Outfit of the Day (no. 2!)

Here's some quick and quite bad photos I snapped before running out the door this morning, I was in a rush, because I wanted to catch my manager before he left. You see, I resigned this morning! I have a new job at an Aussie fashion store that I love, which will give me an income while I do a 6 month certificate at a local TAFE. I accidently did a take on the stereotypical lecturer outfit: tweed shorts and crazy knit which actually has suede elbow patches! Excuse my silly face in the first pic...

I don't normally wear a white rectangle on my face, but I'm still a bit nervy about putting my face on here! I tried to get my black bag and leggings in, but they sort of just turned into a black patch. You can see gold Crystal Baby sitting next to Maybelline Baby Lips in the foreground. I was wearing my usual taupe lace up boots from Target. I wanted these shorts so much, and I'm glad I found a practical way to wear them in winter. This is such a comfy outfit too, and surprisingly cozy.

Breakdown: Target leggings, Dotti shorts (on sale right now!) Kookai top, Diva pendant, Zara knit (bought overseas).

Revlon Colorburst Review-Strawberry (06)

This was a bit of a surprise purchase for me. See, I much prefer lipsticks to gloss. And I really dislike shimmery lipgloss, they always look so obviously glittery on me. For some reason though, this new line of glosses from Revlon drew me right in from first sight. I tried for several days to convince myself I didn't need it, I would hate it and never wear it. Even though Australia didn't get the entire line, I still managed to find 5 colours that I wanted right away.

I decided to give in to temptation, but just buy one. Well, at least to start with! At $21AUD, it's at the upper end of the lower-bracket brand lipglosses, but the price is worth it. I chose Strawberry, a pinky coral which could be the lipgloss cousin of Vegas Volt. The shimmer changes colour under different light, but it seems to be silver/gold.

Like my other Revlon lipgloss, Peach Petal from the Superlustrous line, the packaging feels and looks much more expensive than it is. It applies really well straight from the wand. No streaking or gloopiness. It's also nicely pigmented. There's really nothing worse than lipglosses that apply clear, no matter how vivid it looks in the tube. When I was swatching these, all of them save one impressed me and my little sister with their pigmentation. They certainly live up to the expectations conjured up by the name 'Colorburst'.

It feels comfortable on the lips, the shimmer isn't gritty or noticeable at all. It has no taste (unlike plastic-fantastic tasting NARS) and no obvious fragrances have been added either. Of course it doesn't wear as long as a lipstick, but it does hold up for about an hour and half with the occasional sips of water. Best of all, the shimmer is very subtle and adds dimension to the lips rather than a glitter effect. I do wish this line had a few "matte", un-shimmery choices though, as I feel shimmery lipglosses only suit me for evening or dolled up casual events rather than for everyday wear.

Pros: Widely available (I've seen it in Priceline, Target and some independent chemists), excellent colour selection, great quality with no obvious fragrance or taste, pigmented.
Cons: At the upper-end costwise for a chemist brand (worth it though, in my opinion!), Australia doesn't have the entire collection, no non-shimmery/cream formulations available.

                                                                                                          

                                                                                 

Favourites of the week..

There's a few purchases I've been really happy and surprised by this week. It's a bit of a dogs breakfast (no pun intended, read on..) with no overall theme, but hopefully there's something for everyone.

MAC's Vegas Volt is a product I'm sure most makeup lovers are familiar with, and now I know why. I'd been admiring it for several weeks, but my first and only MAC lipstick (Pretty Please) hadn't dazzled me and I was reluctant to fork out $36AUD for another. Pretty Please is in the lustre finish, and it's nice but doesn't inspire feelings of 'Wow, I need 12 more or I'll die'. But Vegas Volt was firmly stuck in my head, so when I received a department store giftcard for my birthday, I decided to take a gamble and try something new.

