Holiday Season! Lets get spendy…

So it’s the end of November. How did that happen?? And November means

it’s almost Holiday Season. And Holiday Season means amazing Holiday Gift Sets! 

If you read my blog you will know that I’m overly obsessed with Benefit Cosmetics. It’s purely due to the fact that everything that they come up with is so damn amazing plus their products are great.

Needless to say they have released an amazing Holiday Season collection. Here are my favourite picks…

Perk Up & Away $64

Fast Train To Fabulous $34

She's So Jetset! $36

Away We Glow $36

You can get all these bad boys from the Benefit Website or from a Benefit counter here in Australia (in Myer and they have a few stand alone stores). Prices vary depending on where you buy them, but online is free international shipping with orders over $110. And trust me it’s easy to spend that much on Benefit!

Nat xoxo

What to take on Holidays...

So next week I'm going to Europe! Which I'm oh so excited about. The hard thing about going overseas is decided what to pack, or more like what not to pack since I know I'll be after getting a few things.

So after much decision making this is what I've decided to take away...

1. Benefit's POREfessional

2. Youngblood's Rice Powder

3. Benefit's Boi-ing

4. Nars' Laguna Bronzer

5. MAC's Mocha Blush

6. MAC's Leopard Luxe Eye Shadow

7. Illamasqua's Neutral Palette Eye Shadow

8. Benefit's BAD Gal Mascara

9. Nars' Bourbon Street Eyeliner

10. Stila Lionfish Eye Liner

1. Environ AVST Cleansing Lotion (In a smaller container)

2. Environ AVST Moisturising Toner (In a smaller container)

3. Environ AVST 1 Moisturiser

4. Alpha-H Liquid Gold

5. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream 

6. Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer

7. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Lightweight Sunscreen
8. SK-II's FTE

I'm planning on buying a few things while I'm away, so I'm trying not to take too much with me. Just the basics which I use on a daily basis. 

Nat xoxo

News Flash: Benefit do it again...

If you read my blog you will know that I'm obsessed with Benefit cosmetics. This is something I'm pretty open about. And how can you not be?? They are awesome, fun, innovative, just all around awesome. 




And now they have just come up with these ultra awesome ultra plush glosses. 

What's amazing about these glosses is that they match the box-a-powders. So now your lip gloss and your blush can match!

You can buy the ultra plush glosses from the Benefit website for $16 USD.


Nat xoxo

Brand In The Spotlight: Benefit have done it again!

Needless to say my obsession with Benefit Cosmetics is pretty insane. They do amazing sets, have fabulous holiday ranges plus do amazing collaborations with certain amazing French boutique stores. And they have struck again with some more amazing product combinations. 


With the release of Snow White and the Huntsman (looks like a pretty good file), Benefit have released their own make-up set the ear mark the occasion. 

In this amazing set you get a full sized Porefessional, full sized Bad Girl mascara, luxury sized Benetint and luxury sized Moonbeam. All for only $45. Pretty good value!

When I was checking it out on the website I also saw this amazing set. Thrrob Blush and Hoola Brozer in one set together. I have Hoola myself and it's a pretty good bronzer. 

You can get both of these sets from the Benefit website.


So good work Benefit! Keep up the awesome work.  


Nat xoxo

Product In The Spotlight: Benefit's Cabana Glama

There's nothing I love more then a good make-up palette. It's convenient, easy to carry around, has everything you need and lets you try products before you actually commit to buying a full sized version. And if you read my blog you will know that I love Benefit Cosmetics (especially their X-Mas gift sets).

I also mentioned in my last Benefit post that they do great make-up palette sets. Which is awesome since they just launched another one! Woohoo!

Cabana Glama, as the name implies is all about looking Cabana ready. The palette features hoola bronzing powder (check out my review of that here), some kind-a-gorgeous foundation in medium, posietint cheek and lip stain, eyeshadow palette in peach fuzz, bronze buss and cocoa pizzazz. In true Benefit style it also feature a make-up guide to give you some ideas.

I'm not sure if this product is out in Australia yet (haven't been to a Benefit stockiest/store in a while) but you can buy it from the Benefit Website for $36 USD. Bargain right! 

Nat xoxo

Diet Coke Anyone?

One of my most favorite stores in the world Colette is know for their innovation and generally awesomeness when it comes to products and what they sell. Although they are known for their fashion and culture, they also have pretty amazing beauty products.

