30 Days of Beauty – Part 1

Hey my lovelies,

As most of you may or may not know I completed a self-imposed 30 Day Makeup Challenge last year so I decided it was high time I did another one. After much thought I decided to make one not based solely on makeup looks but about beauty in general as well. I dont know if any of you have partaken in a 30 day beauty/makeup challenge but I actually find them to be tricky… especially seeing as I work in an office for the majorty of my day I have to somehow make it “work appropriate”. Anyway without any further delay please find the whole 30 Days of Beauty Challenge by yours truely…

~ THE CHALLENGE ~ 

~ DAY 1 ~

…No makeup, makeup…

This is would have to be my go to makeup look. This is the look I usually wear on weekends if I have nothing really that special on but I might be out to lunch with a friend or just running errands 🙂 Its super easy, fresh and light on the skin. Products used are as follows:

• Embryolisse Lait Creme
• Tony Moly Egg Pore Silky Smooth Balm
• Garnier BB Cream Oil Free
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Peach
• Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
• Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder
• The Balm Hot Mama Blush
• MAC’s MSF in Soft and Gentle
• Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara

~ DAY 2 ~

…Lip Cocktail…

If you’re coming into winter, or maybe you’re like me & are just prone to dry lips you find yourself always reaching for your pawpaw or chapstick… well here is my cocktail for, dare I say it – more kissable lips?
1. Firstly you will need to start with a lip scrub (anyone will do) – the one I am using here is my Santas Lip Scrub by Lush (limited edition for Xmas but they have other delicious flavours such as bubblegum). Take a tiny bit & place on your lips & scrub scrub scub. The best part about this scrub is it’s made up of all natural ingredients & you can just lick it off when you’re done – yup thats right ladies/gents it’s edible :O – and delicious 🙂
2. Once you’ve scrubbed your top & bottom lip apply some moisturizing lip balm (again any one will do) – I like to use Lucas Papaw Ointment (it’s da bom). Apply a generous layer & let it sink in so your lips are fully moisturized
3. After the balm has sunk in, apply your chosen lipstick – here I am using Rouge Allure in number 88 by Chanel.      4.  To finish it off I’ve applied a nude lip gloss by Bobbi Brown in the colour Buff 4 over the top.

So there you have it, fresh and ready to do some kissin’ haha!

~ DAY 3 ~

… Victoria’s Secret Bombshell…

By no means do I even compare to the Victoria’s Secret beauties – but I thought I would attempt to give their stunning effortless makeup look a go. They are always so glowy and fresh – with an oh so subtle slight smoked out eye… Products are below:

• Shadow Insurance by Too Faced Cosmetics
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pots and Pans
• Soft Brown, Espresso, Grain & Nylon eyeshadow by MAC Cosmetics
• Derailed from the Vice 2 Pallete from Urban Decay
• Hush Cream Colour Base by MAC Cosmetics
• Chromagraphic Pencil in Black Black by MAC Cosmetics
• Le Volume De Chanel Mascara by Chanel
• No. 2 lashes by Lashes in a Box

~ DAY 4 ~

…Evening Look…

This is just a fun look that I actually normally would wear out at night – or even for something bold during the day. It features one of my most FAVOURITE brands – Makeup Geek and their pigment Utopia. I actually posted a little video on my instagram of how I did this look if you want to go check it out 🙂 A List of products used is below:

• Shadow Insurance by Too Faced Cosmetics
• Preppy, Creme Brulee, Cocoa Bear & Corrupt all by Makeup Geek
• Utopia Pigment by Makeup Geek
• Schwing Liquid Liner by The Balm
• Le Volume De Chanel Mascara by Chanel

~ DAY 5 ~

…Lashes…

I firmly believe that, like a great pair of shoes complete an outfit – lashes do the same for your makeup. I love them all – from the subtle to the not so subtle… They can really help open up the eye and add a dramatic flair. The pair I am wearing in the picture below are one of my favourite dramatic lashes by Velour Lashes in the style “Doll Me Up”

~ DAY 6 ~

… Favourite Body Products (top 5)…

Here are my top 5, can’t live without, body products… Clockwise from L-R:

• Kerastase Réflection Masque Chroma Captive – this conditioner is AMAAAAAZING. I use this on mainly the ends of my hair as they’re dyed so need a little extra love – I leave it in for approx. 5mins & wash it out – result: super soft hair!!
• Clarisonic Mia 2 – this is my true skin savior… I’ll admit I bought this on a bit of a whim – but I have not looked back. It helps ensure my face is 100% clean, improved the overall elasticity of my skin & the way it absorbes moisturiser
• Clinique Skin Sparkle Exfoliant – this is the best I’ve ever used. It does an amazing job of helping leave my skin smooth like a babies bottom but it also contains salicylic acid & menthol which help leave the skin feeling smooth & refreshed not tight & dry like a lot of exfoliants do
• Michael Todd True Organics – Tropical Fruit exfoliant – I use this is on my face & I love that it’s made out of all natural ingredients is perfect for my sensitive skin 
• Kerastase Bain Elixir Ultime shampoo – I love how this leaves my hair soft but not flat plus it smells divine!

