Modern Beauté Icon: Roisin Murphy

Irish born Roisin Murphy singer once part of Moloko but now solo making my favourite dance floor jams. Roisin is a natural risk taker in all senses, she far prefers to be bright interesting and stand out rather than to run with the beige pack fronted by their vanilla leader Olivia Paleremo. 

Roisin has been out of the spotlight for a little while taking time out to have babies in the Irish county side, she is back about to release a new album next year and I am super excited to be seeing more of Roisin in the press lately and am also dying to dance around to her new songs.

Roisin favours strong experimental fashion so her makeup is usually complimented with a defined natural look nothing too crazy and clashing. Her eyes are always lined on the upper lashline with a brown liner which is great if you have blue eyes because it makes them pop without looking too harsh like black can sometimes do. Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in 'Via Appia' $38.00 available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au is a beautiful burnish-brown it glides on easily and blends out without too much hassle.

Roisin is more inclined to favour a blended rosey-caramel eye rather than a winged liner, much more of a high glam 70's vibe - which I am so into.  The image in the top left is probably the most dramatic I have ever seen Roisin's makeup to achieve the intense build of colour try a dry-to-wet eyeshadow Yves Saint Laurent Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eyeshadow Palette in Number 7 $66.30 available from www.feelunique.com has heavenly tones for blondes. Using a few drops of water the shadows can become liners or used on their on can be blended out to create a beautiful wash of colour over your lids.

The only other beauty must for Roisin is a peachy blush, with such a soft ivory skin tone (pale, very pale - its ok so am I) it can make you look a little sallow if you don't pop a bit of blush onto the apples of your cheeks. Peach is the perfect subtle colour for porcelain babes, I adore Illamasqua Blusher in 'Sophie' $30.60 available from Illamasqua counters at Myer and www.asos.com subtle enough to make you look like you may not even be wearing blush, but just enough to give your face some depth.

Roisin is truly a Modern Beauté Icon, she is not afraid to be different and have fun with a look and most importantly she uses humour in her style which is so refreshing. Every time I feel like I am playing it too safe I try and say to myself 'what would Roisin do?'

Please comment with any of your favorite Modern Beauté Icons

xxx Nella

Last Chance to WIN The La Mav Organic Skin Science Pack

The La Mav competition is closing this Friday 30th November at 9am EST! If you haven't already entered it is your last chance to win this amazing prize pack valued at $170.00 containing :

Hyaluronan Daily Moisture Créme 50ml

Intense Moisture Nightly Repair Nectar 30ml

Bio-A7 Firming Eye Lotion 15ml

All you have to do to win this gorgeous La Mav certified organic pack is:

1. 'LIKE' La Mav on Facebook HERE

2. 'LIKE' Beaute Gazette on Facebook HERE

3. Email Beauté Gazette with your details (Name & Shipping Address): beautegazette@gmail.com

I will ship to anywhere in the world - so if you are in a very cold far away country and would like a chance to try some beautiful Australian skin care products now is your chance.

The very lucky winner will be notified via email shortly after 9am on Friday.

Good Luck Ladies.

Also I would like to say THANK-YOU for all the lovely emails and support.

Your feedback means so much to me.

Nella xx

The Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel

Elderflower Un-Perfumed Eye Gel $17.95  is Available from The Body Shop 

www.thebodyshop.com.

A couple of weeks ago I had a bad reaction to sample of a face serum, this was bound to happen because of the amount of products I test out and sometimes the ingredients aren't listed on a small sample. My skin has been going through several changes and is slightly more sensitive because of them; the change in season is a big difference and also I have stopped taking the contraceptive pill which effects your hormones and skin quite a lot. So I had this terrible reaction which left the skin under my eyes very raw, dry and burning, every eye soothing gel I already had in my skin care collection was perfumed and was just making it worse. So I went on the hunt for an un-perfumed soothing eye gel, after a little online research I decided to pick up The Body Shop's Un-perfumed Elderflower Eye Gel. It has been a little jar of heaven for my sore eyes, so cooling and calming with only the smallest about needed. I have been applying it at night before going to sleep all around the eye area, lid and under eye and in the morning after a shower letting it absorb whilst I have a cup of tea and wiping any excess off before I put my makeup on. In a week my raw red skin under my eyes has completely healed and I am continuing to use this eye gel because if it healed that sore red skin so quickly it must be doing other miracle type things on my eyes also.

Have you used The Body Shops Un Perfumed Eye Gel before? Let me know if you are as in love as I am.

xxx Nella

BLUE CRUSH

Australis 10 Hour Eye Pencil $9.95 + Covergirl Liquilline Blast $14.95 + Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Flared $19.25 =

Beauté Gazette's Blue Crush Eye Look!

