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30 March 2014

bellabox march review

Last month, I decided to sign up for the monthly beauty box subscription, bellabox.

For $15 a month, a little Tiffany Blue box full of goodies gets sent out, with 5 little surprises to test and try.

Not every box sent out is identical and it's like a grown up version of lucky dip!! You can cancel your subscription at any time (but why would you want to?? You'd have to be crazy...), so there is no need to be worried about being locked into a contract.

For those of you with littles, the company also have a Baby Box subscription, bellababy, and a Men's box, bellabox for Men (lookout, Jarrod!), which both work the same way as the original box.

This is what I received in my March bellabox:
{minus one lip balm I realised was still in my handbag after I took the pics. But dont worry, that will feature later!}

Contents:

Modelco Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Smitten $16.95

St Tropez Gradual Tan in Medium/Dark $33.96 (for full size)

Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner $7.99 each for 350ml

Wotnot Facial Wipes for Sensitive Skin $7.95 for a 25 pack

Coconut Revolution Lip Balm Pot in Cherry $7.95

The amazing thing about bellabox is that all the products that are sent out are available to purchase with ease on their website. So if there is a product that you fall in love with after trialling the sample, you can go right ahead and purchase it without trying to hunt for it at your local pharmacy or department store.

See the entire range of products that were sent out this month here.

Now. For the reviews of the individual products!

beautiful face

Anyone that knows me, is aware that I have a very strict sunscreen policy. Most of my friends, at one point or another, would have had me in their ear like a nagging mother about the 'importance of wearing sun protection' and so forth.

I have heard every excuse in the book...

'But I like having a brown face'

'It gives me pimples'

'I have SPF8 in my foundation. That's enough'

'I only wear it in summer'

'My skin doesn't burn'

None of those excuses cut it with me, unfortunately. Brown face = premature wrinkles. Pimples? Try a different brand. SPF in your foundation? It's not enough. Only wear it in summer? Umm...pretttty sure the sun also comes out in winter... My skin doesn't burn? UVB rays are different to UVA rays (rays of the ageing kind).

If you want to age at a rapid rate & acquire premature pigmentation, those excuses will definitely work. But, if like most women, you want to slow down the ageing process, sunscreen should be the Robin to your Batman. The Minnie to your Mickey. In other words, you should always have it close by.

Some of the science behind sunscreen:

SPF (or Sun Protection Factor) is not, as many people believe, how 'strong' your sunscreen is. It simply means the amount of time you can spend in the sun before sun damage occurs. For example, the average person takes 10-20 minutes of direct sun exposure for damage to start occurring. If you choose a SPF of 15, that means you can spend 15 times longer in the sun. For SPF 30, it's 30 times longer. You catch the drift. In the US, you can get as high as SPF 100 (my sister had a fun experience with this while we were living the dream at Disney World in Florida. She looked like a ghost for the first hour of the day, but she most definitely did not get burnt or damaged by the almost fluoro Floridian sun!!), but here in Australia, SPF 50 is the highest currently available.

There are 2 types of sunscreen : Physical and Chemical. Physical sunscreen (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide) acts as a protective barrier between you and the sun, and stops the UVA rays from penetrating the skin. Its starts to work it's magic immediately. Chemical sunscreen absorbs the UVA rays before they hit your skin. It must be applied at least 20 minute prior to sun exposure.
{UVA rays are the nasties that penetrate deep down into your skin. UVB rays are what burns your skin, and what causes people to believe that the sun 'does not damage them', as different skins are effected differently by UVB rays}.

Now there are many different arguments that we could look at for which is the best protector : physical or chemical, but that is a post I will save for another day. As long as you are wearing one or the other (or even better - both!) that will put a smile on my face.

Down to the fun stuff now after that serious little chat. The actual products! Since I was 14, I have never gone a day with out wearing sunscreen on my face. This is thanks to my mum drilling it into me, as well as my own personal interest in makeup and beauty products from a young age.

For the past 5 or so years, I have been using this sunscreen from Mecca Cosmetica. It glides onto my skin so smoothly, and feels more like a moisturiser or primer, rather than a sunscreen. This is a chemical sunscreen.

mecca to save face, $45

If I am on a beach holiday, or know that I will be in the sun a lot on one particular day, then I mix it up and combine my routine with one of the original physical sunscreens, Invisible Zinc. Invisible Zinc is available almost anywhere (Coles to David Jones) and starts at $14.95. Personally, I like the Tinted Daywear, as I find it the most suited to wear on the face. It does give you a 'dewy' look, but if you are not into that, you can simply set it with a mineral powder (with added SPF protection...hoorah!)

tinted daywear by invisible zinc

Although I do love my Mecca sunscreen, it's with a heavy heart, I am looking to swap to a physical sunscreen, as they provide better protection against pigmentation and long term skin damage. A physical sunscreen is not for everyone, as it really feels like you are 'wearing sunscreen', so for those that don't want to deal with that, Mecca To Save Face is the product for you.

These two products are on my radar, and I'm currently testing both of them, so I will report back with my findings in a few weeks.

Aspect Hydra Shield, is available at select salons, and most will be happy to give you a small sample if you are an existing client.

aspect hydra shield

This Becca sunscreen also comes in a tinted version which I am looking forward to trying. Isn't the packaging colour just darling?

becca mineral face & body, $39

And there you have it, my 2 cents worth on sun protection. I hope you all got something out of it and will lovingly apply your sunscreen tomorrow morning!!

