Category Archives: Face

The Beauty Shakeup – Instagram/Blog Challenge!

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It’s a new year, bright, shiny and sparkly and that means it’s time for a new challenge! I had so much fun with 30 Days of Lippy last year and Kimberley from Pop Couture and I have been chatting about a way to up the ante and challenge ourselves (and you) to shakeup the makeup again. Meet The Beauty Shakeup.

#beautyshakeup
Last time we tackled lipstick exclusively, but if you weren’t a lipstick obsessive hoarder lover, like me then you kinda had nowhere to go. So this time around, we wanted to give everyone more freedom and get as many people involved as possible. So we’ve broadened the shake up criteria. You’ve got one keyword per day to prompt your look. Take Day 5, for example “Bold” – you can choose to interpret that as a bold lipstick, a bold eye makeup look, a bold manicure… or even a bold hairstyle. Ultimately the list lends itself to beauty, but if fashion is more your thing, you can join in with your daily outfit too!

Let yourself get inspired, create a look based on the word of the day, then photograph it and post it to Instagram with the hashtag #BeautyShakeUp so we can all delight in your creation. You can even blog about your look, review the product in question or do a weekly highlights package (don’t you just love those?!) Whatever floats your boat!

If you do blog/vlog about the challenge, please let me know by commenting here or over at Pop Couture, Kimberley’s killer blog.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Stay connected with us on Instagram @rosemaryslade & @popcouturist.

{ Editor’s note: Day 14′s prompt is matte and Day 15′s prompt is pink, however we realise that Day 14 is also Valentine’s Day, so anyone wishing to switch days 14 & 15 so they can wear pink for V Day, please do!}

Love,
Rosie xox

Summer Tanning Essentials

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We’ve been talking about tanning a bit lately, and I’ve had a few people ask about my prep and post-spray tan routine. Keeping an awesome spray tan looking fab isn’t hard work, but it does require a few killer products.

Summer Tanning EssentialsThese are my must-haves for keeping my salon spray tan looking amazing, and a few really rad home-tanning products of which I am also a fan-girl. From left to right, please meet:

Loving Tan Easy-To-Reach back applicator – perfect for that spot right in the middle of your back that you just can’t reach, no matter what ridiculous positions you manage to get yourself into. Forget the boy, this baby has got you covered.

Vani-T Brazilian Bronze 1 hour Self Tan Mousse – if I tan at home, this is my favourite. It gives a beautiful deep bronze colour that’s super-speedy developing. I leave it on for between four and five hours for a really natural colour.

Le Tan Instant Face Tan – Formulated specially for the delicate skin on your face (which can react to the DHA in tanning solution), this develops slowly and depending on the level of colour you want, may require a few applications. Big fan. And it smells like caramel.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion – A must-have for the Aussie sun. I love the fresh scent and the dry-touch finish. No greasy stricky sunscreen for me thanks!

Palmers Olive Butter Formula Cream Oil - cannot. rave. about this. enough. It packs the punch of a body oil, but without the slick factor. The moisturiser component means that the oil soaks right into your skin. It has a fresh, ‘mens beauty product’ scent, with high notes of lemon and a hint of mint.

ModelCo Tan Extender/Gradual Tan Everyday Body Moisturiser: Fantabulous for extending the life of your tan. With a touch of DHA, it’s a moisturiser and gradual tanner in one. It’ll keep your glow looking fresh.

Skinny Tan Pre-Tan Primer: Absolutely addicted to this stuff. I buff my old tan off with a Tan-Off Mitt (excluded from this photo because it’s currently drying) but I then do a full body scrub with this stuff. It’s a creamy, coconut-scented body scrub which not only removes any final traces of tan, but polishes your skin to a baby-soft, glowing finish. And it doesn’t leave any residue, so it ensures optimum tanning results. Even if you don’t tan, you should go buy this. It’s awesome.

What are your favourite summer beauty products? Let me know!
Love,
Rosie xox

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Sephora and what I bought there

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You know how they refer to Disneyland as ‘The Magic Kingdom’? Sephora should be called that too. I would also be quite content to dub it The Happiest Place on Earth. The fact that the first Sephora I visited was actually inside Downtown Disneyland made it all the more magical.

