they are you.

I have THREE giveaways planned for the next month or so, stay tuned so you don't miss out :)

I've had so many entries and winners from so many different places, thank you all so much for participating in the competition.

Nail Care / Manicure Routine

2012-01-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not really a 'minimal' person, I have an excessive skin care routine, an excessive hair care routine and an excessive manicure routine.

My hands are excessively dry from the recycled air in my office, it has turned me into a hand cream junkie and made keeping my nail beds well treated quite a task.

So here is a rundown of my basic manicure routine:

1: Remove all nail polish

It's important to start with clean nails and hands. I am not loyal to a nail polish remover, generally it's Cutex or Sally Hansen but I would love to find a better one. I use cotton squares rather than rounds because the squares have a sewn seam on the sides which holds them together for longer.

2: Cuticles need love too

It's up to you whether you want to push or trim or leave your cuticles alone but whatever you choose to do, make sure you are keeping your cuticles hydrated and soft. Cuticle oil is very common and easy to find, or you can try a cuticle butter. Cuticle butter is usually a solidified oil, it's less messy and often more hydrating. I like Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter from Lush. I apply a good amount to each nail and let it sit for a few minutes, I'll then take time rubbing in the cuticle butter to each nail as it turns into an oil. Once it's rubbed into my cuticles I will rub the rest around my hands.

I choose to trim my cuticles. Use a pusher (these can be found in any pharmacy for a few dollars) and then use a base trimmer to cut away the cuticles. I find that a base trimmer is far easier then using cuticle scissors. Cutting your cuticles doesn't hurt at all. If you have any pain then you are cutting too far down.

3: Scrub and soften those grimy little paws

I use Ocean Salt Scrub from Lush to exfoliate my hands. Onto dry hands place a small scoop of the salt and massage it into your hands. It should dissolve into grains and your hands may tingle a little from the deep exfoliation. Rinse off with warm water and voila! Super soft hands. You'll need to moisturise your hands after using any form of scrub, I like Creme Anglais from Lush for a hand treatment after scrubbing. On a day-to-day basis I will use Helping Hands from Lush.
Wait until all the moisturiser has soaked into your hands before applying nail polish.

4: Prime, Polish and Finish

Clip your nails to the same length, I like my nails to be quite flat on top so I prefer to use toe nail clippers. file the edges and corners gently to finish your perfect shape.

Give your hands a good rinse to remove any excess oil from your nails and apply a base coat. I like Sally Hansen Hard As Nails, it helps nail polish apply streak free and stops cracking and splitting of the nails. When that has dried continue with your nail polish, a few coats is best with time to dry in between.
Finally, clean up any edges with cotton tips and nail polish remover and finish with a super strong, super glossy top coat. I've been trying Seche Vite top coat (which is pictured above) but I recommend INM Out The Door Top Coat - it's actually amazing.

Essie - 'Peach Daiquiri' Nail Polish - Review (NOTD)

2012-01-08T15:30:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. 'Really..? Another Peach - Pink - Coral nail polish?' ... I'll go for something different next time.. I promise.

I think it's because I have my nail polishes sorted into colour order an I am just going down the line.

Anyway, this colour is Peach Daiquiri by Essie. It's actually one of the only Essie shades that I really like. Essie can be pretty hit-or-miss with it's formula but this one applies really smooth and opaque, plus it has a great wear time of about 5-6 days without chipping. I love how bright this colour is which is why I chose to wear it on this raining, gloomy Monday. It's an instant pick-me-up.. with no side effects.

I actually thought I might have to say goodbye to this colour when I was flying back from the US, it leaked all through my make-up bag. I had to throw out the bag and a few make up items but at least the nail polish was spared.

I love this colour, love the formula, an easy 10/10.

What colour would you like to see next?

Garnier Bodysummer Gradual Tan Moisturiser (GIVEAWAY-CLOSED)

2012-01-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

On the top shelf of my beauty closet you will find a large box, inside that large box you will find an array of body products that I am not currently using. 80% of those products are self-tanners.

See, I was born with skin whiter than Snow White and tanning isn't possible. I'm pretty much a ghost.

I've been self tanning since high school and it's pretty easy to say that I've 'been there, done that' with most products.

It's not easy to tan fair skin because any imperfection you make will show up loud and proud. Self-tanners also tend to look more orange on fair skin than on tan-able skin.

Moisturising gradual tanners always work the best but I've never had one work as well as the Garnier Bodysummer gradual tanner. Not only is it incredibly moisturising, it's also an incredibly easy application with no orange and no streaks.

Garnier Bodysummer claims to adapt to your own natural skin tone to bring out your natural tan. Well, I have no natural tan so I was positive that this wasn't going to work. There are two options when buying, Fair/Light or Medium/Dark, they didn't have a 'Translucent' option so I went with Fair/Light. I applied it on my arms in the afternoon and stared at it waiting for the tan to appear. Nothing, it got self-conscious and wouldn't work while someone was watching it. A few hours later I noticed that my skin on my arms was slightly darker than the skin on my legs - Ah-ha! I slathered on another layer and went to bed expecting to be an orange monster when I awoke. I was incredibly surprised that when I woke up in the morning I had the sun-kissed glow I was promised. 'MORE!' I shouted while applying another layer.

I arrived at work, showed off my Sun Kissed Glow and gave myself a round of applause.

Not only does it give a wonderful, mess free colour, it also doesn't turn your hands and fingers orange (they're a little bit more tan than your arms but hand soap or lemon juice will bring them down a few shades).

It doesn't wash off in the shower but it will fade (obviously), but you can apply another layer after your shower to bring back the glow.

It's incredibly moisturising, so much that I am now tempted to purchase the regular Garnier Body moisturiser.

~~I highly recommend Garnier Bodysummer and have a bottle to give away to a reader.~~

~~Just leave a comment below saying whether you would like Fair/Light or Medium/Dark (please read the Terms and Conditions here).~~

~~Check back in a few days to see if you're the winner!~~

-----------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations Peach, you are the winner of this mini giveaway.

Please contact me at rebecca@easydress.org with your postal address within 24 hours.

I will be posting little giveaways like this quite often, check back for more!

(Winner was selected using Random.org)

OPI Flower To Flower Nail Polish - NOTD

2012-01-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

OPI Flower to Flower is a faded hot pink cream formula with an incredibly subtle shimmer. It has a beautiful application, incredibly creamy and pigmented. Two coats is opaque and perfect. It wears really well too, it wears like a solid cream formula rather than a shimmery formula.

For those who don't know, Flower to Flower is the nail polish that the 'dead girl' (Alison) is wearing during the opening song in Pretty Little Liars. When I saw the colour I went on a hunt to find the shade.

It's great for a bold pink without being a true 'hot pink'.

It was officially released in Autumn of 2010 but had been floating around for some time before then.

6 Beauty Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

New Years Resolutions aren't really my 'thing', but I thought it would be a good idea to come up with some Beauty Resolutions for 2012 as a motivation to actually complete the tasks I set up for myself.

With no prior thought, I'm making these up as I go along:

1. Develop a more natural, less chemical, skin care routine.

I use so many chemicals on my face it's crazy. I have always been very strict about skin care but I always had clear skin as a teenager so I was able to use mild cleansers. When I turned 21 my skin changed and suddenly I am having to apply tonics, creams, acids, peroxides to my face to make sure I never break out. Over the past few months my skin as settled down and I've cut out a few potions and lotions but am still using hard glycolic acid, strong salicylic acid and alcohol heavy cleansers/toners.

I am hoping that by the middle of this year I will be able to work out a more natural, less abrasive, chemical reduced skin care routine.

If you have any product suggestions, please leave them in the comments below :)

2. Use what I have

I will drastically cut down my spending on make up this year. I own more make up than any women would need throughout her entire life and quite honestly, no one needs it. I am never going to stop buying make up, I love it too much and I enjoy trying new products. In 2009 I went crazy on building a collection of everything, in 2010 I immersed myself in MAC and in 2011 I threw myself into Sephora and Nordstrom with both guns blazing, (Are you there Rebecca, it's me, Chanel). In 2012 I will buy only staple products that need constant replacement (foundation, mascara, eyeliner, etc) and only products that I know I will actually use (that poor Chanel Bronze Universal sitting in my drawer mocks me every day). I am a sucker for limited edition items. I hereby vow to read reviews and make educated decisions before spending more money on coloured powders and creams.

