The Beauty Blog

Free Beauty Tips and Advice from the Beauty Experts

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker – This was the Sex and the City star’s first fragrance release and it couldn’t be more appropriately named. It has a beautifully light scent with
tops notes of lavender, bergamot and a sassy dash of apple martini. Leaving a musky scent on the skin, it also incorporates woody and sultry bottom notes with white amber and creamy orchid to create a perfectly well-rounded fragrance.

Unlike other celebrity fragrances Lovely has all right ingredients to become a classic. Celebrity fragrances account for almost 7 per cent of all perfume sales and this perfume constantly features on the best sellers list.

Sarah Jessica Parker says the perfume is not designed to dominate the room but its staying power and wearability still make it a real winner. Its softness is perfect for day use and as it’s not too overpowering it can easily be worn by women of all ages. If you enjoy Narciso Rodriguez For Her then this one is for you.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs - You’ll feel yourself floating off to a luscious field of summer daisies after just one smell of this gorgeous fragrance. It hits all the right notes that a light, feminine fragrance should with a fruity mix of wild strawberries, violet leaves, jasmine, gardenia and red grapefruit. It’s not overly original but its base notes of vanilla and musk make it highly pleasurable to wear.

Daisy is primarily aimed at women from 18-24 but its adorable bottle will draw interest from all ages. It’s comfortable, warm and clean yet sophisticated and not too sweet like many of its floral competitors.

One user said it’s a great “running out the door fragrance” when you can’t decide what perfume you’re in the mood for. It’s ideal for everyday use and a suitable fragrance to wear around the office or to lunch with the girls. You can wear this perfume anywhere!

Gucci by Gucci - A fully adult fragrance, this perfume will appeal to lovers of strong, rich scents. It’s quite unique with sensuous top notes of guava and pear followed through by a heart note of Tahitian Tiare flower and base notes of patchouli, musk, and honey. A type of gardenia, the Tahitian Tiare flower is described as having a “heavy, sweet hypnotic fragrance that is utterly captivating”. It is even believed to have healing powers too!

This fragrance is often classified as being gender neutral but is certainly appropriate for women, especially for wear in the autumn months. It starts off quite loudly when first applied but settles down nicely with earthy tones typical of a modern day chypre.

It also has commendable long wear qualities and its subtle sexiness makes it suitable for night time use. Definitely sample on your skin and give it time to calm down before making a decision on this one.

JOOP! Homme - Men, if you’re after a subtle scent this one is not for you! Homme is one of the most enduring men’s’ fragrances on the market and was an instant hit when it was released 1989.

Its bright pink bottle and potency shocked many at first but its mix of bergamot and cinnamon top notes make it hard to resist. This spicy combination is nicely complemented by sweet middle notes of orange blossom, jasmine and honeysuckle with a kick of sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, amber, tonka bean, musk and vanilla for the bottom
notes.

A real highlight of this fragrance is its projection power with many users saying it can be noticed from many metres away. It has remarkable lasting powers and one small spray will last you all through the night.

This fragrance is for men looking to make a lasting impression and stand out from the crowd. Many women associate its scent with that of their first love and so it can be seen as a little outdated. It’s probably best suited for more mature men.

White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor– As beautiful as its creator, Elizabeth Taylor, this perfume is an absolute classic and a common feature on many bedside tables. Super glamorous, feminine and timeless are not only a descriptions of the perfume but a reflection
of Dame Elizabeth herself. It’s sensual and smooth with intriguing top notes of Amazon Lily, neroli, aldehyde. The pretty bottle also contains tuberose, narcisse, Turkish Rose, jasmine, orris and middle notes of patchouli and sandalwood amongst the bottom notes.

White Diamonds is the best selling celebrity perfume of all time for a reason. Two decades have passed since it was first released yet it still remains as stylish as ever. It can be a little over powering if over applied but if you’re a fan of Chanel No. 5 or Miss Dior than it’s
certainly worth a try.

It’s sure to draw compliments from both men and women and could easily become your next best friend. What a diamonds for after all?

The Beckham Range of Fragrances – The Beckham fashion empire have expanded their reach into the fragrance industry with enormous success. The fairytale romance of football megastar David Beckham to pop superstar Posh Spice has lead to the creation of
some superstar fragrances.

