Why You Need To Use Lip Liner

I recently started using lip liners. I never used them before because I always thought of my year 10 formal, when the makeup artist gave me a dark line and nude colour - result - very unhappy Chels. I also never thought that I could properly match the colours etc etc. How wrong I was.

Lip liner is now my new best friend! I love it. I apply it all over the lip - first lining then colouring in (it's like adult colouring in and I LOVE it!!!), then apply my lipstick, blot, apply lipstick and blot again. Result? The colour lasts AGES. Why? When your lipstick starts to wear off, you still have the lovely stain of the lipliner, so you don't need to stress too much about reapplying your lipstick every twenty seconds (I still have this fear though).

I've taken to buying more liners now, in many different colours although the liner doesn't necessarily have to match your lipstick, you can create alot of different looks with the liner.

Above: Top: Covergirl outlast in raisin, Savvy by DB in rose, Mary Kay in neutral, Savvy by DB in plum

As I slowly add to my collection I'm only really buying the $2 liners, as I find they're just as good as the $15 ones. I also only buy automatic lip liner, because me and regular pencils don't get along.

What are your thoughts on lip liner?

Cleaning Up My Act!

Over the past year I so I've been working on better oral health. I need to get my wisdom teeth removed this year (oh joy... I've only been putting it off for... well... 4 years.... oops), and I really want to get my teeth whiter as they are quite stained.

With the cost of wisdom teeth removal being around $1500 (ouch), I can't really afford to have my teeth whitened at the dentist just yet. So, I'm turning to at home methods!

I've started using an electric toothbrush morning and night, and it's got a 2 minute timer on it to make sure I brush my teeth properly.

I'm also using Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse. I got onto it from hearing about it from Youtuber Jodi who has the whitest teeth I have ever seen, they're gorgeous. She uses this every day, and says it really helps. I have only found it in the Reject Shop, which is where Jodi said she gets hers from.

I'm also using a whitening toothpaste, same brand as I always use (Sensodyne), just with the whitening formula.

Now, my final step is to try at at-home whitening kit. There doesn't seem to be many on the market and I'm finding it hard to find decent reviews. Jodi uses Crest Whitening strips from the USA, but they are available on eBay.

I think I might try to find something closer to home as I always worry with things like this with expiry dates, as often they have hydrogen peroxide in them and it scares me a bit to be honest!

Have you ever tried an at-home kit? Let me know your hits and misses!

Oops... I went shopping

So I know I'm in the midst of a P10P (2 prods down, 8 to go) but I needed to buy a new electric toothbrush, so I ducked into Priceline as they had 20% off all Oral B products

They also had 20% off all cleansers, and as cleanser isn't part of P10P I grabbed 2 packs of my cleansing wipes I like to use at night. I also picked up 2 bottles of nailpolish remover as it was $1.74 each, I couldn't walk past it!! And Savvy by DB was all $2.99 so I grabbed 2 lip pencils (plum and rose) a blush (peach) and a lipgloss (nude). My main purchase was of course the Oral B Vitality electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth, and I grabbed a pack of replacement heads as they were $5 off.

Now, NO MORE UNNECESSARY SHOPPING!

Happy Straya Day!!!

Happy Australia Day!

We're spending the day just chilling out, then a family dinner tonight that'll consist of roast lamb and roast veggies, and lemon meringue pie and trifle! Yum! How are you spending the day?

The $100 FOTD Challenge!

This challenge has been running around the blogsphere lately, I hear started by Makeup and Macaroons. There have been some passes and fails, I thought I'd give it a go!

At first I thought "easy!", then I realised that it had to be in AUD... I bought so much stuff in the USA for a pittance, so I was a bit scared!

So, how did I go?

I used:
Clinique High Lengths Mascara $38
Garnier All-in-one Skin Perfector $13.95
Sportsgirl Get Cheeky $9.95
Revlon Colourblast Lipgloss $21.95
Australis Eyeshadow Trio (couldn't find a price but I estimate $15)
Covergirl Brow Pencil $13.95

TOTAL $112.80.... FAIL.

Excuse the state of my hair!

This challenge was fun, as it really made me think about what I'm putting on my face. If I used my normal foundation (About $33), eyeliner ($13), setting powder ($13), I'm heading towards $150 face! It's amazing how much money we spend. This is encouraging me to spend less!

Have you tried the $100 FOTD challenge?

