Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer

A heavy duty, highly pigmented, blendable concealer that provides the ultimate coverage.  Create a flawless surface by covering birth marks, freckles, dark circles and even tattoos! I use such a small amount that I could see this tube seriously lasting forever, I use this concealer under whatever foundation or BB cream that I decide to use that day.

This concealer is reversed for facial use only, I have used it to cover my dark circles but found it to be too thick and heavy for the delicate skin under my eyes. This does however cover any other problem that you have, my acne doesn’t stay a chance of showing through this concealer and for the price I’d recommend that you all try it out.

There aren’t many different shades to choose from, but for fair and pale girls out there like me. The lightest shade is even fairer than my skin tone and I’m a MAC NC-15, I find it’s best to use clean fingers or a damp sponge as it seems to melt better into the skin than using a brush.

I love the squeezable tube as it’s way more sanitary compared to wands, twistables or pans. I’d tell beginnings to be careful with this concealer, it’s more difficult to work with and doesn't easily glide across skin well but definitely amazing once you master it.

Have you used Hard Candy’s concealer? What concealers do you enjoy using?

Current Top Coats

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

Is an anti-chip top coat that I have used for a while now, I can’t say that it’s my favourite considering I want to try more top coats from the Sally Hansen range but it does work nicely and it dries quickly which is what I love. I wouldn’t say that it’s anti-chip because I do find my polish does chip at the same rate as when I use a different top coat, however if you are someone who’s busy than this top coat would works wonders. The consistency glides over the nail and gives the polish such a shiny appearance that I get compliments on my nails, people have even asked if I have gel polish which is a fantastic compliment to get.

Orly Flash Dry

I received a mini bottle in a monthly subscription box though I have used these quick dry drops during my time at beauty school, these drops don’t completely dry the nail polish but it dries enough where you can use your hands again and not worry too much about ruining your new manicure. One drop on each nail is enough and I would consider buying the full size bottle which will last a long time, I am the type of person who hates waiting for my polish to dry so the drops work perfectly for me and I’d high recommend this product to everyone.

What are your favourite top coats?

Autumn Nails

Here in Australia it is currently Autumn, meaning I get to start bringing out my darker nail polishes (though you can wear whatever colour in any season). I love this time of year when it’s starting to get colder after struggling through the heat of Summer, now we can enjoy hot drinks and hearty meals while snuggling up with a blanket.

Essie After Sex is a beautiful sultry pearlescent burgundy, it has to be one of my favourite reds to wear. I find that I need two coats of this polish to get an even colour across my nails, the light shimmer catches the light beautifully and would look wonderful on everyone.

OPI You Don’t Know Jacques! is a colour that I never thought I’d actually like, it’s a pretty taupe colour that can look plain or boring. I know many people don’t like this polish, but personally I do because it’s different and I had no other colour like this one.

China Glaze Dress Me Up, when I brought this polish I thought it’d be one of the run of the mill nude/mauvey colours. However the colour is even more beautiful when applied, it has a muted pink finish which only needs one coat but I apply a second coat to give it a richer look.

OPI Mrs. O’Leary’s BBQ is simply the best blackish red/deep oxblood red I've ever used, I use this colour all through autumn and winter because it’s stylish and chic. A big plus is that the colour doesn't get blacker and darker with every extra application, like some dark nail polishes can.

What nail polishes are you enjoying right now?

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

My Holy Grail foundation that I wear on a daily basis, I have oily skin though can be dry at times. Double Wear is a natural semi matte foundation that lasts 15 hours (however who actually wears makeup for 15 hours?), worry-free that stays fresh through heat, humidity and nonstop activity.

Something I love about this foundation is that the colour doesn’t change at least not on my skin, there is absolutely no smudging or transferring onto clothes which is what I struggle with. The feel is lightweight and comfortable, however can cling to dry patches so if you have drier skin than be careful of that.

I find that when I use this foundation I don’t need to powder throughout the day, the formula is easy to blend and is oil-free. There are seventeen shades but I’d advise everyone to visit a counter to be colour matched, it’s easier and better for the money you’ll be paying for it. Here in Australia a bottle costs AUD $50 which is pricey, but you only need to use a small amount of product and a single bottle lasts a long time.

