It's Valentine's Day! So here are my favourite cheese-ball romantic movies and some products to match: Dirty Dancing, The Notebook & Pretty Woman

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Baby's  Beauty Corner: OPI nail polish in 'Bubble Bath' $19.95 available from www.davidjones.com.au, Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 'Sun Bronze' $15.95 available from www.priceline.com.au, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in 'Lodhi' $39.00 available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au

Dirty Dancing is not just a movie it is a religion, I can recite the whole movie from start to finish like it's my bible. My best friend Josephine and I have seen it so many times I cannot even remember but we watch it as regularly as a moderately religious person would go to church.

Baby is style icon, the way she wore those cute peasant blouses and the most perfect high waisted white jeans -  Classic 80's does 60's vibe. Her makeup was all about the perfect holiday tan (Rimmel Natural Bronzer)  with a pastel peach lip to show she blossoming into a woman. I'm sure that Baby's sister Lisa would have painted Baby's nails a colour very similar to OPI's 'Bubble bath' the perfect nude nail for any budding dancer. After every viewing of Dirty Dancing my reaction is always the same: 'Why the heck did Jennifer Grey get a nose job? She was so freakin' adorable'

The Notebook (2004)

Ally's - All Americana classic beauty products: Clinique Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15  $50.00 available from www.clinique.com.au, Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Stick $21.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

My two very essential essentials for watching The Notebook are kleenex and an endless supply of Lindt 85% Dark Chocolate - I can only watch it with these two items within arms reach at all times. Ally and Noah....If you want to get depressed about that one guy that you had a thing with and he moved away and never called again. Do not watch The Notebook. Let me tell you... In real life your Mum isn't hiding his love letters and he isn't off building you the most perfect house in the world!!! 

Ally has the all American stunning girl next door beauty thang down, pretty with a hint of seduction. Her skin is perfection, never too shiny due to the compact I'm sure she keeps with her at all times, Clinique powders are my favourite packaging, that jade green plastic has been a staple in my makeup bag since I was 16. Ally's lipstick is a mix between a coral and a red, never leaning too sexy or vampy. Revlon's 'Kiss me Coral' is just this - it gives you a bright lip without the 'trying too hard to be sexy' look.

Ryan Gosling will always be my movie dreamboat Valentine crush, so let's all just watch a Gosling marathon on the 14th and forget about real life!

Pretty Woman (1990)

Vivian from prostitute to posh out products : Covergirl Liquiline Eye Liner in 'Blackfire' $14.95 available from www.priceline.com.au, Benefit Gimme Brow in 'Medium/Deep' $32.00 available from www.adorebeauty.com.au

Who doesn't love Julia Roberts transformation from working girl to uptown fancy lady in Pretty Woman, personally I liked both looks equally. Working girl Julia new how to apply a matte kohl liner like it ain't nobodies business, it was worked into the eye smudged to and blended out around the eye to give extreme definition. Covergirl's Liquiline Eye Liner in 'Blackfire' is super soft and can be applied fuss free using the sponge tip to work it into your lash line. Julia Roberts is the O.G brow queen, her naturally bushy thick brows were always combed into perfect shape, Benefit's newbie Gimme Brow gives your eye brows a tint of colour and sets those bad boys in shape for the day or long long night as Vivian would have been getting ready for. 

There is something that is regularly forgotten and I would just like everyone to make mental not of how bangin' Julia Roberts body was in Pretty Woman. Damn Girl! Can we all just give it up for her because honeychild had legs for daaayyyyyyyssss! 

For all of you that have a romantic boyfriend who is going to wine and dine you at a fancy restaurant tonight for the ultimate Valentines day experience....BORING! Because this is what me and my girlfriends will be doing, jealous much? Probably not, but you know what how good is FRIENDS!

xxx Nella

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Manicure MONDAY! Gold French Tips with Rimmel Brit Manicure in English Rose and Revlon ColorStay in Fall Mood

Rimmel Brit Manicure in English Rose $8.95 and Revlon ColorStay in Fall Mood $16.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

This Monday's manicure was inspired by chipped nails and no time to reapply a whole new nail colour.....So I thought what about I just bang on a contrast tip! Ta-da! After seeing the images of Dior's very golden makeup for the SS14 show on style.com I have been wanting to golden gild everything and anything.....first stop the tips of my nails.

