Chanel - Rouge Noir

My most recent nail polish purchase has been the classic Chanel shade of Rouge Noir. I have been lusting after this for around a year or two for a few reasons. One being the amazing deep red/black colour and the other being the history attached to it.

The shade was first released in the grunge period of the mid 90's with the designers working to the colour brief of 'dried blood', could it any more melancholy? The shade has also been sold under the name Vamp and it proved so popular that the company created both 'Very Vamp' and 'Metallic Vamp'.

One of the reasons this shade is so well known is that is makes an appearance in the classic film 'Pulp Fiction'. A favourite movie of mine, this polish is worn of the hands of the amazing Uma Thurman. Surprisingly the colour was discontinued but luckily it was re-released in mid 2000's so we too can now have the deep, dark nails of a wicked woman.

I love pairing mine with an equally vampish lipstick like MAC's Rebel or Bobbi Brown's Black Cherry. Keep the complexion and eyes clean and simple, and add a flick of black liner for a touch of mystery.

Spring racing makeup

It's now Spring and all that lovely sunshine means Spring Racing Carnival. This is a makeup I did for a race day in Brisbane. We focused on natural look that was going to last throughout the day and didn't take away from the fabulous hat.

Products used -

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Napoleon Perdis Sheer Genius Foundation

MAC Prep and Prime Powder

Clinique Airbrush Concealer

Chanel Blush in Pink Explosion

Too Faced Brow Kit

Urban Decay Eyeshadows in Virgin, Sin, Naked and Hustle (all from Naked palette)

Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink

Diorshow Mascara

Clients own nude/pink lip liner and lipstick

The shade Naked was used as a base and Sin on the lid.

I then blended Hustle into the crease to add some depth and finished with Virgin to highlight on the inner corners and brow bone.

A little Hustle was smudged into the lower lash line for some definition.

Finished off with the Bobbi Brown Gel liner on the top lash line and mascara.

Coral crush - Bobbi Brown & Chanel

Two of my newest makeup purchases include the lovely Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Nectar and Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Exotic 21. I love the peachy coral tones and have been wearing these together with a little nude cream eyeshadow and lashings of my black Buxom mascara.

The shimmer brick can be used as single colours or sweep a brush through them all for a beautiful coral/golden shimmer. I have also been favouring using the champagne shade (second from top) as a highlighter above my cheek bones.

L- R Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick all colours swatch, champagne highlighter, Chanel Lipstick in Exotic

Same swatches in sunlight, I love the golden shimmer through them

Nothing makes me feel more glamorous than wearing Chanel and this lipstick is no exception. I have been looking for a coral colour and Exotic has the perfect amount of peach and orange for me. It has a gorgeous satin finish and wears well on the lips, perfect for day or night.

New makeup from MAC Cosmetics

A few weeks ago I got some new products from MAC Cosmetics. I was lucky enough to have my sister visit me in India and she got these goodies duty free for me. It was a welcome injection of cosmetic commodity as I was starting to have severe withdrawals from visiting the shiny white counters and the new-makeup-haze that they ensue.

Purchases included Prep and Prime Loose Powder, Prep and Prime Lip, Paint Pot in Blackground and Lipstick in Rebel.

I have been using the loose powder over my foundation daily and have fallen in love. My skin is very oily and I usually have to reapply powder many times throughout the day, after using this to set my makeup I only need 1-2 touch ups during the day. If you have very dry skin I probably wouldn't recommend it as it feels quite dry and matte on the skin but that certainly isn't a problem for me. This product contains silica which can turn white under flash photography, I did a little trial and my face wasn't noticeably white or ashy but would probably be visible if you used a lot of product. It looks lovely when buffed in with a flat top brush, I have been using my duo fibre one from Crown Brush but have been eyeing off the Sigma flat top kabuki brush!

Used here was Prep and Prime Powder and also used a little of the Paint Pot smudged around the eye and set with shadow, lipstick is MAC Ruby Woo.

The lip primer is equally amazing, it has made even my cheapest lipsticks look better and last longer. I love the matte finish lipsticks but sometimes find they can be drying on the lips and using this underneath helps to keep your lips looking hydrated and smooth. A must have for you ladies who love to rock a bold lip.

