WHAT I'M USING RIGHT NOW

On my internet travels I've noticed that several other beauty bloggers are doing a "What I'm using right now" post so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and share the inner workings of my bathroom cupboard with you. I am nothing if not original :)

Shampoo:Dove Heat Defense Therapy Shampoo - bought this by default when I went to get the Dove Dry Therapy Shampoo (which won best shampoo for dry hair in the 2009 Australian Beauty Awards) but our poorly stocked backwater supermarket didn't have it, so after much agonizing I went with this and it is actually excellent at injecting some moisture back into my heat fried hair.

Conditioner: Kevin Murphy Staying Alive Leave In Treatment

Treatment: See above...such a wonder product...it's all I need!

Styling products: KMS Flat Out Hot Pressed Spray - a heat protecting spray that straightens out my curls and always makes my blow dry last a day longer and John Frieda Frizz Ease Ultra Strength Serum to tame any frizz that sneaks through my blow dry.

Styling tools: I blow dry with my cheap as chips hair dryer and then finish off with my ancient but trusty GHD's (definitely an upgrade on the cards though!)

Shower Gel: Palmolive Aroma Therapy Anti-Stress Shower Gel (a private joke between me and my partner - we are sleep deprived new parents and thought it might help ease the strain).

Body Scrub: St Ives Moisturizing Body Polish

Body moisturizer: Renui Coconut Oil Frangipani Infusion...this stuff reminds me of long hot summer days and is guaranteed to pull me out of mid-winter fug..

Deodorant: Dove Clear Touch Deodorant

Fake Tan: Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion and Clarins Radiance Plus Self Tanning Cream/Gel for Face
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Cleanser: Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser and Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser.

Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion in #2 (my go to for clear skin....has kept the nasties away for five years and counting.

Facial moisturizer: Loreal Derma-Genesis Pore Minimising Smoother and Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin - I randomly interchange the two.

Exfoliator: Dermalogica Micro-Exfoliant
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Primer: extremely ashamed to say I'm not currently using one...need to stock up though...they are essential for a lasting base.

Foundation: Mac Face and Body Foundation.

Foundation brush: Mac #187 Duo Fibre Stippling Brush.

Concealer: Lancome Effacernes Liquid Concealer, Loreal Infallible Concealer and Laura Mercier Flawless Fix Pencil
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Powder: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Classic Beige

Blusher: I've been mixing it up between Mac Peachykeen, Nars Blush in Orgasm (both soft peachy pink colours) and Nars The Multiple in Maui(a lovely flushed looking pinky-red).

Bronzer: Not using anything at the moment but gagging to get my hands on Nars Bronzer in Laguna again when time and money allow for it.

Highlighter: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Apricot.

Eyeshadow Base: Have been keeping it simple and dusting Laura Mercier Mineral Powder over eyelids.

Eyeshadows: Knight Divine by Mac when I'm in the mood for a smokey eye.

Eyeliner: The Body Shop Eye definer in Rich Brown and Clinique Liquid Eyeliner in Black.

Curler: Shu Uemura

Mascara: Lancome Virtuose in Black

Lipstick: Mac Slimshine in Rockout

Lipgloss: Mac Plush Glass in Wildly Lush

Nail Colour: Nothing on my hands as my teething mini me tends to bite them any chance he gets and Loreal Mango-Get-Em on my toes.

Perfume: Ralph Lauren Hot for day time and Theirry Mugler Angel for night

OUT DAMN SPOT

Pesky pimples tend to have an immaculate sense of timing- they always emerge when you want to see them least (not that they are ever welcome, TAKE NOTE PIMPLES!). The following sneaky tricks will help make them less likely to appear and much easier to banish.

First double cleanse your face with a gel or foaming cleanser...these are pretty much the only kind that will effectively remove makeup and oil and all those other meddlesome things that cause pores to get blocked.

Then thrice weekly, exfoliate with either a chemical exfoliant ( chemical being lotions and potions containing AHAS, beta hydroxy acids, fruit enzymes etc which are applied like a cream or toner or masque) or with a granular exfoliater (ie the ones with satisfying scrubby bits that leave your skin as pink and glowing as a baby's behind). This will remove debris such as dead skin cells (again, nasty pore blockers)and give your skin a permanent glow.
Try:Daily Microfoliant and Gentle Cream Exfoliant by Dermalogica and Clarifying Lotion by Clinique in 2 or 3 or St Ives Medicated Exfoliating Scrub.

If, despite your best preventative efforts, a little blighter happens to make it through, use of these magic potions at the first sign of swelling or redness to knock it on the head. Dermalogica Special Clearing Booster contains 5% Sacylic Acid and is a super strength acne fighter..no pimple is immune. Skin Doctors Zit Zapper is another champion in the War against Blemishes, it works a treat at drying up oil spills and will eradicate blemishes in a matter of hours (now if only we could do something about terrorist cells....). If you have an area that is particularly pimple prone, apply Dermalogica Overnight Medicated Clearing Gel nightly (or when your period approaches if they are hormonal)for guaranteed clear skin.

N.B No doubt you smarty pants readers have noticed I've favoured mainly Dermalogica products in this post...unfortunately that is not because I'm being bribed(not for lack of trying - Dermalogica if you're reading this, I'll take payment in products pleeeeease!)but simply because I think they are the absolute authority when it comes to clear, glowing skin. Consistently fabulous every single time. Run, don't walk ladies!

RAZOR SHARP CHEEKBONES IN THREE EASY STEPS (For contouring virgins everywhere)

I alas was born with less than delicate bone structure. My face shape has always been more moon than perfect oval and was the source of much teenage angst in earlier years. In an act of rebellion against pesky mother nature, I have developed three easy steps that help achieve a more defined cheekbone. They are as follows:

1.Apply your foundation of choice (a tint works best as their glowy qualities will have added benefits for highlighting bone structure and stop people think you've taken inspiration for this look from an 80's supermodel. Try Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint, Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture SPF 15, Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturing Foundation or the aforementioned Mac Face and Body Foundation).

Then take a matt bronzer or golden brown blusher and apply with a long handled blush brush(bronzer brushes are generally too big and awkward to get a contoured line) from temple (the bit beside your eye- it took me years to find it) to the bottom of your cheekbone (have a poke around with your fingers and see where it ends.)

2.For the next step use a peachy pink or rosy blush (powder or cream work equally well). My picks are Nars The Multiple in Orgasm, Mac Peachy Keen, and any of the Bloom Sheer Colour Creams. Apply this to the apple of your cheek ( the fleshy bit when you smile) taking care not to get it to close to your nose - this will make you look more Bobo the clown than blushing beauty. Use a stippling or foundation brush to make sure the colour is blended seamlessly around the edges.

3. Finally using your favorite highlighter, (I find powder is better than liquid for precision and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is the ULTIMATE) apply in a wide C-shaped curve over your brow bone, down past your temples and across the top of your cheekbones.

Voila- Giselle eat your heart out!