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Friday, May 30, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Love it: Kérastase Paris Elixir Ultime BB Crème
In the beauty world it has seemed like its BB cream madness
right now. Pretty much every brand has released a BB Cream, and as a beauty
writer who often shuns foundation by day I feel the need to try them all! My
key finding is that they most definitely are not created equal, with many thick
and goopy in consistency whilst others feel like seriously watered down
foundation. I found my favourites over time, and have even thrown some CC
creams into the mix of late - the best ones are new ‘must haves’ for sure.
It comes as no surprise that the hair industry was going to
hop on the BB bandwagon eventually too, with several key brands launching hair
versions of the major multitasking beauty trend that they claim as “the first
on the market”. I’m not qualified to comment on who exactly WAS the first to
release a hair-focused BB, but the most luxe thus far must be the truly
delicious Kérastase Paris Elixir Ultime BB Crème - a definite first for the
French brand.
It is suitable for all hair types - love that! - and
delivers the nutritional values of a hair oil in the soft, luscious consistency
of a cream. It can be used daily for hair nourishment and protection and
Is a clever combo of two ingredients renowned for their
regenerating and nourishing properties - Tahitian White Flower and pomegranate.
The former is famous in the South Pacific for its soothing, repairing and
hydrating properties found in its oil. It instantly nourishes the hair from
root to tip, whilst pomegranate - famed for its super anti-oxidant properties -
gives the beautifully blended crème a killer kick. Kérastase has cleverly
incorporated the fruit’s extracts to protect hair against external influencers,
preserve its colour vibrancy and increase its shine for a flawless finish. Add
to that a UV filter to defend your tresses against sun damage and you have a
definite haircare essential - and one of my new fave multitaskers. It can be
applied as a pre-cleanse to prepare the hair before shampooing, as a leave-in
conditioner applied pre blow-dry on damp hair, as a finishing touch on dry hair
after blow wave, or at any time during the day when your hair needs a little
love. I fell in love with at on first application, and think it will be
definitely on high rotate come the warmer months when I’m less inclined to want
to use an oil on my fine-but-thick locks.
Elixir Ultime BB Crème is available from all Kérastase
salons right now with an RRP of $50.00. So what are you waiting for?
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Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Love it: Guinot Longue Vie Pieds foot cream
I always have various foot cream formulas on hand to massage
in post-bath and pre-bed, usually when I’m glued to the couch watching rubbish
tele, glass of pinot noir in hand. It is amazing the difference that the -
healthy - habit has made to my tootsies, and it is a ritual that really amps up
over winter when cashmere socks come into the equation - pure heaven!
As well as a right treat, regularly using a quality foot
cream makes beauty sense: because I figure when you’re shelling out $$ for a
professional to ensure your toes look great every few weeks, why let the side
down with manky old heels?
One of the latest - and most luxurious - versions I’ve tried
of late comes from Guinot in the form of Longue Vie Pieds foot cream - the
legendary French brand’s first beauty cream made to protect, soften, and soothe
feet.
The amazing formula contains an incredible 56 biological
active ingredients that deeply penetrate the skin to help stimulate cell
renewal and repair cracked, dry, and blistered feet, and it smells like pure
heaven. It also leaves no greasy residue, making it easy to get in bed or
put on shoes immediately after use. From what I’ve experienced it leaves
feet looking and feeling better after just one application too, which gets two
thumbs up from me.
Its key ingredients are Liposkin to nourish and rebuild the
skin’s hydrolipidic film (the foot’s natural protective barrier),while
D-Panthenol strengthens nails and a combination of sweet almond oil and shea
butter nourish and hydrate. Last up, Microcidine deodorises and sanitizes, and
Allantoin relieves blistered feet. Magnifique!
Keep up the good work over winter and just in time for
sandal season you’ll be sporting the best pair of pieds in town… or when you
hit some tropical locale during the winter months you’ll go sneaker free with pride!
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Tuesday, May 27, 2014
All about: the little bird Alkalising & Nourishing Winter Wellness Pack
Years ago I first came across the Little Bird brand when I
bought - far too many times - bags of their highly addictive macaroons from a
little stand in my yoga teacher’s studio. I loved the fact that they were a
delicious treat without many of the negatives usually involved with a little
indulgence, and their creator, Megan May was truly inspiring.