Cara Delevingne on the latest cover of I.D is rocking some serious coloured liner in a fluro orange -  SHE LOOKS PHENOMENAL! Personally if I tried a fluro orange it would look very sickening and maybe even like I was suffering from a contagious eye infection. So to try this look out I went a bit on the safe side opting for a bright matte blue, depending on your skin tone pick a liner colour which makes your eyes pop and compliments your colouring.

Here are a few tricks to perfecting the coloured liner look:

1. Starting with a natural base is essential no heavy foundation, contouring or blush. Stick with a BB Cream or Tinted moisturiser, a little concealer and the lightest touch of blush just to the apples of your cheeks. Trust me if you go to heavy with this look it can turn drag very quickly, also keep clothing casual.

2. Tight line your upper water line (that's the little rim inside your eyelid under your top lashes) with a waterproof soft kohl liner. This will give your lashes a boarder so the coloured liner won't blend into your lashes and look messy. The technique of applying a liner to your tight line / upper lash line might feel weird if you aren't used to it, but it is easy to clean up any rubbing or smudging with a cotton bud. 

3. When using the coloured liner start in the middle of the eye looking straight ahead in a mirror (it is easier looking straight ahead rather than closing your eyes because you get to see if you have made any mistakes quickly and it is easier to get both eyes even) working the pencil into the inner corner of the eye and then going back over to the outer corner evening and thickening your line as you go. Be sure to use a waterproof coloured liner - smudging through the day or night will totally ruin your look.

Bright coloured liners are such a fun summertime look, let me know what your favourite liner colours and brands are in the comments!

xxx Nella

Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection by OPI

When I first saw the images for the O.P.I Minnie Mouse collection I almost died of cute a overload, the packaging and marketing behind the collection is beyond adorable.

If you are a massive Disney fan or have a Minnie obsession you are going to love the collection. But if you aren't a super-fan then you're not missing out on much in terms of colours if you pass on this collection. I was given the Mini-Minnie's as a gift from my bestest friend Josephine because we are both totally Minnie Mouse obsessed. 

*SIDE NOTE TO OPI* If you are going to put out a ridiculous amount of collections a year, please make them worth while in collecting with new and unique colours not just filler colours with cute packaging.

Here is my colour round up:

Nothin' Mouse 'Bout it : A slightly pink but almost clear polish with a pastel pink micro glitter and matte-pearl-pastel-pink heart glitters. This is the star polish of the collection, it is ok, very cute, but just ok. You can find these types of polishes with heart shaped glitter in china town or cheaper variety stores I'm pretty sure. Also Nothin' Mouse 'Bout it is not available in the mini set, so if you want to try it out you will need to purchase the full size.

I'm All Ears: Unexpectedly is my favourite of all the colours, a pink based jelly red with magenta coloured mirco-glitter jelly consistency. Opaque in 2 coats, a very pretty colour and looks lovely on they nail, very easy to apply and dried the fastest out of all the colours.

If You Moust You Moust: Not a fan of this colour, it applied with loads of streaking and needed 3 coats to become even on the nail. A heavy lilac infused bright pastel pink which on darker skin tones would look beautiful, but on me it looks too barbie-esque. My big problem with this colour is that there isn't anything original or special about it and I have about 10 that are very similar.

The Colour of Minnie: A true apple red with a fine silver micro-shimmer running through the polish, applied like a dream needing only one coat. This is a great polish. and reminds me why OPI are the leaders in the nail game, if only all OPI polishes applied like The Colour of Minnie. 

To round up, I am not totally blown away by this collection it was probably the weakest of the year not coming anywhere near the amazing Sky Fall collection which was released most recently. But if you are a die-hard Minnie fan like me you will love how this looks sitting on your dresser or in your bathroom cabinet.

I have had some questions about polish definitions from readers so here are some common terms de-coded for the not so polish obsessed:

Jelly Consistency : When the polish is tined and not opaque, usually you can tell this if you hold the bottle up to light and it will appear more translucent. 

Micro-Glitter: A very fine glitter suspended in the polish, usually in a jelly polishes.

Micro-Shimmer: Shimmer running through a polish very fine with no obvious glitter particles. Usually found in an opaque polish to create a sheen or pearl effect to the nail.

Duo-Chrome: A term given to glitter or shimmer that can cast two different colours i.e. blue in some lights and purple in other lights.

JUST A REMINDER TO ENTER THE LA MAVE GIVEAWAY ALL DETAILS IN THE POST BELOW.

xxx Nella

La Mav Bloggers Brunch and GIVEAWAY!

