OOTD: All Glam'd Up for the Races!

On Saturday, my friends and I decided to spoil ourselves and get all glam'd up and go to Rosehill racecourse. I included some pictures from the day at the bottom of this post, it is a little day in the life also!

Christmas Gift Guide for HER

With Christmas right around the corner, buying presents is probably on your mind. If your anything like me, you told your self you weren't going to leave it to the last minute like all the years before. You even started your shopping early this year. But I will let you in on a secret, you will always find someone else to buy for! The struggle is real and never ending. So to make it easier for you, I have complied this gift guide for the women in your life!

JET SETTER TRAVEL ADAPTOR

I found this little device while out shopping the other day and I LOVE it and I hope this appears in my Christmas stocking. It is a universal adapter that works for all of Europe, Australia, UK and USA. I know that has my travel plans for the next few years covered!

Easy to use and compact, this universal travel adaptor is the perfect travel companion for overseas trips. Keep the adapters safe in the zip top pouch featuring a Forever New branded plate. The adaptors are compatible with the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. The product comes with an instruction sheet with diagrams and explanations on how to use. The adaptors are compatible with the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. The product comes with an instruction sheet with diagrams and explanations on how to use. Fabrication for the pouch: Outer – Polyurethane. Lining – Polyester. Made in China.

This can be found at any Forever New stores and retails for $24.99

VICTORIAS SECRET BOW BANDEAU BIKINI

A playful bow shows off the sweet side of this bandeau top. Designed in luxe Italian fabric for a silky-soft feel. From our exclusive Very Sexy collection of top-of-the-line push-up tops.

• Non-removable padding; medium lift
• Underwire
• Goldtone back hook closure
• Fully lined
• Imported nylon/Lycra® spandex

Silky-smooth Italian fabric makes this teeny bottom a big deal.

• Minimal back coverage
• Goldtone logo on back
• Fully lined
• Imported nylon/Lycra® spandex

This is a stunning swim suit and would be the perfect edition for any girls Christmas stocking. It is RRP US$58.50 and US$38.50

BEST WISHES LUSH GIFT SET

Best wishes, glad tidings and three bath time wonders just for you. A Christmas classic that comes back year after year. So the main reason I chose this gift set out of the hundreds that Lush offer is that this set has the most popular Christmas Lush products. I also think this is great for someone who you know loves Lush, but you're worried about buying something they already have. This set is purely Christmas based, so more than likely the receiver wont already have everything in the set!

LUXURY LUSH PUD BATH BALLISTIC
For a soothing and calming bath, this year Lush Pud has gone all luxury with colourful polka dots that float to the surface making pastel islands in the water. A relaxing bath treat made with the comforting lavender and ylang ylang scent of Twilight – perfect for a bath before bedtime.

GOLDEN WONDER BATH BALLISTIC
Drop this gold dusted gift into a warm bath and watch in wonder as golden stars burst out, dissolving in the water before your very eyes, turning the bath water a vibrant blue. The champagne-like fragrance of sweet orange oil, cognac oil and lime oil will uplift your spirits.

SNOWCAKE SOAP
A Lush classic and bestseller, a slice of Snowcake smells just like the irresistible almond marzipan on the Christmas cake. Lather up with gorgeous rose absolute, that soothes dry and stressed skin, and berry scented cassie absolute. This year’s design is an impressive gold covered wheel – so every slice will get a lustrous, golden topping!

This set is more affordable at a RRP of $19.99, So it is great for friends or parents if you dont have the biggest budget in the world.

LILLIAN STRAPLESS BEADED BELT DRESS

This glamorous couture range strapless dress is a beautiful addition to your party season wardrobe. Featuring a gorgeous floating sheer silk overlay that is pulled together by a stunning embellished self-tie belt. Fully lined and with a corseted bust and nonslip tape

I love this dress, I think it is classic and beautiful and not many women wouldn't like it, so it is a safe purchase for any men. It can be smart casual to a nice dinner or it can be very formal to a wedding. It is very rewearable, so although it can be a little pricey at $159 , really its an investment because you would wear it so frequently. ( Does anyone else tell themselves this?) This can also be found at Forever New.



