Monthly Archives: November 2011

Easy-Peasy Eyes with Revlon CustomEyes

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I’m a major eye makeup addict. I love eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara. In fact, I’m rarely seen without it. I know how to use eyeshadow fairly well, but some of the super complex looks and multiple colour combinations stump me. Don’t get me wrong, I know how to do an acceptable smoky eye. But it usually consists of two colours, three max. So when I discovered Revlon CustomEyes (RRP $25.95) palettes this week, I had a bit of an excitement attack. Five colours, with a diagram to show you exactly how to get the look.

I chose the “Sweet Innocence” palette, mainly because it contained both peaches and purples – two colours that are recommended to bring out the green in your eyes.

The shadows are a beautiful soft, fine powder, packed with pigment. They stay-true once they hit your skin and if you use a decent eyeshadow primer they won’t crease or budge. I love Australis Eye Shadow Primer RRP $12.95.

The palette comes with an applicator that’s really handy. It’s fat and round on one end, and long and skinny on the other, which means you can use it to both apply, blend and to do those fine fiddly bits like smudging a colour close to your lash-line.

I documented how quick and easy it was for me to create quite a complex (for me) eye look, just using the Revlon diagram and five colour compact.

Step One: No eye makeup. Primer applied.

Step Two: Use the fine applicator to apply peachy shadow in the inner corner of your eye.

Step Three: Use the fat applicator to apply pale pink shadow to the main part of the lid.

Step Four: Use the fine applicator to apply the medium purple to the crease and outer corner.

Step Five: Use the fine applicator to apply the deep purple/brown along your lash-line.

Step Six: Use the fat applicator to apply the cream shadow up under your brows and along the brow-bone.

Step Seven: Use the fine applicator to brush the deep purple/brown along the bottom lash-line.

Now, steps two through seven are all Revlon‘s. If it weren’t for the back of that palette and the diagram, I wouldn’t have a clue. I could probably guess and maybe come up with a simpler version. But nothing quite this cool. The final two steps are mine.

Step Eight: I used Maybelline's new Eye Studio Masterliner 24 Hour Cream Pencil (RRP $12.50) to create a strong, defined line along my top lashes.

Step Nine: apply a liberal coat of Revlon's Fabulash Mascara (RRP $21.95) in Blackest Black to both top and bottom lashes.

And you’re done! Easy peasy right? I certainly think so! And lovelies, I am hooked. I bought another palette the next day.  There’s a whole bunch of them to suit any occasion. From Party Pops to Naturally Glamorous to Metallic Chic. And some of the colour combinations are pretty darn groovy. Ones I definitely wouldn’t have thought of myself.

My only criticism? I’d like a little more advice on blending. But then, there’s only so much you can fit on the back of a teeny tiny little eyeshadow palette.

So lovelies, have you made any awesome makeup discoveries lately? Anything you’d like to share? Do you have a fail-safe technique for makeup that always gives you confidence? Leave your comments or tweet me!

My Newly Balayaged Locks

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I just felt like a change. I’ve had long hair for years and it’s been the same colour since I hit my twenties. So it was with excitement and a few nerves that I decided to go for the chop, and the big balayage change.

As many people will tell you, balayage has been around for a few years. It initially gained popularity after being seen on the likes of Giselle Bundchen, Drew Barrymore and Rose Byrne. The super blonde balayage, however, as any beauty fanatic will tell you, is “over.” Mamamia recently did a great feature on the new balayage (which is a great read, and has some awesome pics). Now, it’s all about soft, subtle, beautiful, melty colour.


I don’t think my hairdresser got it completely right. But she came pretty close. And hey, I’m happy with the results. The great thing about a change, is it forces you (or gives you an excuse) to change the way you do other things. I’m now experimenting with curls, beach hair, braids and other exciting things, whereas before, I always went for sleek and straight or a ponytail. My makeup, clothing and accessories choices have changed too. I never would have worn gold or even much bronzer before, but now… I’m experimenting. And it’s fun.

So lovelies, have you made a major hair or beauty change lately? Are you happy with it? Has it changed the way you do other things? Let me know. Leave your comments or tweet me.