~ DAY 7 ~

…Eyebrows…

I have pretty full brows as it is – but in my opinion that’s even more of a reason to maintain them. In order to get the shape I want I get them threaded at the brow spa in David Jones (Elizabeth Street Store) then taking my Brow Powder Duo in Medium by Sigma and my no.12 large synthetic duo brush Anastasia Beverly Hills I concentrate on filling in the beginning and the end of my brow  then taking my Clear Brow Gel by Anastasia Beverly Hills I set it all in place. I usually only do this if I’m going out at night and want a more dramatic look.

~ DAY8 ~

…Drugstore Makeup Look…

This look is for those of you who are might just be beginning with makeup, or are on a budget or just don’t want to spend a lot on cosmetics… all products purchased from Priceline:

• Base Magique & Lumi Magique Pure Light both by Loreal 
• Match Perfection Foundation, Transparent Loose Powder & Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze all by Rimmel
• Fit Me Concealer by Maybelline
• Blush in Pom Pom Rose & Rose Frisson both by Bourjois
• Mega Plush Mascara & Colossal Volum’ Mascara both by Maybelline

~ DAY 9 ~

 …Fave Makeup Products…

These are a few of my all time favourite products that I find myself reaching for time and time again – and each time I use them I remember why I fell I love with them…

1. Strobe Cream by MAC Cosmetics- this is hands down the best illuminating cream I’ve used so far. It smells great and really helps my skin glow 

2. Radiance Gel Bronzer by Chantecaille – as I’ve got dry skin I prefer this to using powders as it blends super easy & helps give my skin a more natural sun kissed glow. 

3.  Glam Eyes Liquid Liner by Rimmel – this in my opinion the easiest liquid liner to use, super pigmented and it’s affordable!

4. Sheer Glow Foundation by NARS – this is a gorgeous full coverage foundation but still helps give a natural finish. A little goes a long way.

5. My own personalised neutrals palette of Makeup Geek eyeshadows. These shadows are seriously amazing – high quality, super pigmented and completely affordable!

6. Melon Pigment by MAC Cosmetics – this is my go to colour for summer – it’s stunning and pairs beautifully with reddish brown shadows – really makes green eyes pop!

7. Naked Pigment by MAC Cometics – this is beautiful natural pigment that you could even use as a highlight on your cheekbones

~ DAY 10 ~

…Bridal…

Here is a shot of my gorgeous friend Alex, I did the makeup for her wedding – she wanted very sheer, minimal makeup. I was lucky in that she had taken my advice from the trial we did & really worked on rehydrating her skin & looking after it. As you can see the end result was flawless. Products are as follows:

• Lait-Crème Concentrè by Embryolisse
• Face and Body Foundation by MAC Cosmetics
• On the lids is All That Glitters & Haux in the crease both by MAC Cosmetics
• On the cheeks I mixed two shades from my 10 colour Professional Blush Palette from BH Cosmetics
• Highlighted the cheekbones and centre if the face using Mary-Lou Manizer by The Balm
• On the lips a simple colour using Butter Gloss in colour Crème Brûlée by NYX Cosmetcs 
• I didn’t apply lashes or mascara to Alex as she’d had lash extensions so they were gorgeous thick and didn’t need anything 🙂 all brushes used were by Sigma 

Alex’s Photographs were taken by Lovelight Photography

Stay tuned for Part 2 later in the week…

Till next time xoxo

Beauty is Skin Deep

Today I want to talk about skin care – about 3 years ago I had what I’d like to call a complete “Skin Makeover”. It all started with the realisation that even with my applying makeup I just not loving how my face looked. I felt like a Monet painting – great from far away but if you got up close I was a big ol mess. So, where does one begin a Skin Makeover? Firstly you need to know what TYPE of skin you have – is it Normal? Dry? Oily? Sensitive? Combination? Not sure? then read on 🙂

~ NORMAL ~ If you have the normal type, your skin has an even tone, a soft smooth texture, no visible pores or blemishes, and no greasy patches or flaky areas. Your skin also has a clear, fine-textured, supple and smooth surface which is neither greasy nor dry. It appears to glow, which stems from good blood circulation and excellent health – basically you are the envy of most women…

~ DRY ~ Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels “tight” and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. In extreme cases of dry dehydrated skin there can be chapping and cracking. Dryness can be exacerbated by wind, extremes of temperature and air-conditioning, all of which can cause the skin to flake, chap and feel tight.