M.A.C STOKE OF MIDNIGHT: HOLIDAY COLLECTION 

Coordinated corals create a night you'll remember with the limited-edition M•A•C Stroke of Midnight Lip and Cheek Bag. Featuring Lipstick in warm red layered with a gleaming, golden Lipglass, Powder Blush in shimmering peach, Slim Mirror and the 129SE Powder/Blush Brush. Packaged in a sleek black and white clutch, accented with gold piping and zip closure, lined graphic interior. Exclusively at M•A•C stores.

This set is great for women of all ages, it can be a great starter kit for a young girl or it could be a great edition to an already established collection for a more mature lady. It is a little pricey at RRP $125

KATY PERRY'S KILLER QUEEN PERFUME

The perfume, which was named after the song by Queen's Freddie Mercury, represents the kind of woman Katy strives to be in her personal life. "Freddie Mercury painted the lyrics of this woman who I wanted to be," she said. "She seemed very powerful, and she captivated a room when she walked in."

Announced as a playful, sophisticated, powerful, edgy and delicious fragrance, it reflects the rebellious spirit of the singer. Its creation is signed by Laurent Le Guernec of IFF. Top notes include wild berries, dark plum and bergamot accords. The main note of the heart is velvety red flower (Celosia), but there are also Sambac jasmine and rainbow plumeria. The base contains cashmere, patchouli and liquid praline.

The bottle is shaped like a red ruby and comes in its own golden pedestal. The fragrance is available as 15, 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum with body lotion and shower gel.


I hope this helped anyone who was stuck for gift ideas for the women in their lives. Stay tuned for the male gift guide coming in a few days. 

Victorias Secret Fantasy: Pure Seduction

The Victorias Secret's Fantasy range has been around for a long while now and I had been looking forward to purchasing some when I went to the states earlier this year. Unfortunately, once I entered the store, things escalated pretty quickly and I bought the whole range. It was only though my incredible sales skills, was I able to convince my husband that it would be ok on the 18 hour journey home! None the less, all my hard work paid off and here we are, a complete review of the whole range of VS Fantasy in the sent of pure seduction. ( Imagine the functionality of the products wont vary between scents so there is no need to review all the different types)

DAILY BODY WASH

 Experience the luxury of fragrant cleansing. Foaming formula features conditioning aloe vera, plus antioxidant vitamin E. Lather on for gentle, refreshing cleansing. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation.

Overall, this product definitely lived up to my expectations. Although to be completely honest, it is a body scrub, so my expectations weren't too high. The scent lingers after the shower, which is an area a lot of body washes fall down in. Other then that, what more can a body wash do other than clean you and if it doesn't clean you, I'd get a refund!

SMOOTHING BODY SCRUB

Experience the luxury of fragrant cleansing. Dual-action sugar scrub gently exfoliates as it purifies. Lather on wet skin, focusing on rough spots, then rinse off for an all-over glow. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation.

You can really smell the sugar in the sugar scrub in this. It is a good scrub that foams and lathers quite nicely. I find that with exfoliators, they are either too rough or not rough enough and turns into a scrub. This is not exactly the perfect balance but it is pretty good for a daily exfoliator but if you do have a skin concern, you will probably need a more heavy duty one.

FRAGRANCE MIST

Experience the luxury of fragrance. Refreshing formula is infused with conditioning aloe vera and calming chamomile. Spray on for a sexy touch of scent.

This mist doesn't last as long as a perfume but does have a nice light and fruity feel to it. I think it would be ideal for more casual situation where you are pretending to not care but still want to be fabulous, for example, school. 

ULTRA-MOISTURIZING HAND AND BODY CREAM

Experience the luxury of fragrant hydration. Intensive formula is fortified with replenishing avocado and sweet almond oils, plus hydrating honey. Massage on for rich, 24-hour moisture, focusing on dry, rough areas. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation. 

I this cream to be rich (but not at all heavy) and creamy. The cream was quickly absorbed into my skin and left it feeling instantly smooth without leaving behind a greasy, sticky residue. Since I have been using it my skin looks smooth, soft and well hydrated and we all know what that means! 

