April 29, 2013

Monday's mani - Illamasqua Aorta

Today on my nails I'm wearing Aorta* from Illamasqua's Rubber Brights Collection. It's a limited edition shade that has a matte rubber-like finish. I'm wearing 2 coats in these pics, which as you can see is enough for full coverage. The colour is a bright blood red (hence the name!) and having worn this before, it lasted 4 days on my nails without chipping. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the rubber like finish, I prefer my nails glossier, but that's obviously a personal preference and can be quickly remedied with a shiny top coat. It's available at Myer and www.illamasqua.com.

April 27, 2013

Quick beauty tip #3 - fake your way to perfectly lined eyes every time

If you love the look of perfectly lined eyes but are scared of using a liquid eyeliner, do what I do. Cheat! Instead of going freehand lining your eyes with a liquid liner, and in the process doing a wobbly line full of smudges, why not do an outline with a pencil liner first, then trace along it with the liquid liner.

April 26, 2013

Friday's letters #1

Totally stealing this from Reese and Zoe Foster from the Sunday Style magazine. 

Dear Sydney weather
You have been unusually warm and sunny this week. It's been fabulous. My decision to pack away all my summer clothes last week was a bit premature, but it's not really your fault is it?

Dear Priceline,
Thank you for having that 40% off all cosmetics sale. Unfortunately by the time I managed to get to a store on day 2 of your sale there was hardly anything left! The only thing I bought was a Revlon black gel eyeliner and so far I'm not even impressed with it.

Dear handbags,
You thought I'd replaced you with nappy bags forever. But no, only on the days I have my son with me. Now that I'm back at work 3 days a week you can hang out with me again, go where I go, carry all my junk and add a touch of colour to my outfits.

Dear high heel shoes,
See above. You have finally come out of hiding, you still look good. And just like riding a bike I still remember how to walk in you.

Dear Sarah, 
Thanks for including me in your blogs I'm loving post this week.

Dear husband, 
Happy anniversary. Four fabulous years of marriage and here's to many more. PS: getting me an eternity ring for an anniversary present was a fabulous idea.

Dear baby Luca,
I love you, that is all.



April 25, 2013

Go The Distance With Australis Long Wear Lipsticks

You know how I love a good lipstick? Well I have 8 gorgeous lipsticks to show you today from Australis*, and at $12.95 each it costs less than lunch in Sydney.
Back row: Uber Cool, Diva, Ghetto, Glam
Front row: Easy Chic, Preppy, Boho, Trendy

April 23, 2013

Work life balance?

I went back to work this week. As in my usual 9 to 5 corporate world day job. I'd taken 10 months off on maternity leave and boy did that time just fly! So how was it all? Hmmm... good and bad.

Good because let's face it, staying at home with a baby all day can get very tiring and monotonous, and you start craving adult conversations that do not involve nappies, mashed food or teething. Plus it's nice to be able to go to the bathroom on my own, drink coffee without the baby trying to pull the mug off my hands, and eat my food while it's still warm. Oh and of course the mental stimulation of doing something productive is welcome too.

Bad because, well isn't it obvious? I hate the thought of not having Luca with me all day. We're hardly ever apart, my little sidekick and I. And the poor little dragon (I call him dragon as he was born in the year of the Dragon) had a bit of a fever yesterday and today, so it was hard leaving him when he was clearly unwell. But he was being looked after by his grandmas so I knew he was in good hands. Still, I kept thinking about him all day and kept ringing home all day to check on him.
My favourite photo of the two of us

April 20, 2013

And God Created The Woman

When I first saw pictures of this palette by NARS floating about the internet I knew I had to have it. As this palette wasn't available in Australia (not sure if it will even arrive here as it's meant to be a Sephora exclusive), I resorted to ebay. I know, I know, I did pay a lot for it but did I mention I had to have it? The kit comes with a small brush and a small tube of eye primer but seriously I would have gotten this even if it didn't come with these add ones.
nars and god created the woman kit

April 18, 2013

CLOSED: Dove Pure review and Dove Hamper GIVEAWAY worth $120

This post is sponsored by Nuffnang

Remember how a few weeks ago I mentioned I was trialling a new deodorant? Well after using it for a few weeks here I am to tell you what I think.

