Summer by The Beauty Department

I had somewhat forgotten about gradual self tanners, I think because of the convenience of actual fake tan I found them easier to apply once and enjoy the benefits for up to five days. However, since trialling the gradual self tanner, Summer by The Beauty Department I have rediscovered my love of self tanners with the fool proof application and amazing natural colour which lasts.

What the Beauty Department Say:

Summer is a refined and natural gradual tan, enriched with organic ingredients, and a unique combination of essential oils. This thick and luxurious cream gives your skin a soft golden colour, with the aromas of summer all year round.

With no harsh, synthetic colorants, Summer is free from PEG's, propylene glycol, or parabens. Instead, active ingredients such as DHA deliver a light golden hue over 2-3 hours, giving the individual complete colour control - for deeper colour, simply apply more.

What I Say:

I see gradual self tans as the “beginners’ introduction” to fake tanning, only because they apply as a moisturiser and the colour is often soft and buildable. Summer by The Beauty Department is a thick moisturizing cream with a zesty citrus scent that smells summery as you work it into your skin (the scent actually reminds me of the day spa I visited while on holidays).

Even though Summer is not tinted I didn’t have any trouble with fake tan faux pas, as mentioned above, it applies as a thick moisturiser although it does take some working into the skin. As it’s not tinted you also have the green light to use your hands which is such a godsend for me because I’m so over rubber gloves and awkward tanning mitts – just make sure you thoroughly wash your palms well before the tan starts to develop.

Within 2-3 hours, Summer develops into a natural soft golden tan and you can build on your colour by re-applying however I have always been satisfied with the initial application. I was amazed by the staying power of Summer as it lasted from the weekend through to the working week and it fades as it wears which is great (no embarrassing patchiness).   

I must admit I was a little upset when I finished my sample jar of Summer, however it is easily accessible to purchase online through their website http://www.beautydepartment.com.au/

Disclaimer: I did receive Summer by The Beauty Department for review however all opinions in this post are 100% honest and I will be purchasing this product for further use.

Remington Pearl Styler

Following the death of my GHD (see post), I was in need of a new hair styler but was overwhelmed by choice and a little apprehensive on finding a replacement.

However; I did have three particular features in mind when choosing a new styler…

1. Must have ceramic plates
2. Must heat to at least 210°C – fast!
3. Must have the ability to create curls

I was surprised to learn that the Remington Pearl Styler ticked my three boxes (and more) and is available to purchase at a fraction of a GHD’s price.

I have been using the feature packed Remington Pearl Styler for just over two months and I have been very satisfied with the results. I say “feature packed” as the Pearl has many additional features not seen in my last GHD, some of my favourites include:

• A premium ceramic heater which allows the styler to be ready to use in just 10 seconds.
• Ten digital temperature settings (and LED temp display) ranging from 150°C - 235°C making it user friendly for all hair types.  
• A temperature lock on 190°C when switched on – which means no unexpected overheating or burning to thin hair.
• Digital touch controls available on the side of the styler, making it effortless to operate and control the temperature.
• Advanced ceramic plates (with real pearl!) which allows even heating and silky results.
• A long 3 metre swivel cord, which provides easy access and plenty of room to move when styling.
• Comes with a cute heat resistant storage pouch for easy storage or travel.
• A three year warranty.

Some of the additional standard features include:

• Automatic safety shut-off.
• Automatic worldwide voltage.

Variable heat settings, 150°C - 235°C

The look and design of the Pearl Styler is lightweight and chic, the curved shaped barrel and swivel cord allows you to create effortless straight, curled or voluminous styles and the pearl white border of the styler gives a touch of elegance.

Overall, I’m thrilled with the Remington Pearl Styler as it provides great results and I really think it gives the GHD and other professional stylers a run for their money.

Effortless Poker Straight

Easy to create loose curls

For further information on the Remington Pearl Styler including stockists visit the website at www.pearlstyler.com.au

Disclaimer: I did receive the Remington Pearl Styler for review however all opinions in this post are 100% honest.

Summer Favourite: Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion

Just a quick review on one of my current summer favourites, the Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion.

This lotion is lightweight, fast absorbing and hydrating. Enriched with Hydra IQ, this lotion allows your skin to feel hydrated all day and with the light scent of blue minerals – it smells ah-mazing!

