Makeup travel essentials!!

I recently have had to stay away from home for a couple of nights and only had 5 minutes to pack my makeup. So I thought what a great idea to write a post about it as I only had time to grab the items that I always use. It's a little MAC heavy but they are the products that best match my skin and work for my complexion at the moment. I'm finding it soooo hard to get a foundation to match my skin!!

 

Firstly, my base I use my MAC Prep+Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact SPF 30, in the shade medium, I use my Real techniques Stippling brush to apply. Using a Real techniques deluxe crease brush I blend my MAC Mineralize Concealer NW20. To set,  I use a real Techniques setting brush. MAC Mineralise SkinFinish Natural Medium Plus. My blush that I keep reaching for is my Stila Convertible Color in Petunia, which is a gorgeous hot pink that doubles up as a blush and lip colour. I use a Real Techniques Contour Brush and apply the blush  to the apples of my cheeks and blend.

My eyes I take a MAC quad with me, and chose 4 of my eyeshadows depending on what I have planned. This weekend was just a nice quiet one, no going out. So I reached for my neutrals, MAC Mulch, Naked Lunch,  Satin Taupe and Wedge. I also took my MAC Paintpot in Groundwork, in case I felt the need of a base colour. I only took one eyeshadow brush with me, which was a Sigma E40 Tapered Blending. This brush is an all time favourite of mine, and is the best to blend out any uneven edges.

I only took my Maybelline Eyestudio Gel eyeliner, Blackest Black with me and a Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush to apply it. Its amazing! You get shock an even and perfect winged liner when using this brush. My eyeliner that I took was a bronze one just to mix things up, my favourite at the moment is the Australis 10h wear, Bombastic Bronze. Gorgeous and totally affordable. My mascara that I took with me, was the Benefit they’re Real travel sized mascara. It’s a great lengthening and separating mascara.

I cannot forget my trusty eyebrow pencil By Terry, 2 Ash Brown. 

I either would use the Stila Convertible Color, Petunia or my Napoloen Perdis Devine Lipstick in Electra. I have had to take mine from the lipstick and but it into a tub as it broke after a couple of uses, so disappointing!!

My makeup remover that I’m LOVING at the moment is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, All-in-1. This stuff is amazing, and so reasonably priced for the size of the bottle. I can’t see myself running out of this anytime soon!

 What are your must-have items that you have to take with you when you travel? Are any of them the same as mine?

M xx

Skin the Ultra-update

I was reading over my post from May 2013, and I can be pleased to report back that I have maintained my skin routine. Yay! 

Nowadays I use Ultraceuticals products because they are just so nice, they are a bit pricey, but my mum always says, "pay for it while your young so when you get older, your not trying to fix up any damage/concerns that could have already been addressed/minimised".

Wise words mother, I do say. Anyway my skin care routine started off with Dermalogic, now I'm not saying anything negative about the brand itself, but the products just didn't work for me. I was given the sensitive range, the light purple one and man, did my skin deteriorate. I ended up with acne, I have a) never had acne in my life and b) as soon as I ran out of the cleanser I stopped using it (and about 6 weeks once all the damage was fixed) it went away... Hmm so I put 2 and 2 together and can up with do not use this product again!! 

I used Proactiv for a month before trying a new product to clean up the pimples/acne/complete disaster that was apparent on my face. I was shopping with my mum and she was restocking some of her Ultraceuticals products. I was telling her about the issues that I had with my skin, and she had also witnessed it. And then I came up with the genius idea to try some of the Ultraceuticals products. The kind lady behind the counter gave me a couple of samples to try before I purchased anything and within a week I was a changed woman. 

I returned the following week and purchased the Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum (Mild) this stuff is amazing, I don't use pimple cream anymore this works as it helps me maintain my skin, fights any breakouts/spots and brightens. I'm in love with it, I started off using this every second night as it's something that your skin needs to adjust with. Now depending on my skin, I either use this every night to every second night, and my skin is the best it has been.

The Ultra Moisturiser Cream another purchase I made the on my first visit. I use this as a night cream as it's light but still moistursers and nourishes my skin. I put this on after my serums.

