NEW Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss

Sisley has launched a new collection of Phyto Lip Glosses (A$60/6ml) as part of the new Spring/Summer 2012 Colour Collection. Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss is a stunning collection of 7 ultra-shiny gloss colours which is shinier than the finish of lipstick and enriched with plant-based active ingredients to nourish, moisturise, repair and protect the lips. The shiny gloss finish is beautiful and the texture is ultra smooth that it is non-sticky!

The Phyto Lip GLoss is beautiful on the inside and out!

The 7 shades in the Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss Collection includes: #1 Nude, #2 Beige Rose, #3 Rose, #4 Fushia, #5 Bois de Rose, #6 Rouge and #7 Brun. 

L-R: Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss in #2 Beige Rose and #3 Rose.

The shades #2 Beige Rose (a soft pink with a hint of beige) and #3 Rose (a bright watermelon pink) are the lighter and brighter shades in the spectrum of shades available in the collection. The shades are fun and flirty with no shimmer at all.  

The packaging of the Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss is uber luxurious and sleek! The applicator is a very small brush on a wand which helps to make application so easy. 

This is the first time I have ever come across a lip gloss which not only provides ultra-shine, moisture and nourishment but also provides skincare benefits such as protection and repair to the lips - the most fragile skin on the body. 

The formula of Phyto Lip Gloss consists of Padina Pavonica extract which assists the production of natural Hyaluronic Acid in the body. Hyaluronic Acid is the key ingredient which helps to plump and soften the skin. Phyto Lip Gloss is also enriched with Phytosqualene (derived from olive oil), Rapeseed Oil (rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids) and Sunflower Oil to soften the lips and Shea Butter and Kokum Butter to soothe and repair the lips. The ingredient which protects the lips is natural Tocopherols and free radical Vitamin E. The scent of the formula is pleasant with fresh mint and tea leaves mmmm divine!

Swatch of Sisley Phyto Lip Gloss in #2 Beige Rose (left) and #3 Rose (right).

Are you a lip gloss or lipstick girl?

 xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Sisley and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Aqua by Jimeale New York

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Aqua by Jimeale NY Blue Cosmetic Clutch, A$15

Aqua by Jimeale NY Pink Complete Cosmetic Clutch Bag, A$35

Aqua by Jimeale NY Green Small Clutch, A$10

Aqua by Jimeale NY Orange Toiletry Organiser, A$20

Aqua by Jimeale NY Hot Pink Weekender Bag, A$50

Aqua by Jimeale NY Gray Fold-Over Organiser, A$25

 When you’re planning on going to your friend’s place for a sleepover, travelling on holiday or even organising a road trip up north, Aqua by Jimeale New York will have you organised with their new range of stylish, bright and fun travel accessory bags available in a variety of different sizes and colours to suit your needs. Aqua by Jimeale NY was developed by Australian-born, New York designer and entrepreneur Jimeale Jorgenson and is sold exclusively at Target stores. The range of travel accessory bags are affordable, between A$10 and A$50, and the bags are made from durable, sturdy and wipe-off material to keep your contents safe and sound while travelling. My picks are the Fold-Over Organiser to carry all my beauty essentials and the Weekender Bag to carry some change of clothes for a business trip. 

Aqua by Jimeale NY is available exclusively at Target and online here.

How do you organise your beauty essentials when travelling?

xx Rose

Heart-base Manicure

I've been inspired by the latest of nail art designs that I decided to opt for the simple French manicure, however, instead of horizontal tips I painted two strips which meet at the centre like the base of a love heart. Also, I wanted neon tips, since neons are the hype of this season, so I chose a neon-red in Sunday by Bloom Cosmetics on a vibrant pink base which is called Cascade Cool by Essie. I purchased Cascade Cool when I was in Berlin (see my Travel Photo Diary here) and the shade is part of the Summer 2013 Essie collection, yet to be launched in Australia. The overall look is fun, vibrant and colorful, great for this Spring season.

Have you painted you nails using neon shades?

xx Rose

DIY Makeup Organiser - Re-use your Glossyboxes

The Spring season is in full swing and during these last few days I've been sorting and organising my makeup and beauty products. The other day, I came across a DIY tutorial on Laura's blog where she made her own makeup organiser by re-using 4 of her old Glossybox boxes. I absolutely love the idea and it's such a great way to make better use out of these sturdy and cute Glossyboxes.