The paint pots are a beautiful cream that is long-wearing, blendable and dries to a vibrant finish. I haven't played around with this much yet. So far I really love the consistency and layering shadow over the top. I have just been smudging this around the eye for a softer look and finishing with a taupe/grey shadow. This has been on my wish list after seeing one of Lisa Eldridges tutorials on a heavy smokey eye she did for Cheryl Cole, check it out on her blog page. 

Rebel is one of MAC's bestselling lipsticks, the berry-red number has a satin finish and gives a perfect pop of colour. I have been loving this colour on my lips, a change from my usual pinks and reds. 

Wearing lipstick in Rebel.

Hope you enjoyed reading about these products as much as I have enjoyed playing around with them. I will be heading back to Australia in a week so I'm sure the bright lights of the duty free cosmetic counters will draw me in and I'll have lots of new things to share. 

The reason for my belated blogging was visits from my sister, niece and boyfriend. We did some travelling together and saw the iconic Taj Mahal. I though I'd share one of my favourite snaps of this monumental building of love.

The Color Bug

I am loving the trend of dip dyed hair at the moment, there are so many awesome colour combinations and who wouldn't want a splash of pink for the weekend! I wanted to share this product I found called the Kevin Murphy Color Bug.

It is coloured hair shadow and the best thing about it is, it's wipe on, wipe off.  Even though most coloured hair dyes are semi permanent when they are starting to fade the colour can start to look sickly and this solves all those problems.

To use the Color Bug, you need to make sure you cover your shoulders with a towel, work some product through your hair, it is this product that the colour actually sticks to. Rub the Color Bug over the area you want coloured and then shake the hair to make sure there is no coloured dust fall out.

Love the fact that you can give yourself a rad pop of colour over the weekend and then it will be washed out for work on Monday, the perfect combination of party and business.  I can't wait to try this product when I get back to Australia, here is the link to buy online but they are unable to ship Kevin Murphy products out of Australia.

http://www.myhaircare.com.au/COLOR.BUG_1947.html

Scroll down the myhaircare web page to see a youtube demonstration of Kevin himself using the product and sharing his expert tips and tricks. Happy colouring!

Prissy polish

My obsession with nail polishes is bordering on unhealthy, I should enquire about buying shares in OPI... Thought I would share with you a few of my favourite looks for fingers.

Lucky Lucky Lavender with spot detail of Alpine Snow, What's With The Cattitude and Planks a Lot

Designer De Better with Black Shatter

Glow Up Already (Makes me feel like my fingers are shooting stars - super glam!)

Black Cherry Chutney with Silver Shatter

What's With The Cattitude, Teal The Cows Come Home, Lucky, Lucky Lavender and Alpine Snow

This was my first attempt at water marbling I did a base coat of Alpine Snow to begin and marbled over the top. The edges are a little messy but overall I was happy with the finished product. If you want to give this look a try, search for the OPI tutorial on your tube. You will need patience but it gives such an amazing look, there are endless colour combinations too.

All polishes pictured above are the fabulous OPI nail lacquers - my fav!

Mermaids and water babies

Reading the May issue of Indian Vogue I found the most amazing photo shoot. I am in love with everything about theses images, the styling, makeup and the whimsical fantasy they create. I have an affinity with white sands, blue waters, mermaids and anything to do with the wonderful world of under the sea. This shoot inspired me to share some of my favourite things that are the consequence of my connection to the sea.

Photography by Luis Monterio, Sumer Verma and Umeed Mistry

Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Mermaid's Dream - This one is going on the wish list!

Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Phenomena

Nars Eyeshadow Duo in South Pacific

Napoleon Whipped Dream Tan Enhancer

OPI Nail Lacquer in Mermaids Tears and Sea Ya Later Sailor - Two of my favourite OPI polishes, I just found this swatch of them layered together, can't wait to try it myself! 

If mermaids had feet I'm sure they would want them to be in these gold Christian Louboutins

I can't wait to get back in the Australian waters and visit my old seaside home in Byron Bay. Counting down till summer, hope your excited about seeing the sun and crystal waters too.