aussieadoptee

2011-10-29T21:40:00.001-07:00

aussieadoptee

The Corner Shop x Claire Inc.

2011-07-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday evening was spent swanning (the only appropriate verb) around The Corner Shop's Strand Arcade store, happily stroking the wonderful textiles that made up Claire Inc.'s wonderfully curated collection of vintage pieces from a B for Betsey to a Y for YSL. After some convincing from dear Emily, I did end up trying on the most stunning Karl Lagerfeld coat/jacket/hybrid-or-other and am very much in love. I've given it almost a week. If it's still there when I return, it was definitely meant to be.

Don't you love my rationale?

The textures and colours were such a divine experience (and magical to shoot!) - I'm definitely going to have to recommend that you pop in. Even it is for just a touchy-feel.

*love*

xx

NOTD: MAC Hangin' Loose (Surf Baby Collection) w/ Leopard Print!

2011-07-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

Three (3) Coats of MAC Hangin' Loose Nail Lacquer and One (1) Coat of Seche Vite Top Coat

MAC Hangin' Loose is a neutral pink beige cream with very tiny white sparkles that seem to only be noticeable in bright lighting. This polish is from MAC's recent Surf, Baby! Collection and is still available on the MAC website (here). I'm not sure if I can justify paying $15 for a nail polish, so I'm really happy I got a chance to try this through a swap.

I really like the formula of this polish. It's not thick, not too thin, very creamy and dries fairly quick. It is a little on the sheer side and applies a little streaky with the first two coats, but I applied a heavier third coat and everything evened out very well. I actually love this polish and I think it's the perfect nude. I'll be wearing this much more often!

For the leopard print, I first applied dots of OPI You Don't Know Jacques Nail Polish (grayed brown) all over my nail (around 5-6 dots in total). Then, I took a toothpick and used a generic black nail polish and outlined the brown spots. I also made a few extra black dots. Then I used a silver glitter nail art pen and added small lines of glitter to each spot.

What's your favorite nude polish?

Miss Anjolee.

2011-07-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

Anjolee Diamond Bracelet - MINKPINK Faux-fur Coat from Market HQ - Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick from YesStyle.com - Facefront Bronzers as eyeshadow

Funnily enough, I would imagine that a girl wearing a luxurious coat such as this, dark lips, and diamond bracelets, would go buy the name of Anjolee. So, naturally, I was delighted when Marla asked that I put my own stylistic spin on one of Anjolee's fantastic diamond bracelets for women. I've been waiting for an excuse to wear this lipstick with my favourite bronzer-turned-eyeshadow together in its mysterious, almost overly-mocha-ed way; and the combination of the two with the polar opposite, but equally elegant bracelet seemed ideal during a week that hadn't produced sunshine to excuse itself by.

Yes it was an absolute pain to shoot in.

First day back at Uni was surprisingly productive. And hello/thank you to the lovely little misses who came and said hello while I was morning-running! Can't say I was in my best state :)

*love*

xx

For Beloved One Melasleep Whitening Bio-Cellulose Mask Review

2011-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

For Beloved One is a Taiwanese skincare brand that is most famous for its masks, which are apparently used by its local celebrities including Barbie Hsu(大S), Annie Yi(伊能靜), and Niu Er (牛爾). One of its best-selling masks is the Melasleep Whitening Bio-Cellulose Mask, which features what the company calls is a "bio-cellulose" texture - meaning that instead of using plain ol' paper like the rest of them cheapo masks do, this expensive mask (S$63.00 or US$45 for a box of three pieces) is made of some biological fiber material, whatever that is. This mask has style, baby!

The mask itself comes in a clean-looking, sleek white box. Unfortunately the box got a bit dinged on its way to me. But it still looks cool, right? Unlike most Asian brands, which tend to drench themselves in cutesy packaging, For Beloved One keeps it clean and simple.

The individual mask packs (yes, that's S$21 for each pack here) comes in a sealed pack, and the design is exactly like that of the box.

The mask claims to have three awesome ingredients in it that will brighten and whiten your skin: Lumiskin, Melaclear, and Matrixyl. Now terms like that are just marketing jargon, of course, (you know, much like the "Age Rewind Complex" from Maybelline's Age Rewind line, or Pond's "Derma-Recovery Complex" from its Time Rewind Wrinkle Cream) but a closer look at the ingredients shows that they are just a bunch of other ingredients - fatty acids (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), glycerin, water, as well as some ingredients that may help with skin brightening, and are usually used in cosmetic products for skin whitening or pigmentation (Diacetyl Boldine, dithia octanediol). The good thing is that they at least bothered to make the active ingredients the top three ingredients in the list, so they probably aren't skimping on the good stuff in this mask.

This is what you see when you first open the packet of mask. You get one layer of mask, sandwiched between a papery layer and a plastic foil, and the mask is swimming in the facial essence, which is a milky white liquid.

Anyway, I did mention that one interesting thing about the mask was its selling point of being made of a "bio-cellulose" (another marketing jargon there) material. What this means is that the mask is actually not made of paper, but some filmy substance that kind of feels like a thin layer of jelly. It reminds me of that agar jelly substrate we had in petri dishes back in the days when I was still in school. It kind of has that squishy feel. Here's a shot of the mask material:

One thing I liked about this mask was that because the mask material wasn't made of paper, it felt a lot less flimsy than other masks I've tried. In fact, the manufacturers claim that the mask naturally sticks to your skin, and you can walk around with your mask on your face. I tried that, and I think they're right. Because the mask is made of this film-y material, it adheres to the skin better. I was essentially working on the computer while using the mask.

Here's a really unglam shot of me wearing the mask. Look, ma, the mask is actually staying on!

After application, the mask leave behind a film of liquid on your face, which takes awhile to sink in. The instructions on the package encourage you to continue with the rest of your skincare routine without washing off the mask residue. After usage, I did feel like my skin looked a little brighter. However, I personally felt like it was better when I washed it off, because when the residue was left on my face for too long, my skin seemed to react to it in a negative manner, with my pimples experiencing some swelling. I'm not sure exactly what ingredient it was, but my skin is usually ridiculously sensitive, so it could have been anything. I doubt mosts people would have this sort of reaction to a mask.

Anyway, at S$21 for each application, this mask isn't cheap. I personally believe that you don't have to spend a fortune on good skincare (and in fact, some of the best skincare products I've come across aren't actually expensive), but I do think this mask has some good points going for it if you're willing to splurge. For one, I like the fact that it clings to your skin when applied, so you don't have to lie around comatose on your bed when using this mask. I also feel that enough thought and care has been put into the ingredients to make them work, and the mask seemed effective enough on me. If price isn't an issue, this mask would be worth checking out.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Love this bright lip combo!

2011-07-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Wet n Wild 511B Nouveau Pink (First mentioned in my haul post here)

NYX Round Lipgloss in Doll Pink (Mentioned in my '09 NYX post here)

I love bright lipsticks, but the truth is... they make me nervous. For whatever the reason may be, bright lipsticks are out of my comfort zone. I do admire a good bright lipstick when I see one, maybe even purchase it, but it will just end up collecting dust in my lipstick drawer.

There are some days where I'll feel like being a little more adventurous with my lip color, and I'll toss on MAC Vegas Volt, MAC Morange, NYX Louisiana or OCC Divine Lip Tar without much thought. In the past month or so, Wet n Wild Nouveau Pink has pretty much replaced all of those other brights I like to wear - who woulda thought at 99 cents? It's such a flattering shade that really brightens up my face (and I'm pretty sure it makes my teeth appear whiter). It's really pretty on it's own, but I like pairing it with NYX Round Lipgloss in Doll Pink. It takes it up a notch.

If you're terrified of brights (or red) like me, I recommend experimenting with the inexpensive brands before investing in a high end lipstick you may only wear once a year. Wet n Wild has great options for a low price. If you like the color, force yourself to wear it! Don't look in the mirror every 15 minutes while you're out, forget that you're wearing it. If you can get through a full day of wearing it before putting on something else neutral, you've passed the test! I bet you'll get some compliments too while you're out. Try it more often! ☺

What is your favorite bright lipstick?

Your Summer Makeup Questions Answered

2011-07-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Your Summer Makeup Questions Answered

With summer comes great weather and great makeup concerns. Don't fret, we have your answers here

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article

We took your most pressing makeup questions -- from how to keep it from melting to the best colors for summer -- and got them answered by celeb makeup artist Chantal Moore. She's worked with Jennifer Garner, Kristen Bell, and now you!

Grab her tips

LOMOGRAPHY x Shine By Three.

2011-07-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

So: I'm finally able to share this exciting project I've been working on in collaboration with LOMOGRAPHY (your favourite film photography go-to)! Over the next couple of weeks I'll be styling up my favourite Lomography pieces with bits of my own wardrobe and this is just a bit of a preview - a bit of fun to wrap up the weekend and start the week (yes, I start uni again this week... mega-sigh).

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on the Facebook Page and on Twitter!

*love*

xx

As fast as you can.

2011-07-23T01:48:00.000-07:00

YesStyle.com Bowler Hat - YesStyle.com Distressed Cropped Sweater - Mrs Press Khaki Pants - ModCloth.com Three Crowns Heel

So maybe I don't have my jumping quite as down-pat as this fantastic site Jo showed me this morning, but I'm getting there :) Sorry about the silence over the past few days! I may have been the dork that took my computer on my few days away (which, by the way, was intensely fun), but I was also the dork who thought it would be a good idea to go to two events (and dumplings afterwards) on 3 hours of sleep. As a result, I'm fairly ill as of waking up at 1pm this afternoon.

But all is well with these fantastic pants by Mrs Press - after I returned them to Clare (sob) I started seeing trillions of ways of puzzle-piecing them into my wardrobe. Definitely need to pay a visit to Mrs Press Dressing Room when the spring collection drops! I got this bowler hat at the risk of being packaged in bubble wrap with an enormous 'Raging Hipster' label across the top - the simple solution turned out to be flipping the brim downwards so the vibe was slightly more 1920s (comme ça), rather than the associated chinos and boat shoes.

I would also like to announce that these heels (thanks to my friends at ModCloth) are the perfect answer to drawing attention to small ankles. Weird to say, yes, but beneficial? Very much so.

An now, for the winner of the Style Yourself giveaway which I should have announced a week ago! But here goes. Congratulations to:

Hadassah of Linton from London

And for those of you who didn't win, not to worry! It's definitely not a fork-out to grab your own copy right HERE.

*love*

Fall 2011 Urban Decay Collection

2011-07-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Fall 2011 Urban Decay Collection. This Fall, Urban Decay yet again brings us some great products to love including a 15 Anniversary eyeshadow palette, waterproof eyeliners, and for those that love the perfect brow, the UrbanBrow Precision-Tip Brow Tint. Collection already available in most stores. Look below for more details.

15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette

* Midnight Rodeo Brown pearl with silver
* Tainted Pale matte purple with golden shimmer
* Deeper Deep shimmery golden brown
* Midnight 15 Oyster pearl with silver glitter
* Junkshow Metallic bright pink with slight blue shift
* MIA Dark velvet brown
* Vanilla Creamy white gold
* Omen Metallic bright purple with blue shift
* Ace Dark gunmetal
* Flow Soft peach shimmer
* Evidence Deep metallic blue
* Blackout Darkest, must saturated black
* Chase Bright bronze
* Deep End Bright teal
* Half Truth Deep greyish purple

24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

This eyeliner lets you draw waterproof liquid lines so sharp they could cut glass. Urban Decay’s slender brush lays down long-lasting matte, slick, and shimmery shades sure to satisfy your color lust. Available in a veritable rainbow of long-lasting, highly-pigmented color options, these shades can be applied in thick or thin strokes with an ultra-fine brush tip that’s short and easy enough to control. The slim pens are conveniently color-matched to each shade.

* Bobby Dazzle White silver with iridescent sparkle
* Demolition Deep matte brown
* El Dorado Yellow gold with gold sparkle
* Perversion Carbon black
* Radium Bright blue with silver sparkle
* Retrograde Dark purple with purple sparkle
* Revolver Dark grey with iridescent sparkle
* Sabbath Deep matte navy
* Siren Teal with blue shift
* Smog Deep brown with golden shimmer & iridescent sparkle
* Woodstock Hot pink with iridescent sparkle

Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color

This formula delivers all the opaque, saturated, high-impact color of your favorite lipstick and an arresting high-gloss finish in one chubby pencil. And with a dynamic bright to deep shade range in creamy and sparkly textures, the runway-ready possibilities are endless. Even the glittery hues in this collection of high-gloss lip pencils feel smooth on your lips (and leave not a trace of sparkle grit). This conveniently portable pencil’s high-gloss shine can be blotted for a more stain-like effect, but no matter how you wear it, the color lasts. Free of mineral oil and paraffin, this formula contains plant-derived ingredients that nourish lips. Because the barrels and boxes are color-matched to each shade, locating the color you want is easy, even in the deep, dark depths of an oversize tote.

* Adrenaline Bright fuchsia sparkle
* Big Bang Bright pink with sparkle
* Crush Hot pink
* Fbomb Bright red cream
* Punch Drunk Bright orange cream

The Revolution High-Performance Lash Curler

This innovative “lash emancipator” abolishes one-size-fits-all curling. The open cage– without the bars on either side of the curler– lets you curl your lashes all at once or in sections without crimping, and without pinching your skin. Gone are the days of contending with a standardized cage that was clearly designed with someone else’s eyes in mind.

