Miss Monique D.

Outfit of the Night (Dinner date with my Boyfriend)

2012-05-19T13:47:00.001+10:00

Good afternoon :)

Just a quick OOTN. My boyfriend and I will be heading out to dinner tonight so i wanted to wear something a little dressed up but still casual, as i'm not really sure where we are going.

( I apologise for the horrible lighting and picture quality but my proper camera battery was dead)

Dress - ASOS Cutout bodycon

Jacket - Valleygirl

Shoes - Steve Madden Wheatly in Patent Nude

Watch - Phosphor in pink

Earrings - Christmas gift from my boyfriend :) (Wallace Bishop maybe?)

Hope everyone has a nice saturday night!

Bdellium Brushes

2012-05-16T14:56:00.000+10:00

Good morning :)

About a month ago i treated myself to some decent makeup brushes from Bdellium tools. After visiting there website i decided upon the Yellow Bambu Foundation 5pc Brush set and a few other random brushes from their travel line.

What is the Yellow Bambu Line?
The Yellow Bambu line is a new range of brushes Bdellium is offering (the same as the green bambu but in yellow form). It consists of 'sustainable eco-friendly Bamboo handels' and 'all vegan, soft synthetic bristles with an anodised aluminium ferrule'. Most Bdellium tool bristles are treated with antibacterial agents that help prevent bacteria buildup but it is important to note that both the Green Bambu and the Yellow Bambu lines are not treated. All if these brushes are crazzzzyy soft and they feel amazing on my face.

What brushes did i get?
Yellow Bambu Foundation 5pc Brush set includes...
- 957Y Precision Kabuki
- 955Y Finishing
- 953Y Duet Fibre Foundation
- 948Y Foundation

Travel Brushes...
- 776T Blending
- 708T Bent Eyeliner
- 731T Mascara Fan Brush
- 934T Precision Concealer

957Y Precision Kabuki

I use this brush with my liquid foundations and find it gives me a nice, even and flawless application. I prefer this brush compared to the Duet Fibre foundation or the regular foundation as i find it easier to work with because of its short, dense bristles.

(^ Bare skin before using Precision Kabuki and Foundation)

(^ After using Precision Kabuki and Foundation)

953Y Duet Fibre Foundation

This is basically a mini, denser version of the Finishing brush (So Cute!). I prefer to use this for blending out my concealer and adding extra coverage to small areas of my face if needed after foundation application, this seems a little too small for all over foundation application.

955Y Finishing

I use this particular brush for applying my blush (works really well!). I find that it gives me nice, light coverage which allows me to build up as much or as little blush as i want. It also works well with foundation but i prefer my Precision Kabuki instead.

(^ Duet Fibre Foundation Brush gives nice, even and buildable coverage when used with blush)

948Y Foundation

Unfortunately i haven't tried this brush yet :( i have never been a fan of the standard foundation brush... i find no matter which one i use i always end up with streaky foundation and then find myself using my hands. Maybe i'm using them wrong?

776T Blending

This blending brush is exactly what i was looking for! i have other blending brushes but none in this shape or fluffiness. These bristles are made of natural fibres so not as soft as the synthetic but still pretty soft. There isn't roughness of any kind when using this. Really nice brush!

708T Bent Eyeliner

I thought it would be nice to give this brush a try because i had heard how easy gel eyeliner was to apply with bent eyeliner brushes. I'm used to the angled brushes which don't offer much precision when it comes to fine lines and getting a nice pointy end on the winged eyeliner look. When i fist used this i found it really hard to control, i think partially due to the fact that the bristles are quite alot longer than i expected and partially because i had never used it before. I think like anything 'Practice makes perfect'.

(^ Used Bent Liner with Bobby Brown Longlasting Cream)

731T Mascara Fan Brush

I was really disappointed after buying this because i found out this was ment to be used with cake mascara opposed to the normal wand mascara :( i still tried it with my wand mascara and couldn't really get it to apply properly. Although the process of applying the mascara to lashes with this brush is really tedious i found that it gave a really light, clump free application that would be alright for everyday wear (if you were willing to spend that much time of your lashes).

(^ Before using mascara fan brush)

(^ After using Mascara Fan Brush... Slightly more defined)

936T Concealer

This is a really soft synthetic fibre brush with a rounded somewhat pointy tip that i find this really good for applying concealer into the very inner corners of my eyes and sometimes good for dotting concealer onto my blemishes. Overall a nice brush that works well and doesn't leave streaky marks.

