Nutrition for hair...

SHINE, SOFTNESS & SIMPLICITY are three things us gals want when it comes to our haircare routine. I'm very protective of my hair. If I'm honest, my face and hair are my number one priorities when it comes to beauty. If your skin is shocking and your hair looks like you've just survived a tornado, you're probably not going to venture out too much, agreed?

I have been using dove products for years, but I've never used their hair products. Actually I lie, I have been using their Damage Therapy Heat Defence Mist! Woops! This week I put their Nutritive Therapy Oil Care range to the test!

Sorry about the side shot, again! But I never said I was a great photographer...eek!

Usually if I'm not fussed after trying a product, I might pass it on to a friend because it might be more suited to her style of skin or hair, but the Nutritive Nourshing Oil Care Shampoo & Conditioner have not left my shower (they're staying put, thanks!). My hair has been commented on lately because it's soft and really shines in the light, so it's definitely working!
To top it off the range includes a Oil Care Treatment. We all love hair oils, (honestly, I dare you to disagree with me!) they're so good for your hair, FABs. They get rid of frizzy strands and that 'dry look' (eeww). But, we don't like it when our hair looks greasy after a clean shampoo wash...so let's not over do it, okay?

I'm so picky about what I put on my hair, so I usually opt for the more expensive brands. I'm really happy that Dove has come out with this affordable range. It's honestly finger-runnable hair after the first wash. A three step process, no fuss, and cheap...what more do you want from me (hehe)!

Prices:
Dove Nutritive Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo, 300mL, $6.49
Dove Nutritive Nourishing Oil Care Conditioner, 300mL, $6.49
Dove Nutritive Nourishing Oil Care Treatment, 40mL, $9.99

Birds & the bees...

No...I'm not talking about that awkward chat you have with your parents when you hit the age of 15 (eeekk!). I'm talking about Burt's Bees natural products. I've just tested out their Handbag Essentials pack which includes a therapeutic hand cream, a cuticle cream, a lip shimmer and a bonus nail file. Definitely handbag essentials FABs! Okay, so the hand cream doesn't smell good enough to eat, but I'm so over using products that smell delicious and do absolutely nothing for me. The hand cream is soft and doesn't leave that "oh I just decided to dip my hands in oil" feel.

I'm a gal that looks after my nails, but have you ever noticed after washing your face that your hands and cuticles dry up? It's such a drag and I don't always have a hand cream on standby. Hello cuticle cream! It's literally a little pot of gold that you rub on your cuticles. But more importantly it doesn't feel oily (I hate that).

I would say the lip shimmer is more of a hydrating lip tint, which is a cute little add to a natural look! And if you're a lover of their lip balm, you need to invest in one of these babies!

Sleek & Chic...

Okay, so part of my mission is to try and test out a lot of the products I was so generously given over the ABBW. The first on my list has been the the Face of Australia Liquid Eyeliner. I've been wearing it for the last two days and it's by far my favourite liquid liner. This is a big statement on my part because I'm so comfortable using the eyeliner pens, but it's time for a change!

I went for a more natural look on Monday, where as today I decided to Lauren Conrad my eyes to sport a great winged liner. I actually learned how to do so many different eyeliner styles during Face of Australia's Masterclass on Sunday....natural, winged, cleopatra, bold, flick, MOD anyone?

The other point that needs to be discussed is its life. We're always so worried about makeup coming off so easily (I hear you!), but this liner acutally stays on. And what I love about it...it's $8.85!

Have a play!

Girls just want to have fun…

Don’t worry I’m not going to sing you the song, but I’ve just partaken in the biggest girls weekend in Australia! It took two days, two gorgeous girls (Jacie from You've Got Nail & Kimmi from The Plastic Diaries), 85 beauty bloggers across Australia and an enormous amount of products to last a girl a lifetime…jealous much?

It was the first of many to come, with PR companies, beauty conglomerates and bloggers coming together to discuss all things beautiful (not to mention the tips & tricks I picked up!).  I was more than happy to give up my weekend to wine and dine with PR company Maxted Thomas, learn from one of the industries rockstars Rae Morris and spend hours roaming the stalls at IMATS. If that wasn’t enough, Face of Australia gave an exclusive makeup master class on the new trends in their look book, the beauty directory popped in to talk about  the ins-and-outs of the beauty world, while Instyle magazine beauty editor Eleanor Pendleton sat in on a panel discussion regarding the importance of quality blogging.

