Tutorial: Neutral leopard print

Here is my latest NOTD. Having to keep it tame for work so I like to think of it as subtle leopard print.  It's so simple to do yet I got lots of compliments so I thought I may as well do a step by step guide despite the fact that you have probably seen it 1000+ times before :)  Trust me, anyone can do this!

All you need is three things. A base colour, a nail art pen (or fine paintbrush and top colour) and a clear top coat. I used Essie's Chinchilly as my base coat which is a lovely greige! For the leopard pattern i whipped out my trusty Sally Hansen nail art pen in black (don't know what I would do without it)I finished it all off with my favourite Chanel top coat. Viola.

All you do is apply the base coat and wait for it to dry. On top of that draw leopard spots (or attempt to like me) I embraced the messy spots! Apply the clear top coat and you are done.

Rawr!  Told you it was easy!

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday :)

(Also I have a GREAT tutorial heading your direction so watch out)

Dasio Haul

Hello gorgeous readers, 

Sorry for the blogging gap. I seem to have been overwhelmed lately that combined with issues logging into my account mean I have been MIA BUT I am now back and ready to rock & roll. Lots of exciting posts to come. Thanks for sticking around :)


I very excitedly went the the new Daiso store the other week. If you're not familiar with Daiso they are a Japanese chain all around the wall with thousands of products all for $2.80. Yes that's right everything is $2.80! I was like a kid in a candy shop just throwing everything into my basket. I was actually quite tame and could have bought so much more. If you live near one I would definitely suggest you check it out. It was good fun. I managed to fill up my basket with plenty of goodies as you can see below. Everything came to a grand total of $47.60 which considering how much I got is a bargain. I left with a massive bag, it felt like Christmas!

Liquid eyeliner, Eyelash curler, Black mascara

Eyebrow coat, Fibre eyebrows, Make-up corrector 

False eyelashes! 

Blotting paper, Charcoal face mask, Face washing brush 

Collagen mask, Face masks, Eye, masks 

Head towel, Keyring lipgloss

So far I have only used a few things but can't wait to try the rest. I really like the liquid eyeliner. It has a thin brush and probably wouldn't be the best for a novice but it does last really well and I can get a perfect flick. The eyelash curler also rocks! Shall keep you posted. 

Have you had the Daiso experience?

NOTD + Tutorial - Basketcase nails

Hey Dolls, 

You may or may not already know I am completely obsessed with WAH nails. As usual I was browsing the WAH site for inspiration and came across this pattern called 'basketcase' and had to try it. If you are bored and want nail inspiration I definitely suggest you check it out, they have amazing designs. Come to Australia WAH!

The original pictures I saw were in black and white but I decided to use pinky purpley colours. This would looks amazing in any colours, black and gold is my what I'm thinking next time. As usual my attempt is a bit dodgey and needs work but I love it! The design was relatively easy although as usual my right hand is not quite perfect. Hope that you like it!

Here is a step by step tutorial on how to get this pattern...

All you need two colours. A base colour and a colour for the stripes. You can either use a nail art polish or pen or alternatively you can buy a fine paintbrush and use any nail polish.

The first step is to simply paint your nails with the base colour. I used Revlon's Lilac Pastelle.

Once the base coat has dried completely draw a thin diagonal line with the nail art polish from the bottom corner to the opposite top corner.

Then continue to draw parallel thin lines to fill in the bottom section.

Next is to paint a diagonal line in the opposite direction and fill in the section section of the nail.

The final step is to fill in the top section of the nail with horizontal lines. Follow this with a clear top coat and you are done!

Here here we have the finished result. Trust me it's not too hard.

 If you love it, give it a go.


:)

First ever Beauty Box!

Happy hump day!

The Beauty box is finally here! For those of us who live in Australia this is a very exciting occurence as the is the ever Beauty Box. After noticing that a few of these beauty sample box concepts starting up I was over the moon and lept at the chance to sign up. After a long few months waiting for it to launch my Beauty Box finally landed on my doorstep to a very  excited (that might be an understatement) recipient on Monday morning!