I bought all of these brushes from the Bdellium Tools website -> Here <- which is based in America or you can look at their blog -> Here <- to find out others stores. The brushes were pretty decently priced ($75.00 for all 8 brushes) considering they are such good quality although the shipping was pretty ridiculous! It cost me $53.95 to ship 8 brushes to australia, which was almost what i paid for the brushes :o Strange thing was that i received my order is two parcels, the individual brushes came through regular mail and the set came through registered post. I wouldn't have thought that it would cost $54 to ship such small items :s

Anyway, i'm completely happy with the brushes.
If anyone knows where i can get them in australia please comment below... i would be interested in buying some more but just don't want to pay all that postage again :)
If you want to see my FOTD created by using only these brushes, click -> Here (Coming soon) <-

Nail of the day - DIY Caviar Nails

2012-05-14T15:01:00.003+10:00

Hi again,

So i first came across Caviar nails when reading MissTango2's Blog ->Here<-...
Although i only just painted my nails 2 days ago i fell in love with this nail art instantly i just had to have them. I rushed down to my closest Spotlight store in search of Microbeads, which they ended up only having 5 colours (Gold, Silver, red, blue and black... Disappointing :( ). I decided on the brightest colour of them all, blue, and then decided to pick up silver (just because i like silver).

The microbead packets where pretty ridiculously priced at $7.99 each, considering i was watching youtube videos where people in america bought packs of 6 colours for $7.00 :O craziness!

What you need:
- (Optional) Base coat
- Nail Polish (i used revlon in 791 Midnight affair
- Microbeads (Any colour you want, i used blue)
- Container to pore microbeads into
- (Optional) Topcoat

What to do:
1- Apply Base coat to all nails and let dry
2- Apply a thick layer of your selected nail polish to only one nail, depending on what nail polish you chose you may want to apply one or two coats. I chose a really opaque dark blue so i only required 1 coat.
3- Straight after applying nail polish sprinkle the microbeads onto your nails, letting the container catch any excess that fall. I just kept poring till i thought my entire nail was covered. Its really easy to just pore the excess beads back into the shaker bottle before starting your next nail.
4- Once your happy with the coverage, gently push the beads away from the edges of your nails so that it looks neat. Then gently press on the top of your nail to slightly flatten the microbeads (this way they aren't all gross and bumpy... it also allows them to adhere to the nail polish better).
5- Continue on carefully to the next nail and repeat steps 2 to 4, make sure not to bump the last nail done. (If you find it easier to watch someone do it first there are plenty of videos on youtube, just search 'Caviar Nails')
6- I left my nails let for a good 15 mins before applying topcoat.

NOTE: I didn't realise this before... but the topcoat actually changed the colour and appearance of the microbeads. Seemed like it dragged some of the colour off maybe?
Also beware that the tips of the nails with microbeads on takes ridiculously long to dry with the after applying topcoat. I had to pretty much sit still and not do anything for an hour till my nails where completely dry.

(This was after applying topcoat)

(This was before applying topcoat)

Such a flook but i actually don't mind my nails with the topcoat. I like the the nice purple colour they became after but i also like the nice royal blue they were beforehand. At lease with the topcoat they might last longer *Fingers Crossed*

All in all it's time consuming and not very practical, i've already had my nails snag on my hair and had a few beads pop off but i don't really mind because you can't tell when looking at my nails. I'm still interested in trying different colours so anyone knows where i can get nicer microbeads in australia and for cheaper comment below and let me know, i would love to get a few bright colours together and maybe try a rainbow caviar nail :D

Have a nice rest of your day!

Outfit of the Night (Dinner with family)

2012-05-13T16:16:00.003+10:00

Good afternoon people,

So today i've prepared an amazing Mother's day dinner to share with family tonight and I thought what better a time than now to post my first OOTN.

Dress: Sportsgirl - Long Sleeve Black Bodycon
Dress Jacket: The Iconic - Billie Trench
Shoes: Supersoft by Diana Ferrari - Hanna
Bracelet: Pandora - Silver Clasp Bracelet and Various Charms
Watch: Citizen Eco-drive - EW9780-57E
Necklace: Wallace Bishop - Custom made name Bracelet

Talk soon :)

Dr.Lewinn's Ultra R4 Recovery Masque

2012-05-13T07:16:00.000+10:00

Hi :)

I thought i would do this review because i couldn't find any on the internet and thought everyone should know about how great this mask actually is. I have been using the Dr.Lewinn's Ultra R4 Recovery Mask on and off for about a year now and still love it. This is my go to mask all year round (especially in summer) as it helps to unclog my pores, smooth skin, reduce any breakouts and stop oiliness in its track.

I originally bought a small 30g tube of this mask at work for $1.50 (BARGAIN!) and after using it for the first time i went back and bought 4 extra tubes... I found that it made my skin amazingly soft and rejuvenated after washing it off, as well as unclogging my pores and soothing any breakouts i had at the time.

Dr.Lewinn's claim this mask has ingredients that will 'promote youthful looking skin' by rejuvenating, refining, repairing and giving radiance. It will also draw out 'pore-clogging impurities' as well as after time 'help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, enhance firmness and restore skin radiance'. It should be used 1-2 a week by smoothing a thin layer all over the face and leaving for 10-20 mins, then washing off with a warm washcloth.

