Mother's Day Gift Guide : David Jones, Kikki K, The Balm, Moét Chandon, T2 & Sussan

My Mum is the best! She is always up for a cup of tea day or night, she pretends like she is interested in most of the nonsense I tell her about 90% involves makeup, she makes really good 'Mum-Pasta' (everything in the fridge with pasta!), She reads every blog post I right and leaves funny comments. Like most Mums when trying to buy them gifts she says 'Oh don't spend your money on me' or 'Don't be silly a cup of tea in bed and a card is the best gift' but on Mother's Day it's good to spoil your Mum with something sweet and special.

David Jones Celebrating 175 years Glasshouse Candle in Daphine $39.95 & OPI Nail Polish $19.95

Mum's LOVE David Jones - Fact! To celebrate their 175th Anniversary David Jones has released commemorative gifts, boxed in beautiful Florence Broadhurst prints. You cannot go wrong with giving the gift of a scented candle to any woman for any occasion. OPI have released a limited edition 'OPI loves David Jones ' a classic universal pinky-nude, matching mother-daughter mani pedis Mum?

Available from www.davidjones.com.au and in David Jones Stores

Kikki.K Leather iPad Case $79.95

The other weekend I had 2 friends over for an afternoon of wine and biscuits, and we all could not get over how much all of our Mothers were obsessed with their iPads. Tech accessories can be so dull and boring, I love this bright poppy Kikki K iPad case - is it bad to want to buy one for myself and one for Mum?

Available from www.kikki-k.com

The Balm Nude-Tude Eyeshadow Palette $49.95

Sometimes mums can get stuck in a bit of a makeup rut, they have their favourite lipsticks and don't venture far from that. The Balm's Nude-Tude Eyeshadow Palette is a great way to experiment with different shadow colours and combo's using neutral colours, the texture of the eye shadows is so smooth and soft which is very important for mature lids. 

Available from www.davidjones.com.au

T2 Wonderland Tea Cup & Saucer $18.00

'Would you like a cup of tea?' Is a question I have heard from my Mum about a million times. Fancy tea cups are such a cute present idea and will never not be used.

Available from www.t2tea.com

Sussan Cable Knit Slippers $24.95

To keep your mums tootsies warm this winter.

Available from www.sussan.com.au 

Kikki K Pop-Up Card 'If Mums were flowers I'd pick you' $7.95

Sometimes all you need to do is tell your Mum how much you love her in a card, but it may as well be a damn cute pop-up card from Kikki K.

Available from www.kikki-k.com

Moét Chandon Rose Brut NV Champagne $77.70 

Pink Champagne says I love you better than most gifts. If your Mum likes a few bubbles for her troubles then you can't go wrong with Moét Chandon Rose Brut NV.

available from www.vintagecellars.com.au

I LOVE YOU MUM!

xxx Nella

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Autumn Edit : EVO, Becca, Bare Minerals, The Balm & 1000Hour Eyebrow tint

WANT! NEED! LUST! GIMME!

EVO Mane Perscription Protein Treatment $25.95

After a long summer of sun and salt water swims my hair isn't feeling its finest at the moment, it needs a little TLC and some intense masks! This treatment from EVO is an 'intense protein re-constructor, the more it is used the stronger your hair gets' - HELL YES! Also I am growing out my 'LOB'  - Long Bob and it is at a stubborn length which it is refusing to grow past, hopefully this treatment will give my hair a good kick in its butt to hurry the fudge up!

Evo is available from www.evohair.com

Becca Resurfacing Primer $55.00

Have you ever seen those poor little penguins that have been affected by an oil spill? Well thats my face by about 11am at the moment...Oil slick city. Pores are in overdrive, I am hoping the REALLY dewy look will catch on sometimes soon. But alas my only hope I feel maybe a this primer which contains 'oil absorbing polymers' - Cool story Becca. After the disapointing Becca mascara fail of 2013, this primer better blow my socks off. I'm going to go and rub the tester in David Jones half way up my arm tomorrow just to make sure I want to part with 55beans for this pricey primer.

Becca is available from www.beccacosmetics.com

Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow Quad in The Next Big Thing $39.44 

Wowzers this Quad looks so pretty, it the colours are perfect for blue or green eyes. Spying it on Temptalia a little while ago I fell hard! This is her description of the 4 shades : The Rising Star (sunlit gold),Smash Hit (vibrant peach), Hoopla (glowing copper), and Ensemble (smoked-out plum). WANT! NEED! GOT TO HAVE! Bare Minerals is one of those brands which prices vary from stockist to stockist it is $39.44 at the moment on Feel Unique at the moment with 15% off but sometime ASOS has a 20% off coupon and sometimes Kit Cosmetics is about the same, so it is worth shopping around a bit.

Bare Minerals is available from www.feelunique.com and www.asos.com 

The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer $24.00

Highlighters are a big deal in the beauty world at the moment, like BIG! Its totally trending. The problem I have with highlighters is that they do not have any longevity, when layered over a blush or a bronzer they take the colour pigment of the blush/bronzer off as they wear off. I have swatched the Mary Lou Manizer a couple of times and it has by far got the best lasting power, so I think she will be brightening up my face very soon.