~ OILY ~ Because of the hormonal shifts of adolescence, oily skin is common in teenagers, but in fact it can occur at any age. In general, as we get older our skin tends to become dryer with age. The flow of sebum or oil increases during adolescence and starts decreasing with age. During pregnancy and menopause, hormonal imbalances can upset the oil balance and increase the activity of sebaceous glands. A good thing about oily skin is that it is not prone much to aging or wrinkling.

~ SENSITIVE ~ Sensitive, intolerant skin reacts more than normal skin, in fact it is hyperreactive. It experiences prickling, overheating, can break out into spots, can develop redness/irritation, blotchy areas, broken capillaries, pins and needles and itching (less frequently). Sometimes these reactions can be atributed to weather changes, alcohol, food, stress, or an alergic reaction to a particular ingredient. If this sounds like you, I would strongly advise going to a qualified beauticial or dermatolgist and getting an exact dignosis of your skin so you start to use the right products for your skin.

~ COMBINATION ~ Combination skin is a blend of both oily and dry skin. This is the most common type of skin and has an imbalanced pH. The pH of normal skin is between 5.5-6.0. People with this skin type usually find that their oily skin is concentrated in the T-zone, while their cheeks remain dry. Combination skin can be influenced by genetics and, (like oily skin), by puberty, when oil glands increase their production of sebum. Sometimes a variety of products are needed to treat combination skin. So if you are unsure I would highly reccomend a qualified beautician or dermatologist.

~ DEVELOPING A ROUTINE ~ I want to take this opportunity to say that while I am no expert in skin care I have done a lot of research into my own skin type, experimented with different products and consulted professionals. Once you know your skin type you can really get to work on treating it and caring for it. For me, it took me a couple of years of trying and failing to finally develop a routine that works for me and my skin. If you are interested in what my routine entails please read on 🙂 My skin type is Dry and for years I had been using products that were not catering to my skins need for moisture leaving me with with flat, dry, dull looking skin. I learned that for me the key was in ensuring my skin was clean and rehydrated every evening (as this is when your body does most of its repair work). ~ STEP 1 ~ Every evening when i come home (even after a big night out) I take a makeup wipe and remove all my makeup. I know a lot of people say you shouldn’t use these but you now what I say… Hell yes you can use them! I know I’m no professional but if you have a decent cleansing, toning & moisturizing routine, I figure you’ll be alright 🙂

~ STEP 2 ~ I get in the shower and use a face scrub – my chosen favourite is Tropical Fruit Facial Polish by Michaell Todd. I take about a 20 cent piece size and apply this all over my face – concentrating the light scrubbing around my jawline, chin, forehead and nose. Then rinse off.

~ STEP 3 ~ Using my Chanel Cleanser I take about a 10 cent sized piece and apply this all over my face and neck – then taking my Clarisonic Mia 2  I go over my whole face ensuring that every last scrap of makeup is washed off and my skin is left clean.  The beauty about the Mia 2 is that  you can follow T-Timer prompts while gently moving the brush head in small circular motions. I usually allow 15 seconds on the forehead and temples, 15 seconds on my nose and chin, 10 seconds per cheek and 10 seconds on my jawline and neck. Then I rinse my brush head and face.

~ STEP 4 ~ After cleansing my face and I am out of the shower, I like to use a gentle toner – the one I use is Chanel – I love this one as its extremely gentle on my skin and Im not going to lie, it smells amazing! So after I’ve used my toner I rinse my face with some luke warm water.

~ STEP 5 ~ After cleansing and toning my skin I apply my moisturiser – again mine is by Chanel, called Hydra Beauty Gel Creme, and I apply a generous amount all over my face (avoiding my eyes) and down into my neck.

I note that while I have mentioned some high end products in this post, in no way does that mean means am I suggesting you have to use only those products, or that those products are the only ones that get results. You can get the same results from a drugstore item, these are simply the products I am using at this current time and that work for me. So, there you have it… that is my skin care routine…

I hope it helps in some way and gives you some clarity about skin types and the importance of learning about your skin type Till next time xoxo