After reading up on the Dr.Lewinn's website about the ingrediants, i was quite impressed.

Key Ingredients	Benefits
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3	Stimulation of Collagen synthesis
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide“ Ceramide-2 Complex	Stimulation of Collagen & Elastin synthesis
Bambusa Vulgaris (Bamboo) Extract, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Glucosamine	Resurfacing & Anti-Wrinkle
Tricholoma Matsutake Singer (Mushroom) Extract	Brightens & Lightens
Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract	Anti-Oxidant, Moisturising & Protecting
Crithmum Maritimum (Sea Fennel) Extract	Calming & Relaxing
Minerals - Copper, Zinc, Magnesium	Energising, Stimulating & Regenerating
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C)	Lightening, Anti-Oxidant & Collagen synthesis

(Sourced from: http://www.drlewinns.com.au/index.php?id=34)

Unfortunately i can't say for sure whether or not this mask helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles as i don't use it regularly enough to reap the benefits but i can back up the claims that it does calm, refine, radiate and unclog pores... which is the main reason i use it anyway.

The texture of this mask is really creamy and you can smooth a little a long way, which means getting more uses out of the tube... with a price tag of $60 for 100g tube i know i would like to get as many uses as possible!

The smell took me a few goes to get used to. I'm horrible at picking smells but if i were to take a guess i would say it smells of a mix between lemon and something minty... which would explain why it has a great tingly sensation when put on the face.

Overall, i love this product and will continue to use it. I love that it instantly softens and refines my skin as well as instantly unclogging my pores. If your keen to give this a go i know what sometimes Dr.Lewinn at myer has a gwp or chemists sometimes have them on special. I will be thoroughly sad when my last 30g tube runs out :(

If anyone can suggest a mask that might be better than this one please let me know in the comments below :) Have a nice day!

Nail of the Day

2012-05-12T16:43:00.005+10:00

Hi people,

First off i hope everyone is having a really nice weekend. Mother's day is tomorrow and i wanted to make my nails really glitzy for a nice dinner my family is having. I used a cosmetic glitter (received in my april Lust have it pack) over the top of setting nail polish to create a gradient effect. I then covered it with two coats of top coat to make sure my nails were smooth and not rough from the glitter.

Products used:

- Designer Brands Nail Polish Remover

- Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover

- CND Sticky Basecoat

- Rimmel London I <3 Lasting Finish in 199 Go Cobalt

- Nicole by OPI in Prized Possession Purple

- i nuovi Glitteratti in Classic Drama

- Essence Quick Dry Topcoat

If anyone has any other good uses for the i nuovi cosmetic glitter comment below :)

Weekly Wish List

2012-05-12T11:25:00.000+10:00

Hi people :)

At the beginning of the week i bought the may 2012 Instyle Magazine and have been lusting over a few things since. Here's my list of 9 weekly wishes, all from the may Instyle Magazine.

Brian Atwood Studded Heels

Herve Leger rayon-nylon dress

Rachel Gilbert Sequin Dress

Stila Smudge Crayon in Antique

Melissa Plastic Wedges

Karen Miller Silk Dress

Burgundy Hair

The Bodyshop Cocomania Collection

Macaroons

Have a great weekend!

DIY Bracelets

2012-05-11T17:43:00.003+10:00

Good Evening guys :)

I was feeling pretty crafty this morning so i thought i would attempt two diy bracelets. I found a bunch of diy bracelets off another blog at http://honestlywtf.com, picked two and gave it a go.

The first bracelet i attempted was the Braided Bead Bracelet which involved approx 1.5m of waxed linen cord (which i couldn't find at spotlight so i opted for cotton cord), seed beads, a two hole button and scissors.

(I only ended up using the gold seed beads because i realised the green wouldn't really match the brown cord)

This is the result! Full instructions are at http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-beaded-bracelet/ .

All up it only took me about 20 mins to make this one. Next time i might buy some proper waxed linen cord in a nicer colour off the internet.

The second bracelet i made was a Macrame Bracelet which involved about 3.5m of chinese knotting cord (which once again i couldn't find at sportlight so i opted for the same cotton cord as the last bracelet), a charm or pendant, needle big enough to fit cord through and scissors.

The full instructions can be found at http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-macrame-bracelet/. I was really proud of my efforts with this one. Took me a little while to get the hang of the plaiting but all in all it only for me 40mins to complete. Once again, next time i will be a little more prepared and buy the actual chinese knotting cord off the internet in nicer colours and look into getting a nicer charm/pendent.

Anyone else know any good diy bracelets?