Not only does the name deserve to be up in lights, but it should have an exclamation mark too.

Sephora! *jazz hands*

I’d run out of quite a few things before I left for the US and stubbornly refused to replace them (I actually lived without concealer and powder for several weeks. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty). So I had a bit of a list.

I was like a kid at, erm… Disneyland.

Let me paint a picture for you: I stepped across the threshold, eyes darting around at the enormous (yet perfectly ordered) selection, my brain vaguely cataloguing brand names and locations as I went.

It’s like Mecca Cosmetica and the entire beauty floor of David Jones had a baby. And it got all the best genes.

I spent a solid hour browsing. I could have spent so much longer, but both the boy and his brother were waiting patiently and we did have a room check-out to make.

I didn’t get everything on my list, but I did do well. And picked up a few other things too.

Many of these were things I actually needed. Some were things I didn’t know I needed. Others were things I needed and so much more. Yet others were duplicates of things I needed.

(Meh… who among you wouldn’t try two different brands of black eyeliner?)

And then, of course, I splurged a little — as one does when on vacation — and grabbed a few things that I was all wanty for as well.

Alterna Caviar Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.

An essential buy because I was about to run out of both and was concerned I would have trouble finding hair care products that were free of sulfates and parabens (necessary as I have Great Lengths extensions and these ingredients aren’t good for the bonds.)

BareMinerals Ready Foundation SPF 20 in Golden Tan, Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 03.

Both necessities. Although I didn’t buy the BareMinerals powder foundation to be a foundation, it was intended as a replacement for my M.A.C Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.

My helpful Sephora assistant colour matched me perfectly and pointed out that not only would it work as a powder, but it would also add more coverage. Helpful, as sometimes my foundation thins out a bit, around my lips, especially.

I was in desperate need of a new concealer. The Benefit Boi-ing won because I’ve heard great things about it and it was a perfect colour match.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black (of which Who What Wear said “We’ve finally tracked down the perfect liquid eyeliner!” — stay tuned for my review soon) and Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in 0L (matte black).

I know, it’s hard to believe I let myself almost run out of black eyeliner. *gasp*

I was using a liquid liner over the top of a dark purple M.A.C liner during my last week or so in Australia.

A special thank you to Kimmi at The Plastic Diaries and Tara of Keeping Up With Me for introducing me to MUFE Aqua Eyes (and for reminding me to buy it.) I am in love.

Those of you who have been paying attention will know how obsessed I am with YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain – which I already own in 12, Corail Fauve – the plan was to buy every shade available when I got to the US.

On my first trip to Sephora though, since it was still within the first few days of my month-long holiday, I happily swatched away until I found another shade I absolutely fell in love with.

Please meet YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 7 – Corail Aquatique. Swatches & review to come.

I’ve been obsessing over metallic nails for at least six months, so I was so happy to find these! Left is Sephora by OPI Trend Tips in Ornate (silver) and right is Sephora Nail Patch Art in A12 Gold Circles.

Michael Kors Gold – Rose Edition EDP 30ml.

“New Fragrances” was written on my beauty shopping list. I had a few ideas of which ones I wanted. This was not one of them. (Mainly because I didn’t know it existed.)

One spritz and I was sold. It had my name written all over it. (Plus, it actually had my name written all over it.)

I also loved the idea of wearing a brand new fragrance the entire time we were away. Scent can be such a powerful memory trigger, so I wanted a fragrance that would remind me of travelling around America.

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find this fragrance anywhere in Australia (aside from on eBay.) I hope it eventually makes it to our shores.

Mini Sephora Makeup Be Gone Triple Action Cleansing Water.

Impulse buy… Near the register.

Also I forgot to bring my own makeup remover, Bioderma Créaline Micellear Water, which I’m still totally addicted to.

Total spend just over $270.00 US. Which I thought was a pretty darn good effort.