Check out some of the piccies I took this weekend (due to my computer skills, you'll have to tilt your head for some, WOOPS!).

ABBW personalized pampering room at IMATS

Rae Morris being a rockstar

Rae doing her thing

ART

Maxted Thomas Establishment dinner

Face of Australia Master Class

Some of the many tools we were given to create looks

bloggers getting into it

Giving each other a hand

I have so many products that I’ll be trialing over the next few months, yes that’s right, it’s going to take months to get through the generous number of products I have been given. So heads up!

xS

Prepping for ABBW...

I can't tell you how excited I am for this weekend to begin! As one of the lucky bloggers invited to attend the Australian Beauty Bloggers Weekend I simply can't contain my giddyness (yes, I just made up that word). We get to partake in seminars from key note speakers like Napoleon Perdis, Rae Morris and MAC Senior Artist, Nicole Thompson at the International Makeup Artist Trade Show.
On top of this I get to meet fellow beauty bloggers who share the same love for all things beautiful, as well as speaking with some top talent from the bright and bold beauty industry. I'm not going to lie, I am very nervous too, but my excitement is really taking over... OMG what to wear?! Well, I do know that I'll be rocking a soft pink pout inspired by Brigette Bardot!

Fever...

Peggy Lee, born Norma Egstrom in 1920, was a popular and influential American singer-songwriter with a career spanning six decades.  She wrote music for films, acted, and created conceptual record albums—encompassing poetry, jazz, chamber pop, and art songs. But, Lee is most famous for her song “Fever”. It was her laid-back sexuality, vulnerability and teasingly neurotic nature that had people like Frank Sinatra fascinated.  "Her wonderful talent should be studied by all vocalists; her regal presence is pure elegance and charm,” Sinatra said. Today she is recognized as one of the most influential jazz vocalists of all time.

 Gosh could that girl work an up-do or what?!

Woops!

So something funny happened today...as I was walking around after a large cup of coffee I stumbled across a shoe store. I walked over to the sale section (naturally) to see if there were any good bargains...next thing I new I had my card out ready to purchase two gorgeous pairs of black Jeffrey Campbell shoes (because I need more black, right?). These things happen to me a lot...

I'm itching to wear them!

First Class...

Alexa does no wrong with her cute style. She's added a red lip and cream blush to livin' this outfit up!

Can Alicia Keys do no wrong? This is one soulful lady!

Camilla Belle rocks a bold red lip

Ellen & Dakota Fanning sporting blonde straight locks at Rodarte

Jess Hart working the top-knot...classic!

Lea Michele exposing her sun-kissed skin

What front row wouldn't be complete without this gorgeous duo?

Poppy Delevigne works natural makeup

Got any blacker?

The windows to your soul...

I've always thought that you can tell a lot about a person by their eyes. Did you know they're the first thing people notice? So, what if there was a way you could enhance your eyes...oh wait! There is, silly me! There are certain colours which compliment your natural eye colour, while also intensifying its colour.

You're in a safe space here, so let's be honest...we've all had our fair share of beauty dramas and they always seem to happen when you're getting ready for a big night out, prepping for a saucy date, or even in a rush to head off to work. I think it's also safe to say that most of these beauty dilemmas center themselves around the eye area, am I correct? Did you apply the wrong eye shadow? Did you use the wrong complimenting eye pencil? Or maybe, like myself, you decided to venture out and try applying and eye pencil to the bottom lash line?

Thankfully, there are such things as colour charts (bless those charts!) that will help us in our hunt for the perfect coloured eye shadow and pencil!

 Calling all Blue Beauties! To complement a warm blue eye colour stick to cool blues & greens, while using naturals to make your peepers pop!

Attention Brownies! Feel free to mix things up! Complement with naturals & rich browns, and experiment with blues & greens to intensify your look.

Let’s not forget those emerald green eyes that stop traffic. Stick to green eye shadows to complement your natural eye colour, but make sure to exaggerate eyes with soft pinks, purple and rich browns.

Hazel eyes are quite the lucky bunch. Not only do greens and caramels complement your eye colour, but purples (both deep & soft) strengthen eyes, along with soft pinks and rich maroons.
 
Get to it!

xS

The world brought us...

In honour of my Nonna's 77th birthday I'm taking things back to a much simpler time. The 60's brought Jane Birkin to the screen in swinging London. She became an immediate fashion icon with her long brown locks and skinny limbs...and yes the famous Hermes bag is named after this 60's wild child...