Their ever growing line of perfumes consists of over ten unique fragrances, all with a very euro-chic and distinctive London feel about them. Below is a quick description of some of these fragrances and their key attributes and benefits.

For Her-
Intimately- Floral, light and subtle but not overly memorable. Contains rose petals, tuberose and vanilla.

Intimately Yours- Radiant and free-spirited. Contains freesia, frangipani flower and orris.

Signature- Fruity, lively and youthful. Contains candy apple, orchid and amber.

Signature Story- Elegant, soft, timeless and long lasting. Contains peach, white peony and
musk.

For Him-

Instinct- Bold and sharp but not too complex. Contains bergamot, mandarin leaf, cardamom and white amber.

Intense Instinct- Seductive, warm and sweet without being feminine at all. Contains melon, ginger, violet and white cedar.

Intimately- Spicy, well balanced and exudes passion. Contains grapefruit, nutmeg and sandalwood.

Intimately Yours- Oriental, cool and modern. Contains blood mandarin, lavender and vetiver.

Signature- Sensual, quite classy and changes smoothly throughout its different notes. Contains watermelon and Cypress.

Signature Story- Woody, not too heavy and a safe option. Contains wild basil, lavender, patchouli.

Red Door by Elizabeth Arden- This is a full bodied fragrance with plenty of oomph! It’s been around since the late 80s but continues to be used as a signature scent for many women across the world.

Romantic and bold are words that come to mind when describing
this fragrance. Its distinct notes of orange blossom, plum, peach, anise, ylang-ylang, orris, jasmine, cedar, sandal and musk (just to name a few) also make it truly elegant.

This fragrance often carries the connotation of being an “older woman’s” perfume but this doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. When mixed with the correct skin chemistry it can really be worn by women of all ages.

It’s perfect for day wear and is sure to have people
raising their eyebrows when you tell them what you’re wearing.
In saying that, it doesn’t appeal to everyone and is, as with every perfume, an acquired scent. If you haven’t worn Red Door in years or you’ve never tried it, spray a little on your wrist when you come across it next. It may just surprise you!

by Kate Boston – Cosmetician

The Colourful History of Mascara

The use of mascara can be traced back as far as 4000BC but it hardly resembles the product we see today. Ancient Egyptians believed eyes were windows to the soul and by deepening and lengthening their lashes they could conceal them from unwanted, evil spirits. They used a mixture of kohl and charcoal which was later blended crocodile poo and honey to stop the mascara from running (oh the things we do for beauty!). Forget brushes too- they handcrafted their applicators from ivory and bone.

Fast forward a few thousand years to the Victorian era and mascara took on a much more delightful purpose. It became more socially acceptable for women to wear makeup and much of their day was spent indulging in beauty regimes. Some say they were history’s first beauty divas and were quite well known for their vanity. We still made our own mascara at this stage by mixing ash and elderberry juice and heating it for application.

The invention of modern mascara controversially belongs to chemist Eugene Rimmel who in 1917 began experimenting with the newly created petroleum jelly. Across the other side of the world, a man named T.L. Williams was also producing a strikingly similar product after discovering how his sister Maybel used coal dust and Vaseline to darken her lashes. You’ve probably figured it out but these men went on to found two of the most celebrated brands in the industry- Rimmel and Maybelline. As for effective waterproof mascara we can thank 1960’s supermodel Twiggy for that one!

Now in the 21^st century we are swamped with hundreds of mascaras each promising to give us enviably long and luscious lashes. So how do you know what to look for? We’ll have a look at a number of different products to give you a head start for when you hit the cosmetics store.

Which One is Right for me?-

Loreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes ($28.45): This double ended mascara is relatively new onto shelves and draws its inspiration from salon-like lash extensions. It’s at the higher end of the market and you do get what you pay for. In terms of length it’s hard to beat with the two step application stretching your lashes to their gorgeous limits. The first base provides a nourishing coat of Ceramide R and D-Panthenol to strengthen and prepare your lashes for the finishing step which then creates a professionally slick look. It does take a little bit more time to apply than your average mascara but its lengthening qualities and also its staying power make it worth the effort. Rating 8/10.