DEEP-SOFTENING BODY BUTTER

 Experience the luxury of fragrant hydration. Restorative formula is enriched with deeply conditioning shea and jojoba butters, plus antioxidant vitamin E. Massage on for long-lasting, intensive moisture, focusing on dry, rough areas. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation.

The body butter has to be my favourite in the range, it goes on thick and moisturising but it is not tacky and you forget you even put it on 5 minutes later. I have a skin condition on my thighs which I used the cream on. Generally, if putting cream on your legs, you have to dance around the bathroom for 15 minutes waiting for it to dry and even then, you pants still stick to you. I find with this I can put them on   as soon as I am ready. 

HYDRATING BODY LOTION

Experience the luxury of fragrant hydration. Fast-absorbing formula contains nourishing aloe, oat and grapeseed extracts, plus antioxidant vitamins E and C. Massage on for silky, replenishing moisture. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation.

The moisturising part, the moisturising effect stays for good 5-6 hours. It is pretty apt for a lotion with such consistency. Price wise, it is obviously good. It is fairly similar to the ones above it, so there is not much else to say.

Overall, I was happy with my experience and I would repurchase. At the moment, Victorias Secret is having a sale and you can get any of these bad boys for 5 for $30. Bargain compared to other high end creams and scrubs

OOTD: Afternoon by the sea

So Sydney has been having some amazing weather recently, So Daniel and I decided to capitalise on this and headed to the beach for some fun in the sun!

Welcome to Australia. Everything dangerous, even our water.  

My own Bay watch Babe

Outfit wise i kept everything really simple since it was just a casual afternoon at the beach. I always believe less is more when it comes to beach wear.

 Dress: I got from Forever 21.
Swimmers: Victorias Secret
Necklace: Tiffany and Co

We then went to get some ice cream because you can't go to the beach and not get an ice cream.

I got:
top scoop: Nutella
Second: Cookie dough
Third: Murry Mud ( Chocolate with chocolate chip)

Can you tell I love chocolate?

Fashion Haul: Victorias Secret

I spent way too much money in Victorias Secret while in the US

Fashion Haul: USA Edition

This is all the things I picked up while honeymooning in the US

Blonde and Blonder: Picking the right shade

Sorry about the delay in posts for the last few weeks, I have had a lot going on that I will soon be able to tell you about, don't worry, it's all good things! 

On to todays post. With it being the middle of summer for those of you north of the equator and the tale end of winter for us south of the boarder, the biggest hair trend that is happening right now is blonde, blonde highlights and blonde tips (otherwise known as ombre). Because of this, I decided to do a new blogging series called 'blonde and blonder' going over all the different aspects of being blonde, what to consider and how to care for it etc. To kick start this series, I should focus on picking the right shade.

First thing you need to consider is your skin-tone.

According to Ludovic Audesson, senior colorist at in New York City, choosing the right blonde tone goes hand-in-hand with your skin-tone. Here are his recommendations:

Blonde hair color for light skin-tonesOpt for a golden, strawberry or light blonde. Warming up your hair with highlights can add some color and interest to your locks and your face. But because you are fairer skinned, stay away from shades that are white, ash and reddish.

Blonde hair color for medium skintonesBecause your skin has more color to it, you can add more color to your hair. A golden hue is beautiful, as is a beige-blonde or even a light blonde. Just be sure to maintain some warmer tones to match your skin. Ashy or orange-based tones will make you look washed out.

Blonde hair color for dark skintonesStick with darker blonde shades on your hair. Remember, you don’t want to move more than two shades from your natural hair color, so if you have dark skin, chances are your hair is naturally darker too. Caramel or golden highlights can be beautiful. You should avoid tones with too much white, platinum or orange because these will look unnatural with your darker skin-tone.

Next, consider your natural hair colour. 