I don’t even need to use a concealer under or over this foundation, the coverage is medium but can be buildable. I apply more foundation on my cheeks and chin as that’s where I have old acne scarring and new acne on occasion. Although I find this highlights my large pores across my cheeks, now this is pretty normal for any matte foundations but it’s something I can easily live with.

A con about this product is that the bottle doesn’t come with a pump, you have to pour the foundation out which can easily mean you pour out too much product. Right now I’m getting to the end of my bottle, which means it’s harder and slower to pour the foundation out which isn’t ideal and overall just plain annoying.

What is your favourite foundation?

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

I use the translucent shade and this had quickly become my favourite powder, it’s finely milled so no matter how many times this powder is applied it doesn’t become cakey or look chalky. This powder does alright at controlling oil but if I’m out all day than I will need to reapply at least once during that time although I’m not bothered by it.

Packaging is simple, cheap plastic with a lid that doesn't stay on too well - this is definitely not travel friendly unless you wrap a rubber band around it to secure it.

This product claims to provide up to 5 hours of natural shine control and to minimise the appearance of pores, this pressed powder definitely mattifies but I have large visible pores across my cheeks and this powder definitely doesn’t cover them.

I love using the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder with my Real Techniques Powder Brush which applies the pressed powder like a charm, the softness of the brush is just divine.

I will be repurchasing this powder once I have used it up and will recommend anyone to at least try this powder.

Have you tried the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and what do you think about it?

Best Nail Treatment

Having been to beauty school where you start of practicing treatments on the other students there, I found my nails were becoming weak from being overused in classes. They were very thin to the point where I could bend the tip downwards, I had formed ridges in the nail plate which I personal have never had before.

Overall my nails were in a disgusting shape which for a beauty student isn’t a great look, but nothing I did seemed to help me until my teacher at the time suggested I try the Revitanail Nail Strengthening Treatment. Depending on where you buy it from can cost between AUD $25 to $30, this treatment is widely available but it really does work wonders.

To have the full effect of this treatment you apply two coats and then one daily coat after that for the next five days, remove the polish and start over again. Now it did take a good five to six months for my nails to get back into shape, although keeping in mind working in beauty means that I’m using my hands often. I also use a cuticle oil either during the day or before I go to bed, not only will that help moisturize the cuticle area but will increase the health of the new nail that’s already growing.

The consistency is thick but still easy to work with though the drying power isn’t as fast as normal colour nail polish, I did find the product does become thicker the older it gets as you can see from my current bottle. This is my second bottle and I have found that it’s hard to use up all the product before it becomes nasty looking, which you can still use but just doesn’t look nice.

I do love this product for even times when maybe I don’t have enough calcium (which I find helps with having strong, healthy nails), I recommend this strengthening nail treatment to anyone you needs it for whatever reason. It works amazingly and it’s not overly expensive for what it does, it will bring your nails back to life and give you the nails that you deserve having.

Do you have a favourite nail treatment? What shape are your nails in right now?

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturiser

Over the past few months I have become a fan of the Aveeno products and this daily moisturiser is no exception. The consistency is great and thick enough to provide a great protective layer over the skin, though feels lightweight and doesn’t leave my skin looking or feeling greasy either. I have ance-prone skin and this lotion has never once broken me out, I use this moisturiser every morning and I absolutely love it.

There isn’t any harsh perfume smell and this product is handy if you’re in a rush, I always skip applying a separate sunscreen even though I know that I shouldn’t so having this moisturiser with a built in SPF 15 is just a bonus. However if you’ll be having your photo taken than there may be the normal white cast on your skin from the SPF, so on those days or nights I tend not to wear this product.

The price of $19.99 could be considered expensive for some people, though a bottle of this moisturiser does tend to last as you only need two pumps to completely cover the face and neck. I also don’t use this product as night, I find it a waste considering the SPF isn’t needed and I always like to use either an oil or just a richer night cream.

I do let this cream sink into my skin for about ten minutes or so before I apply any makeup, I do this just to make sure that my skin gets all the properties that the moisturiser has to offer.

What is your current or favourite daily moisturizer?