Have a nice night :)

Amazing Gluten-free Cookies

2012-05-11T09:57:00.002+10:00

Hi again,

I know an increasing number of people out there are becoming gluten intolerant and how hard it can be to find great gluten free recipes so i thought it would be nice to share a nice basic gluten-freee cookie recipe with everyone. This is just straight vanilla cookie, to fancy it up a bit you can also add nuts, choc chips, fruit or anything you want. My favourite addition is macadamia and white choc chips.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

125g (1.5 oz) butter

4 tbsp caster sugar

1 tsp natural vanilla extract

150g (5.5 oz) gluten free plain flour (all-purpose)

70g (2.5 oz) gluten free self-raising flour

- Start by preheating the oven at 170 degree C (325F) and lining a baking tray with baking paper.

- Add the butter caster sugar and vanilla extract into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined and smooth.

- Sift the flours into the bowl

- Mix with a wooden spoon until combined

- If the mixture seems a little too dry add small amounts of milk until soft enough to roll into balls.

- Roll mixture into balls and place on baking tray. Squash down to approximately 1cm thickness. Don't worry if the sides start to split, i just smoothed them over a little and they turned out fine.

- Place tray in oven for 20mins

- Take cookies out of the oven and let cool.

YUM! they kinda taste like shortbread but i think they're better :D

Lust Have It - May 2012

2012-05-10T17:40:00.000+10:00

Hi people :D

I'm super excited about my May Lust Have It pack arriving in the post today that i just had to share the contents with you all! This month it came in a bright pink makeup bag opposed to last months blue makeup bag. I hope this is a permanent thing because they are pretty awesome bags.

When i opened the bag i was pleasantly surprised to find that we received EIGHT.. yes EIGHT samples in the pack this month. So if your interested in knowing more about what i received please keep reading :)

ModelCo Shine Ultra Lip Gloss in Strip Tease

This is a nice, shiny, nude lipgloss with what seems to be a fine purple shimmer through it. I'm wearing it right now and i really like the texture, not too sticky not too drying. I've had it on for the last hour or so and have yet to reapply. The first thing i noticed when i opened this was the smell... Strawberries! Anything that smells like strawberries is a hit by me :D

Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo and Calming Conditioner

I'm really excited to try these too samples. A little while back i received 'The Great Hydrator Moisture Mask" as a sample and absolutely loved it. These two items are aimed at treating dry, damaged and frizzy hair which is a good thing coming into winter as my hair tends to get dryer and frizzier as the cold sets in.

Bioderma Crealine H2O Makeup Remover

I have used this product before, in fact i bought two large bottles from france and use them every time i need to take my makeup off. It's really effective at taking foundation and eye makeup off, even my water proof mascara. I just pore some on a few cotton pads and wipe away everything. All i can say is that i love this product and i'm glad a have a little travel size now.

Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty Perfume

I don't know how i feel about this perfume... At first when i smelt it i didn't like it but every other time i smell it i change my mind.. i like it, i don't like it, i like it... I've never really been great with describing perfumes and their notes and cores so i looked it up. Apparently this perfume both floral and fruity with opening notes of bergamot, red berries and peach bellini. Base notes include sandalwood, musk and vanilla blossom, which gives it a velvety smell. The perfumes core includes flowers of peony, punk lily and jasmine. I think i will continue to wear this then ultimately decide how i feel when the sample is gone.

Lush Lust/Dirty Soap

I received a 65g sample of the lush dirty soap which i have been dying to try since the line came out. I have always been a sucker for anything that smells like pine or chewing gum (strange i know!) and this is exactly what is smells like! The card that came with the lust have it bag says that the dirty soap has smells of spearmint, sandalwood, pine and oakmoss. yummm!

Caron Laboratories Bump eRaiser Medi Paste

I remember seeing this in the beautyheaven 2010 glosscars and saying i was definitely going to give this a try. I obviously forgot, so i'm really happy to FINALLY be trying it. It's supposed to prevent and eliminate ingrown hair and bumps after hair removal. Very interested to see if this actually works.

Nicole by OPI Ultimate trend setter's lacquer

This little bottle didn't have a name on it so i looked up the code and i THINK it's called 'I'm a Belieber'... Which i assume is from a justine beiber collection or somthing? Either way i think i actually like this colour. I took 3 coats before i got decent opacity and i was really impressed with the drying time. All three layers only took 10 mins to dry in total. pretty good for a nail polish i think.

1st coat

2nd coat

3rd coat

Mother's Day Card from Rose Crane

This is a cute little addition to the pack and just in time for mothers day. It has a really nice poem on the inside. Unfortunately i already got my mum an awesome card so i might have to save this one for next year.

Overall i'm once again really happy with the Lust Have It pack. Compared to other beauty sample subscription services i think that this one is the best and would happily recommend it to anyone who has $14.95 spare every month.
follow this link -> www.lusthaveit.com.au for more information

Have a nice night everyone!

