I've been M.I.A

So...... I've been M.I.A from my blog for a long time now, but have recently decided to get back on board and get this thing moving!

Ive had a lot going on in my life in the past year, some good things and some not so good things, and now I'm ready to start a new chapter of my life. So as I step into this new chapter I have been thinking a lot about what makes me happy, what I want from life and my career and where I see myself going. It's not an easy thing for me as I am someone who struggles with what 'I' want and what I think I should be doing...I know...I tend to care too much about what other people think and thats something I'm working on. While I am still considering my direction professionally, I have decided that one thing I know makes me happy is writing and having a creative outlet....which brings me back to my blog!

I have a lot of ideas for this blog as I'm stepping into this new chapter of life...beauty, skin care, fashion, and lifestyle.

Please stay tuned! :-)

xxx

Michael Todd True Organics Antiox Serum - Review

I recently purchased the oily skin kit from the Michael Todd True Organics website. One of the products in the kit was the Antiox Serum and this is my review of product.

 

The Antiox Serum is the first product that I used up from the kit, and I am planning on reviewing the other products as I finish them up so that I can offer my complete thoughts on each item. Here is what the Michael Todd True Organics website says about the serum;

Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE work synergistically to visibly resurface skin's texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores, to reveal a radiant and healthy complexion. 

 

This serum includes a range of antioxidant vitamins in a base of healing aloe vera juice to help fight free radicals and environmental stress. To this we added extracts of oranges, lemons and cranberries and essential oils of sweet orange, lemon, lime, tangerine and bergamot to soothe, moisturize and nourish. This unique serum will give your skin the boost it needs.

Now the first thing I noticed was the ingredient DMAE (short for dimethylethanolamine). The reason it was familiar to me is because I had been listening to one of Dr Perrisone MD's audio books and he talked about DMAE being found in salmon and being extremely good for the skin. I found out that it is a yellow coloured liquid, which is reflected in the yellow colour of this serum.

The packaging of this product is a dislike for me. I like the colour and the general look of the packaging, but the pump action dispenser is not to my liking. The pump is very "springy" and makes it extremely difficult to control the amount of product coming out. One full pump is far too much for one use and due to this reason I used up all 30mL of this product in about 3.5 weeks.

Another thing I don't like is the smell. The first thing I thought when I put it on my face was that the smell reminded me of my aunt who is a cigarette smoker. I know! It's such a strange smell, I'm not saying that it straight up smells like cigarettes, but something in it just reminded me of how my aunt smells and I associate it with her smoking. However, in saying that, the smell does dissipate, and after a couple of uses I didn't mind it at all.

Overall, I liked the Michael Todd Antiox Serum. I felt like it was very moisturising and hydrating and I didn't feel the need to put a moisturiser on over top of it. I loved the way it made my skin feel, and despite the strange smell and annoying pump, I would repurchase this product once I try out some others I have in my cupboard.

Have you tried this product?

'Hara' lipstick by Napoleon Perdis

Wow, it has been a couple of months since I posted something...woops! Anyway, back into it...


This is one of my favourite lipsticks so I thought I'd share. It is one of the Napoleon Perdis Devine Goddess Lipsticks in the colour Hara. 

It's a bright orange colour that is perfect for spring/summer but I also like to use it in Autumn/Winter occasionally when I feel like brightening things up. Its a velvety, almost matte finish with no shimmer and its very long lasting. I don't find it drying on my lips. I am someone who suffers a lot from dry lips so I always use a balm or treatment to keep them moisturised so if you don't take care of your lips you might find it drying, but on me it's nice and creamy. 


In this picture I have used a hot pink lip liner underneath all over my lips just to make it slightly more pink.

Do you have a favourite bright orange lipstick?

What's in my travel make-up bag?

Im going away this weekend for 3 days to Sydney for our anniversary and last night I sat down and decided what make-up to take. My husband said this was still too much to take, but I feel like a did a good job at not taking too much!! As a make-up addict I think I did pretty well at keeping it to the necessities!

Ill move from left to right....

