LOVE ME DO! Valentine's Day Wish List xoxo

Maison Balzac Candle in 'La Rose' $45.00

How could you go past the scent of Rose on Valentine's Day, if your significant other didn't surprise you with a dozen pink Austin Roses don't freak out just light a fragrant candle and take a long bath.

Maison Balzac is now stocked at Colette in Paris! Congratulations beautiful Elise!

available from www.mychameleon.com.au

Agent Provocateur Novah Bra £95.00 and Brief £65.00

The fine and sweet details in Lingerie is what I find beautiful, to be honest men aren't not going to notice at all but if you feel amazing wearing luxurious silks in vibrant colours like me - then its totally worth it!

Very very exciting news Agent Provocateur will be stocked at David Jones from Friday (like tomorrow!) - Just in time for Valentine's Day. 

available from www.agentprovocateur.com and www.davidjones.com.au

Tom Ford Lipstick in 'Cherry Lush' $65.00
Wearing bright pink lipstick on Valentine's Day is a must, 'Cherry Lush' is the creamiest most flirty fuchsia pink.
available from selected David Jones stores

Essie Nail Polishes in 'She's Pampered' and 'Fun in the Gondola' $18.95
'She's Pampered' is a bold red based pink which will get any Valentines sceptic in the spirit. 'Fun in the Gondola' is a more understated soft dusty rose - an absolutely timeless pink.
available from www.westfield.com.au and Myer Stores

Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Honey Bath $46.10 & Creme Brulee Body Souffle $60.95
Valentine's Day is the worst day ever to be on a diet especially a gluten/sugar free diet because desserts are acceptable to eat for all meals. The Laura Mercier Creme Brulee products makes you smell like you have just stepped out of a Patisserie - which if you can't eat cream filled sweeties is the next best thing!
available from Laura Mercier counters and www.fragrancenet.com

Sanderson Devine Bed Sheet Set $249.95
Sheets are very important on Valentine's Day - you know why! Leave the satin sheets for sleazy Jersey Shore type scenarios and opt for a luxurious high thread count cotton in a classic white or cream. Scattered rose petal are optional.
available from www.davidjones.com.au

What's on your Valentine's Day wish list? Let me know in the comments below on Twitter @beautegazette

xxx Nella

NARS Andy Warhol Collection Review

NARS Andy Warhol 'Walk on the Wild Side' Set $62.00 available from

www.meccacosmetica.com.au

Limited edition themed collections have been popping up from many of the high-end brands lately, many just re-packaged existing products which in my opinion isn't really a collection its just new packaging - but hey, I am a sucker for packaging!

The NARS Andy Warhol Collection really intrigued me before I had even set eyes on any of the products. Having a pre-developed love/hate relationship with NARS, some products I cannot use its almost as if my face rejects them and some I will re-purchase till I die - I'll be the nanna lining up at Mecca buying Matte Velvet Lip Pencils with my pension.

Of course I wanted the Andy Warhol 'Silver Factory' Set but alas it is $320.00

(Silver Factory Multiple (Silver), Shadows Trio Eyeshadow (new shades), Chelsea Girls Pure Matte Lipstick, Desire Blush, Larger Than Life long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto, Large Domes Eyeshadow Brush #13.) Yes the prices are a little ALOT on the steep side. 

The 'Walk on the Wild side' Set $62.00 is a little easier to part with....The set contains: Silver Factory Illuminator, It Nail Polish, Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Orgasm (all mini's)

My favourite product is the Nail Polish in 'IT' -  a beautiful cobalt purple with a not so obvious silver shimmer which gives it an amazing depth. It applies beautifully an is opaque in 2 coats. 'IT' does need a high-shine top coat as is can dent because of the shimmer content.

The 'Silver Factory' Illuminator is beautiful, mixed in with your foundation or moisturizer to give an all over angelic glow to the skin or applied directly to the high points of your cheeks and brow bone to give that 70's disco queen look. 

