Beauticology - Your Beauty Fix

MAC Give Me Liberty - Product Details

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:00:00 PST

As promised, here are some product images and more detail on the Give Me Liberty collection from MAC.

Here is the scarf, which I am expecting to be super exxy:

Beauty powder

Shell pearl - Pale peach with gold pearl
Summer Rose - Soft violet pink with pearl:

Eye shadow

Give me liberty of London - Flat creamy pink (matte)
Free to be - Creamy true coral (matte)
Bough grey - Mid-tone blueish grey (satin)
Birds & Berries - Frosted dark green blue (veluxe pearl)
Dame’s desire - Frosty mid-tone reddish purple (frost):

Lipstick

Peachstock - Neutral peach (satin)
Petals & Peacocks - Creamy bright magenta pink (amplified)
Blooming lovely - Creamy greyed lilac mauve (amplified)
Ever hip - Creamy light coral (cremesheen):

Lipglass

Frankly fresh - Neutral pink beige with soft pearl
English accents - Creamy midtone blue pink
A different groove - Deep purple brown with pearl
Perennial high style - Creamy bright pink coral:

Powder Blush

Prim & proper - Neutral nude
Dirty Plum - Sheer Dark Plum (Pro)

Nail Lacquer

Vestral white - Creamy white (cream)
Blue India - Dark green blue with pearl (cream):

Are there any products on your lust list?

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Sunday Short n Sweet: Pink Eyeshadow

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:07:00 PST

I don't know about you guys, but I have never been able to do pink eyeshadow. I look diseased. It is one look that I have seriously given up on ever achieving.

Because it is summer, it is the perfect time to wear pretty pinks and purples, not only on your body, but also to give your face a bit of colour too. Step out of your comfort zone of smokey grey and taupe colours and get into a bit of summer colour.

Here we have Yasmin from Primped demonstrating how to apply a perfectly pastel shade to your eyes without looking like you have pink-eye:

MAC Give Me Liberty Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:00:00 PST

This has to be one of the prettiest ranges MAC has released in a looooong time. It is flowery with gorgeous coloured lips & eyes. I am lemming just about all of it. It also looks like the collection isn't standard packaging covered in stickers (yes MAC, we don't appreciate forking out ridiculous prices for your collections only to find the stickers broken off in your handbag a week later).

It looks like it comes with a scarf and possibly some bags as well.

Will it be available in Australia? Hmm, I don't know that yet. If it is, it would be around March/April.

Product images will be available on Monday.

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MAC Love Lace - Product Details

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:00:00 PST

Following on from yesterday, here are more product shots of the MAC Love Lace Collection.

Lipstick

Pretty Please Pale pink pearl (Lustre) (Permanent)
Intricate Frosted cool icy taupe (Frost) (Limited Edition)

Lipglass

Icescape Sheer pale pink with pink pearl (Limited Edition) (Repromote)
Utterly Discrete Sheer frosted cool icy mauve (Limited Edition)

Eyeshadow

Pincurl Dusty white (Frost) (Repromote) (Limited Edition)

Hypnotizing Frosted grey mauve (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Love Lace Frosted mid-tone greyish blue (Veluxe Pearl) (Limited Edition)

Suave Intentions Light frosted silver blue (Veluxe Pearl) (Limited Edition)

Kohl Power

Sense of Style Blackened deep marine blue (Limited Edition)
Raven Intense red with black pearl (Limited Edition)
Feline Rich black (Limited Edition)

Nail Lacquer

Light Affair Creamy pale grey taupe (Cream) (Limited Edition)

Eye Kohl

Fascinating (Permanent)

Zoomlash Mascara

Zoomblack (Permanent)

Brow

Stud (Permanent)

Lash

#44 (Permanent)

What MAC Love Lace products are on your lust list?

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MAC Love Lace Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:00:00 PST

Yet another gorgeous collection from MAC. This time, it is all about very girly, pretty features, highlighted in navy and silver with baby pink lips.

The MAC Love Lace Collection in stores now. Product pictures and details will be up tomorrow.

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Beauticology 2009 Product of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:08:00 PST

I've been thinking about what product had the greatest impact on me in 2009 and I kept coming up with the same product over and over. I'll give you a hint - I raved about it in January '08 and forgot about by the end of 2008.