So lovelies, it’s my first Sephora haul. How did I do? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Love,
Rosie xox

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YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain Review + Photos

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Lipgloss girls and ladies, get excited! There’s a new gloss in town. She’s kicking ass and taking names. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain is a lip stain, lipgloss hybrid. “It combines the texture and shine of a gloss with the long-wear of a stain for a truly innovative lip product. A lightweight texture that immediately melts onto lips,” say the lovely people at YSL. And they’re right! This is a revolution people. And I’m not talking one-small-step-for-lipgloss. I’m talking one GIANT leap for ladies (and their lips) everywhere. This product is genius.

I’ve been lusting after it ever since I heard it was coming. Then I saw it reviewed in the August edition of SHOP til You Drop magazine, and I knew it was something special. (Seriously, how addictive is that magazine?!) I tried to wait until my upcoming US trip to purchase, but gave myself a break. I *needed* this! Like, now.

The David Jones store I stopped into didn’t have a huge selection of colours, but this shade — 12 — aka Corail Fauve (which translates roughly to “tawny” or “fawn” coral… I think) really caught my eye. In the store, it looked almost orange. But once on my lips, it gave a gorgeous glossy beestung look that I just couldn’t pass up. Once I got home, I realised it was much pinker than I thought, but I have absolutely no complaints. It’s a stunning shade! A light application gives a soft flush of reddish pink colour, with a light, naturally glossy finish, but you can layer it up for fuller coverage, a deeper colour and much much higher gloss shine. When layered, this shade is almost strawberry red on me.

Here’s a light layer

And here it is layered up

And the last factor? Oh! The last factor! I applied mine at 7:00 in the morning, and five hours later, when I pressed my lips together, they were still buttery and glossy. Granted, I hadn’t actually eaten anything, so it wasn’t put under too much pressure, but even after lunch the colour remained strong and vibrant. After the gloss gradually disappears (which honestly takes such a long time that you’ll probably forget you’re even timing it) a stunning, deep stain still remains.

And the real kicker? It’s NOT sticky! At all. And I know almost every lipgloss on the planet claims to be ‘not sticky’ — but this one actually isn’t. At all. It’s brilliant!

I am smitten. SMITTEN I say! I want every single shade. Luckily I’m off to the US in just over two days. And this is most certainly on my shopping list!

What’s your favourite new purchase at the moment? Let me know!

Did you enjoy this post? If so, please share!

Love,
Rosie xox

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p.s. Per my Disclosure Policy, this product was purchased with my own cash. All views are honest and are my own.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

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Oh the last few days of Autumn and the first few days of Spring are just so delicious aren’t they? Gradually you stop reaching for your big woolly coat, those fun, floral prints work their way back into your wardrobe, your makeup becomes more fun, and you daydream of long days spent picnic-ing in the park or lazing on the sand as the waves roll in. It seems like ages since I’ve done a Face of the Day (that’s what the abbreviation “FOTD” means, for anyone who doesn’t actually write a beauty blog.) Actually looking back it hasn’t been THAT long, but still… This is a makeup look I’ve been wearing a bit lately, it feels fresh, fun and most certainly spring-worthy!

A lot of people have been asking me to do a “how-to” post on this particular look, so here it is guys: An easy peasy spring makeup look!

1. SKIN: Skin was prepped with Face of Australia Face Base Primer, then I applied Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Medium/Deep with my fingers, warming it first, before spreading it onto my skin. I followed with a light dusting of MAC Cosmetics Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder. I used quite a stiff powder brush to then dust Dior Amber Diamond Highlighter onto my cheekbones, nose, and just above my brows. Then buffed the foundation over with the same powder brush. A little highlighter in the cupid’s bow above your lips never goes astray either.

2. EYES: Using the MAC Colour Added Eyeshadow Quad, from the Shop MAC range, I washed “Laundry Daze” on the inner corner of my eyes across the lid to about halfway. Then using “Self Serve” I filled in the outer corner, swept it into the crease and up towards the brow bone. I double lined my eyes, first with Australis StayPut Liner in Black, then with Smiink Eyeliner Pen in Black/Noir, flicking it out beyond my lashline a little. I finished by curling my lashes and applying a coat of Face of Australia Impact Curl Mascara — starting by placing the brush at the base of my lashes and zig-zagging it to get some product build up for added hold — then sweeping the brush upwards through my lashes. Two coats minimum, and then combed through with a final coat of Maybelline’s The Falsies Flared Mascara just on the tips of the lashes for good measure. Then blended the shadows out to remove the harsh edges.