If you are not famliar with the concept, which I sure most of your beauty lovers are, it's bascially a box of different beauty samples which you recieve in the mail every month for $14.95. Partnering with great brands such as YSL, Shu Uemera, Bobbi Brown & Garnier to name a few, the Beauty Box sounds promising.

I was impressed with Beauty Box from the beginning and was not disappointed when this gorgeous pink box arrived. I am a massive sucker for packaging and pink (if you haven;t noticed from the masses of it on my blog haha)  so as you can imagine this was right up my alley. Inside the pink box was a black box with a pink ribbon and inside wrapped in tissue paper was the goodies. The box also conatined a lovely card with a description of all the products. Overall the packaging gets a huge tick from me, loved it!

So onto the important stuff... what is actually in the box!

The September Beauty Box contained 5 different sample products which were; 

♥  Shu Uemura High Performance Cleasning Oil - Cleanses & gently maintains skin's delicate moisture balance with a combination of botanical oils. Suitable for all skin types. Removes make-up instantly. 

♥  Playboy Play it Spicy Body Spray - The final step in seduction demands an irresistible playboy confidence. Glowy skin, gorgeous hair, feeling spicy? Check, check, check! 

♥  YSL Beauty Sleep - A gentle resurfacing & re texturing concentrate to smooth the skin's micro-texture, plump the skin and reveal the radiance of the complexion in the morning.  

♥  Marc Jacobs Oh! Lola! - Vibrant and playful . Irresistible sophistication. A sparkly fruity floral, with key notes of raspberry, peony & vanilla. 

♥  Sally Hansen Nail File - The ideal filing surface - for nails not too hard, not too soft. Smoothed & shaped nails are essential to a perfect manicure. Designed specifically for medium & normal strength nails. 

So onto my thoughts...

I love Marc Jacobs Oh! Lola! & the cute sample sprays are perfect to throw in my handbag. The cleansing oil is also a winner. However it kind of bugged me that they refer to the YSL Beauty Sleep as a special treat. I feel like it's a bit of  joke as it should have just been included in the box anyway. Without it the box would have been even more of  flop so I don't see why they insist on making out that it is this great treat we are receiving. I think the nail file is handy but I was expecting samples a little less dull and the Playboy fragrance smells nice  although it does take me back to high school when I actually used aerosols!

Overall I am disappointed with the Beauty Box. I'm not sure if my hopes were too high but I felt like it the products in the box weren't that exciting and it needed more oomph especially as they have partnered with such great brands. I also thought that as it was the first box they might have made it bigger and better or maybe it's just me. I mean the products are alright but nothing jumps out. 

I love the concept of the box, I love the packaging of the box & really did want to love it more but I just can't rave about it. Although I'm not over the moon with this particular box I am nore than happy to stay signed up and see what happens over the next few months especially as they have just partnered with Essie.  And anyway who doesn't love packages right?!

What are your thoughts on this box?

Lush Haul

Hope everyone is having a splendid weekend :)

In my attempt to start incorporating more natural and gentler products into hair and skincare routine I have become a teeny tiny bit obsessed with Lush. Here are some of the latest goodies I have picked up...

♥  Aromaco Deodorant - Aromaco is a solid deodorant with a patchouli scent. It's not actually an anti-perspirant but masks the smell. I have to say I am a little bit sceptical about this but am more than happy to give it a whirl. 

♥  H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment - My hair has not been in great condition lately so I' m hoping this will help it out. You apply it before shampooing and conditioning and it's meant to add a ton of moisture to the hair. I have it in right now so I shall keep you posted.

♥  Dirty toothy tabs - I won't rave on too much about these now as I have a whole blog post coming about what a convert I am!

