hands OFF

TO KEEP YOUR HAIR LOOKING SUPER CLEAN AND GLOSSY, don't touch it...
Your fingers deposit debris and oil, so mindlessly stroking, tucking, or twirling your hair during the day is one of the quickest ways to dull it down and dirty it up. Always style hair with clean hands, then do your best to keep your paws off.

friday FASHION FAVOURITE

LOVING ANTHROPOLOGIE'S new outfits for the eccentric range ... their motto, 'when it comes to mixing prints, there's method in our madness'

CLICK HERE to shop the entire range!

hair bare: BIKINI LINE

YOU CAN pretty much use any hair-removal method on this area with some degree of success -but WAXING really does give the best, most fuzz-free results...

Whether you prefer to leave the waxing in the hands of an expert or feel up to DIY at home, the first step is to pop some ibuprofen an hour beforehand to help with the pain factor... Then, if you are brave enough to do it yourself:
1. First be sure your hair is long enough: It should be a couple of centimetres long if it's fine and a half-inch long if it's coarse. Otherwise, the wax is not going to work.
2. Sit in front of a mirror with your legs in front of you, then bend one leg so your foot is resting on the opposite knee. Start at the edge and spread the wax in the direction of hair growth in a one-by-three-inch area. (Smaller sections = less pain.)
3. Smooth a muslin strip over the area, pull the skin taut, then yank the strip back in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
4. After waxing, soothe the skin with an aloe lotion, or use hydrocortisone cream if you get any red bumps.

bellaMUMMA loves Nads Brazilian & Bikini Kit

look younger CHEAP TRICK #3

LOOSEN UP...

Hair that's pulled back tightly draws attention to every line on your face - so go for a softer hairstyle that softly frames your features.

{Source: Allure}

mid-week MUMMAS

THIS WEEK'S BELLA MUMMAS... Gwyneth, Kate, Jessica, Sarah Jessica, Isla and Heidi!

{Pics: Celebrity Baby Blog}

shower POWER

NEED AN ENERGY BOOST IN THE MORNING? (Don't we all!) Try this trick...
Just before hopping into the shower sprinkle a few drops of your favourite essential oils in the bottom of your shower or bath, run the hot water and close the shower door or curtain for a couple of second before getting in - then hop in and let the oils work their magic you while you shower.
For a REVIVING blast, try rosemary oil with a few drops of steadying lavender.
To REFRESH and RE-VITALISE, try a few drops each of rose and geranium to gently balance out your energy levels.

diy FALSE LASHES

FALSE LASHES WORK WITH EVERY LOOK - even a natural one - to open up your eyes and instantly dress you up...

If you find the idea of applying them yourself is a little intimidating, here's the inside info you need: First look for individual lash clusters, which are small bulbs of three to five lashes each, tend to look more realistic than the full strips, because you stick them only in sparse areas. Buy a set that includes several different lash lengths - that way, you can use the length that most closely matches your own lashes. (Trimming false lashes shorter is not a good idea because it makes the tips blunt, which looks fake. And not in a good way.)

To apply, follow these steps:
1. Start with clean lashes. Apply your eye makeup (except for mascara) and curl your lashes.
2. Put a tiny drop of the glue that comes with the lashes on the back of your hand. Pick up a lash cluster using slant-edge tweezers. Grip the cluster close to the base--not by the tip, which could tear the lashes--and dip the base into the glue. Wait about 15 seconds to give the glue time to get sticky.
3. Tilt your head back so you can see your lash line in the mirror. Starting at the outer corner of your eye, stick the cluster in the first open spot you see between your lashes, wiggling it in so it sits right on the lash line, not above it.
4. Working inward, add a few more clusters on any open spots, but don't use more than five on each eye.
5. When you've finished both eyes, leave your lashes alone for five minutes to let the glue dry, then sweep on black mascara. (But don't use a thickening formula—it can clump on fakes.)
6. If you make a mistake, gently pull off the cluster with your fingers. Peel the glue off the base, dab it into the adhesive, and stick it back on.

instant BETTER BODY

STANDING UP STRAIGHT can make your body INSTANTLY look better...

Good posture can take centimetres off your midsection instantly — {check it out for yourself by measuring your waist with a tape measure}!

The trick is to imagine lifting up your rib cage as if there were a string going from your breastbone to the ceiling. At the same time, gently pull your shoulder blades back toward your spine. You'll also look taller and more confident!

skin break-out FIX

IF YOU SUFFER FROM UNEXPLAINED BREAKOUTS, 

here's some info that may be of help...