Not sure? Keep reading to find out!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present my Beauticology 2009 Product of the Year award to:

Dr Natasha Cook NDC Concentrated Clarifier

I wrote about it in 2008 after seeing Dr Cook and testing her product range. While all her products are excellent, this is most definitely the hero product. I used it studiously throughout 2009 and it made a HUGE difference to my skin. My skin has a teenage glow again - it is softer, my hormonal breakouts aren't as bad and it has reduced my redness, giving my skin a more even tone.

$71 will get you a 50ml bottle that will last for months and months - you only need a tiny amount.

Tip: After applying to your face, take a drop of hand cream and massage the leftover clarifier into the backs of your hands.

Available online at Dr Natasha Cook's website & she is located in Sydney if you would like to make an appointment.

BEST & BRIGHTEST: Lush

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:00:00 PST

I know people who would crawl over their first born to get to a Lush store. They swear by the products and lament when they’ve reached the bottom of their Dream Cream. Me, not so much. In fact, I get an instant headache as soon as I walk near the store, its overwhelmingly fragrant. I’ve never bought anything from Lush & while I don’t dislike for their products, I’ve never had anything jump out and scream BUY ME YOU FOOL.

Since there are about a squillion of you who think my opinion of Lush is rubbish (the 20 stores in Australia and 350 worldwide are enough to prove me wrong), I thought a post with the best and brightest of Lush was in order.

Ladies, Gentlemen, I give you the current top 10 most popular products at Lush:

Honey I Washed the Kids Soap AU$7.90

Angels on Bare Skin 100g Cleanser AU$15.95

Karma Soap AU$9.90

Dream Cream Hand & Body Lotion AU$28.95

Sun Showers Gift Pack AU$44.95

The Olive Branch Shower Gel 100g; Dream Cream Body Moisturiser 45g; Lemslip Buttercream 80g; Aqua Mirabilis Body Butter; Sandstone Soap 100g.

Rock Star Soap AU$7.90

Shiny Happy People Gift Pack AU$19.95

Happy Soap 100g, Happy Hippy Shower Gel 100g, Lemslip Buttercream 100g.

Sexy Peel Soap AU$6.50

Buffy Body Butter AU$15.95 for the small and $25.95 for the Big Buffy

Sex Bomb Bath Ballistic AU$7.95

As for me, I’m adding a New Year’s Resolution – give Lush a chance. Any ideas what I should try first? They do have an online store, so I might give that a try.

Jennifer Hawkins and the Airbrushing Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:32:00 PST

There is a huge debate raging at the moment over the new Marie Claire cover, with an un-airbrushed Jennifer Hawkins on the cover. Many are saying that she doesn’t portray a realistic view of women. Why is that? Because she is beautiful? Thin? Is fit? She is a model. That is what they are paid for.

The same could be said about Sarah Murdoch on the cover of Women’s Weekly, looking beyond gorgeous, but entirely age-appropriate.

Both Sarah Murdoch and Jennifer Hawkins are models. They are genetically blessed individuals whose career relies on their looks. Raging about them as individuals is unfair on them and claiming that they are unfit role models because they are thin is ridiculous.

I absolutely agree that the average woman looks more like Bianca Dye who posed nude for Madison magazine a couple of months ago (and looks bloody amazing, in my humble opinion), but that wasn’t the point.

If you want to complain and rage about the airbrushing issue, do it over its misuse, not its lack of use. Complain about its misuse in the Ralph Lauren ad, where the model looks like malnourished skeleton. Complain about magazine covers where the celeb is 50, but has absolutely no wrinkles, and the skin of twelve year old.

Celebrate models/celebs who are brave enough to step out from airbrushing norm, and show that they do, in fact look just like the rest of us, and don’t judge those who were hit with the beauty gene wand just a little bit more than you or I.

You can see more images of Jennifer Hawkins exclusively on the Sassi Sam blog.

5 of Your Favourites

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:00:00 PST

Sigh, it's back to normality today. I wish we had 3 day working weeks every week!

