An Obsession With The Fabulous

Face Facts Tees National Drug Campaign T-Shirt Design Competition Winners!

2012-05-29T23:58:00.000+10:00

Following on from this post back in January, I wanted to congratulate the very talented winners of the Face Facts Tees t-shirt design competition.

If you aren't familiar with the competition, check out their website for more info. In a nutshell, entrants were to design a t-shirt that would best support an anti-drugs (specifically ecstasy) theme.

Major Prize Winners

Georgie Dunn (15-18 yrs category)

Ellenor Argyropoulos (19-21 yrs category)

Runners up

Naomi Chilcott (15 – 18 yrs category)

Natasha Michels (19-21 yrs category)

Judges’ pick

Rob Di Giovanni (15-18 yrs category)

Kaitlyn Hackney (19-21 yrs category)

Congratulations to all the winners!

For more information on the National Drugs Campaign, click here.

OPI Just Spotted The Lizard, Better Than Chanel Peridot?

2012-05-28T18:15:00.000+10:00

Whenever a package from OPI lands on my desk, I always get excited, but never as excited as I was when I received Just Spotted The Lizard from the upcoming Amazing Spiderman collection.

There has been a lot of talk about this shade on the internet and its similarities to Chanel's limited edition Peridot. While I have not had the pleasure of trialling Peridot, some of my fellow bloggers have informed me that while the colour is amazing, the formula was not worth the price tag.

With this in mind, I didn't want to get my hopes up too much about Just Spotted The Lizard. Perhaps a colour like this automatically means the formula will be terrible? I had no reason to worry.

Just Spotted The Lizard is a gorgeous shimmery polish that flashes green, gold, blue and orange, depending on the light. I find this shade very flattering on my fair, pink toned skin, but I don't believe this would suit everyone.

I did find visible brush strokes hard to avoid, but the polish dried quickly and left a beautiful shiny finish.

I wore this polish for about five days before I noticed even the slightest amount of tip wear! I am so impressed with the formula of this shade, if something can last that long on me without chipping, it's a winner in my book. Well done, OPI!

Without fail, I got at least 2-3 people commenting on my nails every day I wore this polish, so I'm obviously not the only one who loves it. I know my fellow blogger and friend Elise thinks it's awesome!

OPI products are available at David Jones stores nationally and at leading salons.

OPI The Amazing Spiderman collection will be hitting Aussie stores soon.

RRP: $19.95

OPI Holland Collection

2012-05-24T00:37:00.001+10:00

This post is so late, but considering I'm still seeing this collection in stores, I thought it would be better late than never.

Kiss Me On My Tulips, Gouda Gouda Two Shoes, Wooden Shoe Like To Know?,
Vampsterdam, I Don't Give A Rotterdam!

Illamasqua Nail Varnish 'Stance'

2012-05-23T21:45:00.001+10:00

To brighten up my nails this winter, I'll be turning to Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Stance. This polish is a gorgeous fuchsia violet shade that dries to a lovely semi-gloss finish. While the finish on its own is nice enough, I like to add a top coat such as Seche Vite to ensure my mani is super glossy.

Read more »

MBFWA: Backstage at Christopher Esber

2012-05-14T23:07:00.000+10:00

Christopher Esber was one of the later shows on day four of MBFWA this year. I was exhausted by this time of night, but managed to get the scoop on the makeup, hair and nails before getting home to bed.

Ladies In (Fred) Leighton...Met Costume Gala 2012 Part One

2012-05-09T23:27:00.001+10:00

Wow, this is the third year in a row I have brought coverage of the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is held in New York City each year. One of my very first posts on this blog was on the fashions from the 2010 ball. My, how time flies!

I've got some exclusive deets on the amazing Fred Leighton jewels worn by some of the best dressed stars at this year's gala. Enjoy!

Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe

Image credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

How To: Recreate Camilla Belle's 2012 Met Ball Makeup Look

2012-05-09T21:35:00.001+10:00

At last night's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Gala held in New York, Camilla Belle wowed photographers with her sultry makeup look, which was achieved using ck one color cosmetics.

ck one color cosmetics official makeup artist, Hung Vanngo, describes the inspiration for Camilla's look.