Emma Hobson, from the The International Dermal Institute, recommends that you wash your pillowcase regularly (that's a given) but NOT to use fabric softener.

The reason: It puts a coating on the pillowcase fibres which will rub your the skin and may cause it to become congested and prone to break-outs! 

{I never knew that!}

happy WEEKEND

“A GOOD FRIEND is a connection to life—a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”
― Lois Wyse

Have a great weekend with your friends! X

smooth skin CHEAP TRICK #1

MAKE YOUR OWN BODY SCRUB by mixing Epsom salts with a cup of any of your best-smelling oil—olive, almond, rose, whatever you like. Leave a jar of it by your bathtub, and exfoliate at least once a week. It's so clever at removing dead skin and hydrating, you won't even need to moisturise when you step out of the shower. Super-smooth!

{Source: Allure}

friday FASHION FAVOURITE

HOW CUTE IS THIS? Skipping Girl has cleverly devised new grid design system that lets you create your very own Skipping Girl Tote. Design-a-Tote, it’s your design, your colours, your creation.

Once you’ve placed your order, a custom tote will be hand-crocheted to your design and in four-to-six weeks your masterpiece will arrive.

And to launch this exciting function Skipping Girl are giving away every second bag for FREE! {Until the end of April.} So design one and get your second one for nothing! Hel-lo, great for Mother's Day!!!!

CLICK HERE to start designing!

hair REHAB

POST SUMMER HAIR REHAB: If your hair is sun-singed and salt-seared try this hair-healing remedy. Put three tablespoons of oilve oil in a microwave-safe dish and nuke it for 20 seconds. Comb the oil through wet hair and wrap in a towel dampened with hot water. After the towel cools, shampoo and condition. If you're short of time, just mix a few drops of olive oil with your regular conditioner.

fade your DARK SPOTS

YOU MAY THINK WRINKLES ARE THE BIGGEST SIGN OF AGING, but according to studies, it's actually discolouration that is most responsible for making skin look older —aging it by as much as 10 to 15 years. Only problem, pigmentation is hard to budge...

Introducing Clinique’s NEW Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. This new treatment serum effectively helps fade the appearance of dark spots, age spots and discolourations due to ageing, years of accumulated sun damage, environmental assaults, and past acne scarring, to reveal a more uniformly radiant complexion. Laboratory tests have verified 53% improvement in skin tone after using Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector for 12 weeks. And the big difference – this “damage eraser” is gentle and non-irritating and ideal for skins that cannot tolerate other skin brightening treatments.

Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector will be available at Clinique counters on May 2. CLICK HERE for more info on the entire Even Better range.

look younger CHEAP TRICK #1

EASY, THREE WORDS... Wear less make-up!

{Source: Allure}

sjp in VOGUE

SARAH JESSICA PARKER in the latest US Vogue... stunning! CLICK HERE to see all the pics!

mid-week MUMMAS

THIS WEEK'S CELEB BELLA MUMMAS... Sarah Jessica, Jennifer, Halle and Claudia!

{Pics: Celeb Baby Blog}

wise WORDS

“IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It’s the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep.” ― Dale Carnegie

make-up MISTAKE #3

OVERDOING YOUR CONCEALER IS A BIGGIE... Applying concealer with a heavy hand can end up looking almost as bad as letting your dark circles show.

The secret: Tap a very small brush into a liquid concealer and pat it under your eyes, focusing most of the color at the inner corners, where discolouration is usually the worst. Then blend it well in a crescent-moon shape under the eyes. When you're done, set it with a little loose powder. And to make your concealer work double duty, mix it with a moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid or peptides before applying, and you'll smooth wrinkles as you hide them.

{Source: Allure}

happy WEEKEND

“If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.”

― J.M. Power

Have a dreamy weekend! X

{Pic. A Glamorous Little Side Project}

friday FASHION FAVOURITE

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE PINK LOULOU COLLECTION... you're going to LOVE every piece!

What is Pink LouLou? It's the love-child of Tasmanian-born, Sydneysider Skye Campbell, who, inspired by the desire to create an enduring symbol of friendship for her girlfriends, created the Map of Tassie Necklace (all puns intended). After the success of this gesture Skye wanted to start of something bigger, a beautifully crafted but always quirky range of jewellery; with help from her best friend, LouLou. {The name Pink LouLou is a combo of their childhood nicknames Pinkie and LouLou -super-cute!}

The collection now features the original Map of Tassie Necklace, Pink Lady Apple, Love Knots, Razor Blades, Delicate Thongs and Paperclips + bespoke signet rings and cufflinks featuring family crests or personal lucky symbols.