Lush Lash Mascara

This nourishing, thickening, and lengthening mascara is infused with peptides and moisturizing panthenol that allows your lashes to grow for a longer period of time. Its formula builds and beautifies so your lashes will grow longer and fuller over time. Used in conjunction with Urban Decay’s Lush Lash System (Growth Accelerating Serum and Conditioning Mask), it provides additional lash nourishment. This very enduring formula is not technically waterproof, but there was zero smudging or running after road-testing it in a hot yoga class. The outer component features a lush swirl motif, and the large hourglass-shaped brush provides generous mascara distribution. It’s the ideal mascara for anyone who suffers from brittle, fragile lashes, as well as those with great lashes who want to build and strengthen them even more.

UrbanBrow Precision-Tip Brow Tint

Toss your brow pencils and avoid harsh-looking, easily-smudged lines. Urban Decay’s brow tint fills in sparse areas and defines your overall brow shape with soft, natural-looking results! Color flows through the pen into their ultra-fine tip brush that allows for light, feathery strokes. The result is a soft, stain-like finish that won’t smudge. Available in Blonde and Brunette.

urban decay

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Rocky's Hair Cut!

2011-07-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

I took Rocky to the groomers yesterday! It was very well needed because his fur was getting pretty long, and it has been the hottest summer I can remember in Chicago. The only time I ever saw the temperature reach 104 was in Vegas, and I thought that was crazy. Lately, ever time I get in the car, it says the temp is minimum 101 to 105.

I tried my hardest to get a good picture of him, but he was more into his little hedgehog toy I bought him than the camera. Did you know they have an awesome selection of pet things at Marshalls/TJ Maxx!? It depends on the location, but I've found so many cute things there for Rocky. Definitely check it out! He seems to be liking his Rockstar place-mat, but he keeps digging into it, which drives me nuts because I don't want him ruining it. haha!

Hope you're all enjoying your Friday afternoon!

Nyx Cosmetics Blush Swatches

2011-07-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Nyx Cosmetics Blush Swatches. Earlier this week I went on a bit of a haul and grabbed quite a few NYX products. In the next up and coming weeks I'll be posting swatches of the items I grabbed and first up is blushes. Look below to see swatches from NYX cosmetics. I find that their blushes are pretty somewhat pigmented and you definitely have to blend them in really well in order for them to look polished and clean. The formula is pretty long lasting for blush, all of the ones below are in powder form.

Swatches of Copper, Terra Cotta, Sand

Swatches of Pinched , Pinky, Cinnamon, Red

nyx cosmetics

July Style News Webtour

2011-07-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Jersey Shore Hairstyles- hairstyles 53
Fall Fashion Trends For 2011-imageandstylenews
2011 Fall Men’s Fashion Trends- sales alert
Fall 2011 Jewelry Trends
2011 Fall Fashion Trends, Styles, and Clothing

Fall Hairstyles 2011
Fall Beauty Trends 2011
Fall Makeup Trends for 2011
Hair Trend Alert : Red Haircolor For Summer 2011
Tarte for True Blood Collection- addicted to lipstick
Jordin Sparks Hairstyles

Kourtney Kardashian Hairstyles
Sims 3 New Expansion Stuff Pack Town Life- gossipy girlz
Back To School Fashion Trends 2011- teen trends
2011 Back To School Clothing Styles and Fashion Ideas-fashion and beauty scene
fall boot trends 2011- real women wear heels
2011 fall haircuts

Fall 2011 Fashion Trends- styles that work for you blog
Shoe Trend Alert : Beatle Boots
2011 fall nail polish trends
2011 fall beauty trends
Fall 2011 Accessory Trends
Flirty hairstyles
2011 Fall Teen Hairstyles, Back To School Makeup and Hairstyle Looks
MAC & Gareth Pugh Collection Fall 2011 Collection
Fall Hairstyles 2011 – Retro Hair Trend
Selena Gomez & The Scene – Love You Like A Love Song (New Video)
2011 fall shoe trends
Fall 2011 Fashion Trends- fashion trend seeker
Oscar de la Renta Spring 2012 Wedding Collection- something borrowed and blue
2011 Fall Hair Color Trends
Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection
Monica’s Wedding Dress
2011 Fall Back to School Fashion Trends
Zoya Smoke & Mirrors Collection
Dior Mitzah Makeup Collection
2011 Homecoming Hairstyles
China Glaze Fall 2011 Metro Collection
2011 Black and African American Wedding Hairstyles

Plus Size Women Hairstyles- real women have curves blog
Mac Semi Precious Swatches and Review
Nyx Cosmetics Blush Swatches
Lolita Lempicka Eau de Toilette Fragrance- the sweetest aroma
2011 fall coat and jacket trends

Fall Hair Trends for 2011
Fall 2011 Plus Size Fashion Trends

Apparition.

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

EVIL TWIN Ashes to Ashes Maxi Vest from Material Attention - EVIL TWIN Maxi Skirt - Somedays Lovin' Tee

I don't know what it is about EVIL TWIN pieces that make me want to snap obscure photos at odd hours. I wish I had a little more control over the lens - I would have loved these shots to be a little more ghostly (damn the limitations of self-photography...). Having said that, this cape/vest/printed mix of chains and straps (thanks to the lovely ladies at Material Attention) does a pretty good job of the ethereal.

*love*

xx

What's on my Make-up Wishlist?

2011-07-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner Someone recommended this on Twitter when I asked what's everyone's favorite eye liner. This one's reviews look pretty promising.

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner Even though I'm a big fan of Bobbi Brown Gel Liners, and MAC Dipdown Fluidline, I keep hearing how great Clinique's Cream Liner is. At $15 a pop, it's not bad at all. I'd love to give one a try sometime soon.

Nars Douceur Powder Blush I'm not really sure why I want this all of the sudden. It never really sparked my interest when it launched - but lately I've been really into more natural shades and by the looks of it, Douceur (soft pink brown) looks like a great every day color. What do you think? Anyone own this?

Nars Loose Powder I've realized that I don't own enough setting powders (LOL) and I'd like to explore my options. Nars Loose Setting Powder seems to be a favorite among many - except for the terrible packaging.

La Mer The Powder Some say it's the best setting powder ever? I'd love to be the judge of that..... when I have some extra cash.

Illamasqua Fable Lipstick This has actually been on my wishlist for a long time and I don't know what I'm waiting for. Check out the Google results by clicking here. You can not tell me it's not a gorgeous pink.

Nars Super Orgasm Lip gloss Boy, I want a lot of Nars, don't I? Tanya Burr made me want it after watching her collaboration video with two other gurus called "All Time Favourite Makeup Products".. You can view it here. It looks so pretty!

MAC 109 Brush Someone please talk me out of this. I really don't feel like spending $32 on a brush right now. I purchased Sigma's F05 - supposedly the dupe for the 109 and I don't think it's anything that special. I never owned the 109, so I can't compare.. but everyone seems to love the 109, which makes me want it too. ☺

Essie Fiji and Sand Tropez Tan and Light Pink, can't go wrong with my favorite colors!

Winner of my G'adore G'taime Giveaway!

2011-07-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Again, I'd like to thank everyone for participating in my giveaway for the lovely G'adore G'taime Flower Fascinator Hair Clip! And of course, thank you Gerry for making this giveaway possible! You rock!

I really appreciate you all giving feedback on Gerry's Etsy Shop and giving ideas on what kinds of things you'd like to see in her shop! All of your input was very helpful!

There were a few entries that had to be disqualified because they were after the deadline. I felt bad about disqualifying them and was going to let the entries slide, but I realized it would be unfair to others that may have wanted to enter but missed the deadline. There was also one entry that was Anonymous, so I had to disqualify that because they didn't leave a name or e-mail, so if I announced the winner as Anonymous - anyone could claim to be that person. For future contests, if you leave a comment as Anonymous, please leave your name or e-mail!

As usual, I used random.org to pick the winner.

Woohoo! Maricel, you're the winner!

I already announced the winner on Facebook, and you responded so I'll be e-mailing you shortly!!

Thanks again for entering!

Gavriel.

2011-07-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm currently rugged up (and partying hard) in the wonderful cold of the Blue Mountains and thought I'd update you all on a bit of photographic work I've begun to appreciate just recently for the raw and slightly ethereal quality. Gavriel Maynard's editorial work is certainly something to watch out for his spontaneity and visual balance in colours and textures. His photography also does a fantastic job of highlighting the best features in his subjects - so be sure to check out more of his work HERE.

*love*

xx

Mac Semi Precious Swatches and Review

2011-07-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Mac Semi Precious Swatches and Review. For those of you who may have noticed, I haven't been doing much Mac swatches lately because honestly nothing has grabbed my attention. However, the Semi Precious collection definitely did. Not every item in the collection spoke to me, mainly just the eyeshadows so I picked up 5 of them. The color pay off is gorgeous, and you can of course wear them wet or dry. Look below to see my swatches.

Product Photos

Swatches of Eyeshadows

Mineral Mode , Dark Indulgence, Faux Gold, Smoked Ruby, Rare Find

mac

"I was all in gold sequins for Million Dollar Mermaid, 50 feet in the air." ~ Esther Williams.

2011-07-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Isabella Oliver Relaxed Sequin Jacket - Supré Cowl Neck Jersey Top - Bonds Singlet Top - ASOS Boyfriend Belt - Therapy Shoes Tower Pumps

You may remember that I collaged this spectacular blazer a while ago, and I really must divulge that it is a dozen times more incredible, pizazzed and versatile in person. The slightly padded shoulders and sharp corners lend themselves very well to the cowl neck on this jersey tee, too. I've never thought about grey and gold together, but these gold sequins are (at risk of sounding pretentious) more white-gold than yellow, and they grey certainly picks up on that.

Interestingly, my new favourite trackpants (I know... I never thought I'd say that) are unlabeled. I found them while shopping with Mother, who had insisted on stopping in at one of those stores that don't really have a genre, with a strangely massive range of products (I found these under a packet of clothes pegs). I bought them purely for the fantastic burgundy, fully intending to turn them into some bizarrely seamed maxi skirt, but having worn them like this, I don't particularly want to. Thoughts?

I could wear sequins daily. They make the day go faster - I promise.

Tomorrow morning, I'm off for a little trip away with a group of wonderful Law friends of mine. I umm-ed and aah-ed and have decided that I do need to take my laptop with me (far too much to be done!) so I'll still be posting. A camera cord has also gone in the bag, so expect (sort of) live updates!

I'll also be announcing the Style Yourself giveaway winner very soon!

*love*

xx

7 Sunmer Makeup Trends

2011-07-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

7 Summer Makeup Trends (Plus Melt-Proof Tips)

The sexiest looks for 2011 -- and application secrets from the pros -- you'll want to try now

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup trends article

Imagine your $28 Dior Addict Lipstick after leaving it in your car on a super-hot summer day. You end up with a gooey, hot pink puddle of unusable goodness. Now, imagine that on your face. Yuck, right? Get this season's hottest makeup trends and expert tips on how to keep them from melting off your face.

Get expert advice

TheNatureLab Oxygen Shield Bubble Mask: Does It Work?

2011-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

TNL (short for The Nature Lab) is a Korean brand of skincare that has recently launched one of its star products, the Oxygen Shield Mask, in Singapore. It's a foaming mask whose selling point is that it helps to deliver oxygen to your skin. This is supposed to help improve circulation, and bring about a whole slew of skin benefits, from whitening and brightening to improving skin texture.

First things first, the science is clear that injecting oxygen into your skin doesn't actually help it, so all the masks selling oxygen as an anti-aging therapy are just doing it as a marketing gimmick. Sure the mask does foam, but it doesn't deliver oxygen to your skin (it's just air bubbles, people, not special oxygen bubbles), or help improve blood circulation or anything. It's just fun to see a mask bubble, I guess.

In fact, if the mask really introduced oxygen into your skin, it would seriously damage the skin, since oxygen is a free radical and is actually aging to skin - that's why we have a whole line of anti-oxidants to combat the oxidative reactions brought about by these free radicals. So any oxygen-based skincare is just a marketing gimmick. The Bliss Triple Oxygen Mask is another such mask using a similar marketing strategy, so it's not just TheNatureLab.

The mask comes in a sensible pump tube, and in a sturdy yellow plastic bottle and a brown box. All in all, the packaging is sensible and sturdy.

The mask out of the pump is a clear gel, with a few bubbles in it. Ooh, look, bubbles! The gel is clear and light, and odourless.

The instructions for using this mask are quite complex. First you're supposed to apply the gel on your face, then leave it on for a few minutes. The mask then starts foaming, with little bubbles appearing. This, of course, is the "oxygen bubbles" they're trying to sell - but really, they're just air bubbles. Then again, air is 20% oxygen, so I guess they aren't entirely wrong, LOL!

After that, you're supposed to massage this foam into your face, and let your skin absorb all that "oxygen goodness". When you massage the foam into your face, it sort of breaks up, and forms a thin film on your skin, as you can see in the photo below.

After this, you're supposed to wet your palm slightly and massage the mixture into your skin. The water mixes with the mask to form this thin, colourless film on your skin.

Lastly, you're supposed to wash the film off. It foams as you wash it off.

To be honest, after I used this mask, I didn't feel like my skin had improved. In fact, I didn't feel any effects whatsoever. Perhaps I had too thick a hide for this mask to work, but I felt like it was more of a cleanser than a mask - it cleaned the skin and removed dirt, but didn't do anything more. So, I decided to dig deeper into the product to find out why it didn't work for me.

And as you know me, the first place I stopped to look was nowhere else other than the ingredients list. And here I think I've found my answer:

When I look at ingredients lists, I usually focus on the first 5-7 ingredients in the list, as those are the ingredients that make up most of the product, and the rest of the ingredients are usually added in tiny amounts. In this product, the first few ingredients are water, cocoamidolpropyl betain, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, chamaecyparis obtusa water, glycerin, and cocamide DEA.

