For all the blondies out there..

Don't you just hate it when you get your hair coloured at the hairdressers and it's a beautiful vibrant blonde, and then you start washing it with your supermarket shampoo promising to lock in colour and shine and then in a few short weeks it looks brassy, dull, & lifeless!!
Well have i found the miracle product for you. Introducing my hairs new best friend - Delorenzo Nova Fusion colour care shampoo in Silver.
I have tried many purple shampoos and none compare to this one.
This shampoo is great for people wanting to enhance their blonde colour as it actually makes you blonder!It is designed for both coloured and natural hair to revive and add highlights and tones.
It smells divine the fragrance is supposed to be rose tea and lavender. This shampoo doesn't foam up like most and i think this is because it's natural based ingredients. You can leave this in for up to 5 minutes and then follow with the conditioner. You will see results in your blonde the minute you get out of the shower!
When i first purchased this shampoo i used it everyday, then a hairdresser said to me " You need to stop using toner your hair is going grey" lol, i told her it must be the shampoo and she said only use it once a week so i did and it doesn't have the purple tinge to it anymore.
You can purchase this on line, i get mine from my local Salon Shop mine costs $20 with a trade discount, on line the shampoo looks to be roughly $24.
Rejoice blondes, we may shine again :)

...Bedroom Bliss....

I love being nosey on you-tube and watching the bedroom tours and house tours of other people, it gives me good ideas of what i would like my own home to look like.
My style has changed so many times over the years, i remember when i was a teenager oh so many years ago i wanted my room to be a dolphin palace lol i had the dolphin bedspread with matching lamp shade and dolphin stuffed animals and posters everywhere lol, then i moved up in the world and wanted an all pink room, pink pillows, pink lava lamp, all mixed in with the latest posters of backstreet boys and Leonardo Dicaprio which i used to give a little kiss before bed time.. (Can't believe i admitted that, but hey were all friends here right??) ;)
Since growing up a bit more.. and buying my first house i have free reign over decor yay! First i thought i wanted a beachy looking house so everything was shells and light furniture, then a added a bali mix to it, and now i have decided that i like the Parasian shabby style, it all actually works together somehow and I'm quite happy with how it's all coming along.
Here are a few pics for any other nosey interested people out there who want to see some of my favourite things in my bedroom..  :)

Light from Ikea, there is one on the other side of the bed too.

This was from spotlight (craftstore) i painted it white and it hangs above my bed :)

My Manequin. she is on a stand & i got her for Christmas

My Eifel Tower bangle holder

How cute is this wall sticker.. Get it on Ebay peoples!!

Eifel tower picture hangs above my drawers

My whimsical jewellery holder which i lovvve it's arcrylic and holds my fave jewellery


What is your bedroom/ house style??
 I have to go now and get my butt to the gym!!

Ecoya Vanilla Bean Candle

My new love.. I stumbled across this candle when i was in a day spa getting a facial (Hard day that was). There was a lovely creamy vanilla smell that enveloped the whole day spa. I found out off the therapist that it was an Ecoya candle in Vanilla Bean, i knew i had to have it or i would die ;)
So on my way out I bypassed all the lovely facial products for purchase and went straight to the candle section.. (RRP is $38 but fully worth every scent cent).
The website describes this candle as- "A velvety and rich full-bodied vanilla bean extract deliciously wrapped in creamy tones of butterscotch to create a rich, indulgent, luxurious, fragrance".
This describes it perfectly! I love the thick glass jar and the fact that it has 55 hours of pure vanillary burning time, and the fact that Ecoya is an Australian Company from Botany Bay. Anywhoo time to light the flame.. ohh yeahh!

                                                        What is your fave candle scent?? :)

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub :)

If there is one thing that puts a smile on my face it's a cute little pot full of yummy scented Lush lip scrub! This 25gm pot is full to the top and smells divine, not really like bubblegum but very sweet none the less. (It's quite inexpensive, i think i paid $8.90)

I use a cotton tip to take the product out and rub it into my lips. It can be quite messy with all the little sugar granules falling everywhere - (even into your mouth sometimes.. Not such a bad thing if your craving something sweet ;). Then rub it in with an old toothbrush.

It leaves my kissers felling soft and renewed ready for the day ahead!
 This product comes in three different scents, bubblegum, mint julip, and sweet lips which is a vanilla chocolate scent, yummmm!!