1. Australis Fresh and Flawless Pressed Powder - 'Natural'
2. Napoleon Perdis Might Concealer Pen - 'Pink Beige'
3. Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre Foundation Primer
4. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel (de-potted into a little travel container)
5. Benefit High Beam Highlighter
6. Loreal NutriShine Lipsticks x3 - 'Pink Rose', 'Pink Nude', and 'Nudy Pink'
7. Napoleon Perdis Lip Liner - 'Pink Slip'
8. Napoleon Perdis Pro Palette Concealer
9. Nars Sheer Glow - 'Monte Blanc'
10. Napoleon Perdis Off Duty Tinted Moisturizer - 'Light/Medium'
11. Napoleon Perdis lip glosses x2 (no colour names as they came in a limited edition Christmas pack)
12. Rimmel Soft Kohl Pencil - 'Black'
13. Elizabeth Arden Eye Pencil - 'Espresso'
14. Savvy by DB Eyeliner - 'White'
15. Napoleon Perdis Eyebrow Pencil - 'Pale Rider'
16. Napoleon Perdis Desk to Dusk palette (this was a limited edition palette from Christmas 2011)
17. MAC Paint Pot - 'Bare Study'
18. La Femme eye shadow - 'Pewter'
19. Napoleon Perdis Creme De La Creme eye shadow - 'Quick Silver'
20. Napoleon Perdis colour disc (eye shadow) - "Amethyst Bling'
21. MAC eye shadows x2 - 'Patina' and 'Vanilla'
22. Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara- Water Proof

xxx

Shoe love - Nordstrom

I just read somewhere that Nordstrom now ships to Australia so I thought I'd jump on-line and see what they had in their sale section. Now this weekend I'm going to Sydney on a shopping trip with my husband for our 1 year anniversary, so I'm saving my shopping money for then, but that doesn't stop me from looking and getting ideas and inspiration...

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/sale-womens-shoes?origin=leftnav


Via Spiga 'Acacia' Bootie
Was: AUD 254.8Now: AUD 127.350% OFF

BP. 'Search' Lace-Up BootieWas: AUD 142.64Now: AUD 94.6933% OFF





REPORT 'Ceron' BootieWas: AUD 112.06Now: AUD 74.333% OFF



Martinez Valero 'Zoie' PumpWas: AUD 131.43Now: AUD 65.1350% OFF

Small haul

Last week I bought a few new products, one was a necessary item and the others were spur of the moment items that I picked up. One in particular I am SUPER excited about as Ive been wanting it for so long.

The necessary item was a new pressed powder - Australis Fresh and Flawless Pressed Powder

I'd heard that this was a great powder - long lasting, high coverage and a dupe for the Mac Studio Fix powder. So far I'm loving it!! 

I got it in the colour Natural which is the lightest - There's only 3 shades.

I went into Priceline to browse on my lunch break and ended up picking up the new Rimmel foundation - called Wake Me Up. I got it in the lightest shade Ivory.

(I accidently deleted the photo I took of this product but here's an internet picture)

And while I was heading to the checkout to buy the foundation I picked up a brush. I don't really know why, but I touched the tester and it felt super soft so I just decided to take it with me to the checkout. It's from an Australian cheaper brand called Models Prefer. 

And the thing I'm most excited for - Soleil Tan De Chanel which I have wanted for a long time and finally went and bought it. I was in David Jones re-purchasing my skin care items and wandered over to the Chanel counter while I was there.

This picture shows the Soleil Tan De Chanel at the bottom, that's not blended, that is a swatch straight from the container to my hand. 

To the top/right is a squirt of the Rimmel foundation and the the top/left is the foundation blended out. 

Fashion post - Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy

Hi,

I recently read the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead and LOVED IT!

I love the main character, Rose because she is such a strong personality that I really admire. Whenever I really fall in love with a character I always feel inspired to do a bit of Googling about their style (fashion/hair/make-up). So I browsed the web for Rose Hathaway style pics and found the below in Google images which were from http://www.polyvore.com/

http://www.polyvore.com/ is a great website. I check it out nearly everyday when I just feel like browsing fashion looks and trends.

I really like what I found for the Rose Hathaway looks, probably because what I found is very much my style. I do mix up my style with trends and different moods I might be in, but the below pics are what I would say is my overall constant style. I tend to be a simple yet classy kind of dresser with a touch of edginess (i.e. a leather jacket, military boots, edgy accessories, etc).

My favourite section is the last picture/grouping. I absolutely ADORE the boots and handbag! and I also really love the jacket in the first picture/grouping.

Have you read the books? 
What items in these pictures do you like best and what do you think of this overall style?

Courtney 

xoxo