NARS Blush in Lustre and Orgasm

I am a huge fan of NARS and I love their makeup. One of my go-to items is their blush in Lustre. It is such a gorgeous shade and I can use it both as a blush and a bronzer. I tend to use it more as a bronzer but I love having the option to change it up.

On the left is NARS Lustre and on the right is NARS Orgasm, which is a super cute mini-sample. Good things come in small packages and it is definitely the case here.

I'm on my second round of Lustre and it's been about a year and it's still going strong (I know it's a little worse for wear but it's highly loved). The NARS blushes retail for $45 at Mecca Cosmetica and I would recommend going there for colour matching if you can. It may sound expensive but the quality of Lustre is exceptional. I usually apply it in the morning and by evening it is still there. I never have to do touch-ups and the sheer golden apricot shade is also very flattering. I also like that the compact is mirrored so that I can check how my application is going.

Baby-NARS was a sample I received from Mecca in an online order and I took it with me to Queensland and it gave me perfectly rosy cheeks. It looked totally natural. Orgasm is a peachy pink shade with shimmer. Orgasm is the definite bestseller from NARS and although I like it a lot, Lustre is still my favourite.  

I am always drawn towards warm shades like peach and apricot, they are just so universally flattering. 

As you can see from the swatches, there is a bit of shimmer in both blushes but you won't look like a Christmas tree that ate all the tinsel. The light will catch the shimmer and make you appear more radiant and awake which is important now that winter is here and we all feel a bit more gloomy.

NARS have many other fantastic products like their lip pencils, sheer glow foundations and eye liners, but the blushes will always be my favourite. I like the quality of the colours and the fact that they can be layered for a more intense look. The glow they give is also fantastic and Luster is a firm favourite in my makeup bag. Orgasm is now a close number two.

Have you tried NARS blushes before? Do you prefer warmer or colder colours?

Xx I

Winter Hydration Superstars featuring Neutrogena and Aveeno

As the temperature drops outside, it also gets harder to keep your body hydrated through winter. It is so easy to start neglecting your daily moisturising routine. The quick change from a hot air conditioned office to the chilly outdoors doesn't help either. As much as I have been doing my best to avoid falling into the lazy trap, it is kind of inevitable. I have therefore put a plan in place and what works for me is to have my moisturisers lined up next to my wardrobe so that I don't forget about their importance.

I am also a huge fan of a soap/moisturiser combination because they often compliment eachother so well. I have nearly finished another bottle of the beautiful Neutrogena rainbath refreshing shower and bath gel. The scent is truly refreshing with a blend of fruit, herbs and spices. The gel moisturises and invigorates without leaving a heavy residue. The pump bottle is an added bonus. One of my favourite things about this shower gel is that it can also be used as a shaving gel and it is an excellent time saver in that respect. The rainbath shower gel softens the hairs which also makes shaving a lot quicker.

Its partner in crime is the Neutrogena Body Oil which has a light sesame formula. I usually apply it straight after a shower and a little bit of oil goes a long way. It leaves my skin feeling moisturised and nurtured. My latest weekday routine is to finish work, go to the gym, dream of apple pie whilst on the thredmill, have a shower with rainbath and finish it off with the body oil before jumping into my navy onesie and inhaling said apple pie. For fancier occasions the body oil can be lightly mixed with some shimmer or bronzer to make you appear to be even more glowing than you already are.

The Neutrogena rainbath shower gel and body oil both cost $12.99 and are great winter saviours. I have also added a snippet of my running playlist if you want to see what gets me moving. It is a great mix of old and new, Scandinavian and international. I am also eyeing off the new Ministry of Sound Running Trax Winter 2013 album which is filled with fun tracks to get you moving. 

Back to Project Hydration and the other combination I have been using (and loving) is from Aveeno. You may have seen the Aveeno ads recently where gorgeous Jennifer Aniston has been introduced as a brand ambassador. She is a fan of the active naturals and so am I. 

The Daily Moisturising Lotion is super gentle and will appeal to anyone who has a resistance or allergy towards strong scents. It is fragrance free, hydrating and you don't have to use much to make a difference. The lotion is non-greasy and won't clog pores. The 354ml bottle will go a long way and is affordable at $12.99. I like that it doesn't compete with my fragrance choice of the day which lately has been Chanel's No 18.

The Daily Moisturising Body Wash is also a winner. After using it my skin always feels soft and hydrated. The Lotion and the Body Wash both have oatmeal as a key ingredient and the benefits of oats have withstood the test of time. It's a natural soother, anti-irritant and the goal is to replenish the skin's original mositure levels. My skin can be sensitive from time to time but I haven't had any problems with Aveeno's products. I also like that the lid is flat because when the bottle is almost finished, I can leave it upside down and it helps me squeeze out every last bit. At $9.99 it is another budget-friendly option. 

Thanks to these four products my skin has been really happy, healthy and moisturised lately. The fact that it's getting colder is no excuse to let the hydration regime slip and I'm trying to remind myself that it doesn't take a lot of time or energy to keep it going. A quick two minutes at morning and night is all you need and the results are definitely worth the extra effort. 

What are your favourite winter hydration tips? Do you have a onesie too? 

Xx I

These products were sent to me for consideration. This has not affected my opinion and if you would like more information about my disclosure policy you can see it here. The iTunes song choices are entirely my own. 

Monday Mani: L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Vernis in 612 Green Couture

A week ago I came back from beautiful Queensland. I had the best time and although I was there on a work-trip, I still had the opportunity to do lots of fun activites. 