Sugary Goodness without the calories

DIY Bouquet :)

I really like the idea of a brooch bouquet, i saw it at a wedding recently and it looked so elegant and sophisticated. It would be something i could keep for a long time after the wedding.
 After finding some websites that sell them i realised they are worth more than a normal bouquet of fresh flowers, ranging from $350 upwards!
So after some research i decided i am going to put my creative side to the test and make one. If it turns out well i will make the bridesmaids flowers too. So i have started collecting some brooches i want mine to consist of pearls, diamonds (not real lol), mixed with white flowers (not sure what kind yet), i found some nice ones on ebay and since telling people about my idea they have all been keeping their eyes out for me. Hubby's mum also has some brooches from her mother that she will give me and my mum has some from my great nan!
I'm excited to get started and will keep you posted on how it is coming along. There are lots of other different bouquets out there, here are some that i like!
I would love to know if any of you have made your own bouquet or any thing else that saved money on your wedding day..
Have a great Saturday night, I'm off to the movies :)

A felt Bouquet :)

Make-up Friday :)

Friday is finally here woo hoo! What are your plans?

I am working tomorrow, booo. But then as it's St Patricks day I will be hitting the town for a few green beverages!

So as i have the day off today, i thought i would share with you the make-up look that i am wearing and loving at the moment..

First i apply a primer which i find helps my make up stay put and glide on easier. I use Bloom Prep and Prime, this primer smells really nice and natural, it sinks nicely into the skin, you can purchase Bloom products from selected Target stores, i got mine in a pack for $40 that also came with powder lip gloss and eye wipes.

Next is my foundation - Nude by nature flawless finish mineral foundation. I am not to fussed about this foundation, it doesn't come in the best array of colours -light, medium or dark, i chose medium but darken it up a bit with bronzer. It smells good and is nice and thick, gives a nice healthy glow, and comes in a nice pump bottle which is great for hygiene reasons, but you do need to keep layering it for more coverage.
I also got this from my local target store for $39.95 but would not repurchase.

I then use MAC sheer select powder in NC25, i love this powder as a setting powder, on it's own it's nothing special i find it is a bit to sheer for my liking, i apply this with my Vani-t Kabuki brush, this is so soft with natural bristles and i love the diamonds around the outside of the handle.

Bronzer is Dior bronze in Amber. This bronzer is a great colour, nice and dark great for under the cheeks and around temples. It does have some glittery particles in it which i don't really like. I don't use this much anymore as it crumbled on me :(

For cheeks i use Vani- t blush stick in St. Tropez, i didn't like this at first as it had glitter in it (Not a good look when it accumulates in the fine lines..) But the glitter seems to have gone now and i love using this on my cheek bones and temple area as it gives just the right amount of colour and a lovely candle lit sheen, it is very soft & smooth -but you do need to blend this out with a brush or you will have a big line where you have put it on lol.

Eyes- Mirenesse pearl crush creasless shadow in Akoya Pearls. I got this off the Mirenesse website the other day, it is the most softest shadow i have ever used, glides on beautifully and the colours in this palette are beautiful for blue eyes. I also used a black eye shadow to line the top of my eyes for a bit of drama. I didn't put mascara on as i am going to the gym soon and panda eyes are not in this season..

(Swatch of Mirenesse colours, i used the lightest all over the lid up to brow bone, mid tone on my eye lids and copper colour in the crease)

Here are some pictures of the products i used today.

P.S don't judge the hair do, it is my day off after all :)

Me with nothing on!!

After Voila :)

 

               Have a great weekend everyone :) x

My current skincare routine

My skin and i never use to have a good relationship, i have quite sensitive and irritable skin and found that most products i used made things worse, you know the feeling.. it starts with a tingaling feeling then burning and redness ouch! Then i would awake to dry, tight, flaky, red patches on my face that required whole bottles of foundation to cover (not very attractive at all). Maybe just maybe it had something to do with me using the wrong skincare for my skin type.. So fast forward a few years, one diploma in beauty therapy later and i now realise the utter importance of using the correct products for my skin. (No more red patches in sight yay!)