Recently Benefit and Diet Coke and did a little collaboration exclusively. 

The "Soyez Glam" collection features 3 exclusively designed cans of Diet Coke as well as 3 Benefit Perfumes, POREfessional, They're Real Mascara, Cha Cha Tint, Benetint and Posie Tint. 

You can buy this amazing set from Colette online but it will set you back 200 Euros, so not cheap. I'm seriously considering buying it because it's that amazing.

Nat xoxo

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Brand in the spotlight: Benefit Holiday Gift Sets

The holiday season is always a winner when it comes to beauty gift sets and Benefit defiantly didn’t disappoint when it came to the gift set.

I find Benefit does an amazing job with their beauty box sets anyway, but they are really out done themselves this year. So when Sarah from work wanted to put in a little order I jumped at the chance to pick myself up a few things.

1. Romancing The Mirror

It was romance love at first sight! This gift set came with That Gal, Sugarbomb and BADgal Lash, all full sized for $39. How amazing is that! I’ve really wanted to try both That Gal and Sugarbomb so thought this would be the perfect set for me.

2. POWda WOWza

I just have to say this gift set is so damn cute. It’s mini sizes of CORALista, Bella Bamba and Hoola in a cute little box with a mini brush for only $28! It’s a great way to try out 3 really great Benefit Box ‘O Powders.

3. Watt’s Up

I know this isn’t a holiday gift set, but I did buy myself a little extra treat! Watt’s up is Benefit’s new highlighter and for $30 you really can’t go wrong.

There are 2 other Benefit gift sets that I’m thinking about buying,…

1. All Decked Out – features full sized POREfessional and Benetint plus a luxury sample of some kind-a gorgeous for only $32. I really want this gift set because it’s such good value! A full sized POREfessional (which is an amazing product too BTW) is $28 so major bargin since you also get a full sized Benetint (another great product).

2. I’m glam….Therefore I am – this is such a great little make-up kit. It would be the perfect thing to keep in your handbag if you need to touch your make-up up after work before heading out or just because you feel like sprucing up for your trip home from work. Plus it’s only $36, what can you buy for $36 these days anyway?! Not a lot!

So if you like a holiday beauty gift set like me then I highly recommend you pop over to the Benefit website and shop shop SHOP!

Nat xoxo

Sephora Beauty Haul

I know what you’re thinking; you’re thinking “you didn’t go overseas Nat”. And yes you would be correct, but my parents did and I gave them a shopping list!

Now I would like to point out that I did give this shopping list to my parents before the ABBW. With that said I most likely would have gotten everything anyway because, well because I wanted them: that simple really.

What features in my lovely haul you ask! Check out the list:

1. Benefit’s Cha Cha Tint 2. Benefit’s Finding Mr Bright 3. Benefit’s POREfessional 4. Stila’s Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Lionfish 5. Nars’ Single Eyeshadow in Fez 6. Nars’ Duo Eyeshadow in Cordura 7. Nars’ Lager Than Life Long-wear Eyeliner in Burbon Street 8. Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Scorn and Vice 10. Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover 11. Nars’ Bronzer in Laguna 12. Boscia’s Pore Purifying Black Strips 13. Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask 14. Boscia’s No Pores No Shine T-Zone Treatment

Also because Mum spent so much I also got this awesome little sample pack from Sephora. I know just what I need EVEN MORE beauty products.

Well all I know is I won’t need to buy anything beauty for a really really long time

Nat xoxo 

ABBW - Registration (Pre Day 1)

Today has been a bit of an epic day. I went to the city, got an eyebrow wax, got tortured by a Benefit cosmetics counter woman who didn’t know how to apply make-up and almost made me look like a walking tomato, got my JC Litas from work (YAY) and registered for the ABBW! WOOHOO!

And let me tell you, the weekend hasn’t even started yet and already I have more beauty products then I know what to do with.

How amazing are these bags! They are amazing now but they weren’t so amazing trying to carry them all on the train lol.

Welcome gift number 1 from Garnier.

In the box: Garnier Caffeine Eye Roll-On, Keep Cup coffee cup.

Welcome gift number 2 fro Dove.

How cute is this tote bag?! And in the bag: Dove toiletries bag, Dove Anti-Perspirant Deodorant spray and roll on. We also got Dove Nutritive Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment. These little puppies don’t launch until October 2011, so that’s pretty exciting that we get to try them before they hit shelves.