3. BROWS: Using a q-tip dipped in makeup remover, I swiped it across my brows to remove any foundation residue, then combed my brows into place. I tamed and filled with SAX Cosmetics Perfect Brow Shaping Kit (awesome, awesome product, go and buy it now)!

4. CHEEKS: Rimmel London’s Sun Shimmer Matte Bronzing Powder works really well as a contour as well, I used the Medium shade for this look in the hollow underneath my cheekbones, across the top of my forehead near my hairline, under my jawline and down the bridge of my nose. NARS Blush in Sin provides a beautiful soft, berry pink glow on the apples of the cheeks.

5. LIPS: Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Crayon in Cupcake

6. HAIR: Bed hair by my bed

Has the warmer weather inspired you to change your makeup or your wardrobe? What changes have you made? Let me know!

Love,
Rosie
p.s. sorry ’bout the crappy photos, I’ve been snapping far too much with my phone lately. Need to take some time to stop, smell the roses and shoot things properly with my SLR!

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AQUA! Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer Review + Photos

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I have been saying for the past few months that “blue eye makeup is going to make a comeback!” Especially for summer. Now I’m not sure if it actually IS making a comeback, or if I’m seeing a lot of blue eye makeup because I want to see a lot of blue eye makeup. Case in point: I popped into Priceline recently to take a look at their new Essence display and found myself distracted by this pretty little lovely on the Rimmel stand instead.

Mmmm… aqua-tastic! I simply HAD to have it. Those of you who know me know I have an unwavering devotion to eye makeup of any kind, and eye liner in particular, so any new eye liner is a source of immediate and overwhelming excitement for me.

This little pretty has a wind-up liner (Genius! I honestly don’t have the time to sharpen my eye pencils, and the wind-up ones always give a much finer line. Besides that, my boy gets cross with me when I accidentally drop eyeliner specks while sharpening, which then somehow find their way into: his/my newest and nicest white shirt/freshly laundered sheets/only-just-vaccuumed carpet and various other annoying places. But I digress.) Can I just say? Look how gorgeous the colour is!! Loooook!

It’s actually the same colour as the packaging. Now how often does THAT happen? And the colour pay-off didn’t let me down either.

Above is a swatch of the colour in natural light. Boyyyyy howdy it’s Aqua! (Hence the exclamation mark in my post title.) It’s got just enough white in it to really make the colour pop against my skintone. And it’s so deliciously creamy too. I barely needed to touch the tip to my skin. The colour just glides on like butter. Or something else that’s a little less kitchen-y and a little more appropriate for gliding onto your hands.

And here, above, is a swatch of the colour taken with a flash. It’s a little more aqua, with a slightly greener look in this shot and not quite as deep as it appears in natural light. The true colour, in my opinion, is actually closer to the top swatch.

And the verdict? I’m addicted. I’ve been using it to line my inner, lower lids to add a dash of freshness to my makeup (and to shake things up a bit.) I can’t wait to try it on my upper lids for a full-on aqua eye look. It glides on creamy and it stays put. All day. And my days are long. It doesn’t slip and slide around, it doesn’t gravitate towards your lash-line — or worse, below your eye — and it certainly doesn’t give you blue panda eyes. This is a winner lovelies!

Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Waterproof Eye Definer (RRP $12.50) is available from Priceline, Kmart, Target, Big W, Coles supermarkets & selected pharmacies nationally.

Love,
Rosie xxx

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p.s. Per my disclosure policy, I purchased this little piece of pretty with my own cash. The above review is my honest opinion. I have not been compensated for this review or for mentioning this product. 

Red Lips + Light Foundation: Makeup Utopia Wildcard FOTD

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The Makeup Utopia is holding a Beauty Bloggers Conference in September. They have been very selective with their invitations, but have given those who didn’t make the original list a chance to win one of two wildcard invitations. We were asked to recreate ourselves using makeup. I chose to keep it relatively simple: I did the opposite of what I usually do with makeup. I chose to use a very light coverage foundation, minimal eye makeup, almost no brow products and a red lip. Also, since I almost always wear my hair out, I pulled it back into a ballerina bun to keep it sleek and simple.

