Tape Hair Extensions by my Guest Blogger Jo......

Hi Everyone!!

Tonight my gorgeous hairdresser cousin Jo is providing a guest blog on Tape Hair Extensions......

Tape Hair extensions are fast becoming the most popular hair extensions method.

They are so quick and easy to apply and the result is seamless and natural.  They are undectectable as each weft  sits flush to the head.  A tape extension is basically a fine piece of hair attached into a skin weft which has durable double sided tape attached each piece.  Tapes are ideal for adding length, thickness, volume or colour variation such as highlights or lowlights.

Courtney - before.....

Courtney - after.....
Courtney wanted length and volume

The application process takes approximately 30 minutes to apply a full head.  It's amazing - so fast!  Tapes will need to be removed and moved up approximately every 6 - 10 weeks, depending on how quickly your hair grows.  The actual extensions themselves should last for around 10 - 12 months if you look after them with moisturising shampoo and conditioner, a heavy duty treatment and heat protector. 

Nat - before.....

Nat - after.....
Nat wanted length and volume

Extensions are real hair so they can be blow dried, flat iron, curled, etc.  But always remember, this hair has been highly processed so extra care is defintely needed.  Anyone out there who is interested in extensions these are defintely the way to go.

Courtney used a ghd to curl her extensions

Nat used a conical curler to curl her extensions

From my own personal experience I have found the tapes give the most natural result, they blend perfectly and are easy to style!

Thank you so much Jo for providing this post.......

So are you tempted to have some tape extensions put in??? I sure am!! 

x

Three of My Favourite Make Up Prods.....

Hi Everyone!!

This morning I thought I'd share with you three of my "go to" make up products, if I'm in a rush then this is all I'll use on my face and of course they are items I also use when I do a full face too!

1. e.l.f Lip Definer and Shaper.
2. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara.
3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles.

First up, the e.l.f Lip Definer and Shaper.  This is a two-in-one product that has a "Shape" end (lip highlighter) at one end and a "Define" end at the other (a natural lip coloured liner). 

I use the highlighter end on my cupids bow, which instantly makes my top lip look bigger, no injections needed here!

And then I use the natural lip colour all over my lips to give them that "my lips only better" look.

You can purchase this item online from http://www.elfcosmetics.com.au/ for $9.99 in their Studio line. 


Second up, L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, this is hands down my favourite mascara I've ever tried and I always have a back up in my stock cupboard! 

It's an intense black colour and a slightly runny formula  (which I prefer in consistency) with a brush applicator (which I prefer over the plastic type brushes). 

As this mascara is a wet-type formula you do need to wait between applying to your top and bottom lashes to dry before looking up (or down).  When I wear this I can layer it to create a look of false lashes!  This can be purchased at any pharmacy or department store that stocks L'Oreal and retails for around $15.00 (depending on where you purchase).


And lastly, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles.  I've tried LOTS of concealers for dark circles and found this one works brilliantly.  It's also great for covering any redness or blemishes as well!   This is designed to erase puffiness, dark circles and fine lines and I really think it does the job well!

It is a creamy thick consistency which twists out of a sponge like applicator that you can 'draw' or 'dot' straight onto your face and then blend it in with (clean) fingers or a concealer brush. 

With the twist up feature it ensures you use all the product in the container rather than squeezing out the last drops.   I use this in a upside down triangle under my eyes, on the sides of my nose, middle of my nose, forehead and chin.  This gives me enough coverage without having to use a foundation as well.  Then I like to set this concealer with a touch of powder to ensure all day staying power!  This retails for around $15.00 and can be purchased where Maybelline products are sold.

What are your "go to" products when you have to run out the door in a rush??

x

So You Want To Wear A Red Lip? My Faves, Tips and Tricks...

Hi Everyone!

Recently my cousin asked me to find a particular red lipstick shade that she'd seen on a celebrity, I found the colour for her, but it was high end (Tom Ford and $69!!) so I set about finding a dupe for her in a more acceptable price range.  She also wanted to know what other make up to  wear with the red lip so here goes.....

My favourite red lipsticks.....

Left to Right - La Femme Cleo Red, Revlon Lip Butter Candy Apple,
Wet n Wild 520E, Maybelline Royal Red and NYX Femme

Swatched.....

Some other items for a Red Lip...

Gloss - Revlon Stawberry Fraise
Liner - Rimmel Red Dynamite

For a flawless red lip you need to have hydrated lips, so if your lips are at all flaky skip the red lip until the flakes have gone - load your lips up on Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment and use an old toothbrush to scuff off the dead skin.