The following week I purchased the Ultra A Skin Perfecting Serum, this is nice but I'm not sure whether it correctly matches my needs, anyway it's nourishing and my forehead lines and dehydration have significantly decreased and are virtually not there. Score!

I also purchased the Ultra Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF +30 and use it daily under my makeup. Ultraceuticals recommend using an SPF of a day when you use their products. I should mention that the you are only supposed to use the serums of a night time, not during the day when your skin is exposed to the sun. 

The Ultra Balancing Mist is a product I won in a competition on Primped.com.au. Thanks Primped! The only downside to this one is you have to stretch your arm out as far as you can go as the spray goes a bit funny. The product itself is pretty nice however.

I also am using the Dermalogic Total Eye Care eye cream, only because it was really expensive and I want to use it all up. It's not bad, the tube lasts forever!

What are your must have products or brands in your skin care routine?

M x

Who cares, Hair cares! My current hair care routine.

So the blue moon must be around as I'm blogging again.. Something that happens very rarely!

Today I thought I would take you through my hair care range and the products that I'm currently using. I change my hair colour so often that it is vital that I use good quality products that are going to nourish and repair my hair from any damage that I may have caused from bleaching to everyday hair tools. At the moment I'm transitioning back to blonde, after my 3 month stint being brunette. 

I'll start off with my shampoo and conditioner, currently I use the L'oreal Professional Absolut Repair Celluar shampoo and the Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo. I shampoo my hair twice, first with the L'oreal and then with the Fudge which I leave in for a couple of minutes to work its magic. The Fudge shampoo is totally magic btw and an absolute must have if you have blonde hair and are trying to keep away the brassy tones that so often happen with blondes.

Then I use my treatment - I'm a little naughty at the moment as I'm trying to get my hair in its best possible shape for my next session of foils - L'oreal Absolut Repair Celluar Rinse Out as my conditioner. I vary the time I leave it in my hair sometimes I use it as a treatment, other times I just leave it in for a couple of minutes like a conditioner. Whatever the timeframe I just love the smooth, silky results I get when I use it. This is another Absolute winner!

Oh and just as an FYI I only ever use the tangle teaser to brush my hair, no brushes go near this head otherwise is I'll turn into a frizzy fluff ball... Not cool. Anyway after a shower I use the L'oreal Absolut Repair leave in conditioner, this stuff lasts forever and is such a great product for my hair, I find it helps it detangle and help fight the frizz. It also helps me prevent the dreaded split ends! 

I also use the Kerastase Oleo-Relax serum, for dry and rebellious hair. This stuff is lovely, and a little bit goes a long way! I only use this on my ends and mid lengths as if could make your hair look greasy if it's too close to the roots. I only use this product when I want to wear straighten my hair of let my hair dry natural then straighten.

My most recent purchase for my hair is the Redken Curvaceous full swirl, it's a cream serum for loose waves to spiral curls. So it covers the curl spectrum. The great part about this product is it combines the a cream with a serum, reducing the amount of product you have to put into your hair. Surprisingly it is a lightweight product that doesn't grease up my hair or way it down when I'm wearing my hair curly, my hair is naturally wavy so when I like to enhance the natural look this is my go to product at the moment. Obviously when I use this product I don't use the Kerastase as I feel like it would be serum overload!!!!!

Finally, on the rare occasions that blow dry my hair I use the Cedel Blow Dry Faster Heat protector, as I'm lazy and have no time to spend blow drying my hair. But really who actually enjoys blow drying their hair?? I find it such a mundane task so anything to speed up the process is a winner for me.

Then when I am using heat on my hair or I forget to use the Cedel I use the Davines Mellow Thermal Protecting Shield with Rosemary Extract for long or damaged hair - yup, that's me! But in seriousness this stuff smells AMAZING! It's also natural so it doesn't have any sulfates or parabens. I think it's often good if we chose natural products, as there are a lot of nasties added into products these days. Anyway that's a topic for another day.

I'd love to hear if you use any of these products and what you think of them? Also love to hear your hair care routines.

Til next time

M x

 

Five makeup products can't live without

Every one has their favourite beauty products that they cannot live without, and when they don't have them or use them, your makeup just is not the same. Its like playing a sporting game without your lucky socks or knickers or whatever your good luck charm is. I thought I would take the time to pick 5 of my favourite products that I have to use every day.