♥  BB Seaweed fresh face mask - I was after a face mask which simply cleaned and detoxified the skin and the LOVELY lush ladies suggested this. I have already used this and it left my skin feeling fresh, smooth, clean and glowing. 

♥  Buffy Body Butter - I have already blogged about this here. This is a repurchase so you know how much I love it. 

♥  Lemony Flutter Cuticle butter - My cuticles are not brilliant and I have been on the hunt for a great cuticle butter and I'm hoping this is it! It's a thick creamy product with a scent I like and I think a little will go a looooong way. You can also use it on your elbows and other areas with really dry skin which is an added bonus. Review to come on this once I have tested it out. 

This is just the beginning of new products I have been testing out. I have sensitive skin and decided that taking more natural, gentler, safer & animal friendly approach to my routine may not be such a bad thing. Post to come of my progress and all the new & wonderful products I have been using. 

Would love to know your Lush product suggestions that I need in my life

x

Where have you been all my life Tom Ford?

Why, hello Tom Ford’s Lip Colour in True Coral lipstick. This lipstick is spectacular… it’s like happiness in a tiny tube!

Where do I begin?!

The packaging is to die for. A sleek  and simple tube with gold trim. I almost want to pull it out of my bag when I’m out and about just to flash this baby about. It doesn’t get much better than this.  

It took a lot of effort to even begin using the lipstick because I couldn’t bring myself  to touch the TF mark. Sigh. BUT it was most definitely worth it. 

True coral is a vibrant bright red-coral, just like its name! Unlike the more common orangey coral this is most definitely a devilish toned lippie. It instantly warms and brightens my complexion...

  

Formula-wise, True Coral is highly pigmented which means in just one swipe you can have a gorgeous opaque pop of coral. The texture is beautifully creamy  and the colour is true to tube. And despite the creaminess it does actually have staying power without excessive drying and flaking. It lasts and lasts, seriously. Boom! Apart from eating and drinking this lipstick will stick around which considering what a bright colour it is is a major plus in my book. 

If you want a semi matte, bold, pop of colour and want to splurge, this baby is it! At AU$65 a pop this lipstick is pricey but worth every $. The quality is amazing… great colour payoff, super pigmented & super creamy. So much brilliance in such a small tube!



I’m in lipstick looove <3

Blush Crush: Benefit's Coralista

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Hey beauties,

I'm back with another blush crush. This time I'm loving Coralista by Benefit.

Coralista is a gorgeous corally pink. It gives me a bright sunny look (which I need as the weather is unpleasant at the moment!).  There is some shimmer but not too much, just enough to give the cheeks a gorgeous glow. You can build definitely up the intensity but as I'm pale I use a light hand. I really think this is a blush that would be flattering on sooo many skin tones too. Really that about sums it up; it's just a fabulous blush..

Applied heavily on the left & lightly on the right.

Here is this baby in action!

Do you have a current blush crush? I would love to know, I always love blush recommendations!



xxx

NOTD: Wild Berry

Good Afternoon gorgeous girlies, 

I am currently sporting this brand new polish which is Wild Berry by Ulta3. Yes the name of this nail polish is Wild Berry... personally I don't think it hits the spot but name aside I like this polish. It's a blue based grey which applied beautifully. It was smooth and just needed two coats. It's a wintery kind of colour so perfect for this time of year and unfortunately especially appropriate today where the weather is miserable. It's one of those non black colours which I love and need more of in my life! I find it has a bit warmth to it which is flattering and I have even managed to rack up some compliments so go Wild Berry!

What is currently on your tips? 

I am planning on a bit of a nail polish shopping spree soon so would love your suggestions on some new colours to get!

:)

NOTD: Karpati Dito nail polish

This is the latest nail polish to join my collection. I found it buried in a discounted bin and had to have it! Admittedly I bought it for the bottle rather than the colour. I have never really seen anything like this before and couldn't resist giving it a whirl. It's by an Australian brand Karpati and the colour is in Lily Crown. 