I have been using the Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion at night and find my morning skin still smooth and moisturised especially on my thighs where I suffer from Keratosis Pilaris (similar to small goose bumps). After using this every night for a week my thighs are smooth to touch with no visible lumps or bumps.

Nivea Express Hydration 200ml retails for $5.40(AUD) and is widely available in supermarkets, Priceline, Myer, Target, Kmart, Big W and selected pharmacies.

Image courtesy of Beauty Directory.

Disclaimer: Nivea Express Hydration Lotion was provided as gift as part of ABBW, however; I was under no obligation to include this product in this post or on Beauty Soiree. 

Summer Favourite: Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes

I love Yes To products, so far I have tried the Yes to Carrots Shampoo and Conditioner as well as the Yes to Carrots Eye and Face Makeup Remover both I have really enjoyed.

While I love Yes To for it’s tongue-in-cheek marketing and cute packaging I also love that their products are 98% natural and great for those with sensitive skin.

The Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes are hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic (no nasty pore cloggers) and are oil free. They also contain aloe vera and green tea and the wipes themselves are made from biodegradable natural cloth (which it one of the softest makeup wipe cloths I have come across).

As well as sounding great for your skin these wipes do a great job at removing make up – even stubborn mascara and eyeliner. They are soft and cleansing leaving your skin feeling clean – no sticky residue that some wipes can leave – just clean!

The packaging is a soft foil like packet with hard top plastic clip opening to keep the towelettes moist and each towelette has a light fresh scent of cucumbers – which smells delish.

For makeup wipes they are a little on the pricey side at $7.95(AUD) however a pack contains 30 towelettes and Priceline often has specials relating to the Yes To range.

For makeup removal on-the-go, The Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes also come in a travel size of 10 towelettes for $3.95(AUD) – cute!

Have you tried anything from the Yes To range? If so what are some of your favourites (or not so favourites)?

Images courtesy of Beauty Directory

Remington Compact Tribal Tong

The Remington Compact Tribal Tong is a hair styling wand made with creating an easy curl in mind. The tong itself has a conical barrel and sections of hair are wrapped around to create structured curls.

The Compact Tribal Tong as the name suggests, is compact. It’s a cute travel sized version of the original Tribal Tong but does not lack in features. It heats to a variable 110°C - 200°C and quickly reaches its set temperature in 30 seconds and with a swivel cord makes it easy to use at all angles.

In the past I have curled my hair using my GHD straightening iron, so I was really impressed with the Tribal Tong’s ease of use and the simple wrap and hold technique. It creates gorgeous little tight spiral curls that eventually fall into small loose waves, the only downside is because it is the compact version it did take a while to curl my mid length hair (it would be perfect for those with short hair).

I recommend wand type stylers for those who want a quick and easy alternative to GHD (or other straightening iron) curls. The Compact Tribal Tong comes in two stylish colours, purple and pink and can be purchased from department stores and electrical retailers.

Disclaimer: The Remington Compact Tribal Tong was provided as sponsored gift as part of ABBW, however; I was under no obligation to include this product in this post or on Beauty Soiree.  

NP Set - Contour & Highlight Palette

Over the weekend I attended a Sydney Outlet Shopping tour through Bargain Buyers. This tour included a bus trip to various factory outlets in Sydney and included a stop at the Napoleon Perdis Outlet in Alexandra where I picked up the NP Set Contour & Highlight Palette.

NP Set is the new and more affordable cosmetic line from Aussie Makeup Guru, Napoleon Perdis and was designed “… with on trend colour options, skin-nurturing ingredients and totally decent pricing…” – Napoleon Perdis.  

The palette contains a white highlighter, contouring bronzer as well as a dusty pink blush and a pink shimmery highlighter to highlight, brighten and contour your skin, creating celeb-worthy bone structure.

To use, sweep the bronzer under your cheek bones and onto your temples to frame your face (blend, blend, blend to create a subtle glow). Add the dusty pink blush to your cheeks and pink highlighter above your cheekbones and to finish the look, apply the white highlighter to brow bone, inner corners of the eyes and your cupids bow (centre of lips) for a brighter complexion.