On a scale of one to 10 with one being the darkest possible hair colour and 10 being the palest, if you’re born a natural blonde, you are a level six (dark blonde) to a level 10 (platinum blonde). If you want to change your hair color or add highlights, stick with this basic rule of thumb: Don’t go more than two levels—or shades, above or below your natural color.
Jon Furniss/WireImageReese Witherspoon

For example, a level six can go darker or lighter—to a four or an eight—because this is the most versatile shade. Levels seven to eight have the perfect scenario to add highlights or lowlights and become more of a golden, strawberry or pale blonde. If you’re a nine to 10, meaning a very light blonde, you shouldn’t use an all-over color because you don’t want to contrast your natural tones with anything too dark. If you choose to do anything, add lowlights for dimension and contrast.

Celebrities with blonde hair

When choosing the perfect blonde shade for your skintone, take your inspiration from the celebrities who do it right. Sharon Stone and Reese Witherspoon are both examples of women with fair skin who look amazing with their lighter locks. Jennifer Aniston is someone with medium skintones who pulls off her “bronde” (blonde-brunette) hue perfectly, and while Kim Kardashian has a darker skintone, her caramel highlights add a lot of depth to her long mane.
 

“Hair color is a mixture of colors,” said Van Gogh. “The darker the blonde to begin with, the more a dye will look toned down. But the lighter or whiter the blonde, the more vibrant the dye will become, so you have to be careful when choosing a shade.”

Another thing to consider when going blonde is your lifestyle, according to Ludovic. “Do you live somewhere warm where the sun is going to affect your hair color? Will you be going in the ocean or pool a lot while maintaining your color?” Those are factors that can change the tone of your hair to a less desirable shade that may no longer work with your skin.

“Being blonde can take 20 years off you and soften your face,” added Ludovic. “Consistent with the cliché, the risk is that sometimes blondes are not taken seriously, but if you pay careful attention to getting the right shade and tone, it can be powerful.”

Blonde hair can be great for summer, but make sure you get it done professionally because I do not what to be responsible when you burn all your hair off with bleach! But, as a former blonde myself, I have it on good authority that blondes do in fact have more fun so go blonde and have a great summer!!

Everything you need to know about Lip Plumper's

Recently I have been spending too much time on the Victorias Secret website and been staring a little too long at Candice's lips, so I decided that I would attempt to enhance mine to look more like hers with the use of lip plumper's. Before I make my purchase, I wanted to do my research and this is what i have found.

Since the beginning of time, women have yearned for voluptuous lips. Egyptian women used henna to colour theirs an alluring red; femme fatales in the Middle Ages used honey to enhance their kissers. Today, thanks to Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson, and the best lip plumpers, lips are once again the hottest thing. Now along with artificially puffing up our chests comes a whole new niche of beauty products designed to plump up our lips.

Lip plumpers as they're called are the reason that sales of all lip products have doubled in the past year. More than 200 variations of gels, glosses, primers, treatments, and lipsticks have come on the market, each guaranteeing to make you feel more seductive and feminine. If you are one of the millions of teens craving larger, fuller, poutier lips like the models on this month's magazine covers, here are some facts you should know about the best lip plumper.


What's in them?
When the body recognizes an irritant, its natural reaction is to create swelling. Lip plumpers often use natural agents like cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, cayenne pepper, and wintergreen to act as irritants. These in turn increase blood flow to the tissues, which gets the lips to swell temporarily. Some include natural moisturizers and antioxidants like red tea to soften the tissue.


What does it feel like?
The girls we asked reported they may sting or burn when you put them on. One said it felt like she dabbed Tabasco sauce on her lips. Another compared the feeling to eating extra-spicy Buffalo wings. Is it worth it? If your goal is an evening of shiny, glossy, bee stung lips, the answer is yes. Just be aware the results are fleeting, anywhere from half an hour to an entire evening.


