Nails of the Week - Polished London Nail Enamel in Milky Mocha

Oh My God! It has literally been forever since I have done a Nails of the Week post. It's not that I haven't been wearing nail polish but I'm usually so busy with work, the kids and house stuff that I have just been completely forgetting to take photos of my nails once I've applied any polish. Then, when I do finally remember there is always a chip or two already so I miss my opportunity.

But not this time!

Today I am showing you a polish that I have worn a few times lately because there is just something about the milk chocolate shade that I quite like.

It is a shade by Polished London and is called Milky Mocha.

I quite like this brand of nail polish and I own quite a few of them now. They are nice and affordable and can last 3-4 days on me with no chips which is always a nice bonus.

This polish applies smoothly without any bubbles and dries nice and quickly too. It has a great shine as well which I like because it saves a time poor person like me from having to bother with applying a top coat.

What nail polish have you been favouring lately?

Have a lovely weekend!

Michelle xx

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick Collection

So I'm a little bit late in getting this post up due to having some ridiculously dry lips lately and not wanting to post without showing some lip swatches (beauty blogger problems!)

Anyway, we're off and running now and I am very excited to tell you about the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Lipstick Collection as these lipsticks have seriously restored my faith in wearing a nude lip.

The five shades I received to try range from a very pale nude to a much darker plummy/brown and I love the way some of them are more brown toned while some have pinkish tones in them as well.

I already owned a couple of Rimmel lipsticks in my collection at home and after trying these ones it has now become one of my favourite lipstick brands as they are all just so creamy and feel almost weightless on the lips once applied.

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Collection)

The shades are all numbered instead of having names (my one little gripe with Rimmel lipsticks!) so from top to bottom the swatches above are 40, 42, 43, 45 and 48.

Shades 42 and 45 are firm favourites of mine and can be used for practically any look depending on whether I want a more brown toned or pink toned nude lip. Shade 40 scares me a little because it is just so pale and against my pale skin tone it makes me feel like I look a little dead, but I have seen photos of it on others with a really dark smoky eye and it looks sensational. Shade 43 is a definite brown toned nude that can also look a little washed out on me unless I brighten up the rest of my face and Shade 48 is one that I can see myself getting a lot of use out of when winter comes around again.

The thing I love most about these lipsticks is that they don't bleed into lip lines and they stay put for a good few hours during the day, even after eating and drinking. They feel nice and hydrating on the lips and are comfortable to wear all day, even if your lips aren't in optimal condition as mine have been lately.

They do have a very strong, sweet scent and taste when first applied though so if you are not a fan of lip products that stay with you for a while then just be warned. It isn't unpleasant, just very noticeable.

Now, here are the lip swatches:

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 40)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 42)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 43)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 45)

(Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Lipstick No. 48)

Has anyone else tried these lipsticks yet? Are you a fan of any other Rimmel lipstick you'd like to tell me about?

Have a great week!

Michelle xx

***These items were provided for consideration but my opinions are solely my own***

Rimmel Wonder'Full Wake Me Up Mascara

Lately I have had a bit of a new mascara crush and it comes in the form of the new Rimmel London Wonder'Full Wake Me Up Mascara in 001 Black.

The first thing I have to mention about this mascara is that is smells like cucumbers! It is the most unusual thing at first because I've never had a mascara smell like anything other than a faint chemical scent. I've especially never had a mascara that makes me want to take a whiff of it before I apply it every day and that is exactly what this one does to me because it's just so refreshing. It's like an addiction I tell you!

Fortunately though, if you're not a huge fan of cucumbers the scent doesn't linger around once the mascara is applied so you don't have to walk around all day getting wafts of cucumber whenever you blink.

The Wake Me Up mascara has quite a large brush that practically coats all of my lashes in one sweep. I do tend to struggle with mascaras that have such large brushes though because I have smaller, hooded eyes and I can never seem to manage to apply it cleanly on my lower lashes when using such a big brush. Consequently, I love using Wake Me Up on my top lashes but I usually fall back on one of my other mascaras that have a smaller brush when I am in a hurry and want to coat my lower lashes quickly without having to be too precise.