The matte bronzer is a nice shade of bronze however can apply quite heavy and I found I was buffing like crazy to blend it in and reduce harsh lines. The dusty pink blush is already a fave and applies nicely to create a blushing look.  Each colour works perfectly together and the soft powders make it fool proof to create a faux summer glow.

Swatches L-R: White highlighter, bronzer, blush and pink highlighter (both highlighters were hard to photograph)

Like all NP Set products the powders contain Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Vitamins A,C and E to soften, moisturise and provide antioxidant benefits and the palette comes packaged in a practical (and recyclable) hard cardboard box with a good sized mirror and a magnetic clasp.

NP Set is widely available from Target, Napoleon Perdis concept stores or counters or online at NPSet.  

Benefit's Confessions of a Concealaholic

Image source

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I’m a concealaholic, well not exactly but I sure do love it!

So when I saw this palette online at Benefit, I though it was quite fitting and a great excuse to try out some of the different concealing and brightening products from their range.

The palette, Confessions of a Concealaholic contains five of their best concealing and brightening products and includes:

That Girl – Brightening face primer

Erase Paste – Brightening Camouflage for Eyes and Face

Boi-ing 1 & 2 – Industrial Strength Concealer

Lemon Aide - Colour Correcting Eyelid Primer

Eye Bright – Instant Eye Brightener

The palette also contains two double ended concealer brushes and a booklet containing illustrated pictures on how to use and apply each product. The packaging is quite cute and resembles a lockable diary and includes a nice size mirror. The products included are sample sizes but I find it’s a great way to try before you choose to buy your favourite in its full size.  

My favourites from the palette include:

That Girl Brightening Face Primer – Great multi purpose product and can be used as a foundation primer or as a highlighter over your makeup. The pink pearlescent formula is silky to apply and is a glycerine based (applies like lotion) which allows your makeup to stay put and adds a bright sheen to your completion – it smells yummy too.

Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer – Which is a waxy based concealer, however don’t let this put you off. Boi-ing quickly becomes smooth and manageable when warmed with a finger or concealer brush. I mix 1 & 2 together for the perfect coverage which I didn’t find it to crease or become cakey. Boi-ing is great for full coverage and concealed my dark circles like a dream.

Lemon Aide Colour Correcting Eyelid Primer – I have been wanting to try colour correcting products for a while as I have redness is some areas and my eyelids are quite sheer. I like Lemon Aide as it colour corrects my eyelids, hiding any visible light veins and doubles as a great primer too. As yellow is great for counteracting dark colours, I also use Lemon Aide on early mornings (or the morning of the night before) to diffuse dark circles before I tackle them with Boi-ing.

So, are you also a concealaholic like me?

Purchase Confessions of a Concealaholic (or other great products) from Benefit for $36(US), from Adore Beauty for $68(AUD) or your nearest Benefit Counter.

Hello Shellac

Gel nail polishes are taking nail bars and salons by storm and quickly becoming the nail polish of choice for those with weak nails or nails that seem to chip no matter what brand of top coat is used.

I first heard about CND Shellac (as featured in my post here) and  have been wanting them every since. So as I was jet setting off on a holiday I thought there was no better time than to treat myself with my first Shellac’ing.

Shellac boasts 14 day wear with no nicks, chips or smudges, a mirror finish that lasts and ZERO drying time – which I still couldn’t get over as I was digging into my bag to pay after the application.

The Shellac process involves a base coat, two polish coats and a top coat which feature UV3 technology and is cured under a special UV lamp after each application. The range includes 24 shades and the shade I chose was Iced Cappuccino which was the perfect colour of bronze and champagne.  




                    

                     Shellac Day 2

 

Shellac - Day 6

Shellac Day 14

So what do I think?

     Pros

·     Shellac lived up to my expectation of 14 day wear with no nicks, chips or smudges, a mirror finish that lasts and ZERO drying time. I reached day 17 before removal and apart from my nail regrowth and tiny wear on the tips of some nails, the Shellac maintained it original condition and shine.

·     I have to re mention the zero drying time as it was something I just couldn’t get over. Gone are the days of paying before you paint, waiting minutes for the polish to dry and then nicking your nails as soon as you get to your car. Once you have your last two minutes under the UV lamp the Shellac is set – rock hard.