Glossybox Australia released their first box in November 2011 and unfortunately the company was short-lived and released their last Glossybox in April 2012. I have received all 6 Glossyboxes and 3 of the Glossyboxes have been used to hold my nail polishes and other bits and bobs. I thought I'd get a tiny bit creative and show you how to make a makeup organiser using only 3, rather than 4, empty Glossyboxes.

Things you will need:

• 3 Glossyboxes
• 2 x strong cardboard pieces (one 20.5 x 20.5 cm and the other 20.5 x 16.5 cm)
• A long and sharp kitchen knife (it's a lot easier using a long blade rather than a small Stanley knife/scissors)
• Hot glue gun (you can purchase one on eBay for a measly A$4)
• Scissors and a pen to pierce holes into the drawer
• Ruler
• Ribbons for decoration (I used the pink ribbon which came with my Glossybox subscription)

First of all, use your kitchen knife a cut off one of the long edges of 2 Glossybox lids. The lids will be used to support the sides of your organiser. Keep the two long edges for later.

Using the 2 strong cardboard pieces (I surprisingly had these two cardboard pieces lying around and even though they are not the same size as specified in the above list, they still worked well to support the frame of the organiser), glue the edges to the the two Glossybox lids to create the frame. 

Next, glue-on the 3rd Glossybox lid right on top of the frame. To add further support, in case your drawers are filled to the brim with beauty products, glue on the two long edges at the back to hold the frame in place. 

Now, onto the drawers. I decided to decorate the drawers using the pink ribbon which came with my Glossybox subscription as it goes with the pink theme I was looking for. Use a ruler to mark the center of the drawer and then use a pen/scissors to pierce two holes for the ribbon. The length of each ribbon I used was 21 cm. You may want to start with at least 25 cm of the ribbon to tie a cute little bow with ease. I couldn't find where all my other Glossybox ribbons went off to, but luckily I had just enough.  

And.... voila! There you have it, your own Glossybox makeup organiser :)

Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! What have you been using your Glossyboxes for?

xx Rose

Spring Racing Fashion Ideas and Beauty Essentials

Spring Racing has finally arrived, so I thought I’d share with you some lovely Spring Racing fashion ideas and beauty essentials to bring you through the day looking gorgeous from AM to PM regardless of how many bubblies you've consumed!

Image source: Cooper St

Australian fashion label Cooper St has launched their brand new Gelato Dreams collection in this month of October featuring fun and elegant design dresses in pastel shades of purples, blues and pinks. I love the look of the new Gelato collection as Spring is the perfect season to wear pastel coloured dresses and floral detailed dresses!

Sometimes, I get a little adventurous with my hair during special events as my usual work hair is to look neat and tidy. Having a bad hair day during Spring Racing is one of the things you don’t what to happen! TONI&GUY have launched their new Hair Meet Wardrobe range which features an amazing array of hair styling products and treatments to keep your hair in top shape. I currently I'm loving the TONI&GUY Liquid Spritz and Shine Mousse* which I reviewed here. 

Lately, I’ve been using Grown Facial Moisturiser matte balancing formula with Acai-Berry and Borago* (A$59.95/40ml) together with my Grown Facial Serum* (A$59/25ml) (reviewed here) to ensure my combination/oily skin type stays balanced and adequately hydrated during the day. The scent of the Grown Moisturiser gives a pleasant natural botanical sense which dissipates awhile after application. The moisturiser does apply on a lot thicker than your typical lightweight moisturiser, however, after about 20 seconds the hydrating and somewhat sticky’ layer of the formula absorbs completely into the skin leaving my skin to appear matte and non-greasy. 

Keep your skin looking matte and beautiful throughout the day with Dermalogica MediBac Oil Free Matte with SPF30* (A$68.50/50ml). The formula is a white opaque cream which is lightweight and formulated without artificial fragrances and colours. Applied to the skin in place of a primer, Dermalogica MediBac helps to absorb excess skin oils developed during the day and maintain the balance of the skins natural oils to keep you looking shine-free. I have worn this formula during days that have been humid, sunny, raining and overcast and surprisingly only noticed a slight shine along the T-zone during a really humid and sunny day. The shine factor reduced dramatically when worn as a primer and gratefully gives longevity to my makeup.

Are you looking forward to Spring Racing?

xx Rose

*Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with any beauty brand and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.

Images that are not my own were provided by PR.   