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients:

Water, chamaecyparis obtusa water: Okay, we know this one as water.

Cocoamidolpropyl betain, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, cocamide DEA: These are all surfactants, which are the foaming agents in the product. They are what makes the product foam, and are most commonly found in shampoos and soaps.

Glycerin: This is a hydrating ingredient to the skin, when combined with water.

As you can see, the Oxygen Sheild Bubble Mask is really mosstly comprised of a bunch of surfactants, water and glycerin. So when you use the mask, all that's really happening is you're workiong up a lot of foam, but the only ingredients that are really working on your skin are the glycerin and water combination, which moisturize the skin. The surfactants just add to the cosmetic appeal of the product. No wonder why this product didn't work for me!

I wanted to like this product, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed by it. And yes, this is indeed a product that was provided by PR people for review, but I simply can't cook up a positive review when that's not my honest opinion. To me, the mask appeared to be mostly surfactants and water, and I felt that the formulation of the mask was poor, as more attention appeared to be paid to the bubbling hype, and not enough attention was given to the actual beneficial effects of the mask. The good thing about this is that it does cleanse the skin, and is quick to use - the whole foaming process takes only a few minutes. If you like the idea of cute little bubbles and want a simple basic mask, this is for you. But sadly, I can't say this mask worked for me. But if you're interested in trying this out for yourself, you can LIKE The Nature Lab Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheNatureLab )& play the Spot & Win game to win a bottle of Oxygen Shield Mask worth S$48.90.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I got this for review, and I actually said I was disappointed by it, so obviously I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Seafolly Bondi Junction: 1 candle.

2011-07-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the absolute pleasure of paying a visit to Seafolly's Bondi Junction Westfield store to share some congratulations and incredible macaroons for their 1st birthday. It's no secret that Seafolly has always been my go-to for Summer, so you can probably imagine me amongst all the fantastic new swimwear that just dropped for all those lucky jetsetters headed to the other side of the world. Customers young old certainly appreciated Sarah Stephens and Marloes Horst in the stunning new campaign. As I declared multiple times after my SUNBURN visit, I'm loving the sculpted swimwear.

I'll have a bit of a Happy Birthday video up soon, too!

Thanks to the Seafolly ladies for having me!

*love*

xx

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-07-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Read a thorough and honest review of Sigma's new eyeshadow palettes in Dare, Bare, and Flare at Handmade Reviews!

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella has been trying the new Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation and reviews it in depth.

Musicalhouses shows you summer's hottest offering - Benefit Cha Cha Tint!

The jury’s still out on whether a certain new lash curler looks incredibly intriguing or… incredibly gynaecological, but the real question is: are you ready to start a Revolution with Urban Decay?

Looking for a new blush? Check out my Swatches and Review on Chanel Joues Contraste Blush!

Beauty's Bad Habit shares her technique for using Fyrinnae's infamous Pixie Epoxy eyeshadow base.

You can achieve the perfect summer glow with just one product... shimmer! Steal My Heart Lovee.com shares her thoughts on Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks.

Amy Antoinette shares her top tips for transforming hay fever eyes!

Want the scoop on Urban Decay's new Fall Collection? Well, Krasey Beauty has it all, from information to product pics!

Kelly from Gouldylox has a very bad day. Luckily some MacGyvering with beauty products saves the day!

Miss Beauty Nerd goes to the Big Apple and gets her eyebrows threaded at Blink Brow Bar inside Henri Bendel.

Madame B Fatale introduces her boyfriend to Gillette's new razor and skincare products.

Tired of the regular crackle nail look? Jenn over at Spiced Beauty spices it up with a tri-color mani!

If you like bright colours you'll want to check out the latest find from Lisamarie at Beauty Crazed - SleekMakeUP Caribbean collection - and you'll be relieved to know that the swatches are not on her arm!

Makeup, Beauty and More shows some love for the Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in I'm Getting Sunburned.

Lauren from Lovelaughlauren shows us some fab makeup brushes for less than £20!

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The Pretty Exclusive shows you beautiful swatches of Geek Chic Cosmetic's N7 Collection & Geek Love Duo, AND has a giveaway to win them all!

Pammy Blogs Beauty is giving away Clinical Organics "Try Me" Packs to two lucky winners! Visit Pammy Blogs Beauty for more details and to enter.

GIVEAWAY: LAST DAY!

2011-07-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

My Giveaway will be ending tonight at 11:59 PM CST! Please enter, it would be greatly appreciated as the prize was made special just for you! Anyone can enter - it's open internationally!

CLICK HERE to Enter!

Dior Mitzah Makeup Collection

2011-07-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

Dior Mitzah Makeup Collection. Hitting stores this September for fall 2011, Dior brings us the Mitzah collection look below for more details.

Introducing the Dior Mitzah Collection, inspired by Mitzah Bricard, the audacious and glamorous muse to Christian Dior.

Born in Paris to an English mother and Austrian father, Mitzah Bricard captured the fascination of Christian Dior at the very beginnings of the house. While she was officially responsible for the Dior hat collection, she played a key role in advising and influencing the couturier on many aspects of the brand, including the creation of the ―New Look.

Known for her love of leopard (she wore a leopard scarf wrapped around her wrist at all times), the color lilac and over-the-top jewelry, it was said that Mitzah could ―turn the ordinary into stylish.

“Ms. Bricard is one of those rare people whose only reason for living is elegance,” Monsieur Dior said of his muse, whose unique extravagance helped inspire many of his designs.

The collection, featuring a limited edition 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow palette stamped in the iconic leopard pattern, two Vernis shades inspired by the same earthy print and a tawny, shimmering brown Diorshow mascara, pays homage to this one-of-a-kind woman.

The Collection

* Mitzah 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow
* Vernis in Camel / Ebony
* Diorshow Mascara in Golden Brown

Mitzah Collector Palette

Each numbered, limited edition eyeshadowpalette reproduces the legendary ―Jungle‖ panther/ leopard print—now a signature print of the House of Dior—favored by MitzahBricard. Shades of elegantcamel, chocolate brown and beige shadow can be applied separately or combined to create a sumptuous tawny shade.

dior makeup

On top.

2011-07-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Mrs Press Coat - Evil Twin Bad Moon Rising Shirt - Factorie for Australia's Next Top Model Leather Look Pants - Therapy Shoes Tower Pumps

While this wonder of a coat is from Clare Press' equally wonderful Spring/Summer 2011/12 collection, I'm going to be honest and say that I really wasn't feeling Spring today - Sydney had it coming (it had been sunny for far too long!). So, I thought the next best thing would be to floralise a little with this fantastic piece of Evil Twin work. The khaki and nude is something I haven't tried before, and now that I've said that, it will be all you see for the next two weeks. Such are the workings of my mind :)

To juxtapose that again: these Emmanuelle-Alt-esque seamed leather pants from Factorie's collaboration with Australia's Next Top Model. I'm very excited to be sharing some of the pieces from the collection with you - the degree of wearability (or model basics, I suppose you'd call them) is definitely alive and breathing.

I'm telling you now I will never get sick of these Therapy Shoes.

Ever.

Less than an hour left to enter the Style Yourself giveaway! Get to it :)

*love*

Shop Til You Drop.

2011-07-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

This is definitely a little overdue, but here we go! Most of you will remember that I ran into ACP between frantic uni movements to do a super fast shoot some time ago - and here's the final result. I have to say I'm severely enamoured with the ensemble I wore (definitely a need-to-get-together for the coming Spring - please hurry up).

A couple of Styling references for you if you can't read the teeny text:

LP33.3 Shirt - Gat Rimon Bra - Rubi Shoes Boots - David Lawrence Belt - Belle Noel Rings from miijo.com

Thanks very much to the Shop Til You Drop ladies! Make sure you grab a copy at the next happy news stand you stroll on past.

P.S. Last day to enter the Style Yourself giveaway! Hop to it and spread the word :)

*love*

xx

ELWOOD's Spring.

2011-07-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

I meant to post these yesterday, but far too many sidetracking happened! Having said that, ELWOOD's Spring Launch was a relaxed but certainly inspiring affair at the new flagship store in Westfield Bondi Junction. My appreciation for the edge and the affinity to layering in the Winter collection easily shifted over to the Spring collection that stalked the stage. You hear that Bondi? It is time to move away from staple cut-offs and into sweeter florals and more boyish cuts in denim. And for boys, desert boots are the go.

Talking to Andy, it occurred to me that we often get caught up in just the visuals of an outfit and forget to consider the designer's initial inspiration and what that means for the way you hold yourself or style the pieces accordingly. Walking around the store, the musical undercurrent was blindingly clear - all the more fantastic to see the brand supporting the music it's inspired by.

Dan Sultan and Alexander Gow (Oh Mercy) were definitely high quality entertainment in both the laughing sense and a solid musical talent that ELWOOD always seems to pick out and push on to bigger and greater things (feet firmly on the ground and legs dancing around stages in ELWOOD Jeans).

To check out more of the collection, stop by the site HERE or hop on into the flagship store at some point! I'll be sharing more in the coming weeks for sure - watch this space :)

*love*

xx

Liz Earle Sheer Gold Shimmer: Summer Up Your Skin

2011-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Liz Earle has come out with a great summer goody - the Liz Earle Sheer Gold Shimmer! This is a lotion with gold shimmer thaat can be applied to skin, to sexy up your skin with a little bit of sheen. I thought I'd show you guys this product, since it seemed perfect for summer.

The Sheer Gold Shimmer comes in a sensible transparent plastic tube, with a twist-off plastic top. Simple and easy. From the plastic tube, you can see the individual shimmer particles inside the product, so the shimmer in there isn't exactly super-fine.

The product is also quite watery in texture, making it different from other shimmer lotions I've encountered, which tend to have a thicker, more gel-like texture. This one is pretty fluid, so you can layer on as little or as much as you'd like. It also has the smell of your typical Liz Earle product - it smells sort of herbal, which I quite like.

Here are some product swatches:

As you can see from the swatches, the product isn't as shimmery as I thought it would have been. While I do think the individual glitter bits are probably a bit too big for full-on use all over the face, this product will probably be perfect on your legs, cheekbones, arms, etc. It's also perfect for that since it's watery texture feels light on the skin.

I think that this would especially useful for people who would like a small tube of shimmer lotion to carry around, and apply on the go. For the rest of us, a lightweight, shimmery gold lotion would also be great for this summer season.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection

2011-07-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Collection. This fall Bobbi Brown introduces the Tortoise Shell Collection. The collection features a variety of colors to bring focus to your eyes. Look below for more details. Available in stores now.

Bold glasses are as much a fashion staple as they are a personal statement. Now revered as a stylish accessory, a great pair of frames is a must have (and a great go-to on bad beauty days). Bobbi chooses between her iconic black frames and a pair of tortoise shell frames – ones which served as the inspiration behind her new Tortoise Shell Collection for fall. The Tortoise Shell Collection is Bobbi’s modern take on a classic look.

Stunning shadows in shades ranging from bronze to gold to espresso are housed in gorgeous tortoise shell compacts with gold detailing; one is for lighter skin and the other for darker complexions. To balance the warmer tones on the eyes, cheeks and lips are dressed up in soft nudes. And the good news is that if you do wear glasses, Bobbi designed the collection to complement—rather than compete with—your frames.

Tortoise Shell Bronze Eye Palette

A flattering collection of warm neutral makeup for medium to darker skin tones, this palette lets you go from soft to smoky in no time flat. The eight shadows in the Bronze Tortoise Shell Eye Palette are designed to be layered—there’s no blending required. Start with the lightest shade, then layer the darker shades until you get the desired intensity. Tortoise-shell glasses inspire the special limited-edition compact—Bobbi’s muse for this collection. Includes Banana Eyeshadow, Gold Nugget Sparkle Eyeshadow, Amber Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow, Copper Cocoa Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow, Tiger’s Eye Metallic Eyeshadow, Bronze Metallic Eyeshadow, Olive Sparkle Eyeshadow, Espresso Eyeshadow.

Tortoise Shell Sand Eye Palette

A palette for lighter skin tones, with light to dark shadows in flattering warm neutrals. This collection lets you go from soft to smoky in no time flat. The eight shadows in the Sand Tortoise Shell Eye Palette are designed to be layered—there’s no blending required. Start with the lightest shade, then layer the darker shades until you get the desired intensity. Tortoise-shell glasses inspire the special limited-edition compact—Bobbi’s muse for this collection. Includes Ivory Eyeshadow, Gold Bar Sparkle Eyeshadow, Desert Sand Metallic Eyeshadow, Terracotta Eyeshadow, Antique Rose Eyeshadow, Hot Stone Eyeshadow, Sandy Rose Metallic Eyeshadow, Black Chocolate Eyeshadow.

Rich Lip Color SPF 12

* Soft Nude
* Twig

High Shimmer Lipgloss

* Bare Sparkle
* Beach
* Citrus

Tortoise Shell Mini Brush Set

Bobbi’s essential brushes, perfectly sized for travel and on-the-go makeup application. Set includes four brushes: Mini Angle Eye Shadow, Mini Eye Sweep, Mini Blush and Mini Ultra Fine Eye Liner, all tucked into a chic tortoise shell case. In your evening purse, gym bag or carry-on, this brush set always fits.

NYX Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow Palette: Awesome Neutral Colours!

2011-07-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

The latest addition to my palette collection is definitely a kickass one - I officially have gotten my hands on the NYX Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow Palette! As you know, NYX Cosmetics is pretty hard to get here in Asia, so I just have to show off! By a stroke of luck, I won it on Makeup Merriment's giveaway awhile back, and, boy am I glad to have this!

