KINDA/MAJORLY NEWSWORTHY Lauren Conrad update

Lauren Conrad will soon be launching a new website called ‘The Beauty Department’. If you haven’t already guessed I’m quite a fan of hers. Not because she’s the most daring of celebs when it comes to taking beauty/hair risks but because she never looks bad, like, ever. That’s quite a triumph for someone who has starred in “reality” TV for five years and been photographed about trillion and seven times.

Here is a sneak peek at a few photos from Lauren's new website 'The Beauty Department' that “LC” will be launching along with her make-up artist Amy Nadine and hair stylist Kristin Ess.

 

This is how Lauren described the site to Allure.com: "The site will offer beauty tips: how to do the hottest runway tricks. How to wear purple eyeliner. How to do beach curls.” And best of all? Lauren will be starring in some of the video tutorials! I’m guessing the idea is to eventually roll out a cosmetics and hair line and you can bet your last coral coloured lip gloss I would line up to buy it.

I can't wait to see it! You?

Until then ... here are a few of Miss Conrads looks over the years since gracing our screens on Laguna Beach.

Um ... She has come a long way since this ^

Ultra tan and still friends with freak-face



I love this up do'

Tortoiseshell reading specs - keen!

Nice to see her hair pulled back for once, works brill with the jet black, flicked liquid eyeliner

The deep side part of 2005 haha

Getting into "signature hair" looks here

Ahhh the twist, one of my favs for her and pretty natural-ish makeup

Mixing it up a little with some curl

All American Girl

"The higher the hair, the closer to God y'all." (LOL)

As she is in 2011. Beautiful. Good brows too!

The luxe(ish) list

Soooo I do realise that most of the prods I’ve been featuring lately have been on the lighter side of the coin purse and this is no bad thing (in fact my savings account named “UK Christmas trip” is applauding quite loudly), however this post is dedicated to my top 5 product picks (for right now) that I hold close to my heart and to whom I owe many favours for keeping me from looking: A) hung over B) tired and C) fugly.

Let's begin.

Numero uno

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer in “SC-3” (for medium with yellow or pink skin tones) RRP: $65.00

Secret Camouflage contains a unique two-shade system, one to match the skin's depth of colour and one to match the skin's undertone, making it possible for every woman to custom-blend her own perfect shade. The high level of pigment requires very little product to achieve complete coverage. I really love this concealer as it completely camouflages dark circles, minor imperfections and discolourations. When I’m running low on makeup supplies, this is the product I save and only use for night time outings when I want to look my best as it provides coverage like no other. The texture is thicker then most concealers, perfect for oily skin types or those who like a matte finish.

Two

M.A.C Sheertone Blush in “Peaches” RRP: $41.00

Pure peach in the most darling way possible. This blush is super pretty and comes out quite light so it’s up to you how much product you want to apply for a, “barely there coral glow” or a “ thoroughly flushed and fabulous – I am just brimming with health and wellbeing” look. This shade really brightens the complexion and can make even the most tired and dehydrated of skins look FRESHHHHHH. I like to pair w/ some white Chanel eye liner on my water line (for an extra wide-awake look) and a slick of Smith's Rosebud Salve.

Three

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder RRP: $65.00

LOVE THIS. No really, I adore it. Spent a good two years being a makeup slut with no bronzer brand loyalty going between M.A.C, YSL, Australis, Rimmel and Benefit ... until I tried Bobbi Brown. With all the brilliant illuminating products on the market there is absolutely no reason why chicolas should be applying brown glittery bronzers all over their pretty mugs. The Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder has a delicate matte finish that gives a subtle yet flattering sun kissed glow. I’m not saying that a shimmer based bronzer is a bad thing but it should be used for contouring and highlighting, NOT darkening the overall appearance of your skin and leaving a decidedly unflattering bronzer moustache. Ick.

Four

Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara RRP: $38.95

This gem is lash extension in a tube! The exclusive 3D formula builds actual tubes around each lash whilst unique elastic polymers curl, fatten and stretch far beyond the natural lash to add extreme volume. If you've heard of "tubey mascaras" before you'll know what I'm harping on about. With a flick of the specially-designed gigantic wand, lashes are injected with indelible weather-proof colour. Easily removable with soap and warm water or eye make-up remover this amazing mascara doesn't dissolve and smudge like any ordinary mascara but rather comes off in tiny tube-like little socks - ca-ute!

Five

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in “Mistress” RRP: $32.00

(note: I was under very white lights for this pic so it looks a lot pinker here then usual)

Bright coral, sitting on the orange side of the fence. This colour is STUNNING!!! This high-shine, colour-rich (opaque-ish) lip enhancer gives you a pout that is full and glossy, without feeling sticky. The packaging is simple and chic with an angled application top allowing for a more precise finish if you don't have a lip brush on hand. I can not communicate just how GREAT I think Illamasqua's products are, huge blog to come on that later. If you like "Mistress" get hunting because when I got mine it was sold out at Robina and Brisbane Myer (I had to sweet talk the assistant into selling me stock meant to kept for the display haha desperato but I HAD TO HAVE IT!).