After a weekend of work and being a little ruff on my nails my existing Rimmel Brit Manicure in English rose was looking a little worse for wear, it is my new favourite 'no nail polish' nail polish, transparent with a slight baby pink cast.

My gold of choice was Revlon ColorStay's 'Fall Mood' which is an incredible bronze gold with flecks of red and green only noticeable in direct sunlight. I applied the tips with a fine craft paint brush, dipping the brush directly into the nail polish and carefully mapping out the tip of the nail with the first coat. After that dried I went over the tips again to intensify the gold.

I am glad that my laziness and lack of time can inspire the most creative of manicures!

xxx Nella

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What's in my bag: Fashion Week Essentials

Next week is MBFW?!?! That is Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week here in Sydney. I will be attending a few shows to cover beauty and hair trends to share with you dear readers and also do a lot of people watching. I am a little nervous about the week long event, so organising myself with lists and pre-packing my handbag is making me feel a little more at ease. Here are my essentials which will be seeing me through the week, I want to be more prepared than a girl scout going to camp!

Mason Pearson Junior Bristle and Nylon Brush $115.00
Once you Mason Pearson you will never go back, I hate all other hairbrushes. The difference is that when you brush your hair the bristles grip your hair and distribute natural oils and any product from the roots to the tips and it just makes your hair look 'done'. They are pricey but they do have the royal seal of approval, worth it.
Available from www.victoriasbasement.com.au

Avene Eau Thermal Spring Spray $7.99
French water in a can, calms my nerves. A spritz after applying makeup gives a dewy glow to the skin to avoid the cakey look.
Available from www.chemistwarehouse.com.au

Beauté Gazette Business Cards
Just in case! If you have a blog please get yourself some business cards, they are super useful when you are at events and meeting people.

Tissues
Because I don't want to sneeze on any fancy fashion people.

Panadol
Fashion might give me a headache.

HydraLyte
People in the fashion industry are usually quite thin, so I am unsure about sustenance over the week. I am also contemplating packing some protein bars and spacefood sticks.

Chuppa Chups
Same same, I'm sure at that 3pm daily slump fashion people just pop the champagne and Ciroc but I am packing Chuppa Chups.

Benah Kodi Bag $580.00
I LOVE BENAH! This bag is the cutest and just fashion enough to not feel judged and eyed off by all of the Celine and Chanel bags during the week.
Available from www.thebenah.com

Dries Van Noten X Linda Farrow Sunglasses
A little Anna Wintor and a little nap time, if it all gets too much I will just have some shut eye behind my glasses.
Available from www.lagarconne.com

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal $66.00
Having such a small bag is limiting....So I am busting out the trial size products. This product is instant glowy dewy healthy full of life in a tube. Pat around the cheekbones, temples and cupids bow and you will look 10% more like a Victoria's Secret Model.
Available from www.beccacosmetics.com

Stila Perfecting Concealer $37.00
What if I get a stress pimple from all the fashion?
Available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au

Becca Beach Tint in Grapefruit $42.00
Dewy cheeks, check! Its all about a bold dark lip so I am toning down the blush.
Available from www.beccacosmetics.com

Revlon Grow Lucious Mascara $21.95
Woah! Hello lashes! This big fat mascara wand gives you mega full on lashes in seconds. It is the only mascara I have found which is comparable to Make Up For Ever's smokey lash.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Loreal Shine Caresse in 200 Princess $19.20
After fiddling around with these, I have decided that I like them over the top of a lipstick to act as a long wear gloss.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Topshop Lip Pencil in Surrender $13.00
Hi vampy trampy lips.....a colour that I have been scared of wearing but my boyfriend is out of town and the fashion folks will totally get it.
Available from www.topshop.com

Kiki K Diary $19.95 and Pen
I am one of those people that no matter how many ical's and google calanders I have I still need to physically write something down to remember it.
Available from www.kikki-k.com

Pentax Camera
My trusty Pentax Optio is takes great photos and is very compact but if there is a camera fairy godmother reading I would really like the Pentax Q10 in Silver...pretty please.
Available from www.crkennedy.com.au

I will be updating you all on my fashion adventures constantly via Twitter and Instagram all the links are below.....Wish me luck!

xxx Nella

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

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Valentine's Day Nails

1.Kester Black - Fairy Floss 2. China Glaze - Snow 3. Revlon - Tulip 4. Model Co - Lilac Haze

5. Sally Hansen X-Treme - Golden

Happy Valentine's Day sweet beauties!