Max Factor False Lash Effect ($24.95): Don’t let the name put you off. This mascara won’t leave you looking like Barbie Doll but more like a movie star. A constant performer it offers benefits in regards to great volume and spectacular length. It also boasts Max Factor’s biggest ever brush making it easy to apply and leaving no lash untouched. If you’re planning to wear this one to while watching the Notebook (or any other girly tear jerker) you may want to go with the waterproof version as the original tends to run when coming in contact with moisture. Rating 8.5/10.

Revlon Grow Luscious ($21.95): With this mascara Revlon has definitely created plenty of hype by promising big, BIG results. Its lash enhancing formula is claimed to complement the natural cycle of lashes and prompt them to grow stronger and healthier after every use. The responses to this product have been largely positive with many seeing an almost instant improvement in the appearance of their lashes. A minority of users have found it causes slight irritations but as with most beauty products individual results will vary. So the advice here? Give it a go because it could just change your life (or certainly save you some money on expensive lash growing serums). Even if you don’t see a change in the length of lashes it still provides good thickness, staying power, is easy to use and is suitable as an everyday mascara. Rating 9/10.

Maybelline Full n Soft ($18.45): This is an excellent mascara if you’re looking for a natural look but still want a noticeable difference in the appearance of your lashes. It creates a full look giving your lashes an extra boost of thickness which will be the envy of all your friends. With an injection of Vitamin E it also leaves lashes feeling soft and healthy while also eliminating any issues with clumping or brittleness. This one could easily become a staple in your make up bag! Rating 7.5/10

Covergirl Lash Exact ($17.50): The biggest highlight of this mascara is its impressive lash separating abilities. Its large brush makes it simple and relatively quick to apply while also creating a flawless look which smoothes through lashes from root to tip. It’s also very effective in leaving lashes clump free and is comfortable enough to wear all day long. You may, however, want to apply a number of coats if you want to take this one from a day look to a more glamorous night look. Rating 8/10

Australia Lash Magnitude ($10.95): Being one of the least expensive brands on offer this product is an affordable option for women who don’t use mascara on a daily basis or for girls who are just starting to experiment with makeup. It gives lashes the darkness, length and thickness you expect when using mascara but is quick to wear off and smudge. Basically, this one is a matter of you get what you pay for but it’s worth a shot if you’re after a basic mascara on a budget. 6.0/10

*Prices are in accordance with Priceline’s national selling price.

Please Remember This! – We recommend that you invest in a new mascara at least every 3 months. The eye area tends to attract a build up of bad bacteria and this carries over to your mascara bottle and wand. This is also the reason why you should never share your mascara! The effectiveness of your mascara also decreases considerably over time as the product begins to dry up and will no longer work as well as it was intended. Now you have an excuse to try a new one every few months or even sooner if you like!

Fragrance – How to Find your Signature Scent

Finding your signature scent can be a tricky task, but luckily we have some
great tips to help you find the perfect perfume. The Beauty Blog can help
you choose a fragrance that will suit your lifestyle, your attitude and your
budget.

To make this easier, all perfumes are classified into a Fragrance Family,
which makes it simpler to find scents that are similar to each other. So, for
example, if you’re drawn to perfumes in the ‘Floral’ family, you may find that
if you like ‘Curious’ by Britney Spears, then you’ll also like ‘Daisy’ by Marc
Jacobs or ‘Juicy Couture’ by Juicy Couture, since they share a similarly
sweet, flower-based aroma.

Or, if you love the earthy undertone of the ‘Mossy Woods’ fragrance
family, and you’re a fan of Victoria Beckham’s ‘Signature for Her’, then
you’ll probably also like ‘Gucci’ by Gucci and ‘Truth’ by Calvin Klein.

Read on to find out more about how your favourite fragrances are grouped
into their ‘families’.

The Fragrance Families

Floral Fragrances

Floral Fragrances can either be based on a single flower scent e.g. violet or jasmine,
or can be created from a variety or ‘bouquet’ of different flowers. Some
floral fragrances may contain additional ingredients such as vanilla or
amber.

