When In Doubt, Chuck It Out!
Did you think that today’s post heading only pertained to suspect food in the fridge? Well, the same goes for cream based cosmetics. The nose knows. We have all seen those natty little drawings (PAO symbols) on most cosmetic packaging of a round container with the lid ajar and a number and the letter M (M = months) around it. The varying numeral on the jar states how many months the cosmetic company reckons you can safely use their products once opened before they are meant to “go off”, so to speak and need replacing. I’m not entirely convinced that these stipulated periods of time are wholly accurate, but more a not-so-subtle indicator as to when you should go and *wink* buy more. This most certainly seems the case with dry powder based products, as they can last ages just as pristine as when you first purchased them. But, In all fairness, they must be a somewhat reasonable life span indicator for cream based products, because some cosmetics can certainly turn a bit manky soon after this duration. My suggestion to you is to not only plan to turf cream based items within this time period, but to sniff them every now and again to be sure to be sure. Most oils and waxes within products will definitely “turn” eventually and have a slightly sharp and possibly more rank and or pungent smell to them. Trust me, rank and pungent is never good in cosmetics. Even that smell of something that makes you feel a bit unsure is your cue to place that cosmetic item in the circular file: the bin. When in doubt, chuck it out!
Wait There’s More…Palm Springs Glamour Hair!
No prizes for guessing which Rosemount Australian Fashion Week 2007 show was my favourite…and no it’s not Groundhog Day! Along with the gorgy looks directed by Noni Smith for ModelCo in the fun Stephanie Conley “Poolside Gossip” Spring/Summer 07/08 RAFW show, I couldn’t get past the absolutely adorable pony created by Renya Xydis for Original Diva Exclusive Hair Inserts. The models in the show had great fun frolicking with super pretty ponytails with bows alternating in yellow, purple, polka-dot, floral, and pink.
To recreate the look:
Step 1. Pull hair back into a high ponytail.
Step 2. Tie hair into a ponytail on the top of the crown.
Step 3. Add Original Diva Exclusive Hair Inserts just under the ponytail.
Step 4. Add Original Diva Exclusive Hair Inserts into the ponytail.
Step 5. Tong the hair and away you go!
Check out Original Diva Exclusive Hair Inserts for more. Too easy!
Golden Moonglow.
I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to remind you of this ultra-luxe, pressed powder illuminator by Jane Iredale. Moonglow is a rounded quad of golden bronze and copper-toned shades designed to be used individually on eyes, cheeks, and lips, or swirled together as a divine all over bronzer for the face, decollete, shoulders, shins and calves, for starters…Wherever you wish to set aglow.
The finely milled shimmer of Jane Iredale’s Moonglow is made of 24-karat food grade gold flakes. No FD & C dyes or irritants are used in Jane Iredale Products, whatsoever, which is fabulous. Moonglow is easily built up to be as dramatic or as soft and ethereal as you desire. Beauty Marked! wouldn’t be without these four sumptuous, rich shades of sheer golden indulgence!
LOGIE Bare?
Did absolutely everyone (yes, I acknowledge my seeming penchant to hyperbolize) have to “nude up” for the 2007 TV Week LOGIE Awards? I mean really. Obviously, the makeup directive was nude lip and cheek for one and all, regardless! I was so let down by the overwhelming absence of even the slightest bloom of living, fleshy colour. So many beautiful, beautiful women, beautiful frocks, and beautifully greasy, Corpse Bride looks, if I may be honest. Did everyone have to sport the makeup look as if they had to dash from the chair with only their foundation applied, not an angel’s puff of loose powder to lightly set, and most certainly without a trace of a natural flush to be found…not a pinch.
Yes, I adore a great makeup trend, this we know. But what I love even more is a woman who wears a makeup look that not only suits her, but showcases the abundance of her inner beauty and self worth, and glamorously jets her magnificence into the stratosphere, irrespective of the trend. Simply put, I’m not feeling the “Look of The Undone” on everyone. Don’t think for a moment, that I do not recognize the immense skill in completing such a bare look, because I do. I just would have preferred looks that were skillfully tailored to each gorgeous woman. Looks that allowed each woman’s inner beauty and life-force to radiate outward from her beautiful self. If the makeup look chosen created the most magic, called for her to go so nude, then so be it, and definitely go for it! But I’m not convinced the uniform and very glowy (read: greasy) nude-fest was the best choice for everyone. And you mean to tell me there was not one leaf of blotting paper to be found in the joint. Anywhere?
Out With The Tide…
Just a quick Beauty Public Service Announcement ladies. Please don’t forget to blend your foundation in around the edges of your face, paying particular attention to the jaw-line, tip of the nose and chin area. Some makeup mavens are still getting caught out with visible tide lines. I suspect the prevalence of tide lines has less to do with the correct foundation colour match, but more to do with our busy, often rushed, lives. We are still, occasionally, forgetting to check that our foundations are fully blended in. It’s easily done and it most certainly can happen to the best of us. So just take a brief moment or two to make sure you push your well blended foundation around your jaw-line, just under your chin, up to your ears and hairline. Better yet, only use foundation where you need it and blend, blend, blend!
Top Coat. Base Coat. What’s the point?
The point of top and base coats when polishing your nails, is that they not only protect your nails from the varnish you are using, but also help to extend the life of your nail polish. Base and top coats are always required when properly polishing your nails. They are just as necessary as the two coats of colour you paint on. Many companies have built on the basic requirements and uses of base and top coats, that some now clam to dry quicker, entice rapid nail growth, whiten, harden, to be chemical free, and can support MP3s, to boot! But seriously, the most basic essentials of these two requisite coats are:
Base Coat - to smooth the nail surface and to add a colourless protective varnish layer to protect your nail from the colour pigments in nail polishes that can stain (particularly your reds, fuchsias, and darks).
Top Coat - to add shine to your nail polish and to seal in the layers forming a tougher, fade and chip resistant polish.
Beyond that, it’s just a matter of what added optional extras you fancy in a base and top coat.
ModelCo Palm Springs Glamour Look.
Here’s the Face Chart for the Palm Springs Glamour Look as promised. It’s always a pleasure to dish the slap when and where possible! Everything else from ModelCo, as designed by Noni Smith for Stephanie Conely at RAFW 07 as listed below. Enjoy!
Body:
Skin Drink- Airbrush Moisturizer
Cool Feet- Airbrush Catwalk Heels
TAN:
Tan Self Tanning Glove- On October 7th combined with
Airbrush In A Can
Body Meringue- A gradually building tan that comes in a mousse that offers a instant bronze glow with anti-cellulite benefits. On counter September 23rd.
Face:
Skinperfect Pore Minimizer- On counter July 15th.
Face Base- Skin primer
Fluidsplash 3 in 1 Foundation
Luminosity Shimmer Whip- Added to foundation in either pink or champagne for a subtle all over glow.
Bronze Airbrush Face- On counter September 2nd.
Beauty Fix Airbrush Face- Mist to set and seal makeup. On counter September 2nd.
Cheeks:
Colourbox Blush in Déjà Vu
Lips:
Illusion Lip Enhancer
Lip Lights in Coral
Tools:
Brush 01 Fine Line
Brush 02 Medium Tapered
Brush 03 Large Eyeshadow
Brush 04 Foam Applicator