To create this look, I started with Face of Australia Face Base Primer, buffing it into my skin over the top of my moisturiser. I created a light, luminous canvas with Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 4.5 (the lightest foundation I own) {Edit: when I say “lightest” I mean “palest”. I own several lighter coverage foundations, but they’re all closer to my natural darker skin tone. This foundation was a good combination of lighter coverage and a paler colour.} I wanted to make myself as pale as possible, as my complexion is naturally quite deep and olive-y. I also wanted to make sure that my freckles showed through. I finished the foundation off by buffing it into my skin with a powder brush, to ensure the coverage was flawless.

The eye look was created using shades from my Naked 2 Palette. I began with Australis Eye Shadow Primer, followed by a white Maybelline Colour Tattoo all over my lids, providing a good base for the colours to follow. I began with Foxy (a matte beige), from my Naked Palette, sweeping it all over the eye, right up to the brow bone. Then I used Tease (a matte brown) from my Naked Palette to create a soft winged out look and accentuate the crease, and widen my eyes, to make them look larger. Then I used Bootycall (a light, slightly shimmery pale gold) in the centre of my lids to accentuate the rounder eye shape I had created.

I double lined my eyes, verrrry carefully, as I wanted just a very thin line. Firstly with Lord + Berry Polish Eye Pencil (I barely let it touch my eye, just very softly scribbled it along my lashline. Then I followed with Smiink Liquid Eyeliner pen, smoothing the line and winging it out a little. I wanted to keep my eye makeup minimal, as the one thing I am known for is a lot of eye makeup.

The lips were the hardest. Since I don’t often wear dark or bright lip colours, I decided this was a great way to reinvent my makeup look and myself. I used Clinique Quickliner for lips in Perfect Poppy, being very careful to line right on the edge of my lips. I then applied Rimmel’s Kate Moss Spring Collection Lipstick in 22 (bright red) with a lip brush. This was certainly the part that took the longest to get perfect.

I finished off my luminous skin look by contouring under my cheekbones and chin/jaw with Tease (from my Naked Palette) as the contour powders I own are all tailored towards my natural, darker complexion. Then I contoured the sides of my nose, thinning it out a little. Savoir Faire Concealer was patted under the eyes with my finger to even out my complexion and hide those awful dark circles.

Then I lightly dusted MAC Prep+Prime Powder along my T-Zone and buffed Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lunar Dust Illuminator in Twilight across my forehead, cheeks, down the bridge of my nose and across my chin, to give it that little extra dose of luminosity. The finishing touch was a very light dusting of a baby pink blush just along the tops of my cheeks, Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Peach Nuance. Lastly, I swept a q-tip dipped in makeup remover over my brows to remove any foundation residue, combed them into place and (because I just couldn’t fathom doing nothing) I did as little as I possibly could… I just tidied them with some brow pomade from SAX Cosmetics Perfect Brow Kit, and lightly defined the shape with a little of the lightest brown powder. One teeeny little application of Maybelline’s The Falsies Mascara (because I wanted to keep my eyes minimal) was the finishing touch.

So beauties… do you think I look different? Have I recreated myself using makeup? Do you like my new look? Let me know!

Note: per the rules of The Makeup Utopia’s Wildcard Challenge, no photoshop, instagram filters or any post-processing of any kind has been used on these images.

Love,
Rosie xox

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Who’s a spoilt girl? SS Beauty Swap Haul

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A weekend or two ago I met my beautiful friend Samantha of SamanthaSmith.com.au for a coffee in the city. I love an excuse for brunch. Any excuse will do. We just needed a catch-up, ooh and we took the opportunity to exchange our goodies for SS Beauty Swap (a swap that Samantha arranged for Aussie beauty bloggers.) It was kind of like Christmas. And my birthday. All wrapped up into one wonderful coffee-laden, berry tart and chocolate volcano cake-filled morning. Samantha chose some killer picks for me. And being the big kid that I am, I couldn’t wait to get them home and play with them!