Classic Floral Fragrances include:

• ‘The Beat’ by Burberry
• ‘Champs Elysees’ by Guerlain
• ‘Harajuku Lovers – Music’ by Gwen Stefani
• ‘Stella’ by Stella McCartney

Oriental Fragrances

Oriental Fragrances are predominately spice-based using ingredients such as
animal musks, resins, balsam, amber and botanical ingredients.

Classic Oriental Fragrances include :

• ‘In2U for Him’ by Calvin Klein
• ‘Obsession for Women’ by Calvin Klein

Woody Fragrances

Woody Fragrances are based on natural woody scents such as cedar, sandalwood,
vetiver, apple wood etc. with ingredients such as patchouli added.

Classic Woody Fragrances include:

• ‘Christina Aguilera by Night’ by Christina Aguilera
• ‘Fantasy’ by Britney Spears
• ‘Go’ by Joop!

Chypre Fragrances

These are a mossy-woody base blended with floral and citrus ingredients.

Classic Chypre Fragrances include:

• ‘Darling’ by Kylie Minogue
• ‘Amariage’ by Givenchy
• ‘Be Delicious’ by DKNY

Fougere Fragrances

The main ingredients in this family consist of mossy scents
blended with herbs.

Classic Fougere Fragrances include:

• ‘Crave’ by Calvin Klein
• ‘Connect Him’ by FCUK (French Connection United Kingdom)
• ‘Wings for Men’ by Giorgio Beverley Hills

Green Fragrances

Green Fragrances are based on plant-based scents such as grass and leaves, or
herbal and vegetable ingredients like cucumber, coriander, lemon grass,
eucalyptus or basil to create a fresh, sharp scent.

Classic Green Fragrances include:

• ‘Burberry Summer’ by Burberry
• ‘Arden Beauty’ by Elizabeth Arden
• ‘Envy’ by Gucci

Water Fragrances

These fragrances have clean, aqua-inspired scents that inspire thoughts of the ocean.

Classic Water Fragrances include:

• ‘Cool Water for Men’ by Davidoff
• ‘Acqua di Gio’ by Giorgio Armani
• ‘Just Me for Men’ by Paris Hilton

Citrus Fragrances

As the name suggests, based on citrus ingredients such as orange, lemon, lime,
grapefruit, tangerine and mandarin to create a tangy, sweet fragrance.

Classic Citrus Fragrances include:

• ‘Chrome’ by Azzaro
• ‘Green Tea’ by Elizabeth Arden
• ‘Flower’ by Kenzo

The buzz on Bio Oil…

When the creator of Bio Oil wanted to formulate the ultimate product for minimising stretchmarks, reducing the severity of scarring and discolouration, and rehydrating severely dry skin, he faced a conundrum: did he use an oil which was ideal for storing and preserving the necessary vitamin ingredients over a long period of time but was too greasy to use, or did he choose a cream which absorbed into the skin but which did not preserve the natural ingredients?

Luckily he was able to find a solution that offered users the best of both worlds thanks to the discovery of PurCellin© Oil (interestingly this was a synthetic copy of the secretions from a duck’s gland). This meant that all the essential plant and herbal extracts that did the actual hard work of reducing scars, stretchmarks etc would be preserved in perfect condition, but that it had the user-friendly properties of an easy-to-use cream.

And thank goodness he did, as it’s become one of the the country’s most loved beauty staples.

At thebeautyblog we love it when a product has undergone scientific trials before we try it ourselves, and we really love it when the clinical trials have produced great results, since it makes us feel so much more confident about buying!

And Australia’s number 1 treatment oil for scars, stretchmarks and discolouration, Bio Oil, underwent rigorous testing before hitting the market. In a three month clinical trial, 20 women aged between 18 and 55 used Bio-Oil twice daily on their stretchmarks to see what the visible results would be.

Here’s what they found:

• 50% of users saw a reduction of redness
• 50% of users saw an improvement in the tone of their skin
• 40% of users saw a reduction in the width of their stretchmarks
• 40% of users saw a reduction of the height of their stretchmarks
• 20% of users saw that their skin’s elasticity had improved

thebeautyblog recommends…

Make sure you stick to the directions on this one and be prepared to be patient. Bio Oil is definitely not a quick fix solution but if you use it twice daily for 12 weeks or more as recommended, you should notice a permanent improvement.