3. Ruts are okay.

I have been known to ban myself from using particular items because it stops me from using anything else (my Naked Palette took a bashing in the start of the year and hasn't been used since). I have decided that it is a GOOD THING to use up products and hey, if a rut is working then why stop?

4. Project 10 Pan.

For those that don't know, Project 10 Pan was a craze started by YouTube Beauty Blogger Laura (lollipop26). The basic rules are that you cannot purchase another make up item until you have 10 empty pans (pans being make up products that are completely empty). I don't like this, I don't like this at all. I like new things, no one likes old things. Alas, it has to be done. At some point during the year I will embark on Project 10 Pan, promising to not buy any more beauty products until I have finished off 10.

5. Nail-Polish Schmail-Polish.

No more nail polishes until I have 'Nail Of The Day'd' at least 90% of the nail polishes I currently own. The extra 10% covers nail polishes that aren't as wearable (glitters, shatters etc). Now you may be thinking 'Okay, so you have a couple of months or so of not buying nail polish', nope, not true. I own about 120 nail polishes and if I change my nail polish every 5 days (on average) that's still only about 73 nail polishes in a year. I also vow not to be a cheat and paint my nails five times in one day. Exceptions will be made for very limited edition, coveted nail polishes (such as the Chanel Summer line). Damn, I'm re-thinking this one already.

6. Blog

How's a minimum of 3 posts a week sound? I want to say 5 but 3 seems more attainable for a full time worker. Let's aim for 5 posts a week with a minimum of three.

So there you have it, 6 Beauty Resolutions for 2012. I'll report back throughout the year and let you know how I'm going and which ones I regret ever making.

What are your resolutions? Leave them in the comments or make your own blog post and link me :)

Happy New Year!

THE 2012 MAC GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

2011-12-31T00:37:00.000-08:00

Lets kick off the new year with my first giveaway!
There are 5 prizes available.

Because it's the most important part, lets start with the prizes:

1st Prize:
A MAC Eye Kit!

4 x MAC Eyeshadows of your choice
1 x MAC 4 Slot Compact
1 x MAC Eyeliner. Your choice of Kohl Pencil (Smolder or Teddy) OR 1 x MAC Black Liquid Liner
1 x MAC Opulash Mascara

Total prize value of $178 (Australian)

2nd Prize:
A MAC Lip Kit!

1 x MAC Original Lipstick of your choice
1 x MAC Lipglass of your choice

Total prize value of $71 (Australian)

That's not all though, for refering a friend to this competition you will go into the draw to win 1 x MAC Original Lipstick of your choice. You will receive one entry for each friend you refer (to a maximum of 10) and there will be 3 Refer-A-Friend winners! (Each lipstick is valued at $36 Australian dollars)

All you have to do to enter the competition is click on this link HERE and fill out a short survey about make-up, simple!

Winners will be announced on my blog, if you would like your blog to be promoted when you win please leave the link in the comments box at the bottom of the survey :)

You must follow my blog before entering the competition.

Just click on 'Join This Site' to the left of the screen, under the 'About Me' section.

There are no exceptions to this rule, you must be a follower to be a winner.

Of course there are rules and requirements:

You must follow my blog, just click on 'Join This Site' to the left of the screen, under the 'About Me' section. There are no exceptions to this rule, you must be a follower to be a winner.
Follow me on Twitter HERE, as I know that some people don't have Twitter this is not a requirement. I will be hosting several Twitter giveaways this year so if you do have twitter it will pay to follow me :)
When you have completed the survey, leave me a comment on this blog post to let me know.
You must fill in the survey found HERE. There are 10 questions in total.
MAC Viva Glam and Limited Edition lipsticks and lipglasses are unavailable for this competition due to varying availability.
Only enter if you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy policy found HERE.
Winners will be chosen at random.
There will be 1x First Prize winner, 1x Second Prize winner and 3x Refer-A-Friend winner.
The total prize value is $357 Australian dollars.
The giveaway will be open until 11.59pm AusEST on the 9th of January, 2012.
The winners will be announced on the 10th of January, 2012.
Winners will have 24 hours to contact me with their shade requests once I have sent them an email notifying them that they are the winner. Failure to do so may result in another winner being chosen.

It's all very simple and fun!
Good luck!

Rebecca

40 Beauty Questions

2011-12-29T19:35:00.001-08:00

So, I this is my third attempt at a new post today but I keep getting distracted by the blazing heat outside and the make up melting off my face.

I have been quietly been working on my 'Something Big Is Coming' post for the 1st of January and really can't quite grab the motivation to review any of the products I'm wearing today.

I stumbled across this little 40 question Beauty Quiz and thought it would be a good way to get to know more about my readers and their beauty habits. I'd love for you to copy and paste the quiz with your own answers either in the comments section, to your own blog or even email it to me at rebecca@easydress.org

So, here we go (I've altered some of the questions I didn't like):

SKINCARE
1. How many times do you wash your face daily?
Two or three times. Always morning and night, sometimes in the evening as well.

2. What skin type do you have? (dry, oily, combination)
Combination skin

3. What is your current facial wash?
I use Neutragena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser and ProActiv Cleanser

4. Do you use an exfoliator?
I use a mild exfoliator and the Clarisonic brush each night, I do an enzyme peel each week for added exfoliation.

5. What brand do you use?
I mix it up, I am not loyal to any one brand.

6. What moisturizer do you use?
I change it up, I haven't found one that I am really happy with.
At the moment I'm using Biore SPF Moisturiser.

7. Do you have freckles?
I have light freckles on my face.

8. Do you use eye cream?
Every morning and night.

9. Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
I didn't have any acne at all until I turned 22.
Now I have to be extra careful when cleaning and taking care of my skin.

10. Did you ever have to use ProActiv?
Yes, I still use it.

MAKE-UP

11. What foundation do you use?
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Rose Ivory.

12. How about concealer?
Yes, different concealers for different areas.
Bobbi Brown under my eyes, MAC on my face if I need it.

13. Do you know your undertone color?
Neutral. Which isn't good because I'm light skinned and they don't tend to make neutral foundations for light skin.

14. What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I like them, I wear them sometimes.
I don't like fake lashes that look like fake lashes though.

15. Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
I certainly did. I go through mascaras faster than that anyway.

16. What brand of mascara do you use?
Depends on what is working for me that day. At the moment I will reach for either Benefit 'They're Real', Tarte 'Lights Camera Lashes', or MAC 'Opulash'.

17. Sephora or MAC?
I like both but wouldn't want to just stick with MAC, so I'd pick Sephora for the variety.

18. Which brand do you have the most items from?
MAC, too much MAC.

19. What tools do you use to apply your make up?
Brushes, fingers, sponges.

20. Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Yes, always. I like MAC Bare Study Paint Pot.

21. For the face?
Yes, always.

22. What is your favorite eyeshadow (colour)?
If I had to pick one to wear for the rest of my life then it would probably be MAC Satin Taupe or the taupe colour in the Chanel 'Topkapi' quad. Taupe's are versatile and can be used with a variety of looks.

23. Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Liquid/gel on my lid, pencil on the waterline.

24. How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Never.

25. What do you think of pigment eye shadows?
I love them, I'm wearing them now.

26. Do you use mineral makeup?
Only if I'm testing it for a review. I haven't found any mineral make up that I really like.

27. What is your favorite lipstick?
I don't have just one, MAC Lovelorn is a current favourite though.

28. How about lipgloss?
Chanel Blossom.

29. What is your favorite blush to use?
MAC Well Dressed, Illamasqua Hussy or NARS Orgasm.

30. Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
I will occasionally but I do not recommend doing it.
Most of what you find on eBay is a fake replica, unless you know exactly how to spot fakes do not buy it.

31. Do you like drugstore makeup?
I like some drugstore make up.

32. Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
We don't have any in Australia.

33. Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
I have.

34. Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
No, not at all.

35. Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Too much make up. Especially too much foundation.
If you don't use too much you really can't go wrong.

36. Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
Generally neutral eyes. If I am going to wear anything colourful it will be lipstick.

37. Which celebrity always has great make up?
Oh, there are a lot. That's the benefit of having a make up artist on hand.
Blake Lively, Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum - just to name a few.