“We discussed the look for hair and makeup and decided to create a look that was both strong and sexy, with a sophisticated style for the hair and for make-up, beautiful skin, shimmering eyes and dark sexy lips”

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2012-05-07T09:21:00.003+10:00

Have you bought your mother a gift for Mother’s Day yet? Well, it’s coming up so quickly and if it weren’t for all the ads on television and features in magazines, I probably would have completely forgotten about it! I know, this makes me a terrible daughter, but my brain has been completely inundated with all things fashion week. I also started a new job last week, so I’m crazy busy at the moment.

I’ve mentioned before how much I personally love receiving magazine subscriptions as gifts, but I don’t think my mother or grandma would be interested in reading Cosmo or any of the celebrity weeklies. I do know my grandma always buys Woman’s Day Magazine, so perhaps that will make a good gift for her. I know she would enjoy receiving in the mail every week.

I need to think quickly and get my shopping done ASAP. I cannot bear the thought of facing the crowds at the shops the day before Mother’s Day, so online shopping it will be!

For my mother, I would normally get her a massage voucher or flowers and chocolates, which she loves, but I’d like to give her something different for a change. It might be nice to get her a gift that keeps on giving every month like a magazine subscription. There are so many magazines in Australia to choose from, so I’m not sure what I would get, perhaps a cooking magazine. She loves trying out new recipes, especially vegetarian ones for me, as I’m quite picky with my meals! She also enjoys reading lifestyle magazines so I could get her a subscription to one of those types of magazines.

Have you done your Mother’s Day shopping yet? What have you bought in previous years? Any ideas?

This post is sponsored by Magshop Mother’s Day Gifts promotion.

MBFWA SS 12/13 flowers For a VagabOnd - 'Desirable Darkness'

2012-05-03T21:18:00.001+10:00

Just thought I would post some beautiful images from backstage at the flowers For a VagabOnd MBFWA show.

MBFWA 2012: Day Two - Backstage At Bowie

2012-05-03T01:31:00.001+10:00

Last night I headed backstage at Bowie to check out the hair and makeup looks for the show.

Kevin Murphy flew in to Sydney for his single fashion show for MBFWA 2012 and created a gorgeous wet-look style. The inspiration was 'lady of the lake' who is emerging from the water, wet and beautiful.

Makeup was beautifully done by the Napoleon Perdis team. Inspired by Bowie's Aura collection, the look is a woman at one with nature and the elements. She is natural and spiritual and rises from the water dewy and luminous.

MBFWA 2012: Day One - Whitney Eve & WE By Whitney Eve

2012-05-02T00:50:00.002+10:00

Last night I attended Whitney Port's installation style showing of her two lines Whitney Eve and her diffusion line, WE By Whitney Eve.

Whit was looking as gorgeous as she does on TV as she introduced her collection, something you can tell she put her heart and soul into.

A delicious array of soft prints in pretty pastels reigned supreme, while structure remained important. Blush tones, prints and solid black pieces were also key. Whitney's laid-back California X New Yorker style is evident throughout both collections.

Check out the collections below!

MBFWA 2012: Day One - Miss Unkon

2012-05-01T23:00:00.003+10:00

I hit backstage for Miss Unkon yesterday and LOVED the heavy eye makeup and braided top knot.

Makeup: Napoleon Perdis

Hair: Craig Smith (Schwarzkopf Professional)

Nails: Minx

MBFWA Day One Wrap-Up!

2012-05-01T07:28:00.001+10:00

Day one of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is done and dusted, and I have to say I am absolutely exhausted! Before writing this I indulged in a hot bath, cup of tea and a Tim-Tam to recover from what was a very long day!

For now I'll just be posting a few highlights from the shows I covered. Additional info to come!

The shows I went to and/or went backstage for were Camilla, Dylan Cooper, Miss Unkon, Aurelio Costarella, Whitney Eve & Ginger & Smart.