Last night my boyfriend said that my increasing excitement about Valentine's Day was scary - as if! 

This is what's on my nails this February 14th, using a dotting tool I totally went to town on my talons. After I had finished my slightly OTT nail art I topped it off with Revlon's Colorstay Gel-Shine Top Coat....OMG! It is amazing, seriously it glides on and creates the most glossy amazing finish to your nails. Dry time is about 10mins, but once it is dry there is no budging this stuff - total new favourite!

If you are nail-crazy and like all things in the realm of cute follow me on instagram

@nellavanveenendaal

xoxo Nella

P.S What's on your nails this Valentine's Day?

Beauté Gazette's Best in Beauty for 2012

1. LIP PRODUCTS
Revlon Balm Stains $17.95 and Revlon Lip Butters $21.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

Both of these products were super hyped prior to them being released in Australia and I didn't want to like them but after trying them out I cannot fault them.
The Balm Stains are exactly that, they go on as a balm and create a soft stain - it isn't a long wear product its just the happy medium between a lip balm and a sheer lipstick. My favorites: Smitten (flush fucshia) and Adore (deep ash red)
Revlon Lip Butters are a highly pigmented lip balm, and they are AMAZING. The colour range is fantastic from nudes to deep berries and reds - any colour you could possible want. My Favorites: Raspberry Pie, Pink Truffle, Tutti Fruiti & Red Velvet.

2. FOUNDATION

Stila SPF 30 Oil-Free Sheer Colour Tinted Moisturizer $55.00 avilable from www.meccacostmetica.com.au

Everything I want in a base : hydrating, blendable, colour corrective and a high spf! This was my go to base of 2012, in winter blotting away the shine with a tissue and in summer leaving it looking glowy and natural. This is a light coverage foundation, and you will need to conceal over the top and powder if you like but it gives everyone a great glow. I kept on coming back to this all year after trying heavier foundations which I found too heavy and suffocating for my skin.

3. MASCARA

Maybelline The Flasies Flared $19.25 available from www.priceline.com.au

If you can get over the hideous packaging this is one amazing mascara! I have been a high-end mascara snob up until now, preferring Lancome and Chanel never being satisfied with cheaper alternatives. The Flasies gives wham-bam lashes, lengthening and thickening with only 1 or 2 coats and is super charcoal black. It is a total dupe for my adored Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara and I unashamedly love it.

4. BROWS

MAC Eye Shadow in Omega $33.00 available from www.maccosmetics.com.au

Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil in Hazel $8.50 available from www.priceline.com.au

Eye Brows have been a really big deal to me in 2012....that sounds superficial and really not that big of a deal at all in the scheme of things. But during my makeup routine over the past year I have not been able to feel put together and 'done' if my eyebrows weren't attended too. MAC's Omega is a matte ash brown which is great for blondes, it blends into your natural brows easily and stays put all day. If I am in huge rush and cant be bothered with whole angle brush and powder I will run Rimmel's Eye Brow Pencil in Hazel through my brows, it is a very warm light brown which doesn't scream 'I AM WEARING A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MAKEUP TODAY'.  I couldn't decided between the two products and both are equally great depending on the amount of time you can afford in front of the mirror.

5.BRONZER

Stila Sun Shade Bronzer (shade 1) $45.00 available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au 

Hello sunshine in a compact, this is a perfecto matte bronzer for lighter skin tones. Something different I have started doing in 2012 is applying my bronzer with a small tapered brush rather than a huge traditional bronzing brush. This gives you more control and a better finish, chiseling out my non existent cheek bones and giving that halo-J-Lo glow.

6. BLUSH & HIGHLIGHTER

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar $86.00 available from www.bobbibrown.com.au

Here is where I eat my words....I had previously slayed this product, after trying to use it with a massive brush and getting it EVERYWHERE. Do not do that. Use smaller brushes and isolate the colours using them on different areas of the face ie: the second colour down is amazing as a highlighter on its own for the inner corners of your eyes and down the center of your nose and the bottom three together are a the perfects rosey blush for the apples of your cheeks blended up onto the cheek bone to give a very 90's Linda Evangelista-Super model look. I want to pick up a few more shimmer bricks because I just cannot get enough of them, how wrong I was. Tsk-Tsk-Tsk!