FOTD from December

FINALLY found my camera cord. So now I can post a FOTD from... well, ages ago. It was for my work Christmas party. No, I don't remember what products I used... I was just really happy with it and wanted to share! x

I look really pale because I suck at taking FOTD pics! Working on it though :) x

Bella Box January 2012 Thoughts and Contents

I was so darn excited to find my BellaBox on my doorstep! Ah, was bliss.

So what's inside?!

This month was all about organic or natural products, which is something I am not really THAT into, mainly because of the price. However, I am trying more natural products lately, so was excited to try some new ones!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream sample - I hear good things about this brand. It's only a sachet so not really very useful, says it's for dry, parched or itchy skin and can be used on face or body.

Pangea Organics Lip Balm (full size) - mine is Egyptian Fennel with grapefruit and sweet orange. Smells quite yummy!

Soleo Sunscreen samples x 2 - I hear many good things about this brand so I'm excited to give it a go!

Sparoma Organic pulse point roll on (peppermint) - smells really refreshing, also points to them for being a produdly Australian made product!

Halloween Kiss perfume samples x 2 - LOVE LOVE LOVE - smells SO nice. One is a straight sample the other is one of those little spray samples - perfect for the handbag! I may buy this once my current perfume stash runs out.

Violent Lips sample - this is random. It's like a lip tattoo. I don't think I'd ever use them but I'm willing to give them a go anyway!

Herban Essentials Lemon Towelettes sample - meh.

Qi Tea samples x 2 - I got these recently as a freebie - there is a detox green tea and a ginkgo green tea. I don't drink green tea, but as always am willing to give them a go!

So, this month's box was underwhelming compared to December's, HOWEVER, there was LOTS of samples, a good mix of product and as it is a sample service I'll enjoy trying out all the brands I have never tried before! Looking forward to February's box.

What did you think of this month's Bella Box?

January Empties & P10P

Hi guys!

Sorry for my MIAness - I spent a lovely 5 days away visiting friends. SUCH a well deserved break if I must say so myself :)

Back to reality and doing an early empties post!

Lots of empties this month, only some of which count towards P10P.

Priceline calming face wipes - LOVE. Cheap, do the job, and soaked with goop!
Sportsgirl Remove It! Nail polish remover wipes (P10P prod) - I wouldn't purchase these again. They do the job but they're kind of oily.
Burts Bees Milk and Honey body lotion (gift pack size) - It did the job but I didn't love the smell. Wouldn't repurchase.
Dermalogica Ultracalming mist - I do like this! it's a great toner and lasts forever. After I use up the other toners I have I'll repurchase.
Dermalogica Ultracalming Serum Concentrate - I don't feel this did anything. Wouldn't repurchase.
Dermalogica Ultracalming face mask - Meh.
Mitchum Deodorant - HG prod.
L'Oreal Elvive Shampoo and Conditioner - glad to see the back of this. Didn't protect my colour so wouldn't repurchase.
Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser - as you can see I had to do some surgery to get to the product at the bottom, HG cleanser, after I use the one I have will definitely repurchase.

So, 1 P10P prod down, 9 to go. LOL! I expect more in Feb as there are a few prods nearing the end, so YAY!

How To: Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Cleaning makeup brushes is probably the least glamorous part of owning/using makeup. But it's gotta be done. Why? Think about it - you put these things on your face every day. Your face has ALOT of bacteria on it. Let's not spread it too much - yeah? Also product buildup in your brushes will shorten their life and reduce their effectiveness.

Note: If your brush manufacturer recommends specific tools and steps for cleaning and taking care of your brushes... I say "Meh" - I have many different brands of brushes each with their own specific care routine from the manufacturer, but they all get cleaned the same. Take care of your brushes and they'll last.

Ta da, the brushes I will be cleaning today. How excitement.

Who Am I?

Thought I'd do a bit of a who am I to share with you all :)

A: Age- 23, 24 this year

B: Bed size- double - just lil ol me!

C: Chore you hate- changing sheets. UGH. I suck at it

D: Day- Thursday, the weekend is so close!

E: Essential start to your day- Breaky :)

F: Favourite colour- pink.

G: Gold or silver- white gold ;)

H: Height- 5'9" (I run in feet when talking about height lol)

I: Instruments- I am totally not musically talented. I can play the clarinet though!

J: Job title- Gold consultant 

K: Kids- 1 dog (Scruffy) and 1 cat (Tinkabelle)

L: Live- Central West NSW

Review: Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder

HG Product alert!!!!!

