Push-Up Volume Hairspray by Schwarzkopf

Friday 30 August 2013

Earlier this week, I went shopping in search of a miracle product to add some much needed volume to my very fine hair.  Well, I'm not sure that this is necessarily the miracle I was looking for, but nonetheless, I'm really enjoying using Schwarzkopf's Push-up Volume Hairspray.
 
I know there are probably a million different products that I could have come home with for this purpose, but in reality - I'm on a pretty tight budget, so I was really after something inexpensive, with a name I'd heard of, and an impressive write-up.
 
I liked the idea of this being a hairspray that adds volume, as opposed to just a volume booster on its own (mainly because I was out of hairspray as well, so why not?).  But also because, to me, keeping my routine simple is important.  I struggle enough as it is in the morning, so I certainly don't need to be adding extra steps into my "getting ready" routine, if not completely necessary!  The other attraction being the price - less than $7.00 at Priceline.
 
 
I really like this product.  In all honesty - it's by no means the best volumising product out there, but I do find it gives a little bit of lift and it leaves my hair feeling nice and fluffy.  It doesn't weigh my hair down or make it feel dirty like a lot of hair products seem to - especially in fine hair.  It's easy to use and the hold is good.
 
All in all, I'm really happy with this spray.  Does it give amazing volume and lift?  No.  But it is a lovely product to use, and I like the way it feels in my hair.  I'd certainly consider repurchasing in the future as an every day hairspray.
 
I'd love to know if you've tried this yourself, or if you have a favourite volumising product you can't go without.  So please do comment and let me know!

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Thursday 29 August 2013

I love these words from the legendary, Bob Dylan.  So beautiful...
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Benefit 'It's Potent!' Eye Cream

Friday 16 August 2013

I'm really enjoying Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream at the moment!  I received it as a sample when I purchased the POREfessional Primer a few weeks ago, so I thought I'd give it a go.  I've read a few reviews on this that weren't so favourable, but I really like it so far - even if only I find that if I put it on before applying makeup, it seems to moisturise quite well and concealer seems to go on smoother.
 
However, that's not what it's marketed for so I can understand some of the frustration.  This is a cream that claims to help fade dark circles and reduce the appearance of fine lines.  It contains apple extract, which is also known to help boost collagen.
 
I'm not sure that I've been using it long enough to really know if it's made any difference to dark circles and lines, but I do enjoy using it every day under my makeup.  It smells quite nice and soaks into the skin quickly.
 
I've heard a few reports of this particular cream causing irritation, but my skin is ultra sensitive and I haven't had any issues with it so far.  It tingles a little bit when first applied, but that's really it.  However, do keep this in mind if you're planning on giving it a try.
 

I'd love to know what you think of this product if you've tried it, so please do comment and let me know if you'd like to share
Update: As I mentioned when I originally uploaded this post, I had not been using this cream for very long.  After another week of using it, I have found that my skin has been quite irritated and red directly under my eyes.  In a couple of spots, a few sore and red blotches have appeared and the only thing I can attribute it to is the cream.  I wanted to share this updated info, because I pride myself on being completely honest and only promoting products I genuinely love and believe in.  I am a huge fan of Benefit, and have loved every other product of theirs that I've tried.  However, this one I think may be a little bit too potent for my sensitive skin and I won't be using it anymore.
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How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Recently I've received a couple of requests for a post on the best way to clean and take care of your makeup brushes.  Well, I'm not sure what the best way is, but I can certainly share with you how I clean my own.  So that's what I'm going to do today. 
  1. First I start by running the brushes under warm water, to remove any excess makeup
  2. Then I fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and add a little shampoo - baby shampoo is best, but any gentle shampoo will do
  3. Next I swirl the brushes around in the water and I like to also swirl them around on my hand to build up a good lather before rinsing
  4. I then rinse them under the warm water again and repeat the first few steps until the water runs clean
  5. Once I'm happy that the brushes are lovely and clean, I use a face cloth to dry off the excess water and then lay them out to dry, usually overnight

It's important to make sure that during the process - especially when drying - that you try to keep the bristles in shape.  If the dry all over the place, you will never be able to get them back to normal again.  Also try to concentrate the water on only the bristles as much as possible, and avoid getting the metal parts wet as this will loosen the glue over time.

So that's how I do it!  I hope this has been of some help.  It's so important to take care of good quality brushes - they're worth it!
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MAC Mineralize Skinfinish

Sunday 11 August 2013

MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle, has become one of my favourite products of all time!  I got it as a gift a while back and pretty much put it in my makeup drawer and forgot all about it - oops!  So when I found it the other day, it felt like Christmas!
 
It really is one of the best highlighters on the market.  Although it doesn't look like much in the container - on the skin it's really beautiful.  I find that I only need a small amount to get a really pretty shimmer, but it's also buildable, so you can use as much or as little as you like depending on your skin colour and preference.
 
 

I really love this product and I definitely recommend it if you are in the market for a new highlighter.  It looks lovely on all skin colours - however fair or dark, and it's awesome value considering you only need to use the tiniest amount each time.  Absolutely give it a go!  I know you'll love it as much as I do!

Visit www.maccosmetics.com.au for your nearest stockists and current RRP's.
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Clean Eating Plan

Sunday 4 August 2013

This week I have started a new eating plan, in a bid to lose weight and get healthy.  I'm so sick of feeling bad about myself and not feeling well, it's time to start making changes and feeling better!
 
I've been trying to lose weight on and off for a while, but I always seem to lose a kilo or two and then lose motivation.  But more importantly, I have had various health issues over the years and really, I just don't feel good!  It occurred to me that I'm at a point in my life - planning my wedding and wanting to start a family in the next few years - where I really just want to feel better and be as healthy as I can be.  Maybe my diet won't fix everything, but it's sure to help at least a little bit, so I decided to look into a clean eating plan.
 

Clean eating is basically just about trying to eat fresh, whole and natural foods - wherever possible - that haven't been processed or altered artificially.
I have heard a lot of good things about the Ashy Bines Clean Eating program, so I thought that would be a good place to start.  So this week, I've been using Ashy's recipes to create my own little eating plan.  So far, I'm really loving the food!  I thought I would have to stick to it under sufferance - but the food is actually really lovely!
 
To give you an example of the meal plan, here is my food diary from yesterday:
 
Breakfast: Ashy's Clean Banana & Strawberry Smoothie - with natural yoghurt and a pinch of cinnamon for flavour
Lunch: Mixed salad with green olives, cheese, bean sprouts and mushrooms, with a dash of balsamic vinegar
Dinner: Ashy's Clean Baked Fish with steamed green beans, broccoli and carrot
Snacks: Fresh fruit, green tea and Ashy's Clean Peanut Butter & Banana Cookies
 
I really like this plan so far and I'm looking forward to experimenting with more recipes.  I'm ready to feel better about myself, and I really hope this will help!  I am also a big fan of the My Fitness Pal app, which I'm using to keep track of my calorie intake and exercise to help with weight loss.
 
I'd love to hear from you if you have tried this plan, or something similar - so please do contact me if you'd like to share your experience! 
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