Can someone please help? Am I the only girl in the world that cannot wear the NARS 'Larger than life Lipgloss'? It applies patchy and its really really sticky and just looks awful on me. Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. This is the only dud product, it would have been better and more true to the collaboration if a pale pink Matte Lipstick was included instead.

NARS Andy Warhol Collection available from Mecca Cosmetica for a limited time.

What was your favorite product form the NARS Andy Warhol Collection?

Let me know in the comments or on twitter @beautegazette

xx Nella

DIY Textured Tips Mani featuring Kester Black Nail Polish!

Throughout summer I have been totally obsessed with ice-cream pastel polishes, my fingers painted in an assortment of sorbets thought the seasonal heat wave. Bored with the regular glossy mani I decided to switch it up trying out a matte topcoat and high gloss tip.

Products used:
Nail File, Orange Stick, Kester Black 'Mat Top Coat' $16.00, Kester Black Nail Polish in 'Bubblegum' $16.00, Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Top Coat $16.95, Fine craft paint brush.

1. File your nails into a squarish shape - this works best for a tip. Push cuticles back to elongate your nails. Apply polish as normal, Kester Black's 'Bubblegum' was opaque and perfect in 2 coats.

2. Apply Kester Black's 'Matt Top Coat' to your nails as you would a regular topcoat. It dries really quickly and doesn't have that weird velvet texture some matte coats have.

3. Pour a small amount of the Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Topcoat on to a scrap of paper, load up your paint brush with the topcoat, starting in the middle of the nail and working out to the corners of your nail paint your tips. Allow at least 30min dry time and voila Textured Tips.

Kester Black products available from www.kesterblack.com
Sally Hansen products available from www.priceline.com.au

xx Nella

If you haven't entered the amazing Parissa giveaway already in my previous post, do it! You could win 1 of 3 fantastic home waxing kits!

Parissa X Beauté Gazette Giveaway!

So after my last post about home waxing the sexy and very well groomed babes at Parissa got in contact with me and we decided to run an amazing GIVEAWAY for the lovely readers of Beauté Gazette! YAY!

YOU could win one of 3 Parissa gift packs valued at $25.98 each!!!!

Why Beauté Gazette loves Parissa?
At-Home Waxing Experts, Parissa, formulate ALL their Hair Removal products using the finest quality, natural ingredients to create easy to use waxes that deliver salon results in the comfort of your own home. Parissa products gently exfoliate your skin while removing hair, leaving your skin softer, smoother and more radiant with every application.

The big fat prizes :
Each of the 3 winners will receive:
1 x Chamomile Body Sugar. This water-washable formula contains soothing chamomile and is gentle enough for the most sensitive skin. If you suffer from red little bumps and irritation after waxing this product will be your new best friend.
1 x Parissa Wax Strips are pre-coated with gentle cream-wax and ready-to-use wherever and whenever you want!  No heating or spreading required, just press on and zip off.

To WIN these great prize packs all you need to do is 3 little things:

1. 'LIKE' Parissa on Facebook HERE!

2. 'LIKE' Beauté Gazette on Facebook HERE!

3. Email Beauté Gazette with your Name, Contact Number and Postal Address HERE!

The giveaway will be open till 8th of Febuary, winners will be contacted VIA email immediately after the giveaway closes.

If you have any questions feel free to tweet me @beautegazette 

Good Luck!

xx Nella

Topshop Lip Crayon in Suspect....Wamp Wamp Vamp!

Topshop Lip Crayon in Suspect $13.00 available from www.topshop.com

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon and I popped into Topshop on George St to see my favourite Topshop Personal Shopper Ashley, I was having a bit of a blah day and needed a little pick me up....I needed lipstick! 

The Lip Crayons are a very similar in every way to the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils; packaging, texture and application. Colour-wise Topshop has gone with very trend base colours, all of which are highly pigmented. Needing lipstick STAT! I decided on 'Suspect' a deep Burgundy wino colour which reminded me of MAC's 'Rebel' only more complex, more richness and depth maybe. 'Suspect' isn't an easy colour to wear it is really full on, but if you are in the mood to vamp up your lips and go all wino then its perfect.