38. If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
Probably concealer. But I wouldn't leave the house using just one make up item.

39. Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
I could, but I wouldn't.

40. Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
I look fine without make up on.

Clarisonic Mia (Review)

2011-12-28T16:29:00.000-08:00

I have a very strict skin care routine. I used the same products every day, in the same order, at the same time. I have been wanting to add a Clarisonic to my routine for quite some time now but didn't actually purchase one until a few months ago. Since then, the Clarisonic has become a staple item in my skin care routine.

I opted for the Clarisonic Mia rather than the Clarisonic Classic.
My reasoning was pretty simple - it was cheaper.
I did to quite a lot of research into what the differences between the Classic Clarisonic and the Mia are and here is what I found:

The Classic has a base charger that you can stand the wand up in. The Mia has a magnetic charger that just clicks onto the wand, you will need to lay it down on your bench.
The Classic beeps when you need to move to the next section of your face, the Mia doesn’t, it comes with a booklet telling you how long you should spend on each area of your face and will turn itself off when you should be finished.
The Classic has a bigger handle and is heavier, the Mia is made for travel so it is smaller and a lot lighter.
The Classic has three speed settings, the Mia only has one which is the middle speed on the Classic. This isn’t a downfall in my opinion, the different speeds on the Classic really don’t make a noticeable difference in how it works.
They both use the exact same brush heads, there is no difference at all.
The Mia holds it's battery charge longer than the Classic does, which makes sense, since it's made for travel.

But here's the big difference, while you can pay up to $220 for a Classic, you can find a Mia for as little as $120.

But on with the review:

My skin is smoother, softer and more vibrant. My skin feels smooth and fresh every night when I take off my make up and I have had no problems with blemishes since I started using it. The Clarisonic is designed to deep clean while removing your make-up. I wet my face and apply Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser (you can find a review here). I rinse the brush head under warm water, shake off any excess and proceed to clean my face. Once I have gone through a full cycle (the Clarisonic will turn itself off when your face is clean) I will turn it back on and do a little more over my chin and jaw. I rinse off my face and follow with my regular cleanser.

It's imporant to remember that the Clarisonic is something you add to your skin care routine, it is not designed to replace your regular cleansing routine. It is a deep cleaning tool to remove dirt, oil and make up and prep your skin for cleansing.

I highly, highly, highly recommend the Clarisonic. I love it.

Butter London - Teddy Girl Nail Polish

2011-12-28T15:56:00.000-08:00

I am a new lover of Butter London nail polishes. They have a smooth, creamy application and the colours are always identical to what you see in the bottle.

Teddy Girl is a pale pink cream with no glitter/shimmer or frost.
It is opaque on two coats and lasts for a decent amount of time with a top coat. I love this colour for all seasons and on all skin tones. The contrast against all skin tones is violent and shocking while still being completely wearable on a day-to-day basis.

The only fault I can find with this nail polish is that the formula might be a little too thin. The reason I say this is because I find it hard to keep a neat line near my cuticles. The edges often look a little rough and can take a while with a cuticle pusher or a cotton bud with nail polish remover to make them even. I have left my edges untouched for the purpose of this review but it is not difficult to clean up the edges if you like a flawless application.

I have tried finding a lower cost dupe for this colour but it is proving to be incredibly difficult. The closest I could find is Sephora by OPI's 'Dear Diary' which is a pale pink but not quite as bright as Teddy Girl.

MAC Lipstick Textures and Finishes - Explained.

2011-12-27T19:56:00.000-08:00

If you have ever been to a MAC store or counter you have no doubt seen the array of lipsticks in every wearable shade you can imagine.
While trying to pick out just one is a task in itself, it is made even more difficult because of the different groups they are sorted into.

If you have ever wondered exactly what 'Lustre' or 'Cremesheen' actually mean you can wonder no further.

MAC has 10 different finishes in their permanent collection. Occasionally they will create a new limited edition finish. Some are easy to figure out, others are just random MAC words that need explaining.

Matte

A matte finish is one with no gloss or shine, it's a very flat shade.
Common characteristics of matte lipsticks are that they are very long wearing, this is because they are dry and are less likely to rub off. They are usually also heavily pigmented which can stain your lips. Coming with that though is their tendency to be quite drying after a few hours wear. Applying a lip balm before application can help but it will alter the true matte look into something with a bit more gloss.
Removing the lipstick, applying lip balm, letting the lip balm sink in and then reapplying the lipstick is a common way of keeping lips hydrated through the day. Matte lipsticks will show off every imperfection your have on your lips, just as they will from any other brand. You will see lines, you will see if your lips are dry. It's best to prep your lips with a lip scrub before applying (or just run your tooth brush over your lips a few times while brushing).

Satin

A Satin finish is semi-matte. It isn't completely flat but it doesn't have a whole lot of shine to it either. It is a good alternative to to a matte lipstick if your lips are dryer or have more lines than others. Satin lipsticks have a good wear to them, they will generally last a while on the lips and won't be too drying. You can easily apply a lip balm over a Satin lipstick without altering the finish of it.

Mattene

These are similar to a Satin finish with a little bit of a Cremesheen to them also. They're long wearing, have great colour pay off and aren't too drying for a matte lipstick. The formula is a little thicker than a Satin finish, which is why they aren't as drying. They do tend to settle into lines throughout the day.

Lustre

Lustre just happens to be my favourite MAC lipstick finish. They are very lightweight and are very easy to wear. They feel like a lip balm rather than a lipstick. They keep lips hydrated and smooth. They have a nice gloss and shine. The downfall with this is that the more gloss in the lipstick, the faster it will wear off. I can get a couple of hours wear if it's not interrupted by eating. Lustre's aren't incredibly pigmented but they're not sheer either. They work very well on dry lips and always look great.

Cremesheen

Cremesheens are the most popular MAC lipstick finish. They're glossy, opaque and long wearing. The colour pay off is always really strong and they wear for a really good amount of time. They are quite a thick lipstick so you can easily apply too much and have the constant feeling like you need to wipe your mouth. They're incredibly creamy and flattering. The colour selection of Cremesheens is really good.

Amplified Creme

I cannot see a big difference between Amplified Creme and Cremesheen.
Amplified Creme might have a little bit more shine but it is still the same thick, opaque formula of a Cremesheen.

Glaze

Glaze lipsticks are mostly quite sheer but are incredibly flattering on. They don't settle into lines and they colour your lips while still looking fresh and natural. If you prefer lipgloss over lipstick you will probably love the Glaze finish (and the Lustre finish). It's not sticky and it really hydrating to the lips.

Frost

Now I have to be honest, I only own 3-4 Frost lipsticks. Not because I don't like the formula but because the shade range isn't really there for this finish. From the shades that I own, I don't really see 'Frost' as being a correct word to describe these. They're more of a Satin finish than anything else. Not a lot of sheen but not at all drying or dull. They're a bold colour with good pay-off but I wouldn't describe them as being a 'Frost'. I like them, they last a long time when on the lips and don't come off too glossy or over-powering.

Sheen Supreme

These lipsticks are as glossy as lipsticks can get. They're my favourite alternative to a lipgloss when I don't want to have to deal with gloss that day (for example: wind + long hair = I hate lipgloss). They actually have a great colour pay off for something that describes itself as 'Sheen'. They don't wear for a great amount of time but they're easy to apply without a mirror throughout the day. They're really smooth wearing and hydrating, great for dry lips.

Pro Longwear Lip Creme

These are MAC's answer to a long wearing lipstick and I have to say, they got it pretty spot on. I swatched
These lipsticks are obviously very long wearing, they're a little drying but you're safe to put a lip balm over the top throughout the day without harming the colour. They have a great shade range and are definitely worth the purchase if you don't like reapplying your lipstick through the day.

Something big is coming...

2011-12-26T01:30:00.000-08:00

Top 10 MAC Eyeshadows

2011-12-26T01:03:00.000-08:00

I'm often asked by readers or friends to recommend good 'starter' or 'must-have' products, especially from MAC.

MAC have an amazing range of eye and lip products which is fantastic because of the variety but also a little overwhelming. It can be a daunting task trying to find just one eyeshadow you love in a sea of hundreds.