I really love Australis cosmetics. I love the pricepoint, I love the range and I really love the products. I think the products are really good quality and I love that it's an Australian brand - a brand that makes me proud!

I heard about Ready Set Go on the Beauty Heaven forums, and was in the market for one so I thought I'd give it a go - especially since my Chemist had 15% off :D

Review: Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil

When I was in the States in October, browsing WalMart (My favourite store after Sephora) I came across this Moroccan oil, which I had seen previously on a post by another blogger (and I'm sorry I can't for the life of me remember who it was!). For approx $6USD, I decided it was worth a shot!

What's In My Handbag?

WARNING: This could be scary.

Ok, So I genuinely believe that some people who do this are bullshitting. "Oh, Look, I carry my laptop around" - unless you have a genuine reason, you don't. Mine won't fit in my handbag. So ner.

ANYWAY. Here's a sneak peek at what I carry around on a day to day basis... Or rather, right now. Contents may change depending on what's going on.

My handbag. Ooooooo

Why I Love Drugstore Makeup

Maybe I should re label this "Why I Hate Buying Cosmetics At Myer"...

ANYWAY.

I love drugstore makeup. If you went through my beauty crap, you would not find a single MAC product. You'll find a few bits and pieces like NARS, Clinique, YSL - though not many. I purchased these in the USA as they were just so well priced. I personally don't love the idea of spending a ridiculous amount of money on a product that is no good for me, just because it's what the makeup artists use (FYI - my beauty therapist does not use MAC). I find many drugstore products are fantastic and work really well (I love Revlon lipglosses, Covergirl foundation, pressed powders, Models Prefer brushes...).

Are you a loyal customer?

I had to go to the pharmacy today to pick up some scripts, and when I looked at my scripts it got me thinking. I had 3 different scripts that repeats had come from 3 different pharmacies. Loyal customer? Probably not. A recent conversation with a friend sprung to mind, where I told her I always went to the same pharmacy (Liar, liar, pants on fire), and she said she went to whichever one was closest at the time.

I had a think and realised, one particular pharmacy I like because of the location - it's away from the CBD and has easy parking, I can drop my scripts off and pick them up later without having to go into town. Another I used to go to because the scripts were cheap (now it doesn't matter as I am a student), and the last one, the pharmacist has been dealing with my family for about 25 years. Every time I have a problem (for example, earlier last year when my skin went nuts) she can give me the help and products I need - and now a girl I went to school with is a pharmacist there.

Now, in another conversation with another friend she asked me if my beauty therapist had cheap prices for getting waxing done. She didn't like how much her therapist cost and wanted to go elsewhere. It would take a massive price rise for me to stop going to my therapist, she's amazing and I'm rather attached to her. Ditto my hairdresser (slash best friend).

And makeup - I buy many different brands but always buy them at Priceline.

I could go on and on here. But I guess the point I'm making is, why are we fussy about some loyalties but not others? I will trust pretty much anyone with my drugs but not my eyebrows? I can't explain it. I like the pharmacies I go to for different reasons. Maybe it's harder to break up with your hairdresser/beauty therapist than it is to break up with your drugstore or pharmacist?

What do you think? Do you shop around?

Magnetic Makeup Board!

I got this idea from Pinterest. The pic has gone viral on there and I'm pretty sure the lady that blogged it now has a million more followers. I will give her credit - I copied the idea and you can find her version here.

Tada! I'm so proud of it. The frame cost me $10 at the Salvo's, I sanded it back and painted it with craft paint I picked up at Bunnings. Afterward I also sanded bits off (not sure if you can tell from the photo) as I have a few frames in my room that are the same and wanted them to match :)  I went to a local metal place and got an offcut that was approximately the size I needed, then Dad cut it for me ($10), the fabric I already had as Mum and I recently recovered my glory box ($0), the pencil cups were $2 each at Ikea and have little hanging things on them. The magnets were about $4 at Bunnings for 8 - as you can see I ran out and need to buy more but didn't want to buy like 30 then find out they weren't appropriate. So, for about $30 I have an awesome makeup board!

The reason I love this idea, is, like the original author, I have a thousand products I never use simply because they're at the bottom of my train case. Now, they're all easily accessible and look pretty too!

What do you think? Would you do something like this?

Follow me on Pinterest! Click here

FYI: You can find full instructions on how to make one of these at the original author's blog, linked above.