Fast forward a few years and on a more-than-regular basis
you’ll find me sitting in Megan’s newly opened Little Bird Unbakery at 1a
Summer Street - the second in the stable after she opened the first in
Kinglsland not too long ago. To say the latter was a runaway success is putting
it mildly, and seats are at a premium at all times of the day. The extremely
clever and rather fabulous Megan also developed a cleanse last spring that got
major props from all those who embarked on it - no surprise there! - including
myself, I was once again hooked.
For many years I stuck to a juice fast each and every
Monday, and cleansing systems like this remind me why I should get back into it
and start doing exactly that right now. It’s great to give your body a rest
from putting so much work into digesting heavy winter foods, as well as a shot
of high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to strengthen the immune
system, increase energy and leave you with a clearer mind and cleaner insides.
If you eat well and maintain a healthy body and mind most of the time then a
one day clean out is all that’s needed, but it’s great that little bird have a
five day option available for when you really need a full body re-set of sorts.
The new Alkalising & Nourishing Winter Wellness Pack consists
of six drinks that are made up of a combo of juices, elixirs and smoothies, and
an absolutely stellar salad. They are:
1. Morning Lemonade with Coconut Kefir – Alkalising
2. Detoxifying - Cold Pressed Green Juice with seasonal
greens, lemon and ginger - Detoxifying
3. Antioxidant & Immunity Boosting Berries & Bee
Pollen Drink - Potent Antioxidants
4. Cacao, Almond & Reishi Milk protein drink -
Energising
5. Cold Pressed Beetroot Juice with carrot, apple lemon and
ginger – Blood Cleansing
6.· Green Smoothie with coriander, manho, parsley and
spirulina – Cleansing & Nourishing
What a lineup!
I particularly love that they provide you with a salad to
wrap up your day - both on an emotional and physical level. A light kale
and greens salad with avocado, beetroot noodles, cleansing sea vegetables and
fermented vegetables, it provides you with a good amount of fibre and nutrients
to help keep things in the body moving and leaves you satisfied to sleep easy -
as well as a feeling of getting a little ‘reward’ for lasting the day.
This clever winter wellness package is designed to help you
function at a high level while cleansing the body and revitalising your cells.
The high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals found in our drinks will
strengthen the immune system, increase energy and leave you with a clearer mind
and cleaner insides. How great is that?
And while the little bird team suggest there is enough
nutrition in our pack that you should be left satisfied (when we are hungry we
are often hungry for nutrients rather than simply calories), it is not an
exercise in deprivation so if you are feeling ravenous at any point and have
finished all your drinks they suggest you eat some whole raw vegetables and
fruits - with an emphasis on the vegetables or low sugar fruits like green
apples, kiwi or berries.
So there you go - if you want to order one all of your own
visit the little bird website here.
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Monday, May 26, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Love it: Linden Leaves Miraculous Facial Oil
Anyone that checks in here regularly will know that I’m a
huge fan of oils - body oils, hair oils and facials oils - and love the fact
that nine times out of ten, they are brilliant multitaskers and can be used on
the whole family.
One I’d like to give a shout out today has been called a “miracle
in a bottle” by its creators, and it smells and feels like pure heaven. This
little gem is Linden Leaves’ Miraculous Facial Oil, which is a high performance
and delicious smelling blend of organic white tea, rosehip, evening primrose
and tonka bean for an immediate result. An instant facial in a bottle even!
Organic white tea protects and aids skin regeneration,
whilst Tonka bean softens and brightens the skin and organic rosehip oil helps
minimise visible signs of ageing. Last up the New Zealand-based skincare
company has added the now-legendary organic evening primrose oil for its
effective healing properties, making for an essential for every beauty arsenal.
Suitable for all skin types, it gives your skin a real boost
when it’s needed most and hydration levels are dropping. It can be used
directly on the skin undiluted for very dry skin, or try adding 1-2 drops to
your moisturiser every evening before bed for a richer moisturiser that can
seriously go to work while you sleep.
Sound like a bit of you? To grab a bottle ASAP, head here.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Giveaway: the perfect match, S.Pellegrino + Pinot Noir
They are calling it the “taste of terroir”, and yep, where
it comes from is just as important for water as it is for wine.