7. EYE SHADOW

The Balm Over Shadow in 'If your rich, I'm single' $26.95 available from David Jones Australia Wide

Woahhhhhh! These shadows are super tiny but they are incredibly pigmented and easy to work with, using a small flat brush pack on the shadow in roughly the shape you want and blend out with a fluffy brush. They are shimmer city but have amazing depth in colour and give a dimension to the eyes like you have used multiple shadows and spent hours perfecting your eye shadow. This simple little pot is amazing, I wore this over Christmas to various parties will post a mini tutorial using this shadow soon.

8. EYE LINER

Cover Girl Liquiline Blast Liner $14.95 www.priceline.com.au

I suffer from the most scardy-cat eyes ever, even go near them with a pencil and they twitch and water up, so liners need to be super soft and glide on and be done in under 30seconds. I am so in Love with  these CoverGirl liners, there are the softest pencil I have ever used! They can be used on your waterline or like me if you under packed on a trip and didn't bring a single eye shadow can be blended out with fingers or a brush to create a very quick smudgy/smokey look.

9. CONCEALER

BareMinerals Stroke of Light $26.95 available from www.kitcosmetics.com.au

I have had a switch up with concealers this year getting older my priority changed, I used to just want heavy coverage but now I am paranoid of creasing with heavy coverage and I need a moisturizing seamless concealer. Applied with only moisturizer or on top of a foundation Bare Minerals Stroke of like is amazing at blending in and doesn't crease no matter how much laughing I do - I laugh A LOT!

10. BATH PRODUCT

Korres Shower Gel $22.95 available from www.kitcosmetics.com.au

Korres Shower Gels are heaven, they are almost completely natural I think - they have a speil about how they are free from any nasty things on the side of the bottle. The main reason I like them is the smells....ahhhhhhh they are so refreshing and heavenly, during Winter I was big into the Vanilla and Cinnamon for Summer I have been liking the fresh Jasmine Rose. 

11. HAIR CARE

Organic Care Shampoo and Conditioner $3.60 available from Woolworths

I am a big advocate of organic and nasty free shampoo and conditioner, there is no point in spending heaps of money on it either.....ummm it goes down the drain. When I am in the shower I products which are going to clean and not leave any chemical residue in my hair - because I load enough oils and dry shampoo and hair spray and texturizer after the shower. Organic Care is great, all the different varieties leave my hair feeling the same after being washed but I try to buy the Heat Protect or Colour Protect Shampoo and Conditioner combos.

12. EYE CREAM

The Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel $17.95 available from www.thebodyshop.com.au

So this is new, an eye cream. I am about to turn 29 in less than a week *freak out* and for the first time in my life I feel an eye cream is absolutely essential in my night time skin care routine. What I love about The Body Shop's Elderflower Eye Gel is that it is unscented, and super cooling - great for the sensitive skin around your eyes. It has decreased puffiness, dark circles and the little dotty things I get when I am absolutely knackered. 

Hope you enjoyed this mamoth post! Woah! With Christmas and New Years I took a little time off trying to spend time with my friends and family - more regular posting will be happening from now on - promise.

Nella xxx

Please let me know what product you enjoyed over the last year in the comments below... I would love to know about anything I am missing out on.

What's in my bag? Summer Everyday Makeup

My makeup bag changes daily depending if I have had enough time to apply eyeshadow or if I can be bothered with a bright lip.
This is what I have been carrying about in my makeup bag today:

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle:
This is my perfect brownie nude - finally I have found one! Having a very light and pink toned skin beige-nude toned lip colours look terrible on me, l look absolutely sick. In the packaging Pink Truffle looks slightly mumsy, but on the lips it gives just the right amount on 'my lips but better' with a slight nod to Olivia Palermo.