So we can relive 2009 just a little bit more, I thought I would give you the 5 most read posts of 2009. I'm actually a little surprised by them, but you voted with your little clicking fingers, so here I provide:

1. HOW TO: Clean Your Makeup Brushes
2. REVIEW: Lipstick Queen Saint Lipstick
3. REVIEW: Revlon Matte Collection
4. NEW: Miranda Kerr Launches Skincare Range KORA
5. Freida, Evangeline and Elizabeth Join L'Oreal

If there is anything you would like me to write about, please send me an email, I'm more than happy to oblige.

New Years Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:55:00 PST

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. Its been great to have a few days off to unwind and take stock of the year that was. We went down to the south coast for a few days and had a great time. It rained every single day, so there wasn't a lot of hiking and swimming, but just the act of being outside the house without having to worry about anything else made it ideal. For those in the northern hemisphere, I hope your winter is not too unbearable!

I am really looking forward to 2010, I am determined to make it a great year & what better way to start than with some not-so-ridiculous resolutions?

Along with those I posted last week, here are some more of mine:

1. Go on holidays more often. We went to Hawaii in Aug/Sep last year and it was fantastic. It made me realise that I need to spend more time relaxing. Even some more short breaks would certainly be a step in the right direction.

2. Exercise more. I go to Pilates, but I am sure a few extra sessions of swimming/walking/whatever wouldn't hurt & would probably make my back feel a whole lot better. Speaking of, I cannot tell you how good Pilates has been for my back, miracle stuff.

3. Use up my beauty products before buying more. Ha, bit of a pipe dream, but hey, I have to put in one goal that seems unattainable. I'd love to be able to fit all my beauty products in one place. At the moment, I have an entire 6 seat dining table covered in them & it would be nice to have dinner on it occassionally.

4. Buy a new house. Our current abode is far too small & causes stress because there is nowhere for things to go (see point 3 above). A terrace in McMahons Point with Sydney harbour views would be lovely, but I suppose I'm willing to be slightly more reasonable.

5. Be happy. While things haven't always gone my way & I've had a few low points in the last decade, in a lot of respects, I am very lucky and I just need to remember that when I am feeling down.

What are your resolutions?

New Years Beauty Resolutions For YOU

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:00:00 PST

Now is the time of year when everyone starts pulling out ridiculous resolutions for the next year with the promise of sticking to them. Lose 20kg by Easter? Easy! Quit your job and travel the world? Done! Sure, they all sound great in theory, but can you actually achieve them? Don't go beating yourself up, try a couple of simple, realistic goals to ease your way into 2010.

I'm going to post my own resolutions a bit later, but here are a few that I think everyone should try:

Eat more oily fish. Make Omega 3 your friend to boost your body on the inside and out. Believed to help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, your GP can give you more information. If you don’t like fish, there are some good supplements available at your local chemist.

Create a night time beauty routine and stick to it. At night, it is the perfect time to apply some products to your skin as your body is relaxed and is in a state of repair. Try starting a routine of cleansing and moisturising your face with products that are night-specific.
Get more sleep. More sleep = better skin.

Wear sunscreen every day. Even when inside, even when cloudy. It is the simplest thing you can do to fight aging and protect your skin. Sunburn is not sexy.

SALE: Jurlique up to 70% off

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:24:00 PST

Save up to 70% off on selected products at Jurlique. Only avaialble at the following stores:

Queen St, Brisbane
The Strand, Sydney
Crown Casino, Melbourne
Doncaster, Melbourne
Marion, Adelaide
Wesley Quarter, Perth

Get in quick. Limit 5 per item. 20 items per customer.

SALE: Priceline up to 50% off

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:00:00 PST

The post-Christmas (madness) sales are upon and now is the perfect time to go crazy on beauty products while saving a bit of cash (to spend on more beauty products).

Priceline are having an up to 50% off sale on selected beauty products and brands. Squeee!!