The oenophiles amongst us have long appreciated the
importance of terroir in the creation of their favourite wines. Climate, soil
and topography give grapes - and the wines they are used to create - a unique
“sense of place” depending on region, as well as determines the quality of the
end result. What many don’t realise is that terroir is just as important for the
water that’s served alongside the wine.
A water’s character depends on the site of its source and the
aquifer, the porous rock through which the water trickles. Famous (or perhaps
infamous) bon vivants, the ancient Romans were as discerning about water as they
were about wine, judging the water from each of their aqueducts by transparency
and taste. They also imported “bottled” water at vast expense. Travellers between
Florence and Bologna would refresh themselves at the Acqua Panna spring, renowned
for the purity of its water. Fast forward to 2014 and that spring is the source
of Acqua Panna mineral water, which reflects its own unique terroir in its perfectly
balanced, limpid, light-bodied taste and smooth, velvety mouth feel.
S.Pellegrino is another special water displaying the characteristics
of the rather glamorous region from which it hails, with the source located deep
in the Orobie Alps. During the Middle Ages the water was renowned for promoting
health and wellbeing, and today it tastes just the same - think lively and long‐lived
bubbles that feel creamy on the palate. The slightly salty taste is well balanced
with acidity, and the rich minerality gives it a lovely thirst-quenching feel.
But onto the giveaway mentioned in the title - the perfect
match of water and wine! Due to their unique organoleptic (love that word) properties,
specific mineral content and refined taste, both Acqua Panna and S.Pellegrino
enhance the enjoyment of good food - and fine wine. The official water of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale,
Acqua Panna should be served with softer wines with moderate alcohol content,
whilst high mineral sparkling like S.Pellegrino complements spicy Syrahs and other
full-bodied reds like Pinot Noir.
To celebrate this momentous match I have three packs made up
of a six-pack of S.Pellegrino and a bottle of Mission Martinborough Reserve
2012 Pinot Noir to giveaway! Simply email helene@mshelene.com
with your name, date of birth and courier address and “Water and wine” in the
subject line before May 30 to go in the draw… oh and this competition is only
valid for those over 18 years of age, so pop your date of birth in there too.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Beauty news: Crème de La Mer for World Oceans Day
Crème de la Mer
is one of the most well-regarded - and luxurious - skin creams in the world,
thanks to its unique
use of sea kelp, eco-friendly processing and above all, the
astonishing results the cream yields. To celebrate World Oceans Day today, the
skin care brand has once agaib released a very special version of their famous
moisturising cream; happily, the Limited Edition Crème de la Mer 100ml ($660) will look just as good sitting
pretty on your bathroom sink as it will feel on your face and conscience!
In their quest to improve the health of our oceans, La Mer,
which uses only sustainable hand harvesting to gather their sea kelp, threw
their weight behind two highly-esteemed conservation organisations: the
National Georgraphic Society and Oceana. To date, La Mer has donated over $1
million to Oceana in support of World Oceans Day, and now, they've collaborated
with National Geographic's underwater explorers to create a breathtaking short
film, led by legendary explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle.
If you’re looking for a way to support World Oceans Day,
celebrated annually on 8 June, this is definitely the most stylish option. The
limited edition 100ml World Oceans Day Crème de la Mer is available throughout
May and June. It comes in a specially designed, ocean-inspired jar that is
almost too good to open, and I’ve even been told of fans of the brand who
collect these most beautiful limited editions religiously each year.
The cream was created to honour La Mer founder Dr Max
Huber’s love for the sea, and its ability to regenerate and heal the skin. It
is hoped that the campaign will also encourage awareness around the necessity
to preserve the oceans, and also its fragility and importance as a restorative
resource to us all.
World Oceans Day was made official by the United Nations in
2009 and recognises the importance of protecting the ocean and its habitats. To
date, Oceana has already made a big contribution by reducing over-fishing and
nurturing several ‘threatened marine habitats with its science-based policies’.