I nearly chickened out at the counter. Vegas Volt looked like an obnoxious bright orange, nothing like the safe pinks and peaches I usually stick to. And certainly nothing like the gorgeous, summery pinky-coral I'd been looking at online. But I put on a brave face and now I have a lipstick which sits proudly at the top of my 'favourites' list, next to Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby lipstick. The Amplified Creme formular is very similar to Crystal Baby-almost balmy. My lips dry out with most things, but these two lipsticks hardly dry my lips at all. Vegas Volt is very buildable in colour too. One coat leaves me with a very pretty pinky-red stain, where 2-3 coats is full on (but surprisingly wearable) coral. It's so easy to apply, with no need to faff about with a lipbrush. Best of all, it fades gracefully. MAC is sometimes seen as a bit lame and try-hard, but products like these show why it remains so popular.

Now for my second purchase. Topshop offered free international shipping over the Easter weekend. I'd been planning to do a biggish order since I'd got back from England, and this spurred me into advancing past the filling-the-cart-DELETE stage of procrastination I was caught in. Now I'm sure my mum wouldn't approve of me flashing my knickers online, however they are just so cute I can't help myself:

The regular bras didn't fit me very well when I tried them on in England, so I was a bit unsure as to whether this would be a good buy. These vintage-style 'bralets' as they are called are still quite hard to come by and expensive in Australia though, and I really, really wanted one! Thankfully, it fits beautifully and feels very well made too...important when you're on the "cup half full and a little more" side of things. I'm still unsure as to what exactly I'll wear it under. It almost seems too pretty to cover up! My 13 year old sister suggests pulling a Lady Gaga and not covering it up at all (no thanks). I hung it up proudly next to my tops in my wardrobe, instead of shoving in my underwear drawer, just so I can see it as I flick through my clothes everyday.

And the most exciting, the new arrival!

Seamus was my mum's mothers day present, but more importantly, a new friend for our old Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees in the US). He's a chocolate brown labrador, 9 weeks yesterday. We love him to pieces, but he's so exhausting! Seriously, I worked for a summer in a child-care and he only a fraction less demanding than a 3 year old. Luckily his cute face and  amazing intelligence have kept him with a warm bed and meals!

Hope you're all well,

Rachel

Jane Iredale 'Whisper' PurePressed Blush review

One of the catalysts for starting my own blog was after I'd spent fruitless hours trying to find Jane Iredale reviews and swatches. I really like to make sure my money's being well spent, so it was a big leap of faith for me to buy something without days or even weeks of research (I'm such a procrastinator!).

Jane Iredale is a mineral makeup company that's often found in day-spas and dermatology clinics. My skin loves mineral foundations, so I was excited to buy my first mineral blush. I decided to go with 'Whisper', one of the few JI products I could find reviews on. Some liken it as a subdued version of NARS 'Orgasm'. I can't say how accurate this is, after never seeing 'Orgasm' in real life, but I would describe it as a warm beige-peach with gold flecks.

Although this is a pressed powder, my first impressions were that it's very 'soft'. My brush easily picked up product. Even the slightest touch is enough to cause blush dust to fly all over the compact and anything else in its vicinity! I appreciate not having to scrub at it like some blushes (*cough*Bourjois*cough*), but it does make me worry about the reports of these blushes shattering at the slightest disturbance. It's also a bit wasteful.

It's also quite expensive. The RRP in Australia is around $50, and you get 2.8g. That's $17/gram! (buy online like I did though, it's at least half the price!). MAC charges $43 for a 3.5g Mineralize Blush, or about $12.30/gram. I'd be interested to know where this high price comes from. Ingredient quality? Certainly not packaging. Call me shallow, but I expect products from this price bracket to be a bit more special than your everyday Priceline blush. Think along the lines of Guerlain, Rouge Bunny Rogue, Chanel etc.