My favourite included a visit to a crocodile park, feeding a kengaroo (it doesn't get old), and running away from a big emu (they can be scary). Others included a sensational snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef where I got to swim with a turtle, spending a whole day on Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas, and enjoying lots of stunning scenery. 

Then there were the four separate trips to the lush rain forest. It was definitely the rain forest that inspired my colour choice this week when it came to such important aspects as choosing a nail polish shade for my talons. 

It had to be green, but I didn't want OPI's Jade is the new black, Chanel's Black Pearl or Peridot. I wanted Green Couture (612) from L'Oreal and it had just the right amount of forest green that I was after. The good thing about the Colour Riche Le Vernis range from L'Oreal is that it is cheap as chips. Each bottle costs $6.95 and the wide polish brush is really easy to use. There are 49 shades to choose from and you can go from neutral to flamboyant in a flash. When my good friend got married in March I gave her three different pink shades of Le Vernis polish. She loved them and they are such a good alternative to more expensive brands.

This is one of the pearls in Cairns. A stunning waterfall combined with lots of lush forestry. Nature at its best. 

The polish has a gel-like consistency and needs two coats to be just perfect. It also dried really quickly thanks to the speedy Sally Hansen top coat I added on top.

I accidentally managed to match my favourite coffee shop's cups. Dogs and stripes are two of my favourite things!

Here is my new turtle friend. I think he looks pretty ninja!

Which colour are you currently rocking on your digits? Are you keen on green?

Xx I

The Perfect Hangover Cure + Cover-Up.

I went out to a really fun 30th birthday party last night and whilst the the margaritas were fun in the moment, they weren't so much fun this morning when I woke up with timber-men in my head. Instead of moping about I decided to get up and at them and thought that chocolate chip cookies would be a good idea.

I still hadn't eaten the Easter egg I got from my mother-in-law so I decided to put it to good use in the cookies. I also added my favourite fruit-free muesli from Carman's to give it a little healthy touch. After baking for 15 minutes the cookies were ready and they tasted so good. They are also perfect little gifts for friends and family and the feedback I've received so far has all been great.

After my baking duties were done I moved onto creating a faux-glow to hide last night's efforts. I used Rimmel London's BB Cream in light to create the perfect luminous skin and added L'Oreal's BB Blush as the cherry on top for the right amount of flushed cheeks.

Next up in the distraction fase was project bright lippy and I actually discovered a Kate Moss number from Rimmel London which suited the bill perfectly. I'm ashamed to say that I've had it for a while but I hadn't got around to wearing it yet so today seemed like the perfect day for it.

The shade is 12 is a gorgeous coral/orange colour and it is long lasting and really creamy. It applies really well and survived the all important coffee cup test so it really does last a long time. Kate's range for Rimmel has sold really well and the colours included are all beautiful.

Step three in plan deflection was to add a cute pair of sunnies to hide any dark circles and I couldn't go past my favourite pair of hearts. The sunnies make my lippy look a little redder than it is but at least no one can tell that I have already broken my Jurlique promise of more beauty sleep.

Step four and five of the plan is gym first before a clean and healthy stir fry with chicken, celery and broccoli for dinner. Case closed.

What are your hangover cure/cover up favourites?


Xx I

Jurlique Launch Event.

This morning wasn't like a regular boring Thursday morning. I had the day off and was excited to attend the Jurlique breakfast event at the Ivy. It was a lot of fun and we got to do some great activities.

The Sunroom at the Ivy was beautifully decorated and there were flowers everywhere. It was so stunning! I naturally love the striped wallpaper too, seeing as I'm a stripe-a-holic.

My personal favourite was the white rose chandelier arrangement. It was truly beautiful.

At the first station we were asked to choose a promise or more, and it was possible to add your own promise too. My priority promise was beauty sleep (is there ever enough?) but the other options were also great. 

At the next station there were beautiful blooms and herbs and we were asked to try and guess five of the ingredients in the product that was launched. I think I guessed three out of five right but after a while all the blooms started to smell the same. 

There was also a side table with lots of ingredients that are used in Jurlique products. It is always interesting to see how a product is created from scratch, and nature is always the best starting point.

At the third station (and my favourite one), you could create your own body oil with different essential oils. It was hard to narrow it down but I ended up mixing lots of lavender, a little freesia and a touch of lemon. It's a beautiful combination.

Station four was where the tea blending took place. We got a tea bag combined dried lavender, rose petals and more. My blend smells amazing and I am excited to find out if a tea-making career is something I should pursue.

The event was fantastic and we were also served delicious coffee, fruit skewers and gourmet toasted sandwiches. After an interesting and educational presentation regarding Jurlique's connection to nature and the importance of going natural, we were given some exciting goodie bags to take home. 

I received a plant with my beauty promise on it and I am planning on getting a little pot for it and to keep it on the veranda so it gets lots of sun through winter. Keeping my promise is another priority of course. 

Second up was the personalised body oil I made earlier. I have already started using it and it is divine! Super hydrating and the scent is just gorgeous. I think I am going to have to start blending it with a body moisturiser through winter to make the beautiful oil last longer. 

My special Jurlique Tea Blend looks terrific and if it doesn't taste quite right, I am going to use it as potpurri because the scent is out of this world. 

Lucky last was the special product we attended the launch for. I will be able to give you more information about it in August so stay tuned for a proper review and more details. 

Now I am off to brew my first cup of Jurlique tea, hopefully my attempt was successful!

Are you a fan of natural skin care? Do you love body oils as much as I do?

Xx I