Stand-outs for me were the beautiful dresses on display at Aurelio Costarella and the ah-mazing silver dress at Ginger & Smart. I also loved the laid-back luxe of Whitney Port's two collections.

I adored the bursts of colour that were evident at several shows this year. I'm definitely a colour lover, so I am loving what I've seen so far this fashion week.

Here's a few snapshots of the day. I'll be posting a more in-depth look at the makeup, hair and collections as soon as I can!

Camilla:
Hair by Goldwell, Makeup by Napoleon Perdis.

My Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Handbag Essentials

2012-04-30T00:20:00.001+10:00

In the lead up to this week's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (which is being held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney), I thought I would do a quick 'what's in my bag' type post, fashion week style!

Basically these are some of the things that I consider absolutely essential for something like fashion week. Of course, there are a million other things I'll probably end up stashing in my handbag at the last minute, but these are the items that stick out in my mind.

ipad - I need to be able to keep up with my insane schedule for the week, it's all on here. Plus, this will help me update throughout the day.
iPhone - Obvious essential. Instagram!
Sunglasses - To wear outside and when travelling to offsite shows. Mine are Chanel and I am in love with them,
Business Cards - This week will be all about networking for me!
Lipsticks & Gloss - Nothing makes you look more polished than a well applied lipstick. I favour Tom Ford, Illamasqua and MAC.
Face Powder - Absolute necessity for me. Running between shows and backstage means my t-zone will look like an oil-slick. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural to the rescue!
Blush/Mirror - I'll probably use the mirror constantly throughout the day. Nothing worse than realising you have lipstick on your teeth after meeting someone new, or worse, you've been photographed! I'll freshen up my blush by late afternoon.
Camera - My dear friend Amy has loaned me her baby for fashion week. Seriously, she's amazing. I couldn't be more grateful.
Deodorant - To freshen up throughout the long days.

Alexander Wang Rocco Duffel

I am obsessed with my Rocco Duffel bag from Alexander Wang. It's a very recent purchase from Shopbop and I absolutely adore it. I chose the colour 'tangerine' because I have plenty of black bags and for such a statement piece, I thought it best to steer clear of traditional black.

Are any of you attending MBFWA? Holler at me if you are, would love to meet/catch up with all of you!

Stay tuned for all my MBFWA updates via my Twitter, Instagram (my name is ang14), Facebook page and of course on my blog. I'm going to try my best to get multiple posts up every day this week. We'll see how I go!

A Week Of Lip Products: SAX Cosmetics Rich Lip Colour Lipsticks

2012-04-27T06:38:00.003+10:00

Happy Friday! It's day five of my A Week Of Lip Products challenge and let me tell you, it's been a challenge alright! I'm not used to posting every single day as I simply do not have the time. I figured I needed to make time to consistently blog about my huge backlog of items, hence a week of lip products.

Today I'll be discussing two lipsticks from the SAX Cosmetics range.

Before being kindly sent some goodies from the brand for review, I wasn't familiar with the SAX Cosmetics brand. I'd soon find out that it is an Australian family business that originated in 1995, way before I knew anything about makeup.

I was sent two lipsticks, in the shades Coral and Soft Rose.

A pigment-rich lipstick infused with nurturing ingredients that conditions the lips, leaving them feeling soft and supple. Creates the look of creamy velvety, full-bodied lips. Paraben Free.

Coral, Soft Rose
(Click to enlarge)

The Rich Lip Colour Lipsticks are a dream to apply. The formula is lovely and creamy and the colours I received had a nice amount of pigment.

The packaging is comprised of a slick black outer casing which is removed from the bullet by pushing down the base of the lipstick.

These lipsticks contain Calendula, Evening Primrose and Jojoba oils, Vitamin E, Candelilla & beeswax and silk powder, which moisturise, protect and prevent the lips from dryness.

I really like these lipsticks. While the packaging is nothing fancy to look at, the quality of the lipsticks is great. They feel lovely on the lips and the colours would suit a wide range of skin tones.