What I really love about the Wake Me Up mascara is the way it makes my lashes look long and luscious without being clumpy or spider-web like.

Before - Bare lashes

After - Wearing Rimmel Wake Me Up Mascara on top and bottom lashes

Of course, no product can ever be absolutely perfect and the one thing that I don't like about this mascara is the fact that on a hot or humid day it tends to migrate under my eyes and leave me with a bit of a 'panda eye' situation. Other than that is doesn't go flaky at all and stays put on any other day or if I use it for a night out.

Overall though this is a great mascara and one that I have been turning to on a regular basis.

Has anyone else tried this mascara yet?

Have a great week everyone!

Michelle xx

*** This product was provided for consideration but all opinions are completely my own***

Veet Natural Inspirations In Shower Hair Removal Cream

So the warmer weather is finally starting to be a regular occurrence around here so that means one thing - it's time to get serious about staying hair-free!

I was asked a little while ago whether I would like to trial the new Veet Natural Inspirations range range and I couldn't help but say yes. I am quite the fan of hair removal cream and actually prefer using it in certain areas over any other hair-removal product.

The Veet Natural Inspirations range contains Grape Seed Oil which is known for its softening properties. It is formulated to work close to the root and contains a unique combination of water-resisting ingredients that go to work removing hair while you are busy in the shower.

I am a huge fan of hair removal creams for areas such as the bikini line and the underarms as they seem to be the spots where I get the most irritation from shaving or waxing. If I use a hair removal cream in these areas I usually always get a nice, soft, hair-free result without any ingrown hairs, redness or irritation and that makes me very happy indeed.

The Veet In Shower Hair Removal Cream is used in 5 simple steps as follows:

1) Before showering, use the pink side of the sponge supplied to apply the cream evenly to dry skin making sure the hair you want removed is completely covered.
2) Wait at least 2 minutes before stepping into the shower (I usually use this time to apply a quick face mask or sometimes I even clean the sink in my bathroom - yep I can't stand wasting time when I juggle everything around two children, even wasting 2 minutes these days physically pains me!)
3) Step into the shower and go about your normal washing routine while trying to avoid putting the areas covered in the cream directly in the stream of water from the shower.
4) After the cream has been on for around 5 minutes, use the white side of the sponge supplied to gently remove the cream and any hair with it. If you have stubborn or thick hair you can leave the cream on for another 5 minutes if necessary but it is not recommended to leave it on for any more than 10 minutes in total.
5) Rinse the skin thoroughly to ensure all of the cream is removed and then complete your shower routine and dry yourself off as per usual.

I really love the dual sided sponge that is supplied to apply and remove the cream as it saves getting any of it onto your hands and makes the whole process a lot less messy. It also seems to help with using less cream per application as the sponge allows you to apply it a bit more evenly than if you were to use your bare hands.

The scent of this cream is not too overpowering, although it does have an underlying chemical smell it's also got a bit of a floral scent mixed in.

I have not experienced any stinging or irritation at all after using this hair removal cream and I will definitely continue using it for those areas that are a bit more sensitive.

What method of hair removal do you prefer for certain areas? 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Michelle xx

SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse

After giving birth to my daughter last month my poor hormonal skin was in need of some serious attention to clear it up. I've always suffered from acne in one form or another and being in my mid 30's now it can get a little bit depressing sometimes when I think that my skin should be past all that.

I'd been waiting to use this SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse I was sent to try out as soon as I wasn't pregnant anymore and over the past four weeks I've been using it every day.

The SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse is part of the SkinB5 Acne Control Program which also consists of their Extra Strength Acne Control Tablets, an Acne Control Moisturiser, Acne Control Caplets and a Skin Purifying Mask.

