FRESH FACED BEAUTY

I am currently having a lady love moment over the divine Miss Biel at last week's MTV Movie Awards.

Often she slips under the radar at big events with her wholesome good looks and understated style but she definitely hit the red carpet jackpot this time with a casually perfect blow dry and natural but defined makeup. Girl crushing...big time.

THIS WEEK I AM ALL ABOUT....

Fringes and eyelash extensions....
both of which I'm booked in to get on Tuesday.
I'm going for a Nicole Richie style makeover to match my new chocolate brown locks...she is my ultimate yummy mummy muse.

Picture of the results to follow...let me know your current beauty muses!

TEN OF THE BEST TIPS FOR WEDDING BEAUTY

1. Set up a good skincare routine you can trust well in advance. I always recommend Dermalogica to brides because it delivers results and generally doesn't cause reactions.

2. Get your eyebrows shaped and subtley tinted a couple of days out from your wedding but MAKE SURE it's with a beauty therapist you have used before and trust. Beautiful brows will add definition to your face.

3. Choose classic colour palattes such as warm browns or smokey eyes and a soft pink lip....you want something flattering that doesn't date.

4. Carry eye drops in your clutch for fresh faced photos

5.NEVER EVER wear a foundation with SPF...it will ghost you out in the photos...your make up artist should know this..if she doesn't..... find one who does.

6. You may be a natural beauty who "never wears more than a bit of mascara" but for your day I advise you wear at least foundation, blusher, a neutral eyeshadow, brown pencil and mascara...otherwise you won't stand out in photos and will look extremely ordinary next to everyone else in their sunday best.

7. It may sound obvious but waterproof mascara is non-negotiable. You never know when the tear might threaten to take over.

8. A thin slick of liquid liner will highlight eyes without looking too harsh or overdone.

9.Allow plenty of time of the day for everyone to get their makeup done...you don't want a rushed job because you are racing to get to the altar.

10.Eyelash extensions mean you don't have to worry about racoon eyes if you tear up on the day or falsies falling off at a critical moment. These last up to six weeks and will leave you looking lovely all through your honeymoon.

Above all remember to SMILE and enjoy your big day...the most beautiful woman is a lady in love

TEN OF THE BEST BEAUTY MOMENTS IN MOVIES

These are my favorite and most memorable beauty moments on film....and the ones I turn to for makeup inspiration, time and time again.

Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
They say blondes have more fun but Reese as a brunette with flawless sixties makeup and those beautiful vintage dresses....unbeatable.


Kristen Stewart in New Moon- The Twilight Saga
Understated and ethereally stunning...That creamy complexion, those rosey red lips, eyes you could lose yourself in and tumbling fairytale locks....no wonder she stole the heart of the world's sexiest vampire.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys
Her perfectly groomed brows teamed with a perfectly precise cats eye and fleshy nude lip sum up sophistication. Classy, timeless..the ultimate Park Avenue Princess.


Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra
An oldy but ever so goody..Elizabeth's flawless complexion, statement eyes painted in every colour of the rainbow and blue black bob embellished in gold..movie magic at its finest.


Sienna Miller in Alfie
Sienna IS the definition of sex in this movie.
Bee stung lips...smokey come hither eyes...hair that suggests she just tumbled out of bed..I think I can feel a girl crush coming on....


Scarlett Johanssen in Vicki Cristina Barcelona
She embodies and yet updates the archetypal Hollywood screen siren in this movie...her platinum blonde curls, strong brows, pouty lips and flawless skin scream seduction but in a totally unstudied and modern way.

Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet
Her makeup is so natural and yet so blissfully romantic that I had to include in this list. A flawless base and perfectly groomed brows are integral to this deceptively simple look.


Kristen Dunst- The Virgin Suicides
This dream-like movie provides makeup and wardrobe inspiration in abundance..those prettily pink lips, flushed cheeks and long flaxen locks teamed with floaty floral dresses...what's not to like?

Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction
Because her character Mia Wallace puts the noir in Rouge Noir and her sharp black bob, cherry red lips and THAT iconic nail polish make her edgy, sexy, quirky and cool in a way only Uma can pull off.

Diane Kruger in Troy
The face that launched a thousand ships was suitably flawless on film. Her lightly bronzed skin, khol lined eyes and tumbling grecian curls enhanced her classically beautiful features and added more than a hint of sensuality.

What are your favourite makeup moments on film? Leave a comment and let me know!!

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT

For those of us who aren't blessed with makeup artists, plastic surgeons and airbrushers on tap....here are the best little tips and tricks for masking those little imperfections and maximising your favourite features.

Follow these easy steps to get you looking celebrity gorgeous in no time.

1.Want lips to appear fuller? Wear light coloured lip colours and pop a dab of irridescant gloss of highlighter on the middle of your top lip to create a perfect pout.

2.For flawless skin... mix tinted moisturiser with a small amount of highlighter and blend into skin then spot apply a creamy matt concealer with a small stiff bristled brush for a precision finish.

3.To make eyes ...

Bigger- only line the outer third of the upper and lower lashlines, use shimmery, lighter colour shadows and curls those lashes ladies.

Smaller - Line the upper and lower lashes with black liner and use dark brown and charcoal shadows.

4.For a St Tropez worthy glow...mix a little bit of your fake tan with your facial moisturiser before bed time and wake up looking like you just got back from the French Riviera.


5.For a flirty just been kissed flush- apply a pop of rose coloured blush to the high apples of cheeks and then blend a gold highlighter along the tops of cheek bones. Look at you glow!


6.To make your nose positively Giselle-esqe...Blend bronzer or brown blush down the sides and brush a pearl hued highlighter or eyeshadow down the bridge. Stop short of the tip of your nose otherwise it'll look less sparkle-tacular and more like you are in the midst of an oil slick.

7.For baby soft skin mix a table spoon of baking soda with your normal cleanser or scrub...it'll gently cleanse away dirt and dead skin cells and is friendly on your face and your funds!

8.To fake ten hours sleep..line the inner rim of eyes with a white or pale yellow eye pencil and curl lashes before applying mascara. Finish off with pop of pink blush and a dab of clear gloss and you'll be left looking fresh as a daisy.


9.Want freshly washed hair on the third day?... Grab a dry shampoo from your local chemist (or talcum powder for blondes), clip up the top layer of your hair and then liberally shake or spray along your part. Unclip the top layer and brush hair thoroughly before running a little shine serum through the ends. A little spritz of your fave EDP won't go amiss either!

A RECENT MAKEOVER

I just had to share my gorgeous client Kate with you......this was after a Special Occasion Makeup using MAC products....how ridiculously good looking is she!

THIS WEEK I'M WEARING............................

MAC Strobe Lotion and Lancome Aqua Fusion Teinte-(a deliciously, dewy tinted moisturiser) mixed together and applied with a MAC #187 Stippling Brush to create the most flawless, airbrushed, my skin only better base, ever! Talk about wonder lotions and potions.....

TO PRIME OR NOT TO PRIME?

I have never been a big priming advocate..I figure there are enough steps in make up application as it is (cutting corners? moi?) but have noticed recently that my makeup is just not lasting the 6am to 6pm distance and really who can be bothered sneaking off to the bathroom for boring old touch ups with everything else life throws at you?

So lovely readers...I need your recommendations on the primers out there with best staying power!!! I look forward to hearing your tips!
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BLUSHING BEAUTY

For glowy blushing goodness that stays put through just about anything (as Ms Johanssen would know...minx that she is!), try applying a cream blush to apples of cheeks and then brushing a dusting of powder blush in a similar shade over the top.

I love Bloom Sheer Colour Cream in Coy and Nars Blush in Orgasm.