Coral, Soft Rose
(Click to enlarge)

RRP: $14.95

SAX Cosmetics is available from selected pharmacies in Australia.

A Week Of Lip Products: MAC VIVA GLAM NICKI

2012-04-26T23:14:00.000+10:00

First things first, sorry for today's extremely delayed post. I wanted to get this up first thing this morning but between beauty launches and work, I couldn't find the time.

Anyway, today is day four of my A Week Of Lip Products series. If you missed my previous posts check them out here, here and here.

Today is just a quick post with my thoughts on the latest MAC Viva Glam lipstick, Viva Glam Nicki.

Whether or not you are a Nicki Minaj fan, you have to agree that she always rocks amazing shades on her lips. This lipstick is no exception.

Viva Glam Nicki is a gorgeous, bright yellow toned pink which instantly brings life to the face. This is one extremely bright lippie, so if you're not one to wear brights, this could be a bit of a shock to the system for you.

For lovers of hot pinks and corals, you are in for a treat. This lipstick applies quite well, as most MAC lipsticks do, in my opinion. The satin finish is not my favourite from the MAC range, I tend to lean towards Amplified and Cremesheen finishes. Having said that, the formula is opaque in one swipe and is not too drying to the lips. Win!

Arm swatch. Click to enlarge.

Viva Glam Nicki is available in MAC stores and online now.

RRP: $36

100% of the proceeds from Viva Glam products go directly to the MAC AIDS Fund, which is committed to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Just another reason why you should go pick up this fab lipstick!

A Week Of Lip Products: Ciccone Lipsticks

2012-04-25T12:15:00.001+10:00

Today is day three of my A Week Of Lip Products series. Today I'll be reviewing the Ciccone range of lipsticks.

I was kindly sent seven out of the eight shades in the range for review purposes a while back and I finally have swatches for you!

(Click image to enlarge)

The colours I was sent are:

Voluptas - Scarlett rich red
Oceanus - Light coral tone
Hera - Soft earthy pink tone
Athena - Latte tone
Aphrodite - Deep red
Apollo - Rich brown/pink tone
Cupid - Deep fuschia/pink tone

Voluptas, Oceanus, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, Cupid
(Click image to enlarge)

Like yesterday's post, I will provide a pros & cons list to sum up what I think about these lippies.

Pros:

Great colours
Impressive pigmentation
Lovely creamy formula
Opaque in a single swipe
Long-lasting
Smell

Cons:

Packaging
Fragility of the product itself
Can be a bit drying on the lips

I'll start by saying I love the creaminess of these lipsticks. They glide on very smoothly and are very easy to apply. With the darker colours, extra care should be taken to ensure clean lines, but this is the case with any brand.

The scent of the lipsticks is very appealing. They have a similar smell to MAC lipsticks, which have a hint of vanilla sweetness. The scent is not overly strong, so unless you have an extreme sensitivity to scented products, these should be fine for you.

The packaging is where the product fails for me. The girly, pink outer packaging is cute, and the lid closes with a satisfying click, however the pros end there. I've found that nearly all of my lipsticks have broken away from the base of the packaging causing the bullet to wobble around inside. I never wound the lipsticks the entire way up, so there must be some sort of fault with the mechanics there. It could be that the product itself is very creamy, and prone to breakage, but I've had many even creamier lippies that have not broken apart.

The fact that the lipstick wobbles around inside the tube means it is nearly impossible for me to be able to apply them straight to my lips without risk of further breakage.

It really is a shame because the formulation is lovely and while only about half of the shades suit me personally, the range is quite lovely.

I would recommend these lipsticks for the smooth formula and lovely scent, as well as fairly unique colours, but I would insist you take good care of these and definitely keep them out of the heat!

RRP: $25

Ciccone Cosmetics lipsticks are Australian made and are available in Myer stores and online.

Have you tried the Ciccone Cosmetics lipstick range? Any favourites?