I thought I would list off my Top 10 must-have MAC eyeshadows for you, including the reasons why I love them. I have picked these colours from a collection of my most-loved and have tried to stick to colours that will suit most skin tones.

Blanc Type

Blanc Type is a ivory white, it's a Matte2 finish.
Matte2's are smooth and creamy, unlike regular Matte Shades which can be quite hard with little colour pay-off.
It's a perfect colour for all over the lid or works well as a brow and inner corner high-light. If you have fair skin it can also be used to blend out colours.

Sable

This is a perfect warm colour for those 'in a rush' looks. It can be swept all over the lid and has enough dimention to look amazing on it's own. It is an opaque colour that you can still build darker in the crease if you wanted to stick with just one colour.
It's a plum brown, a staple colour for me and one I use often.

Satin Taupe

Satin Taupe is another one of those 'all over the lid' colours. It's a perfect taupe with just at a hint of lilac when it catches the lights. It's really flattering and is great for day-wear, especially in winter.
I love this all over my lid with a brown colour blended through the crease (such as MAC Sable).

Expensive Pink

This is a fantastic layering colour. It looks amazing in the crease, especially if you use a darker colour in your outer corner and blend it through Expensive Pink. It's an incredibly flattering colour, great for day or night. It also makes an amazing cheek highlight if you like products that you can use for more than one thing.

Mystery

This is a perfect outer corner colour for both day and night. It's bold enough for night time but still not too crazy for day wear. It's a dark taupe-brown and creates fantastic definition, especially for those trying to change the shape of the eye. It can also be used as a liner for a suttle, smokey look.

All That Glitters

All That Glitters is iconic in the MAC world. It's a neutral rose gold peach colour that works on every skin tone. Despite it's name, it's not incredibly glittery, it's just the perfect combination of shimmer and sheen. It looks amazing over the eyelid and can easily be worn on it's own. This is a must have colour, I've gone through multiple pans of it.

Fig. 1.

This is also a Matte2 finish, incredibly pigmented and creamy. This has to be one of my favourite eyeshadows, out of every brand. It's an outstanding colour and the pigmentation is to die for. It adds a pop of colour to any neutral look and is the perfect shade for casual wear. I personally perfer to wear neutral shades and this colour fits right in without looking bright or out of place.

Typographic

One thing that MAC don't do well is black eyeshadows. Typographic is a Matte2 finish (you've probably gathered how much I love those) and is a slightly dark grey black. It's not pure black but it gets pretty close. It's bold, strong, pigmented and amazing. One of my all time favourite shades.

Twinks

Twinks is incredibly flattering on every skin tone. It's a deep copper plum that is completely wearable. It blends incredibly well and looks amazing with neutral and peach colours. It warms up the face and brightens the eyes. It looks especially good with brown and green eyes.

Crystal Avalanche

It would be a crime for me to not mention Crystal Avalanche. It may not be the most practical colour, nor is it the most pigmented or smooth colour but it has an amazing finish and is incredibly universal. I use this colour as my inner corner and brow high-light, it can be used as a cheek highlight also. It's perfect to lighten up darker colours and is great for layering if you accidently go a little too dark with your eyeshadow. I love placing it on the ball of my moving eyelid to make my eyes look brighter. It's truely an amazing shade and I believe it's a must have in any collection.

Lust Have It - December 2011 Box

2011-12-23T04:12:00.000-08:00

Lust Have It is a subscription service that send you a selection of deluxe samples from vaious brands each month. The subscription fee is $14.95 and it promises at least 5 samples in each box. They are also creating an online store so that you can purchase full size versions of the products you love. You never know what will arrive in each box, but that's all part of the fun.

This was my first Lust Have It box and I have to say that I am pretty impressed so far. I ordered it mid-December one night and received postage notification the next day. I received it four days after that (taking into account the busy christmas mail season).

The little box was very well packaged and presented, I opened it to find all the products neatly placed with no risk of anything breaking in transit.

(Spot the Glasshouse logo, that definitely put a smile on my face)

The first item I pulled out was The Great Hydrator Moisture Mask from Evo.

The bottle reads 'This product is like a patient friend, gently combing out the knots in your hair with a thousand strokes of a brush while another friend lays petals upon the ground to soften your walk to the morning bus', cute right?

It's a hydrating hair treatment to moisturise and smooth colour damaged, dry, course, frizzy hair. You use it on wet hair and leave it on for 3-5 minutes. RRP $29.95/150ml.

The next was a Purifying Cream Cleanser from Kosmea.

The cleanser says it's for all skin types and is made with organic rose hip oil and Australian avocado oil.

It is a gentle skin-nourishing cream cleanser developed to replace skin with oils that it also takes away. It claims to remove make-up, including waterproof eye make-up and nourish the skin. RRP $34.95/100ml.

Glasshouse fragrances make the most amazing candles so I was excited to see a Glasshouse Body Bar in the box. It is a triple milled pure vegetable soap containing Vitamin E, Shea butter and Almost oil to nourish and moisturise the skin. The scent is Gardenia which is okay but not a personal preference. RRP $12.95/250g

The next was a tin of Moxie regular tampons. They have a silken glaze coating for easy insertion and come in a very cute, handbag friendly tin. RRP $4.39/per 16.

The next item was a Lime Lilly Waterproof Eye Pencil in Jet. It claims to be a highly pigmented and smooth black pencil. It's not tested on animals and is paraben free, always two great things to look for. RRP $18.00/Full Size

Lastly, a set of false eyelashes from Lash Republic. These babies are made from 100% human hair and each lash is designed to enhance, volumise and lengthen varying eyeshapes. They're re-usable, hypo-allergenic and lightweight for maximum comfort. There were four different lashes sent out, I received 'Catwalk' which is designed as a night lash.

I am quite pleased with the box and I'm definitely looking forward to the next one.

Liebster Blog Award

2011-12-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

One of my lovely readers nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award!

Thanks to The Beaute Buzz!

It is a fantastic award that supports and encourages bloggers with less than 200 followers

The rules are :

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you

2. Reveal the five blogs you have chosen and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog

3. Copy and paste the award onto your blog

4. Request that people you have sent the award to forward it on to their favourite bloggers

I have had a hard time finding blogs with less than 200 followers so the following are my first three nominations, I am going to leave the last two spaces open for a few days and have a look around for some new and/or upcoming blogs that really spark my interest.

I nominate the following bloggers:

mmmmandys-thoughts - A really lovely fashion and beauty blog.
melmeko - Great beauty reviews and advice
peachsbeauty - Fantastic reviews, tutorials and videos.

Two more nominations will be posted in the next couple of days, if you would like me to check out your blog, leave a comment below.

Nail Polish: Illamasqua - Lament

2011-12-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

Lament is a really creamy coral pink shade that really bursts with colour, even in dull lighting. It's definitely a unique shade that I really haven't seen before.

It's a cream nail polish that applys almost like a gel.

Illamasqua nail polish is incredibly shiny and wears like iron, I can go 7-10 days without a single chip (in comparison to OPI which will last 4-5 days without a chip).

This is an incredible forumula, I highly recommend the splurge.
You can find it on Illamasqua.com

(Please excuse my horrible nail beds! I'm due for a manicure.)

Mario Badescu Silver Powder

2011-12-09T04:44:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to try the Mario Badescu Silver Powder for such a long time. I have pretty tame, forgiving skin but have always had a real problem with blackheads.

I spend hours a week with pore strips, toners, different types of acids and peroxides, face brushes, heck even tooth brushes, just trying to keep my pores clean.

It is commonly believed that blackheads are a build up of dirt inside your pore but this isn't true. Blackheads will build up on even the cleanest skin. A blackhead is basically solidified oil created by your skin. If you have oily skin (like most of us do) it is likely that you find pesky little blackheads appearing inside your pores on and around your nose, or even on your forhead and chin. They're not raised like a blemish is, they don't swell or cause any pain, they just sit there all annoying. A blackhead isn't dirt or grease, it's just your skins natural oils getting trapped inside a pore.

The unfortunate thing is that if you have normal/combination/oily skin, you're going to spend the rest of your young adult life trying to get rid of them.

I have always been a firm advocate for Biore Pore Strips (and I still am) but even they won't get rid of all of them. Those stupid exfoliators and gels that they say 'disolve blackheads' don't work, and believe me, I've got 30 half empty bottles in my bathroom to prove I've tried them all. Steam cleaning doesn't work either. Those pesky sons of witches just love their little pore-caves.