The mousse contains a soothing combination of Green Tea, Vitamin B5 and Aloe Vera to refine the texture of the skin as well as Salicylic Acid to prevent further breakouts.

The SkinB5 mousse feels nice and gentle on my face and while it doesn't really lather up too much when being used, it's still easy to spread around on the skin and doesn't irritate or make my face feel tight or sensitive at all after cleansing.

The mousse has a very subtle scent to it that is in no way overpowering and two pumps is all you really need to adequately cleanse the entire face and neck area.

My skin was a mix of very itchy and sensitive acne as well as having very large pores with a lot of blackheads. After using this mousse for the past four weeks it has cleared up considerably and is starting to look a lot smoother, less red and a lot less oily. I have noticed some small dry sections where my skin was affected the worst but these areas are not sore or irritated at all and after I complete my usual moisturising routine of a night they are barely able to be seen.

SkinB5 is Australian made and owned and was started by acne sufferers.They have a very informative website that explains their entire acne control system as well as giving additional information on all of the products available.

If you have suffered from acne and haven't found that wonder product that works for you yet, I highly recommend giving this one a go. Considering the difference I have noticed with only using one part of the entire system, I can imagine that if all of the recommended products are used in harmony together then the result would be even better.

Has anyone else tried these products yet? Does anyone else get as excited to try Australian owned and made skincare products as I do??

Have a great weekend!

Michelle xx

Review - Maskd 'The Green Mask'

A while ago I was sent some samples of this mask to try and unfortunately at the time I only got to use it once before my pregnancy skin went haywire and I decided to only use very gentle products until I had my baby and my skin returned back to normal.

Since having our new bub, my skin pretty much healed within a couple of weeks and it was a very exciting time for me to dig out all of the products I had stored up and could start using again, including 'The Green Mask'.

Maskd is an Australian product developed by Beauty Therapist, Carlie Lansdown. It has been created using all natural ingredients and is suitable for all skin types. Some of the benefits of using 'The Green Mask' are as follows:

* Smooths lines and wrinkles
* Sooths damaged skin & reduces scarring
* Permits fresh, glowing skin
* Allows natural oil flow
* Moistens dry skin
* Covers blemishes
* Improves application of makeup

When I first received this product to try I was a little apprehensive when I saw the tag line was 'Can you handle the sting?' Anything that comes with a message like that sounds a little daunting to someone with sensitive skin like mine.

Fortunately, I didn't actually feel any 'sting' when I applied the mask and I was really surprised at how comfortable it was to apply and leave on the skin while it worked its magic.

As the name suggests, Maskd is a green mask and claims to be similar to experiencing a microdermabrasion treatment. I left the mask on for around 15 minutes each application and it certainly felt like my skin was much smoother and more hydrated after use and this feeling lasted for a couple of days afterwards. It was easy to apply and spread over the face and was also easily removed with a damp face cloth (I used the one in the picture above that was sent with the samples).

I would definitely recommend this mask to anyone looking for a natural product which leaves the skin feeling brand new and that doesn't irritate. Currently, Maskd can be purchased direct from their website here and it costs $49.95 for 50mls.

What's your favourite face mask to use at the moment?

Have an awesome week!

Michelle xx  

She's Here! Introducing Zara Eve!

So, on the 10th of this month we finally got to meet our new little bundle of joy 'Zara Eve'.

Born weighing just a tiny 2.94 kilos and measuring 46cm in length, this little girl already has the whole household wrapped around her teeny little fingers.

I had an elective caesarian at 37 weeks and 5 days due to the constant pain and problems I was having in my pregnancy and even though she was almost three weeks early we were very lucky that she was completely healthy and had no complications at all.

At the moment we are still getting into the new baby routines all over again that we have been out of for quite some time since having our 4 year old son but the second time around is definitely a hell of a lot easier in my opinion. You just seem to go with the flow a lot more because you realise there's no use in fighting it.

One thing that just melts my heart is how in love our son is with his new baby sister. He hardly lets her out of his sight and thinks she is the most beautiful thing in the whole wide world. It's just so wonderful to watch him hold her and interact with her.