Morning Skincare Routine

2012-05-10T12:18:00.002+10:00

Goodmorning people :)

So i woke up this morning really wide awake and keen to start the day. Possibly because its such an amazing day outside!

One of the most important things i do when i wake up is my skincare routine. I find that on the days i get lazy my skin hates me for it and breaks out big time. So for starters my skin type jumps from one extreme to the next as seasons change. Im spring/summer i usually have really oily acne prone skin with small dry patches on my nose, whereas in autumn/winter my skin turns really super dry all over while still being acne prone.

I started using this morning skincare routine about a month (and a bit) ago and feel that my skin has been the best it's ever been. I attribute my renewed skin to both my morning and nighttime routine combined (i will post a nighttime routine a little later) and feel that i have finally found something that works amazingly for my own skin.

So what do i do?

When i wake up in the morning i usually doordle around for a little before i wash my face with my Clarisonic and Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. The Clarisonic, if you haven't already heard about it, is a 'sonic skin cleansing system' that is supposed to be 2 times more effective at cleaning skin than manual cleansing and 6 times more effective at makeup removal.

I received my Clarisonic as a christmas gift last year and have been using it everyday twice a day since then. I absolutely looooove this machine, even if it did take me about 4 months before i really figured out how to use it properly for my own skin type. Originally when i received it i was washing my face (Clarisonicing? lol) for 2-4 mins twice a day with an exfoliating wash (i was pretty addicted to my Clarisonic!) which resulted in my skin being really ridiculously clean but breaking out often. I read about the Clarisonics 'purging phase' which involved your skin clearing all the underlying imperfections over a 2-3 week span before it got clearer... basically your skin was supposed to get worse before it got better. I don't really believe my skin went through a 'purging phase'... more like i was over exfoliating my skin to the point where it broke out heaps. After about 3 months of using it and breaking out pretty regularly i realised what the problem was and cut back to cleansing for only 2mins twice a day, then eventually about a month ago i cut back to 1min twice a day which now works a treat for my skin.

In the morning i use my Clarisonic with my Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel which is AMAZING!

The Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel uses Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) from Papaya Extract to 'promote exfoliation and prevent pore-clogging buildup' as well as rejuvenating dull skin. I purchased this wash just over a month ago from the brisbane mecca maxima store for $18.95. I was used to using supermarket brand face washes and had never had any success with them so i thought $18.95 for a higher end skin care brand was very affordable and well worth the try. The gel itself is non-foaming and smells so so so yummy, hard to pick but maybe a mix between some sort of fruit (guessing papaya because thats part of the ingredient) and something very clean...? Upon closer inspection of the gel it has a slight green luminescent shimmer to it which is really appealing to me because it makes me think its making my skin more luminous every time i wash my face with it. I also like the little flip top lid on the bottle because its delivers just the right amount of gel at one time and there is no time consuming screwing on and off. Just beware not to get the gel in your eyes as it stings like almighty hell!

Finally my routine ends with the Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 for Dry Combination skin, the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion and the Clinique All About Eyes.

At one point i went Clinique Crazy and bought a bunch of their skin care products. The Clinique Clarifying Lotion is step two in their skincare regime, the exfoliate step. It is a 100% fragrance free 'non-drying' toner solution that 'gently removes dull, dry flakes to uncover skin thats vibrant and glowing. While Instantly refining pores and texture'. No1: Unfortunately i don't believe that it's non-drying because after i use this my skin is so super dry and thirsty for moisture. No:2 Fragrance free- possibly... It doesn't have any flowery smell which i guess makes it fragrance free but it does have a strong hit of alcohol smell, which is understandable considering the second ingredient is alcohol. No:3 I do think it throughly removed dead, dull skin cells and refines my pores and texture. It doesn't really make sense to exfoliate my skin 3 times in the 1 routine but thats what works best for me so i'm not going to change it anytime soon. The bottle pictured above is my second bottle which i have been using for the last 5-6 months. I already have 2 other bottles lined up as backups :p

The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion was has been the only day moisturiser i have used and loved for the last 3 years. I like to try out new day moisturisers but always come back to this one as it seems to suit my skin the best. This moisturiser is Step 3 in the Clinique Skin care regime. It's a 100% fragrance free Lotion that is used for Very dry to dry combination skin. I know that there is also a gel formula available for oily skin types but i find this still works well for me in Spring/Summer when my skin gets oilier than normal. I was always under the impression that this was an oil free moisturiser but i just reading the bottle now i can't find anything the suggests it is. Either way it doesn't cause me to breakout which is always really great. I like to slather this all over my face after toning and let it sink in for a good 5 mins before applying primer/makeup although if i'm running late or don't have much time i just apply a thin layer which doesn't take long to sink in. The bottle pictured above is also my second bottle of this particular moisturiser.