CLICK HERE to visit Pink Lou Lou to find your favourite pieces and shop the collection!

update your 'DO

A SMIDGEN OF HEIGHT AT YOUR CROWN can update your hairdo and add a whole lot of sex appeal...

For the classic Brigitte Bardot look, blow-dry hair with a round brush, then set it in hot rollers to amp up the volume. After taking out the rollers, part hair in the middle, then lightly tease the underside of the crown with a fine-tooth comb to give it a bit of lift. Skim a paddle brush over the surface of your crown to smooth any fuzz.

{Source: Allure}

instant GLOW

TO BRIGHTEN YOUR WHOLE FACE... {perfect for this time of the year} dot and blend a rosy bronze cream blush on your chin, forehead and the apples of your cheeks. Applying the blush where the sun would naturally 'kiss' makes you glow and helps keep your make-up looking natural.

mid-week MUMMAS

THIS WEEK'S BELLA MUMMAS... Sarah Jessica, Katie, Nicole, Jennifer, Gisele and Minnie - all with their gorgeous babes!

{Pics: Celebrity Baby Blog}

new LANOLIPS

LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE HAND CREAM? Lanolips new Rose Balm Intense for Dry Hands and Nails is what you're after...

Based on the Lanolips signature Medical Grade Lanolin, with added shea butter, cocoa seed butter, rose oil, wheat germ oil and other rich natural oils, once it's settled, Lanolips Rose Balm Intense creates a unique protective veil over the hands - or feet - for continual softness and nourishment. It feels and smells heavenly!

Lanolips Rose Balm Intense, $18.95, is on-counter June 6. Visit www.lanolips.com.au for more details

playing down PUFFINESS

IF YOU HAVE PUFFY EYES... skip bright, dark, or shimmery eye makeup. Instead, pick a matte shadow that's slightly darker than your skin, then sweep it across your eyelids and along your lower lashes—it makes puffiness less obvious.

new GROWN

INSPIRED BY NATURE's complex power and delicate structure, GROWN’s organic range of luxurious skincare offerings are perfect for Mother's Day...

I love their Body Cream, $26 - it's a deeply hydrating all over treatment that smells deliciously fresh and is designed to luxuriously nourish, moisturise and soothe dry skin. Perfection for this time of the year! Available from 19th April - visit www.grown.com for more details.

beauty ZZZZZZZ's

WAKING UP LOOKING GORGEOUS AFTER YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP, that's what dreams are made of! Here's what you'll want to do before going to bed this evening so you look radiant in the morning...

Wake up with radiant skin. Slather on a gradual tanner before climbing into bed. It won't streak or stain the sheets, and it will give you a subtle glow by morning.

Use the strong stuff. Nighttime is the best time to use that power anti-ager, retinol, because the ingredient can be deactivated by the sun. Try RoC Wrinkle Filler.

Get softer skin. Using moisturizer before you go to sleep is the key, but that doesn't mean you need to invest in anything expensive. Dermatologists recommend spreading a thin layer of Vaseline on your face at night as a cheaper option.

Shrink puffy eyes. If you find yourself plagued with bloodshot or puffy eyes every morning, you probably have allergies. Taking an antihistamine before going to sleep could help in just a week or two. In the meantime, prop your head up on an extra pillow to prevent fluid from settling into bags.

Prevent perspiring the night before. Dermatologists say that if you apply antiperspirants the night before, there's no need to apply it in the morning. That means no more white streaks on your black clothes.

Create a moist environment. Dry air can ravage skin and make hair static-y. Sleep with a humidifier in the room.

Rest your head on a satin pillowcase. Those creases you sometimes wake up with across your face? They can actually cause wrinkles to develop. Switching to satin will prevent them and can also help smooth frizzy hair, too.

{Source: Allure}

new BLOOM

IF YOU LOVE BLOOM COSMETICS, YOU'RE GOING TO ADORE BLOOM ORGANICS... Every formula in the range has been developed by Natalie Bloom, founder of Bloom Cosmetics. “I passionately believe in drawing upon the power of nature and it’s ingredients to nurture the body. This not only applies to what I eat, but also to what I put on my skin,” she says.

"We’ve worked hard to achieve endorsement by Australia’s largest certifier of organic products, Australian Certified Organic (ACO). Sixteen of our 19 products wear the ACO stamp of integrity with pride. To gain ACO approval, a product must contain at least 95% of organic ingredients with the balance being made up of naturally produced plant products and/or natural, non-toxic preservatives and additives."