 I was late to the La Mav Organic Organic Skin Science bloggers brunch last Thursday, which meant I missed the main presentation by La Mav's founder Tarj Mavi but she kindly gave me a one-on-one initiation to the brand at the end of the brunch. Freaking out I was late also made me only have a few bites of the delicious pancakes at the Wharf Resturant - which was maybe a good thing for my every growing hips and bum.
La Mav was started by Tarj (a veterinarian pharmacologist) when she was suffering from server pigmentation on her face after pregnancy. Not satisfied with the harsh topical ointments that doctors and dermatologists were prescribing for her skin she decided to try a natural organic route developing La Mav along the way. Having the founder of a brand talk you through their products using there own personal experience as guidance was terrific - Tarj was a wealth of knowledge on natural ingredients and all things skin.
For the past week I have been trying out the Skin-Brightening Christmas pack, using the Rumex Advanced Lightening Day Créme under my makeup, the Vit-C Advanced Nightly Repair Nectar - a beautiful oil which hydrates and softens skin overnight and the Anti-dark Circle Ultra-Firm Eye Gel - which is a lifesaver for dark circle applying morning and night. When I am given products to try out I do feel kind of guilty because it feels a little like cheating when reviewing - BUT I LOVE THESE PRODUCTS. The whitening and lightening did sound daunting and weird at first because I am so pale but it has really helped even out my skin tone with sun spots and redness which I just had accepted as normal.

OK here is the exciting part!

La Mav have kindly given me a beautiful Ultra Hydration pack valued at $170.00 to giveaway to one lucky reader of Beauté Gazette, the pack contains:

Hyaluronan Daily Moisture Créme 50ml

Intense Moisture Nightly Repair Nectar 30ml

Bio-A7 Firming Eye Lotion 15ml

All you have to do to win this gorgeous La Mav certified organic pack is:

1. 'LIKE' La Mav on Facebook HERE

2. 'LIKE' Beaute Gazette on Facebook HERE

3. Email Beauté Gazette with your details: beautegazette@gmail.com

I will ship to anywhere in the world - so if you are in a very cold far away country and would like a chance to try some beautiful Australian skin care products now is your chance.

GOOD LUCK

xxx  Nella

Product and stockist information available at www.lamav.com

Cheeky Cheeks: Topshop's Cream Blush in 'Neon Rose'

Topshop Cream Blush in Neon-Rose AU$12.00

www.topshop.com

Coming into summer using a cream blush (and cream bronzer) to give a dewy flush of colour to your cheeky-cheeks looks far more natural and less fussy than a powder especially when combined with a light tinted base. Also if you start getting a bit hot and dishevelled through the day you can always just blend it back into place with your fingers.

Topshop's Neon-Rose is a bright BRIGHT peachy-rose colour it gives a glowy-dewy tint to the cheeks rather than a powdery finish like most powder blushes I have tried. Neon-Rose is extremely pigmented and is best applied with fingers make sure to blend out really well - otherwise it can look a bit Snow White - if you know what I mean. When wearing Neon-Rose I had to tone down the rest of my makeup because it was so intense; just Mascara and lip balm and that was it. I loved the cute healthy flush of colour it gave and the natural balm texture - this is deffinately not a longwear product and will transfer onto clothing so best do your makeup after getting dressed - just a tip.

Also how darn cute is Topshop packaging? I love it! Cannot wait to try more of the makeup range.

What are your favorite Topshop makeup items? Has anyone tried the lip crayons?

Nella xx

Bright Eyes: Bare Minerals Stroke of Light

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener / Illuminateur Regard AU$26.95

www.kitcosmetics.com.au

My dark circles have been getting darker and more obviously lately due to disrupted sleeping patterns and probably not enough healthy living and maybe slightly too much champagne....Whoops!
Previously I have mentioned Clinique's Air Brush Concealer, which was working well but at $50.00 was a little too exxy at the moment when trying to save. Looking around for a more affordable option I stumbled upon the Bare Minerals Stroke of Light at Kit Cosmetics in the Myer Pitt St Store. (Sydney Australia FYI - if you don't have a Bare Minerals counter near you check online for stockists) Testing out the colours on my hand; firstly I was impressed at how moisturising it was and how well it blended. The super sweet girl a Kit apply it under my eyes and I then walked outside to check it out in natural light. My eyes were bright and pretty - SOLD. Over the past fortnight this concealer has been a little precious white lie pretending that I have actually slept longer than 6 hours and drunk heaps of water a day.
The colour selection is pretty limited with only 3 to choose from, Luminous # 2 is my shade, the lightest - luminous #1 is very pink based and Luminous #3 leans to more of a honey tan.
If you are looking for a highly moisturising under-eye concealer because you find that thicker dry based formula's get cakey- This is your babe.