From top: Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayons in Macaron, Cupcake and Sundae, Maybelline The Falsies Flared Mascara in Blackest Black, Essence Lipstick in All About Cupcake, Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Too Cool and Audacious Asphalt, L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Nail Colours in Parisian Rooftops and Perle De Jade.

And one gorgeous Sportsgirl Pout Line lip pencil in Beauty Queen, who in my over-excitable state, I forgot to photograph was too shy to have her picture taken. The lovely S also gifted me a legendary chunky gold bracelet from Colette, which I am just loving to death. (She’s the pretty one on the left.)

My beauty cupboard feels refreshed, renewed and re-wonderful-ised. (Yes, I made up a word. Deal with it.) I am so overjoyed with my swap goodies! Samantha chose things that I really wanted but either hadn’t had the time to purchase, or hadn’t been able to find. Her colour choices are just so ME. And I am already wearing almost everything (and those things that I’m not wearing I have plans for…) *finger pyramid of evil contemplation*

I can’t wait to share my reviews with you!

Did you participate in SS Beauty Blog Swap? What excellent goodies are currently re-wonderful-ising your beauty cupboard? Let me know!

Love,
Rosie xox

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Portrait Couture

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I was treated to a portrait session today. It’s strange, despite all the cameras and smartphones we have in our lives, a professional portrait seems to be just as valuable as it always was. Simona Janek of gm photographics has her portrait couture studio in Macquarie Street Leichhardt. Not only did she do my hair and makeup, she was also my photographer for the day!

Simona created a gorgeous, sophisticated smoky eye look for me, which was perfect to give a bit of a fashion and beauty edge to my professional portraits. You all know how much I love eyeliner: it just wouldn’t have been me all nude and natural. She also did an incredible job on my brows, which I was super impressed with, since I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to them.

Simona used Makeup Forever HD Foundation, Camouflage Concealer and eyeliner on me, and M.A.C eyeshadows, contour, blush and lipsticks. My portrait couture session was a blast, I must say I’ve never been so conscious of my own body and face before! By the end of it Simona said I was moving and taking direction like a pro, small but constant movements, waiting for the shutter and then moving again. I can’t wait to share more shots with you (plus all the sneaky tips I picked up for taking a great photo!)

If you’ve got a special birthday, anniversary, or occasion coming up, why not have a special portrait session done to celebrate it? And yes, you DO deserve that professional headshot you’ve always wanted. For more information on Portrait Couture (and some really killer before and after pics) visit http://www.gmphotographics.com.au/portrait-couture/.

And stay tuned for more pics very soon!

Love,
Rosie xox

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30 Days of Lippy – Week Two

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I’ve had a brilliant second week of 30 Days of Lippy, shopping my own stash, trying colours I’d completely relegated to the “do not wear” pile and wearing lipsticks I had forgotten I even owned. The lovely Kimberley from Pop Couture came up with the idea for 30 Days of Lippy after realising she was in a bit of a lippy rut, and since I was in a bit of a lippy rut myself, I offered my obsessive list making skills to help guide us through the challenge. Read the story of how it came about here. There’s a whole bunch of gorgeous ladies, bloggers and makeup lovers alike, taking up the 30 Days of Lippy challenge!

Week two offered plenty of fun challenges and lip loving hijinks for me. Here’s how it went…

Day Eight – Wear a matte finish

M.A.C Cosmetics Shop M.A.C Watch Me Simmer^. I LOVE this lipstick. I love the vibrant electric coral colour. And I love the matte finish. For some reason though, as it wears, (usually around the 2 hour mark) the coral undertone disappears on me and it goes kind of magenta pink. That’s not going to stop me wearing it though, everytime I wear this lippy someone comments on it. Probably because I don’t tend to wear bright matte finish lipsticks that often. Wear wise, it lasts about 3 or 4 hours, and will need touch-ups after eating or drinking to keep its vibrance and depth. (note: these are not my real eyelashes! I’m wearing Revlon Beyond Natural falsies in Natural Defining* which are absolutely awesome, not too false looking and super easy to apply.)