Isn't this thing gorgeous? It's so pretty, I can't bear to touch it yet - but I will eventually!

It comes in the cutest paper box, with a very alluring photo of a smokey eye. The Smokey Palette comes in a simple plastic packaging.

Here are the colours all laid out for you in their beautiful glory. I love how there are a bunch of awesome TAUPES in there, along with the standard range of greys.

Have any of you used this palette yet? I'm so excited, I can't wait to get to use this palette and show you guys the awesome colours in the palette!

Excess sleeveage.

2011-07-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Vintage Coat - Vintage Sheer Buttondown - The Story Of Short from Market HQ - Romwe.com Tights - All about eve Sunglasses from SUNBURN

My past couple of days have been relatively non-stop. I'm fairly certain that I have permanent smudges under my eyes and that my hair is irresolvable in every sense of the word (both are pretty evident in the half-asleep photo below - go on, laugh). My dear Katie has been helping me out with a project I've been working on over the weekend just past, and while out in Chippendale, we sought shelter from the wind behind this wonderful piece of wall and ended up snapping these.

Made a fun little shoe purchase at Nü+Nan in The Galeries Victoria not long after this at the most ridiculous steal of a price - you've probably seen the photo I tweeted. Yes I'm very much in love. Yes I did then sneakily change straight into them up in some windowsill in Kinokuniya, hoping that none of the girls at the desk would notice my added 4 inches of height. Yes I will probably be back to see if I can nab more sale/last-pair shoes.

Yes my bank account hates me.

But hey - at least they distract me from the Karen Walker sunnies staring at me next door in Incu. Don't even begin. It's depressing.

Must be off to catch some sleep! Big day tomorrow :)

BUT I must remind you that you only have a few days to enter the Style Yourself giveaway!

*love*

xx

Hey ELWOOD.

2011-07-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

These three snaps from ELWOOD's winter collection are making me a bit excited for their Spring Launch tomorrow evening (I will have some happy snaps up for you in good time for sure). Ever since my discovery that ELWOOD wasn't just for boys (though I have to say they do pick up the boyfriend look wonderfully well), I have been in and out of their new flagship store like it's nobody's business.

Why yes I do have my eye on a number of florals (as if I don't have enough) and a leather vest. What of it.

Check out the rest of the collection HERE and keep an eye out for my snaps tomorrow!

*love*

xx

10 Trendy Summer Hairstyles

2011-07-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

10 Trendy Summer Hairstyles

See the hottest styles that will actually stay put when the temperature starts to rise

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article

After spending 20 minutes perfecting every curl and smoothing down each strand, you step outside to greet the summer breeze -- and your cute hairstyle suddenly poufs into a frizzy mess. Sound familiar? To make sure your hairstyle can stand up to the heat, see these frizz-fighting looks now.

Get how-tos

MAC & Gareth Pugh Collection Fall 2011 Collection

2011-07-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

MAC & Gareth Pugh Collection Fall 2011 Collection. Coming this Nov, Mac is teaming up with designer Gareth Pugh to bring us a collection that is fashion forward and fashion show ready. The collection will feature an array of special packing for products, accessories and of course wonderful colors that are inspired by the runway. Products featured in the collection will be announced shortly. Look below for more details.

'Today, M·A·C Cosmetics confirmed an upcoming collaboration with designer, Gareth Pugh. The brand will celebrate the partnership with Gareth next month at a cocktail party in New York City in anticipation of the global launch starting November 2011. The collection will include multiple colour products and accessories in special packaging. M·A·C has supported Gareth since he first began showing his collections nearly seven years ago"

mac

Fast forward, please.

2011-07-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Somedays Lovin's newest collection certainly does not help my intense craving for sunshine and white sand - particularly at this time of year when half the people I know have jetted off to that sunnier, livelier part of the world. Miss Jaye sent through these favourites of hers and I must say I'm looking forward to seeing the rest - I love me the look of that red and playful crochet. Such things keep me sane while hiding from the cold in newsagents here in dear Sydney.

To be fair, Somedays also has a solid selection of winter goodies standing their ground at Market HQ.

I'll just have to keep dreaming of Summer for the time being.

P.S. you have 4 days left to enter and spread the word on the Style Yourself giveaway!

*love*

xx

Monkey bar.

2011-07-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

All about Eve Sunglasses from SUNBURN - Vintage Leather Patchwork Bomber - ModCloth Portable Pocket Belt

I've been absolutely terrible with updating over the last couple of days - nothing went to any remote form of plan (and, I would say, for the better) but I definitely have a lot to share! Such a whirlwind weekend.

The first of these is this incredible patchwork jacket that I picked up as a last minute bargain and a half as Rozelle Markets was closing this afternoon. It was the first thing I saw today and I finally decided that I needed the buttery leather softness. Sure, I may have to sneakily cut out the gargantuan shoulder pads but everything else about it is very much the perfect piece of leather work that has been missing from my wardrobe all my life. I love market stalls who are happy to bargain back and forth for a while. Life is just that much happier afterwards. Seriously - man at Surry Hills? Take note.

I'm working on a bit of a project for ModCloth (you can see a bit of that fantastic pocket belt peeking out the side) so my dear friend Katie snapped this of me while we were marching/singing our way through Balmain to see some wonderful friends of ours.

Enough writing for you all :) What did everyone get up to this weekend?

P.S. don't forget to enter the Style Yourself giveaway! Only 5 days left :) Spread the word!

*love*

xx

BeautyUK Shatter Polish: Swatches, Review, NOTD

2011-07-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

The BeautyUK Shatter Polishes have landed! And once BeautyUK puts them out, they do not one, but three amazing colours! The Shatter Polish comes in three colours, Goth, which is a matte black, Glam Rock, which is a silver with a foil finish, and Punk, which is a matte hot pink. A matte hot pink - can you imagine that? I'm excited!

Anyway, I'm sure you don't want me to blabber on unnecessarily, so without further ado, here are swatches!

First of all, let's take a look at Goth. This is a pure black, simple as that. Here it is over another drugstore brand, Collection 2000 Aztec Gold. I rather like this combination!

One of the things I found when applying Goth was that it really shatters into tiny bits, thus displaying very prominently the colour underneath. So if you would like the under-colour to be more visible, this is a great one to choose. However, I found it a little clumpy even in the bottle, and hard to work with. It was a little difficult to get an even coat on the nail. Still, the effect it gave was gorgeous.

The next colour is Glam Rock, which is silver foil. I was so excited for this, as the large majority of matte polishes up to now have been mattes, so it was great to see them come in other finishes! Here it is over Boots No. 7 Totally Teal. I love how the deep teal base makes the silver just pop!

Like the Goth shatter polish, I found this a little tricky to work with. However, it wasn't as lumpy as Goth for some reason, and I applied it with reasonable ease. Another thing I noticed was that this didn't "split" as much as Goth did. When I wore Goth, you could see big patches of the base colour showing through where the polish had split. Here, the gaps were much smaller, and if you apply too thick a coat, the polish won't shatter very nicely. You can see this on my index finger, where the shattering effect was pathetic as the coat was too thick. A little goes a long way with this one.

Lastly, we have Punk! I was so excited for Punk - after all, how many hot pink shatter polishes are there out there? So I just had to try this. Here it is over Wet n Wild Quartz of Course. On hindsight, maybe I could have picked a more contrasting colour to pair Punk with, but hey, it still looks gorgeous right? And I'm not sure how clear it is from the photos, but Punk is HOT NEON PINK! Woohoo! Retina-searing, breath-bating, ice-melting hot pink! Such a beauty.

I personally felt that Punk was the easieset out of all the three polishes to apply - it wasn't lumpy in the bottle, and application was good. I had no issues with this. As you can see in the photos, it also shattered very nicely, and I didn't have big bald patches or tiny shatter lines. As with most shatter polishes, though, the thicker the coat, the larger the shatter pieces.

Since I'm a huge fan of shatter polishes, I'm absolutely in love with BeautyUK's latest offerings. Goth, as your standard black shatter, has been done before by other brands, but I especially love Punk and Glam Rock, both of which are of good quality and are unique in the colours. I don't see many coloured shatters by readily avaialble drugstore brands, so these are definitely worth checking out.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

G'adore G'taime Feather-Rose Fascinator GIVEAWAY!

2011-07-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

RULES TO ENTER:

You must be a follower of my blog. In case some of you don't have Blogger or a Google account, you can also enter by following me on Twitter here or by liking my new Facebook page here.
Post a comment stating what kind of items you would like to see or see more of in Gerry's shop! Your feedback is greatly appreciated! (Click here to be re-directed to G'adore G'taime)

THE PRIZE:

A beautiful, hand-made Feather-Rose Fascinator Clip made by Gerry of G'adore G'taime. (Seen in the photos below. You'll be receiving it in the adorable box it is shown with!)

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Giveaway is open internationally!! Anyone can enter!
Entrants must be at the legal age according to their local laws. If you are under the legal age, you must have permission from a parent or guardian to enter (18 years old in the USA w/ the exception of Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21)
The deadline will be in one week from today; Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM CST.
There will be one winner, announced within 48 hours of the deadline.

READ MORE FOR MORE INFO & A SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE!

Feather hair pieces are so trendy! It first started out with the feather handbands and hair clips, and now feather extensions are all of the rage! I think they are so classy and look so pretty and elegant when worn with a dress or skirt. I think they've become even more popular now with Kate Middleton being a new style icon. I have a feather headband of my own, and I always place it on the right side of my head, the same ride where my bangs fall - a couple of inches above my ear. There is no really wrong place to put it, just play around with it and see where you like it best!


Source: Life.com

Source: enjoyweddingnow.com

Lastly, all of my readers get an exclusive 10% discount on all items in G'adore G'taime!

Click here to shop now!

Mentholatum Acnes Creamy Wash and Sealing Jell

2011-07-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Although Mentholatum was originally founded in the USA, the brand is often associated more commonly with its many brands of drugstore skincare and cosmetic items that are popular in Asia, including popular brands LipIce, Sunplay, and Oxy. Within Asia, it often markets its products as originating from Japan, particularly following its acquisition by Japanese company Rohto in 1988. As such, to the casual consumer, its products tend to be associated with Asian markets rather than Western ones, despite its strong roots in the West.

As such, it's no surprise that Mentholatum's Acnes line also bears the cutesy hallmark of Asian brands. Just look at this Acnes set, comprising their Creamy Cleanser and Sealing Jell!

Mentholatum Acnes is, as the name suggests, a range of skincare product targeting acne-prone skin. The line up of products range from standard items such as cleansers, toners and moisturizers, to more Asian-centric products such as nose pore strips. The set below contains the Creamy Wash, a cleanser for oily skin, as well as a Sealing Jell, which is a pimple cream.

At first, I was a bit dubious of the quality of the product. After all, what on earth is a Sealing Jell? Is that a typo, a fail-attempt to make a product name sound cute, or something else entirely?

So, I thought the only way to know whether the set was any good or not was to try it out myself! The first product in the set was the Creamy Wash, which came in a sensible plastic tube with a flip top packaging.

The Creamy Wash is a off-white gel that is tinged with some off-white gel that had a green tinge. It foamed well, and washed off cleanly. However, although the Creamy Wash is billed as non-drying, I still found it a bit too dry for my liking - when I had washed my face, my skin felt squeaky and tight. Definitely a sign that the cleanser was too harsh for my skin.

The second item was the Sealing Jell, which is a pimple gel that just has a funny name. The gel comes in a sensible tube with a screw top.

Like the Creamy Wash, the Sealing Jell is an off-white gel-like cream that has a green tinge. And also like the Creamy Wash, the Sealing Jell also is very drying on my skin. This feels slightly sticky when applied on the skin, but turns clear and dries fast. I did feel like it helped my pimples, simply by drying them out so they didn't evolve into those huge cystic boils I'm so prone to getting.

One last thing I noticed about the two Mentholatum Acnes products was the smell. Both products had this lemon-lime smell, that honestly, smelled exactly like the scent you'd find in dishwashing liquid or hand soap! I'd much rather they tweak the smell or lose it altogether - I don't want to feel like I'm putting dish soap on my face!

Although I felt that these products, particularly the Creamy Wash, were too harsh for my skin, I think these might be useful for someone with very oily, thick skin that's not sensitive. Between the two products, though, I felt that the Sealing Jell was the better product for my skin. I'd probably use these products, but I'd alternate them with other skincare products that weren't so drying. If you're interested, you can redeem some free Acnes samples at http://www.facebook.com/acnes.sg?sk=app_213564948660624 or http://www.facebook.com/acnes.sg.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Your turn to Style Yourself.

2011-07-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

So - something exciting I've been meaning to share over the past week. I'm wonderfully honoured to be featured in Weldon Owen Inc.'s fantastic new photobook, Style Yourself (foreword written by Jane Aldridge), which is a fairly brilliant read for any time and any place - especially if you're stuck in a wardrobe rut and need some inspiration on the go. It also makes for a fairly fantastic coffee table book - though once guests start, you'll have some issues trying to get them to listen to what you are actually saying (speaking from experience).

Fittingly, I'm on the jumping page, shall we say (well there you go) and apparently on the back cover of the German version (shrug).

To the point: in celebration of this, and thanks to my friends at Weldon Owen, I'm giving away a copy of this book to one lucky reader anywhere in the world! The rules couldn't be simpler:

Be a Public Follower of Shine By Three on Google Friends Connect
Follow @Weldon Owen and @Margaret_Zhang on Twitter
Like Shine By Three on Facebook
Leave a comment below with your name, Twitter ID, and contact email adress

I'll be running this giveaway until midnight next Friday, July 15, so be sure to spread the word and share some Style Yourself love! Any questions, just email me.