Hopefully this new addition won't affect my blog posting too much as she seems to be a very settled and easy going baby so far. I know this can change in a heartbeat though so I'm taking advantage of things while I can, especially since hubby has taken three weeks off to help out as well. I've already gone back to working from home a few hours a day and have plans to take her into the office with me in a couple of weeks to see how we go.

In case things do take a turn for the worst and I don't make an appearance on here for a while, I sincerely apologise now in advance :-)

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend!

Michelle xx

Autumn Sunset Eye Look

So, I have been trying to get out of my comfort zone a little bit lately and get back into being more experimental with my makeup. I figure in a week or so when bub number two is finally here my care factor in doing my makeup is going to take a very big nose dive and I'll be lucky to get out of the house with some concealer and mascara on so I should be trying to make the most of it now while I still can.

The other day I was going through some of my old palettes and I came across one that I haven't given any love to in a very long time and that was my Savoir Faire Cosmetics 'Winter' kit.

I seriously loved this kit when I first got it but as what always happens when I get shiny new things some of the older stuff gets forgotten about.

So, here is the look that I created using the shadows in this kit the other day which I have dubbed my 'Autumn Sunset' eye look (yes, I am fully aware it is not Autumn in Australia right now but I just liked the name :-))

I used my three favourite shades from the kit to achieve this look which were 'Devout' (the pale beige shade on the top right) applied all over the lid as a base up to the brow bone, then I blended 'Spicy' (the coppery shade on the bottom left) into my crease before applying a light dusting of 'Kinetic' (the purple shade in the middle of the top row) onto the centre of the lid and blending out to the edges.

Here is a breakdown of the rest of the products I used for this look.

Face:
* Avon Ideal Shade Souffle Foundation in Ivory (I love, love, love this foundation at the moment for my dry and irritated hormonal skin!)
* Napoleon Perdis The One Concealer
* Physicians Formula Translucent Powder
* The Balm blush in Hot Mama
* Prestige Mineral Bronzing Powder in Sunbaked as a highlight

Eyes:
* Mirenesse Sexy Secret Eye Primer (this stuff seriously makes my eyeshadow stay crease free for an entire day which is a miracle with my super hooded eyes)
* Mirenesse Touch Up Brow Sculpter
* Mirenesss Inside Out 27Hr Eye Kohl in Amun
* Rimmel Wake Me Up Wonder Full Mascara in Black

Lips:
* Colour by TBN Lipstick in A Kiss is Still a Kiss
* Savoir Faire Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Fierce

Overall I really loved this look and didn't find it too much for wearing to work either even though it is a lot brighter than what I usually go for in the daytime.

Do you sometimes like the experiment and break out of your comfort zone during the day, or do you prefer to play around with different looks on the weekend or at night when it's a bit more safe?

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Michelle xx

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Self Tan Mousse in Medium

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive the Rimmel Sun Shimmer Self Tan Mousse to trial from Beautyheaven and even though it was the middle of winter I must admit that I really enjoyed using it.

The Sun Shimmer Self Tan Mousse claims to be a lightweight, velvety mousse that dries within 2 minutes, gives up to 24hrs of moisture and develops into a natural looking, streak free tan within 1 hour that lasts for up to 7 days. 

The mousse is definitely easy to apply from the pump applicator onto a tanning mitt and did distribute nice and evenly over the skin.

The shade I received was Medium and as you can see in the below photo the mousse has a slight tint to it and in over an hour or so it developed into a really lovely, natural looking tan. The tint in the mousse made it really easy to know where I had applied it which helped to ensure an even application and it also gave my skin a nice glow straight away until it fully developed.

One thing I really love about this self tan is the scent. I didn't seem to get any of the usual tell-tale tan smell after application and instead it had a lovely, fresh, floral scent to it that wasn't too overpowering and was actually quite pleasant in my opinion.