Day Nine – Hot Pink
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Indulge^, quite possibly one of the best lipglosses ever. It’s a vibrant bright hot pink with a slightly cool undertone and super glossy finish. The colour is really strong for a gloss, and the finish isn’t too sticky either, which is a nice surprise considering how shiny it is. It does need regular touch-ups though, to keep it looking bright and glossy. (Which honestly doesn’t bother me in the slightest.) This shot was taken at Hair Expo with a lovely Michaela of Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

Day Ten – Your most recent lip purchase
Maybelline Baby Lips in Anti-Oxidant Berry. I am seriously addicted to this stuff. It sits on my nightstand and it’s first thing I apply in the morning. I ran through my last tube rather quickly and I’m always happy to spend a little cash on something I know works like a charm. Besides which, I love the scent, delicious flavour and cute packaging.

Day Eleven – Shimmery
Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour is definitely one of the best beauty inventions to come out of the last few years. Lanolips is a brilliant lip conditioner which is never sticky and always super dooper moisturising. Combine that with some delicious colours and hey presto, you’ve got yourself a lipgloss that’s actually good for your lips! I love the Rhubarb colour as it’s a soft, peachy, pretty pink which suits my skintone beautifully. I also own Dark Honey and Rose. I know it’s not especially shimmery, but I like the soft glossy finish. (p.s. again, these aren’t my natural lashes. I’m having a bit of a fascination with falsies this week. These are Smiink Everyday Full Lashes in Short & Sweet, which I love because they’re not only easy to apply and not too “over the top”, but they fit my eyes perfectly so don’t require cutting down to size.)

Day Twelve – Close to your natural lip colour

I love the “close to natural” “my lips but better” look and so I have a few lipglosses and lipsticks that qualified for this category. Napoleon Perdis Lip Veil in Cocoa* is one of my favourites though: it’s creamy, moisturising, beautifully tinted with a slight pinkish-brown colour and has a gorgeous glossy finish that makes your lips look a little more fabulous, a little prettier and a little more voluminous than normal. The soft caramel-ly warmth in this colour brings out a flush in my cheeks and gives my slightly yellow toned skin a nice faux glow.

Day Thirteen – Lilac or mauve
Sephora Lip Attitude – Glamour in Lyric Lilac (G08) {Edit: this shade is G09 Mauve Emotion. I wrote it down wrong!}. Oh my! The perfectly pink toned purple for me. This is a lippy that a fellow blogger friend sent me from the States and to be honest, this is the first time I’ve worn it. (I KNOW! What the heck is wrong with me??) I told you, I’m stuck in a lippy rut. The filter I’ve chosen doesn’t really do it justice, it’s a little more purple than it appears here and oh so creamy, beautifully semi-sheer and glossy. On my skintone it needs a few applications to build up the colour to this depth and it wears down to a very soft lilac stain. To keep the glossiness it needs reapplication every couple of hours. You’ll want to keep putting it on too, it’s just that pretty. (And here… the apex of my false lashes fascination this week, with massive Revlon Fantasy Lengths* lashes.)

Day Fourteen – Wear blush on your lips

Estée Lauder Tender Blush in Wild Rose. This is one of my favourite blushes because it’s a lovely warm pink with a hint of a blue undertone when applied to my cheeks. It’s very close to my natural flush and isn’t too shimmery or glittery. Estée Lauder no longer make this blush or this shade, but they have a similar one here – shade “The Siren” is quite close. To keep my lips from drying out too much I prepped them with Kosmea Rosehip Oil* (and they stayed really well hydrated throughout the day.) Although I shouldn’t have been surprised, I was disappointed that the blush didn’t come out the same colour on my lips as it usually does on my cheeks, it went a kind of reddish brown, which I didn’t love. But hey, it was worth a try!

I am having so much fun with 30 Days of Lippy and it’s such a thrill to see everyone’s photographs everyday. Check out the tag #30daysoflippy on Instagram and hey, if you need to shake up your beauty routine, why not join us?!

Love,
Rosie xox

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p.s. Per my disclosure policy * Items were kindly provided to me at Lashes & Lattes for editorial review ^ Items were kindly provided to me as Editor of Modern Hair+Beauty and/or Luxury Weddings for editorial review and I enjoyed them so much that I decided to include them here. All opinions are honest and my own. I have not been compensated for mentioning these products.