·     The added strength. I have a love and hate relationship with my nails, without fail they reach a certain length and break and at least once per month one nail decides to split on the sides causing pain. The Shellac acts as a nail hardener and I have never seen such lengths and unlike acrylic nails it does not ruin the nail once removed.

·    So convenient and saved me so much time as I would of been painting and removing an endless amount of time throughout the two weeks.

Cons

·     It really does last 14 days – So all you nail polish lovers out there who love to change their nails every other day, this may be a problem for you.

·     Choose your manicurist wisely – while my nails looked great and I loved the colour, up close (and in the photographs) I did notice some streaking and slight imperfections.

·     It’s recommended that you see your manicurist for removal – such a pain I know, but Shellac have special removal wraps which only take a few minutes soaking time.

·     Can be a little pricey. As Shellac is becoming quite popular the price of application can be quite high and I have seen price ranges from $25-$40(AUD).

Overall I loved my first Shellac experience and will be getting my nails re-shellac’d in the near future.

Have you tried Shellac? What were your thoughts on this hybrid polish?

Don’t forget, for your chance to win a Scunci Hair Accessories pack, enter my giveaway here.

Scunci Hair Accessories and GIVEAWAY - CLOSED

Are hair accessories like gold in your house? Do you also have a bobby pin gremlin who hides all your bobby pins? Argh, I do!! So when I was approached by the lovely people from Polkadot PR to try and review the Scunci Hair Accessory range I was more than willing.

In my pack, I received from the no-slip and no damage range a generous amount of bobby pins, hair bands and a split head band which I have been wanting for a while to re create the gorgeous updo as seen on Katherine Heigal. Please keep reading as Polkadot PR is also offering one lucky subscriber the chance to win a Scunci pack of their very own.



Katherine Heigal



The range of hair bands (or hair ties) are available to suit all hair types and all come with no metal parts that can pull or damage hair. My personal favourites are the standard black ties (which as daggy as it’s sounds you may often find me wearing on my wrist like the latest fashion accessory – for just in case purposes), these come in a pack of 32 offering various thicknesses.

I also love the beautiful blends range which are various tones of browns to highlight and complement brunette beauties and for those with extra thick hair or for those who wish to add height to their ponytail (Genie style), the knit ponywraps are for you. They are soft and generous in size allowing you to wrap around any hair thickness to secure.

Scunci bobby pins come in a wide variety of colours including light golden browns, turtle shell, black and even silver to add a little bling to an updo. I was most impressed with the quality as in the past I have purchased cheap supermarket brands which were poor quality and broke easily. These bobby pins have a rubbery feel which along with the inner grooves allow the pins (and hair) to stay securely in place all day.  

Headbands add flare to any boring hairstyle however I always find that thin metal or hard plastic ones cause me so much pain as the metal (or plastic) ends often dig into the sensitive areas behind the ears. The Scunci no-slip grip band is a bendable gel-like plastic with bendy combs which allow the band to stay in place all day and with added cushion tips there is no pain!  

Now onto the GIVEAWAY

The Prize:

A Scunci Accessory Pack provided by Polkadot PR which includes:

Scunci Knit Pony Wraps RRP: $4.95(AUD)

Scunci No Damage Thin Hair Elastics RRP: $7.95(AUD)

Scunci No Slip Grip Split Band with Cushion Tips RRP: $8.95(AUD)

Scunci Grooming Compact Mirror RRP: $4.95(AUD)

How to win:

1.      Be a follower of Beauty Soiree via Google Friend Connect (GFC)

2.      Comment below listing your GFC name and email address or twitter name (some way I can contact you if you are the winner).

3.      Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

4.      Only one entry per person please.

T&C

1.      This giveaway is open to all followers of Beauty Soiree internationally.

2.      This giveaway will be open from the date of post and close midnight (AEST) on 9 September 2011.

3.      This giveaway is held of behalf of Polkadot PR who will also forward the winner their prize pack.

Good luck xx

Scunci have a vast array of different hair accessories to suite all hair colours, types and thicknesses. After browsing their website I realised I have not made a dent in mentioning their entire product range so I suggest you visit their website to have a sneaky peek.