Finally i have recently become more aware of eye care so i got my mum to pick this eye cream up, the Clinique All About Eyes, on a cruise a few months back. It has been the only eye cream i have really tried so i don't have much to compare it to. This is a 100% fragrance free, Ophthalmologist tested cream that is used to 'Diminish the look of Circles, Shadows, Puffs and Lines'. I dab some of this under my eyes while my moisturiser is sinking in and let it sink is as well. It has a very light consistency and a little goes a very long way. Sometimes i forget, slather is on and it takes FOREVER to sink in. Although i assume Ophthalmologist tested means it's alright if it gets in your eyes, i would still try avoid this as much as possible. I find that sometimes when i get this in my eyes by accident it stings and SOMETIMES only sometimes causes my eyes to puff a little. Sort of like an allergic reaction?... Aside from this i still use it and find that it moisturises my under eyes really well and has possibly even helped with some of my fine lines. When i use this up i'm considering trying out the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye cream or their Dermonectin Eye Cream.

If you can recommend anything better than what i'm using at the moment or you have tried any of the Mario Badescu Eye Creams please comment below :)

Have a great day!

Garnier Fructis Pure Volume Dry Shampoo

2012-05-07T20:38:00.000+10:00

Hi people :)

I recently bought the new Garnier Fructis Dry shampoo in a hope to find a cheaper replacement for the ever amazing Klorane dry shampoo. Over the past few years i have become a big fan of dry shampoos and i feel as though it's now become a hair care routine essential! I love the fact that i can clean my hair in between washes without having to go through a huge, time consuming routine. Dry shampoo = 3minutes max.

Love the green packaging!

The instructions say to 'hold the can 15cm away from hair and spray generously. Leave for 2 mins then brush product out'. Pretty standard instructions for a dry shampoo. Unfortunately if you have brown hair or darker i would pay extra special attention to how far you hold the can away from you hair. Spraying too close leaves an atrocious white cast which is very veerry hard to brush out completely. I found that even spraying 15-20cms away from my head left a slight white cast but was easily rectified with alot of brushing.

I expected this dry shampoo to have a beautiful fruity smell, something similar to the batiste tropical or at least similar to the garnier fructis shampoos and conditioners. But alas... it does not. I think that this product smells like a mix between fruit and latex gloves... with more emphasis on the latex gloves :s
The good thing is that once i brushed it out of my hair i found the smell didn't linger or if it didn't slightly i could easily fix it with a small spritz of perfume.

So the garnier fructis dry shampoo focuses on cleaning your hair between washes while adding texture and volume. I'm a sucker for products that promote themselves as 'Volume boosting' or 'Added volume' because my hair can get quite flat after about 5hours post blow dry. This product certainly added quite a bit of volume to my hair but unfortunately left it really fluffy, frizzy and hard to manage (My hair is pretty dry anyway and never really gets overly greasy so adding a powder always risks the chance to making my hair frizzy and hard to manage). I do give a big thumbs up for the volume factor because anything that can add volume to my hair get a thumbs up by me.

Final Say:
I think for the price of $8 it is a reasonable dry shampoo and is worth a try if you ever have the chance (what doesn't work for my hair might work for yours). I probably won't repurchase this to use solely as a dry shampoo simply because it leaves a white cast on my brown hair and there are soooo many dry shampoos on the market that i do really really like or really really want to try. I might repurchase to use as a volume booster straight after blowdrying, at least that way i don't need to use too much therefore hopefully avoiding frizziness.

If you have any recommendations for a good dry shampoo let me know :)

Labour Day Face of the Day

2012-05-07T14:54:00.001+10:00

Hi :)

I wanted to keep today's public holiday FOTD quick and easy as i am just hanging around home not really doing much. Hope everyone is having a lovely day!

(After about 5 hours wear)

Products used:
- Benefit Eyecon
- Nude by Nature BB 5-in-1 Miracle Cream in Light
- Invisible Zinc Tinted Daywear in Light
- Essence Stay all day Concealer in 10 Natural Beige
- Revlon New Complexion powder in 03 Sand Beige
- YSL Touche Eclat Radient Touch
- Adorn Summer Blush/Eyeshadow
- Natio Mineral pressed powder Bronzer in Sunswept
- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 604 Milk
- Clinique Lash Power Mascara in 01 Black Onyx
- Maybelline Baby Lips in Energizing Orange

What did everyone else get up to today?

Nail of the Day

2012-05-07T12:47:00.000+10:00

Good morning :)

I'm off to work today so i thought a quick NOTD was in order.

Products used:
- Sally Hansen Nail Polish Remover
- Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover
- CND Sticky Basecoat
- Essence Color & Go in 79 Viva la Green
- OPI Katy Perry collection in Last Friday Night
- Essence Quick Dry Topcoat

What are you wearing on your nails at the moment?