Real Techniques Contour Brush:
The only brush I have been using to apply blush, it can get into the hollow of your cheek to do a bit of cheek-bone cheating contouring and can also apply your blush perfectly onto the apples of your cheeks. Recently I have been totally into using smaller brushes to apply product and then a larger kabuki to blend out.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar:
Previously I had written about Bobbi Brown Shimmer bricks saying that they weren't worth the hype - I am putting my hand up - I was wrong. The reason I was hating on the bricks was that I was applying them all wrong! Using smaller brushes like the Real Techniques Contour Brush, and using the colours in the shimmer brick separately and only applying to your cheeks not an all over shimmer mess- they give you the sweetest glow to your cheeks.

The Balm Sexy Mama Transulesent Powder:
By 10am my forehead is shining like its just won a logie during summer, translucent powder is my best friend. Tinted powders give me too much coverage and look cakey but this powder is just right.

Lancomes Hypnose Drama:
With such a neutral face go I BIG with my lashes, like 8 layers of thick spider lashes.

Dr Jart+ BB Water Fuse:
Being out and about this doubles as my sunscreen, if I am going to have lunch outside or going to appointments I will re-apply this to make sure not to get burnt. The formula is light enough to be build-able and blends easily with fingers.

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Concealer Shade 2:
I picked this up over the weekend and already it is a new favourite, giving good coverage for under eye concealing with slight light reflecting shine not as much as YSL's Touche Eclat. It is also a very affordable at $26.95 compared to other higher end brands concealers.

Loreal Brow Stylist in blonde:
Wow this is great, it is such a soft wax pencil and glides onto brows rather than pulling. The colour isn't that amazing - but it does the job.

Sportsgirl Travel Kabuki:
Such a soft brush - I love it for applying translucent powder throughout the day.

So that's it - probably my most restrained makeup bag ever.
What's in your summer everyday makeup bag? Is there anything that you cannot leave the house without?

Beauté Gazette's American Shopping list

My product obsession is reaching fever pitch at the moment - blame it on YouTube Beauty Channels and Bloggers enticing reviews and that I have a serious case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). It is super frustrating when products are raved about online and then you do a search for them and either find that they aren't available in Australia or the price is phenomenally inflated and shipping is the price of a small car.
My friend Mazzy is about to go to the states to visit family and while she is over there I have given her the below shopping list (all prices are in US dollars):

Sephora Favorites Sets $25.00 - $75.00 available from Sephora
These packs are so handy, containing 9 or so product mini's and 1 full size product it is a great way to test out new brands and releases. I like mini's because to be honest I hardly ever finish a full product anyways. The selections are constantly rotating at Sephora so it is like a lucky dip.

Wet 'N' Wild Eyeshadow trio in 'Sweet as Candy' $4.00 available from Drugstores
Wet'n'Wild eyeshadow is always raved about with most reviews comparing the pigmentation and creaminess to MAC shadows. Of course I am desperate to try them and I am sure I will hate them because shimmery eye shadows are so not my thing BUT how can I not give them a try?

Slatkin and Co Candles in Leaves and Black Pepper Bergamot 2 for $20.00 available from Bath and Body Works
American friends of mine think its hilarious that I am so desperate for these candles because Bath and Body Works is so cringy. What can I say? My consumer driven taste buds are salivating to smell Leaves - every time I see a youtuber stick this candle under their nose and sniff they look like they have smelt a rare orchid in paradise. Gimme!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Smitten and Honey $7.50
These aren't available in Australia till January and I seriously cannot wait, they are highly raved about as a dupe and advancement on the Clinique chubby sticks. Also expect a massive price hike when they arrive on Australian shelves so at US$7.50 I am totally getting 2!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hour Blush in Blissful $25.00
Oh heavens these blushes look so heavily pigmented in swatches I have seen online, Tarte isn't available in Australia or UK so I have been google image searching lustfully looking at swatches to  decide which would look the perfect peachiest blushful pink on my skin tone, I am so excited to wear this colour over summer on my cheeks and to test if they really do last 12-hours of wear time.

Josie Maran  Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40 $32.00
Wasn't Josie Maran on the TV version of superman in the late 90's? Or something like that? Anyway, I love these products the argan oils and also the magic cheek and lip stain market make you look like you have been sucking on redskins for 2 days.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer palette $10.50
Megan Isobel one of my favourite bloggers/youtubers raves about this concealer palette and with my increasing dark circles and bags this concealer couldn't arrive fast enough. Don't know much more about this at all but I totally need it.