BB Cream and Skin79 Review

With its origins from a dermatologist in Germany created as a healing treatment following laser skin therapy, BB Cream first busted out on the beauty scene in Korea following a Celebrity influence and quickly spread throughout Asia and now making its way into the beauty regime of girls in the US, Europe and Australia.

BB Creams, short for Blemish (or Beblesh) Balm, is one of those multi-purpose, all in one wonder products with can be used as a light coverage foundation or foundation primer, sun protection (most contain SPF 30+), a whitening cream or to assist with facial pigmentation, as a anti-wrinkle cream and has healing properties that assists with the softening and refining of the skin.

I was first introduced to BB Cream through YouTube’s Missglamorazzi who also introduced Sasa.com an online Asian Beauty/Lifestyle department store that stocks both Asian, Western and European beauty products.

I purchased the Skin 79 Super Beblesh Balm from Sasa.com for $29.30(AUD) with a $6.00(AUD) shipping fee.

The Skin 79 Super Beblesh Balm boasts three functions: whitening, wrinkle improvement and cultivating more bright and elastic skin and it states in its directions to apply a decent amount by patting into skin during your last step of skincare (after moisturizing, if you’re like me).

The first thing I noticed about this BB Cream was the packaging, its luxe cylinder casing with a sparkly holographic BB gives off an expensive vibe and the large gold button on top produces the right amount of product with a medium push.

The cream itself is quite thick in consistency when initially applied, however it is quickly absorbed into your skin. It offers a light to medium coverage, similar to a tinted moisturizer however Skin79 BB Cream (like most other brands) only come in one or very few shades as the cream is skin tone adapting and is to blend on application to suite most light complexions.  Those lucky enough to have gorgeous darker completions, this particular BB Cream may not be suitable for you.

The scent is fresh and florally with a slight sunscreen smell – quite pleasant and not overpowering. As a tinted moisturizer I find my BB Cream pushed to the back of my most used beauty products throughout the colder winter months; however I’m sure to get use come the summer months as it’s a great facial sunscreen with slight coverage perfect for the beach or enjoying the summer sun outdoors.  

Research on the origin of BB Creams was sourced from:  http://www.squidoo.com/b-b-cream

L’Oreal Lash Architect 4D Mascara Review

So the three month expiry date was well and truly up and my Maybelline The Falsies mascara had definitely seen better days. After I couldn’t stand a clumpy application anymore I hit the shops with a brand new mascara in my sights.

Although I loved my Falsies, I was captivated by the shiny new display for L’Oreal’s version of a false lash effect mascara, Lash Architect 4D.  

Any blackest black mascara lover would understand my devastation after I had arrived home and ripped into the packaging to discover I have purchased BROWN instead of black – however, after I got over my initial reaction and tried it on for size I discovered that brown isn’t so bad after all, in fact I quite like the soft natural look it gives to my eyes.

They say…

New Lash Architect 4D mascara builds captivating lashes with each and every brush stroke by providing volume, length, texture and curl!

It is the exceptionally long, rigid nylon fibres in the formula that build volume and instantly make lashes appear longer. Whilst it is the mascara’s unique brush with its combination of flat sides and ergonomic curve that create the ultimate “false lash” look.

I say…
The mascara wand is quite unique as its a slight twisted shape – user beware:  while this unique wand was created to ensure an even coat to all lashes it also collects quite a bit of product in some areas that can cause clumping and annoying smudges. However, I have tackled this problem by applying it with my head tilted right back while using the old “wiggle and lift” method.

After applying, the lengthening and volumising fibres went to work and the difference was noticeable, as for a curl and texture… not so much but never less longer and more voluminous lashes is what I’m after in a mascara these days.





The packaging is also a marvel; its silver sleek tube which resembles a modern architectural design adds a certain desire to the mascara as I felt the need to try this based on looks alone.

I purchased L’Oreal Lash Architect 4D Mascara for $24.88(AUD) from Big W (however, L’Oreal is widely available in chemists, department stores, supermarkets ect.) – a little on the expensive side for drug store mascara I thought.

Have you tried L’Oreal Lash Architect 4D Mascara? If so what are your thoughts on the latest false lash look mascara?