When applied the mousse felt weightless on my skin and didn't leave any dryness or greasiness behind. It dried really fast and definitely left my skin feeling moisturised.  

The only issue I have is that I was sent the medium shade to review when I am very pale and normally only use a light shade of self tan. I found the medium just a tad too dark for my skin and it did streak a little bit if I wasn't very careful because there was such a large contrast against my normal skin tone once it developed.

Left - bare leg prior to tanning, Right - an hour after application

I'm certainly going to get some good use out of this self tan once the weather starts to warm up again though and will be keen to try the light shade next time which might not be so scary and need such precise application on my pale skin.

Has anyone else tried this self tan as yet? What does everyone prefer, a mousse, cream or spray for their self tan?

Have a great week!

Michelle xx

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Quince - The Ultimate 'Pick Me Up' Shade

As most of you would know I haven't really been feeling myself lately due to my skin and body working against me in the final stages of pregnancy.

Due to this, for quite a while now I have been wearing very heavy foundation but minimal everything else to try and minimise any attention being drawn to my face and skin. My makeup routine has pretty much consisted of a neutral eye, natural pink cheeks and a muted lip in either a nude or pale pink shade.

But you know what? Sometimes a girl just needs a little pick me up and this Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Quince has been my little 'feel good' shade on those days when I've been in need of breaking out of my muted makeup look.

The Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils are a thick lip crayon with a lovely soft and buttery texture. They give off a fairly matte lip look and come in wind up packaging which I love because there's nothing worse than having to sharpen lip crayons in my opinion.

These lip pencils are SUPER pigmented just as the name suggests. When I first purchased this a while ago from Sephora and tried it on I scared myself with how full-on it applied on my lips. I subsequently put it away in my makeup drawer and it didn't see the light of day again until I worked up enough courage a couple of weeks ago to try it out again.

Quince is described as a 'Rose Berry' and it is such a stunning shade, especially during these dull winter months. 

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Quince

It applies very evenly as the crayon itself is quite soft and the colour lasts for practically an entire day as it wears off leaving a nice stain on the lips that can be brought back to life just by applying a top coat of either a pale pink or clear gloss.

It doesn't feel drying on the lips at all but does have a tendency to bleed a little into the lip lines unless a lip liner is used or a bit of concealer is applied around the lip area to seal the colour in. I like to use an invisible lip liner so that the end shade isn't affected and an invisible liner also doesn't make the lips look as 'done' in my opinion either.

In the above picture I had been wearing the High Pigment Pencil in Quince for around two hours already during a morning meeting consisting of a lot of talking and coffee drinking and it was still as punchy and flawless as when it was first applied. I haven't put up a picture of my face in months so please excuse the mars-like surface of my poor skin in this one. This was actually taken on what I consider a 'good skin' day where I was actually able to conceal it to a decent level :-) 

This is the first Bite Beauty product I have tried and it's certainly made me keen to try some other items from their range now. 

On another note, I only have two more weeks to go until bub comes so to say I'm excited is an understatement!

Has anyone else tried one of these High Pigment Pencils before? I'm keen to know what other shades are really good and worth trying.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Michelle xx

Napoleon Perdis Nude U Eyes, Cheeks and Brows Palette - I've Never Loved Going Nude So Much!

So a little while ago I decided to treat myself to a little gift. As I have mentioned previously I have been feeling a bit crappy lately due to having quite a few unexpected problems with my second pregnancy which has included having skin that has turned into the surface of the planet Mars.

Due to this I've toned down my use of bright makeup a lot and have been focusing more on covering my horrible skin as best as I can and keeping the rest of my look as polished and un-attention seeking as possible.

Hence my recent love for this wonderful palette!

I have always had a bit of a soft spot for Napoleon Perdis products and have never really been disappointed by any that I have tried. After seeing rave after rave of the Nude U Eyes, Cheeks and Brows Palette everywhere, I seriously could not resist getting my hands on one when I was browsing through my local David Jones one day.