Neon Orly Mani's at Edwards and Co

Having the blondest of blonde hair takes a lot of maintenance, like A LOT! I am at the salon having my roots bleached and lifted, then toning and trimming religiously every 6 weeks. It is a 4 hour session minimum, as a hyperactive chatty cathy I was so excited that Edwards and Co now has an in house manicurist! The amazingly talented and lovely Fiona - Australian Ambassador and Creative Director for ORLY. Instead of sitting there flicking through magazines wanting to scratch my burning scalp off I was distracted and pampered by Fiona giving me a very luxurious manicure.

I decided on half moons using nudes and neons, a design which I always mess up when trying to attempt them at home. I cannot tell you how much of a treat it was having someone else do my nails - usually I am in Fiona's position. The nude base is ORLY 'Glow' - which I am obsessed with and need to have in my collection ASAP it is the perfect balanced nude. Half-moons are my preferred two-toned design it elongates your nails, rather than a tip which on shorter nails just makes your nails look even shorter. I couldn't choose between ORLY's Beach Cruiser (pink) and ORLY's Glowstick (neon yellow) so I had both. Too much? As if! 

Manicures aren't the only cute distraction at Edwards and Co....Meet Cash, Jaye's adorable puppy who scamppers around the salon getting lots of pats and cuddles from clients.

Check out the Edwards and Co Blog HERE!

Edwards and Co
9212 7516
Level 1/255 Riley St Surry Hills

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?

Light Summer Makeup Base

My skin has been looking particularly good and glowy at the moment -  even if I do say so myself. It is probably to do with the weather being warmer and also being very strict with remembering to apply Rose hip Oil as my night cream.

 Not wanting to clog up my newly clear pores I have been experimenting with lighter makeup base routines, here is my current favourite:

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer available from Kit Cosmetics $52.95 available from Kit Cosmetics

 www.kitcosmetics.com.au

Real Techniques Delux Crease Brush $39.90 (part of set)available from Priceline 

www. Priceline.com.au

Stila Perfecting Concealer (Shade 2) $37.00 available from Mecca Cosmetica www.meccacosmetica.com.au

Clinique Air Brush Concealer (Shade 2) $40.00 available from Clinque 

www.clinique.com.au

Real Techniques Buffing Brush $44.99 (part of set) available from Priceline 

www. Priceline.com.au

The Balm Sexy Mama Anti-Shine Transulsant Powder $25.90 available from David Jones and www.thebalm.com

STEP 1

Apply your day moisturiser with SPF, remember to moisturise your neck and ears.

STEP 2

Using a silicone primer and your fingers apply a small pea size amount over your t-zone where you would normally get shiny or oily through the day and also anywhere your pores are larger and visible - for me this is on my cheeks near my nose.

It will feel very strange almost a velvet-y soft sensation, because I am not using a foundation the primer gives the powder a base to be applied on to. The Smashbox one I am testing out is lovely and I will be purchasing the full size.

STEP 3

Eye brightening is essential for me, having dark circles and visible blue veins around my eye area because I am so pale. There are lots of light brightening / highlighting concealer pens available but for me the Clinique Air Brush Concealer gives slightly more coverage than others like the YSL Touché Eclat which is more of a highlighter - I am also going to try Bare Minerals Stroke of light Eye Brightener next.

When blending the product onto the eye area, I start from the bottom of the darkened area and work upwards going slightly onto the eyelid blending in very light small circular motions with a synthetic fluffy brush.

STEP 4

Spot concealing is essential, this Stila perfecting concealer is going to last the rest of my life because you only need the tiniest pin prick amount of product. Using the same brush as under your eyes blend out the concealer using dabbing circular motions.

STEP 5

At this stage if you are freaking out that you need more coverage you can use a mineral powder like Laura Mercier Mineral powder which will give you more colour and coverage. If you are cool as a cucumber with the coverage and just want to blend and even your skin tone out with a light coverage I like The Balm's Sexy Mama Translucent powder. Using the Real Techniques Buffing Brush load the brush up with powder and push then blend the powder into your skin. Starting from the centre of your face and work outwards.

STEP 6

This is the finished base, it is very quick and easy - great for summer!

Also if you have trouble matching a foundation to your skin tone this is a great alternative to a traditional foundation routine as you wont have a mismatched face and neck.