Rose Hip Oil

Bursting with essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, rose hip oil is a healing oil that has the unique ability to deeply nourish and balance all skin types. With your first application, skin instantly feels smoother and softer. Over time wrinkles, scars and stretch marks may begin to fade and your skin's natural healthy glow is restored.

Rose hip oil is a fruit oil extracted from the hip of the rose, the hip is the fruit that is left after a rose has bloomed and the petals have fallen. Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil comes from wild rose hips and is a naturally rich source of essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants.

Rose hip oil can be used by any person, of any age, with any skin type. The superfine oil is easily absorbed by skin and doesn't leave behind any oil residue. It is commonly used for a variety of skin conditions including dermatitis, acne and eczema, for mature and sun burnt skin as well as brittle nails and wrinkles. Rose hip oil is also frequently used to heal scarring and diminish photo-aging.

I apply just a few drops of this oil at night before bed so it has time to sink in and work on my skin while I sleep, I only use it at night as I do have oily skin already and don’t want to add to that during the day. I hadn’t been using the oil long enough to know if it will help fade my acne scars, however I am enjoying this oil as my nightly moisturiser.

Do you use a Rose Hip Oil and what do you think?

Benefit Porefessional Face Primer

Absolutely can’t apply my foundation without this product, it's does everything that it claims. Minimizes the appearance of pores, makes your foundation blend like a dream and feels great and smooth also I noticed that it acts like a long wearing primer as well.

I do have noticeable pores on the apples of my cheeks and across my nose, now when I apply certain foundations my pores can be covered pretty well. Now without the primer my pores are still visible though when I apply my foundation, it blends effortlessly into the skin and I tend to stick with my trusty Estee Lauder Double Wear.

I do wish that it had actually completely hidden my pores as Benefit promised, but saying that I would definitely recommend this for anyone whose foundation doesn’t quite do the job. It’s non-greasy and very light so it doesn’t feel like I have any extra makeup on, and you could always add more POREfessional on top of your foundation if you feel you need a more coverage.

Have you tried Benefit POREfessional and what did you think about the product?

Favourite Summer Nail Polishes

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Summer has just ended for us here in Australia, but I still want to share the nail polishes that I found myself grabbing for the warmer months.

Essie Neo Whimsical is a Rose-Plum Purple pastel that I love wearing all year round, I will say that the first coat will apply horribly. It will be streaky and there will be bald patches, but once the second coat is applied all of that evens out and the colour looks fantastic.

OPI Not So Bora-Boraing Pink is a pretty pink, one coat gives a mauve tinged iridescent sheen while two coats gives you more of the deeper dusty rose colour.

Essie Mint Candy Apple is a creamy pastel green which looks superb with a tan or if you have olive undertones, the polish is opaque and this surprised me as I have tried numerous other pastel polishes and many of them are streaky when applied but this one glides over the nails.

Butter London Dahling is a beautiful a deep, dusky-pink. Usually brighter polishes are typically summer friendly but I love this colour for anytime, it will suit anyone who has pinky undertones though I’m cool and I still love this colour.

Essie Pink Lemonade is not only a name that I love but the polish is a peachy pink with micro gold shimmer, the finish is a frost which is nice. This polish is sheer but the colour can be built up with a few coats.

What nail polishes do you like to wear during certain seasons?

Becoming A Beauty Therapist

Source: http://reachfortraining.com.au

Hello Beauties

I am writing this post for any of you who may not know what career path they want to take, or someone who isn’t quite sure about becoming a beauty therapist. I finished my Certificate IV in Beauty Services in late November 2012, I studied for just under two years which I would have preferred to finish earlier but I will get to that later.

After finishing high school I studied Business which was just something to fill in my time, I haven’t always been interested in beauty and makeup but for the past few years that has been my passion.

Where I live there are only two beauty schools which one being further away from me and being more expensive, so I applied to the cheaper and closer school to where I lived. Like any study you do it’s going to be expensive but luckily my wonderful parents helped me with the fees, now I’m a very shy and quiet girl so becoming a beauty therapist where I have to be around clients every day was amazing for me.

I was brought out of my shell as I learnt quickly that I needed to talk with clients, not just for the treatment they were having but so they would comfortable and want to come back to me. A therapist needs to be this friendly, warm person that clients want to come back to see.