Back on topic, on my first try of the Mario Badesku Silver Powder I was incredibly impressed. I stopped treating my pores for about a week prior to using the powder to see how it actually works. I saw a dramatic reduction in blackheads, about the same result as using a pore strip but a lot less pain. I waited two days and tried the powder again and still saw a greater reduction, almost to the point of no blackheads. After what is now the third attempt I have almost no blackheads and am incredibly pleased with the result.

I have come to expect nothing to be easy in skin care, I expect only half of what a product claims to do and never get my hopes up. The Silver Powder was a pleasent surprise and I will continue using it.

Speaking of using it, here's how you do it.

Open up the cute little pot of Silver Powder
Don't spill it, open with caution.
Take a cotton pad or cotton ball and wet it under warm water.
Dip the cotton into the silver powder and apply it gently over any blackhead areas (for me it's just my nose)
The powder will turn into a paste on the cotton and apply like a thick cream.
Let the cream dry for 10 minutes and remove with a facial toner (or witch hazel).

Alas! Cleaner pores.

The Negative:

The powder does claim to also reduce the amount of oil your skin produces but I haven't really seen that effect. Keeping in mind that I have only been using the powder for a short time, I will update if this changes.

Other than that, all positive and a high recommendation from me.

10/10

MAC Opulash Mascara

2011-07-25T18:43:00.001-07:00

I am one among many who have been consistently disappointed with the quality of high-end mascaras.
Most seem to coat the lashes with watery black fluid and stop there. I think it's because a lot of high-end brands expect that you will wear false lashes because, you know, we all have time to mess around with that in the morning..

I have tried many high end mascaras and after continued disappointment I just gave up. I chose to stay with my lower cost mascaras and I was perfectly content with doing so.

Then along came MAC, proving once again that it knows exactly what we want.

MAC released Opulash about six months ago and like all other high end mascara releases I didn't even think about purchasing it.

I was standing at a checkout at Priceline and I heard two girls talking about Opulash, one of whom claimed that she had never tried a better mascara. The girl eventually convinced her friend to put down the Revlon mascara that she was about to purchase and go to MAC to buy Opulash.

I followed, I purchased, they thought I was stalking them. Oh well.

The first time I tried it I was impressed but not thrilled. It still didn't compare to my regular mascaras. The second time I tried it, I was in love.

If you just want some length, one coat is fine. If you want that dramatic volume, two coats is a must.

I had great volume, perfectly separated lashes and a little extra length. The mascara wore all day, didn't flake and is very black.

The downside is that it dried up in about three months. I know that you are 'supposed' to change your mascara every three months but I find that I can go for about six without any problems at all.

The mascara retails for $34 and I personally think that it is worth the cost.

(note: my natural lashes are quite long with minimal volume)

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

2011-07-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I first started my search for the perfect foundation.
I have very fair skin which makes it hard to find a colour that matches me, I also have light freckles which don't seem to like to be covered up.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme claims to be a full-coverage, long wearing foundation. They also claim to have a variety of shades to suit every one including a large selection of shades with pink undertones which are hard to find in full coverage foundations.

My first instinct to when choosing foundations is to pick up the lightest shade and hope that it's light enough. The lightest shade in the Laura Mercier Silk Creme range is 'Cream Ivory' which was far too yellow for me. So I threw that one in the drawer and went back to by 'Rose Ivory' which was the shade darker.

The foundation has the perfect pink undertone, it applies very smooth, it wears for 8-9 hours (when set with powder, 6-7 hours when worn alone) and I can see how this could be called a full coverage foundation.

The problem I have the the foundation is the same that I have with all full coverage foundations.

When they say 'Full Coverage' they mean 'Full Coverage - as long as you don't have ANY freckles'.
The foundation leaves a flawless coverage, my skin tone is even, there is no red peeking through and it leaves skin looking dewy and fresh - almost like you're not wearing any make-up - but alas, there are the freckles, refusing to be covered and standing loud.

All in all, this foundation is fantastic. It's light as air and has a fantastic finish - it just shouldn't claim to be full coverage.

I do recommend this foundation to anyone. It would suit both dry and oily skin because it is water based and light. The shade variety is average but the undertones are spot-on perfect.

RRP $68

Chanel Base Lumiere - Illuminating Makeup Base

2011-06-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

Chanel describes the Chanel Base Lumiere Illuminating Makeup Base as a fresh, oil-free gel that evens out and illuminates the complexion.

Mmm I'd have to disagree. I swear by face primers, I have a lot of them and I like a lot of them but I definitely would not put this one at the top of the list. It does leave a nice soft feeling to the skin but as far as I can tell, that's all it does.

It does hold my make-up on for a little bit longer than if I wasn't wearing a primer at all but it's nothing fantastic. Without primer I usually get about 4 hours of make-up wear, with a good primer I can get up to 14 hours of make-up wear. With this primer I'll get about 6 hours.

Illuminating? I can't see any form of illuminating at all, especially not once I have make-up on over the top of the primer.

Other than having a Chanel logo on it, this primer is really just a semi-mattifying gel (and not a very good one at that).

30ml costs $78 at Chanel counters in Australia and will last you a few months.

I won't repurchase, I doubt I'll even finish the bottle, it just doesn't work.

Chanel make some fantastic products, this just isn't one of them, sorry.

MAC Paint Pot - Bare Study

2010-12-09T01:59:00.000-08:00

Over the next few weeks i'm going to be blogging about a staple product in my every day make-up routine; MAC Paint Pots.

Paint Pots, like any other high quality eye primer, ensure that your eyeshadow stays on all day, stays pigmented, doesn't move from your eyelids and doesn't crease. Unlike other lid primers though, Paint Pots come in a variety of colours so they can be worn as a primer, or just as an eyeshadow. They're also really great at making eyeshadows 'pop', giving them a colour boost.

I was going to do one big post on them but I really want to talk about how I use each one seperately so i'm starting with the one I use every single day.

Bare Study is a pale champagne colour, I would describe is as a pale white/pink with golden reflects.
I use this all over my lid and up to my brow every single day as my eye primer. It's perfect for almost any skin tone.

I prefer using bare study rather than a regular lid primer because of the extra coverage it gives over my eye lids (I have a few freckles on my lids, close the the eyebrow). It provides a new, even surface to work on.

If I do want to use a colour as a base, I will still apply Bare Study all the way up to my brow and then add another colour Paint Pot over the lid. Bare Study is versatile and is the perfect addition to any look.

A Paint Pot will set you back $30 but mine lasted about 18 months with almost every day use.

I recommend Bare Study for everyday wear on almost every skin tone, it's flawless, subtle and your eyeshadows will thank you.

(Bare Study does have a sheen and very suttle shimmer to it, if you prefer a Matte base or if you have darker skin, I recommed buying Painterly Paint Pot. It's a little more skin toned and doesn't have the same sheen.)

Q: Do you use an eye primer?

MAC Eyeshadow Series - Satin Taupe

2010-11-09T04:14:00.000-08:00

I have been obsessing over this shade and all it's glory lately.

MAC describes the shade just as 'Taupe with Silver Shimmer' which in my opinion is completely unjust. Satin Taupe is a fantastic neutral taupe with a very light lilac sheen with a silver glow. It is a Frost but has a much greater pay-off than most MAC Frost eyeshadow. It's light enough to wear all over the lid if you're in a rush in the morning and can be applied either light handed or heavy handed if you want to use just the one shadow to give a smokey effect.

I have been loving it in the crease over MAC Shroom. It's so easy to work with and would be flattering on every skin tone.

(Image sourced from www.makeupgeek.com)

This shadow would definitely make my Top 10 list of MAC recommendations. If you love MAC shadows and don't already own Satin Taupe, you are missing out.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

2010-11-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

I am fairly certain that, by law, it would be a crime of me to own this palette and not review it.
I know you've already read 30+ reviews raving about this palette and, well, you're about to read another.

The Urban Decay Naked Palette flew off shelves in only a couple of days when it was first released. On the second round of paletted Sephora sold out online within 48 hours. Luckily though, the US is getting a brand new batch in the next few weeks (although Ulta stores are already stocking the palette).