Here is my current skincare routine that i am loving-

• Cleanser- Dermalogica Ultra Calming cleanser

This is a creamy gel consistency, PH balanced non foaming cleanser that i use twice daily. It contains calming ingredients like lavender, cucumber, and raspberry extracts it has no smell which i don't mind as this usually means the product contains artificial perfumes.
I like this product as it removes my makeup, doesn't leave a film on your face afterwards and my skin feels nice and clean. I buy this product on line as it is way cheaper then in the shops, check out-www.gloskinbody.com.au

• Exfoliant- Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

I have tried many exfoliants in my time but i always end up repurchasing this one. It's quite a unique exfoliant its dry and powdery soft which activates when water is mixed with it. It is a good exfoliant for all skin conditions, helps with pigmentation,& skin brightening,  and doesn't have any big husk bits in it, so how does it exfoliate if it is so soft do i hear you ask? Well when the water is added it activates and releases enzymes which are a great chemical exfoliant. The upper layer of our skin is mostly made of dead skin cells containing  keratin protein,  the enzymes work by specifically breaking down the keratin protein, resulting in smoother skin.
It is gentle enough to use everyday hence the name, and my skin always has that clean soft feel afterwards. I use it in the shower and pour 1/2 teaspoon size into my hand and then add water until it gets a bit foamy and then wash my face using my fingertips to gently massage.
I get this on line as well, try- http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au.

• Masque- Waterlilly honey and chamomile calming face masque 50ml.

I never used to wear a masque, but after learning the great benefits of them such as - hydration, improving blood circulation, drawing out impurities, improving skin texture, and helping our skin absorb moisture i jumped on the band wagon quick smart!
At the moment i am using Waterlilly honey and chamomile calming face masque. Its a white clay based masque that contains organic honey, white tea, chamomile which all help to soothe and hydrate. I use this about once a week, when i have the time ;) and find it helps me to relax and unwind, i usually slap it on with my fingertips and catch up on a gossip mag where i imagine i am a rich celebrity lapping up the sun and surf in an exotic far away place...Then once the 20 minute time frame is up i remember A. There is a load of washing to hang out, B. The dogs need to be walked, C. Dinner needs to be cooked as the other half is hungry, or all of the above! So i get up and wash the masque off (It's non setting so it's easy to remove) and apply a serum or moisturiser to my baby soft skin.
There are not many places you can buy this product, i find allot of day spas offer it in their custom facials. I brought mine from http://www.hopewood.com.au and it is about $45.

• Toner- Dermalogica Multi active toner

 I use a toner all throughout the day, I just spritz it in when I need a pick me up or after i have applied my make up as i find it helps my make up set.
I am using two at the moment, Dermalogica multi active toner which i keep in my handbag as i got the travel size one, it is light, hydrating, and refreshing and smells quite nice. The other one I found in the local drug store its called Dermorganics facial toner, it contains no parabens, artificial colours, or alcohol and smells very natural. This one lives in my fridge and is a great pick me up on these stinking hot Queensland days! I got mine from Amcal chemist and it cost me about $16 for 250ml

• Moisturiser- Renew Rosehip oil, Dermalogica Barrier Repair

I use either of these i don't use them together. Rosehip oil is a super oil, it aids in the repair of skin tissue, smooths out wrinkles, evens out skin tone, reduces the appearance of scars and stretchmarks, moisturises and soothes dry ,irritated skin, nourishes and hydrates, can help balance oily skin. The list goes on. They normally come in a glass bottle with a dropper and i use about 5 drops and press it all over my face and neck. You wont like it if you hate that greasy feeling on your skin but i love it as it feels like my skin is being hydrated & by morning the greasy feel is gone. Mine was quite inexpensive -$14.95 for a 25ml bottle that will last me forever www.renewskincare.com.au

Dermalogica Barrier repair is a unique waterless silicone feeling moisturiser, it a clear gel kind of consistency that just melts into my skin. The skin has a protective barrier called the lipid barrier and sometimes due to weather, pollution, wrong products etc the lipid barrier can weaken and that's when we get irritated skin, but as the name suggests this stuff helps to keep the lipid barrier in tip top shape and it is great on recently resurfaced skin such as skin that has recently had microdermabrasion.  http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au.
Geez it seems like i am promoting Dermalogica, I am in a way because i know i struggled to find good products for my hard to deal with skin and would have loved to have read what others with the same skin condition used but i am not getting paid or anything to review them i just honestly believe they are good products. Anywhoo that's my routine at the moment, i am always trying new products so i will review them as we go along.



On another note, i have just returned from a weekend away to Hamilton Island which is in North Queensland. This island is the stuff you dream about while you are stuck at work! Perfect weather, lovely people, awesome day spa, white sandy beaches, and a pool with a swim up bar! Here are a few pics for you. If you ever get the opportunity to visit I highly recommend it :) These pics were taken with my Nokia D3100

Have a lovely Friday everyone :)