My 25 Most Used Products Of 2009.

There has been a lot of these posts going around recently and here is my little take on it!




25. Rimmel The MAX Volume Flash Mascara. Purchased on 29th December after my Lancome Hypnose Mascara succumbed to the heat, this mascara did enough in 3 days to impress me and make it onto this list. It is basically fake lashes in a tube, a bright pink tube too!

24. Johnson's Holiday Skin Daily Facial Moisturiser. I love how this gives me a hint of colour all year round. It also does not break me out like most other fake tans do to my face.

23. LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter. Smells gorgeous and works well. Everyone needs this in their bag, next to their bed or on their desk!!

22. Tigi Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray. Holds, adds shine and smells fantastic.

21. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. Purchased after a rave review from Laura (Lollipop26), loved because it is so gentle and delivers amazing results.

20. The Body Shop Tantalizing Yes, Yes, Yes / Oui, Oui, Oui Lip Butter. Raved about in the beauty world this year, one of the best lip butters from The Body Shop I have tried (and I have tried MANY!)

19. KEVIN.MURPHY Hair.Resort. Summery beach hair in a bottle! Adds fullness and volume, reduces frizz and smells like a Pina Colada!!

18. Olay Gentle Foaming Face Wash with Aloe. I am not sure what made me pick this up but I am glad I did as it is fantastic at keeping breakouts at bay when my skin is being too sensitive to handle my harsher skincare products.

17. Bare Escentuals i.d. Bareminerals Glimmer Eyeshadow in Queen Tiffany. Makes my green eyes stand out even more than they already do! Can be used day and night.. amazing colour!

16. Lakme Teknia Deep Care Drops. Smells lovely and adds shine without looking oily. I never leave the house without adding this to my hair after styling it.

15. NARS Single Cream Eyeshadow in Corfu. Sure it creases and does not last without a base but I love the colour. Plus it fits in well with my usually lazy eye routine of a swipe of 1-2 colours, then eyeliner and mascara. LOVE IT!

14. MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Gentle Coral. I use this mostly in the summer as it looks best with a tan. The smell is AMAZING.

13. MD Skincare Correct & Perfect Spot Treatment. Contains sulfur so it does not smell the best but it will zap a nasty breakout over night.

12. Tresemme Volume and Lift Mousse. Gives my hair lasting volume and smells divine. See my review on it here.

11. Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-In-1 Cleanser/Mask. Neutrogena skincare rarely fails to impress and this is one of the best. The entire Rapid Clear range (called something different in every country for some reason) is fantastic.

10. Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream. I LOVE this, me and my hair could not live without it.

9. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. Best top coat I have ever used - adds shine, dries fast and makes nail polish LAST.

8. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Lingerie Pink. I don't think anyone who watched a beauty video or read a beauty blog in 2009 went without buying one of these lipsticks! I got Lingerie Pink because Lorraine (The Current Custom) raved about it so much and it has not failed to disappoint.

7. AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask for Oily Skin. I use this 1-2 times a week and it makes my skin look and feel so nice. If I have a pimple or I am getting too shiny during the day, this will reduce it.

6. OPI Nail Polish in ElePhantastic Pink. I finally found the perfect pink for me, not too bright and not too pale. Looks great on both your tips and toes!

5. Revlon Colorstay Foundation. This covers well and stays put, I only wish it had a pump as it is a little difficult to get the right amount of product out.

4. LUSH Big Shampoo. This is raved about by some, hated by others so I decided to give it a go. I LOVE how this smells and makes my hair look and feel - so shiny and clean!

3. Rimmel Moisture Renew in Nude Delight. AMAZING peachy/nude colour that I have worn from winter into spring and now summer. I get so many compliments when I wear it and cannot rave about it enough.

2. Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf. FAVOURITE FRAGRANCE EVER.. and I have purchased many!

1. MAC Studio Finish Concealer. Without a doubt the best thing I purchased in 2009, I think a couple of mornings I even kissed it for making me look as close to human as possible after a late night/early morning or a break out. It covers EVERYTHING and does not look caked on, everyone needs this in their life!


What was your favourite product in 2009?

Where Have I Been and Where Am I Going?

I have hesitated writing this entry many times as I never wanted to reveal too much about my personal life here. I wanted it to be all fun, fashion and beauty! I do feel I need to explain and apologise for my lack of blogging and commenting recently.

My boyfriend and I recently broke up after almost 11 years together. I am doing much better than I was and feeling positive about what the future holds. A break up is still hard and takes a fair bit out of you and unfortunately blogging has been the furthest thing from my mind. I am at a different place in my life than when I started blogging (obviously!) and recently started to think about why I started this blog in the first place.

