Beauté Gazette interviews Rachael Finich brand ambassador for Colour Theory and Skin Theory

Colour Theory is a brand that I wish was around when I was 13 and first experimenting with makeup, instead my pocket money was spent on awful blue eye shadows and lip glosses so sticky you could use them as super glue. The quality of Colour Theory products is phenomenal and with the pricing at nothing is above $13.00 it gives women of any age and budget the opportunity to try the brand.

Colour Theory is sold exclusively through Amcal stores for more info go to www.colourtheory.com.au

Colour Theory recently celebrated its first birthday and also announced its first ambassador the beautiful Rachael Finch. Beauté Gazette was lucky enough to have a quick chat to Rachael at the launch about her beauty secrets and her fave Colour Theory products....

Beauté Gazette

Rachael your everyday look seems to be a natural and glowing look, what are the top three products that you use to take your make up from day to night?

Rachael Finch

1. A bold lip, if you are unsure of using bright colours then just go a couple of shades darker than your everyday colour rather than a statement red.

2. Make your eyes pop with a few extra coats of mascara.

3. Using the bronzer from the Colour Theory 'Bohemian Goddess' as a highlight and bronzer on your cheek bones and eyes to give a glowing sun kissed feel your makeup.

B.G

I wish that Colour Theory was around when I was growing up and first starting to experiment with make up because it seemed there was nothing on the lower price point I could afford to buy except for shimmery blue eyeshadow. (Cannot believe I admitted that to an actual beauty queen) What were your first make up products when you were a teenager?

R.F

My first pieces of make up came from my Mum's make up kit, because there wasn't that option for affordable makeup. As you get older and you find items that suit you more. The quality of Colour Theory's products are extremely high because are developed and made in the same factories as a lot of higher end make up brands, which is amazing. Teenage girls and women of all ages are able to use the Colour Theory products and really trust the quality and result.

B.G

What are your favourite Colour Theory products?

R.F

At the moment I am loving the nail polishes, they are amazing value being $4.00 each. The dry time is really fast and the colour range is great for Summer, my favourite shades are the pastels which haven't left my nails - in particular the pastel pink which goes with everything.

Here is a sneak peak at my favourite product in the NEW Skin Theory range : The Daily Moisturiser with 15+SPF it is amazing for oily skin, keeping your skin plumped and hydrated without being overly greasy.

Colour Theory is sold exclusively through Amcal stores for more info go to www.colourtheory.com.au

Also a big thank you so much to Rachael for being so incredibly obliging and sweet.

xx Nella

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OUTERGOLD! An interview with Carney Nir co-founder of Outergold the Australian online luxe beauty emporium.

Outergold is an Australian based online Beauty emporium which stocks lust worthy brands with street-chic-cred like Rodin, Uslu Airlines, Kester Black, Lurk and Embryolisse to name a few. 

I discovered Outergold on Instagram and instantly connected with their love and dedication to finding new and beautiful products for the store, every item is handpicked for its unique qualities. Outergold is a rare gem and is one a kind in the Australian beauty market, a rebel amongst the monopoly of department stores in the beauty game. Carney Nir Co-Founder of Outergold answered a few questions about where and how Outergold started and also gave me a few of her own beauty tips and tricks....

How did you start Outer Gold? Was there a catalyst or frustration which lead to the beginning of the site?

It started the way all great ideas start - over wine. My business partner Bridget and I both have busy full time jobs, and were doing a lot of online shopping. We were chatting about how there's no beauty website that looked like the kind of store we like to shop at for fashion items. We also couldn't work out why you can't buy some of the amazing brands we'd found on our overseas travel in Australia. So we decided to start our own! 

www.outergold.com

The brands which you carry all have cult status or luxe-cred in the beauty world, how do you decide which brands to stock and where do you find out about them?

It's a mixture of brands we've found overseas, brands that our friends have told us about...it's an ever evolving learning process, and nearly every week we find another brand that we love. Over the next year you'll see a few more new amazing brands added to the mix, which we're super excited about. 

Outer Gold is one of the only independent online beauty stores in Australia, do you think there will be more starting to compete with the major department stores and other high end retail outlets with the changing economic climate of the beauty retail? (i.e. the mark up on products that majors put on products and the import tax on cosmetics) 

Thank you! It's obviously a consideration for us, but we have such a specific customer in mind that so far it hasn't really been a major concern. Our objective when starting the site was that we wanted to stock brands that were niche and hard to find and to make sure that we had the best customer service for girls like us that love music, art and travel as well as fashion and beauty. Being small allows us to do that and to listen to our customers and adapt to what they want and need. 

What is your favourite form of social and online beauty media? Do you keep up to date with beauty bloggers through social media? And who are some of your faves? 

Yes absolutely, we're inundated with it! We work closely with beauty and fashion bloggers and beauty editors - we have too many faves to name! 

Holy Grail product time, what products can you not live a day without and how do you use them?

Any type of oil! I'm obsessed with oils for skin, oils for hair, oils for body...the top shelf item is RODIN olio lusso which is definitely worth saving up for. I also love Earth Tu Face's Face Serum with Blue Chamomile and Carrot Seed. It's completely natural, super hydrating and I always look like I got a few extra hours of sleep the next morning when I use it at night! 

What was your first beauty purchase and what has been your latest beauty purchase?

My first beauty purchase was probably either some lavender-scented product or in all likelihood some sort of Red Earth lipstick (it was the 90s!) My latest purchase has been a couple of Lurk Beauty fragrance oils. They smell amazing and don't have any alcohol or water in them, which is great for me as I have sensitive skin and am pretty much allergic to everything! 

Which is your favourite and most referenced era of beauty and who are some of your all time beauty icons?