Now when I started my beauty course I had a teacher who was only a few years older than me, which was good as she was new in the industry herself but she wasn’t the best teacher. She left after a few short months and then came in a second teacher who was older and had more experience, she actually lived down the road from me and we’re still close friends to this time. She was a wonderful person and teacher who pushed all of the students when they needed it.

Being in a beauty school you learn on both clients and other students, mostly for me it was on other students which could have been worked better by the owner of the school. Being in the beauty industry you need to have a strong passion for the treatments you do otherwise the clients will pick up on it, sometimes I don’t feel like talking to clients but I do because I know that’s part of the job.

There will be those clients who become to trust you and will want to tell you private things about themselves, you have to listen to them and keep whatever is said in that treatment room to yourself.

That is how you make a good reputation for yourself which is especially important if you live in a small town like I do, also getting treatments done in other beauty salons will help you learn other techniques and you’ll feel how certain techniques feel.

This is also a great opportunity for you to meet people in the same industry as you are in or will be entering, this could lead to so many things such as getting a job or getting extra training. Which leads me onto extra training, you want to get as much training as you can even if you have to pay more money. Having more skills will help you getting a job and will work out better in the long run, just make sure that any training you do get is a skill you want to learn and use.

For me in my training I learnt how to do nail enhancements which I really don’t enjoy doing and having since leaving beauty school, also don’t let other people in the industry talk you into doing something you aren’t interested in.

You are going to meet a variety of different people with different backgrounds to you, which shouldn’t scare you away because this has formed me into being an even better beauty therapist. However there will be times when you have to be slightly thick skinned, there will be clients who come to see you and for many reasons aren’t going to be the nicest or most pleasant to deal with but just keep in mind that you did the best treatment that you possibly could and if they don’t appreciate the work that you put in than that is their loss.

I have even had a beauty therapist that the school used for a short period of time for the students to get more hands on experience, tell me that because I have acne scars mainly on my cheeks that I would find it hard to get a job because of it.

Not only did she have no right in saying this to me or anyone else, but she was completely wrong. People especially younger teenagers will see my scars and know that I have my own experience dealing with acne, that will put the client at ease knowing it will get better in time.

Now I am a shy quiet person and always have been but being in this huge world hasn’t overly changed me, but I have learnt to stand up for myself and make people listen to me. The last teacher that I studied with at beauty school wasn’t the best in my eyes, she dragged her feet a lot with me especially towards the end of my course.

Now I said I wanted to be finished before my birthday which is in October and that was fine, I only had massage and facial to be marked off on. But the teacher dragged her feet so much that it took me three months to finish when it was only meant to take me a month, she would forget that I had asked her to come in with me on treatments and once she did come in for a massage on a client she continued to leave the room.

I honestly couldn’t believe it, I was the only student that was close to finishing and yet I felt like I was the last person on her mind. I had to stay back late once for a client and had asked to be marked off on a few things which the teacher agreed to, instead of coming in with me she didn’t and then she just left once school hours were over which left me to not be marked off.

I usually don’t get angry but there were so many times when I felt like walking out of that school, but thankfully I finished and had the certificate in my hands. I was free to start my career which I love and to start a new chapter in my life.

For all of you who are thinking about becoming a beauty therapist then please don’t let my experience scare you away, because being in the beauty industry is so rewarding and you get to meet new people every day while also gaining clients that will only ever come to see you and that feeling is wonderful.

So that it my story of how I became a beauty therapist, if you have any questions than please ask me because I’m more than willingly to help any of you out.

Love Leann

xxx 

Beauty Favourites Of 2013

Hello Beauties

I know this post is pretty late considering we are nearly in February now, I have no idea where January has gone. But today I’m back to talk about my favourite beauty products of 2013, these products are going to the top ones that I have either repurchased through the year or that I know I will repurchase when I need to. These products are ones that I love and use on a daily basis, I know these products will be repeats from monthly favourites so I won’t go into too much detail about them.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

At the moment I’m using the Fresh scent which I like, I have yet to find a scent that I love though I do want to try the brunette tinted version the next time I pick a can up. Here in Australia Batiste is fairly more expensive than other dry shampoos but I find the other brands just aren’t as good, also I try and wait until there’s a sale going on or a 3 for 2 deal which is when I stock up.