Welcome gift number 3 was pretty epic from Australis, Le Tan and Innoxa.

Again another really cute bag, perfect for the beach. The Australis products that we got were: Ready Set Go Finishing Powder, Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush, Lipstick in Quickstep, Colour Inject Mineral Lip Gloss, Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Tinted Moisturiser, Eyeshadow Primer, Make-up Finishing Spritz and Nail Colour in Citrus and Blue Tiger. The Le Tan products we got were: Face Tan Instant and a really cute Sarong. The Innoxa products we got were: Exhilarate Body Lotion, Exhilarate Hand Cream, Hydrating Body Wash and SOS Skin Tissue Oil.

Pretty damn amazing huh?? And I would also like to mention that all products we got were full size. It was really so lovely.

So the ABBW is off to a pretty amazing start. I can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow!

Nat xoxo

IMATS – Interview with Napoleon Perdis

This is my last IMATS keynote speaker interview! Sad I know! I was really excited about this interview because Napoleon is really such a force in the beauty industry.

I have used a number of Napoleon products over the years and they are really great. So the man behind it must really know his stuff. And good news, he really does!

Check out the interview…

NM: As a major influencer in the beauty industry, what is your number one beauty tip?

NP: Not to prime is a crime! It’s been my career-long mantra. Not only does my Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer create a flawlessly smooth base for makeup, it also a fabulous multi-tasker. I tell models to use the primer as a cream cleanser to remove foundation and then reapply for a revitalizing glow. And for a great low-fi look, I like to mix primer with equal parts foundation for a DIY tinted moisturiser.

This is really so true! I love a good primer and it really does make such a difference. Here are my top primer picks.

Napoleon's Auto Pilot Primer



Benefit's POREfessional

 

Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer

 NM: What new trends will be coming out as we move towards summer?

NP: Summer is the perfect time to wear berry lip shades like raspberry and cranberry. For the eyes, try neon liners or creamy metallics for an updated bronzed eye look. And lots of bronzer, naturally.

NM: We have seen a lot of bold, bright colours coming out recently. What are your top colours picks at the moment?

NP: It’s definitely not a time for chromophobia (fear of colour)! I’m loving precious jewel-toned shades like emerald greens, sapphire blues, amethyst purples and ruby reds at the moment.

Colour is HUGE at the moment! It’s not “apparently going to be huge” (quoting Ron Burgundy) it is HUGE!

NM: What new product is a “must have” for every women?

NP: The Ultimate Contour Palette. I love beautiful, contoured cheekbones and I wanted to create a palette that made it easy for all women. This one lets you colour, highlight and shape your face for an instant image upgrade. I’m confident it’s going to become a cult product for us.

Check out the Contour Palette. It looks pretty awesome.

 NM: What is your all-time favorite beauty product?

NP: Mascara. It’s a non-negotiable. A couple of coats of black mascara instantly opens up the face.

You can see Napoleon at the IMATS on Saturday 24^th September at 4-5pm.

And that’s it folks! You can check out my other interviews with Donna Mee and Elessa Jade.

Hope you see you all at the IMATS. It looks like it’s going to be an amazing event and would be a shame to miss if you are obsessed with everything in the realm of beauty.

Nat xoxo

Get The Look: Valentino's Haute Couture collection make-up look

My second make-up Haute Couture collection look is Valentino’s!

This look is really simple and elegant. It just looks stunning! Thee isn’t too much color, but enough so the model doesn’t look washed out. The eyes, apart from mascara (you can see my picks over at Chanel), have a very subtle pink/nude look to them. Again I say a palette is the way to go, because it always gives you a few different colors to choose from. These are my recommendations:

Urban Decay's Naked palette. I love Urban Decay products! They are great!

Too Faced's Natural Eye palette

The cheeks have a very soft pink color to them; nothing too overpowering in order to keep in with the natural look. I recommend:

Benefit's Posie Tint

NARS' Blush

You will also notice the slight highlighter/illuminator above the lip and in the V’s of the eyes. I actually had someone show me the illuminator look above the lip yesterday and it’s a very nice look. You could use a goldie/shimmery eye shadow for this or one of my recommendations:

NARS' Liquid Illuminator

NARS's The Multiple

Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl. This is what was tested on me and it looked really good above the upper lip. 

If you haven’t seen my 1^st Haute Couture collection make-up look, Chanel’s, check it out (or on tumblr)!

What do you think of Valentino’s naturally looking make-up look?

Nat xoxo