Happy product testing lovelies,

B xxx (aka the sunscreen nazi)

disclaimer : if you are a friend that has used one of those excuses, I still love you. You are just lucky I didn't use names xxx

1 February 2014

the perfect orange lipstick

At the beginning of 2013, I had a black tie wedding to attend in Sydney. A few days before the wedding, the Golden Globe Awards were on and I spotted the look below on Jessica Alba. (Red Carpet season is my favourite season of the year!)

I knew immediately that this was the exact lip colour I wanted to wear. I spent about half an hour on google tracking it down, and was extremely excited when I discovered that it was a shade by Hourglass Cosmetics, one of my favourite makeup brands. I had booked to have my makeup applied at Mecca Cosmetica (who stock Hourglass), so it felt like it was meant to be.

{Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in 'Riviera' is the name of it for anyone who is interested, and it can be found here for $42.}

The lipstick is in a liquid form with an applicator stick attached to the lid. The colour is very rich and it stayed on all night - I only really needed to reapply top coat and fix the edges a little after eating.

Below are a few photos of the shade on me (as I look nothing like J.Alba..).

{please excuse the hotel room selfie..}

{we look extra shiny as it was one of the hottest days of the
summer in sydney that day. but it was a good test for my makeup!
this photo was taken about 4 hours after the initial application of my lippy
...not bad, hey??}

I have worn the shade several times since this particular wedding, and always get comments on the colour. I have tried several different orange lipsticks before finding this one, and it beats all the others by a mile.

Happy weekend everyone

B xx

24 January 2014

all about the eyes

Keeping the skin around your eyes in tip-top condition can help to reduce and slow down the signs of ageing. It is important to start to look after your skin before it starts to age, rather than when you start to see the signs. The eyes are often the first thing a person looks at when meeting you - so don't you want to give a great first impression??

Here are our pick of eye serums. Now, everyone has different needs when it comes to the eye area, so we would suggest having a chat to one of the lovely girls at your closest Mecca Cosmetica or Aesop store. Serums are not designed to be the only eye care used - they are best followed by complementing eye creams, especially if the skin is dehydrated. Like a face serum, eye serums are formulated to target particular skin issues such as dark circles and fine lines.

Brooke's Pick:

Perricone MD

Vitamin C Ester Eye Serum

$82 from Mecca Cosmetica

proplenish : a review

ProPlenish is a relatively new anti-ageing product on the market, and I have been taking it religiously for the last 7 months. ProPlenish is a collagen supplement (in the form of Marine Collagen) that helps to replenish the collagen that our bodies (horribly!) slow down the production of as we go through our 20's. You can read more about the product here .

black tie event inspiration

I have worn this Carla Zampatti dress pictured to several events. It sure is a show stopper!

I love using red when I have an event to go to - a colour I wouldn't normally turn to. Red lipstick( Nars Heat Wave is a favourite) and black OPI nails (we don't want to be too matchy-matchy) or a nude nail for a more classic look.

When wearing a red or bright lip, I like to leave the eyes as natural as possible, lined with black liquid eyeliner.

I have 2 go- to hair styles for an event. One is side parted waves, the other is a classic ballet bun. This dress definately called for the later.

When a dress is detailed , I like to keep the shoes timeless a nd simple. These Zara heels are a perfect example.

B x

walt disney world part 1 - the magic kingdom

A while back, my sisters and I took a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
We had the best time, and stayed for ten (!) nights at one of the Disney Resorts.

i highly suggest taking a cross-body style bag so your hands are free to take photos/hug characters. this mimco bag i purchased for the trip was the perfect companion whilst park hoping. shoes that strap your feet in are also a must...flip flops/thongs are a no-no for a full day of walking. i was SO shocked by how many people were hat-less whilst wandering the parks...sun smart is fashionable, people!

Since returning, I have been asked many times to provide suggestions and tips on how to plan a Walt Disney World (WDW) holiday. So with that in mind I have decided to create a series of posts over the next few months dedicated to planning a Walt Disney World Trip.

SK-II facial treatment essence : a review

For the past 10 years I have been extremely diligent in my beauty regime.

A lot of the items have been mixed up and changed through out that time, but my one constant has been SK II Facial Treatment Essence (FTE).

FTE's main ingredient is Pitera (90%-read the background on Pitera here-it's quite amazing) FTE's nickname is 'Miracle Water' because of it's water like qualities and the way it works miracles on skin.

I must admit, the first thing that enticed me to try the product was the marketing of the company. The peaches and cream complexion of Cate Blanchett staring out at me from the pages of glossy magazines wore me down, and I did some research on the brand. After reading some reviews on FTE, I decided to give it a go - and haven't looked back since.

It gives my skin a gorgeous glow and is surprisingly hydrating for a product that isn't a cream. I use FTE morning and night, and it is the first thing I put on my skin after cleansing.

I use my hands to distribute a 20 cent piece sized drop over my face, using a patting motion. I let the goodness soak in for a few moments then follow with the rest of my products. I have somewhat sensitive skin and the product has not once irritated or broken out my skin. It also evens out my skin tone (a very important factor to me with combatting the ageing process!)

just wanted to show what my skin looks like with little makeup on - in this photo I have just concealer and a light mineral powder as cover on my face.

south west

One of the best things about living in Perth is the beautiful South West being only a 2 hour drive away.

We try to get down here at least twice a year. It's beauty is like no other place and for me personally, it has connections to my childhood, with many a summer holiday spent here.

There are wineries galore to explore when it is not beach weather. This trip we completed tastings at Vasse Felix & Voyager, as well as the Cheeky Monkey Brewery (the cider there is to die for).