The Naked Palette features 6 permanent shades, 1 repromote and 5 brand new and exclusive shades encased in a velvet-feel flip top case. The shades are incredibly pigmented and long wearing.

Click To Enlarge

(Image sourced from www.makeupgeek.com)

I have nothing bad to say about any of the shades.. except for one. Sidecar has an incredible amount of fall out, no, not just fall out, sparkly glittery fall out. After using the shade my face looked like a disco ball.

But if you excuse that shade, the palette is fantastic.

I have been loving Sin all over the lid with Dark Horse in the crease and a little bit of Creep in the outer corner. Half Baked is another shade that needs it's own mention, it is the best, most pigmented gold eyeshadow I have ever used.

In the US it retails at $44, I don't expect that it will hit Australia so I suggest using a mail forwarding service.

Or, if you're impatient like me and can't wait for it to come back in stock, you can go buy the palette at ridiculous prices on eBay.. (cough$80cough)

Also included in this little piece of heaven is a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion and a double ended eyeliner in Zero (black) and Whisky (brown)

Buy it, you'll love it.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

2010-10-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

I am officially banning myself from buying new cleansers. Over the past year I would have purchased at least 30 different ones, all of various different prices, just looking to find the best without realising that I actually had it right all along.

This is the general rotation:
Step 1: Buy a new, pretty, cleanser.
Step 2: Gaze at it's promises and beauty.
Step 3: Use it morning and night for 10-15 days.
Step 4: Notice either blemishes, blackheads, dry skin, oily skin or increased redness.
Step 5: Hate new cleanser.
Step 6: Go back to my box of half used cleansers and dig around for Neutrogena Deep Clean to save my skin.
Step 7: After 2-3 days of using Neutrogena Deep Clean, praise it, promise to never stray away from this heaven in a bottle again.
Step 8: Go shopping and see a new, pretty, cleanser.
Back to Step 1

So here is my oath:
Dear Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser,
I love you. You save my skin day after day, bottle after bottle.
I promise I will never be tempted by a fancy new bottle or a catchy name brand again.
It's just you and I from now on.
Love, Rebecca.

In all seriousness, this is an amazing cleanser. I have normal/combination skin and rarely have even a single blemish while using this cleanser. It retails for $13.95 a bottle in Australia, ($6.49 in Ulta if you're in the US) and I've probably gone through about 4-5 bottles in the past few years. It really is a skin miracle and I highly, highly, highly recommend it.

Sleek Devine 'Storm' Palette

2010-08-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

I'm never really interested in buying the 'lower end' eyeshadows. I've tried them all and they just don't compare to my higher end, higher quality shadows. But, surrounding all the hype about the Sleek Palettes, I decided to give one a go.

I can't be sure how much these retail for in the US, but I purchased mine online for $16, which is about the same price as a Maybelline or Covergirl quad.

There are many different palettes of different colours to choose from, I chose 'Storm' because it looked like it had the most wearable shades. The colours are a metallic finish (similar to a Velux Pearl from MAC) except for two matte shades (the third left on the top and fifth left on the bottom). After I opened the (incredibly nice) packaging, I straight away swatched each colour on my fingers and I was impressed but didn't get my hopes up.

I tried the colours the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day, etc, etc.
Bottom line, AMAZING quality, nothing like any drug store brand, I couldn't even class this palette as being of drug store quality. The pigmentation is fantastic, they last all day (over primer, I used MAC Bare Study Paintpot) and with the exception of one colour there was no fall out.

The navy blue colour (fourth in on the bottom row) has a lot of fall out, I couldn't make it work without looking like I had bruises over my face, which is disappointing but it's not going to stop me from buying more of these amazing palettes. The only other complaint is from the light matte shade, now I don't really like matte shades in the first place, but the colour pay off of this one is far less than the other colours (third from left, top row)

(swatches found on google images)

Every thing from the product to the packaging is great about this item.
I'm giving it a 9/10, half a point taken from the flakey dark blue, and half a point for the pale matte shade.

9/10

LUSH Lip Scrub

2010-08-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

If you don't know what a lip scrub is, it's essentially a sugar based lip balm exfoliant designed to remove dry skin cells from your lips. I've been making my own out of vaseline and sugar for years but it's never really been perfect. When I received an email update about the newest Lush products, as soon as I saw 'Lip Scrub' I was already sold.

If you're unfamiliar with the Lush brand, they are an all natural, all organic skin and body care brand based out of Canada but sold all around the world.

The lip scrub is essentially just sugar and jojoba oil, with a little added flavour, colour and scent.
It's nothing you couldn't whip up yourself at home, but it's just so practical and convenient to buy.

The scrub comes in three scents/flavours, Bubblegum (which smells like Snow Fairy), Mint Julips (which is, of course, mint) and Sweet Lips (chocolate scented). Being a reformed Snow Fairy addict, I fell off the wagon and went straight for Bubblegum.

I love this product. I use it every morning as part of my skin care routine. The jojoba oil nourishes my lips while the sugar exfoliates so I don't end up with dry, raw lips.

$9.95 gets you 25g. I've had mine for about two months with daily use and i've only used maybe 10% of the product.

The only down side of the product is that there is probably a little too much sugar and not enough oil, resulting in the product being harder to pick up and there is a lot that falls straight into the sink (or if you're like me and use it at a vanity, straight down your top).

The good by far outweighs the bad though and I will continue buying the product.

10/10

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Make-Up

2010-06-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

This product has been a rising star in the online beauty community and as soon as I heard that it was a dupe for NARS Sheer Glow (A product that I can't buy in Australia) I had to grab it and give it a go.

On first use, this product was almost thrown in the bin. It's not like other foundations i've tried. I applied it far too thick and ended up looking washed out and my skin had a grey tint.

After working with it more, I started to like it. I apply my usual foundation with a 187 skunk brush, I stipple it on and blend it out. You absolutly cannot do that with this foundation. It's a lot thicker and needs more pressure to blend properly. Instead, I used a 190 flat foundation brush and very lightly sweep it on starting in the middle of my face and working outwards.
I end up with a semi-matte, medium but buildable coverage.

Would I recommend this product? Yes and no.

On the up side, it's cheap, it's non irritating and it has a good coverage. It lasts all day (which is amazing) and it doesn't add oil to already oily skin. It's soft enough to also use on dry skin.

The down side is that it is thick and can feel a little bit 'mask like'. It does last all day, but does start to lower itself into pores and fine lines towards the end of the day. And this is just a personal preference, but it's a little too 'matte' for me.

Compared to it's drug store competitor, Revlon Colorstay, this foundation wins hands down.

I should also tell you that when I do wear this foundation (which has been a lot recently), I mix it with my Clinique Even Better Foundation. About 70% Neutrogena and 30% Clinique, I find that it just adds a little more 'glow' and takes away a lot of the matte finish.

A great bargain and great product, I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for a medium-full coverage and a semi-matte finish. It would work for all skin types.

Nivea 3-in-1 Waterproof Make-Up Remover

2010-06-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

I've used a lot of make-up removers, there are some that i've liked and repurchased, there are some that i've managed to use up but didn't buy again and there are some that i've just hated.
I wear a lot of waterproof make-up, especially eyeliners and mascaras, and it is a pain in the neck to remove but I like it better.

When I think of Nivea, I think of High School. It's probably the cheapest skincare brand in any drug store and it was what I would always buy when I didn't have the money to spend on other brands. I haven't even touched a Nivea product in years, even through my quests to find that perfect eye make-up remover.

So there I was, browsing the skin-care isle of my supermarket with my sister, trying to find a remover that I hadn't tried before. After saying a swift 'no' to 5 or 6 removers that I had already tried, my sister pointed to this one. I saw the brand and answered with a biast 'no'. I told her that if a $19 remover wasn't going to work, a $6 remover wasn't going to work. While I looked for others, she read the back of it out to me and eventually convinced me to buy it. I'm now on my third bottle.

This is the first make-up remover that i've tried that removes most water proof make-up without having to rub my eyes within an inch of their life. It seems to just melt away most mascaras and eyeliner glides off.

Having said that, it's not fantastic at removing the one mascara that no brand seems to be able to remove which is Max Factor False Lash Effect. But it does try harder than others.