In the new year, I will be turning the direction of my blog into more of a fashion one as that is my true love. I buy a lot of Australian labels (from: MyCatwalk, BIRDMOTEL, Australian Flavour, Ciao Meow, Freez, Sportsgirl, Cue, Peep Toe Shoes and Andrea & Joen to name a few as well as some smaller, lesser known local places) so I am not sure if that will be interesting to all of you (plus the seasons are different!). I also love Revolve Clothing, Shopbop, ASOS and Topshop to name a few of the international places I regularly shop at. I am also going to purchase a full length mirror and post my outfits (I am not sure if any of you would be interested in what I wear to work? It is fairly corporate!). Makeup, skincare and nails will not be left out of course as I will still be buying and using those things, I am just not as good at it as the rest of you! I will have my own place come January that I will be buying items for (from local markets, Ikea and Etsy!!) so I will also be showing that. I plan on running a marathon in 2010 so I will share some of my training for that too as well as other exercise and health things! Would you be interested in me posting easy, healthy meal ideas? I make LOTS of salads at the moment!!

As I am single now I have a lot more time to spend on my blog (until a hot new man comes along that is!!) but I need to focus on what I love and is important to me seeing as this is my little place online. I am still not sure about making my debut on YouTube but as I will be living alone it is even more of a possibility I guess! I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for following me this year and taking the time to read and comment, it really means so much ♥ I hope you will all continue with me on this next chapter in my life!

I trust you are all enjoying your holidays, staying safe and spending time with those that you love. I spent Christmas with my family, having a BBQ and relaxing by the pool. It was wonderful and I am looking forward to what is to come in 2010..

xox

Monday Poll 009.

The Temptation of St. Anthony (Salvador Dali, 1946)

I am not having a very good time at the moment, hence the lack of proper posts. I am not going to go into it on here but I will say that looking at anything by Salvador Dali makes me feel much better. This particular image reminds me of dreams I used to have when I was little. I would feel really small or big in a huge white room/nothingness and anything there would also seem small or large, close or far.

Mood: Angry and sad.

The chores you dislike the most? Cleaning the bathroom.

What color are your eyes? Green.

Are you ticklish? Yes, especially around my stomach.

Eyes/lips/cheeks: I have SO much stuff but it is the same as usual.. NARS Corfu Cream Eyeshadow, Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner, Lancome Hypnose Mascara/Rimmel Nude Delight Lipstick, NARS Orgasm Lipgloss/NARS Laguna and Orgasm.

What’s your favorite holiday? Australia Day.. fun in the sun without the stress of Christmas! Drinking, bbq's and a MASSIVE fireworks display.

Have you ever cried at work? Yes but not for a long time. When I was younger and just starting out I would go to the bathroom and cry when I could not figure something out.

Would you survive a zombie invasion? Doubt it.

Outfit: Work - Grey Cue dress, Black Bardot blazer, Black Sachi heels, Home - Bonds singlet and Sportsgirl denim shorts.

Weekly goals: Find $1,800 and not become homeless, pack, move, work and stay positive!

Want Big Hair? Use This!

They say: For extra body and shine Tresemme Volume and Lift Mousse is a professional formula containing pro vitamin B5 and UV filter to strengthen hair and protect against environmental damage. The level of hold is minium for soft flowing styles. For extra volume, blow dry at the roots with head upside down until almost dry and then finish drying with head upright.

I apply this to my hair either before or about half way through blow drying. I then tip my head over and blow dry for a bit before returning to an upright position to finish drying my hair. After doing this my hair has amazing volume - no teasing or anything! My hair is wavy and it kind of defined the curl in my hair too.. bonus!! I have used this in the morning and brushed it (I prefer to brush it through a bit so it is not too stiff like mousse tends to leave your hair) and still had volume at the end of the day.

Not the volume that some of you require but enough of a lift for me. I prefer to stay away from teasing as it looks like it is so damaging to your hair and asking for split ends!

For reference: my hair is thin but there is LOTS of it and it is fairly long and layered.

Monday Poll 008.

Anyone else addicted to watching Glee? I am in love with Puck ♥

Mood: Sleepy.

Are you having a good hair day? No.

Ever had a job with a uniform? What did it look like? Yes, I worked in a pharmacy and the uniform was a pale lime green top, navy blue skirt and blazer, a bright green and orange scarf and stockings (even during summer!). Sexxyyy!

What book are you reading right now? Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

Eyes/lips/cheeks: Nothing at the moment as it is too hot to wear makeup once I am at home of an evening. Earlier it was the same as it has been the past few weeks.

What’s for breakfast? I had yoghurt.

Have you dated someone shorter than you? I am not attracted to short men so no.

Guys who wear big, bold rings: hot or not? Not.. unless it is David Beckham. That guy can pull off anything!!

Outfit: Work - Grey Cue dress and black heels (I went all out!), Home - Sportsgirl jean shorts and a navy Lauren Conrad top.

Weekly goals: Run for an hour each day, clean and start packing.