What they say
Dove has created Dove Pure, an antiperspirant deodorant that contains the ingredients essential to help keep your underarms feeling dry all day and looking healthy, whilst removing unnecessary ingredients that can lead to irritation. In short, Dove Pure contains only what you really need. Nothing more.

Dove Pure contains:
- NO parabens
- NO colourants
- NO fragrance
- NO ethyl alcohol

Its unique formula has been specifically developed for those people who want effective 48hr protection but do not want discomfort or the unsightly signs of irritation. Like all Dove products, Dove Pure contains 1/4 moisturising cream to help keep your skin looking healthy.



What I say
  • I'm always on the lookout for a new deodorant that not only keeps me dry but also doesn't transfer onto my clothes. All the deodorants I've tried in the past, despite claiming to be transfer resistant, have in fact left white marks. Well I'm happy to say that Dove Pure didn't leave white marks on my clothes. I don't know whether not having any colourants made a difference, or if its just the formulation, but either way I had no white marks. What I did get though is white flakes IF I sprayed too much or from too close. But if sprayed from the recommended 15cm away there were no flakes. 
  • Will not sting your underarms even if you apply it straight after shaving. And no itchiness either. Definitely a plus! 
  • I usually apply this once in the morning and pretty much forget about it. On a normal day, i.e. non-humid or non-hot day a spray in the morning is enough to keep me dry. However on a hot day, or if I've been more active that day, I do need to reapply after about 8 hours. 
  • The spray comes in that standard spray bottle with a cap. I do wish that instead of the traditional cap it had one of those twist lock systems as I keep losing the cap in my handbag. 
  • The roll on gives the same level of protection as the spray, but what I liked about it is that it doesn't feel wet and clammy when you first apply it. That's a bonus as I hate that clammy feeling after applying a roll on. 
  • The fact that it contains no perfumes means you can wear your favourite perfume without it clashing with its scent.

The final words

It has been scientifically proven that Dove Pure can protect for up to 48 hours. Personally I did not actually test the 48 hour theory as that would have meant forgoing the shower for 2 days! On a normal day one spray in the morning after my shower was enough to protect me for the day, but on a hot day I did need to reapply after about 8 hours as I didn’t find it as effective. Some of its other selling points are that it will not irritate your underarms so it's great for those with sensitive skin, or if you spray it straight after shaving. Another big plus is that there is no scent to clash with your perfume. So if you have sensitive skin and are looking for a gentle but effective deodorant then definitely give this one a try.



DOVE HAMPER GIVEAWAY

I am giving away a Dove hamper valued at $120.76, containing:
  • 2 x Dove Men & Women Shampoo (RRP: $5.99 each)
  • 2 x Dove Men & Women Conditioner (RRP: $5.99 each)
  • Dove Face Scrub 130 ml (RRP: 10.99)
  • 2 x Dove Bar 2 Pack (RRP: $4.49)
  • Dove Men Face Cleanser 105ml (RRP: $7.69)
  • Dove Pure Roll On (RRP: $3.89)
  • Dove Pure Anti-Perspirant Spray (RRP: $5.25)
  • Dove Men Roll On 50ml (RRP: $3.89)
  • Dove Men Anti-Perspirant 122g (RRP: $5.47)
  • Dove Facial Foam 110g ($6.99)
  • Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion 250ml (RRP: $7.36)
  • Dove Body Lotion 400ml (RRP: $8.39)
  • Dove Women Bodywash 375ml (RRP: $7.36)
  • Dove Hair Treatment 200ml (RRP: 8.79)
  • Dove Clinical Deodorant (RRP: $14.73)
  • Dove Moisturiser 120ml (RRP: $120.76)

How to enter
To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below answering the following question: "What, in your opinion is the best part about Dove Pure"

This is open to Australian residents only and closes 5:00pm AEDST 24 April 2013. The winner will be picked by Nuffnang. For full terms and conditions see HERE


CLOSED: The winner is Candice. Candice has been contacted and the prize has been sent to her. 

Have you tried Dove Pure before? 
Is it something you would try? 

April 16, 2013

And the answer is....

Thanks everyone for having a guess at the previous post, which makeup cost $100 and which cost $300. The answer was...