Imagine applying an anti-wrinkle cream to your fine lines and seeing it work right away? That would be a dream come true for any woman who’s facing the wrong side of 30 right? Well, according to the folks at Derma-Research, that’s exactly what you can expect with their recently launched Wrinkle Venom cream.

It contains snake venom, an ingredient which has been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and before you start gagging at the thought of putting an actual snake by-product on your face, let us reassure you that it is synthetic (we definitely don’t recommend that you encourage an actual snake to give you a facial!) The super ingredient in Wrinkle Venom, Syn-Ake, simply mimics the effect of snake venom which can include plumping and tightening of the skin.

Many jaded skincare shoppers who’ve been promised the secret to eternal youth over the years may be skeptical – “Does it really work? Or is it just another case of the snake oil salesman, (yes, we know it’s a bad pun!) offering the world and delivering very little?”

Like other new-to-market wrinkle fixers, Wrinkle Venom isn’t cheap, it retails at around the $60 mark, but as my dear old Granny always said, “You get what you pay for, Dearie.” So let’s take a look at what it does, who can use it and how to use it…

What Wrinkle Venom does:

It contains an anti-wrinkle compound that imitates the effect of actual snake venom and when you apply it to clean, dry skin it works to plump up wrinkles within minutes. As soon as you apply it, you’ll feel a tightening and tingling on your skin. Within a few minutes, you should be able to see a difference, although the degree of difference does vary from user to user. Some see extremely noticable results while others may see a more subtle change.

As well as plumping out fine lines and wrinkles, the Venom creates a strong barrier between the skin and the environment, so you’ll find less nasty free radicals and eco-pollutants will be able to penetrate your skin, creating over time a fresher, healthier looking complexion.

Who can use Wrinkle Venom?

No side effects have been found in clinical trials of Wrinkle Venom however, those with sensitive skin should do a patch test on the inside of their forearm before putting it on their face. Like any skincare product on the market, it’s best to avoid contact with eyes and discontinue use if irritation occurs.

How to use Wrinkle Venom:

Use the spatula that comes with your jar of Wrinkle Venom to apply a liberal amount of cream directly to your lines and wrinkles AFTER you cleanse and BEFORE you moisturise. Gently pat cream until it is fully absorbed into the skin. For deep wrinkles, you may need to do two or three applications. Once absorbed, try to avoid exaggerated facial expressions until face is totally dry.

Thebeautyblog recommends….

Pop into your nearest Wrinkle Venom retailer (check online) to try it before you buy it. Make sure you don’t wear any makeup or moisturisers before trying it so that you’ll be able to see the full effects.

Ssssssssayonara wrinkles!

Infusion RX

Freeze Frame

There’s an old saying that goes along the lines of ‘growing up is optional, but growing old is inevitable’. Well, here at The Beauty Blog we think that growing old is definitely optional, so we’ve been investigating some of the beauty industry’s hottest new anti-aging products.

Botox has been a major player in the beauty market for several years now, and has long been seen as the ultimate way to eliminate wrinkles. However, buyer beware, there are some not-so-nice aspects of injectable Botox.

Done well, Botox injections can look great BUT, it involves needles which means it hurts, in some cases it can create a Hollywood-Frozen-Face effect (Nicole Kidman we’re talking to you!), if you hate the look after you’ve had Botox you have to wait three months for the effects to wear off, and last but not least, it can be expensive.

So what do you do if you like the look of Botox but hate needles, don’t want to look ‘overdone’, are worried that you may hate the effect immediately after or are simply on a tight budget? Welcome to the world of safe, simple, affordable and effective anti-ageing products that really do deliver what they promise…

Infusion RX is one such product that has recently landed in stores and consumers are snapping it up. Some of their reasons for loving Infusion RX include:

• No needles, no pain!
• The results are almost instant
• Easy to use at home
• Much more affordable than Botox
• You can choose specific wrinkles or areas to target
• The doses are controlled so you can’t waste it
• The effects are reversible if you overdo it
• The sealed tube applicator is ultra-hygienic, preventing bacteria from entering
• The precision applicator makes application easy

After 42 days, consumers started to see longer-term effects such as improved elasticity, smoother skin and shallower wrinkles

How do you apply it?