As great as the packaging looks it does have it's faults; once you open it you can't put it down, the brush and handle is not long enough, the lid doesn't screw on very tightly and the solid packaging colour makes it hard to see that actual colour of the polish. 

I have never come across this brand before, after doing some research on their website (and being bombarded with  an unnecessary amount pictures of the founder!) I found out that their nail polishes are free of unnecessary chemicals including toluene, formaldehyde and Dibutyl Phthalate, which is a big plus however the nail polish itself was rubbish. It may have something to do with the pale colour but it was thin and runny and I needed way to many coats to get a decent result. 

 

This was the only colour left but I would be interested in trying some of the other colours in the range if I came across them but there is no way I would pay $22 for them. Props for creating a safe nail polish in a unique bottle which differentiates itself in the market but I think there needs to be a lot of tweaks to make this polish worthwhile. 

What are your thoughts on this style bottle? Have you used one like this before?

x Imogen 

Product Rave: Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

Hi there lovely readers, 

I have recently started 2 new jobs so I have busy busy busy and become a bit slack with blogging lately but I am back with a long overdue rave/review. It's for Estee Lauder - Idealist Even Skintone Iluminator and I have been wanting to do this post for ages now because it's amazing!

Estee Lauder claims the product drastically reduces the look of uneven skintone; redness, acne marks, dark spots and discolouration. They describe it as an intensive yet gentle oil-free serum with Triple-Optic technology which instantly illuminates the skin for instant radiance. The serum is comprised of comprehensive, anti-spot ingredient, powerful antioxidants and soothing anti irritants to combat the signs of uneven skin tone making it appear clearer, even-toned and radiant. Sounds pretty good to me!

The illuminator is a light, pale coloured serum which has a delicious citrus scent and comes in lovely simple packaging with a convenient pump pack which is sanitary and means less waste. I have been using this product for about 6 weeks now and I have to say I am impressed. I apply the product both morning and night after cleansing. Once it has sunk it I just apply my usual moisturiser over the top and I'm done.

I am fair skinned and I do have quite of bit of redness in my skin. I found that shortly after using this product my skin tone looked great. It felt smoother, even and healthy as well as appearing brighter and luminous. I do think it also helped fade spots a bit quicker than usual too but luckily for me I have good genes and spots aren't a major concern for me.

The serum itself has a luminescent pearly sheen to it which I really loved as it makes my skin radiant and glowy without the dreaded shimmer. I am not sure if this is a long term effect of using the product rather than the product itself but either way I am happy. My skin is dry so I love the pearly glow of the serum, which I tried to capture in the photos below, but for those with oily skin I'm not sure if this would be the perfect product as it does add extra sheen which you might not want. Having said that I would suggest checking it out and making up your own mind.

I stopped using the product for about the last week to see if I noticed a difference in my skin and I did. My skin didn't look as glowy and fresh and appeared a bit duller so I'm a convert!

The serum has only been officially released in Australia for about 2 weeks now and although it is pricey I would definitely recommend checking it out. I think serums are an important part of any daily skincare routine and this has definitely ticked all my boxes. I think I have discovered my new staple! Next on my list to try is the Night Repair serum.

What are your thoughts on serums? 

Happy hump day!

Imogen 

x

Pucker up with Back2Mac!

Hello, I hope you all had a lovely weekend :)

I finally got around to gathering together my empty Mac containers to swap them for some new lipsticks with the Back2Mac program. I'm sure you know what Back2Mac is but just in case you're not it's Mac's recycling program where you return 6 empty Mac containers and in return get a free lippie.

I knew I had a few empties but was surprised and a bit excited when I realised I had exactly 18 which meant 3 new lippies woo hoo! So these are the 3 gorgeous colours I went with. . .