Inner Earth Soaps Review + A Giveaway For Australian Residents!

When Keri at Glimmer. Gloss. Glow. was going through her recent handmade soap addiction I decided to have a look on Etsy for any soap makers in Australia. My search turned up only 2-3 and I decided to place an order at Inner Earth Soaps. I got the pack of 3 Handmade Cold Process Soaps and you get to select the soaps you would like so I picked:

* Unwind Soap - Scented with a blend of sweet lavender and refreshing spearmint & peppermint essential oils. Enriched with therapeutic french green clay.
* Vanilla Buttercream Soap - Notes of white chocolate, french vanilla, rum and smooth caramel. Enriched with nourishing cocoa butter and real vanilla bean, this bar is a delicious all-over body treat.
* Grapefruit Crush - Sweet, juicy pink grapefruit with hints of fresh lemon, Japanese yuzu, blood orange and cranberry. Coloured naturally with annatto seed powder and therapeutic clays.

The soaps arrived quick and were perfectly packaged plus there was 2 samples to try - Blush which had the fragrance of a bouquet of roses and A Dreamer's Bar which was scented with anise so the scent was identical to one of my favourite things - licorice.. YUM!

The Unwind Soap is perfect before bed, Grapefruit Crush amazing for a morning pick-me-up and Vanilla Buttercream is excellent for an indulgent treat minus the calories. It is hard for me to pick a favourite but if I had to I would say it is the Grapefruit Crush as the smell made me happy and is a perfect start to the day.

The soaps are made from scratch and the majority are vegan friendly and 100% natural . They lather really well and leave your skin feeling soft and moisturised rather than dry and tight like store-bought soap can make your skin feel. Despite the fact they lather so well the soap seems to last about twice as long as store-bought soap. I purchased the 3 soaps in early September, cut them up and put them into plastic bags. I take a piece out as I need it and I still have 4-5 pieces of soap left (I shower 2-3 times a day too so they are getting used a lot!). I will not be going back to regular soap ever again now I have tried handmade soap that is for sure!

They each come individually wrapped with cellophane, raffia and a label so they make a perfect gift. I know my mums eyes lit up when I opened my package so she will be getting some for Christmas for sure!

I am going to be placing another order very soon. I have Pink Champagne, Bahama Mama and Lemon Vanilla on my list as well as the Salt Glows.

Now for the best part!!

Erin (the maker of these amazing soaps) is having a giveaway over at her blog!

You can go in the draw to win a 3-Month Soap Subscription. The lucky winner will receive 2 of her handmade cold process soaps every month for 3 months - how good is that? Each parcel will be a surprise. The first one will arrive just before Christmas, like a little extra present!

To Enter:
1) Simply visit the Etsy Shop and leave a comment to say which soap or salt glow is your favourite.
2) Get extra entries for tweeting or blogging about this giveaway (please leave your twitter/blog address in your comment).
3) Giveaway closes at midnight on Sunday November 29th (Sydney time).
4) Giveaway is only open to Australian residents.
5) Winner will be chosen using the sophisticated method of Drawing A Name Out Of A Hat.

Good luck!

LUSH.

I went a little crazy buying things at Lush! I recently asked on twitter what everyone recommended and these were the things that everyone raved about. It was the first time I had ever purchased anything for myself from Lush as the very small amount of things I have tried before have all been gifts.


Reviews on everything to follow! So far I am really loving BIG, I Love Juicy, Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter and Therapy Massage Bar!!

Monday Poll 007.

Stockholm Street Style kept me happy and entertained this weekend, along with watching episode after episode of The Rachel Zoe Project. Isn't fashion AMAZING?!!

Mood: Sleepy.

This morning I told myself to _____ . Get up out of bed and go for a run.. and I did!

Three bits of hard-learned makeup advice: 1) Less is always more, 2) DRINK WATER, and 3) Skip mascara altogether if you are going know you are going to cry during the day.

Last text message I sent: “Ok... she rang just after I talked to you. L and M apparently broke up too."

Eyes/lips/cheeks: Same as last week, haha.

Worst current skin issue: How oily it gets with the heat - I am after recommendations for a good powder to combat this as my MAC Blot Powder is not cutting it.

____ make(s) me happy. People saying thank you, The Rachel Zoe Project, fashion, strawberries, my favourite tv shows finishing downloading, drinks and laughs all night with friends, walking along the beach at night, exercise, the weekend, music, Salvador Dali.

____ make(s) me bitchy. People not saying thank you and just being rude. More things make me bitchy (obviously.. I am a female!) but I am not going to list them as this is a happy place :)

Outfit: Work - Cream Country Road blouse, black Witchery pencil skirt, black stockings and black heels, Home - Peter Alexander PJ's.

Weekly goals: Run for at least 40 minutes every day, clean upstairs and stay motivated & busy!!