Revlon Lip Butters

The lip butter I use the most is Sugar Frosting as it’s a beautiful pinky nude, a ‘my lips but better’ shade which goes amazingly with my fair complexion. These lip butters are smooth, creamy and moisturizing, I’m not a huge fan of lipsticks but still want some colour on my lips and lip butters are perfect for that.

Skindinavia No More Shine

This is the only finishing makeup spray that I have used but I wouldn’t want to try any other ones, I have been using this spray for about 2-3 years now and I love it. I have oily skin and need something to hold my makeup in place and help with becoming shiny by the end of the day, I find blotting papers to be annoying and I’m usually busy so it’s hard to find the time to use them. I use this spray every single time I wear makeup and will continue to use it.

Maybelline The Falsies Flared Mascara

I have lost count of how many time I have repurchased this mascara, thorough out the year I have tried other mascaras but none from the drugstore have compared to the Falsies Flared. Not only does this mascara stay in place all day long, but it gives lashes length and volume. I don’t tend to like false lashes but with this mascara it looks like I am wearing false lashes, which is a look that I love.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15

With moisturizers I tend to prefer any that already have an SPF in the formula as I can get lazy in the morning, I also haven’t found an SPF that doesn’t break me out or clog my pores. This year I have loved Aveeno and will continue to check out more of their products, this moisturizer seems to work well with my skin which is all I care about.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Best lasting foundation ever, if you want a full coverage foundation than you need to get Double Wear. It is on the more expensive side, but I have had my bottle for a long time as you don’t need a lot of product. It covers most imperfections but doesn’t look heavy or cakey on my skin, if you do have dry skin or dry patches than use a thick moisturizer underneath as this foundation will cling to any dryness. Also don’t apply too much as you still want your skin to breath during the day or night.

Bioderma

Is a pain to get hold of but this bottle has been sent from heaven, this has been the first makeup remover that I tried from this water based line of removers and cleansers. It’s brilliant and does exactly what it says, I can even use this product as a cleanser if I’m too tired at night to properly cleanse my skin which I don’t recommend you do all the time but it does work. It doesn’t leave any oily or greasy film on the skin and it doesn’t irritate my eyes, after using this I do follow up with my normal nightly routine.

Lush Dream Cream

I get dry patches on my hands which become itchy and cracked, Dream Cream is the only cream that heals the dry patches and doesn’t cause any irritation. The black tube of goodness is expensive but if it works than the money is worth it, I don’t use this cream all over my body as I do have other body creams and body butters but you can apply Dream Cream all over the body if you like. The herbal scent is strong at first but is something you get used to.

So those are my favourite products of 2013, I want to know what are you top products of last year. Let me know down in the comments.

Why Should We Always Remove Makeup?

Source: http://www.poshbeauty.com

Hello Beauties

Have you ever wondered why it is so important to remove every single piece of makeup from your skin at the end of the day? Well I’m here today to explain why, and yes I have slept in my makeup before when I was way too tired to even think about doing my nightly skin care routine. Nothing horrible will happen if this happens on those rare nights, but making this into a habit isn’t going to end well for your skin.

Applying makeup is a way for us to make ourselves feel extra beautiful (because everyone is beautiful bare faced), but it’s just nice to sit down and spend some time applying makeup at least for me it is but leaving makeup on overnight can have the opposite effect.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body and our skin is covered in pores that not only allow us to sweat, but they also secrete sebum or oil which helps moisturise and protect our skin. Sebum helps to remove dead skin cells and other irritants from the pores, the problem with makeup is it clogs pores and prevents sebum from doing its job so instead sebum builds up and can result in acne.

Another amazing thing about removing makeup before bed is that once the skin is clean, it will be able to breathe and regenerate during the whole night while you sleep. When makeup becomes impacted into your pores it can make them look larger and more noticeable, which none of us ever want to happen.

Ideally we want to remove any makeup from our face and then cleanse before applying a moisturiser, cleansing will make sure that the makeup and dirt is no longer on our skin but if you are having a long night and are just too tired. At least use a makeup remover or facial wipe to remove as much as you can, this will all help keep your skin clear and looking the best.

What are your favourite products to remove makeup? I am loving the Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes and Bioderma.

Lots of Love Leann

xxx