Look 1 cost over $300 and Look 2 cost less than $100. Quite a few of you guessed correctly! Wow, I'm impressed, you really know your makeup. One person even guessed what the colour of the lipstick in Look 1 was... yes, I am looking at you Stephanie! It was my all time favourite lippy, MAC Impassioned. Seriously though, how did you guys know???

Here are some more close up shots of each look.

April 14, 2013

How much did it cost - $100 or $300?



As you probably know by now I'm not a makeup snob and have products from all price points. In fact I strongly believe that you don't need to spend big to get good quality items. I thought it would be fun to do two makeup looks, one using budget products that add up to less than $100 and another using more expensive products which add up to over $300.

I deliberately did 2 very similar looks, using very similar colours, to prove that you can always find cheaper alternatives to recreate a particular look.

April 13, 2013

Perfect lip combo

Lately I've been preferring to wear lip glosses rather than lippies, especially when I'm out and about with my little boy, as glosses are that little bit easier to touch up on the go than lipsticks. A colour combination I've been loving is MAC lipglass in Oyster Girl worn over Styli-Style lipliner in Monte Carlo. On its own Oyster Girl is quite pale and frosty looking but layered over Monte Carlo...oh my, it's the perfect shiny purple colour to get you through Spring or Autumn. And the layering helps the colour last longer than if you'd just worn the lipgloss on its own. The only disadvantage is that the lipgloss is quite sticky, so on windy days I find my hair getting stuck on my lips unless it's pulled back of course. Oh well, can't have everything perfect.

April 11, 2013

Haircut update - again!

Firstly, thank you everyone for sharing your hairdresser horror stories in my last hair post. Some of your stories were real doozies, put my own hair misery to shame! That said, I got another haircut to fix up the dodgy job the previous guy had done. And yes, despite looking nice on the surface, the previous haircut was dodgy. When I washed it the next morning I noticed how uneven the ends were, with long bits hanging down the bottom. Photo of the dodgy bits is at the end of this post.

In the meantime I finally did get the angled bob I was after! I went to my mum's hairdresser the very next day as I just couldn't stand how bad the haircut was, and the fact that it was nowhere near what I had asked the previous guy to do. It is a tad bit shorter than I wanted, but that's fine it'll grow.
Angled bob worn straight or curly

April 10, 2013

My favourite moisturiser and it's less than $10!

I don't often write about skincare on my blog. That's because I don't like to try new products, I find something that I like and stick to it. I feel that it's kinder to my skin than constantly slapping on it new things. One product that I have been using for the last few months and absolutely LOVING is Sukin Facial Moisturiser. OMG it is simply divine and get this, it's $9.95 for a 125ml pump bottle!


What I love about it
It feels lightweight yet very moisturising
Absorbs quickly without sticky residue
Smells beautiful, a slight sweet and citrusy smell, but not overpowering
The pump bottle makes it easy to dispense just the right amount and it's hygienic too
Value for money

What I don't love about it
Absolutely nothing! When it runs out I will be repurchasing it for sure.

My hair before it got the chop yesterday


Sukin is an Australian brand that makes natural and affordable products free from parabens. Their tagline is "Skincare that doesn't cost the earth". I love that. They also make a fabulous Rosehip Oil which I've been using for the past few years during those times when my skin was feeling extra dry, e.g. winter, so if you haven't tried anything from Sukin I highly recommend that you check them out. For a list of their stockists click HERE.


PS: Don't forget to check out Earth Stone Jewellery where you have till end of today, 10 April, to get 20% off everything with the code Makeup and Macaroons.



Have you tried anything from Sukin?



*PR sample



April 08, 2013

Haircut update... and a bit of a rant

Today was haircut day. I went to a new salon I'd never been to before (as my usual hairdresser had closed up shop), and based on online reviews it looked like a good place to go. Unfortunately I won't be going back. Don't get me wrong, my haircut is not horrible, but it's not what I was after.

As you might remember I was after an angled bob with blunt ends. I took pictures with me to show exactly what I was after. I kept reiterating that I wanted the back shorter than the front as I wanted that graduated look. I kept reiterating that I wanted the ends quite sharp and blunt. Instead I ended up with a straight bob, with soft ends.