Tips on choosing the best lip plumper

1. Lip plumpers are over-the-counter enhancements that come without guidelines. Read a few customer reviews and ask around before you buy one that you feel is the best lip plumper. It's up to you to decide if one that burns for 20 minutes, or feels chalky, or smells like cough medicine, or feels gooey (the so-called queen of all lip plumper's includes the word venom in its name!) might be too much pain for the gain. Or you might be one of those girls who are actually reassured when their lips sting or feel tingly that the plumper is doing its job.
2. Stay away from products that list alpha-hydroxy acids and alcohols first. They may result in dried out, parched-looking lips.
3. Creamy bases, rather than gels, are kinder to your lips.
4. Don't overuse them. We know that reapplying lip gloss can be addictive, but if you reapply lip plumpers that often, you risk the uncommon side effect of developing ulcers in the corners of your lips.
5. Don't be fooled into thinking even the best lip plumpers work for a long period of time.
6. At the end of the day there are plenty of experts who insist that the best lip plumpers don't work any better than lip gloss and a pencil combined with a pinch on your lips to make them look fuller.

HOW TO: Get model hair like Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr is the face of the new Clear haircare range and here the Australian supermodel shares her four simple steps to luscious locks:

1. “Because of my job I can’t be 100 per cent organic, so my philosophy is to be 80 per cent organic,     20 per cent indulgent. I couldn’t find a certified organic haircare range that gave me the results wanted, so I tried Clear and loved what it did.”

2. “I have regular hair treatments and I love neck and scalp massages. They get the blood pumping and promote growth.”

3. “I also rinse my hair in cold water. It makes me feel invigorated and alive, like a dive into the ocean."

4. “I cook with coconut oil – it’s the best for cooking. Good oils and omegas in my diet help make my hair shiny. I love avocados and almonds and I put macadamia oil on my salads.” 

So now how do I get my face to look like hers?!

Source 

OOTD: Winter Blossoms

While on our weekend away, we visited the everglades gardens and thought it was the perfect background for the OOTD, It was about 12 degrees this day, so it gave me a great chance to model some winter outfit ideas. Below is the outfit i chose for the day, tell me what you think and if you are a Lookbook member, give it some love!

What i am wearing:
Jacket: Asos
Top: Victorias Secret and ICE
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Vintage
Necklace: Tiffany & co
Scarf: Boutique
Flower: Equip

                 

OOTD: Urban Prep

This weekend was a long weekend here in Australia, so Daniel and i decided to go grab some lunch and do a bit of sneaky shopping in Newtown, Sydney. For those who are unfamiliar with Newtown, it is very similar to San Fransico, California but a lot smaller! Below is the outfit i chose for the day, tell me what you think and if you are a Lookbook member, give it some love!

What i am wearing:
Jacket: Asos
Top: Victorias Secret
Pants: Supre
Shoes: Vintage
Necklace: Tiffany & co
Bag: Myers

Bracelet: Swarovski 

To see how this look came together, watch the video!

Victorias Secret Angel Gold Fragrance Review

Victoria’s Secret has launched Victoria’s Secret Angel Gold, a new fruity floral fragrance for women. Victoria’s Secret Angel Gold is a updated version to last year’s Victoria’s Secret Angel.

Take the stage. Steal the spotlight. Make every day runway-worthy with this eau de parfum, a sexy blend of sparkling bergamot, lush gardenia and musk. Spray on for scent that lingers. Earn your wings—Victoria’s Secret Angel Gold.

Well, I don’t know about sexy, but this sent definitely lingers!! The perfume is definitely long lasting compared to some of its competitors. This scent easily lingers for about 6-8 hours,

                                 

This scent is a really pretty, very fruity and florally. This is definitely a day time sent. I think it is quite a young scent and very easy to wear. If you liked past Victoria’s secrets scents you will love this one. With top notes of Prickly pear, kumquat, pomelo blossom, red berry sorbet, orange crème, sparkling bergamot. It dries down to notes of Musk, vanilla woods, gold amber crystals, sandalwood, cedarwood

Lindsay Ellingson is the perfect choice as the spokes women for this fruity florally perfume, as she is the perfect embodiment of the girl next door image which this scent represents. This perfume is perfectly suited to a teen to young women. The packaging has the classic angel wings on the back with a modern graphic on the front. It is a very nice addition to any girls perfume collection.

Victoria's Secret Bombshell Review

Perfect for on-the-go beauty, day or night. Sexy today. Sexy tomorrow. Sexy forever. Embrace your inner bombshell with this FiFi® Award-winning eau de parfum from our Victoria’s Secret Bombshell fragrance  ollection. A glamorous blend of purple passion fruit, Shangri-la peony and vanilla orchid. Spray on for scent that lingers.

