Holiday Beauty

I just got back from a very relaxing sojourn in the Victorian countryside. I have noticed something about myself when if comes to packing for such travels, and whether I am going for a beachy holiday (as I did this last August to Fiji you can see from the dreamy picture above) or to the country I am all about downsizing and simplifying.
When I am at home I have a plethora of options from skin care to body products from hair contraptions to makeup. I can get up and choose from 3 morning cleansers, a few day creams and which sunscreen do I want to apply today? Which foundation is most appropriate and what blush will go best with my gloss? I love that about being at home, but I don't want to be weighed down with so many options when I am meant to be chillin'!
However, I do find it monumentally hard to decide which of my pretties will be coming with me. I find it really tricky to decide what products will be the best and most versatile. When I went to Fiji it was all about getting that beachy relaxed "I put no effort in, but look great" look. Obviously it's not really a smart idea to be taking a pair of hair straighteners to the beach and I would be spending my time by the pool and in some form of water. So they were out, and in went the beach/salt spray (I love John Frieda Beach Blonde spray). I gathered up some mini sizes of shampoo and conditioner from Kevin Murphy and my hair was set!
As for makeup, again I was going to be spending a lot of time in the pool and beach, so I wasn't going to take a full face but I wanted to be able to amp it up if we went for dinner or cocktails. Tricky. I ended up going with Invisible Zinc Tinted Moisturiser (very high sun protection is a must for me!) a translucent powder (IZ is quite shiny!), a brown stay put eye liner that could double as brow colour (Jemma Kidd), brow gel, tube mascara (I too BECCA The Ultimate), creme blush that doubled as lip colour (BECCA Lip and Cheek creme in Tuberose) and a gel bronzer (Georgio Armani). I think I managed to keep my look relaxed but put together and I was very happy with my small but effective collection.
When it came to skin care I knew I had to be careful, my skin can get very sensitive when I comes in contact with salt water so I decided to be kind and not too minimal. I bought myself a travel pack of Ultraceuticals goodies and I was ready to roll and not over burdened with big suitcase filling bottles of product.
Going tot he country was slightly different. I was happy to take a few more options as I knew I would be wearing makeup daily and I didn't want to get bored (and I do easily). For makeup I took two creme blushes, (0ne pink and one peach) two lip colours (again one pink and one peach), illuminating bronzer, tinted moisturiser, neutral eye shadow, olive green eyeliner pencil, translucent powder, a brow kit, mascara and that was it! Easy!
I did take my straightener, but not a blow dryer as I shower at night and my hair would dry overnight. Not taking a hair dryer really frees up space!
As for skin care I just kept it simple and hydrating with non-foaming cleanser (Aesop Fabulous Face Cleanser), moisturiser (Ultraceuticals) and a sunscreen (again Ultraceuticals).
I have to say I feel very virtuous when I manage to keep my products minimal when I travel and it always feels good to come home and get stuck in to all the other stuff I left at home!

Review: Sugarbaby Bronzer

While this is not my favorite ever bronzer (that prize goes to NARS Laguna), it is an absolute staple of mine for the working week. It gives a subtle but buildable bronzed tone that has a very slight luminescence, but no glitter which really is vital for work. The reason I use this one on weekdays has a lot to do with the sheer size (it's huuuge) and the price (I think from memory about $17). I can go through this and not feel guilty at the amount of bronzer I use as I would if I was using a very expensive bronzer everyday. It's just great value and a nice product.
I also have to say the packaging is really pretty. The compact is, as I said huge but it's also glamourous rose gold colour that will have people swooning when you whip it our of your beach bag. Lovely!
I give it 3 stars, but certainly 4 stars for value!

Review: Aesop Parsley Seed Antioxidant Toner

Mmmmmmm Aesop! One of my very favorite skin care brands has delivered yet another wonderful product! I have used a few of their products in the past (I am currently also loving their Fabulous Face Cleanser and Resurrection Hand Cream) and I have never been disappointed.