The formula is moisturising and it's a cream rather than a water-like liquid. It contains Chamomile which is great for night-time use. It's ophthalmologically tested, as all eye make-up removers should be, and it's suitable for contact lens wearers.

Great product, great value and i'll be happy to keep buying this.

Update

2010-04-26T00:24:00.000-07:00

Among the distractions of online shopping and revelling in the world of online beauty vloggers, my own blog has gone untouched. Shameful behaviour on my part. However, it does mean that I have a whole lot of new products to review and a lot more to talk about.

It also means that in my searches of finding online stores that ship to Australia and still only charge American prices, I am able to indulge in some more high end products to review, (because seriously, Australia, who charges $22 for a Maybelline mascara?).

Heres a run-down of a few reviews I have coming up.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Make-Up
Clinique Even Better Liquid Foundation
Maybelline Colossal Mascara
Stila Smudge Pots
Bobby Brown Creamy Concealer
Benefit 'Ooh La Lift'
Benefit Hoola
L'Oreal HiP Blushing Cream
L'Oreal Hip Jelly Balms
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer
NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Powder Eyeshadows

Just to list a few. If you have any products that you're looking for a review on, let me know.

So tune in, follow and let me know what you want to see!

Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer

2010-02-20T04:10:00.000-08:00

I thought I was getting an amazing bargain when I picked this up at 50% off, turns out, not such a bargain.

But to be fair, i'll talk about the good points first:

The coverage is pretty good. It's not full coverage, but it's pretty close.
The formula is smooth and glides onto the skin easily.
On young skin, the cream would sit smoothly on the skin.

Now, the bad:

The staying power is below average, after a few hours it needs to be reapplied.
ANY fine lines will be filled in and highlighted, they gather a build up of the cream and it looks horrible.
The formula sits on the skin like powder.
It's not smooth, it cakes up and looks like you have 10,000 layers of it under your eyes.

I think on really young, teenage skin, this product would be okay, not great but okay.
For someone in their 20's like myself, it's too harsh and not natural enough for daily wear.

Price: $7.45 (on sale from $14.45 - Australian Dollars)
Score - 10/10
Coverage: Medium/Full coverage, just as it states
Score - 10/10
Application and Feel: Matte to touch, a little bit like chalk. Easy to apply and blend.
Score - 5/10
Last: Lasts a few hours, needs consistent reapplication.
Score 2/10

General Comments: Not a great product for a fresh look, I wouldn't recommend it.

SCORE - 5.5/10

Lancome Eye Shadow Quad

2010-02-17T05:03:00.000-08:00

I love cosmetics and nothing beats the smooth texture of a high quality shadow.

This particular eyeshadow quad is a Lancome sample quad that I managed to get my hands on at only a fraction of the cost.

The colours in the quad are:

Off The Rack - A pale pink metallic, shimmery colour.

Latte - A soft ivory highlighter.

Ciel Du Soir - A dirty matte charcoal colour.

Spontaneous - A romantic berry purple.

I've used this quad almost every day since I bought it and I love it. It's obvious what the colours are for (Off The Rack - Lid, Spontaneous - Crease, Ciel Du Soir - Outer Corner, Latte - Highlighter) and they all work very well with each other.

One thing I love about Lancome shadows is that they are very blend-able, you don't need to work at them for a long time to have them look soft and well blended.

I love this quad and all it's colours but I have to mention how much I am in love with the combination of 'Off The Rack' and 'Ciel Du Soir'.

The effect that the soft, metallic/pearl look of Off The Rack combined with the dirty, matte look of Ciel Du Soir is really pretty and interesting.

(Apply Off The Rack over lid and above the crease, apply Ciel Du Soir in the outer corner and blend it into the crease)

The colours are pretty standard, almost every brand would have something similar. Let me know what you think :)

Finding Your Perfect Eye Make-Up Remover

2010-02-17T01:42:00.000-08:00

Removing your eye make-up before you sleep is essential.

It clears your skin of pore-clogging chemicals and allows it to breathe. It stops your lashes from becoming infected or falling out. Your eyes needs a break at night just like you do, that's why you need your perfect eye make-up remover.

There are six questions that need to be answered when finding a great eye make-up remover:

Does it uncomfortably sting your eyes if it gets in your eye?
Eye make-up removers shouldn't irritate your eyes. You should be able to wipe away make up without having to clench your eyes shut to avoid it getting into your eye. A very slight, very mild stinging sensation that lasts for only 1 or 2 seconds is okay, but if it is uncomfortable, irritating, or painful it's a definite no-no.

Does it leave your eyes red or puffy?
Your eyes should be clean, natural and soft after using an eye make-up remover. If your eyes swell, have a red tinge or become puffy then the make-up remover isn't right for you.

Does it remove make-up easily or do you need to rub your eyes in order to remove make-up?
To remove your eye make-up, you should apply eye make-up remover to a cotton pad and press it against your eye for about 20-30 seconds, it should then be removed in 2-3 strokes of the same cotton pad. Excessive rubbing of the eye causes tissue damage which turns into lines and wrinkles. You should never need to scrub at your eye to remove make-up.

Will it remove water-proof mascaras and eyeliners?
Obviously, if you are someone who doesn't wear waterproof mascara or eyeliner then this doesn't apply to you. But if you do, you need to be aware that waterproof make-up requires a lot more effort to remove which means that you need a stronger make-up remover. Make-up removers designed for water proof make-up will say so on the bottle or packaging.

Is it designed just for eyes?
There is a difference between facial make-up remover and eye make-up remover. Eye make-up remover is a lot more sensitive and designed to be on, near and around eyes. Facial make-up remover has more harsh chemicals to remover dirt and make-up from your skin. Applying facial make-up remover to your eyes can be quite painful or irritating. Many facial make-up removers are also not Ophthalmologically tested.

Is it Ophthalmologically tested?
While all eye make-up removers are required to be Ophthalmologically tested, there are a few that aren't.
What is my skin type? If a product is Ophthalmologically tested it means that it has been through many trials to ensure that it is safe for use on your eyes. They have had to undergo scientific experiments to ensure that your eyes will not be harmed in any way when using the product. This is of vial importance and you should always check that your eye make-up remover is Ophthalmologically tested.
Please don't be confused though by the lack of the words presence on a make-up bottle. Some companies, such as Neutrogena, list on their website that all of their facial care products are Ophthalmologically tested, there for they don't put it on all of their products. Do a little background check online for the product if it doesn't list it's testing on the bottle or package.

What is your skin type?
If you have oily skin, you need an oil free make-up remover. If you have dry skin, you need a protective make-up remover. If you have sensitive skin, you need a sensitive make-up remover.
If you don't know your skin type, you can have it checked at a lot of make up counters such as Clinique.
Most people have what is known as 'Combination Skin' which means that they have oily places and dry places, or oily places and normal places. When you wake up in the morning, feel your skin. If it is oily or dry, you'll be able to tell.

Most skin-care counters will allow you to test out the products before you buy them, however if you are buying from a drug store or department store, you may not be able to test the product before use.
Finding out which eye make-up remover works for you may take a few attempts and a few different purchases but it is definitely worth it.

Here are my Top 4 Eye Make-Up Removers:

(Pictured from left to right, L'Oreal Bottle varies in different countries)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-Up Remover ($5.99)

Clinique 'Take The Day Off' Eye Make-Up Remover for Lids, Lips and Lashes ($10.99)

L'Oreal Gentle Eye Make Up Remover for Eyes and Lips ($6.59)

Clean and Clear Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover ($5.49)

Garnier Nutritionist Night Cream

2010-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Moisturizing is an essential part of your skin care routine and a night moisturizer is one of the best things you can do for your skin. I'd never really found any type of day or night cream that I really loved, I just had ones that I used. That was, of course, until I tried the Garnier Nutritionist range. Not only am I in love with this cream, but it is the one I would recommend to anyone.

The cream combines equal parts of Magnesium, Omega 3+6 and Lipopeptides.

Magnesium energizes your skin and helps to boost the production of your skins natural skin cells while Omega 3+6 helps the skin defend itself in harsh conditions such as dry weather. In a combination, the two nourish and protect your skin, locking in your skins natural moisture.

Lipopeptides stimulate the production of your skins natural lipids. Lipids are what keeps your skin soft.

On the box it lists that 65% of users had noticably rested skin upon awakening and in 1 month 72% of people had smoother skin and 63% of people saw brighter skin.