Infusion RX is easy to use and can be done in three simple steps.
1. Thoroughly cleanse your face and neck
2. Apply Infusion RX directly to the wrinkles and ‘fill it in’ with the cream – you should see a white ‘stripe’ of cream sitting in the wrinkle
3. Gently pat into the skin until absorbed
Once you’ve applied the Infusion RX, give your skin a few moments to completely absorb the product and then apply your regular moisturiser or sunscreen as normal. Apply your makeup as normal.

Consumers’ Top 10 Questions:

1. How often should I use it?
Use Infusion RX twice daily for at least 2 months to see long-term benefits

2. Do I rub it in?
Avoid rubbing, instead, gently pat the cream into your skin until it is fully absorbed.

3. Can I use it on my eyes?
You can target crow’s feet, under-eye wrinkles, frown lines and any wrinkles around the eye area but make sure you avoid direct contact with eyes.

4. Can I use it on sensitive skin?
Do a patch test on another area of skin before applying to the face. Ideally, test a small amount on the inside of your forearm to see if you are able to use it. Most pharmacies have a tester available so that you can try before you buy.

5. Can I use my normal moisturiser with it?
You should be able to use it with your moisturiser however the moisturising agents in some face creams may not be compatible with Infusion RX. Do a patch test on your arm to see if they mix. If you notice the products won’t blend or seem to form into clumps then don’t use them together.

6. How long does the effect last?
The immediate effects will last several hours so it’s ideal if you’re going to a special event or just heading off to work for the day. Some consumers asked if, once the product had worn off, would the skin immediately ‘collapse’. Rest assured, the product wears off gradually over a couple of hours.

7. How long can I use Infusion RX after opening it?
The specially designed tube keeps air and bacteria out of the product and helps to keep the product fresh. Infusion RX will last up to 6 months after opening. Keep it in a cool area away from direct sunlight.

8. How expensive is it?
Infusion RX retails between $60 and $70AUD (check out the specials on www.ebeautystore.com.au )

9. Does it hurt?
It shouldn’t hurt at all. You may feel a slight tightening sensation but if it causes pain, discontinue use immediately.

10. What should I do if I have a reaction to it?
Discontinue use immediately.

The Scientific Stuff:

So what’s in Infusion RX that makes it such a star beauty product? Without getting into the really heavy duty scientific stuff, here’s a quick breakdown of the main ingredients and what they do…
1. Pure Hyaluronic Acid – an absorbable product that works with your skin’s natural moisture content, drawing it to the surface and plumping up the skin
2. Extract of Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seeds – an ingredient that improves skin’s elasticity
3. Acacia Senegal Gum – an ingredient that forms an immediate film of elasticity that stretches over the skin, making the skin surface instantly tighter and smoother.
4. Soy Protein Pthalate – a product that has both short and long-term effects. In the short-term, skin is tightened and in the long-term, skin surface becomes smoother
5. BoNT-L Peptide – an ingredient that mimics the effects of Botox (Type-A botulinum toxin)

Most women know what they want, and more importantly, what they don’t want in a self-tanner.

They want it to look natural (no Oompa Loompas!), they want it to be even (no nasty tell-tale streaks), they want it to be simple (if you need a science degree and a minimum of three hands to apply it then it ain’t worth it) and they want it to be affordable. So, what’s the latest and greatest in the world of DIY bronzing?

Well, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, then you MUST have heard the name POD mentioned as this season’s stand out when it comes to finding the ultimate in self-tanning products. Here’s what we at the Beauty Blog lurve about this tan-sational new release!

• It gives a totally natural all over summer glow (without looking like Lindsay Lohan after a bad spray tan!)
• It’s natural! POD is made of delicious, no-natural-you-could-almost-eat-them ingredients.
• It’s chock-full of goodness from vitamins and minerals to natural oils and divine aromatherapy fragrances.
• POD contains no nasties like Paraben, Formaldehyde, Detergents, no synthetic colours or fragrances and NO animal products or mineral oils
• It contains an SPF of 15 to keep you sun safe
• It’s a simple, easy-peasy, all-in-one product
• It’s 100% Aussie owned and manufactured by an eco-friendly company
• It’s affordable and is priced at around $55

Once you’ve fallen in love with POD SPF Liquid Tan, you’ll be dying to find out what else the brand has to offer and, the great news is, it has everything you need to look your most naturally gorgeous without having to buy a trolley full of products. The POD range also has a Liquid Detox, Liquid Facelift, Liquid Eyelift, an SPF 15 Liquid Canvas, SPF 15 Liquid Light, Liquid Pedicure and Liquid Manicure.