Isn't it pretty??

This is seriously one versatile palette and using it has reduced my getting ready time substantially in the mornings.

I have become a bit obsessed with using a combination of the second shade on the top row as a base all over my eyelids, then using the shade on far right on the bottom row blended in the outer corner along with the darkest brown in my crease. I also love using the purple shade as a quick eyeliner to brighten the look ever so slightly.

I also love using the shade on the far right of the bottom row to fill in my brows as it matches them perfectly. The first shade on the top row makes such a lovely inner corner and cheekbone highlighter too and any of the browner shades would be great for contouring if you really wanted to make the most out of this great little palette!

Now, for some swatches:

Napoleon Perdis Nude U Palette - Top Row

Napoleon Perdis Nude U Palette - Bottom Row

One other thing I love about this palette is how soft and blendable the powders are. The shades are all buildable in their intensity and they blend like there's no tomorrow. I find that they last most of the work day without creasing too which is something that I have problems with quite often because of my stupid hooded eyes.

Have you tried this little gem of a palette yet? Is it just me or has Napoleon Perdis really stepped things up a level with their products lately?

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Michelle xx

Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick in Just Pinched Pink

Hello there! Remember me? Yep, I've been on a little blogging break again due to having a very hard time with this second pregnancy and losing interest in pretty much everything that required a little bit of effort other than my work (unfortunately I still need to earn money to pay bills no matter how much of a hard time I'm having :-()

Without going into too much of a long-winded complaint session, my entire face became covered in a hybrid acne-cross-eczema blend about three months ago (aren't hormones wonderful things??) and due to that I'll honestly admit that I have been a bit depressed because I am unable to leave my house without spending half an hour applying the thickest foundation on earth just so I don't feel that everyone is staring at me wherever I go. It's extremely painful too and nothing seems to be helping.

I've also had an issue where my pelvis separated around 4 months into being pregnant which means that every week since then the simple acts of walking, sleeping and just moving about in general have been getting harder and harder and more painful than I can possibly describe to the point where I am about as active as a 90 year old. This happened to me last time with my first son but not until the last month so it's been a big shock to the system to have happened so early this time around.

Anyhoo, enough of the whinge session and onto the point of this post which is to have a bit of a rave about my latest blush love, the Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick in Just Pinched Pink.

I bought this blush a little while ago at the supermarket (technically it's a staple purchase if you can get it with your groceries, right?) because I was desperately after a blush to try that wouldn't make my poor skin look drier and flakier than it already did and that was only a very subtle shade so I didn't look like death warmed up or a clown with my already cakey enough foundation.

This blush has definitely ticked all the boxes as far as what I was after in a new cheek product at this sensitive point in time.

It comes in a wind up stick formulation and Just Pinched Pink is a really pretty pastel pink shade that suits my pale skin quite well. I love to sweep this on straight from the stick and then blend it out with my Becca 'One Perfecting Brush' or my fingers depending on what mood I am in. It dries to a lovely satin-like powder finish but doesn't accentuate any of the lumps and bumps that are currently on my face which is just wonderful in my opinion.

Any powder blushes I try to use on my skin in the state that it has been in just seem to settle into the dry, itchy patches which makes my skin look ancient and I also have to be very careful with what shades I use as so many clash with the extra redness currently in my skin as well. This has made me so grateful that I can use this blush without any issues.

It also lasts practically an entire day without fading which is also great as I am way too lazy to do touch-ups throughout my days at the moment.

Here are some swatches of this wonderful product:

Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick in Just Pinched Pink - In natural light

Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick in Just Pinched Pink - With flash

Considering this blush can be picked up for around $15 I don't think you could go wrong in picking one up. I keep eyeing off the other shades in the range now but am just waiting until I can have this baby in another 4 weeks when hopefully my skin will start to recover and go back to normal!

Have you ever had a simple product that kind of 'rescued' you like this one did for me?

I hope everyone has a great week!

Michelle xx