Coral Fever – Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipcolour

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Every now and then you stumble across a goldmine. Recently I discovered Maybelline‘s new Colour Sensational Lipcolour (RRP $16.95) range had a special range of corals.
I swatched the entire palette, top to bottom: 410 Mandarin Fizz, 515 Coral Crush, 440 Coral Fire, 420 Coral Pop, 416 Coral Fever.

I ended up buying Coral Fever, the most coral-ly of all. The image above shows the colour quite accurately.

Here’s a swatch of the colour with flash.
 And without flash
The colour is closer to that represented with the flash. The texture is beautifully creamy, it feels lovely on and my lips feel moisturised. The slight pearl in the colour gives your lips a lovely sheen and a bit of extra volume too. Here it is on my lips (with flash).
And without flash.
The colour lasts beautifully, it will give you a solid two hours. It lasted nearly three for me… until you decide to eat or drink something. But you know what? I don’t mind reapplying lipstick. Isn’t that half the fun?

I absolutely adore this colour, it’s perfect for summer, it really makes your (fake) tan pop, makes your teeth look whiter and it’s a great way to liven up any day of the week! As I’m sure you all know, coral is hot hot hot for summer, so if you feel like easing into the trend, lipstick or nail polish is a great way to do it.
So lovelies, have you made any gorgeous colour discoveries lately? Are you rocking the coral trend? Or rocking a different one? Let me know!

Lights, Camera, Action with Paparazzi Perfect

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Foundation isn’t just foundation anymore. I should have known this, but until recently, I didn’t. Many foundations come with an SPF included, which is fantastic for daytime wear, but a big no-no for night time – especially if you’re going to be photographed. My makeup always looked fine in real life, but in some photographs I had an awful white ‘ghost face’.

Just for fun, here are some really bad before photos




See how my body looks nice and tan, but my face is really white? In real life, my makeup looked like it matched my body. Now, there’s a whole new generation of foundations that are designed specifically with photography in mind. Some of them contain SPFs (I’m still not quite sure how that works) and some of them don’t. One of these new camera-smart foundations is Australis’ Paparazzi Perfect Foundation. (RRP $12.95.)

The product description claims “The intelligent mix of High Definition balancing pigments with their amazing light reflecting properties creates flawless even skin perfection under any light…. skin tone appears smooth, and imperfections are corrected. A flawless, smooth complexion is achieved in any light. It provides a medium to heavy coverage with a subtly dewy finish.”

The first time I put it on (just because I simply had to try it out in front of a flash) even without primer or powder, I was impressed.


Suddenly my face matched the rest of my body! It blended perfectly, and I loved the beautiful dewy finish. Since my first test-drive, I’ve worn it to a few important work events, where I knew I was going to be photographed. And I’ve been really pleased with the results. Especially in photographs, Paparazzi Perfect creates an absolutely flawless base, it’s dewy, natural looking and finally my face matches my body! Perfectly in fact. The ‘colour balancing’ technology works. I have no need to fear the flash. My skin looks smooth, healthy and more importantly, glowing!

My only criticism is that it doesn’t last quite as long as I’d like. But I have oily skin and I’m used to long-wearing foundations. The first time I wore it was during the day, to work, and it only lasted a few hours. So I developed a method of application to try and get a few extra miles out of the dewy finish.

Here are my tips to make it last longer if you’ve got oily skin like me:

1. Always apply primer first –  I’m also quite fond of Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot and Mary Kay’s Timewise Foundation Primer Australis makes a great primer too.
2. Apply your Paparazzi Perfect foundation in a light layer (I use my fingertips as it helps to warm the product and disperse it evenly)
3. Apply a light dusting of powder. I use M.A.C Prep + Prime Translucent Finishing Powder , but your favourite pressed or loose powder will do.
4. Apply a second coat of Paparazzi Perfect Foundation.

The two layers, with the setting and oil-absorbing properties of the powder in between seem to make it last a lot longer. The event I was attending went for a solid four hours, and my makeup did not budge an inch. In fact, the last photograph was taken after I’d returned home from an event.

The colour I’m wearing is Natural Fawn. So lovelies – have you made any wonderful makeup discoveries lately? Please share!