A Week Of Lip Products: Face Of Australia Lip Quench Moisturising SPF 30+ Lipsticks

2012-04-24T08:33:00.000+10:00

In continuing this week's focus of lip products, I thought I would do a post on one of the most popular Australian lipstick ranges to hit the beauty blogging circuit in recent months. Here are my thoughts on the Face Of Australia Lip Quench Moisturising SPF30+ lipsticks.

What FOA say:

Enriched with natural moisturisers and emollients including Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E & Shea Butter, this rich, creamy lipstick provides beautiful colour in a hydrating formula that protects your lips from harmful UV rays. Nourishes and protects whilst delivering smooth, even colour that caresses the curves of your lips. Maintain soft and supple lips and protect them from the ageing effects of the sun for totally kissable lips.

I was kindly sent three of the lipsticks from the range and purchased two for myself, so in total I have five of the twelve shades that are available.

Lychee Crush, Malibu Barbie, Nude Satin, Pink Champagne, Power Surge
(click image to enlarge)

There are things I both love and hate about these lipsticks. I think a pro/con list will best illustrate my thoughts.

Pros:

Moisturising formula, feels lovely on the lips.
SPF30+ broad spectrum protection from the sun.
Lovely colours.
Decent packaging for price. I especially love the clear lid so you can see which colour you are grabbing.
Price point - a super low $9.45 AUD.

Cons:

The smell and taste. It's so sunscreen-y, it's as if I have rubbed sunscreen all over my face and managed to lick some off my lips.
The colours do not tend to last as long as many others do on my lips. Most likely due to their moisturising nature.
The formula is so creamy, it often ends up on my teeth.

Lychee Crush, Malibu Barbie, Nude Satin, Pink Champagne, Power Surge
(click image to enlarge)

Clearly the pros outweigh the cons here, which goes to show why these lipsticks are so popular. I understand that Face Of Australia knew that the scent of the lipsticks could be a problem for some customers, but that they did not want to compromise on the SPF 30+ rating. In other words, I'm happy to deal with the smell if I know my lips are being very well protected.

Lychee Crush and Malibu Barbie are clear frontrunners in terms of my colour picks. Lychee Crush is a colour I cannot dupe in my own collection, and it seems to suit everyone who tries it. Sure, I have a dozen blue-based pinks, but I still love Malibu Barbie, as do countless other beauty bloggers.

I should note that Power Surge is not showing up as red as it truly is in my photos. To me it is coming off too pink in my swatch, when in reality it is like a ruby red with a touch of pink. The other swatches I believe are pretty spot on in terms of colour depiction.

The Face Of Australia Lip Quench Moisturising SPF30+ lipsticks are available from Priceline, Big W, Kmart and online at Fashion Addict.

Anyway, that's day two of my 'A Week Of Lip Products' challenge I set myself. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post. Also, check out yesterday's post on NYX's Xtreme Lip Creams in case you missed it!

Have you tried any of the lipsticks from the Lip Quench range? Any favourites?

A Week Of Lip Products: NYX Xtreme Lip Creams

2012-04-23T16:50:00.001+10:00

Happy Monday everyone! This week it's all about the lips. I'll be posting about a different lip product every day. Today I'll be talking about NYX Xtreme Lip Creams.

Beautify your lips with this velvety rich lip cream that provides extreme pigmentation with a silky and glossy finish. This lip cream is a hybrid of lipstick, lip gloss, and lip stain with intense pigmentation all in one. Complete your head-turning look with the Xtreme Lip Cream in any of the 11 luscious colors.

Months ago, I started seeing reviews on some of my favourite American beauty blogs about the NYX Xtreme Lip Creams. I absolutely love the original Soft Matte Lip Creams from NYX Cosmetics, so I was really interested to see what the Xtreme version had to offer.

I finally caved and bought seven of the eleven shades available on Nonpareil Boutique when they were having one of their sales and managed to save 25% off the $6.00 RRP.