Thanks so much to Weldon Owen for their support! You can also grab yourself a copy on Amazon right HERE.

*love*

xx

All at once.

2011-07-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

Quiksilver Shearling Jacket - Dotti Shirt - Somedays Lovin' Printed Shorts - Lorenzi Shoes - Vintage Bag

I have a ridiculous amount of appreciation for this jacket that has far too many elements of perfection to be fair. From the front, it's a solid leather jacket with a fantastic shearling collar, but the back hem scoops down to give a lot more space and therefore, potential for added warmth. This was very much appreciated given that it started sprinkling a little when I snapped these (kind of dorkily excited that the camera caught the little raindrops). Despite the tired face, I have a significant amount of print love for these shorts, on top of the slightly longer length and higher waist, which isn't given enough credit at Bondi (anyone? anyone?).

I don't think I've stopped wearing this shirt for the past 5 days. So much wear. So much versatility.

In other exciting news, I started a little work experience at SBS today and learnt a ridiculous amount to say the least. More to share soon!

*love*

xx

Young Hollywood.

2011-07-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

During my interning times with the Stylestalker ladies, we shot the Young Hollywood lookbook with superbabeface Cassi van den Dungen (I'll have behind-the-scenes shots up soon) - all I really remember is sitting next to the clothing rack all day stroking everything in a non-creepy way. Rach and Sue-Ann then proceeded to LA to shoot with similarly superbabeface Alexandra Spencer, and these wonderfully moody/too-cool shots are the result. Needless to say I'm pretty excited to share this 1) because of my pleat and cloud print obsession 2) for my wide legged pants obsession 3) I will never. ever. get enough of cut outs on sleeves, on backs, on legs.

Long story short, the collection definitely needs to be the centrepiece of my wardrobe for the rest of the year. These shots have also gotten me ridiculously excited for LA... even if it is insanely far away.

*love*

xx

Hada Labo Retinol Lifting and Firming Lotion

2011-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

You may not know this, but Hada Labo actually means "Skin Lab" in Japanese - "hada" means skin, and "labo" is "lab" transliterated from English. The Japan-based skincare brand has garnered quite the following in Asia, and this is in part due to the most popular product in their line, the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Moisturizing Lotion (which I need to get around to reviewing one day), which is marketed with the catchy tagline, "One drop locks up an ocean".

Now, Hada Labo has launched a new Lifting and Firming Line, which is an anti-aging line. Seeking to capitalize on the "one drop" tagline, the Lifting and Firming line has the tagline "One drop restores youthful bounciness". And as with the Moisturizing line, the star product of the Lifting and Firming Line is expected to be the Retinol Lifting and Firming Lotion.

The Lifting and Firming Lotion comes in a tall, red plastic bottle with a flip top. While the lotion isn't exactly that runny, you need to be careful when pouring it out, as you may end up accidentally pouring out too much!

The lotion itself has a milky, gel-like texture that's a bit on the sticky side. So yes, you do need to wait for a couple of minutes for the lotion to sink into the skin after use.

This is more of a night lotion for me, for two reasons. First, I don't really like fiddling around with sticky lotions in the day. Secondly, there is a small amount of retinyl palmitate in the lotion (the retinol they refer to in the marketing material), and retinyl palmitate applied topically may increase the skin's photosensitivity, which is why concentrated forms of retinyl palmitate are probably best used only at night. However, give that the concentration of retinyl palmitate in this product is quite low, and given that retinyl palmitate is actually one of the weakest forms of retinoid out there, it's may probably be safe for day use as well. I just prefer to be cautious with regard to sun exposure whenever I use a retinoid, so all retinoids are treated the same - night use only, sunscreen in the day. The directions on the packaging, however, are a bit less parannoid, and encourage both day and night use.

After using the lotion for awhile, I do feel like it helped my skin. I'm not too sure about the "restores youthful bounciness" bit, because that's kind of hard for me to assess, but I did feel like the product helped to moisturize my skin and gave it a slightly better texture. If this sounds like the product for you, then this will be worth checking out. I believe Hada Labo is having some Facebook promotion, where if you like their Facebook you can redeem your Hada Labo Sha lotion samples. The offer is available here: http://www.facebook.com/hadalabosg?sk=app_151292538267800 or http://www.facebook.com/hadalabosg.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Con. Cav Con.

2011-07-04T05:29:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday (it really doesn't seem like that long ago) I did a bit of an epic PR sweep of Sydney (no seriously) starting with the lovely Cav Con showroom, which was definitely a bright and wishlist-worthy start to the day. You'll all, no doubt, remember my ravings about Ginger & Smart's fantastic SS11/12 show just before fashion week (if not, you probably need to do some reading HERE to get up to speed :p). Well, seeing those pieces up close is a whole new experience in itself - I hadn't realised that the fantastic fringe happenings on this skirt were actually lines of laser cut poetry (though now that I look at it I feel a bit silly for not seeing it the first time round).

Cav Con just recently got Christopher Esber's incredible pleats in too - which I obsessed over to the point where I couldn't touch them in case their delicate engineering disintegrated. Thankfully, the baby blue and pink (and occasional pop of the most fantastic red) were enough to keep me going visually.

Gorman and Triwa did the best job of gearing me up for Summer (yes half the people I know did just jet off to sunnier locations on the globe... yes I am obscenely jealous). As evident in my outfit goings on this week, I'm quite liking my pops of colour and both Gorman's prints and Triwa's eye-candy function do pretty well in satisfying that!

Thanks so much to the lovely Cav Cons for having me round!

P.S. Pretty exciting giveaway set to go down tomorrow. Watch. This. Space.

*love*

xx

Monthly Style News Webtour

2011-07-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Lucy Hale On The Cover of Seventeen Magazine For June / July 2011- teen trends and tips
Fall Beauty Trends 2011- sales alert shopping
Fall Fashion Trends For 2011- imageandstylenews
Summer Hairstyles 2011- Braids- hairstyles 53
2011 Fall Hairstyles
Gucci 'Icon Bit' Medium Tote- handbagstylnews
Chloe Love, Chloé - the sweetest aroma
Especially Escada
Fall 2011 Jewelry Trends
Solange Knowles Natural Hairstyles
Tory Burch 'Steffi' Hobo Handbag
Selena Gomez Wears Bandeau Bikini- celebrityredcarpetstyle
Bebe Zahara Leather Slingback Platform Sandal- real women wear heels
Lady Gaga Gets Red Locks For Rolling Stone Cover

Celebrities Wearing Orange Lip Trend
Summer Hairstyles 2011-addicted to lipstick
Diane by Diane von Furstenberg fragrance
MAC Bloggers’ Obsessions Collection
Retro Hairstyles- fashion and beauty style
Spring / Summer 2011 Makeup Trends- makeup and stilettos blog
Jennifer Lopez Wears Nude Jumpsuit
Rihanna’s Retro Hairstyle

Fall Makeup Trends for 2011
Lancome Aroma Juice

Get The Look : Steal Rihanna's Style
China Glaze Crackle Glaze Metals Nail Polish Collection

Katherine Heigl New Cropped Haircut
Prada Candy New Fragrance By Prada For Women
2011 Summer Black Hairstyles and Hair Trends
Kardashian Sisters To Launch Nail Polish Line
Jessica Simpson Snakeprint Sandal
Celebrities Wearing Gucci's Spring / Summer 2011 Collection
Jennifer Aniston Goes Brunette for New Movie Horrible Bosses
Fall 2011 Hairstyles, Hair Trends and Hair Ideas
Summer 2011 Hairstyles- styles that work for you blog
Summer 2011 Hairstyles

Bebe Fall 2011 Collection RTW
10 Fashionable Looks For Graduation
Sandal Trends for Summer 2011
5 Fabulous Graduation Hairstyles
Twilight Breaking Dawn Trailer

wedding hairstyles for long hair
Teen Trend Alert : Tribal Prints

2011 Summer Fashion Trends for Kids and Children- pregnancy baby blog
2011 Summer Jewelry Trends- kandy for the neck

Kim Kardashian Wears Gucci Dress From Gucci Spring/ Summer 2011 Collection

Coach 2011 Spring / Summer Kristin Handbag Collection
Louis Vuitton Fall 2011 RTW Collection
Sisters Jessica Simpson and Ashlee to Create Tween Clothing Line

Celebrities Wearing Turbans
Ciara With Blunt Bangs Trend
2011 Top Styles In Swimsuits and Swimwear For Your Kids
Celebrity Jewelry : Kim Kardashian Wears Dangling Diamond Earrings

Natalie Portman Baby Bump Watch, Her Maternity Clothing Style
Jewelry Trend Alert : Turquoise
Beyonce Shows Us Retro 90's Style
BCBG Max Azria Resort 2012 Collection
AnnaLynne McCord From 90210 Goes From Blonde To Brunette With New Haircolor
2011 Fall Fashion Trends and Latest Clothing Styles.
10 Looks You Can Wear To A Pool Party
2011 Dolce & Gabanna Fall Handbag Collection
Trend Alert : Menswear Inspired Suits and Looks for Ladies
Gucci Resort 2012 Collection

Vanessa Hudgens New Candie's Campaign Ad For Fall 2011- the style mark
2011 Summer Fashion Trends
How To Wear White Dresses Trend

Wedding Hairstyles 2011something borrowed and blue
8 Easy Carefree Summer Hairstyles
Trend Alert : Cameron Diaz Rocks Animal Print Trend
Hervé Léger by Max Azria Resort 2012 Collection
MAC Glamglass Collection
Resort 2012 Collections- fashion and beauty scene
Sneak Peak : Bella's Wedding Dress from Twilight Breaking Dawn
Hair Trend Alert : Turquoise Colored Hair and Hair Streaks
Lady Gaga’s New Turquoise Haircolor and Bob Haircut
MAC Semi-Precious Collection
Celebrities Wearing Colored Jeans Trend
2011 Summer Hair Trend - Celebrities Wearing Side Braids
Celebrity Look of the Week : Evan Rachel Woods New Pixie Haircut
Katy Perry New Red Haircolor
Sneak Peak : Swarovski + Hello Kitty Collection

2011 Fall Hairstyles and Hair Trends
Celebrities in Bikini's
2011 Fall Makeup Trends

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-07-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of NARS blushes? If so, do you own the shade Mata Hari? At Steal My Heart Lovee.com she shares her review.

Kelly from Gouldylox Reviews shares her first ever makeup tutorial. Part drinking game, part smoky eye, it's easy to do and isn't so over the top you can't wear it to work.

Madame B Fatale shows us her bright eye look using some gorgeous colours!

Musicalhouses swatches the Illamasqua Powder Blushers! Do you prefer the bright, bold blush shades, or the easily wearable, pretty-in-pink shades?

At theNotice, Rae reviews a cult-favourite MAC eyeliner - but isn't feeling the love. Find out why this popular product was such a letdown!

Phyrra falls in love with the Too Faced Eye Love palette and tells you where you can find it.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed begins her fall lemmings early with pictures of the Lancôme St-Honoré Fall 2011 Collection - come add to the drool puddle!

Don't forget My Lips But Better's travel must-haves when packing your bag this summer!

Prime Beauty gets in touch with her Inner Flowerchild while falling in love with BECCA's new Mineral Powder Blushes.

Lauren has been going crazy for coral! Check out her latest lipstick additions!

Want a sneak peek at MAC's latest collection, Semi-Precious? Well, Krasey Beauty has pics and swatches, to ooh and ahh over!

Tracy, at Beauty Reflections, discovers an unexpected gem in MAC Prep+Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer and is really glad she decided to try it!

Fleurissante has found a way to the perfect brows with Le Sourcil de Chanel.

Claire swatches OPI Serene Grand Slam Rally Pretty Pink Set over at The Beauty Scoop!

Erin shows you an easy way to create rainbow eyeliner at the Pretty Exclusive.

If you like highlighters, especially at this time of year, Vesna from Beauty addict blog has a few suggestions for you!

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Want glowing, gorgeous skin? Specific Beauty has teamed up with Socialite Dreams to giveaway their full regimen to one lucky reader!

“Once I saw a chimpanzee gaze at a particularly beautiful sunset for a full 15 minutes." ~ Adriaan Kortlandt.

2011-07-03T01:20:00.000-07:00

Dad's Black Button-down - Spanish Moss Vintage Indian Ocean Skirt - Colette Accessories Purse - Shop Calico Sunnies

I'm so sorry about the silence for the last couple of days - as woefully declared on Twitter, my internet has taken a turn for the worse and decided that uploading is absolutely inappropriate for the moment. This single photo probably took about half an hour to get up (apologies for that - I'll share the details from this outfit as soon as possible).

Anyway. I wore this the day I had my hair cut - this skirt thanks to the lovely ladies at Spanish Moss is the most incredible pop of colour I've ever had the pleasure of strolling about in. The pleats from the waistband are the perfect touch of class and it does a fantastic job of cinching any oversized monstrosity of a shirt. So, it was only appropriate to wear the most fantastic of oversized Calico sunnies to match (which conveniently coordinated with the chain on the purse, now that I look at it).

I had the most wonderful weekend catching up with more faces than I'd probably seen all year. So good to spend some time at Surry Hills markets with the lovely Emma and Jess (and thanks to the girls who came up and said hi - hope you guys had an awesome day!), followed by green tea icecream with friends in the city and trotting up to American Apparel to wreak Mexican/vintage/Schmuck havoc with my favourite Life Without Andys.

More on all that as soon as I have technology on my side!

*love*

xx

Winner of my Wet n Wild Giveaway!

2011-07-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

I'd first like to thank all of you for following my blog and thank those of you who are following me via Twitter and Facebook. Your support is everything to me!