SIMPLY RED

I have blogged about MAC's little pocket rockets, the fantabulous Slimshine lipstick/glosses on previous occasions and I had to share my latest colour find with you. As a general rule I steer clear of red lipstick -too high maintainence, too risky, just too damn scary for a girl who revels in her neutral shades... but this time I couldn't resist.

MAC Slimshine in Urgent (a glossy rasberry red) is infinitely more wearable than your usual fire engine red and gives you come hither, wanton sexiness minus the freakout factor. Its glossy texture renders worries about dryness or colour bleeding obselete and its packaging is as sleek as its finish.

Definitely my new beauty essential! I'm wearing it with a light but flawless base, a touch of bronzer and lashings of DiorShow Mascara
.

DOUBLE THE FUN

We all know two is better than one, so for your lushest lashes ever, invest in both a lengthening and volumising mascara and get to work....

After curling lashes, apply a couple of coats of a volumizing formulation such as Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara. Make sure you wiggle the brush from root to tip to ensure even application and avoid clumping.

To finish off, swap the wand for a lengthening mascara (Loreal Longitude Mascara is a sure bet) and focus on the tips of lashes to make them really stand out....then find a cute boy and start batting!

A FAN OF LE TAN

By my own product whoring admission I have previously overlooked the Le Tan line of tanning and suncare products in favour of more expensive and celeb endorsed brands (sucker).

After several recommendations from beautiful and sunkissed friends of mine I decided to take the leap and boy oh boy am I eating my words now.

A trip to the supermarket later, I was more than a little apprehensive after purchasing this little gem for a piddly ten dollars.....in my previous fake tan experience a diminutive price tag generally preceded a Day-Glo orange tan.

Cue morning, when I woke with a natural golden brown tan and a new outlook on life.

My pick of the tanning products is the Le Tan Fast Tan Self Tanning Mousse but the whole range is pretty fantastic. The mousse wins top marks because it comes out tinted which makes application super easy, pretty much guarantees a streak free finish, can be used on your face without fear of pimples or oil slicks and earned several compliments on its first outing.

I am now a month into twice weekly applications and the bottle is still half full.. GENIUS!!!! and better value for money than a certain little hot pink tan in a can number..you know who you are.

SUMMER LOVIN'

Huge apologies for my notable absence over the last few months..this is a result of general upheaval up home, my son being at a particularly interesting (read trying) age and my blatant inability to stay away from the beach while the sun is shining....but I'm back and dedicated to making this year your best beauty year ever. To kick back into 2010 with a bang, I thought I'd share the products I'm loving this summer.

They are......
Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser- An oldie but a goodie...the smell of this takes me back to the days of Impulse and the Backstreet Boys. Mops up oil and keeps pimples at bay. It's what you want your skin to be :)

Mac Cream Colour Base in Hush..a dewy glowy wonder product...wear on cheek and brow bones for supermodel bone structure and a lit from within radiance.

Mac Fibre Lash in Black gives you seductive spidery lashes that look great with a tan and slash of hot pink lippy.

Stella EDP...just the right amount of sexy without being overpowering on those long hot summer days.

Clinique Even Better Foundation...Gives sheer, radiant, EVEN coverage that subtley covers blemishes and suits every skin tone.

LAST CHANCE SALOON

Just a reminder to all my readers in the United States- The MD Perricone giveaway will be drawn this Friday, the 23rd of October so for your last chance to be in to win the amazing Advanced Face Firming Activator(rrp $120 US), become a follower of Not Just A Pretty Face and leave me a comment telling me your favourite beauty product to date and why you want to try this product!

IRON OUT THAT STUBBORN WRINKLE WITH A GIVEAWAY GUARANTEED TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUR DIAL

Because you are such good and loyal readers (and by far the most attractive and intelligent around), I thought it was high time I rewarded you for your unwavering support. Luckily, the wonderful and extremely clever people at Perricone MD have come up trumps by providing a sample of their best selling Advanced Face Firming Activator (loved by the likes of Oprah and we all know she knows a good thing when she sees one) for me to give away to one lucky gal.