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturiser

2012-05-06T18:30:00.000+10:00

Hi :)

I have another review for you guys. This is something i have been using for just shy of 5 months now and as you can probably guess by the title its the Clinique Turnaround Overnight Moisturiser. Unlike the Turnaround serum i absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this moisturiser!

I received a 5ml sample in the december australian glossybox (i think?) and thought it was amazing... until i found out the price of the full size :s $90!?! for 50mls. Much more than i have ever been willing to pay for a night moisturiser. Unfortunately for my wallet, and unlike other night moisturisers i have tried, this one worked perfectly with my very dry combination skin and didn't break me out! which is a first for a night moisturiser.

This moisturiser has a creamy consistency with a light, clean, smell (smells like plain cream to me, which is good for sensitive skin) that is recommended for Very dry to Combination Oily skin. I apply it at night, straight after washing my face and toning, by placing five even dots of both my cheeks, forehead, chin and nose then massaging into my face. The non-greasy formula sinks straight into my skin leaving it super soft to the touch.

When I wake up in the morning my face does feel more moisturised and slightly more radiant, opposed to when i forget to use it the night before. I think product has played an amazing role in helping reduce my breakouts, possibly something to do with the fact that it helps moisturise my dehydrated skin properly and also due to the active ingredient salicylic acid which is good for speeding up cell turnover.

As you can see by the picture above it seems like i haven't used alot of the product but you really don't need all that much for each application. I have been using that particular jar for 3 months after i finished my 5 ml sample which took 2 months to use up. Realistically $90 for a 50ml jar isn't that bad when it lasts for aaaaages. I was lucky enough to have mum purchase my jar for me duty free which was half the RRP (do that it you can, well worth the save!).

Final Say:
Love this product! Compared to other night moisturisers it doesn't make me break out and leaves my skin super soft and moisturised. The 50ml jar is well worth the $90 price tag if it continues to work for me. If you have a nice clinique counter lady you may be able to get a sample before you buy or Clinique often have a gift with purchase (GWP) so if you plan your buy right you may be able to snag a 5ml sample in a GWP of another product.

Have a great weekend people :)

Weekly Wish List

2012-05-05T12:14:00.002+10:00

Hi people :)

Im going to try put one of these weekly wish lists up at the end of every week but since i often want alot of stuff i don't need i'm going to try limit the list to 9 items.

The Iconic - Dominate shoe

Lancome - Hypnose Doll eyes Mascara

Tiffany and Co - Villa Paloma ring

Topshop - Hieroglyph dress

Dotti - Paper Bag Pant

Asos - Metal Bug Belt

Dusk - Moodflame

Nars - Highlighting blush powder in Albatross

Roberto Cavalli EDP

If anyone has tried any of these and likes/dislikes them let me know in the comments below :)
Have a good weekend everyone!

Mothers Day Gift Ideas

2012-05-04T14:40:00.000+10:00

Hi people :)

So mothers day is only a week and two days away and i have a nice list of gift ideas for all those people out there that haven't gotten around to getting/doing something nice for their mother.

Lush:
Lush have once again bought out some beautiful mothers day specific gifts such as the Happy Mothers Day gift pack and the The Mum bubble bar. Although i'm sure if your mum's into bath stuff you could get away with giving her anything from the Lush line (i know i love all lush stuff!). They have stores in all major australian cities otherwise you have until may 8th to order online for mothers day delivery.

PJs and Slippers:
Not very original but always a winner with my mum. Its great that mothers day falls so close to winter in australia, a good excuse to buy mum some warm pjs and slippers for mothers day. Peter Alexander have a great range of good quality pjs on offer this season (see here) as well as some cute accessories (here). If your not keen on spending that much for Pjs, target has some really affordable nice looking sets in their catalogue at the moment (see here). One particular pair of slippers i bought mum last year where from www.blumoose.com.au and they are the most soft and warm slippers i had ever gifted and as i write this mum is wearing them (good gift when she still wears them a year later :D ).

Fragrance:
Whether you want to spend a lot or a little on your mum this mothers day there are many nice options available fragrance wise. Chemist warehouse always has discounted prices on over 200 well known fragrances which is always heaps cheaper than buying from large department stores such as Myer and David jones (here's the link to their perfume selection). Priceline also offer some nice gift packs for under $100 such as the Chloe and Marc Jacobs Lola packs. If your looking to purchase something a little more pricey, my pick would be the new Roberto Cavalli EDP which i smelt last week. This is now on my birthday wish list!

Adventure/Experience:
Depending on your mother you might want to give the gift of adventure/experience.
Redballoon.com.au offers over 2000 experiences ranging from $15 to $15000. My picks would be A massage at home, Champagne Breakfast for 2, or for the adventure mum maybe some paintball? Another good gift option is the 'Mummy: Secrets of the tomb' exhibition on at the Queensland Museum Southbank. Tickets are only $22 for adults and available from www.foxtix.com.au. The exhibition runs until August 19th but if your going to book do it soon because lots of sessions are already sold out.