Milan Fashion Week - Sam McKnight for Pantene at DSquared2 S/S '13

The DSquared2 S/S ‘13 Collection show at the Milan Fashion Week was inspired by the 90’s biker chic look with big and bold gold statement jewellery, raunchy hot leather skirts and hats and lace mini dresses. What better way to team this look with glossy super straight hair.

Sam McKnight, Global Stylist Ambassador for Pantene Pro-V - ‘At DSquared2 this season it was about replicating the look of the fashion icons of the 90’s and giving it a modern day twist.  The look we wanted to achieve was a light-hearted take on the decade through beautiful, healthy, glossy, super straight shiny hair.’

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner

To get the look using a selection of Pantene Pro-V products, start with washing your hair using Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo* (A$7.99/350ml) and Conditioner* (A$7.99/350ml). The combination of the two products makes my hair feel thoroughly clean and silky smooth. The shampoo lathers up very well and this is a great quality in shampoo for my thick and long hair. The conditioner soaks into my hair very well to detangle and hydrate my hair. After blow-drying my freshly washed hair, my hair looks and feels great.

Pantene Pro-V Intensive Damage Repair Oil

When the hair is damp, apply Pantene Pro-V Intensive Damage Repair Oil* (A$9.99/30ml) to the ends to help nourish and strengthen dry/damaged hair. The scent of the formula is relatively strong, however, it didn’t linger for long. I apply a couple of drops of Intensive Damage Repair Oil to the ends of my hair every second day to protect my hair from split ends and to keep my hair well moisturised. It’s best to apply the product every second day as I found that my hair ended up looking too oily at the ends when applied on a daily basis. 

Pantene Pro-V All Day Smooth Creme

Next, use a hair straightener to straighten the hair by taking small sections of hair at a time. To finish, apply a small dollop of Pantene Pro-V All Day Smooth Light Weight Crème (A$6.99/90ml) to the hair to keep your hair looking sleek and shiny all day.

Which hair products are you using at the moment?

xx Rose 

*Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Pantene and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Images were provided by Pantene.

Freckles anyone?

3D Nail art has become a huge hit this year! Just think of Freckles, 100's and 1000's, beads and Caviar on your nails!

Creative Director Charlotte, from popular UK beauty brand Ciaté, created a new and exciting nail art trend called Caviar Manicure which can be achieved by using tiny little pearls which can be scattered onto the surface of the nail bed after applying any shade of nail lacquer to create a 3D effect which looks very sophisticated and elegant! I fell in love with the Caviar Manicure almost instantly and have been completely mesmerised about the 3D look. The Caviar pearls are currently only available in three different kits: Rainbow, Mother of Pearl and Black Pearls and I think the only way I can buy these kits is from the Ciaté online store. Shipping costs for delivery to Australia is hefty, so that has just steered me away completely.

Recently, Makeup Academy (MUA) also released their own version of the Caviar Manicure called Nail Constellation. I love the look of the little cute containers which come with an in-built funnel. MUA Nail Constellation is available in five gorgeous mixed shades namely Libra, Gemini, Scorpio, Pisces and Leo. Shipping is relatively decent when buying from the MUA online store and their range of makeup is incredibly cheap too. Definitely worth checking out.

I have not seen any of these little pearls for nails being sold in Australia, so I did some research and found that you can buy a wide range of colours of 'micro beads' from eBay and you can purchase a set with 12 different single shades for as little as A$2 to A$4 per set! I thought it would be better to buy the micro beads as individual shades so that I could mix and match a few colours to create different looks each time. 

I was inspired by the vibrant red lilies in the Botanical Gardens in Brisbane that I decided to combine the red, pink, green and taupe coloured pearls together. 

To get the look:

1. Paint your nails in any shade you like. I painted my nails using MaxFactor Nailfinity in Ruby Fruit.

2. Immediately, while your nails are still wet, dip the bed of your nail into a pot containing the pearls.

3. Use your fingers to gently press the pearls to ensure they are kept in place.

4. Apply two coats of base/top coat to prevent the pearls from chipping off.

The pearls stay on really well and the best way to remove them is to scrap them off using a nail file, then use nail polish remover to remove any residues.