These are the effects that the cream had on me:

After the first use my skin was noticeably softer.
When I woke up the next morning my skin was incredibly hydrated and touchably soft with no oily residue.
After about one week of use my skin was brighter and I looked more awake in the mornings.
After two weeks, my skin held on the the dewy glow that this cream was giving me throughout the day and well into the night.
After two weeks of use, my skin was incredibly soft, smooth, balanced and nourished. As well as appearing firmer with a slightly more even complexion.

As for the natural side of things, the cream combines extracts from kiwi fruit (which you can smell and it's delicious), rose hip oil and hazelnuts.

Here's the rundown:

Price: $19.95 for 50ml (lasts about 6-8 weeks)
Score: 9/10
Cream Texture and Scent: Thick, like any night cream. Very smooth. Smells good, slight kiwi fruit smell.
Score: 10/10
Does it do what it lists: Yes, very nourishing and hydrating. The only thing I would change is making it a little less oily on application. While the 'oily' feel does disappear it would be nice for it to not be there at all.
Score: 9/10
Quality: High-end quality, I'll continue to buy it.
Score: 10/10

General Comments: This cream quickly became a staple in my skin care routine. It's everything I could ask for in a night cream.

SCORE: 9.5/10

Toni&Guy - Refreshing Dry Shampoo

2010-01-16T00:49:00.000-08:00

I've tried quite a few Dry Shampoos and this one has to be my all-time favourite.

For those who don't know what a dry shampoo is, it's a spray that absorbs all the oil from your hair that starts to build up a few days after a wash. That way you can get more time between washes while your hair still looks fresh and just washed.

What I've found from most dry shampoos is that they leave your hair feeling chalky and they take away all natural shine and texture. Toni&Guy dry shampoo leaves in moisture and doesn't look or feel powdery.

It does cover up some of the natural shine from your hair, but not so much that you hair looks dry.
It still leaves you with a fresh hairstyle.

The only flaw is that a bottle only has about 15-20 applications in it, depending on how much you use.
It can be purchased from department stores and leading supermarkets.

Here's the rundown:

Price - $14.95
Score - 7.5/10 (It's more expensive than others on the market, but it does a much better job. The only downside in the price is that the bottle is used up quite quickly).
Texture/Feel - Slightly matte but still touchable soft. Erases some shine but doesn't leave hair looking dry.
Score - 9/10
Application Process - A simple spray on the roots of your hair, nothing fussy.
Score - 10/10
Last/Wear - Lasts for about 8-10 hours and is a daily application.
Score - 10/10

General Comments: Like all dry shampoos, it does start to build up after a few days so I wouldn't recommend wearing it for more than 2-3 days in a row. I love this product, it beats all the dry shampoos I've ever tried.

SCORE - 9/10

Garnier Clean Sensitive Eye Make-Up Remover

2010-01-15T06:22:00.000-08:00

Now, I don't have 'sensitive eyes', but like any eyes they do need to be taken care of. That is why it's important to have a great eye make-up remover.

The questions you need to answer in order to find a good eye make-up remover are as follows:

Does it uncomfortably sting your eyes if it gets in your eye?
Does it leave your eyes red or puffy?
Does it remover make-up easily or do you need to rub your eyes in order to remove make-up?
Will it remove water-proof mascaras and eyeliners?
Is it designed just for eyes?
Is it Ophthalmologically tested?

Garnier Clean Sensitive Delicate Eye Make-Up Remover ticks off only two of the requirements for eye make-up removers.

It stings. It's not a horrible sting but it does sting your eyes if it gets in your eye. If it stings for me, someone who doesn't have sensitive eyes, I can't imagine how it would feel for someone who does have sensitive eyes. The stinging lasts about 3-4 minutes.

It left my eyes slightly red and the veins in my eyes were more prominent for about an hour after use.

It definitely would not remove water proof mascara, even if I soaked my eye it would not come off. It did remove all traces of eyeshadow and eyebrow pencil though.

The points that it does pass in is that it is Ophthalmologically tested and is designed just for eyes.

I won't continue to use this product.

Here's the rundown:

Price - $6.95 for 150ml
Score - 10/10 - Compared to other leading brands.
Removal - Eyeshadow and pencils only, won't remove mascara or water-proof mascara.
Score - 4/10
Feel - It mildly stings your eyes and is uncomfortable. Leaves eyes slightly red.
Score - 4/10
Residue - Soft eyes, not oily, feels clean.
Score - 9/10

General Comments: While it's a good price, it doesn't work to a good enough extend to be worth the money. It's uncomfortable and won't remove mascara, two big no-no's in my book.

SCORE: 5.5/10

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - Nude Delight

2010-01-14T02:09:00.000-08:00

I'm new to nude lips but I do love them. Rimmel makes great lipsticks and this one isn't an exception.
They moisturize like no tomorrow and they last for a descent amount of time.

Nude Delight (#700) is a great nude colour for those who are just figuring out how to use nude lipstick. It still has a bit of a pink/brown shade to it which keeps it simple and not overpowering.

When I bought this lipstick I wasn't sure whether it would have sunscreen in it but it smells like it does.

Heres the rundown:

Brand - Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick
Price - $13.99
Score - 10/10
Colour - Basic, exactly as it looks in the tube and is one solid colour all the way through.
Score - 10/10
Colour Last/Lock - 2-3 hours if there is minimal 'interruptions' such as drinking. It definitely leaves marks on glasses you drink from and does 'kiss-off'. However, Rimmel makes a colour lock formula to go with all their lipsticks that makes it last for hours.
Score - 6/10
Scent/Smell - Smells like a lipstick, nothing special. Smells the same way but with a sunscreen smell included also.
Score - 9/10
Moisture - Very nice, long lasting moisture.
Score 10/10

General Comments: I like it, i'd buy it again in this colour and other colours.

SCORE - 9/10

Zoya Matte Nail Polish - Posh

2010-01-14T01:54:00.000-08:00

This is the first Matte Nail Polish that I've tried, I know I'm late in jumping onto the trend but I was convinced that I would hate it. I love nail polishes but one thing that I love the most is the shine. The whole point of Matte Nail Polish is that it has no shine at all.

So I bought this Zoya nail polish from eBay and the day it came I took off my original, shiny pink/orange nail polish and replaced it with this one. It's a dark red/plum colour when it's dry, quite a lot darker than the bottle.

The most noticable thing when applying the polish is the speed in which it dries. I could literally watch it dry as I watch the shine fade and the matte effect appear.
I was surprised by the feel of the nail polish, I thought it would feel rough or chalky but it's actually very smooth and nice to touch, almost like velvet.

As for the look, i'm not sold on it. I miss the shine.

The good thing though is if you buy a matte nail polish and you don't like it, you can put any top coat over it and you'll have your shine back.

So here's the run down:

Nail Polish: Zoya 'Posh' Matte Velvet Lacquer #500
Price: $AU11 - Brand New on eBay
Wear: I'm only on day three but there are no chips or cracks which is great, it looks as if it'll wear for at least 6 days.
Texture: Quite a runny formula, two coats is needed and it can get quite messy if you're not experienced at applying your own polish.

General Comments: It's 'okay'. The colour is great, the wear and the feel are great but the lack of shine looks like it's 'half-finished' to me. Maybe i'm just not meant to wear Matte.

Score: 6/10

Napoleon Perdis for Target?

2008-10-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

Renowned makeup artist Napoleon Perdis is launching is NP Set cosmetics collection... at Target.

It's out as of today in most stores nationally and it's the first beauty initiative in the Designers For Target program.

"I'm so pleased that Target, Australia is distributing my NP Set collection. They're the perfect retailer to spread that gospel of makeup as a fun, accessible and empowering tool." NP is quoted as saying.

From what I can gather, NP has put out a new line of compact sets for sale in Target only and won't be avalible through regular retailers.

Curious to know wether the prices will be 'Target' priced, i've looked into some of the costs.

Concealer Set: $36

Eye Palette: $30

Lip Gloss: $22

Eyeliner: $22

Lipstick: $22

Pasarella Mascara: $25

(see the whole price list here [.pdf document] http://www.designersfortarget.com.au/np/booklet/book021008.pdf )

They seem quite reasonable to me, do you think you'll be buying them?