I had my sights on Vegas Volt for ages so this one was a definite. Vegas Volt is a beautiful creamy coral with a tiny hint of pink. Can't wait for summer to pull this one out!

My second choice was going to be Hue but they were sold out so I went with Shy Girl instead which as you can see was a good decision. I have already made my mark on this baby. It's a peachy nude with a really smooth formula. Would be perfect paired with a smokey eye. 

I struggled to choose a 3rd colour because they are all great but decided to go with Girl About Town as I don't really have anything like it in my collection and I'm glad I did. Girl about town is a bright and bold fuchsia pink. I haven't worn this one too much yet but am itching to try it when I have somewhere appropriate to wear it!

Swatch time...

Girl About Town, Vegas Volt and Shy Girl 

What can I say apart from I LOVE Back to MAC! What girl can argue with free lipstick whilst saving the environment?! 

So far I am happy with each and everyone of my new lippies. Expect some FOTDs featuring them soon in the near future.

Enjoy the week, 

Imogen :)

NOTD: No Room for the Blues

Happy Sunday everyone,

I love this blue! It's OPI's No Room for the Blues. A great spring colour or in my case a great shade to add  pop of colour to a miserable winter day. I have got a few of my friends onto this colour and think it looked great on all of them regardless of skin tone.

It's an amazing formula which applies like a dream, is completely opaque at 2 coats, no streaks  and lasts a long time without chipping. I really don't have any complaints apart from it doesn't match all my outfits!

Plus it has a great name!

What are you currently rocking on your nails??

Battle of the Highlighters!

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Happy Tuesday!

It hit me the other day that I am a highlighter addict. I love glowy radiance skin and am a sucker for a good illuinating product. There are so many great products on the market  I thought I would give a bit of an overview and comparison of my favourites. I managed to narrow it down to the top 6, it was hard but I did it!

 

So we have;  

♥ Mac Cream color base in Pearl - Love this. It's one of my favourite highlighters. It's an off white cream colour with no obvious glitter. It creates dimension and a lovely luminscent glow. This product is the definition of dewy and glowy!

♥ Prestige Sun Baked Mineral Bronzer in Pure Shimmer - This is the cheapest of the lot and I think it's great. It gives a great natural sheen to the skin and considering the price it gives great glow and not glitter. I like that it's not too bronzey, pink or white it is sort of a great mix between all three colours.  

♥ Nars Albatross - As you can see mine has had plenty of wear and tear, I think it's a reflection of how much I love it! Albatross looks a bit white in the pan but adds a gorgeous golden warm glow to the skin. The golden shimmers are finely milled so it appears really natural. I use it on my cheekbones but it is also an amazing inner corner and brow bone highlight! 

♥ Dior Amber Diamond - I love this highlighter! I have posted about it before here if you want to read me rave on about it more. Gives a beautiful ultra-sheen to my cheeks. Don't know what I did without this. I especially love using this on nights out for that extra glow. 

♥ The Body Shop Shimmer Waves in 02 Blush - This was one of the first makeup products I ever bought and I have since repurchased it. I use it just as a highlighter rather than a blush. It's a great pinky toned highlighter with a very fine, satin like shimmer.

♥ Nars Multiple in Copocobana - This highlighter looks very frosty in the tube but once on the skin it's actually really flattering. It blends right into the skin and gives a natural, subtle nude sheen. I like that it creates more of a sheen than a shimmer. This is is great for the fair skinned ladies! 

L-R - Mac Pearl, Prestige Pure Shimmer, Nars Albatross, Dior Amber Diamond, The Body Shop Shimmer waves, Nars Copocabana.

I honestly cannot choose one favourite. I love them all and wear them all at different times for different occasions.  I think they are all great products for providing a gorgeous, luminous radiance. If I had to choose only one it would be a toss up between Amber Diamond and Mac Pearl.

Although I love all of these I could always do with more glow so I have my eye on Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl. I need it in my life!


What is your favourite highlighter? Share it with me!