I know this was just a little giveaway, but there are a couple more giveaways lined up very soon! I hope you will all enter the giveaways coming up and will continue staying subscribed to me!

The winner was picked using Random.org's List Randomizer and The Random Number Generator.

The winner is D. SADIE!! I'll be contacting you shortly!

Thanks again for entering and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Liz Earle is Officially Going into Makeup!

2011-07-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

How awesome is this - Liz Earle is going into makeup! I've always thought it was a pity that it's a pity the brand doesn't do makeup, but now they are launching a colour range!

Going by the mysterious looking Liz Earle Makeup Page, you can't tell what on earth they're going to launch. But word is that the first product will be the Sheer Skin Tint, and that will be launched in September. We won't know any further details until the actual launch - for example, whether there are multiple colour options for different skintones, or whether there are different formulas for oily and dry skins, but you can sign up on the Liz Earle website to stay tuned.

Tarte for True Blood Collection

2011-07-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Tarte for True Blood Collection. For those of you that love vampires or just the show True Blood, Tarte is giving us a collection of vampire inspired products. The collection is now available at Sephora.com as well as soon coming to Tarte.com and Ulta locations. Items featured in the collection include a a palette, lipstain, and a cheek stain. Look below to see some of the products from the collection.

tarte true blood

The day the sun turned cold.

2011-06-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

EVIL TWIN Distressed Denim Vest - Dotti Sleevless Khaki Shirt - Hilda Mae Pleated Skirt - Therapy Shoes Big Ben Boots - YesStyle.com Braided Tote - Vintage Printed Silk Scarf

I had intended to post these last night but of course my internet has taken a turn for the worse and decided it was no longer my friend. Sometimes it worries me how much I depend on technology.

Anyway - this is essentially what I wore yesterday to visit some beautiful PR friends (more on that later) minus the fantastic denim vest (replaced with a leather jacket because it got too damn cold). What I do enjoy about this vest and the sleeveless shirt together is that they both have a really similar shoulder cut, with the shirt extending slightly further so there's a bit of khaki peeking out the ends. On that note, I was discussing the benefits of khaki-and-burgundy combination with Lee and Yan yesterday, and we have come to the conclusion that one does not, in fact, look like a giant cranberry. Burgundy just happens to solve all problems in life - you should try it some time.

I got this vintage scarf at a friend's garage sale last weekend and it has been attached to me ever since (some creepy middle-aged businessman in the city certainly appreciated it...). The colour are quite something - I definitely need to play with using it as something other than bag embellishment!

P.S. in these dark hours of snail-pace internet, I would love you eternally if you trotted along to visit the Shine By Three facebook page :)

*love*

xx

2011 Fall Makeup Trends

2011-06-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

2011 Fall Makeup Trends. Top makeup trends to follow for fall 2011. With the fall season soon upon us, there are many makeup trends for us to try to wake up our passion for makeup. This season some of the biggest makeup trends include the look of bold liners, retro makeup looks and colored shadow. Look below to see the top trends for us to try.

Colored Eyeshadow ( Bold hues or greens, reds, and oranges were all seen on the runway).

Thick Bold Eyeliner

Retro Makeup ( Red Lips Are A Must )

Bold Lip Hues

Bold Brows

Metalic Hues

Dramatic Lashes

Blue Eyeshadow

Mister Zimi.

2011-06-29T06:24:00.000-07:00

The first time I happened upon Mister Zimi's incredible walk of leather, suede and leather again while visiting the lovely ladies of Bespoke PR, I was, needless to say, very much smitten. There's nothing better in Winter than a solid leather dress, intense lasercut details, and floaty printed silk to balance out some perfect badassery of a custom leather jacket - which is essentially where this collection is coming from.

I particularly love the simplicity of the leather pieces, even with various seams and panels. I don't think it was ever a secret that I obsess over all forms of buttery soft leather and suede that I can pet indefinitely.

Be sure to check out the rest of the collection right HERE! Designer Zoe Paul fills fantastic custom orders too - so for those of us (everyone) who are particularly picky about your perfect leather jacket, this is really your lucky day.

*love*

xx

Black and white.

2011-06-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

MINKPINK Stockholm Syndrome Shirt from Market HQ - Shop Calico Teal Wrap Belt - YesStyle.com Tailored Pants - Therapy Shoes Tower Pumps in Taupe Suede - Vintage Cuff - Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick from YesStyle.com

Sadly, I'm not in a terrible good position with words tonight (post-exam exhaustion has come back and hit me hard in the back of the head), but I thought I'd share what I wore tonight to the launch of NIKKINC - which I'll be telling you more about later. I'm sorry that the overexposure doesn't quite show you the colour of the pants and belt (which are both, by the way, now my favourite combination ever) - and I don't think any camera ever will. But if you can visualise that colour-pop awesome of coral, teal and burgundy, then you're getting close.

Off to get some sweet hours of sleep now!

*love*

xx

China Glaze Lubu Heels + Nails Inc Trafalgar Square = Awesome Bling!

2011-06-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love how cool my nails look right now? I love how this looks - just like red stars in a deep, black sky, or burning embers in a bed of lava. This look was actually two polishes layered together. For the base, I used China Glaze Lubu Heels, a black jelly with small red glitter, one of the classics in their permanent collection. However, it wasn't quite blingy enough for me, so I layered Nails Inc Trafalgar Square over it. Nails Inc Trafalgar Square consists of large chunks or red glitter in a clear base - perfect for layering over Lubu Heels!

I'm always been a fan of both China Glaze and Nails Inc, and both of these were polishes I bought awhile back but never used as often as I liked (although I've previously used Trafalgar Square in another NOTD, one that's really old.)

Both these brands generally work very well on me, and the application for China Glaze and Nails Inc was quite trouble-free for glitter polishes. As always, since the glitter does tend to clump up in some places, you do need to work a little with the brush to try to ensure as even a distribution of glitter as possible. Otherwise, I had no issues with application.

Both China Glaze and Nails Inc wear well on me, so this lasted for around 3-4 days before chipping. That's pretty decent for me, so I have no complaints about lasting power.

I love my nails, and I love the glitter and bling. Although I don't always use glitter polishes, I can't wait to do another manicure like that again!

2011 Fall Hairstyles and Hair Trends

2011-06-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

2011 Fall Hairstyles and Hair Trends. Two of the biggest hair trends for fall 2011 includes the look of braids, and retro styles. These hairstyles were seen countless times by designers on the runway, and we're also seeing them worn by celebrities on the red carpets. Braids can be worn to the sides of one head, or try something unique by adding multiple braids to create your own look this fall.

Retro styles from pinup curls to bouffants and big teased hair are all major trends for fall 2011, and have been seen on celebs such as Sara Jessica Parker and Rihanna just to name a few. For other hair trends you can wear this fall look below to see the top looks.

Off Center Parts

Braids

Sleek Ponytails

Unique Colored Hair or Streaks

Big Teased Hair

Textured Hair

Blunt Bangs

Retro Styles

Feathers/ Hair Accessories

Edgy Haircuts

Shills, Anosa and Beauty Bistro Roadshow with Judy Lin

2011-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Shills and Anosa are both a Taiwanese brands that have skincare, bodycare, and haircare products, but both brands are most famous for its BB creams. The brands, together with local retailer Beauty Bistro, had a roadshow to promote some of their latest products. For those who aren't familiar with the roadshow concept, it's sort of like watching QVC, where they hawk all their products and promote their special deals, only that in Asia, QVC actually comes into your mall, so you get to see them demonstrating their products in person.

The road show featured Judy Lin (Mandarin name Lin Ye Ting 林叶亭), a Taiwanese celebrity fashion and beauty stylist whose TV appearances have garnered her something of a small following. I don't follow Taiwanese TV, so I wasn't aware of who she was, but the event was full of fangirls and people who were just waiting to see her in person. Judy is quite stunning in real life - tall, thin, and tanned, with long curled hair, she looks very gorgeous. I also think she kind of looks like the Asian version of Kandee Johnson, LOL!

Here's Kandee:

Pic from http://blog.beautylish.com

And here's Judy:

Don't they look alike? LOL! Both are such beautiful ladies!

Judy was demonstrating some products, including bodycare (primarily slimming), haircare, and skincare. First off, she started with some Some of the highlights of the session included these really interesting products. One of these was the slimming products, which included a cream and (oddly enough) tape!

The slimming cream, the Shills Miracle Lift Body Contour Control, was billed as a cream that if applied and massaged properly into the skin, would help the user lose weight. Like most other weight-loss creams on the market, this cream produces a heating sensation, and that is attributed to increased blood circulation.

And like most other slimming creams, caffeine is a main ingredient in the cream. As you can see from the above photo, she demonstrated it on a volunteer and it seemed to work on the spot, which is quite impressive. But I'm personally very skeptical of all slimming creams, since I don't believe anything can take the place of proper eating and exercise habits. That, and the fact that the last time I tried a slimming cream, it didn't work for me.

The other intriguing product that caught the attention of the audience was the Anosa Fit Patch. This one is a slimming patch, and it releases caffeine and other ingredients, such as various plant extracts (strawberry and raspberry are in there), and the cocktail of ingredients is supposed to penetrate through your skin and help you slim down. I guess it sort of works like a nicotine patch, but like the Shills Miracle Lift Cream, I'm personally skeptical.

When I took this photo, I was thinking, "Bullseye!"

They even applied the strips on a volunteer during the show, just to show you how the patches should be applied. You're supposed to cut the patch (which is quite large in size) into strips and stick it at problem areas on the body. I have to admit, I'd be tempted to try this, but just sticking on a patch and watching the weight melt away sounds too good to be true, no?

There were also hair products that were sold, and she did the hair of a couple of volunteers - but unfortunately, I couldn't catch a good photo of that. Also other products that were featured were the Shills Whitening and Brightening Cream, which is a moisturizer with whitening properties. It's a white cream with a light texture that is easily absorbed.

Another product Judy was selling was the Shills Foundation base SPF 42++, which is basically a thick cream foundation in a pan compact. It also looks like the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Foundation that was out awhile back in the US and was really popular.

Here's the Covergirl version:

(Image from Covergirl website)

And here's the Shills version. I don't know how clearly you can see it, but Judy's holding it in the photograph. You can see the white swirls are just like Covergirl's Simply Ageless Foundation. And like the Covergirl version, the Shills Foundation Base claims to have ingredients beneficial for the skin in the white swirls too. It would be interesting to see if it's really like the Covergirl one.

I did play with the Shills Foundation Base for a bit on my hand, although I didn't manage to take any photos of the foundation itself. It had this texture that slides around easily, as though the product was formulated with a lot of silicones to give it good "slip". And it did look quite a bit darker in the pot than my own skin tone (NC20) - to me, it looked like it would be around NC25ish. But when I took a little bit of the foundation and really blended it in, it ended up pretty much blending into my skin. So I'd say you really need to blend for this one, and a little goes a long way.

It's a very interesting experience watching such roadshow events - it's like being in the room with the QVC girls when they're engaging the audience with their chitchat. Judy is a very personable and likable character, and absolutely beautiful to boot. I'm glad to have gone for this event, as it was an eye-opener of sorts, featuring some of Taiwan's most popular brands - I certainly didn't know there were such a thing as weight loss pads before being told about them!

Y'all ready for this?

2011-06-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

Living Doll Distressed Knit - None The Richer Blaze Necklace from Market HQ - ASOS Boyfriend Belt - Romwe.com Wide Leg Pants - Lorenzi Heels - Covet Vintage Co. Tan Envelope Clutch

I consumed food with my dear brother this afternoon and he hates my new favourite Romwe pants, so I wore them. This wide leg business is the best solution for being warm in winter - you could be wearing polka dot leg warmers underneath and nobody would ever know. And because your bottom half is warm, there's a bit more room to play in the top half - though, to be fair, the distressed shoulders on this sweater are a bit deceiving. It is a lot warmer than it looks.

More importantly: If you've been keeping tabs on Twitter and Facebook, you will have observed that I was not so excited with the result of my long overdue haircut that happened yesterday afternoon.

This is how it went. I'd explained to the hairdresser how much I wanted off (admittedly I hadn't had my hair cut in a good 6 months and it had gotten to a point where there is only so much Moroccan Oil can do). Said hairdresser proceeded to demonstrate the length (which I was happy with) and cut on one side (which I was also happy with). Then we get to the other side.

Snip snip snip.

"Oh sh*t..."

Wooo gotta love that!

So because one side was messed up, the other half had to come up to make it even.

And that is the story of why the hell Margaret's hair is now oh so short. Looking at it now, it probably isn't so bad - can it be called post-traumatic-chopping-off-half-my-hair disorder? I think so. I think I'll like it in two weeks.

Tip for amazingly chunky necklaces such as this one - half in half out.

*love*

Eniko.

2011-06-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

I can't remember which editorial of Eniko's this was, but it this shot was sitting on my desktop and I hadn't done a sketch since the beginning of semester. SO. This little miss is the product of an hour of realising how much I missed doing this all the time. Definitely more to come during my break!

I have to admit I've always wished I had Eniko's face.

Sorry my awful scan really doesn't do it any justice (you can probably see it a bit better here and here).

Hope you've all had a fantastic weekend - be prepared for a bumper week! Lots of things happening in this space.

P.S. haircut happened today. Reader opinions to follow :) Get slightly excited? I'm not.

*love*

xx

Autorecover.

2011-06-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

All About Eve Sunglasses from SUNBURN - Seafolly Knit Scarf from SUNBURN - YesStyle.com Double Breasted Jacket - Vantage Point Vintage Highwaisted Trousers

So, if you have been stalking on Facebook and Twitter, you will know that my silence isn't because I don't love you - rather that I had exams. Then finished them. Speaks for itself really :) Not going to lie: they weren't my best set of exams by any means, but for now, I'll just enjoy the feeling of them being over.