Flowers and Dinner:
It's always a nice gesture to give mum a break for one night and cook her a nice home made dinner. I like to find all my recipes from www.taste.com.au. A good trick is to type in what your thinking of making and then clicking 'highest rated', that what it weeds out all the recipes that may not be so nice once cooked. If your not keen on cooking/good a cooking why not find a decent restaurant and book a table. Www.eatability.com.au is a good site full of reviews and star rating which makes it easy to pick a nice restaurant in your town. An always nice addition to dinner are the bunch of flowers. I like to buy mine from a local florist or Woolworths (they are really well priced!) otherwise having a nice bunch delivered from an australia wide flower service will be just as good (eg. www.easyflowers.com.au, www.rosesonly.com.au, www.fastflowers.com.au or www.1300flowers.com.au).

What have you decided to do for your mum this mothers day?
Have a good weekend!

Nude by Nature BB 5-in-1 Miracle Cream

2012-05-03T19:58:00.001+10:00

Good evening all!

For my first review i chose the newly released Nude by nature BB Cream. I was super excited to see this finally arrive at work after a month on backorder.

I only came upon the BB craze about a year ago with my first purchase of the brightly pink packaged Skin 79 triple function BB cream. Since then i have liked the idea of a functional 'foundation like' cream but never really liked the idea of ordering them from overseas, having to wait for delivery and then finding out i don't like the shade.

Nude by nature on the other hand has been a staple in my makeup routine since it came out and is easily accessible (on the north side of brisbane at least), so thats why i was extra excited to see the release of their very own BB cream.

Nude by nature's BB claims to be a '5-in-1' miracle cream that 1.Hydrates, 2.Radiates, 3.Corrects, 4.Perfects and 5. Protects, all while being completely free of toxic chemicals, paraben preservatives and drying sulphates. Sounds pretty awesome to me.

So onto the review...

Price and Packaging:
I managed to snap up this baby for the low price of $14.95 (oh i love staff discount) whereas it's usual RRP is $19.95. It comes neatly packaged in an appealing 50ml tube which i always love over pump bottles and little pouring bottles as i could never scrape out the last remnants of the product, but with tubes it's easy to squeeze and crush to my hearts content until i get all my moneys worth.

Coverage and Shades:
Before buying this BB cream it is important to know that it's very lightweight and sheer (like most BB creams and tinted moisturisers), so if your on the market for something to cover up blemishes and excess redness this product is probably not what your looking for.

In saying that, i do have alot of redness on my nose that this BB doesn't cover up so i just put a little of my usual foundation on the parts i feel i need a little extra coverage, blend, set and Tada! Beautiful Finish!
I bought the shade Light, as i'm usually the lightest shade in all foundations, and it matches me pretty well. It also comes in medium and dark.

I wore this exact combo to work yesterday and got some very lovely complements on how beautiful and glowy my skin looked, i always thought i had nice skin with makeup on (not to be modest or anything :p) but its amazing when other people think i have nice skin and feel that it looks nice enough to actually compliment me on it :D

Lasting Power:
I found that with a setting powder it lasted for a good 7 or so hours before showing some signs of oiliness and sliding. I have quite dry skin with small patches of oiliness of my forehead and sides of my nose and my skin loves the extra hydration this BB cream offers, in saying that... i could imagine that someone with oily skin may have issues with sliding earlier than the 7 hour mark.

Final Say:
All in all im really impressed with this product. I love the sheer, glowy coverage it gives to my face as well as the potential added benefits of using a 5-in-1 BB cream. I think it's really well priced for the amount of product received, especially when i think about the fact that i just bought a 30ml smashbox foundation for 3 times the price :s. I couldn't find this BB cream for sale on the nude by nature website (www.nudebynature.com.au) just yet but could imagine as they ship to more stores they will make it available on their website.
I will happily continue to use this BB cream :)

Hope you all have a great night.

Here's to making a start...

2012-05-03T17:15:00.000+10:00

So i've been thinking over the last 5 months or so about starting this blog, it's taken me that long to get off my lazy be-hind and make a start. It's pretty much going to be about myself and my love of all things makeup, fashion, beauty and life!

So who am i?

Name: Monique
Age: 24 (turning 25 in june)
Occupation: Full time nursing student/part time pharmacy assistant
Hometown: Brisbane, QLD, Australia

I generally spend way too much time reading blogs and watching youtube videos about makeup and skincare reviews. In no way do i consider myself a makeup guru or anyone with a huge knowledge of makeup. I just love to shop and spend money on ~~nice things~~...stuff i don't need and thought i would finally get my opinion out there about those things.

Next up will be my review on the new Nude by nature BB cream, so i hope someones looking forward to that :)

Talk soon.