Line your lips with a red lip liner and fill in your entire lips with the liner, that way you are not left with a dreaded outline when eating or drinking.  Then I blot with a tissue and reapply the lip liner again, follow up with your red lippie of choice (using a lip brush will ensure a neater line and longevity) and then blot, re-apply, blot and re-apply.  If you want that long lasting effect do not top with a gloss. 

Remeber if you are wearing a red lip (or any other brightly coloured lipstick) be prepared to  maintain the colour so your touch up lippie and a compact mirror are essentials in your purse for the rest of the day/night.

Now what other make up should you wear with a red lip?  I tend to keep the rest of my make up neutral especially if I'm wearing it during the day (night time you can amp up the drama in your eyes if you want) but here's a run down of what I last wore with a red lip....

Primer - Benefit The POREfessional
Eye Primer - NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone
Foundation - Rimmel Lasting Finish in Soft Beige
Concealer - Benefit Erase Paste
Powder to set Concealer - Benefit Powderflage
Powder - MAC MSFN Medium
Contour & Highligh - Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light
Bronzer - Revlon Suntan Matte
Blush - Benefit Bella Bamba
Brows - The Body Shop Brow Kit
Eyes - Eyelid color in Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio, Matte Brown in Crease
and Matte Cream on Brow Bone from Wet n Wild Vanity palette
Tightline - Coastal Scents Black Gel Liner  applied with eyeliner pencil
Lips - Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple

Also some other things to think about when wearing a red lip are your own skin colouring, if you have pink undertones in your skin you're going to want to lean towards a red that has orange undertones.  If you have yellow undertones in your skin you're going to want to lean towards a red that has pink undertones.  And if you're lucky (like me!) and you are neutral you can wear both.  However at the moment I'm liking an orange based red!

When wearing a red lip I like to tie in a touch of red from my outfit, be it a scarf, shoes, nailpolish, glasses or in this case my jeans....

Red Jeans from Big W
Taupe Jacket fro m Cotton On
Black 3/4 sleeve shirt from Big W
Scaf from KMart
Tan Belt from Cotton On
Tan Ballet Flats from Big W

So why not lash out and wear a red lip tomorrow!

My Holy Grail Skin Care Product......

Hi Everyone!!


Today I'm going to tell you about my Holy Grail (HG) skin care product.  I've been using this product for 7 months now and all I (well my skin) can say is WOW! 

What is it you ask?  It's a product from The Body Shop's Nutriganics range called Drops of Youth.  Firstly Nutriganics is a high performance certified organic range of products proven to smoothe the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  It was developed to combat the first signs of aging.

The Drops of Youth can be used in combination with a serum, or added to your moisturiser day or night to give a surge of hydration and kick start the cell repair process.  Drops of Youth harnesses the power of plan stem cells harvested from criste-marine (Crithmum maritimum), which grow on the rocky Britanny coastline.

The Drops of Youth comes in a 50 ml jar with a doppler to apply the product, only a very small amount is required (one tiny little squeeze) and mix it with your serum or moisturiser.  I like to use this at night time mixed with a serum and applied all over the face.  I'm only 2/3 of my way through the jar so it does last ages!

Since using this product I've really noticed my skin has been a lot smoother, my hyperpigmentation is not as noticeable and any scarring from blemishes have really diminished.

I cannot rate this product any higher!  10 out of 10!!

Drops of Youth retails at $59.95 and can be bought from The Body Shop directly, online or via your local At  Home Consultant (me!).

Would you like to try this product out?

x

OOTD: How to Rock Pink Jeans.....

Hi Everyone!!

Today's Outfit of the Day is Pink Jeans!  I love my pink jeans from Roxy (via eBay) they are low waisted and skinny fit with sandblasting in places to give them that lived in look.

I decided to pair my pink jeans with a white t-shirt, navy blue cardy, tan belt and shoes and a colourful scarf. I used the belt to cinch in the waist of the cardy and love the look it created!

Where I sourced my outfit:

Pink Jeans: Roxy (via eBay)

White Shirt: Big W

Navy Cardy: Cotton On (last season)

Tan Belt: Cotton On

Tan Ballet Flats: Big W

Coloured Scarf: Cosmetics Plus

My jewellery is an eclectic mix of bracelets from Target and Diva.....

I also used the blush and navy tones from the scarf to tie in with my pink jeans and navy cardy...