The Balm is available from www.feelunique.com

1000Hour Eyebrow and Eyelash Tint $15.20

You know how I just told you highlighters are a big deal? Well Eyebrows are an even BIGGER deal! The biggest deal like ever.....probably since the Blue Lagoon came out and you spied Brooke Sheilds bushy brows. Now there is Cara Delvingne giving us all brow-envy, how dare she! My brows are naturally blonde and non-exsistant, no need to pluck or wax. Sad. Anyway I have started dying my eyebrows and my friend Alyssa's eyebrows and anyone else who will let me near there eyebrows with this little pack, it is very easy to master and lasts about 2 weeks before needing a touch up. I feel I have gone from zero to almost hero in the brow department for the moment that is.

1000Hour Eyebrow and Eyelash Tint is available from www.priceline.com.au

What is on your WANT! NEED! LUST! GIMME! Autumn List? Let me know....

xxx Nella

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My New Nude.....So fresh!

With this beautiful weather and my summer skin slightly more sun kissed than usual, rather than going crazy with colour I have been gravitating towards nude - if you know me this is very out of character!


1. Neom Luxury Candle in 'Refresh' $99.00 available from www.atluxe.com.au
Holy Moly! This is an amazing candle. Neom is talked about by a lot of beauty bloggers from the UK, which is how I found out about them. Made from natural soy wax and essentials oils they are super pungent, the 3 wick candle fills a large room with a strong scent. The scents are very natural smelling rather than candles that are named after the coast lines of Italy and are completely artifical.

2. The Balm Girls Lipstick in 'Mai Billsbepaid' $19.95 available from www.davidjones.com.au
There is a time and a place for a bright lip, and for me that is not everyday. 'Mai Billsbepaid' (hilarious name!) is a satin finish rosey-nude which just pulls everything together. It is the perfect handbag lipstick  so you are ready to look put together in a matter of minutes. Also I have been experimenting with some pretty full on eye looks - like heaps of glitter and liner which would look way showgirls with a bright lip and 'Mai Billsbepaid' has been a match made in heaven.

3. Stila Smudge Stick in 'Angel Fish' $32.00 available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au
Oh new beauty trick alert! Feeling tired? Using a nude kohl liner on the inner rim of your eyelid completley opens up your eyes and wakes you up in seconds.

4. Max Factor Glossfinity Nail Polish in 'Angel Eyes' $11.95 available from www.priceline.com.au
Rose gold is totally 'A Thing' at the moment, the trim of choice for many accessories - nails are an accessory too. The Max Factor Glossfinity polishes are just enough Rose Gold just enough irresdent shimmer to be the perfect accent nail on a pastel mani. If you don't know what I am talking about search 'Accent nail' on Pinterest.

5. Kester Black Nail Polish in 'Butter Cream' $16.00 available from www.kesterblack.com
If you don't know already - I have a broken toe. It is the most annoying thing ever....Aghhhhhh. It stays bound up in tape with the toes next to it and will remain that way for several months. Not wanting to draw any unnneccarssay attention to my foot I have been favoring nudes when giving myself a pedi. Kester Black is a brilliant line of Australian polishes, 'Butter Cream' is a beautiful neutral suede taupe and a dupe for Dior's 'Safari.

6. Stella McCartney 'Carrington' Sandal £178.12 available from www.theoutnet.com
STELLA!!!!!!!! Oh Stella, these 'Carrington' Sandals are everything I have been looking for in a summer heel. Patent and posh in just the right way, not too high and with rosey-gold hardware which give them an edge. Now I just need the Stella McCartney 'Day of the Week' undies to further continue my love affair with all generations of the McCartney's.

xoxo 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.

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.

Beauté Gazette LOVES The Balm's Hot Ticket Nail Polish

The Balm's Hot Ticket Nail Polish $15.00 each Available at The Balm from David Jones.

www.thebalm.com

The Balm is an American brand which I have heard a little bit about from youtubers and blogs, Michelle Phan is a FAN of the eye shadow palettes but I didn't know much more about the brand. 

When testing the water with a new brand some girls pick up lipstick as their barometer, some are foundation devotees so try that out first - I always start with nail polish. This is the product I test out to see if I should buy more than one product from a brand or whether to stop right there and have a very quick pain free break-up.

I tried 2 colours from The Balm's Hot Ticket Nail Polish collection, Coral Reef-ined : a white-based coral which leans more peach with pink undertones and Magenta Disposition : a deep blue based pink which is a true magenta and doesn't stain red - also boom boom cheesy names like every other company. The Balm offers a pretty standard selection of brights with a couple of metallics and glitters but nothing crazy compared to other brands. When having a look at the consistency on the brush of Magenta Disposition on the brush before painting a friends nails it looked really thick, I applied it as I normally would and  I was absolutely AMAZED! It was completely opaque in ONE coat and it was absolutely perfect in application no streaking or clumping or drying off the brush towards the tip of the nail, the brush allowed the polish to sit neatly at the base of the nail and not run into the cuticle bed. I was totally loosing my shit by the time I finished her first hand declaring it was a 'NAIL POLISH REVOLUTION'. By the time I had finished both hands and with a careful inspection I could not get over how great the colour was and how easy it was to apply.

I expected Coral Reef-ined to fail in comparison because it is rare that all colours apply the in the same way from the one brand especially if the colour is white based which tends to streak and clot on the nail. WRONG. Coral Reef-ined was also amazing, same beautifully perfect application. 

The Balm's Hot Ticket Nail Polish are a force to be reckoned with in the nail game and are going to be my go to Pedi colours for summer! I am also now excited as to what else to try from The Balm..... I'm thinking I might pick up the liquid Eyeliner 'Shwing' which looks like it could concur my fear of un-even winged eyeliner.

Has anyone tried any other products from The Balm and been totally blown away?

www.thebalm.com