Wear time in pretty good, you will need to wait a couple of minutes after application for the lipstick to matte and settle into your lips. But 10mins after I applied it I ate a boiled egg and some peanut butter on toast and had 2 cups of Aveda tea......PAUSE.....AVEDA TEA! And my lipstick was still perfect. Dark lip colours are always a total bitch to remove, often leaving your lips dry and patchy with stains however  'Suspect' was off with 2 swipes of a Bioderma soaked cotton round!

xxx Nella

Bare Minerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 in 'The Truth'

Eyeshadow is often not seen as an essential in the beauty routine of me and most of my friend reserved for an occasion where wearing a full face of makeup is acceptable like weddings or birthdays. This is all about to change....
Bare Minerals eyeshadow quads have taken the fear out of eyeshadow application for me, previously I would only like 1 or maybe 2 shadows in a palette and would just stick to them leaving the rest in perfect tact scared they were the wrong tone or way too shimmery and glitter-tastic.
'The Truth' is warm brown based neutral quad, perfect for fair skin tones and blue eyes, all colours could be warn on there own individually or blended together for a more smokey or defined look.
Serendipitous (champagne) - A soft honeycomb colour, when applied all over the lid blends in like butter. It almost gives a wet look to the eye because the shimmer is so fine.
Magnetism (slate taupe) - This is the coolest colour in the palette a woody-taupe with a silver undertone. Very bendable and can be worn as subtle wash and also built up to be very pigmented. I like to use it on the lower lash line to give depth and a slight shimmer to the base of the lashes.
Apropos (chocolate) - Warm and golden based chocolate brown, the most matte shadow of the quad. Perfect for the creating a strong crease and then taking it down along the upper lash line, it can be worn on its own, when blending out and softening the edges it gives a really pretty look fading out.
Fate (dark intense brown) - I like using this as a liner on an angle brush, it has very obvious glittery sliver sparkles and is just so pretty. Blue eyed girls, this will make your eyes pop like nothing else!

Everyday I have been experimenting with this quad and I cannot fault it, the shadows apply to my eyes so smoothly with hardly any fall out. At $39.95 which works out at about $10 per shadow - it is really good value and I will defiantly be picking up a few more of the quads.

Nella xxx

Bare Minerals READY 4.0 Eyeshadow Quads available from www.kitcosmetics.com.au

Bronze it Babe! Bronzing for lighter skin tones.

Beautiful Charlotte has porcelin skin and beautiful freckles, she is very careful to keep her skin protected from the sun during summer months....sometimes longing for a sunkissed glow. 

Bronzing lighter skin can be slightly daunting for fair maidens.....fear not with a few products and alot of blending you too can bronze it up! Promise........ Give it a go and you too can have that J-Lo Glow!

BEST OF THE BRONZE PRODUCTS:

1. BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow in 4.0 in 'The Truth' $39.95 available from www.kitcosmetics.com.au This quad is beautiful! All the shadows are super creamy and blendable.

2. Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eye Liner in 012 Bronze $9.95 available from www.priceline.com.au Soft and smudgy the perfect bronze liner, can be worn on its own and blended with fingers to give a subtle but soooo not subtle look.

3. Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara $19.95 available from www.priceline.com.au Ok so when applying mascara MORE IS MORE.....Just keep going if you get any clumps pinch them off with your fingers and then wiggle that wand over your lashes a few more times.

4. BareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener $26.95 available from www.kitcosmetics.com.au
I have previously expressed my love for this eye brightener.....but seriously it is amazing.

5. Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer in Shade 1 $51.00 available from www.meccacosmtica.com.au
There is nothing worse than a heavy foundation on your skin during summer, I like to mix this in with my tinted moisturizer to give a really dewy fresh look to my skin.

6. Stila Sheer Colour Tinted Moisturizer in Shade Fair $55.00 available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au Even though you are going to give yourself a bronzed look make sure to always have an SPF in your base as to ensure life does not imitate art!