My make up was simple again today with a light pink eyeshadow with thick brown eyeliner on my top lashline, tightline and waterline.  I paired a light pink cheek with a soft candy pink lip (thanks to my Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart!)  I used the natural wave in my hair to pin my hair to into a side pony...

Are you going to buy some pink jeans now??

x

NYX For Your Eyes Only Smokey Eyes Palette AND Sleek iDivine Storm Palette - Swatches & Review

Hi Everyone!!

So tonight I thought I'd do some swatches and a mini review on two eyeshadow palettes I picked up last month.  The palettes are the NYX For Your Eyes Only Smokey Eyes Palette and the Sleek iDivine Storm Palette.  Both palettes were purchased from the on-line store Crush Cosmetics  (www.crushcosmetics.com.au) for $14.95 (NYX) and $19.95 (Sleek).

I'll start out with the NYX For Your Eyes Only Smokey Eyes Palette.  The palette contains 10  eyeyshadows and they are all very creamy, buttery and extremely blendable, plus you don't need much to obtain an opaque and pigmented colour payoff.  They are all shimmer, frost or satin finish and there are no matte colours.  As the name suggests all the colours are designed to give you that sought after classic "smokey eye"  with the colours ranging from light grey to black with the obligatory cream and white to highlight.

Now for some swatches (top row):

Left to Right: Cream, Taupe, Mid Brown, Black, Light Charcoal.

Swatches of the Bottom Row:

Left to Right: Mid Charcoal, Dark Charcoal, Silvery Taupe, Silver and Frosty White.

Now for the Sleek iDivine Storm Palette.  The palette features 12 eyeshadows of frost, shimmer, satin or matte finish.  It's always nice to have a couple of matte colours thrown into a palette.  You can defintely create a nice smokey eye look with this palette and with the additional colours outside of the classic smokey eye you can really create something exciting!  Once again I found the eyeshadows to be lovely and creamy in texture and extremely good colour payoff and easy blendability.

Swatch Time!
Top Row:

Left to Right: Bronze, Cream, Taupe (matte)*, Gold, Light Pink, Plum.

* this colour is amazing it matches my skin colour to a tee!

Left to Right - Chocolate Brown, Storm Grey, Dark Green,

Navy Blue, Mid Brown (matte), Black (matte). 

Here's an easy daytime look with a pop of colour I created using the Sleek Palette:

Lid: Gold (top row fourth shadow)

Crease & Outer Corner: Bronze (top row first shadow)

Transition on the Crease: Taupe (top row third shadow)

Highlight/Brow Bone: Cream (top row second shadow)

Lower Lashline: Navy Blue (bottom row fourth shadow) 

So if I had a choice between both palettes I would choose the Sleek Storm Palette as it has a diverse range of colours to create a number of different looks as well as having matte browns and a black to create texture in your look.  You could also use the gold, pink and plum shades as highlighers and blush.  The palette is certainly small enough to fit in your purse with a lipstick (not to mention the big mirror) for easy touch ups!

However, if you love a classic Smokey Eye and feel you would be overwhelmed by the colours in the Sleek Storm Palette then I think this would be a good starting point for you!

Are you going to pick up these palettes?

x

Outfit of the Day - Leggings and Zebras!?!?

Good Morning!  The weather in Australia has had a sudden snap to freezing cold, while it doesn't snow in Queensland, there was ice on the car windscreen this morning, frost on the grass and it was a chilly 2 degrees out - so it was defintely time to break out some much needed warmer layers!

I decided to go back to basics and pair basic black and white with my olive green miliary jacket and a pink scarf with a zebra pattern!  Very Safari!!

What I'm wearing:

Zebra Print Scarf from Cosmetics Plus

Green Military Jacket from Supre

Long Length White Singlet from Cotton On

Pirate-esque Black Shirt from Cotton On (worn under jacket)

Black (thick) Leggings from Big W

White Knee High Socks from Big W

Black Knee High Flat Riding Boots from Target



The minute I saw this scarf I had to have it - I love the dusky pink colour and the zebras  add a fun twist.....

Jewellery - wedding rings and Mossimo Watch

I'm loving wearing my knee high socks peeking out over the top of my knee high boots....

My make up was simple today - as usual I emphasised my eyes and did the "Olivia Palmero" look - creamy neutral base eye colour, medium matte brown blended in the crease and black shadow used as a liner on the top lashline.  Other products used: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Foundation, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer, The Body Shop Brow Set, Physicians Formula Happy Booster Beige Powder, Milani Baked Blush in Terra Sole and Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait.

Oh and my other star item - some square zebra print earrings - from Diva!

So who else is feeling like going on safari???

x