So Parlour and Looters, what are your favourite products at the moment? 

Apologies my darlings ...

Dear Parlour and Looters,

I do realise I have been neglecting you of late and for this I am terribly sorry. I started a new job a few weeks ago and am now learning the not-so-easy art of juggling two PR/Media jobs at once, writing a blog, doing freelance work, maintaining a social life (and its required attendance at good friends birthday celebrations), managing THREE twitter accounts off my iPhone4 – two of which are for work and giving Dallas all the love, care and attention he totally deserves even though his attitude stinks.

I’m off to Sydney tomorrow for our media launch of the new products and won’t be home till the weekend as I’m going to stay an extra night and visit my Sydneysiding sis (we’re going to Ms G’s in Potts Point for dinner Friday can’t wait it’s meant to be delish!). I promise to write a proper post by next Monday. IF I don’t deliver you can vote me off the island. In the mean time, here’s a list of things I’m frothing over right now in no particular order, genre or species.

Remember Wednesday Addams?

HOT. I love a strong brow!

Almond Magnum

Good lordy these are DIVINE, the ultimate treat. 

Individual fake eyelash home jobs

I’m not thrilled that this image is super fugly and I look like a booze hag, BUT with my eyes downcast in such a timid manner (HA) you get a really good view at the goods and my handiwork – which appears to be a tad stingy on my inner left lash. 1000Hour Individual lashes (if you were wondering) and I will definitely be posting on this next week.

Dallas the man.

What can I say? It’s lurvvvvv.

Cat Power sang it best, "Once I wanted to be the greatest" ... Autumn lip gloss under $15.00"

That may or may not have been the mantra used by the Face of Australia team when they set about creating the Divine Shine Lip Plumper in “Lavish Instincts” cause this prod is THE SHIT! Best Autumn find I’ve stumbled across (or in this case been sent for consideration) so far. You want to know why? OK I’ll tell you – geez SO demanding!

Divine Shine Lip Plumper in "Lavish Instincts" RRP: $10.95

It’s getting cooler and windier = dry, non-pretty, flakey lips. This also means that the bright matte fuschia lipstick we’ve all been flaunting throughout the warmer months is no longer looking so flash. (Especially on my not-so-soft and actually quite chapped lips, despite my best efforts with a pot of Carmex, Chapstick AND home exfoliation remedy of very scientifically “rubbing sugar on my lips”).

This particular gloss is IDEAL for cool weather as it is enriched with natural emollients to moisturise and condition lips, which is super important if you are trying to avoid a windburnt pout.

It’s a PLUMPING lip gloss infused with Cinnamon & Ginger to stimulate circulation below the skin's surface, encouraging lips to flush and plump. Menthol combines to produce a longer lasting plumping effect for bigger lips while good ole’ Lanolin fills fine lines and makes lips appear smoother & fuller. An added benefit are the intense light reflecting pigments used to ensure a mirror-like gloss effect meaning that I can FAKE smooth, lush, plump lips even when mine are actually being very naughty and dry.

The colour! A warm nudey-brown not unlike golden syrup. This looks sooo good on -None of that kinda-corpsey effect achieved with some nudes. I urge you, don’t be afraid of brown toned lips, paired with a neutral base and smoky eye (not specifically black – bronze looks gorgeous too!) this gloss adds definition and a certain sultry effect. Of course if you are lucky enough to have a peaches and cream complexion this hue may not be the best for you, however there is a delightful shade named “Sterling Blossom” which is a similar colour to the cranberry/red wine lipsticks I was banging on about in my last post which looks just darling on fair skinned maidens. Just be sure to add a light sweeping of bronzer to avoid looking like a vampire. Face Of Australia’s Pressed Bronzer (just the one shade) is actually very lovely and luminous however quite dark and I’m kinda olivey anyways so I like to use my standard matte Bobbi Brown bronzer then lightly dust FOA’s on the tip of my nose, chin, forehead and top of my cheek bones to try make me look all glowy and Giselle-y.

 

Sorry about the terrible quality (Iphone4 tut!). Here's me wearing the Divine Shine Gloss and Pressed Bronzer (RRP: $11.95) available from Big W, Priceline, Kmart and selected pharmacies.

NOTE: I think it is super important to update your makeup the same way you do your wardrobe. A barely-there application of tinted moisturiser and paw paw lip balm aint going to cut it for Autumn. So get experimenting and embrace the stunning burnt-gold eye shadows and ultra chic taupe nail polishes that will never be more appropriate then right now.