I love the 20s and the 60s if I had to pick. Our favourite ladies include Debbie Harry, Kim Gordon, Linda Rodin...the list goes on. All very different, all amazing. 

What are your go to 'party girl' products for a night out dancing?

Eyeliner and bright lipstick. You don't need anything else! 

www.outergold.com

Any unique and weird beauty tips and tricks?

Bridget and I always say, when in doubt throw on a bright lip. It takes 2 seconds, brightens your mood and you don't need to have any sort of special beauty know high to do it. I always have about 15 different colours floating around in my bag. 

Finally, how would you spend your last $100 ever in an afternoon?

I feel like you can't go wrong with a bottle of champagne.

Thanks Carney! 

xxx Nella

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6 of the best little Aussie rippers for Australia Day!

Sunday 26th of January is AUSTRALIA DAY down under!

To celebrate here are 6 of my favourite little Aussie ripper products:

1. Milk and Co for Her Body Scrub $14.95 

Body exfoliation is one of those beauty steps I sometimes skip because of sheer laziness but Milk's Body Scrub which contains Coconut Shell and Rose Hip Oil has made me look forward to scrubbing away dead skin cells every couple of days in the shower. Milk is a brand founded by Aussie swimming legend Michael Klim and his amazingly beautiful wife Lindy, I was lucky enough to interview Lindy about Milk last year if you want to know more about the brand which they started together read about it HERE!

Available from www.milkandco.com.au

2. Lucas Papaw Ointment from $4.95

It is rare that a product is so multi purpose that you can use it your whole entire life. Lucas Papaw Ointment has soothed my nappy rash as a baby, healed wounds, softened dry lips and even been an eye cream at desperate times. The distinctive red packaging has been with me for so many years I cannot imagine my life without it. It is also the one product which ex-pat friends constantly request to be sent to them in care packages all over the world.

Available from www.chemistswarehouse.com.au

3. Lanolips Golden Ointment $28.99

Lanolips Golden Ointment is a similar multi-purpose product which I have fallen in love with. Lanolin is a Australian wonder ingredient which I usually associate with being sold at tourist shops in Sydney, it wasn't readily available in mainstream product ranges until Lanolips. Golden Ointment contains a power trio of ingredients : Lanolin, Manuka Honey and Vitamin E! I love this to aid healing wounds, knicks or grazes. 

Available from www.priceline.com.au

4. Model Co Nail Polish in Model Co Pink $9.95

Model Co nail polishes are an under rated little Aussie gem! The colour range is spectrum of wearable, on trend and classic polishes which I cannot get enough of. They all apply with ease and dry relatively quickly, they are are no fuss and a go to for any kind nail look I could possibly dream of. Colour Favourites are : Model Co Pink, Kylie (awesome neon orange), Flossy (blue based baby fairy floss pink) and Nude Attitude (the most perfect nude).

Available from www.modelco.com.au

5. Aesop Fabulous Face Oil $57.00

This is a new find for me and I have been using it in tones of different ways! A few drops mixed with my night cream to give it a supersonic boost of hydration, mixed in with concealer under my eyes to give it an extra smooth application and add moisture to my under eye area during the day. Aesop is an Australian brand which has been receiving some well deserved hype from international beauty blogger of late which is totally awesome.

Available from www.aesop.com.au

6. Becca Mineral Tint Spf 30+ Sunscreen $35.00

Babes love them some Becca! If you are not from Australia then you might not know but it is hot down here, like really hot averaging 30 plus degrees in Summer and we are unfortunately directly under the hole in the ozone layer. As an Australian during my lifetime 2 out of 3 friends and family will be diagnosed with skin cancer. I have been personally effected by skin cancer in the last year having a melanoma removed. Skin cancer is a serious and scary and needs to be taken very seriously, I do not leave the house without sunscreen on of some kind. My favourite tinted moisturiser is Becca's Mineral Tint, covering my flaws and keeping my skin protected from UVA and UVB rays.

Available from www.beccacosmetics.com

xxx Nella

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Grown Alchemist : Vanilla & Orange Hand Cream + Hydra-Mist Desert Lime & Amino-Peptides

Grown Alchemist Vanilla & Orange Hand Cream $24.99 & Hydra-Mist + Desert Lime & Amino-Peptides $29.95

www.grownalchemist.com

Grown Alchemist is a brand which I am only new to and they certainly tick the first impressions box with their packaging - so shoot me I am a sucker for minimalist-organicy hipster packaging!

The Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream travels with me everywhere in my handbag at the moment, the consistency not too thick and not too greasy perfect for on the go hand moisturising. The scent is clean and fresh not too overpowering or lingering, it is everything you could want in a hand cream.

Peptides are a massive beauty 'buzz-word' at the moment (I am planning a post later in the week explaining everything you need to know about them!) with companies listing peptides on just about anything and everything. Grown Alchemist's Hydra-Mist+ list of ingredients reads like a hydration super cocktail for your skin containing Hydraluric Acid, Antioxidants, Vitamin C and that 'buzzy' Protein Peptide. I have been spraying my face with the Hydra-Mist+ after cleansing morning and night before applying moisturiser or night serum, and have noticed a dramatic difference in how hydrated my skin looks and feels especially since we are in the depths of winter which usually leaves me with dry patches. 

As a brand which is marketed at an organic and natural savvy customer the pricing of Grown products  is extremely reasonable compared to similar brands on the market with nothing over the $69.95 price point. Grown Alchemist is a brand which I will definitely continue to explore with their Cleansers and Masks next on my list to try.

Grown Alchemist is available on www.grownalchemist.com

& also available from www.priceline.com.au

xxx Nella

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