The Beauty Blog tips for a successful self-tan

Avoid the temptation to just slap your self-tan onto un-prepped skin – just trust us on this – unless you want a streaky, patchy tan.

1. Have a nice warm shower (not too hot) to soften the skin and help open the pores
2. Use a body scrub or exfoliating glove to smooth the skin and get rid of any dry patches. Gently scrub the skin in a circular motion making sure you’re not scrubbing too hard – hint: if it hurts or leaves vicious red marks on your skin then it’s way too hard!
3. Dry off and apply a very light body moisturiser
4. Wait an hour or two before applying your self-tan
5. It’s always a great idea to wear thin latex gloves while applying your tan as orange palms are just wrong, wrong, wrong and definitely NOT a hot accessory for Autumn/Winter 2011!

Happy tanning ladies!

Bert’s Bees – get the buzz on the beauty industry’s new fave, all natural product

Breaking Beauty News – Burt’s Bees range of natural skin, hair and body products is now on shelves in Priceline! So why do we love it? THere are so many reasons – it’s all natural, it’s chock full of delicious ingredients, it includes some of the most ancient and effective plant-based remedies ever found AND it looks just as yummy as it smells.

So what’s in it?

The Burt’s Bees range is based on ingredients including bees wax ( a natural emollient that helps the skin retain moisture), plants and flowers, essential oils, herbs and minerals. It’s gentle on the skin, is safe to use and according to the experts at BB headquarters, as humans are a part of nature it makes sense to use only the ingredients found in nature to achieve the best and most beautiful results.

Just to give you a taste of some of the ingredients found in Burt’s Bees products, thebeautyblog checked out the…
Soap Bark Cleanser, the Orange Essence Cleanser and the Naturally Ageless Night Cream. Each contains a featured ingredient which has been used in beauty regimes over thousands of years.

The Soap Bark Cleanser contains no sulfates and features soap bark extract, witch hazel, chamomile, echinacea, aloe, glycerine and cocoa butter. It’s gentle, purifying and smells divine. The

Orange Essence Cleanser features orange oil, derived from the orange tree. The key benefits of using orange oil are it reduces puffiness, minimises dryness and lines, it stimulates the circulation, can help clear blemishes and it helps to rid the skin of toxins.

The Naturally Ageless Anti Ageing Cream contains pomegranate extract, which is high in anti-oxidants, adds nutrients to the skin, replenishes and locks in moisture, and can help to regenerate the skin cells.

Which One are You?

Back in the late ’80s, the craze for ‘having your colours done’ was up there with the advent of hyper-colour undies, Wham and fluoro socks. In fact, in its hey day, colour analysis was probably even bigger.

White-coated department store mavens wearing a tonne of makeup and wafting a slightly psuedo-scientific air covered the client in a white cape and white headband in front of a mirror (under the harshest, least-flattering fluorescent light there was) and dramatically flung hundreds of pieces of coloured fabrics over the client, exhorting them to notice how ‘this colour makes you look drained’ or
‘THIS is your colour’.

Despite the hype, colour analysis is a very viable and factual way to define the best colours for an individual based on their skin tone. Choosing the right colours is not based on hair colour (as this can change) or even eye colour but on the amount of pink/blue or yellow undertone your skin has.

Some colour experts have spent years delving into the depths of colour analysis and at it’s most complex, it is actually an extremely scientific process. However, for now, it’s more than enough to know whether you’re a warm or a cool.

So how do you know if you’re wearing the right colours or the wrong colours? Have you ever had anyone say to you “Are you OK? You don’t look well.” even though you’re feeling perfectly fine? Or, alternately, has someone said to you “Have you been away on holdiays? You look so good!”, on a day when you’re feeling a little ho-hum.

Sometimes, believe it or not, the colour you choose to wear has an impact on your skin tone. Wearing the right colours for your skin tone will lend a smoothness and a freshness to your complexion while the wrong colours can make you look drained or can make blemishes and shadows stand out more than usual.