Natural, Nude Peach Fuzz, Pinky Nude, Bonfire, Spicy, Strawberry Jam, Dolly Girl
(click picture to enlarge)

I am thoroughly enjoying using these lip creams. I find that they are extremely long-wearing, even through eating and drinking and they provide excellent pigmentation. These do leave a stain on your lips, which doesn't look great if your lips aren't in good condition. For best results, make sure your lips are prepped by exfoliating away any flakes with a good sugar scrub and apply a small amount of balm underneath the lip cream. If your lips are in good condition, applying the lip creams on your lips straight from the tube should be fine.

The best thing about the NYX Xtreme Lip Creams is the great colours. Although some of them are slightly similar, there are both light and darker colours suitable for all skin types. I love that the lip creams are pretty much a lip gloss/lipstick hybrid. They are easy to apply thanks to the doe-foot applicator, but have fantastic lasting power and a glossy sheen.

Natural, Nude Peach Fuzz, Pinky Nude, Bonfire, Spicy, Strawberry Jam, Dolly Girl

Although they are not something I will wear day in day out (they can be slightly drying on the lips), they are perfect for a night out as minimal touch-ups are required.

I should point out the differences between the Xtreme and the Soft Matte versions of the NYX lip creams. Firstly, and perhaps most noticable, is the smell. While the Soft Matte Lip Creams smell delicious, kind of like cake batter, the Xtreme Lip Creams smell a bit like plastic. It's not a huge issue for me once they are on my lips, but if you are sensitive to scents then these may not be for you.

The second big difference is the formula itself. The names pretty much sum up the differences in the way the lip creams apply and look on the lips. The Soft Matte Lip Creams provide a great amount of colour, but have a completely matte finish. The consistency is also much dryer than its Xtreme counterpart. The Xtreme Lip Creams glide on like a liquid lipstick and have a semi-gloss finish. While the formula is wetter, it is more drying on the lips than the Soft Matte Lip Cream. The colours are also much more pigmented, which could be one of the reasons they are more drying.

For lip swatches check out these great US blogs. They helped me decide which shades I wanted!

Makeup And Beauty Blog

The Shades Of U Makeup

Vampy Varnish

The Xtreme Lip Creams retail for $6.00 (USD) and are available worldwide online from Cherry Culture, Nonpareil Boutique and for those in the US, the NYX Cosmetics website. If you are willing to pay a bit more, they are also available in Australia from Crush Cosmetics for $10.95 (AUD).

Are you a fan of NYX Cosmetics? Have you tried any of the lip creams?

Are You Dreading Shopping For Mother's Day?

2012-04-20T10:30:00.000+10:00

Have you started shopping for Mother's Day yet? I certainly haven't. I'm one of those people that leave gift shopping to the last minute, which is something I definitely regret when it comes to the day before, and I have to face the crowds at Westfield. I get very irritable when I'm surrounded by big groups of pushy, rude people. Thankfully this is something you don't have to deal with when shopping online.

Whenever someone asks me what I want for a gift for my birthday or as a Christmas present, I will usually ask for money, make-up or a magazine subscription. Last Christmas I received a subscription to OK! Magazine from my mum. I know it made things so much easier for her when it came to shopping for gifts and I love the idea of a present that you continue to receive every week or month!

After the mania that was last minute chocolate egg shopping on Easter Saturday this month, I've decided I'm going to purchase a Mother's Day present online and within plenty of time this year. I hate the thought of running around a shopping centre with hundreds of other desperate shoppers. I actually feel claustrophobic thinking about it. By shopping online, I can spend more time browsing and thinking about what Mum might like, and bookmark sites that have good options.

I know Mum likes having a read of a magazine, mostly food and home publications. She usually borrows them from the library, but I know she would prefer to have her own copies so she could tear out recipes whenever she is inspired to cook a new meal. Perhaps I'll make life easy for myself and buy her a subscription online.

With online shopping so easy and accessible these days, and with so many sites offering free or discounted shipping options, there is no easier way to get your Mother's Day shopping done.

