Bare Necessities: L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil & Schick Hydro Silk Razor

L'Occitane Almond Showe Oil $36.00 available from www.loccitane.com, Schick Hydro Silk Razor $14.29 available from www.priceline.com.au

Shaving your legs isn't the most exciting or enjoyable of beauty processes, and I understand why laser hair removal is so popular. But for people like myself laser hair removal is not an option, having light hair and skin the process is a pointless and painful waste of time! (Trust me I have tried.)

L'Occitane's Almond Shower oil together with Schick's Hydro Silk Razor have been my favourite shaving duo which has been making shaving my legs quick and as stress free as possible. If you haven't heard about the much hyped Almond Shower Oil, it is absolute heaven to use to shave your legs eliminating any unnecessary shaving nicks and cuts forever. When applied to your legs in the shower it turns from a thin oil to a thick white cream which makes the razor glide up your legs, I used about a half-teaspoon amount per leg. The Almond Shower Oil's shower side-kick is my new Schick Hydro Silk Razor, they are my shaving's Bonnie & Clyde, Jay Z & Beyonce, Ying &Yang perfect harmonious couple. The Schick Hydro Razor is slim-line and not too bulky and annoying in the shower, the blade head lasts about 3-4 weeks before needing to be changed, it gives a really close shave and doesn't remove and dry skin with shaving which means you won't end up with scaley reptile legs.

Using this shaving power couple over the summer has been a total in shower highlight and anyone who has had the pleasure of touching my legs has had a  'damn girl your legs are so soft!' reaction. 

xxx Nella

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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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How to clean your make up brushes like a BOSS! Featuring Dr Bronner's Magic Soap.

Dr Bronner's Almond Organic Liquid Soap $7.95 / 237ml

For more information on Dr Bronner's go to www.drbronner.com.au

To buy Dr Bronner's online go to www.lateralfood.com

One of my top tips to keeping your skin clear is to make sure your brushes are cleaned regularly, otherwise they start to become cesspools of bacteria spreading germs and spots all over your face. Not to mention that a clean brush applies makeup a whole lot better than dirty brush.

My Favourite brush cleaner is DR BRONNER'S MAGIC SOAP! It is sooooooo magic....

It cleans brushes without any hassle at all, getting the most waterproof off makeup out of synthetic and natural haired brushes. So here is my full proof brush cleaning method:

Firstly I like to leave my brushes to soak for a couple of minutes in tepid water and a tablespoon of the magic soap. Then after the makeup starts loosening up and the water starts to change colour, give the brushes a bit of a swirl around to make sure all the hairs are covered in the soap. Next move the brushes over to a sink and rinse under running water, I massage the hairs to make sure the brush is extra clean and free of all the magic soap. If the brush is a natural hair brush, this process might need to be repeated once more if your brush is still dirty.

Squeeze out excess water and allow your brushes to dry in a safe place overnight. Depending on the weather brushes should take 1-2days to dry. Brush laundry has become a simple and easy process since I started using Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, rather than a very annoying weekly chore.

Dr Bronner's Almond Organic Liquid Soap $7.95 / 237ml

For more information on Dr Bronner's go to www.drbronner.com.au

To buy Dr Bronner's online go to www.lateralfood.com

xxx Nella

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CHANTECAILLE Future Skin Foundation in Ivory - Review and Swatches

Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation in Shade Ivory $105.00 Available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au

The lust worthy New York based beauty brand Chantecaille pronounced Shan-Te-Kai, has been on my 'Must Try' list for some time. Whilst browsing the dangerously tempting counters of Mecca Cosmetica recently tossing up to try the 'Just Skin' Tinted Moisturiser and the 'Future Skin Gel Foundation'. 'Just Skin' has been raved about by beauty bloggers and youtubers alike, but it just didn't give me enough coverage and it felt like it would emphasise my pores. So I decided to purchase the Future Skin....I'm sorry bank balance.
Future Skin's gel formula was fascinating to me combining beneficial skin care ingredients including antioxidants and phyto-collagen which has the ability to transfer water into the skin hydrating it without using oil. This sounds like one of those blah-blah-blah its going to change your like type spiels but I can honestly say if I wear this foundation on a regular day my skin will not produce as much excessive oil which it normally does. I never wear powder because I feel it cakes my skin and makes it look too obvious that I am wearing a tone of makeup. Wearing the Future Skin foundation I have the security of knowing my skin isn't an oily mess without the worry of touching up my foundation.
It is very pricey here in Australia where it retails at AU$105.00 where as in America it is around the US$73.00 mark.
I found it fairly easy to match my own skin tone by swatching a few shades at Mecca, there are definite yellow and pink undertone shades to match a varied amount of light skin tones.
Future Skin also claims to be light reflective but I haven't found it to be at all, it is a medium coverage flaw correcting foundation which applies lightly to the skin, there are no shimmering light reflecting particles.
If you are interested in skin care infused foundations and can afford a AU$105 or US$73 foundation then I would strongly recommend trying it out.

Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation in Shade Ivory $105.00 Available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au

xxx Nella

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