7. Real Techniques Brushes from $14.95 available from www.priceline.com.au
The key to this look is blending......When blending used very light circular motions moving outwards towards the sides of the face. When using cream products synthetic brushes are best, they move product around the face and down the neck to achieve a seamlessly look.

8. Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lip Stick in 12 $11.95 available from www.priceline.com.au
Lipstick can look a bit too full on and perfect with this look, to make it more subtle and casual buff the lipstick into your lips with your finger leaving the intensity in the middle of your pout and blurring the edges to make them less harsh.

9. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base US$48.16 available from www.nordstrom.com 
This velvet finish of this super light gel bronzer leaves your skin completely sun-bathed and radiant. Chanel Makeup is a total luxury....but this baby has a massive 30grams of product in its beautifully CC'd packaging so it is totally worth it. Here is the Lisa Eldridge giving you the skinny on all things Chanel Bronzy ((( HERE )))


Bronze it up babes and let me know if you have any questions in the comments below OR even better TWEET me up a storm @beautegazette 

xxx Nella

NUDE NAILS 5 -WAYS! Featuring Model Co's Nude Attitude.

The perfect nude base Model Co's 'Nude Attitude' $14.95 Available from www.modelco.com.au

HALF-MOON:

A really cute update to a classic design, if you want some subtle work acceptable nail art then half-moons are the way to go. You can match any colour you like back to a nude base, try fluros for a real statement.

GEO-NAIL ART:

Not into cutsie girlie nail art? Try some non conventional geo-patterns instead the variation of patterns is endless so you can have no nail the same. I like mixing a metallic into the pattern to give a bit of depth and shimmer. 

BRIGHT TIPS:

THAT image of Nude nails with bright tips has been re-pinned about 750649200 times and then some. But I still love it! Start with your nude base and then pick 5 different brights for the tips, paint on like a regular french tip.

GLITTER BASE:

My favourite new way to apply glitter polish, pour a little bit of glitter polish onto some scrap paper and using a tooth pick dab the glitter into place covering the base completely then becoming more sparse further up the nail.

PERFECTLY POLISHED:

Nude nails are super posh, give yourself a beautiful manicure making sure to push back cuticles to elongate your nails, apply your nude and top with a super glossy top coat. Nude's never go out of fashion and will always be eternally chic!

What is your favourite nude polish? Let me know in the comments below.

xxx Nella

Wax Away with Parissa

Parissa Body Sugar 2 in 1 Roll On $19.99 and Wax Strips $12.99 and Available from www.priceline.com.au

It is peak bikini time with every chance I get I am at a Beach, Bay or Pool with friends or laying in the sun reading a trashy 'beach read'....Side note my friend Fleur gave me Kyle Richards 'Life is not a Reality Show' for Christmas and I have not put it down - if you are a Real Housewives fan don't deny yourself this treasure. 

Preparation for this time of the year when you are socializing in less fabric than your underwear can be very intimidating and painful. I would advise getting a professional bikini - I go to Leah's Wax Works in Sydney, City - wax every 3 weeks and then touch up myself at home when and where needed.  For at home touch ups I have been loving Parissa line of products, they are all natural and most importantly very easy to use.

The Body Sugar 2 in 1 Roll-On is great for lower bikini line, sometimes after a professional wax they miss a spot or just don't take enough hair off so I have been using this at home to get rid of the last of those pesky hairs. It is a strip wax, so after rolling it on you use a fabric strip to pull the hair out and then the fabric strips can be washed and re-used. Every woman needs one of these in there bathroom cabinet, seriously the shame and embarrassment of being caught between wax's is a thing of the past. 

Parissa Wax Strips and perfect for travel easily packed into your toiletries bag - just in case. I gave some of these to my cousin before she went up to Byron Bay over New Years, she struggles with her beautifully bushy brows quite a lot and she finds the Wax Strips easier to control when removing fine  hairs in the area around the tail of her brows. No runny hot wax near your eyes and no fussing with application - the strips can be used repeatedly so one strip can do both brows.

Let me know your waxing tips and tricks in the comments below.

xxx Nella

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.