Ok, so enough of the Moaning Myrtle, and on to the positives. This blush applies so well, almost silkily. The shimmer gives the face dimension and a natural glow; not the messy "I've been hit my a glitter grenade" I feared. If you like your blush to look natural, soft and day-time appropriate, JI blushes might be for you.

                      Blush swatched above, then blended below...this is fairly accurate colour-wise.

Swatched on paper

Most importantly to me, it hasn't caused me any breakouts! For this reason alone I will be buying a couple more colours. It also lasts all day. Another plus

Pros: looks natural, doesn't cause breakouts, effortless to apply, good colour selection
Cons: a tad too soft, expensive (check online for better deals!), packaging a bit 'meh' (in my opinion).

Outfit of the day...

Featuring my new Cotton On knit...

Jeans are Portmans (picked up for $20AUD last winter!), Top is Kookai (their basic tops are a great investment...I've got one 4 years old and it looks brand new), bag is Topshop (a birthday gift from Monday), watch is Michael Kors (now discontinued!), owl necklace was a gift from Diva.
Here's me assuming an awkward mountain pose to show you my Target boots...

Hmm...you'll just have to trust me when I say that they're faux-leather lace ups! They're comfy and go with everything.

Nail of the day...

Literally a day, since I have to take the nailpolish off for work tomorrow. It's the Sportsgirl polish in 'Glamour' that I picked up on Wednesday. I am in love! Easy and even application, relatively fast dry time and the colour is just beautiful.

My little hands look so manly in this picture, which also fails to capture the deep blood red of the nailpolish. Just to show you how close it is to Chanel Dragon Rouge Allure Laque:

They look like sisters in real life, and I do wonder if Dragon was the inspiration behind Glamour...

Birthday treats!

Today was a fun day. My birthday was on Monday, but it wasn't until today that I had the whole day free. Even though I'm now 22, some very kind relatives gave me a bit of cash and a gift-voucher, so a spot of shopping in the city seemed in order. The day started off badly with a bowl of cereal in my lap, but from there it got better. My package from StrawberryNet came just as I was about to put my makeup on, so I got to try out my new Jane Iredale blush and the Bloom lipstick palette I ordered (reviews to come!).

I'm the type who always has a shopping 'action plan' in place before I go. I figure out how much I can spend, what I would really like, and decide where I might find it. Rarely do I wander the stores aimlessly, because I end up overspending and buying silly things that I use once before losing in the abyss that is my wardrobe. Plus, I hate hanging around shops for long, I get headachy, and when I have my action plan, I find everything gets done much faster! I went into the city, because I love the outdoor mall, there's lots of street entertainment and much more choice than in my local suburban mall.

Here's a quick shot of my purchases. I always lie new purchases, birthday and Christmas presents on my bed. I enjoy admiring new things before putting them away, it seems to extend that happy, excited feeling I get when I buy something. Does anyone else do this? Anyway, I bought; a new wallet from Sportsgirl to replace my old faithful Oroton purse, a blouse and unusual cardigan/cape/kimono knit both from Cotton On, MAC Vegas Volt lipstick and 'Glamour' nailpolish from Sportsgirl.

I've always adored billowy, sheer blouses and I'm so pleased they're finally in season (it means the cheaper shops will stock them. Before I had to wait for Witchery sales). In fact, I've got more coming from Topshop as I write this. For me, animal prints always evoke images of ageing, gaudy older ladies with skin leathery from overtanning and dripping in gold jewellery. But inexplicably, this blouse really appealed to me, the print is quite subdued and it's nice to have a non-floral print in my wardrobe. The knit is soft and snuggly, and the geometric print unusual but "cozy". It adds interest to otherwise plain jeans+basic T outfits. However, Cotton On prices seem to have jumped since my last visit. It seems the days where everything was under $30 have gone :(

I needed a new wallet, and Sportsgirl always have good quality, affordable and trendy options. I spotted this one on sale...I can see the crazy woven pleather pattern probably relegated it to the sale section. However, I'm really keen on patterns at the moment, and when I saw how much storage the inside offered I had to have it. The nailpolish was a must have because it reminds me of Chanel Dragon in nailpolish form....deep, blood red. Perfect for winter.

