COVERGIRL : Tru Blend Review

Cover Girl Tru Blend Liquid Foundation $19.95, Pressed Powder $18.95 and Fix Stick Concealer $14.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

My go to makeup items aren't always from expensive high end brands sometimes good things come with small price tags. I've been trialling the Cover Girl Tru Blend base products this month and I have to admit I've been very impressed at the overall formula and lasting power of these makeup kit staples. The Fix Stick Concealer is the star of the line for me, it's waxy formula is fantastic on my naturally oily/dewy skin for touch ups during the day. My skin gets a natural shine throughout the day and when touching up with a mattifying product it looks really out of place on my face, hello reverse panda eyes! 

The liquid foundation is a medium to high coverage on my skin, it is a great foundation for makeup beginners, my only gripe is I am in between colours and I need to blend 2 together to match my skin tone. 

Is anyone else really lazy with powder? It's my least used base product and by the time I get to this stage in applying my makeup I'm usually already 20mins late and so powder application is usually ditched. The Cover Girl Tru Blend Powder is a classic powder, nothing fancy just a straight up de-greasing compact that is very handy to throw in your handbag for daily use. 

All in all the Cover Girl Tru Blend range is a great budget friendly range of base products which could fit into your make up routine very easily. If you are an oily skinned babe like myself, the Fix Concealer is a must try!

xx Nella

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @beautegazette

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

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

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

TUMBLR HERE

Pretty in Pink

Pink has always been my favourite colour - FACT! Here are a few of my current pink obsessions.

Vintage Pink Bobble Earings

These are super Golden Girls, right? They give every outfit feel like a poolside Miami cocktail hour vibe. I think I picked them up at an Op Shop in Melbourne a few years ago, how could you not love them?

Yves Saint Laurent Reading Glasses

My very serious and smart reading glasses, wearing these makes me feel like *Bubble. You know when you see 'Art Mums' wearing brightly framed glasses and big jewelry banging around the supermarket? Well I fear that I have already become an 'Art Mum' at 29 without even having a child. Also when I got the lenses for these fitted at Spec Savers the girl called every member of staff working over to laugh at my glasses and said 'Are you actually going to wear these?' YES!

*Bubble = Edies Assitant in Ab Fab, duh!

YSL 6263 Eye Glasses $162.95 available from www.smartbuyglasses.com.au

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in 325 Spellbound

Taylor Swift vows that her signature red lip is CoverGirl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in 'Hot Passion'....So I immediately tried every Priceline till I found 'Hot Passion' in stock, it wasn't for me....way too much orange and washed out my skin. On the same shopping excursion I picked up 'Spellbound' it is a berry-magenta-bomb! If MAC's 'Girl about town' and 'Rebel' had a baby it would be 'Spellbound'. The finish of the Lip Perfection's is a Satin but don't be fooled these babes have some amazing lasting power, you will need minimal re-application throughout the day/night and will need a makeup wipe for removal. 'Spellbound' is my new favourite pink and hasn't left my makeup bag since we met. We are totally going steady.

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick $14.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

Real Techniques Stippling Brush & Blush Brush

Power cheek duo! The Stippling Brush for cream blusher applies the most perfectly controlled amount of product to your cheeks, then with dabbing and circular motions blends the colour into your skin leaving flushed natural look. The Blush Brush for powder blush, swirling only the brush tip into your blush pan means that when applying colour to the cheeks it is blended by the outter clean brush hairs instantly and these brushes is super soft like a bunnykins tail  - 100% acryllic! Eeewwww real hair in brushes makes me want to gag.

Stippling Brush and Blush Brush are $22.99 available from www.priceline.com.au

Australis Nail Polish in Glitter Strkes Back

Excuse you Australis whilst you just bring out some of the most incredible glitter nail polish ever! Pink, purple, orange and gold! Wow this is really screaming Bollywood too me but at the same time very appropriate for an everyday glitter nail when applied over a nude. To achieve even glitter coverage apply thin coats and allow dry time between each layer.

Australis Nail Polish $7.95each available from www.priceline.com.au

Have you tried any of this Pink Pretties?

xxx Nella

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook Page HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

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.

A Fabulously Festive Christmas Giveaway!

OMG! It is Beauté Gazette's Big Fat Christmas Giveaway!

I wanted to do a Christmas giveaway for all of YOU - my lovely readers who have continued to read Beauté Gazette tolerating my annoying spelling mistakes and laughed at my beauty adventures throughout the year. Let me stuff your stocking this Christmas with some really cool products that I couldn't live without during the festive season. Beauté Gazette's bountiful Christmas prize includes:

CoverGirl Outlast Double Lipshine in 270 Candy Apple:

One side is sweet milky red gloss with a subtle shimmer and the other a super shiny gloss, it will totally stay put throughout plenty of cheeky Christmas tipples and mince pies.

CoverGirl Outlast Lip Colour in 507 Ever Red-dy:

I love this colour it really is a true super shiny 'Christmas Red' which will match all of your sexy Mrs Clause outfits!

*Please don't wear any Mrs Clause outfits.....they are defiantly are not sexy.

CoverGirl Outlast Lip Colour in 521 Eternal Flame:

I really hope this lippy was named after the Atomic Kitten Hit 'Eternal Flame' - because I really love that song. Shimmery and festive people may mistake your lips for a Christmas bobble.

Max Factor Colour Elixr Lipstick in 715 Ruby Tuesdsay:

Because you can never have enough lippies - seriously a different red for everyday of the week is absolutely necessary at this time of the year. This red lipstick is my current go to for a quick festive pick me up when I am not feeling festive at all and I just want to stay in bed.

Make Up Stores Nail Varnish in Silje:

A classic red nail varnish to keep in your top desk draw to give yourself a speedy lunch time mani when 'Tim' from accounts emails you an invite to yet another Christmas party on you and you only have 10mins in the office bathrooms to get ready in after 5pm.

Trilogy Face Care Eye Contour Cream:

Lather this liberally under your eyes before bed, and no one will notice those 12 million glasses of champagne you had at your annual book club chrissy do the night before.

How do I win this amazing Christmas Giveaway you are asking yourself at this point....It is totally easy!

Step 1: 'LIKE' Beauté Gazette on Facebook 'HERE'

Step 2: Email Beauté Gazette with your Name, Postal details & Contact number 'HERE'

Do these 2 really easy-peasy steps before Friday 21st December and you are in the running to win the totally festive Beauté Gazette  

THANK YOU MY LOVELY READERS!

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