The ad claims it is a day or night sent, when I first read, I was skeptical, thinking its generally always one or the other. However this is one of the more flexible fragrances. I still think it is more day than night, but it definitely would not raise any eyebrows if you were to switch it up once and a while. 

The scent is a very fresh and fruity. It is quite a young scent and very easy to wear. If you liked past Victoria’s secrets scents you will love this one. With top notes of Tangelo, pineapple, strawberry, purple passion fruit. It dries down to Musk, blonde woods, oakmoss The face of the fragrance is Candice Swanepole, who is Victoria’s secrets favorite angel at the moment. She is a perfect choice because she is the ultimate bombshell. She is young and sexy which is exactly what this fragrance is trying to emulat02e. The packaging is beautiful and simple. It is a classic shape with the signature victorias secret stripes and a pretty bow to finish it off. This perfume is perfect for all ages

Chanel's Coco Noir Fragrance Review

Coco Noir was launched in September 2012.

"For Coco Noir, I thought of Coco and of Coco Mademoiselle too, because it’s also part of the history. I wanted to continue exploring an entire esthetic range of CHANEL perfumery, a range that distinguishes itself from the Florals, one that is illustrated by Bois-des-Iles and Cuir de Russie. I took it up with Coco. It’s what I like to call the CHANEL Coromandel culture, what you see and feel in her apartment. The night vision of the ‘Orient that starts and ends in Venice’ imposed itself upon me and that is where I wanted to go.” perfumer Jacques Polge.
In 1984, there was Coco, that sumptuous blend of wood, resins, flowers, spices and fruit. A treasure trove of splendours and an endless source of discovery and sensual delight. Then, in 2001, came Coco Mademoiselle, a breath of air that lightens this cornucopia of fragrance, in which everything is simplified and accelerated in a radiant burst of fruit and flower. And today there is Coco Noir, a great nocturnal Baroque. Another journey in the wake of a Gabrielle who fully embraced the dazzle of black and Venice, incorporating them not only into her creations but into her life.

Top notes: grapefruit, Calabrian bergamot, Heart: rose, narcissus, rose geranium leaf and jasmine. Base: tonka bean, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli and white musk frankincense.

This particular perfume was my wedding fragrance, it lasted all night and even into the next day! The staying power is incredible.

The bottle is just as classic as the brand is. Sleek and simple, the signature black colouring. This is deffinitly a classic perfume in the making. It is a musky scent, a perfect night time perfume. This fragrance is perfect for all ages.

Make Up Artist Review: Rachel Elizabeth

So on the 3rd of Dec 2012 Daniel and i were having our engagement photoshoot, So i had my make up done by my wedding make up artist as a trial for the wedding day. I had it done by Rachel Elizabeth.

After graduating with a High Distinction from The Art and Technology of Makeup College Sydney, Rachel went on to work as a certified artist for M.A.C. This gave her the opportunity to transform countless faces of all ages and races. It also enabled her to work with the most esteemed Australian and International makeup artists through various Public Relations events and three consecutive Rosemount Australian Fashion Weeks.

As much as she loved the fashion world, Rachel always found weddings more fulfilling and rewarding.

Getting married recently herself and being bridesmaid three times all in extremely different weather, Rachel has had invaluable insight to what the bridal party (and their hair and makeup) go through on the big day.

Combining all of this experience, Rachel can guarantee that your makeup will look and feel comfortable, fresh and polished all day and through the night.

Before:                                                                          After: 

Overall i was very impressed with her. She listened to be and asked how i usually wore my make up and then we altered it to make it more wedding appropriate.

I felt i was able to learn a few techniques i would not have normally tried. She was very gentle, my eyes did not water much ( despite them watering if its too windy)

Overall i would definitely recommend her to anyone. She was amazing, i've had my fears about make up artists before, being to orange/ not being listened to, but she matched my skin perfectly.

Let me know what you guys think of my wedding make up!

Here is the video of the OOTD i did for the photo shoot.






Link to Rachels website