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

I HEART LANCOME

Hello lovelies,
I had to do a touch of gratuitous brand whoring this week because three of my absolute favourite products are on their last legs (sob) and I have just consciously realised that all three bear the Lancome name. I used to naively pass this make up brand over in favour of the glitzier 'make up artist" brands such as Mac and Nars but I have since discovered that for quality basics with consistently fabulous results you can't go past the french makeup house. The Lancome gems that have pride of place in my makeup bag are....

Effacernes Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer - A creamy liquid concealer with magical glowy qualities which covers up under eye circles and bags in a flash without looking heavy or settling into fine lines and wrinkles. A dream to blend, it can also be used to conceal red patches and uneven skin tone in other facial areas.


Virtuose Mascara- No I don't have premature onset of Alzheimer's and yes I do realise I'm repeating myself once again.... but it is just that good, if you haven't bought it already, go and buy it NOW. This mascara creates lush, long lashes with a divine curl in a flash, without clumps, smudging or flaking. Definitely worth the money.. I truly believe it's the best curling mascara on the market and it will lift any look instantly. A warning however, it is not for the fainthearted. Prepare to noticed...and proposed to by strange men on an almost daily basis.

Le Crayon Khol Waterproof Eyeliner has a silky smooth texture and pigment that packs a punch. The perfect pencil for creating an dramatic smokey eye, it comes in a range of smouldering colour choices and will stay put through just about anything.

With all three products, a little goes a long way (both the concealer and eyeliner have lasted me almost six months of twice daily application) so while they may seem like pricey investments when you take a deep breath and hand over your credit card, they more than make up for it with their cost per wear ratio.

BACKLASH

While my partner and son have hit the genetic jackpot when its comes to bambi-esque eyelashes, I am the not so proud owner of stumpy, straight and sparse lashes more reminiscent of an albino rabbit than that ill fated deer’s offspring. This unfortunate inheritance kept me setting the alarm and creeping to the bathroom every morning to apply lashings (‘scuse the pun) of mascara before my other half woke up, well into the second year of our relationship.

After many years spent trawling department stores and beauty pages in search of the ultimate wand and formulation...these are my top picks for perfecting your flutter:

Diorshow Mascara is the pick of many beauty experts, featuring a supersize brush and a thick and creamy texture which layers well without clumping.

Lancome Virtuose Mascara is a little gem I had heard nothing about until I chanced upon a recommendation for it by another beauty blogger ( thank you fruity beauty) and it has quickly become a firm fave…Virtuose’s curved brush renders an eyelash curler obsolete and it has a special formula that holds curl while creating lush, long, blacker than black lashes.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara is like a luxurious serum for your lashes, and is part of the EA Ceramide collection of skincare, lipstick and mascara. All aim at preventing and disguising the effects of ageing through the use of Ceramide proteins to aid in the plumping of skin and growth of lashes. Its glides on smooth as silk and gives natural looking, long, lean lashes and really does help them grow over the course of a month or two.

Maybelline Sky High Curves Mascara is the cheapie option for all you babes on a budget but skimps only on price, not on results. I bought it at the supermarket during a makeup emergency on a weekend away and was amazed at its quality. It creates long luscious clump-free lashes in a flash. Use one coat for those natural babe earth goddess days or pump it up with several coats when you’re unleashing your inner vixen. Will not disappoint!

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effect Faux Cils Mascara is the luxe pick of the pack- It's sleek gold design will invoke envious stares from all when you pull it out for a touch up. It lives up to its name by giving you long false looking lashes using a clever triple film technology which lengthens, thickens and curl in one easy swipe. You'll have a hard time convincing your boyfriend you're not faking it!