Let's start with the gorgeous packaging. I love love to have Aesop bottle lined up in my bathroom cabinet, they look to old fashioned and... science-y!

The toner inside is just divine. It's alcohol free, which for my alcohol sensitive skin is ideal. I just put a few drops on a cotton pad and swipe it all over my face including my eyes. It never stings the skin and never feels uncomfortable and tight. It smells great too, fresh and herby and very clean.

All in all I have to give this two very inthused thumbs up and a 5 star rating!

Review: BECCA Glossy Lip Tint

This lip gloss has to be one of my all time faves. I am not the kind of person that flees from sticky gloss because I like the staying power. However this is not a super sticky gloss at all! I think it's right there in the middle of the road and should keep everyone happy. The staying power is great too. I find I can apply it in the morning and only have to re-apply if I eat something. So I apply it again after lunch and I am fine until leaving my desk at the end of the day!

It is a nice shiny gloss, not so much so that you look like a teenager who has been waiting to use make-up since they were five and is bit over zealous. Just a nice glossy sheen that makes you look ever so kissable!

I have found some of the colours to have a very strong vanilla smell and then some others have barely any scent at all. I prefer the ones that are less vanilla-y personally!

All in all, this is one great gloss (my fave colour would have to be Julep, a soft sheer pink). and I give it 5 stars!

Get The Look: Drew Barrymore

Fiiiine! Don't make any requests! I will just do this one anyway. Drew can be very hit and miss with her fashion, hair and make-up. Thankfully here she looks like an absolute goddess! The shiny hair! The glowing skin! Ahhh. So pretty! Here's the way I would achieve a similar look!

I'd start with a silicone based primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. You'll want to use fairly heavy, velvety foundation for this look. One of my all time favorite beauty products ever is the Georgio Armani Designer Shaping Creme Foundation and this is what I'd be using here. Apply it with a brush and then use your finger to finish the look. A light dusting of loose translucent powder such as Ben Nye's version over the T-zone will help keep it looking perfect all night. For contouring I would use NARS Laguna bronzer. Just sweep some under your cheekbones and a small amount on the nose, forehead and chin to look ever so slightly sun kissed! There is not too much illumination going on here so I would just use a matte neutral pink such as Bobbi Brown's Pale Pink on the apple of the cheek for that hint of a flush.

As for the brows, just slick them in to place with some brow gel. I like The Body Shop's Clear Brow Gel for a cheapy but a goodie!

Now for eyes... Always, always prime those peepers. I never do my make-up with out a bit of Too Faced Shadow Insurance and neither should you! Once you have done that use a matte neutral shadow over the whole lid all brands will have one of these and I am sure you have one (or two, or three) in your collection! Then on the upper lid apply i.d Bare Mineral Eye Glimmer in Disco to just above the crease line. I adore adore this colour and it is a perrrrfect match to the colour on Drew's eye's here. Now you need some serious smudgy smokey goodness for that sexy bedroom look! I would be using Smashbox Gel Eyeliner in Caviar for this. Use a flat, stiff brush to apply it all the way along your upper lash line and then get out a cotton bud and smudge that line! Then do the same to the lower lash line but only take the liner half way across. Add a small amount of the aforementioned Disco to the inner corner of the lower lash line for that extra dazzle.

As for mascara, well you need some serious va va voom here and I think Diorshow will do the trick. Do 2 or 3 layers and really work to coat every single lash.

Last but not least- lips. Use a nude slightly pink toned pencil (Georgio Armani no. 2) to line the lips and then apply you lipstick. Again you are looking for a pink tones nude and for me you can't go past Harlotte lip products when life calls for a nude lip. The colour I would choose here is Peek A Boo. Cute!

So there you have it. Enjoy!

Get The Look requests!

Hi all!

If you have a request for Get The Look, please let me know in the comments below. Just let me know who, where and when and I will do my best!