MagShop are currently hosting a Mother's Day giveaway for anyone who purchases a subscription through their online store. One lucky person will win:

Return Business Class Airfares for two people from Sydney-Tahiti-Los Angeles flying Air Tahiti Nui.
7 night luxury accommodation in Tahiti:
6 night stay in an overwater bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort.
1 night stay in a twin-share room at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort.
7 night stay in a twin-share room at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City.
$5,000 spending money.

Happy shopping!

“This post is sponsored by MagShop Mother’s Day gift ideas”

Lauren Conrad Goes Topless For Glamour Magazine

2012-04-19T15:31:00.000+10:00

Former The Hills star Lauren Conrad is looking amazing in the latest issue of Glamour Magazine, on stands now in the US.

Check out the gorgeous pics below!

What do you think of Lauren's Glamour photoshoot? Are you an LC fan?

Witchery White Shirt Campaign

2012-04-17T20:31:00.000+10:00

Did you know that in Australia, one woman dies every ten hours in Australia from ovarian cancer? I certainly had no idea the number was this big, but thanks to Witchery's White Shirt Campaign, I've become more aware of devastating effect this disease has.

May 19th 2012 is official White Shirt Day and the aim is to reach one million people. Witchery will be selling eight styles of the white shirt in stores and online with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Here are some images of the shirts available for purchase.

Tux Shirt $129.95

Boyfriend Shirt $129.95

Broderie Shirt $129.95

Studded Collar Shirt $149.95

"This year, Witchery has created eight shirts for women and two shirts for men. The collection reflects Witchery’s

smart, simple design philosophy with a fashion twist. The womenswear range features an elegantly structured tux

shirt, a relaxed tailored boyfriend shirt, and a detailed broderie blouse. The menswear range features a classic white
shirt with a fine self stripe and an everyday v-neck tee. Supporting the white shirt collection, Witchery has produced
a silver gift collection for men and women encompassing a silver jewellery for women and a silver bow tie and tie
for men."

To date, Witchery has raised over three million dollars for the OCRF, which is an amazing contribution to the fight against cancer.

Madison Magazine is a big supporter of the cause, and will feature the campaign in their May issue.

Witchery’s White Shirt collection will be available throughout Australia and New Zealand

online from April 18th 2012 and in stores from May 1st 2012.

Will you be supporting the campaign?

Face Of Australia Barbados Nail Enamel Collection - Let's Go Scuba Diving

2012-04-16T22:58:00.000+10:00

"Inspired by the colours and spirit of the beaches of Barbados, this nail colour story is a fusion of vibrant hues with a shimmery finish."

There has been a fair bit of hype amongst Australian beauty bloggers about the latest Face of Australia collection, Barbados Nail Enamel. I had seen some early posts about the lacquers on some blogs and instantly knew I would have to pick up every colour in the range.

I was lucky that when my local Priceline started stocking the collection, there was also a 20% off deal being offered. I took advantage and promptly purchased all eight polishes.

The first polish I will be showing you is an unexpected favourite of mine, Let's Go Scuba Diving.

Let's Go Scuba Diving is a gorgeous teal shimmer that has completely changed my mind about green/blue nail polishes. When I wear this, I cannot stop looking at my nails. It's honestly that beautiful!

I did find that the polish took a while to dry completely between coats, which resulted in a thicker application. I think I'll wait a bit longer between coats next time I use this and see if application improves.

I am so in love with this colour, I'm kinda thinking I want to wear it again this week. As with all shimmer/glitter polishes, this can be a bit of a pain to remove. I needed three cotton pads soaked in nail polish remover to completely remove the varnish. I would normally use 1-2.

Overall, this is a great polish and so affordable at a tiny $4.95 RRP.

Face Of Australia is available at Priceline, Big W, Kmart, selected pharmacies and online retailer Fashion Addict.

Have you checked out any of the polishes from the Barbados collection yet? Thoughts?

Next up I'll be posting my second favourite of the collection, I Like To Mauve It. Stay tuned.

Ere Perez Rich Olive Oil Lipsticks

2012-04-06T15:31:00.001+10:00

I recently attended the launch of Ere Perez Rich Olive Oil Lipsticks in Sydney. I have to admit, I wasn't familiar with Ere Perez's line of natural makeup, but I'm so glad I am now acquainted.