REVLON - 30% off selected lines
NIVEA - 25% off skincare & deodorant ranges
MAX FACTOR - 20% off the entire range
AUSTRALIS - 20% off entire cosmetics range
SHE - 20% off entire range
INNOXA - 20% off entire range
COVERGIRL - 20% off entire range
PHYSICIANS FORMULA - 20% off entire range
NATURAL GLAMOUR - 20% off entire range
BOURJOIS - 50% off entire range
LIVING NATURE - 50% off entire range
RIMMEL - up to 45% off all mascaras
L'OREAL - 50% off selected items only
SKIN DOCTORS - 20% off entire range (excluding packs)
L'OREAL Dermo-Expertise range - 20% off (excluding packs)
ROC - 20% off skincare range (excluding gift & bonus packs)
BIORE - 20% off skincare range (excluding mens grooming, gift & bonus packs)
CLEARASIL - 20% off skincare range
JOHNSON'S - 20% off skincare & bath ranges
AVENE - 25% off skincare range (excluding baby range)
SIMPLE - 25% off skincare range (excluding bath toiletries)
SWISSPERS - 25% off skincare range
VASELINE - 25% off skincare range (excluding lip & petroleum jelly)
ST IVES - 25% off skincare range (excluding bath toiletries)
SAMY - 20% off entire range
ORGANIX - 20% off entire range
JOHN FRIEDA - 25% off Frizz Ease & Luxurious Volume ranges
SUNSILK - 20% off styling range
TRESEMME - 15% off styling range
PANTENE - 20% off styling & treatment ranges
VEET - 20% off depilatory range
ANDREA - 20% off depilatory range
WAXAWAY - 20% off depilatory range
HOT LEGS - 20% off depilatory range
GILETTE - 50% off selected razors
GARNIER - Purchase any 2 products from the skincare range & receive the 3rd free

NEUTROGENA - 20% off selected suncare items

On sale from December 26th to January 4th, unless sold out earlier. Check your local store for terms and conditions.

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:00:00 PST

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Stay safe & have a great holiday!

EDIT: Here is a great mash up of all the hits of 2009 from DJ Earworm (that doesn't sound pleasant) Loved his mix from 2008 & this one is even better.

Sunday Short n Sweet: Benefit Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:00:00 PST

The very gorgeous Sonja from Hello Beauty gets made over by Joseph Perez of Benefit in this video, using the limited edition Benefit Celebutante kit:

If you can still find a Benefit Celebutante kit at Myer or in Benefit stores, they are around AU$68. Otherwise, get your hands on some of the key products in the kit:

Benetint
High Beam
Lip Gloss 'I'm With the Band'
2 Lipsticks 'Lady's Choice' & No Competition'
2 Velvet Shadows 'Dandy Brandy' & 'Leggy'
Dallas bronzing powder
Talent/Eye Shadow brush

SALE: 25% off MODELCO (Today Only)

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:50:00 PST

Get in quick!

ModelCo is giving everyone 25% off stock online when you use the code CHEERS1209 on checkout.

Happy Shopping!

Shut The Front Door

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:03:00 PST

There is nothing worse than being stuck at an airport waiting for a flight and it is some ridiculous time of day when the shops are shut. Now that you have to get to the airport 3 hours before a flight, it leaves an awful lot of time to kill.

In the US, Sephora has the answer: A beauty vending machine!

In the black and white box you'll find all of the beauty necessities for your trip, whether you are going away or coming home.

My suggestion: A super moisturiser to fight the effects of the harsh airplane airconditioning.

The Sephora vending machines are available at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas Nevada, JFK International Airport in Queens New York, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas Texas, Nashville International Airport in Nashville Tennessee and Indianapolis International Airport in Indianapolis.

Happy Shopping!

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NEW: Cyndi Lauper & Lady Gaga for MAC Viva Glam

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:56:00 PST

Joining the ranks of Fergie, Ru Paul, Missy Elliot and Pamela Anderson as the newest faces of the MAC Viva Glam Campaign. The full price of Viva Glam products goes directly to the MAC AIDS Fund which has raised over US$150 million since its inception.

I originally heard it last month, but couldn't believe they would get the perfect couple together. I was wrong.

Check them out:

Both of them look simply amazing. I'm leaving all comments about airbrushing out of it, but needless to say, I'd like some of those thighs.

They are releasing separate lipsticks called Viva Glam Gaga and Viva Glam Cyndi. From the images, it looks like Cyndi is a deep red while Gaga is more of a baby pink.