The colours are broken down into the seasons e.g. Spring – warm, fair, Summer – cool, fair, Autumn – warm, med-dark, Winter – cool, med-dark

There are many ways of analysing a person’s colour, and without seeing you all in person, it’s hard to make a diagnosis, but a general rule of thumb is…using the underside of your wrist where the skin is at its palest, press down until for a few seconds and then release the skin. There should be a paler circle on the skin. Take a close look at this skin – does it have a yellow tinge or a pinkish/blue tinge?

If you’re not sure, try the exercise with other people for comparison.

If your skin reveals a slight yellow or gold undertone – that means you’re a ‘warm’ so shades that have yellow or gold undertones are ideal for you. That doesn’t mean that ‘yellow’ or ‘gold’ are your best colours, simply that the warmest version of colours are for you.

If you’re a warm and you’re fair – e.g. blonde to light brown hair, blue or green eyes and fair skin that doesn’t tan easily, you’re most likely to be a Spring. Great colours for Springs include lime green, coral pink, bright warm blue, pale gold, soft bronze, baby blue, soft pink, yellow, aqua, camel, soft tan, caramel

If you’re a warm and you have a darker skin tone, warm-green to brown eyes, hair that’s either a deep red to dark brown, then there’s a good chance that you’re an Autumn. Your best colours in that case are deep pumpkin, forest green, warm chocolates, deep warm charcoals, vivid warm purples, rich, deep yellow.

If your skin reveals a slight pink or bluish undertone – that means you’re a cool so any shades with a pink or blue undertone are ideal for you.

If you’re a cool and you’re fair – it’s most likely that you’re a Summer. Your best colours therefore are medium bright pinks, rich medium blues, kelly green, vibrant purples and mauves, white, silver

If you’re a cool and you have a darker skin tone, medium to dark eyes, medium to dark hair, then odds are that you are a Winter. Great Winter colours include jewel shades such as ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green, silver, black, deep cool greys, hot/shocking pink, royal blue or purple.

This season, beauty is all about individuality.

Forget following the crowds; and instead, follow your own inner-fashionista. Some of the hottest trends fresh from the runways of the world include bright, over-the-top eye colours, DIY lip colours, neon hues, brown matte lips and berry-toned pouts.

So let’s take a close up at these looks and find the one that suits you best.

Find your favourite feature:

Do you have luminous, look-at-me, bedroom eyes, an Angelina-worthy pout, bronzed goddess skin that would make a Kardashian cry with jealous rage, a noble nose or enviable eyebrows?

Choose one feature that you genuinely like (c’mon ladies, we can all find something!) and let’s focus on making it memorable.

Eye Spy: OK. This particular seasonal trend is fun and easy to do.

Step 1:
Choose your two, or even three, favourite bright colours, ideally ones that will contrast with each other. I would suggest pairing hot pink with royal blue, orange with green, yellow with purple and green, green with blue and pink, purple with orange and blue – the choice is endless.

Step 2:
Use the lightest of your shades to apply to the eye lid e.g. if you’re using yellow, purple and green, apply the yellow to the lid area.

Step 3;
Apply the next darkest shade e.g. the green to the contour of the eye and blend well

Step 4:
Apply the darkest shade e.g. the purple to either the outer corners of the eye in a ‘V’ shape or to the very centre of the eye lid. Blend well.

Step 5:
This step is optional but if you want a more dramatic look, add a line of black to the upper and lower lash lines

Step 6:
Finish off with a generous coating of mascara.

DIY Lush Lips:

Following on our theme of individuality this season, creating your own one-of-a-kind lip colour is a fabulous way of finding the ultimate lip shade to make you pop. If your skin tone is warm – has a hint of gold or yellow – then work with a variety of coral, gold, warm browns or warm reds and mix together to create a one-off colour. If you have a warm skin tone, the hottest shade this season for you is a creamy, deep matte chocolate.

If you have a cool skin tone – a pinkish undertone – choose colours that have a pink or blue base such as mauve, cool purple, blue-based pinks or rosy shades. If you have a cool skin tone, your season’s hottest shade is berry-toned lip colours.