Save our oceans AND save your skin - what a glorious combo.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Giveaway: a gorgeous MOR Destination Pantone 504 set
I make no secret of the fact that I’m huge fan of MOR, the
Australian beauty and lifestyle company founded by designers Dianna Burmas and
Deon St.Mor. Motivated by a desire to develop desirable products, the creative
energies joined forces to open their first design studio on a cobblestone
Melbourne laneway in 1998 and since then, they’ve filled the world with
absolutely beautiful products that look – and smell - as wonderful as they
feel.
Blending time old ingredients with modern technologies, MOR
is all about an awakening of the senses with an innovative twist in the
creation of every product. Each collection is inspired by the stories of
ancient civilisations, by-gone eras, travel, art, cuisine and future technology
allowing the creation of a unique story - from the finely blended formulation
inside, to the hand finished detail on every product. And, as well as creating
beautiful products they create incredible beauty-related accessories, a set of
which I have to giveaway!
The set is a trio of luxurious travel-related essentials in
a limited edition faux croc plum Pantone
504 that looks almost too gorgeous to use. You will most
certainly travel in luxury with the whole Destination Cosmetic Bag Collection,
which features the New York Pencil Case, Melbourne Cosmetic Bag Trio and
beautiful Barcelona Train Case - my personal fave! They are all finished with
gold hardware and built for the road - or the skies - without a doubt.
To go into the draw for the entire set (how amazing is
that?) email helene@mshelene.com with
your name and courier address and “MOR” in the subject line and you’re in to
win… Competition closes Monday, May 26 at 5pm.
Monday, May 19, 2014
All about: Lifestream’s new Vitamin D3 1000iu
Calling itself a “little
ray of sunshine”, Lifestream’s new Vitamin D3 1000iu is going to be an
essential throughout the darker months to keep your immunity - and happy
factor! - in check.
I’ve had a severe Vitamin
D deficiency in the past and know how debilitating it can be, and this highly
effective, easily absorbable and user-friendly little number is definitely a
good way to avoid getting into that situation.
Lifestream have formulated
a powerful all natural vitamin D3 that is non-synthetic, vegan friendly and
provides the optimal 1000IU of vitamin D3 in every dose. Too many people are
exhibiting deficiencies of the essential vitamin due to concerns about skin
cancer and crazy busy work lives reducing the amount of time we spend in the
sun. Add to that rainy and grey days during the winter months and you have a
hell of a lot of time spent indoors, which is never ideal.
As well as contributing to
conditions such as the Seasonal Effective Disorder (SAD), recent research has
revealed that inadequate levels of Vitamin D3 in the body can also be
associated with the likes of osteoporosis and lowered immunity to infections,
autoimmune diseases and neoplasias. It definitely isn’t a coincidence that we
are more prone to viral infection during autumn and winter, as well as more
likely to get a dose of the blues.
So grab yourself a wee
bottle of Lifestream’s Vitamin D3 1000iu before the dark days hit, and it even
comes as a coconut and pineapple lump flavoured spray it is suitable - and
palatable enough - for the whole family.
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Friday, May 16, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Giveaway: a bottle of magical Osmosis Yellow Diamonds
A day doesn’t go by when I
don’t dip religiously into my arsenal of Osmosis Skincare, and I never leave
home without a bottle of Yellow
Diamonds, the brand’s now legendary supplement.
Reportedly the capsule you
need – three times a day – to dump toxins, burn fat and boost energy, they work
to improve your blood circulation and are especially beneficial to those with
high cholesterol, poor circulation, insomnia and migraines. Often called a
“wonder pill”, Yellow Diamonds also curb your appetite by stabilizing blood
sugar while allowing your adrenals to rest.
It does all of the above by
combining a proprietary blend of beneficial nutrients that activate your cells
to stimulate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the fuel
for our metabolism and all cellular activity. Yellow Diamonds take free fatty
acids (fat) and converts them into energy while allowing your adrenals to rest.
Think consistent, healthy energy without stressing the adrenals, which is
pretty much how I started to feel about a week after I started popping the
little devils a long time ago. I’m taking two tablets once a day with food, but
for an added boost and increased stamina during fitness training I have been
taking another two capsules 30 minutes prior to exercise.
Some people are affected by
a “niacin flush” and itching for around 15-30 minutes after taking them on an
empty tummy this dissipates quickly, and am in love with how much extra energy
they are giving me.