I found the interview below to be interesting, you can compare a seasoned performer (Lauper) with a fairly new one (Gaga) and see quite a difference:

The latest MAC Viva Glam collection hits US stores in March & I'm yet to hear when it will be available in Australia, so stay tuned.

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NEW: Tarina Tarantino Launches Beauty Range

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:39:00 PST

One of my all time favourite costume jewellery designers is launching a beauty range!

You’ve probably seen her jewellery on just about every A-Z list celeb on the planet from Cameron Diaz at the Oscars to Paris Hilton shopping (probably). I’d love Santa to give me this for Christmas.

Tarina Tarantino, a.k.a the lady with the shock of hot pink hair, is set to release a beauty range exclusively for Sephora. *small tantrum* I’m going to have to work out a way to get to the states again soon.

You may not know that Tarina started her careers as a makeup artist, so her aim was to create products that did what they promised as well as looking like something you would keep on your dresser. She told Nylon mag "Most people don't know that I started my career as a makeup artist," Tarina told us last night. "I love seeing the collaborations between brands and makeup companies, but I have to be honest, a lot of it looks really cool but it's not very good makeup. My goal is to have this collection be in girls' bedrooms and in the kits of top makeup artists."

In her signature pink (of course!), you’ll find a full set of products, along with brushes. Not sure on pricing just yet.

The Tarina Tarantino for Sephora range will be in Sephora stores in February 2010.

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Perfectionism, Indifference

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:10:00 PST

I've been slack. I haven't updated this blog in a while & it really comes down to motivation. I have none.

I have lots to say, I have an awesome interview with Poppy King to tell you all about, some really cool products I have been testing, but I just can't bring myself to write. My perfectionism is taking over and making me think that if I can't do it perfectly (the post, updating the blog etc), then I just shouldn't do it at all.

Christmas is probably my least favourite time of year. It brings back memories of being pulled between divorced parents, both of them fighting and me being miserable. I'm grown up now and it still haunts me.

So to all of those people (if there are any left) who still read this blog, I'm sorry. I will start posting again soon.

Naomi xx

Sunday Short n Sweet: Backstage at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PST

Damn! These girls look HOT! Check out the girls backstage at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show:

I'm at least pleased to know that they have some assistance in the hair department - there are plenty of hair pieces going on!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: Estee Lauder

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PST

Sensuous Day By Day $110

Eau de Parfum Spray 50ml
Satin Body Lotion 50ml
Cosmetic Case

Also available with Beautiful for $90

Sensuous To Go $130

Eau de Parfum Spray 50ml
Satin Body Lotion 100ml
Eau de Parfum Spray Pen 8ml

Beautiful To Go $110

Eau de Parfum Spray 30ml
Perfumed Body Lotion 50ml
Eau de Parfum Spray Pen 8ml

Pleasures To Go $120

Eau de Parfum Spray 50ml
Body Lotion 100ml
Eau de Parfum Spray Pen 8ml

Makeup Artist Professional Collection with Sensuous $230

Deluxe Eyeshadow Compact with 13 Pure Color shades and 2 Signature shades
Deluxe Face Compact with 2 Signature Silky Powder Blushes (2.5g each) and 1 Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer (2.5g)
Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks x 4 (3.6g each)
Artist's Eye Pencil x 3 (1.1g each)
Projectionist Mascara 2.8ml
Lash primer Plus Full Treatment Formula 2.8ml
Gentle Eye Makeup Remover 100ml
Gold Stand-Up Mirror
4-piece Makeup Brush Set: Powder Brush, Blush Brush, Lip Brush and Eyeshadow Brush Companion Case
Train Case in red
plus 50ml Sensuous

Also available with White Linen for $235

Sunday Short n Sweet: The Perfect Red Lip

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:12:00 PST

Sunday Short n Sweet: 3 Minute Manicure

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:00:00 PST

Three minutes to gorgeous nails? Impossible? Ha, this should prove you wrong:

Super Sexy Glowy Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Naomi) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PST

My love of glowing dewy skin has found a new person to obsess over:

The makeup artist airbrushed the skin obviously, but there is no huge sparkly bits like you see on some celebs, like a 6 year old went nuts with a jar of glitter. Me likely. It is the perfect blend of sheen and shimmer.

Images from the Superficial