Firstly I love Mac Strobe cream, I mix it with a bit of my foundation and my makeup just glows.

At the moment the foundation I'm loving currently is Nars Sheer Glow in Fiji, I am struggling to find a better foundation.

I can't go without a bronzer, because a bit of bronze can really pick up a look! My favourite is Nars Laguna.

Another MAC product is my eyeshadow that when in doubt I always pick up, All that glitters is such a gorgeous colour.

And my fifth favourite product is my Mary Kay Lash Love mascara, this mascara is amazing and soooo cheap!! If you have the chance to try it, you really should.

This is just a quick overview of my favourite makeup products at the moment that I am reaching for every morning. 

What are your top 5 products?

Have you tried any of the above products? What do you think about them?

M

xx

2013 - the year of the new me!

Its that time again when we have celebrated Christmas, ate a little too much, drank a bit too much, celebrated new years and solomely promise that this year you will stick with your new years resolutions.

I have decided that 2013 is the year for me, the year I will FINALLY get fit, eat healthy, to make myself feel better and more youthful. I have spent so long being sick and having no energy - this year it is going to change. This year I am going to be the best verison I can be.

I also really want to follow my interest and passion of writing about beauty products and following my interest of beauty, hair, makeup, skincare and maybe even a bit about my new exercise and healthy eating routine.

I have purchased a number of new beauty products over the summer of 2012/2013 (I never know which year to put as it is kinda a combination of the two!) and look forward to testing them out and sharing my views and thoughts about them!

Happy new year to all of you, I hope that it is everything you hope for!

What do you plan to achieve in the year 2013?

M x

The key to flawless skin - a little bit of nourishment!

Post from May 2013, edited 20th October 2013.

I have always been quite lazy with my skin routine. Being blessed with nice skin and reasonably unproblematic skin hasn't made me focus on looking after my skin. 

Until now, I have started to get older and have realised the importance of what a decent skin care routine can have on your skin not just now, but the impact it can have in the future. I don't want wrinkles, fine lines etc to weigh me down when I get older. I want my skin to look amazing and take years off my age!

I had a go at implementing a skin care routine a number of times before but never succeeded. I found the more I cleaned/moisturised my skin the more I'd break out and it would irritate me so I would stop. I figured if it ain't broke why fix it.

Until this year, I was turning 24 and started to notice some fine lines developing, my skin started to look dehydrated due to the air conditioning where I worked.  I was horrified! I was only 23, and it made me think I better start something now otherwise my skin is going to look horrible by the time I'm 35. 

I did some research and found a routine that works for me. My morning routine is extremely simple, I clean my skin every morning with a face wipe and then a light moisturiser over the top to prep my skin. I find by cleaning my skin with face wipe, it removes any unwanted products that I put on my skin the night before and leaves my skin feeling clean, fresh and ready for the day.

My night routine is a little more involved, but not overly so I actually stick with it. I clean my skin firstly with a cleanser, I haven't picked once that I can't live without so I just use whatever is on rotation in the shower. At the moment its a Neutrogena one but before that it was Cetaphil. Then I cleanse it again with my Clarisonic. I find by cleaning it quickly before using my clarasonic I remove any makeup and let the Clarisonic really get down and do its magic.

I follow this with rose hip oil, oh it's magical stuff. I let it skin in a little then follow it up with a nice heavy moisturising night cream.  Currently I'm loving Trilogy Rosehip Oil + Antioxidant because its cheap and makes my skin glow! (Thanks Zoe Foster!!)

Another product I think it's like gold in a bottle, is medik8 retinol serum. It's a game changer for my skin when it gets dehydrated or needs a super boost. It is A-MAZING!!!! 

Since embarking on this new skin routine, my skin has never looked as good, felt as good or been in such a great condition. As a result of this my makeup even has looked better as it has had a lovely smooth canvas to be applied to. It has made me believe that to achieve a flawless base you need to start from the base and work up. 

A good skin care routine is essential! 

What are your tips?

Do you have any products your skin can't live without?

I'd love to know!!

Until next time,  M xx