I’ve also recently learned
the role that they can play in getting your skin glowing, which makes perfect
sense. Our skin cells have a big job to do. And to do that job effectively,
their energy levels have to be up for it. To create elastin and collagen - the
secrets underlying beautiful skin - the cells have to be firing. Circulation in
the skin is vital. Capillaries (small vein-like vessels) carry the food
supplies to the skin and enhance collagen and elastin production - the support
structures of the skin. They open and flush the nutrients feeding the skin, and
if they aren’t in tip top shape it shows. Yellow Diamonds cause a catalyst
(helping) effect to fire up the cells to generate ATP - energy currency that
makes every cell more effective in its job. As you get older, cellular turnover
gets slower. Yellow Diamonds help with natural exfoliation (from the inside!)
giving cells the building blocks they need to keep cellular turnover at its
peak. Magic stuff!
Anyway, this all brings me
to a giveaway of the little marvels… Just email helene@mshelene.com with your name and
postal address before 5pm on May 21, 2014 and you’re in the draw!
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Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Love it: the M.A.C Cosmetics Maleficent collection
M.A.C Cosmetics’ marvellous Maleficent-inspired collection
has finally been unveiled, and it's just as wickedly covetable as expected. Seriously,
I am in love - and I don’t usually get this excited about limited edition
collections! It’s everything that I love: blood-red glosses, sweeping lashes
and skin-perfecting powders and highlighters, all offering the beautiful drama
and colour pay-off required by a Disney villain. Honestly, if Angelina Jolie's
make-up in teasers for the film
is anything to go by, nothing but flawless precision with a large dose of
villainy will do.
"Everyone is familiar with the look of the original
Maleficent cartoon character. It's intimidating and hard to bring a cartoon
character to life. Therefore, we chose to rethink the look rather than redesign
it," said Rick Baker, who worked on the special-effects make-up for the film
and has previously created his own M.A.C collection. "Since this title
role was played by Angie, I thought the look of the character should reflect
mostly her own overall look. She had specific ideas about it and I worked with
her to bring them to life - for example, it was actually her idea to add
prosthetics to the face."
Mysterious, magnificent and much misunderstood – Disney’s
most iconic villain, brought to life this summer in the epic new film, inspired
a seriously great limited-edition colour collection in specially designed
packaging to delight the most demanding of dark sorceresses. Intensely admired
for her evil elegance, this lady is what we all want to look like in our
darkest moments - and then some.
The centrepiece of the collection comes in the form of the
True Love's Kiss - a bold, highly-pigmented red lipstick that looks set to sell
out almost as it launches and is already on high rotate in my kit. I love it. The
equivalent Pro-longwear lip glass is Anthurium, whilst the matching nail
lacquer in Flaming Rose is seriously beautiful and perfectly blood red. The eye
palette in Ground Brown, Concrete, Carbon, and Goldmine is super user-friendly,
and perfect for many skin tones.
Available May 29, 2014 this collection is one of my favourite
M.A.C outings yet.
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Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Love it: Goldwell StyleSign Satin Guard
Humidity is always - like seriously, always - a factor when
you live in Auckland, no matter what time of the year. It’s also the enemy of
great hair, and very few ‘anti humidity” products that I’ve tried have actually
done much to help - until now.
That’s because I’ve discovered Goldwell’s StyleSign Satin
Guard, which I was given to try after having a Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin
Treatment (highly recommend) at the Goldwell New Zealand HQ a few weeks ago. Since then it has
become a trusty ‘must use’ for a variety of reasons. Satin Guard is basically a
weightless protective spray that blocks the effect of humidity for up to an
amazing 72 hours. It also has an anti-static effect and added colour protection
ingredients, whilst being suitable for all hair types - hurrah!
You know I love a two-in-one, and the incredible Goldwell
StyleSign Satin Guard works to hold weightlessly as well as protecting against
humidity and the above extra bonus factors, making it an everyday and travel
essential.
To use this little beauty, spray lightly on and into your
finished style post-blow dry and gently work-in by hand. Too easy.