Perhaps less perfect for winter, MAC Vegas Volt. Coral isn't usually the colour one thinks of when 'winter' is mentioned, but after admiring it for weeks online, I knew I wanted it. Normally I wear whatever makeup takes my fancy anyway, so buying it mid-autumn shouldn't pose a problem. I nearly backed out at the last minute when I saw it at the counter though, it looked so orange, wild and completely different to anything I own. But I bit the bullet, and I'm so pleased I did, it's truly lovely. As I was perusing the other counters, I spotted my new bronzer at the Guerlain counter. I got into a conversation with the sales girl, and she invited me to pop along in a few days for the launch of their new lipsticks. I'm very tempted to call up tomorrow and reserve my place. It's not the sort of event where you get a bag of goodies for free, you do have to pay (redeemable on product). But it sounds like a fun way to try out something new...finger's crossed work and funds don't interfere!

And to finish the afternoon, a Wendy's supershake...does it get much better than that?

Guerlain Terracotta Blondes Sheer Bronzing Powder

A ghost like me quakes with intimidation and fear when the word 'bronzer' is mentioned. Nightmarish images of orange, glittery faces contrasted with white necks come into mind, followed by the entire cast of Jersey Shore. By this point, I push bronzing into the back of my mind and tell myself I am content with blush.

But I wasn't. Part of my heart still yearned for that sexy sunkissed glow that some lucky ducks are born with.

So, after a recent traumatic breakup, I thought 'why not?' to the bronzer question. I justified choosing such a pricey bronzer like this; If I only ever have one bronzer, I want it to be beautiful and luxurious, because at least it will look pretty if it turns out to be a disaster. I saw Guerlain Terracotta Blondes Sheer Bronzing Powder, and not only was it beautiful but the words 'sheer' and 'blondes' appealed to me. It sounded as if the development team had us fair-skinned lasses in mind.

                                                  Top-without flash, Bottom-with flash

This pretty little compact is a real pain to catch on camera. You might only just be able to see the double 'G' embossed into a mirror under a dome of faux-tortoisehell. It's truly beautiful, and I can see myself holding onto this forever, showing it off to my grandkids.

Inside is even better, a gorgeous mosaic of tan, sandy beige, rose and patches of gold-infused bronze. The shimmer made me feel uneasy at first, but as I'll explain in a minute, it is not a problem. It has the distinct floral smell, which I quite like but have seen others describe as "grandmarish"-so you might want to sniff it at your local counter before buying. You get 10 hefty grams, and if you check StrawberryNet, where I got mine, you might find it for around half the cost you'd pay at an Australian Guerlain counter.

                                              Top-natural daylight, Bottom-nighttime with flash

I use a MAC or Cosmetica stippling brush to apply this in a 'C' shape on my face, lightly blending it like a contour under my cheek bones and onto my temples. A tiny bit down the bridge of my nose and a little around the jawline finishes the look. I'm not sure if this is the 'right' way to apply bronzer, but I think it imparts a lovely, sunkissed and most importantly, natural, warmth to the face. It really is sheer, and easy to apply, even for beginners. On my skin, the shimmer is so few and far between that the effect is more matte. I prefer this, however if you're after a shimmery bronzer, this might not be for you.

                                   The product was swatched quite heavily here, but orange tones are still minimal.

Best of all, I've worn this almost every day for over a week and I haven't experience any breakouts. It also doesn't oxidise or suddenly disappear half way through the day. And most importantly, I don't look dirty or orange, even in the most unforgiving lighting. If you have trepidations about bronzing, this is a lovely introduction.

Pros: subtle and natural enough for fairer complexions, beautiful aesthetically and functionally.
Cons: expensive, scent may be an issue for some
.