Advanced Face Firming Activator is a revolutionary anti-ageing cream which transforms skin by evening out texture, eradicating wrinkle's, toning and firming facial tissue and preventing future damage.

This product retails at $120 US and is guaranteed to give you a radiant and youthful glow.

To win a sample of Advanced Face Firming Activator, first become a follower of Not Just A Pretty Face (this is a very important step, you won't be eligible to win if you don't) and then leave a comment below telling me your best beauty buy to date and why you can't live without it. Also let me know if you have tried any other anti-aging products and why they did or didn't work for you and why you would be interested in trying this product. I will choose the winner on the originality of the answer and product!

This competition applies to US residents only. I will organize a competition for my readers from all other corners of the globe very soon I promise!

Look forward to hearing from you girls!!!!!

MAC ATTACK

In anticipation of the makeup course I am starting tomorrow( be prepared for an onslaught of tips and tricks in the coming weeks my lovelies!) I have recently done my fair share of beauty hauling. The majority of my beauty finds were purchased from MAC, my go-to counter for fabulous eyeshadow and lipsticks in every colour of the rainbow, catwalk quality foundations, and a fantastic range of mineral based goodies.

Despite the protests of my bank manager and boyfriend, I pushed my credit card into even more dire financial straits so I could be the proud owner of the following:

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack which is a gel liner in an inky black shade. It takes the guess work out of a liquid liner and means you can choose how thick or thin to make your line. It's relatively smudge proof with a creamy consistency that makes it a dream to blend and its waterproof qualities mean it is perfect for lining the inner bottom eye rim for a sexy bad girl gaze. You can also use this product as a base for an intensely smokey eye.

The only downside is the $50 plus MAC is charging for the brush you are "meant" to apply it with. Solution = Buy an angled eyeliner brush from a cheap brand like QVS or Manicare...works a treat for a fraction of the cash. Just make you sure you clean it regularly, otherwise the leftover product on the bristles with dry up and the brush will go hard.

My next purchase was an old favorite but still a goody....MAC Bronzing Powder in Golden. It creates a light golden glow that is perfect for the spring months and can be easily built up without caking. This is sheer enough to be used all over your face to lift winter white complexions or placed on key parts of the face (nose, cheekbones, temples, top of forehead) to create a subtle, sun kissed, contoured effect.

The final product is one I caved in and bought after I had heard a number of other beauty blogger's raving about it. MAC Blush in Harmony is a matt pink brown colour that works fantastically for contouring. It is highly pigmented puppy though so avoid getting overenthusiastic with application and be careful to always blend, blend, blend otherwise it can end up looking a tad on the dirty side(you grubby faced street urchin you). Use under cheekbones to define and on the sides of your nose to slim its width.

Et voila...instant supermodel!

LIQUID LINER 101

As I've already mentioned, liquid eyeliner and I have never been tight. I figured it wasn't meant to be, that we just were not compatible but persisted in the vain hope that some how, some day, I would find a way to make it work.

Lesson of the post kids, is...."if you do not succeed, try, try again", "practice makes perfect, "god loves a tryer" etc etc....I'm sure you get the general gist of it without me drowning you in a sea of cheesy cliches as I love to do, and so without further adieu... I am pleased to announce that, after years of unrequited love and many botched attempts, I have finally found a way to make liquid liner work for me.

It really is quite simple and I should have tried it years ago but if it hasn't been glaringly obvious for you as well lovely readers, read on.

1.First a smooth neutral eyeshadow base... the liner will adhere better to a powder shadow or matt cream so stick with these rather than anything greasy or glossy.

2. Next take a pencil eyeliner (black or brown is best) and lightly sketch along the line of the lashes in the general shape you want your liquid liner to follow. This will be your stencil for when the tricky liquid part comes and makes it much easier to stay on track and not draw too thicker line or go all wiggly.