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Monday, May 12, 2014
All about: the arrival of Forage & Graze
A lot of people I
know who have made a few attempts over the year to eat ‘well’ and failed
dismally have complained to me that it’s usually because snack time is when
they are hit hard the most. When 3pm rolls around and the healthy salad lunch
just isn’t making its presence felt anymore… and they are straight into the
cookie jar, chip packet or vending machine! I have the luxury of freelancing so
come prepared if I’m off site and have a well-stocked pantry for when I’m on,
leading to virtuous snacking decisions all round.
Well all that has
begun to change of late with the arrival of ‘clean’ treats that taste great as
well being good for you hit the shelves, the latest being the Gluten free and
Paleo friendly Forange & Graze range.
A year in the
making, Forage & Graze came to life after creator Cara struggled to find
Gluten free and Paleo friendly snack food options - like many other people I
know. She says that she was “sick of processed ‘non food’ items cluttering
store shelves and masquerading as ‘healthy’, I embarked on a journey to develop
a range of snack foods that is nothing more than unrefined, nutrient-dense
whole foods packed full of pure goodness for today's busy lifestyle”.
Based on the
Paleo principle of whole food ingredients, all Forage & Graze products are
free from grains, refined sugar and dairy. There is nothing processed or
artificial in any of their goodies, “and you certainly won't see numbers or
ingredients you can't pronounce in our food labels. All you'll find is
whole foods that your body instinctively knows how to process,” says Cara.
Thus far the
range is made up of the most heavenly granola (you have NO idea how good it is),
biltong, trail mix and a unique product they have created called Wild Mix - a blend
of New Zealand grass fed biltong, raw nuts and organic dried fruit. The
granola comes in two flavours - Berry Good and Maple Pecan Perfection - and I’ve
been making breakfast with it and carrying it as a snack, and apparently it’s
great in baking too.
Available in
Original & Chilli, their biltong is naturally seasoned and completely
Gluten free, whilst their Wild Mix is available in their flavours: Mac n Mango,
Supercharged Superfruit and Cheeky Chilli & Mango.
All in all,
totally delicious and seriously impressive - long may their product offering
grow!
Forage & Graze
products are currently available online at www.forageandgraze.co.nz, with retail
distribution coming soon.
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Friday, May 9, 2014
Beauty news: Osmosis Skincare’s Catalyst DNA Repair serums receive essential patent
Everyone who knows me - and my skin - well knows that I am
obsessed with the transformative powers of Osmosis Skincare. To put it simply -
the stuff works. And goes on working the longer you use its incredible range of
formulas.
It is top notch when it comes to anti-ageing - or as the
company prefers to call their work, “age reversal” - but now it is honoured to
announce the brand has secured an official patent on their Catalyst products,
the first ever DNA repair serums on the market. Catalyst Plus and Catalyst
AC-11 are now patented for "Systems and methods for preventing cancer and
treating skin lesions." (Patent # 8,642,655)
I’m a huge user of the Catalyst serums, which offer acceleration
in skin rejuvenation and repair, using patented formulations with leading
scientific findings that positively impact the recovery of damaged DNA. These
formulations can build collagen and elastin in the skin, while improving
scarring, skin tags, actinic keratosis (some actinic keratoses may develop into
a type of skin cancer) and other skin disturbances that relate to DNA damage.
The end result is overall even, radiant skin. Flawless even.
The Catalyst family uses what Osmosis creator Dr. Ben
Johnson has called Zinc Finger Technology™ (ZFT) to repair DNA damage and
assist in the production of proteins and antioxidants within the cell. A
combination of amino acids and key co-factors improve wound healing, lighten
pigmentation, reduce visible capillaries, and stimulate collagen and elastin
production through a revolutionary process.
Along with amazing feats like rebuilding collagen, Catalyst
provides actual sun protection with regular use. Never before has DNA repair
been so effective that it actually prevents UV damage to the skin better than
any sunscreen. Catalyst can provide the equivalent to an SPF 14 - pretty
amazing stuff. It also heals capillaries, prevents scarring and more, making it
an absolute essential in my skincare arsenal if ever there was one.
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Thursday, May 8, 2014
Love it: ModelCo’s EYEBROWS Designer Brow Kit
I am all about a) great brows and b) making this as easy as
possible for my lazy ass self. I like to keep things low maintenance whenever I
can, and any new tools I can add to my arsenal to achieve just that are more
than welcome!