Ere Perez was born in Mexico, growing up with an interest in natural remedies and skin care due to a family heritage in natural therapies. Ere's maternal grandfather is a traditional 'medicine man' and her paternal grandparents are both chemical biologists so you can see why her passion lies in natural makeup over anything else.

The Rich Olive Oil Lipsticks are certified Cruelty Free lip products that contain one of Ere's favourite ingredients, olive oil.

"Olive Oil is one of nature's really rich, nourishing and beautiful ingredients that's great for all sorts of beauty uses, as well as for food", says Ere. "It's rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants, and I use it as a weekly hair conditioning treatment, moisturiser for dry skin, as a shaving oil for my legs and even as eye makeup remover."!

I was lucky enough to try out three of the beautiful lipsticks. Here are Ere's descriptions of each.

Dance - a lovely warm bronze reddy brown. Really good on darker skins.
Birthday - a lovely peachy coral pink that's got a bit of sparkle - perfect for your special day.
Surprise - a frivolous hot pink matte lipstick, great for daytime parties and girl's nights out.

I really love the packaging of these lipsticks. They come packaged in lovely white bullets that give a satisfying click when you put the cap on. I can tell these will definitely be safe in my handbag!

Birthday, Dance, Surprise

The formula of these lippies is great. They have fantastic pigment and are smooth and moisturising without being so creamy that they slip and slide off your lips like some lipsticks do. I like that they stay put exactly where you apply them and don't end up on your teeth like some of my really creamy lippies such as the YSL Rouge Volupte range (which I still love, by the way).

The Ere Perez lipsticks have little to no scent so they should not affect anyone with sensitive noses!

Arm swatches: Birthday, Dance & Surprise

So far, my favourite is Birthday. I am a sucker for coral and hot pink lipsticks, so I have acquired quite the collection. Birthday, however, is unlike anything I own, and I love it!

Ere Perez Rich Olive Oil Lipsticks are available now online and across Australia in health food stores and independent pharmacies.

RRP: $29.90

Dreaming of a girl’s week away...

2012-04-02T09:53:00.000+10:00

I have two best friends in America that I haven’t seen for over a year now. I hate that our main form of communication is email and social networking sites, and that I haven’t heard their voices in so long that I’m beginning to forget what they sound like.

I’ve decided it’s time to organise an amazing girl’s trip to Mexico. Sun, cocktails and lazy days by the pool are what I have in mind. I’m thinking a minimum of seven balmy nights and warm but not scorching (don’t want to burn my lily-white skin!) days.

Reading magazines by the pool or on the beach is my idea of a relaxing day. Add a pina colada to the mix and I’m in heaven! I love pretty much any women’s magazines. Whether it be design mags such as Belle, which fulfil my desire of one day decorating my own home, bridal (not that I’m even remotely close to getting married), celebrity trash (come on, who doesn’t love a bit of shameful goss?), and of course the popular women’s monthly mags. I love them all.

I am always the one in my group of friends who has practically every magazine off the shelves in her carry-on luggage. I think my handbag weighed as much as my suitcase with the amount of glossies I had stuffed inside it. During a big girl’s trip to Hawaii about two years back, I think my fashion, beauty and design magazine count was at about 15. That was before we landed in Honolulu. Yes, I’m pretty obsessed, but hey, it’s a long flight!

So, I’m thinking of including Cancun, Cabo San Lucas (if you’re a fan of MTV’s Laguna Beach, I’m sure you’ve thought about going there too!) and Playa del Carmen in my Mexican itinerary. It will definitely be a trip for relaxing, enjoying the nightlife and of course, a good dose of sightseeing.

While I have a wealth of knowledge about the best places to stay and the must-see parts of most of the US, Mexico is a whole new world to me. I’m thinking I’ll have to buckle down and do some serious research before I even think about booking anything. Have any of you been to Mexico? Got any tips?

“This article is sponsored by MagShop Mother ’s Day gifts promotion”