Save the shoes, this is what I wore to go and visit the girls of Sunburn Swimwear down at Seafolly Australia HQ. Yes I did obsess over sculpted bikinis and one pieces. Yes we did stand in silent lament of the fact that none of us are in Bali... but that's ok. My favourite printed bikinis and onesies are definitely much better motivation for my morning runs than muesli. Photos to come (of swimwear - not muesli).

Anyway - Mother decided to treat me to afternoon tea so I changed into these wonderfully inappropriate heels.

I'm so madly in love with these sunnies (you Sunburn girls read my mind... seriously).

So much to share over the coming days! Get excited.

P.S. as promised: thank you to the lovely ladies (and guy) who came up last night and said hello! So very sweet of you and it was so lovely meeting you all!

P.P.S. pulled a sweet haul of wonderful pieces from a wonderful vintage sale today... definitely excited to share.

*love*

Upcoming Posts!

2011-06-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

REVIEWS
NuMe Couture Tourmaline Flat Iron - I've been using this iron daily for a little under three weeks, so I feel I'm now able to give my full opinion about it.
Reviva Labs Products - I was given the opportunity to try out several products from Reviva Labs, and I can't wait to share my thoughts about each one with you! I will have individual reviews up for Reviva Labs Makeup Primer, Light Skin Peel Exfoliant, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Alpha Lipodic Acid Vitamin C Ester & DMAE Cream, Collagen Fibre Eye Pads w/ Myoxinol and Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads. So far, I've tested everything but the Collagen Pads.
Sigma Make Me Up 12 Brush Kit - I've had these now for a few months and I will give my thoughts about each brush individually as well as the set as a whole.
Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki F80 (for liquid foundation)
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - I picked up a sample today - a very small sample though. Hopefully it will be enough product to adequately review, or at least share my initial thoughts.
Chanel Glossimer in "Mica" - I picked this up today, and will be posting swatches and a review soon.
Fotolia.com - I was given a complimentary trial to Fotolia.com (stock photo website) and I'll be sharing my thoughts about the site as well as giving a few promotional codes to those interested in trying it risk free for themselves.

HAULS

Ulta - Essence Products with reviews & NOTD's to follow (nail polish and lip gloss).
Forever 21 - Mostly Accessories

MISC.
Current Face Routine (Moisturizer, Primer, Concealer, Foundation & Powder)
Top 5 Summer Nail Polishes
How to: Contouring
Overview: Foundation Brushes
Makeup Collection - I'm not sure when this will be up because I'm currently trying to revamp my makeup storage, but it's a highly requested post.

If you have any requests, post in the comments below!

MAC Colourizations Collection ( Nordstrom/The Bay)

2011-06-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

MAC Colourizations Collection ( Nordstrom/The Bay). The MAC Colourizations collection is all about the eyes. The collection introduces a duo palette that features two eyeshadow hues that are perfectly paired together. Along with the duo palette, liners, as well as Zoom lash and brushes will also be included in the collection. You can find this collection July 29th featured as a preview in the Nordstrom/The Bay products, as well as hitting stores in August.

Couples can be seemingly mismatched…but when it works, it’s wonderful! These Duos for Eyes are doubly dramatic, with two shades combined in sophisticatedly unexpected ways…so much so that we call them M·A·C DOUBLE FEATURES. In eight daring pairings, they’re being introduced just as Summer fades away, COLOURIZATIONS Double Feature Shadow Compacts are the quickest, most convenient way to incite the imagination. Technakohl Liner gets the Best Friend role, emphasizing the chemistry between these eight interesting new dualities. Plus, two set ready Brushes. Previews at Nordstrom and The Bay, then all North America August.

Pro Palette Eyeshadow x2 (Pre-filled Duos)

* Double Feature 1 Bright yellow gold (Veluxe Pearl) / Pinked-up chrome purple (Frost)
* Double Feature 2 Bright lime (Veluxe Pearl) / Frosty deep grey (Satin)
* Double Feature 3 Mid-tone teal (Matte) / Deep chocolate (Satin)
* Double Feature 4 Deep forest green (Veluxe Pearl) / Mid-tone ochre brown (Matte)
* Double Feature 5 Pale frosty peach (Frost) / Dark brown with green pearl (Frost)
* Double Feature 6 Light grey taupe (Matte) / Mid-tone bronze (Veluxe Pearl)
* Double Feature 7 Bright fuchsia (Frost) / Cool black (Satin)
* Double Feature 8 Mid-tone orange (Frost) / Deep navy (Satin)

Technakohl Liner

* Graphblack Rich graphic black
* Photogravure Soft black with brown undertone
* Purple Dash Intense aubergine
* Auto-de-blu Amethyst
* Uniform Deep khaki green with gold pearl
* Jade Way Pure emerald green with frost

Zoom Lash

* Zoomblack Rich black

Brushes

* 222 Tapered blending brush
* 275 Medium angled shading brush

mac

Sigma Launches New Eyeshadow Palettes!

2011-06-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dare Eyeshadow Palette

The Sigma Beauty DARE palette includes the perfect mix of vibrant and neutral shades represented by warm and cool tones. This palette contains beautiful yet unexpected hues from neutral corals to deep reds and includes surprisingly wearable yellow and gold tones. DARE allows you to create colorful looks that can be easily accentuated with bright or deep colors. Go from day to night in seconds! Includes Sigma Beauty’s best-selling E20 and E45 in an exclusive dual-ended brush. Contains matte and satin formulations

Bare Eyeshadow Palette

The Sigma Beauty BARE palette is a must for everyday use. Ideal to create classic neutral looks, BARE is perfect for accentuating your best features without too much color distraction. Highlight inner corners, emphasize your crease, brighten your brow bone and enhance your lash line. With BARE’s color selection, you can easily create day and night looks seamlessly and as subtle or as bold as you wish. BARE is perfect for a natural yet improved you! Includes Sigma Beauty’s best-selling E30 and E25 in a unique dual-ended brush. Contains matte and satin formulations.

Flare Eyeshadow Palette

The Sigma Beauty FLARE palette contains a beautiful combination of greens and purples, combined with browns and beiges that are perfect to create fun and colorful looks! This palette includes beautiful iridescent undertones, which offer a must have selection of bright, yet sophisticated hues. FLARE is perfect for those days when you want to highlight your eyes with fun and flirty colors! Includes Sigma Beauty’s best-selling E55 and E40 in a practical dual-ended brush. Contains matte and satin formulations.

Each palette retails for $35 and are all available now on the Sigma website. So, it's a little over $3 for each shadow and brush. What do you think about them? If I had to choose one, I'd choose the Bare Palette, as it's the most suitable for neutral, every-day makeup looks. I wonder what the quality is like?

VIEW SWATCHES HERE!

Two Awesome Liz Earle Offers!

2011-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

For all of those who read my blog on a regular basis, you know I'm a pretty consistent fan of Liz Earle - I've had the fortune to meet Liz Earle and some of her excellent staff in person, and they really embody the passion the brand has for its natural, plant-based products. Although not all the products have worked for me, I retain much respect for the brand's commitment to its principles.

With that, here is some Liz Earle news - pretty exciting for my UK girls! Liz Earle is launching theri new Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial in their London flagship store on 18th July! The treatment is developed by treatments expert Jo Givens, and combines the use of massage with products to target the customer's skin concerns. The coolest thing about this is that each facial is tailored to the individual - which I think is pretty darn awesome. It's 60 minutes and costs £65, and ccan be found on the Liz Earle Treatments Page.

And the other Liz Earle deal - applicable to anyone who would order it online - is a free product! If you buy the Daily Eye Repair and Smoothing Line Serum, you'll get a free Eyebright Soothing Lotion! Details of the deal can be found here, and I've reviewed both the Daily Eye Repair and the Line Smoothing Serum before, so do check out those reviews if you're interested - I'll be reviewing the Eyebright Lotion soon as well, so do keep out a look for that if you're interested as well!

(Info provided for readers' interest. I do not benefit from any of the deals mentioned. I have previously reviewed the brand's products on my blog.)

BeautyUK Baked Eyeshadow in Wave: OMG I'm Wearing Blue Eyeshadow!

2011-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

BeautyUK is a UK-based brand that has been getting lots of raves for its range of colours and cosmetics at an affordable price. I have to admit, the brand has never been on my radar very much, but I've begun to like their products quite a bit.

One of the products I've tried and liked lately is the Baked Eyeshadow. These are domed eyeshadows trios, similar to MAC's MSFs and other baked products, but in eyeshadow form. There are three colours in each eyeshadow pan.

The Wave eyeshadow trio basically consists of three types of blues - a light pastel blue, a medium cobalt blue, and a blackened blue. All of them, being baked eyeshadows have a shimmery, almost frosty finish.

Here are swatches of the eyeshadow. You can see the shimmery, frosty finish, as well as the excellent pigmentation. These are swatched using a finger, on dry skin.

And of course, no review of an eyeshadow trio would be complete without an EOTD (Eye of the Day), right? I used all three colours so you could see the gradiation in colours.

Here's a shot of the EOTD with my eye closed. Hopefully, you can make out all three colours on the eye. All the colours blended easily, and were very pigmented with a base.

I really quite like this trio. It does totally look awesome, doesn't it? With all the blue and the shimmer, and the sheen - it's gorgeous, even if blue isn't typically the colour I'd wear on my eyes.

If you want a cheap, cheery baked eyeshadow, this is definitely worth checking out. It's easily available, it's cheap at just £3.99, and it works.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

MAC Semi-Precious Collection

2011-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

MAC Semi-Precious Collection. For those of you that have been waiting for a mineralize collection, you eyes will amaze you when you see the colors and hues in the new Semi-Precious Collection. I just hope the color-pay off is as good as it looks in the pan. The collection features new skinfinish, blushes and eyeshadows as well as special limited edition brushes that are simply gorgeous. Look below to see what's in the collection which hits stores July 7th.

We can all admire a girl with a 30-carat diamond. But the new dazzle is Semi-Precious. Gems that are rare in spirit, rich in substance and worn fluidly, on the skin. In MAC Semi-Precious, four finely milled gems – bronzite, black tourmaline, gold pyriate, and lilac lepidolite – bring their own earthy an spiritual affluence to three key elements of the mineralize collection: eyeshadows, skinfinish, and blush. Setting them off: a collection of colour, two mineralize skincare formulas, and four new limited-life split fibre brushes. Like everything this precious, these elements start off rare, and tend to get rarer… get rich while you can!

Lipstick

* Gem of Roses Mid-tone strawberry pink (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
* Lush Amber Light nude beige (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
* Musky Amethyst Deep plum (Frost) (Limited Edition)
* One of a Kind Mid-tone rosy neutral (Lustre) (Limited Edition)

Cremesheen Glass

* Geo Pink Strawberry pink (Limited Edition)
* Looks Like Sin Mid-tone reddish plum (Limited Edition)
* Natural Flare Light caramel nude (Limited Edition)
* Pure Magnificence Light grey pink (Limited Edition)
* Richly Revered Deep brown plum (Limited Edition)

Mineralize Blush

* Feeling Flush Melange of pink, deep blue, pink, soft brown (Limited Edition)
* Pressed Amber Melange of nude, beige, brown (Limited Edition)
* Warmth of Coral Melange of coral, peach (Limited Edition)

Mineralize Skinfinish

* Semi-Precious Crystal Pink Pink champagne base with inner circle of pink, mid-tone green, bronze (Limited Edition)
* Semi-Precious Goldstone Brown base with inner circle of rosy pink, white, gold (Limited Edition)
* Semi-Precious Pearl Beige champagne base with inner circle of white, plum, bronze (Limited Edition)
* Semi-Precious Rose Quartz Rosy pink base with inner circleof silver, lime, white-pink copper (Limited Edition)

Mineralize Eyeshadow

* Blue Sheen Melange of navy, black, peach (Limited Edition)
* Clarity Melange of light pink, off white green, gold, and black (Limited Edition)
* Dark Indulgence Melange of forest green and black (Limited Edition)
* Faux Gold Melange of coral, gold, lime, bronze (Limited Edition)
* Golden Glaze Melange of gold and black (Limited Edition)
* Hint of Sapphire Melange of pink, violet, teal, copper, blue (Limited Edition)
* Jade’s Fortunate Melange of bright yellow, blue, lime, black (Limited Edition)
* Mineral Mode Melange of white base with copper and gray (Limited Edition)
* Quartz Fusion Melange of soft pink, silver, deep pink (Limited Edition)
* Rare Find Melange of violet, brown, gold (Limited Edition)
* Smoky Ruby Melange of burgundy and black (Limited Edition)
* Unsurpassable Melange of green, teal, purple, copper (Limited Edition)

Zoom Fast Black Lash

* Deepest Black Deepest black (Permanent)

Brushes (Limited Edition)

* 234 Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush ($22.50 U.S. / $27.00 CDN) (Limited Edition)
* 235 Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush ($30.00 U.S. / $36.50 CDN) (Limited Edition)
* 128 Split Fibre Cheek Brush ($32.00 U.S. / $38.50 CDN) (Limited Edition)
* 179 Angled Split Fibre Buffer Brush ($47.00 U.S. / $56.50 CDN) (Limited Edition)

Mineralize Charged Water

Revitalizing energy – this refreshing hydrating mist rebalances the complexion and instantly replenishes the skin. infused with minerals that are essential in helping skin stay healthy and young looking.