My latest love affair is with ModelCo’s magical EYEBROWS Designer
Brow Kit, which is basically an all in one compact that gives you everything
you need to keep brows sharp, polished and looking good. It features three
finely pressed powders, a one-shade-suits-all soft wax; two angled head brushes
for defined application; a spoolie brush for easy blending; and precision slant
tweezers for last minute touch ups all in one chic compact. Amazing.
It’s the most handbag and travel-friendly brow kit I think I
have ever had the pleasure of using, and the modern marvels at ModelCo have even
included details of the perfect three-step process for great brows:
STEP 1. Make sure your eyebrows are clean and dry, and use
the Designer Brow Kit precision slant tweezers to remove any stray hairs.
STEP 2. Shape and define brows using the complimenting soft
wax, then fill in sparse areas with the powder that is closest to your hair
colour, or mix them together to create your own custom shade.
STEP 3. Using the Spoolie Brush, comb your brows in place.
If you’re a brow novice you can head to the company’s
amazingly helpful website for tutorials on how to get fuller or better groomed
brows, and with this in your pocket you’ll be a veritable Arch Angel in no time
at all. Love it.
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Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Love it: the M.A.C PatentPolish Lip Pencil collection
Feast your eyes on the beautiful new M.A.C PatentPolish Lip
Pencil collection. A hybrid product, they combine the ease of a gloss with the
creaminess of a lipstick and yep, I love them!
I was actually surprised the MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil
($20) Collection didn’t launch sooner since the chubby lip pencil trend has been
well and truly fizzing for a while now! However, as is true to the brand, M.A.C
has created an entirely new formula with their Patentpolish Lip Pencils. They
aren’t a duplicate formula and are quite unique in their texture.
Each is a swivel up design featuring a domed tip and I, for
one, LOVE the dome tip. It fits the contour of my lips perfectly, and is a
unique shape for a lip pencil considering most brands prefer a more precise
point. They don’t require sharpening as you may have guessed and have the
faint, subtle vanilla taste that M.A.C uses for many of its lip formulas.
They give lips a luscious shine with just a couple of swipes,
and are about as handbag-friendly as they get. I love that application may not
necessarily need a mirror, and they are available in a range of 12 new shades -
from bright corals to soft, rosy pinks and natural nudes. One is quite simply,
not enough!
These land in just under two weeks’ at M.A.C locations
everywhere and have an RRP or $44.00.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Beauty destination: CHANEL beauty boutique, Emporium Melbourne
CHANEL has continued the national expansion of its beauty
boutique network, unveiling a 90m sq footprint in Emporium Melbourne on
Saturday 3rd May. Emporium Melbourne is a fresh new retail destination covering
seven floors and 48,000 square metres from Lonsdale to Bourke streets, and yet
another reason to visit the beautiful and unique city.
Home to some of the world’s brightest and most successful
brands, it is the location of Zoo York’s first flagship store outside of the US
as well as the home of Japanese retail giant UNIQLO, also making its Australian
debut. Topshop’s new flagship will spread itself out into three floors, and for
the first time, Melbourne shoppers won’t have to travel to Sydney to visit
Victoria’s Secret.
Managing Director of CHANEL Australia & New Zealand
David Blakeley said of the move, “CHANEL Australia is delighted to be opening
our fourth Victorian beauty boutique in Emporium, Melbourne. Our first beauty
boutique opened in Queensland in November 2011 and we have been very pleased
with the results. This new boutique will allow the Melbourne customer to discover
first-hand the total luxury beauty shopping experience.”
In a nod to the founder of the House, Mademoiselle Chanel,
the new boutique sets out its offerings in pairs: two fragrance bars (for men
and women) utilise the incredibly clever - and naturally, CHANEL-patented - Ceramic
Blotting system to help diminish fragrance fatigue. A makeup playstation
featuring the latest makeup creations fast-tracked from the CHANEL runway
shows, mirrors a skincare bar at the opposite side, showcasing the incredible
brand’s exceptional textures and tailored offerings for every complexion.
As an anchor to the space, the Espace Parfum, with matching
tweed sofa chairs, provides an intimate environment for customers to explore
the entire CHANEL fragrance universe, including the rare and precious Les
Exclusifs de CHANEL collection.
Take me! Take me now!
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