Beauté Gazette's American Shopping list

My product obsession is reaching fever pitch at the moment - blame it on YouTube Beauty Channels and Bloggers enticing reviews and that I have a serious case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). It is super frustrating when products are raved about online and then you do a search for them and either find that they aren't available in Australia or the price is phenomenally inflated and shipping is the price of a small car.
My friend Mazzy is about to go to the states to visit family and while she is over there I have given her the below shopping list (all prices are in US dollars):

Sephora Favorites Sets $25.00 - $75.00 available from Sephora
These packs are so handy, containing 9 or so product mini's and 1 full size product it is a great way to test out new brands and releases. I like mini's because to be honest I hardly ever finish a full product anyways. The selections are constantly rotating at Sephora so it is like a lucky dip.

Wet 'N' Wild Eyeshadow trio in 'Sweet as Candy' $4.00 available from Drugstores
Wet'n'Wild eyeshadow is always raved about with most reviews comparing the pigmentation and creaminess to MAC shadows. Of course I am desperate to try them and I am sure I will hate them because shimmery eye shadows are so not my thing BUT how can I not give them a try?

Slatkin and Co Candles in Leaves and Black Pepper Bergamot 2 for $20.00 available from Bath and Body Works
American friends of mine think its hilarious that I am so desperate for these candles because Bath and Body Works is so cringy. What can I say? My consumer driven taste buds are salivating to smell Leaves - every time I see a youtuber stick this candle under their nose and sniff they look like they have smelt a rare orchid in paradise. Gimme!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Smitten and Honey $7.50
These aren't available in Australia till January and I seriously cannot wait, they are highly raved about as a dupe and advancement on the Clinique chubby sticks. Also expect a massive price hike when they arrive on Australian shelves so at US$7.50 I am totally getting 2!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hour Blush in Blissful $25.00
Oh heavens these blushes look so heavily pigmented in swatches I have seen online, Tarte isn't available in Australia or UK so I have been google image searching lustfully looking at swatches to  decide which would look the perfect peachiest blushful pink on my skin tone, I am so excited to wear this colour over summer on my cheeks and to test if they really do last 12-hours of wear time.

Josie Maran  Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40 $32.00
Wasn't Josie Maran on the TV version of superman in the late 90's? Or something like that? Anyway, I love these products the argan oils and also the magic cheek and lip stain market make you look like you have been sucking on redskins for 2 days.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer palette $10.50
Megan Isobel one of my favourite bloggers/youtubers raves about this concealer palette and with my increasing dark circles and bags this concealer couldn't arrive fast enough. Don't know much more about this at all but I totally need it.

Here is what I am curious about:
How much are your swayed about products by bloggers? and what products are you finding hard to get where you live in the world?

BEAUTE GAZETTE loves NAIL ROCK!

NAIL ROCK available from www.asos.com

To say I was sceptical of nail wrap stickers would be an understatement, having a terrible experience with them in Tokyo last year. But I was following the instructions in Japanese and I think maybe I had 5 piña coladas before applying them.
Voicing my hesitations towards nail wraps to friends they had reassured me that the Nail Rock line had lasted on their nails for over a week and were easy as pie to apply.
When doing an ASOS order I picked up these cuties which were a collaboration with Sydney label Romance Was Born, they are on sale for $5.10!! normally $11.40 so naturally I 'added to cart'.
When applying I did have to cut and shape the stickers to the size of my baby nails, if you accidentally stick at the wrong angle it is possible to pull them off and re-stick. It is kind of like covering your books with contact at school, pushing out any air bubbles and sealing the edges of the nails with the mini orange stick.When happy with the placement, you will be left with sticker talons - trim excess and file down the sticker to your nail shape. As a precaution and knowing my ability to chip my nails I applied 2 layers of topcoat.
My expectations were very I low, but to my absolute shock my nails were still in perfect patterned condition 4 days later! Which is longer than I can wear a regular nail polish! These nails had done everything from ocean swimming, lots of washing up and even applied various hair masques.
The collaboration NAIL ROCK designs are limited edition, but new patterns seems to on high rotation on ASOS - I am 'adding to cart' as I type.
NAIL ROCK available from www.asos.com

Halloween Hair Icons

Halloween can be a bit daunting for most girls costume-wise unless you are totally into being a Sexy Nurse or Naughty Witch - which is cool (not really). If you are wanting to keep your cool and just have a touch of the dress-ups this Halloween sans a wig and tasteless excuse of a completely slutty outfit. Here are a few options to go with -  you probably can mix and match items that are already in your wardrobe and with a few makeup tricks you will be in costume without even having to go near any fake blood or worry you will be mistaken for stripper.

Brigitte Bardot was such an iconic blonde bombshell, she was all about hair and eyes without being too risque. She was often in all black - which makes your outfit a sinch - Team a pair of high-waisted black skinny pants or with a cute little black jumper, if you can shimmy it off your shoulders even better. 

This look is all about the hair and the eyes, so back comb your hair and liberally spray dry shampoo to get masses of volume, then pin the top crown of your hair to create a voluminous bouffant - you can then leave the bottom half out in a half up / half down style or you can pin it all under like in the photo above - add a black velvet ribbon and voila!