What do you think of the 3D pearl effect on nails?

xx Rose

TONI&GUY for London Fashion Week

TONI&GUY were the stars backstage and behind the scenes in creating the hair looks to accompany the Spring/Summer fashion collections straight off the catwalk during this year's London Fashion week. Whether you're creating hair looks to achieve natural waves, pretty plaits or even an elegant top knot, TONI&GUY have a complete wardrobe of hair styling and treatment products to help you achieve the look you're after. The new TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe line includes the Cleanse & Nourish, Prep and Style (Casual, Classic, Glamour and Creative) Collections. For more information on these products just click here to view the entire product collections.

I have tried and reviewed the TONI&GUY Dry Shampoo from the Cleanse & Nourish Collection here and enjoyed how revitalising and fresh the product made my hair feel. 

The packaging of TONI&GUY products look so sleek and luxurious and I have noticed that all the TONI&GUY products I have used thus far have a very pleasant fresh scent which reminds me of the hair salon!

Today I will be reviewing two TONI&GUY products which were used on the models during London Fashion Week and have personally incorporated into my morning hair styling routine.

 TONI&GUY Prep Heat Protection Spray (A$15.99 / 150 ml)

TONI&GUY - 'Conditioning formula helps protect against damage and breakage caused by heat styling. Spray evenly over towel-dried hair and comb through. Top up in between blow drying and using straightening irons by spritzing over dry hair.'

My thick and long hair can be unmanageable sometimes, therefore, I NEED to use my hair straightener almost everyday to ensure my hair looks nice and neat. Using straightening irons typically dries my hair, hence, it's necessary for me to spritz my hair to protect it from the heat. TONI&GUY Prep Heat Protection Spray is an excellent product which retains the moisture in my hair and helps to prevent any split-ends caused by dryness. Just a few spritz before and after straightening my hair is adequate to protect my hair from heat damage.

TONI&GUY Spritz & Shine Liquid Mousse (A$15.99 / 222 ml)

TONI&GUY - ' Enhances shine and boosts body at the roots. Squeeze a small amount into your palm, work through towel-dried hair from root to tip and comb through. Heat style with a diffuser or air-dry.'

TONI&GUY Spritz & Shine Liquid Mousse is usually the last hair product I apply to my hair before I'm all set to walk out the door in the morning. The mousse was very easy to spread from the roots to tip using my fingers and the palm of my hands. The mousse does provide shine to make my hair look naturally shiny and healthy. With the use of my hair dryer, my hair looks beautifully tousled and sexy in a matter of minutes!

The new TONI&GUY collection is available in Woolworths, Coles, Priceline and Big W. The website (as mentioned above) is www.hairmeetwardrobe.com and you can also view some You Tube videos from Fashion Week here.

What do you think of the new TONI&GUY collection? Which hair products do you use to style your hair?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with TONI&GUY and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

September Empties

PHYT'S Activ'Peel Scrub (reviewed here) - I really enjoyed using PHYT'S face scrub as the granules did a really good job in cleansing my pores. The citrus scent was incredibly great, it's one of the features of this scrub that I loved!

 

EstéeLauder Take it Away Total Makeup Remover - This makeup remover (travel sized) has a cream/mousse-like appearance with a strong but pleasant cucumber scent to it. It removes my makeup easily, except when I'm wearing heavy eye makeup, and it calms and soothes my skin as well.

La Prairie Cellular Time Release Moisturiser Intensive (reviewed here) - The texture of this moisturiser feels lovely on the skin and the scent was just beautiful. I would purchase a full size of this moisturiser if I could.

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir (reviewed here) - I've been using my favourite Chanel mascara for about 5 months and I thought now is a good time to switch to a new one. I love how Inimitable Intense makes my lashes look naturally defined and fluttery. I will definitely re-purchase this mascara!

Lancôme  Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara (reviewed here) - Doll Eyes is probably the first ever scented mascara that I have tried. The result was beautiful soft fluttery lashes and I'm glad that the perfumed formula didn't irritate my sensitive eyes.

Kosmea Hydrating Rosewater Mist (reviewed here) - I loved using this mist as the Rosewater scent was lovely and the mist helped to set my makeup and also refresh my skin at the end of a tiring day at work. 

Lancôme Genifique Youth Activator (reviewed here) - This silky lightweight serum was in my travel makeup bag when I travelled to Germany and it helped to hydrate and moisturise my skin. The serum absorbs quickly and leaves my skin nice and matte.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (reviewed here) -  I only tried a sample of this serum, so I didn't really noticed any major changes to my skin texture. Though, one of the great qualities I loved about this serum is the subtle citrous scent and that it was fast absorbing.

Which products have you used up last month?

xx Rose