My new haircut - nice, but not what I asked for
When it comes to hairdressers I don't usually speak up even if I don't like the cut. Not this time, this time I told the hairdresser THREE times to re-cut the back and make it shorter. THREE times he cut it (or did he?) but still somehow I ended up with a bob that's the same length all over. And everytime I asked him to cut the back shorter he kept saying but it's nicer this way. Ummm excuse me, isn't it MY hair? Shouldn't I say what I want? Does this look like an angled bob to you?
You'll have to excuse the iPhone/Instagram pics. I'll post proper pics after I've played around with this new hair more, maybe even curled it. 

In the end I just had to leave because it was evident I wasn't going to get what I wanted, and by then I'd been there for 2 hours already (yes, 2 hours for a shampoo/cut/blowdry). To the hairdresser's credit he offered for me to go back there again so he could fix it. But seriously, I just can't be bothered. So looks like the search for a good hairdresser continues.

PS: I'm not naming the salon on my blog, but rest assured my review is posted amongst the other online reviews of this place so other would-be customers can see.

Go on, make me feel better, please tell me about your hairdresser horror stories.


April 07, 2013

Time for a haircut and hairstyle I'm loving

I'm off to get a haircut tomorrow. It's been oh, about 8 months since my last cut! While I love the current length it's gotten too, the reality is the ends are very unhealthy and full of split ends. Plus remember when I told you I was losing my hair after the birth of my son, well the hair loss has slowed down considerably and I have new hair growing now. But the thing with the new hair is that it doesn't blend in well with the rest of the longer hair and sticks out at odd angles, especially around my hairline.
My hair currently - dry and full of split ends 

So anyway, I've decided I need a new haircut and this below is the style I'm lusting after. It's not a great big change for me, but hopefully it'll be easier to style and will look neater. Basically I'm after an angled bob which I'll mainly wear wavy (curled with my ghd), with blunt ends and enough length to still allow me to tie it up if needed.

April 06, 2013

Berry lips

As much as I love lipsticks, there is one shade that I shy away from. Berry. I love how it looks on other people, but on me I'm not so sure. I feel very self conscious wearing a dark lip. I just feel like it makes me look older. However with the weather cooling down here in Australia I've been drawn more and more towards berry tones so in the end I couldn't resist this Rimmel Kate matte lipstick in #107.

It's a beautiful deep berry shade, with just the right amount of coolness to make teeth look super white, but not so cool as to make your complexion look sallow. Overall I love the colour and I love how it looks on my lips, but I'm still not 100% it suits me. Maybe I needed to do a darker eye, or a darker cheek, but I just don't feel that the overall look is pulled together very well. Never mind.

April 04, 2013

Top 10 things to take on a weekend away

This post is sponsored by Nuffnang.

As you know I recently went on a long weekend away with the family. It was only for 4 days, and I'm getting so good at packing just the right amount of things to take away with me. Here are my top 10 beauty products that are a must in my makeup bag for quick weekends away.

April 03, 2013

Special occasion not needed

Growing up with a glamorous mum meant that I was always overdressed for any occasion. As a child I didn't know any better, as a teenager I absolutely hated it as I just wanted to blend in with the rest of the kids. As an adult I've grown to appreciate the sense of glamour my mum has instilled in me. Yes, I am one of those people that wears makeup to do the grocery shopping. I wear my most expensive perfume whenever I feel like it, even if it's just to take my little boy to playgroup. And if I want to wear an exquisite statement necklace during daytime to glam up a boring black T, then I will do it. Special occasion not needed.


April 01, 2013

Easter mini-break

Hi all, I hope everyone had a great Easter and got to enjoy some time off. We just got back from a mini break with the family. We'd gone up to Sydney's northern beaches for the long weekend and had an absolutely wonderful time. Let me tell you that holidaying with an almost 9 month old is much much much easier than holidaying with a 5 month old. Luca loved being out and about every day, taking in new sights, meeting new people and trying new things (such as dipping his toes in the freezing water).

Despite taking my camera with me I didn't really take many photos, instead relied on my iPhone to capture favourite moments.
Some iPhone snaps - Top: enjoying mother/son moments. Bottom: the view from our room

I haven't had a chance to respond to any of my emails or comments, so if you're waiting on an email from me, it's coming, I promise :) First I need to get through the mountains and mountains of washing!

Back soon xo

PS: Can you believe Luca is almost 9 months old now? Crazy! Time sure does fly.


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