3. Next take an angled eyeliner brush, any cheapy brand will do, mine is QVS and it works a TREAT and........
a) if you are using a liquid eyeliner with a brush applicator (like Loreal Telescopic Precision Liquid Eyeliner), paint the bristles of the eyeliner brush until you get a good, even build up of product.
b) if you are using a gel eyeliner (e.g MAC Fluidline, Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner) simply dip the brush in the container.

4. Then starting from the outer corner of your eye, follow the pencil line in small dashing brush strokes.Really press the brush into your lashes so that the eyeliner merges with your lash line and looks natural and flawless. As you reach the inner corner of your eyes, taper of into a thinner- almost invisible line, and as you reach the outer corner again, angle the brush up so it creates a subtle flick. Keep building up the product along the line until you achieve the desired effect.

Sexy liquid lined cat's eyes for dummies!
Wear with a nude lip (MAC Myth Lipstick and Nars Lipgloss in Striptease are both beyoootiful), sassy black heels and some serious 'tude.

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
.
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
.
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
.
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.

CHEAP FRILLS

The gloom cast by the much hyped recession appears to be slowly dissipating and financial commentators the world over are encouraging an increase in recreational spending in a bid to boost the global economy.

Do your bit by buying cheap and cheerful beauty bargains....guaranteed to get you looking gorgeous and still leave plenty of loose change for stashing away in your piggy bank for a rainy day (or the next economic crisis). Any excuse for a mutually beneficial good deed I say!

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Extract is a bathroom cabinet essential. So good in fact, you should buy three and store one in your desk and handbag as well. The perfect product for those days when you press the snooze button one too many times and can't squeeze a wash and blow dry into your morning routine.

Simply pin up the top layer of hair and (gently) squeeze the bottle to disperse the talc like powder along the hairline where it will soak up any grease and add oomph and volume to the most lack-lustre of locks. Also great for adding a bit of grit and texture when your hair has that slippery, shiny, freshly washed feel and just won't do as it's told. Bad hair!

Klorane Dry Shampoo is also available in an aerosol spray formulation which works a treat as well. Its only downfall is that if you are like me and tend to get a tad trigger happy with anything in a spray formulation, it won't last as long as the powder.

Loreal Infallible Concealer is (brace yourselves) quite possibly the best concealer for covering up blemishes I have ever come across. It gets top marks for it natural colour options, excellent coverage, non-comedogenic ingredients and durability and it's handy stick formulation makes precision concealing a breeze.


For those of you in your teens or early twenties who have sensitive or oily skin which is prone to a pimple or few, Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin is a must have. Recommended by dermatologists and beauty professionals alike, Neutrogena is the plain white t-shirt equivalent of the skin care world...simple, effective and fail safe. This moisturizer has a lovely, sheer texture and an oil free non-comedogenic formula (i.e won't clog pores or cause oil slicks) which gently moisturizes skin without irritating.

The Body Shop Eye Definer Pencil is a softly pigmented, medium intensity eyeliner which comes in range of gorgeous colours. The perfect consistency for creating smokey Bardot-esque eyes, it will smudge beautifully but never smear. My makeup bag essential is the pencil in Rich Brown - perfect for a naturally smouldering gaze.

The next time you are cruising the aisles of your local supermarket, pick up Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation for a budget product that delivers like a pro. This multi-tasking tinted moisturiser provides sheer, seamless, glowing coverage while still delivering the skin care benefits the original Total Effects moisturizer is world famous for.

Any beauty buff worth their weight in lipstick is bound to have a tube of St Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub stowed away in their bathroom cabinet. An excellent basic scrub for people with acne or blackhead prone skin, it contains salicylic acid to decongest pores, kill bacteria and speed up the healing process. It can also be used as a body scrub on those parts prone to the odd spot or two or as an exfoliator for ingrown hairs.