Here is what I am curious about:
How much are your swayed about products by bloggers? and what products are you finding hard to get where you live in the world?

Beauté Gazette's Work Out Face

After a week's recovery from being ill and feeling like death becomes her, I have rejoined the world. This morning I attempted some exercise which I was dreading after laying on my bum all week - I felt like anything but fit and healthy.

To pep myself up I decided to apply some products which are exercise proof, meaning they are not going to run down your face at the gym or if you decide to go for a spontaneous dip after your run you aren't going to freak the poor kids in the wading pool out with your panda eyes.

Revlon Grow Lucious Waterproof Mascara $18.70(On sale)

One of my favorite youtuber's Chelsea (Chelseawears check her out!) uses this mascara all the time, and I have always been suspicious of it because Revlon mascara's in the past haven't impressed me BUT seeing this on sale at the discount chemist - like an obsessed bargin hunter- I picked it up and now love it! The packaging is awful, but it is a really good mascara for those days you need natural lashes not spider eyes.

Available from Chemist Warehouse www.chemistwearhouse.com.au

Ella Baché Sunguard Foundation 30+ $46.00

This is the thickest goopiest foundation sunscreen ever, but it covers like no other you can sweat, rub, swim and it won't budge. This is great for across your nose if you are out doors in summer, it's like grown ups zinc.

Available from Ella Baché www.ellabache.com.au

Bobbi Brown SPF15 Lip Balm $42.00

If you are exercising outside in the sun protecting your lips is really important, the last thing you want is sun spots on your lips. Ewwwww

Available from David Jones Stores www.bobbibrown.com

Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon $42.00

This is adorable, not overly pigmented it is very much a tint - not a blush. When applied with fingers on the apples of your cheeks it leaves a dewy glow mimicking a radiant post warm up jog glow. 

Available from www.beccacosmetics.com.au 

Smashbox Brow Tech To Go $38.95

Groomed eyebrows can change your face, even if you are sweating up a storm on the cross trainer at the gym and your hair is a mess, having groomed eyebrows will still make you look composed. If your gym crush happens to be lifting weights across the way he will be able to make out if you are giving him a cheeky wink, and you're not just freaking out that the cross trainer went up to level 8 resistance.

Smashbox available from www.kitcostmetics.com.au

Almost dying trying to get back into soft sand running this morning on the beach.

Just Another Manicure Monday : Revlon Whimsical

Rimmel 'Sky High' $4.95 + Revlon 'Whimsical' $13.90 + Seche Vite Top Coat $14.95

Blue and Pink or Boys and Girls is one of my favorite colour combos. Its sickeningly sweet and cheesy  -  but that's my style sometimes. The big baller in this combo is Revlon's Whimsical, a baby blue jelly base with large pink and blue hexagonal glitter as well as smaller iridescent spray glitter pieces. To apply Whimsical on its own it would take 6 or so coats to achieve the opacity it looks in the bottle.

If you applied Whimsical over a lighter base the blue jelly base would show up a little more I suppose. Maybe I am just not good with subtlety? Its just that with all the amazingly dense glitter polishes on the market now Whimsical feels a like the puney kid that gets picked last for the basketball team. Step your game up Revlon!

Just Another Manicure Monday : Bright Tips

China Glaze 'Nude' $11.40 + Fine Paint Brush + Revlon 'Knock out' $13.60+ Rimmel 'Green with Envy' $4.50 + OPI 'Mod About You' $14.60 +  Revlon 'Royal' $13.60 + Yves Saint Laurent 'Fuchsia Neo- Classic' $35.00

Contrast or bright tips are a nail trend which I have been desperate to perfect for a while, trying over and over again to do the tip using the brush directly from the bottle. It looked horrendous! WHAT A MESS! Then I picked up a few fine point paint brushes from the bargin store and since then my bright tips have been effortlessly neat and sassy!