Mineralize Face & Body Lotion

This gentle non-sensitive rich moisturizing lotion can be used on the face and body and is free of fragrance and color.

mac

Polka Dot Mani Fail with Essie Foot Loose

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Edited to add: Get 10% off your Born Pretty Store purchase with coupon code MH10K31 - expires Oct 31, so you can purchase happily til then! (Note: I don't profit in anyway from the code. I'm just sharing it with interested readers.)

After seeing all those awesome cool manicures featuring dotting tools, I decided that despite my lack of hand-eye coordination and general clumsiness, I just HAD to try one out. That, and I wanted to bring on a summer colour on my nails. That's how I ended up with this monster of a manicure. I have to admit, while there wasn't anything wrong with the tools I used, my dotting skillz are teh suckz. Seriously.

I got my dotting tools from Born Pretty Store, which has been popular lately among bloggers and nail polish lovers for its ready availability of cheap and cheery nail art suppliers, including crackle polish, stickers, rhinestones, etc. The dotting tools I got were just under US$5 for a set, and are available here.

These dotting tools are of good quality, and quite handy to use. You get a set of 5 dual-ended dotting tools. All five have two ends.

One end is all the same size, a standard size that would be handy for most designs:

The other end of the tools is more interesting for girls who really want to dot in all sizes. The ends of the tools range from really big to positively tiny, and would definitely satisfiy any dotter's needs.

For the dot manicure below, I used Essie Foot Loose because it was such a lovely summer colour - girly, bright, and still a little spunky. And since it's in the colour family of pinks (in this case bright purply-pink), it's wearable to the office! And unlike other Essies which tend to be sheer and streaky, this is a one-to-two coater, depending on thickness of application.

For the dots, I used the dotting tools and Wet n Wild White. One of the best white konading polishes ever, now used for dotting. FOr the variously sized dots on my nails, I used the large end of the green dotting tool, and the large end of the pink dotting tool. I also, for smaller dots, used the white dotting tool.

I know the dots don't looks as nice as they could be, but that's realy due more to my lousy application than anything else. After all, all dotting tools are the same right? But looking at these photos makes me feel like from far, they aren't THAT bad, right, right? *Crickets chirp*

Anyway, I love the colour of my mani, even if my dotting skills suck. It kind of reminds me of summer - bright, and polka dotted, and just generally cheery!

(Dotting tools were sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

“Most of our modern portrait painters are doomed to absolute oblivion. They never paint what they see. They paint what the public sees, and the public never sees anything.” ~ Oscar Wilde.

2011-06-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

This is a self-portrait I took a while ago for a collaboration (which I will be telling you all about very soon - sneak peek here), but didn't end up being used, so I thought I'd share it here before I get back to singing accounting formulae.

What, who said that?

And just as love and FYI, I'm wearing an AL&ALICIA tee.

*love*

xx

MAC Glamglass Collection

2011-06-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

MAC Glamglass Collection. If you're wondering what we can expect for fall from Mac, glamglass is the first collection which hits stores July 28th. The collection features a new gloss formula that is silky for the lips and leaves them looking luscious for hours, as well as lip pencils to create the perfect kissable lips. Look below for more details.

Sshhh…Lips speak louder than words. You’re invited to experience glamour that’s strictly word-of-mouth. Newly formulated, this super-silky gloss delivers the perfect amount of Knockout colour with its innovative new brush applicator. Encounter a Lasting Sensation of hypnotically intense, pure colour with a vividly alluring shine that leaves lips looking lush for hours. Mesmerizingly minimal, non-sticky texture feels comfortable… featherlight. Eight tantalizing Lip Pencil shade extensions round out a collection that positively whispers Embrace Me.

Glamglass

* Casual Air Frosted pale pink
* It’s a Wow Mid-tone blue-pink (“rose pink”)
* Check This Out Coral with transforming yellow-pink pearl
* Rich & Witty Neutral dirty pinked beige
* Comfort & Joy Mid-tone frosted dirty mauve
* Famously Fab! Purple-lavender, slightly pearled
* Tour de Fabulous Clean/bright yellow pink with pearl
* Knockout Red with pearl
* Style-Packed Bright, vivid fuchsia
* Rich Bounty Deep red-brown with pearl
* Real Posh Deep berry, slightly pearled

Lip Pencil

* What Comes Naturally Pale peachy beige
* Hip ‘n’ Happy Dirty blue pink
* Have to Have It Soft warm beige
* Just Wonderful Dirty mauve
* Entertain Me Clearly orange
* Lasting Sensation Bright coral
* Embrace Me Vivid pinkish fuchsia
* Just My Type Intense warm brown

mac

Winner of Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle and Razor Giveaway

2011-06-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Winner of Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle and Razor Giveaway. Just wanted to take some time and announce the winner of the Schick Quattro giveaway is nicole ( ntash44@yahoo.com). Congrats to Nicole and don't forget to email me your address and information to fashionprincess1228@yahoo.com.

Review: Wet n Wild Color Icon Trios!

2011-06-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Left to Right: Silent Treatment #335, I'm Getting Sunburned #334, Walking on Eggshells #380B.

Wet n Wild is a drugstore cosmetic brand that I've always been really familiar with. The first makeup items I ever owned, at the age of 12, were Wet n Wild. Throughout my adolescence, Wet n Wild was a brand I'd always go because it was convenient (sold at most drugstores) and the prices were always very inexpensive.

Throughout high school, I started to explore other brands and started to neglecting my Wet n Wild makeup. Many of the lipsticks were too frosty and the eye shadows were too sheer. In the past couple of years, Wet n Wild has really improved their quality and selection of products.

Aside from Wet n Wild's awesome Mega Matte Lipsticks, their palettes have been causing quite a "stir" in the online makeup communities. Call me a "Makeup Snob", but I was never really interested in purchasing any of the palettes myself, despite the rave after rave reviews I read. I think a big part of it is the flimsy packaging. I am a bit of a sucker for nicely packaged items, but the main reason Wet n Wild is able to keep their prices so low is because of their basic, mediocre packaging. I always assume that if I purchase a bronzer or eyeshadow, it will end up shattering in my purse and getting all over everything. Well, I put all of that to the side when I saw a 40% sale at my local drugstore and decided to splurge (yes, splurge a whole $5 bill) on a few palettes.

There are 12 different trios to choose from, and I ended up choosing the palettes that I figured are suitable for every day and go well together.

Left to Right: Silent Treatment #335, I'm Getting Sunburned #334, Walking on Eggshells #380B.

Silent Treatment #335 contains a light peach, a dark, neutral brown with golden shimmer and a mauve taupe. The most pigmented shade in this trio is the crease, and the least pigmented shade is the brow bone. All shades go extremely well together and I think it's an overall great palette to put together a quick look.

I'm Getting Sunburned #334 contains a frosted, cool pink, a deep-dark warm brown with copper shimmer (a good dupe for NARS Mekong) and a frosted gold. All three shades are very richly pigmented and is probably the most pigmented of all three palettes. The brown in particular applied very dark - almost black, so you only need the lightest touch of your brush.

Walking on Eggshells #380B contains a frosty off white, warm caramel brown and a champagne pink. Again, all three shades are richly pigmented. This palette is a great palette for subtle every day looks, especially for the daytime and a work environment.

As far as the shadows themselves, they are very soft and smooth. They applied and blended together very easily. When using a sponge applicator or brush, quite a bit of dust was created from the shadows, so the compacts can possibly get a bit messy after continued use. Also, because they are so soft, I'd be scared to death of ever dropping any of the palettes on hard flooring. (Although I read that the Silent Treatment trio passed Temptalia's drop test. Results will vary, I'm sure.)

I'm overall really satisfied with all three palettes and can't wait to share some looks with them! Definitely give one a try if you've been undecided.

Majolica Majorca Jeweling Pencil Eyeliner Swatches

2011-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Majolica Majorca is the offshoot of Shiseido, the Japanese brand famous for skincare, as well as makeup. Majolica Majorca is very popular among Asian girls, with its "Shiseido-for-a-cheaper-price" appeal. That said, I have to admit, Majolica Majorca is one of the better Asian drugstore brands I've seen to date, with their quality of products.

Majolica Majorca has a line of pencil eyeliners, called the Jeweling Pencil Eyeliners. Why they're called Jeweling is a mystery to me, but I guess it's a reference to the sparkles in the pencil eyeliners, since it's definitely not the colours.

L - R: BK999, BK901, BL503, PK204, BR606, Marble 71, Green Jewel GR522, Amber Flakes BR633

BK999 is a soft matte black.
BK901 is a black with sparse silver glitter.
BL503 is a deep colbalt blue with sparse silver glitter.
PK204 is a frosty pale pink. Pink eye anyone? LOL. This would probably be good on the waterline.
BR606 is a warm yellow brown with sparse gold shimmer.
Marble 71 is a frosty gold that isn't that greatly pigmented.
Green Jewel GR522 is a light grass green with gold shimmer. The shimer in GR522 is a bit denser than in the other colours.
Amber Flakes BR633 is a deep brown, less warm than BR606, with gold shimmer. I'm not sure if I'd call it amber flakes, but it's pretty. Again, the glitter in this is denser than the other shades.

I don't know why some of the shades have shade names and some don't, but I guess the ones with the names were part of a later release. These went on with a nice glide, and were decent in pigmentation, althought they didn't stay that long.

Lovers & Collaborators.

2011-06-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

If my ravings and associated love declarations on Twitter are anything to go by, I'd say the comfortably sweet pleats, embellishments, and almost-edible shades of Lovers & Collaborators' SS11/12 are right in my line of swooning. I have to say I find Lovers & Collaborators' more fluid take on pastels and pleats very refreshing, as well as the varying lengths involved in hemlines and sleeves. Looking at these favourites now, I feel like there's something for any occassion in every garment.

Quite the achievement :)

It's probably a good idea for you all to brace yourselves for the Summer 1 collection too - just saw some sneaky peek images and let me tell you now. Make room on your wishlist, christmas list, birthday list.

P.S. Glad you all liked yesterday's ridiculous monster post!

*love*

xx

Beauty Blog Link Love

2011-06-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella tries the Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman brushes and tells you everything about them.

Ever wonder how to airbrush your own makeup photos? Well, now you can - check out theNotice's basic Photoshop tutorial for your exclusive look behind the scenes of a beauty blog!

Now that summer's in the air, Musicalhouses shows you a Summer Eye Look and a Summer Lip Look for cheap!

Need melt proof makeup? Check out the new Summer collections from Tarte. Gouldylox has the swatches and details.

Madame B Fatale shows you how to use a conical wand!

Tired of eyeshadow and blush pots taking up too much space? Try de-potting them using Kajal Couture's de-potting tutorial and place them in palettes.

Phyrra's Independent Spotlight for June is with Belén from Lost in Makeupland!

Addicted to Beauty gets serious tween envy when she spies the Happy Faces hair salon. Who wouldn't want to get their hair done whilst sitting in a pink chevrolet?

Amy Antoinette shares her top tips for dealing with Keratosis Pilaris.

Lovelaughlauren tells us her favourite products from the last few months.

Prime Beauty discovered Burberry's newest lipstick formula, Lip Mists and has some insider info for you!

At Eyelining Obsessions Claire finds her perfect pink bluch while trying some ELF Barginous Blushes.

Rachel McAdams sends Lydia from Perfectly Imperfect running to the NARS counter. Find out why!

The coveted Asylum by Sugarpill is back in stock and in the Christina the Glitterholic's hands!

Looking for an affordable gel eye liner? Be sure to check out this fabulous Gel Eye Liner by Essence at Makeup, Beauty & More.

---

Handmade Reviews is hosting a Sigma Summer Giveaway with over $300 in prizes and winners every month.

Beauty Crazed is giving away 5 Lancome Desert Rose Blushes - they still think they are too pretty to use but maybe you aren't that squeamish so enter to win one!

Short memory lane.

2011-06-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

Between manically figuring out what needs to be committed to some form of knowledge for my last two exams at the end of this week, I started reminiscing about RAFW that is now a good month and a half ago - though it really doesn't seem like that long. So, because I haven't had the chance to share all of my snaps from front row, back row, no row, backstage, streetside, foodside, friendside... I thought I'd bombard you with an absolute monster of a post of photos that have been waiting patiently to have their moment.

Ready?

My media pass sitting happily in Belle Bijoux's sunshiney leather
Miss Susie being smiley
Designer Poppy Lissiman's printed feet
Models keeping it real
Arj's tailored work is just fantastic
With Lesley Crawford from SBS
Lee's amazing shoes (from Milan mind you)
Kirsten, designer of Paper Skye, in action before her show
Gloria Mok's got something good going on in the hand area
Poppy being busy
Zanitaface at work
Yes there was a snake at Guanabana. Yes people did scream.
Green tea ice-cream at Wagaya
Jessie's amazing Love&Luck bag taking a break
Mok Theorem's finale piece backstage
Poppy's work powering down runway
Oh to own this piece of work
Sara is incapable of taking a bad photo
Christopher Esber's something-pleated mastery
ELLERY LAND
Melting shoes at Jamie Lee
'Damn straight I'm your Gary Pepper Girl'
With Yenny in one of a thousand lines
Lorena's incredible ankles-down
Don't get too excited now
Edamame after hours
Pretty Miss Nadia attentive at one of the group shows
Emma being adorable
Printed awesome at Stolen Girlfriend's Club

Did I just put 29 photos in one post? Yes I did. This is probably a good time to say thank you to all the amazing people who made RAFW possible/fun/a whirlwind of an experience for me! Can't wait to dig into a ridiculous number of projects that have arisen because of it. Evidently, I have so much to share once these awful exams are over and done with - see you on the other end, lovers!

Hope you all enjoyed that and that you all had a fantastic weekend.

*love*

xx