Pure. Potent. Certified. Bloom Organics should be on your beauty must-have list…. For more info visit: www.bloomcosmetics.com

hollywood GURU

I GET TO INTERVIEW PRETTY MUCH THE BEST OF THE BEST WHEN I'M RESEARCHING A STORY... for story on DIY Spa Treatments I interviewed Ole Hendriksen, Hollywood Spa Legend and he shared his spa treatment recipes (and their celebrity devotees)…

Here's two you might like...

NOURISHMENT MASK
1 teaspoon of plain yogurt
2 teaspoonfuls of honey
1 teaspoonful of finely ground oatmeal
1 Vitamin A capsule, 10.000 I.U.
1 Vitamin E capsule, 400 I.U.
5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Mix ingredients to create a smooth paste, apply to clean skin and leave on for 20-30 minutes while relaxing.

CELEB FANS: Jessica Alba, Lisa Kudrow, Linda Evangelista and Carmen Electra love the benefits of this mask.

EXFOLIATING CLEANSER
12 tablespoons oatmeal
1/3 cup witchhazel
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
Blend oats in a blender thoroughly for a few seconds and place in a bowl. Add witchhazel and yogurt and mix well. Cut 6 pieces of cheesecloth into 20 x 20 centimetres squares. Place three pieces on top of one another. Put the oatmeal mix on top of layered cheesecloth and make a sachet by tying string around the cheesecloth. Repeat with the rest of the cheesecloth and remaining oatmeal mix. Place the two sachets in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. This cleanser is best used in the shower, where the face can be rinsed more effectively. Massage the oatmeal sachet over the complexion in firm upward and outward circular motions, squeezing gently to release the cleansing extracts for at least one to two minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

CELEB FANS: Renee Zellweger, Priscilla Presley, Christy Turlington and Rebecca Romijin all love the benefits of oatmeal.

skin SOLUTION

IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SKIN drying out, or breaking out, it could be that you're not washing of your cleanser off properly. Make sure you rinse off every last trace, especially around your nose, ears and neck area. You should notice a difference in a couple of days.

make-up MISTAKE #2

SKIPPING THE EYELINER...
Even if your Saturday nights no longer end on Sunday mornings, you don't need to start ditching eye makeup. As we age, our eyes start to droop at the outer corners—and liner and mascara can do wonders. Fake a lifted look by lining your upper lashes with black pencil, making the line a bit thicker at the outer corners. Next, curl your lashes and add a few coats of mascara—straight lashes may make lids appear hooded.

{Source: Allure}

happy WEEKEND

“WHAT LIES BEHIND US and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a great weekend! X

{Pic. Beautiful Things To Share}

friday FASHION FAVOURITE

I'M LOVING CHRISTIAN DIOR'S FALL 2010 collection... from the dirty-pastel evening gowns to the knee high boots and delicate evening bags! Fashion heaven! To see - and fall in love with - the whole collection for yourself CLICK HERE!

{Source: Style.com}

red ALERT

EVERYONE CAN WEAR RED LIPSTICK, the trick is knowing the correct shade for your skin tone...

Here's the inside info...
IF YOU HAVE GOLD SKIN TONES AND TAN EASILY: Use a warm orange- or brown-red.
IF YOUR SKIN IS FAIR AND BLUSHES EASILY: Opt for a blue-red since its cool tones will compliment your natural rosiness.
IF YOU THINK YOU FALL SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE: Choose an easy-to-wear true red.

lip STICK

FOR LIPSTICK THAT STAYS PUT, follow this application plan...
1. Blot your lips with a tissue to remove any lip balm or moisturiser – the oil will repel the lipstick.
2. Apply your lipstick, then blot again with a one-ply sheet of tissue.
3. Dust your lips with translucent powder to set, then re-apply a second slick of lippie.

+ To stop your lipstick coming off onto your coffee cup or wine glass, discreetly press your tongue to the spot where you’re about to sip and the lipstick won’t stick.

+ Prevent your lipstick from bleeding and creating creases around your mouth, by applying foundation and a bit of concealer to the edges of the lip line, then set with powder. Apply lip liner and lipstick and blot excess with a tissue.
+ Before applying lipstick, blot lips with a tissue to remove any lip balm or moisturiser as the oil will stop lipstick from sticking – or use Lucas’ Papaw Ointment instead of balm as it won’t effect your lipstick.