-Apply your base coat a nude or lighter colour is best
-Map out your tip with a small about of polish on the paint brush
-Then go back in with a thicker application of polish

Just Another Manicure Monday : Cobalt Mermaid Tips

Revlon Top Speed ' Royal' $13.99 Deborah Lippmann 'Across the Universe' $25.00 Seche Vite Top Coat $14.95

I am so crazy for cobalt in general - Cobalt 541 C in pantone just incase anyone needed to know. Revlon's Royal is a true bright cobalt it is a dream to apply, opaque in 2 coats. The brush on Revlon polishes isn't my favorite but it's easy to get the hang of once you're up to your third nail or so. It dries to a semi matte and but glosses up nicely with a top coat if you want to wear it on its own BUT this is Manicure Monday so like hell I am wearing it on its own! Glitter tips are a cute edition to jazz up your average nail, apply glitter with either a sponge or several layers of glitter top coat. The end result is as pretty a mermaids tail.

Just Another Manicure Monday : Revlon Tropicana

This weeks manicure Monday is slightly more restrained than the previous one, I have lots of thing on this week a funeral, a birthday dinner, NPA and a Shoot. So I wanted a flat colour with no shimmer, no glitter, no accent nail just a straight up bright to take me through the week.

Revlon's 'Tropicana' ($4.95- $13.00 depending where you buy it) is a bright orange coral, this is a great alternative if you want something that isn't red. Revlon nail polishes are hit and miss with consistency, Tropicana is a hit - opaque in 2 coats and it is really easy to apply. Because I want it to last through the week I used Seche Vite as a top coat and applied it over the top tip to avoid chips. But I'm sure by Wednesday I'll get some chipping from general wear and tear.

NAIL POLISH ANNONYMOUS ANNOUCEMENT:

We are holding the second NPA meeting this Thursday 28th June from 6.30pm onwards at the Cricketers Arms Hotel in Surry Hills, Sydney. 

Bring any of your favorite nail polishes or your not so favorites to trade them with other polished possessed ladies. It is a really fun night, so if you are interested please join us, all nail polish junkies are welcome.

Don't Believe The Hype : #1

Everything on this blog is my personal opinion - apart from if its a specified spiel from a giant cosmetic company claiming that they can make your lips bigger, get rid of you wrinkles and make you 10 times more beautiful by tomorrow.

Its not serious and I usually don't buy things that I really dislike because I am a 'savvy 20 something that knows how to use the power of the Internet for good not evil'.  My friends and family do it love when I get it wrong because I always give away things that haven't made the cut.

1. Loreal Telescopic Mascara $26.80

This was raved about by one of my favorite YouTube girls Vivianna Does Make up, she was banging on about how she put it on whilst on the tube (British). So I bought it. Its crap, well its not crap, she loves it. Its the brush that's not a brush its a comb and the product is really wet formula which just makes my usually naturally curled lashes point out straight and clump. If you can make this work for you, 10 points and please let me know how you do it.

2. Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains $16.00

When the lip stain trend was in full force last year I was sucked into that like a tornado, I was one of the cows in Twister - not Helen Hunt. But I survived with the debris of 15 lip stains cluttering up my makeup draws. Firstly the Revlon Lip Stain has a lip balm on the end - mine snapped off within the first use so I have no idea what it was like. It didn't pack the punch of my other Covergirl lipstains which the stain lasts almost all day and definitely have got more colour pay off and they are also $6.00 cheaper. And one more thing I hate that tacky twilight-esque font on the packaging.

3. Shu Uemura Foundations - $64 Face Architect Foundation  (but in general it's all of them)

I really want to like them because its one of my favorite Japanese beauty brands. The problem is that they do not have my colour, white girl is not in the spectrum of shades. Its such a shame because they have this really cool aerosol can of foundation that's really high tech and I am desperate to have it. Please don't let this put you off the brand it is fantastic and if they have your shade then lucky you! Especially the eye shadows they are a dream and the limited edition collaborations are beautiful especially the Tsumori Chitsato sets  from about 2 years ago.

4. Maybelline Great Lash Curved Mascara $8.99

The curved brush really stabs my eyeballs when applying it and the fall out is really bad it had given me dark circles by 10am. This cult product made me look like I was in a cult.

5. Nars Lip Gloss $39.00

I'm not really a lip gloss girl to begin with, your hair gets stuck in it. The Nars lip gloss is so sticky that its hard to even apply its like putting cold honey on your lips. The colours are really good and they have a new plumping formulation which i will try out to see if there is any improvement to the formula.

6. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks $48.00

These are really shimmery, duh its called a freakin' Shimmer Brick! But its the type of shimmer and opacity which should only be going on in eye shadows. It is so shimmery it casts a white glow to your face from the lightest colours and highlights YOUR PORES!!!! I had a really bad time with this in both colours - yep I bought 2 colours - SUCKER!

7. Kiehl's Penthol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream $22.50 

This is a good moistirizer, just not for my face, its since been de-potted and put in travel size containers for legs on holidays. It gets all in my eyebrows and hair line coating them in white cream making me look like Santa Clause and it's impossible to put a foundation on top of it because it peels off like pilling on a cheap synthetic jumper. 

8. Burts Bees Sensetive Eye Cream ($29.95 N/A)

I did not purchase this -  it came free with a magazine. But I had to include it because the story of my single time using the product is very funny. I packed this eye cream in my toiletries bag when going on the first sexy weekend away with a lover, I thought you know its a small sample size and 'natural' kind off not wanting to pack my massive night cream. After coming back from a night swim and a long shower I moisturized as normal before bed, the eye cream was on the bedside table and I applied it in the dark before going to sleep. Morning came and I awoke to my lovers shocked face on top of mine saying that he could 'call a doctor if i needed', the eye cream had turned into a white flaky crust all over my eyes! It came off with a little warm water and my skin wasn't irritated at all but the shocked reaction caused me to bin the eye cream straight away.

So in total I have wasted $225.30 on these products. It is actually a lot more than this but these are the products that I can remember using and not agreeing with. 

What products have you regretted buying? Or what products have you been talked into buying by a very persuasive beauty counter sales assistant like a sucker?

Just Another Manicure Monday : Pastels and Glitter Hearts

Revlon Top Speed - Cloud 710 $4.95 + Pa Premier Lame Grande AA07 $5.00

Welcome to 'Just Another Manicure Monday'! Cringy but what the hey, its given me an excuse to actually HAVE to paint my nails every Monday without fail.

Revlon's Cloud is an absolute chameleon of a colour - it has an extremely opaque white cast base and the colour notes aren't a lilac or a pastel blue but a perfect combination of the both. I love it underneath glitters on its own its great on your toes but looks pretty flat on your nails. There are these stores called 'Gloss' which are scattered around Sydney CDB all the Revlon polishes are $4.95!!!!!! Pa polishes are everywhere in Japan like everywhere, I got about 25 when I was there and still haven't tried half of them. But in case you haven't bought $199 Jetstar sale flights to Narita recently I found a Japanese nail polish hot spot on the top floor of Market City in Chinatown at the bargain store, they have a small range of Pa Polish.

What does this manicure say to the world? I'm pretty sure it wont get you a boyfriend, but you will feel super cute and as long as you don't wear head to toe pastels I think this is a kind of acceptable manicure for a 28 year old? Whatever, I love it! 

Winter Nail Combos : Across the Universe

It's taken a while but I have finally found my favorite winter nail glitter combo.

Last winter it was all about a deep red with a high gloss topcoat, but since I have been totally addicted to glitter polishes I was desperate to find a combo that would match the cooler weather.

The above is my absolute favorite:

1. Revlon Top Speed Black

If you are using any glitter polish with a jelly base to make it pop - do your base in flat colour that matches. Navy would also work well with this look. Because there are going to be quite a few layers choose one which will give you total opacity in one coat and a quick dryer otherwise you are going to waiting around for ages not being able to do anything stuck in the hands in the air drying stance.

2. Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe

This is a total nail splurge! Could I have shopped around and got a dupe? Yes. I saw it and fell in love and before I knew it I was paying $14 shipping for it to come from Jamaica on Ebay. Oh well. Thank goodness I LOVE IT! It's a jelly so if applied on its own it would take 5 coats to be opaque. The blues and green glitter are so pretty and my nails kind of look like beetle wings. On saturday really cute hunk told me my nails looked like 'Galaxy's' - Which was the last confirmation I needed to know this was the ultimate winter nail combo.

3. Seche Vite Fast Dry Topcoat

Holy water of a Topcoat, this will change your life. It takes about 10mins dry time but then its done and not budging, the result is super super shiny. Apparently it has loads of chemicals in it and isn't the best for you - just a heads up!

So excited to debut this out of control 'Galaxy' look at the next N.P.A meeting.