Makeup is key with this look, start by applying your eye makeup not your base - that way if you have any fall out you can correct it easily. Brigitte often had very exaggerated cat eyeliner, using a very precise liner, I like Eyeko Skinny Liquid liner $16.95 map out your cat eye shape and then fill it in, making sure the flick is very defined. Applying thick lashes will help exaggerate the liner even more - these Katy Perry Lashes in 'Oh My' $11.90 will open up your eyes and make them pop. To blend your natural lashes into the the falsies apply lashings of thickening mascara Eyeko FAT mascara $25.45 will blend the lashes without making them spiky and stiff.

Use a light base and a pale pink lippy to finish off your look.  

Eyeko products and Katy Perry Lashes available from www.asos.com

The 1940's Pinup look is always a great option for Halloween, you probably have a little vintage dress at the back of your wardrobe which would be perfect. If you do need to go on the hunt for a dress in your favourite second hand stores look for anything with a defined-waist and think glamour.

Rolling curls and red lips will pull the look together, so pop on a luxurious dressing gown, pour yourself a glass of champagne before starting your hair and makeup. When putting in hot rollers it is important your hair is smooth and tangle free - give your hair a good brush through and work from the base of your neck up,  BaByliss Pro Hot Rollers $109.00 will give you big kink free barrel curls. I love doing my makeup when I have a full head of rollers - it feels like you are a complete starlet. Leave the rollers in for as long as possible, when removing them slowly unroll them give your hair a good spritz of hairspray and brush out with a bristle brush to give that polished old Hollywood glamour look.

Makeup is very classic, apply your base using mattifying products and top with a powder to avoid any shine. Use a compact so you can keep on top of your shine through the night, Clinque's Superpowder Double Face Powder $50.00 is very good at creating a perfect velvet complexion. For your eyes define your browns with a dark brow pencil, keeping them quite thin and not overly bushy - no Olsen twin brows vibes with this look. Use a light wash of dove grey shadow on your eyelids and blend well just to give your eyes depth, top with a lengthening mascara just coat the lashes nothing over the top.

You wouldn't be a Pinup without a red lip, apply Rimmel's Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in shade 107 $8.50 with a lip brush to perfect your natural lip shape and keep it in your hand bag for touch up's throughout the night.

BaByliss products available from www.hairhousewarehouse.com

Clinque products available from www.clinque.com.au

Rimmel products available from www.asos.com

Frida Kahlo is not an obvious choice of costume but its definitely the coolest choice -  who doesn't want an excuse to give yourself a mono-brow and be all sassy and Mexican. Splatter some paint on an old brightly printed skirt then drape a few floral scarfs around your neck and its all about loose printed cottons.

Frida often painted self portraits which featured her signature braids sometimes with a scarf integrated into the braid. Top if off with some fresh paper roses in the centre parting of your hair as the picture above. Secure with a billion bobby pins and Ta-da!

Attempting a faux-mono is going against everything you know about brows, fill in your brows with short strokes using Rimmel's dark brown brow pencil $8.40 and then slowly work inwards towards your nose, THIS IS GOING TO FEEL REALLY WEIRD. With a few strokes you will have a mono-brow, easily removed with a makeup wipe if you freak out during the night. 

Apply a little bronzer to your cheeks to define your face and that's about it. Top off your look with a brown based red lipstick like Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned $39.00.

Remember being Frida is as much about the attitude as it is the mono!

Rimmel products available from www.asos.com

Nars products available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au

Natural DIY Face Mask

Face masks are fantastic, they boost your regular skin routine and lift your skin if you are feeling run down. Usually I like my Dermalogica Hydration mask but it has sadly come to an end and I am on a saving kick at the moment so I did some research into DIY face masks using things you would have in your kitchen, here is what I concocted.

Pumpkin:
Pumpkin is excellent for use on all skin types, but especially if your skin is damaged from environmental conditions such as overexposure to the sun. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, which soothes and softens your skin, and vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help to remedy damage produced by free radicals.
Oats:
Oats are also an amazing natural beauty enhancer. They soothe and heal the skin, while reducing inflammation.
Honey:
Honey has humectant qualities; as a result, it can be used as a moisturiser in many cosmetic preparations. It not only attracts water but also retains it in the skin, so the skin remains supple and elastic. It also protects against wrinkles and dryness.
Milk:
Milk contain lactic acid, Lactic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). The AHA family is comprised of various ingredients derived from sugar cane, fruit and milk. As the name suggests, lactic acid can be derived from milk, after a steady process of fermentation. Lactic acid is a powerful exfoliant and is featured in many skin care products.

Making your Mask:
Step One: Steam 1/2 cup of pumpkin and allow to cool, once cool mash your pumpkin till smooth with a fork.

Step Two:  Add a table spoon of rolled oats.

Step Three:  Add a teaspoon of Honey.

Step Four:  Add a table spoon of full cream milk and mix all together. Ta-da! A natural pumpkin face mask which will leave you glowing.

When applying the face mask rub the mixture into your skin in gentle circular motions rubbing the oats into your skin. Leave mask on for 15-20mins, it will settle onto your skin and become less runny. When  rinsing off the mask use rubbing circular motions giving your face a massage at the same time. After drying your face your skin will be super soft.

It also looks like you have vomit on your face, but I will do anything to have perfect skin.