PS (Gosh I'm being chatty today!) Like that nail colour in the first pic? It's the SHELLAC I finally tried out on Friday - loving it so far. Will blog after the 14 days it's meant to last and let you know how it endured.

* I was very kindly sent these products for consideration, however this did not influence my opinion and ALL reviews are of my own honest to God/Buddah/Allah opinion. No bullshit here beauties, I only write about products I acutally like and have tried.

Getting lippy like Drew Barrymore circa 1992 in Poison Ivy

Please tell me you’ve seen this flick? The hair, the clothes, the makeup - so much to feast your eyes on!  As promised (two weeks ago – sorry) this post is dedicated to the luscious berry lip phase I’m going through. Ok, so I know this trend is nothing new, but for me it’s a huge leap from the coral and nude lipstick world I call home.

Now lets look at some berry lipped team mates.

While it is undeniable that Drew is killing it with that cranberry pout, it does look quite dry and not in a cool “bright-matte-lips” way but more, “this lippy’s getting crusty and making my lips feel like shrivelled prunes” way.

And here's Lauren Conrad, taking a modern twist on the trend. Her lips look anything but dull, in fact, they look like juicy plums mmm ... 

I went to Good Vibes music festival a few weekends ago with a group of friends, and maybe it was the floppy felt hat I could hide behind that gave me the boost I needed to try it out, but either way I was happy with my cherry-soaked pout. It also seems very appropriate seeing as it’s now official autumn; the perfect transeasonal  time for honing your winter-lust looks.

On my way to see Phoenix and Kelis! 

When trying out a new makeup trend I often like to start out with an inexpensive version and work my way up to the high-end brands as my obsession grows – yeah I live on the EDGE. I’ve bought three dark hued lippys in the last week and a half. Yes ma'am I have a problem.

It started innocently enough with a stroll into my local Price Line where I purchased Face of Australia’s Lip Quench Moisturising Lipstick SPF 30+ in Ruby Delight ($9.45). Two days later I upgraded to Revlon’s ColourBurst in Plum ($23.95) then yesterday I succumbed to MAC’s Original Lippy in Hang-up ($35.00).To be honest there’s not a huge difference in "feel" between the three, although the pigment in MAC's was a bit richer and stayed put for longer. If you're smart, you’ll just buy one because chances are you’ll look back at a picture of yourself in ten years time and think, “Why the F did Sarah/Betty/Gertrude let me out of the house with stripper/goth lipstick smeared on my trap?” Just joshin’ you’ll be blaming me!

 MAC's Hang-up, available at Myer RRP: 35 clams

So what's the verdict dolls? Are you tempted to give this red-wine-soaked lips thing a go? Any other looks your dying to whip out in time for winter?



Welcome to the 2011 Oscars: A night of inappropriate lipstick choices, repetitive hairstyles and the occasional bombshell

Let do a quick recap of some of Monday’s (for us Aussies) best/worst looks.

Reese doing a bangin’ Barbie ponytail.

 Let’s start on a positive note with Ms Witherspoon doing a startlingly rendition on Barbie Goes to Prom. I have to admit, I actually kind of dig this look, like, ALOT. It’s a playful and flattering take on the often stagnant and ageing updo and offsets her super classic dress perfectly.  

 

Scarlett looking like she’s been, well ... romping ...

I just don’t know about this for an Oscar red carpet ‘moment’. A jazz guitar recital in West Hollywood sure, but I wouldn’t want to rub shoulders with James Cameron with scraggy looking hair.

 

Kate B keeping it simple.

Not much to say about this – super safe (well not the dress, obviously!) and super pretty.

 

Jennifer Lawrence PHWOAAA

Caution: Don't let your boyfriends look at this directly, may cause relationship damage.

Mandy looking like she’s hitting 40.

WHAT THE HELL is going on here? Why does she look so old? First of all, I would like to make it clear that I worship an orange lip (which is bang on trend for spring 2011) but THIS is just. not. working. Fair skin and an orange hued lip are not best friends ok?! They don’t even shop at the same places or braid each other’s hair. I also think the updo needs to be looser, with some pieces framing her face and softening the overall look.  

 

And Mila (sigh), making everybody else jealous.

It doesn’t get much better than this. I actually let out a squeal of delight (not unlike the sound made by a Chihuahua when you accidentally step on it) when she sashayed onto the carpet because yet again she looks effortlessly beautiful and super chic. She’s played up her best feature -those saucy, sphinx like eyes, by defining them with a taupe smoky shadow. This also highlights her glossy hair with its darker roots and subtly lightened ends, helping to frame her gorgeous face. But the reason this look all comes together and works so harmoniously is because she’s kept her lips and cheeks soft and subtle. The soft rosy pink hues comploment her lilac dress instead of detracting from it. Well played Mila, unlike Charlie Sheen you actually are “WINNING”.  

Homegrown beauty for the perfect photo finish

I am VERY excited about the new Australis makeup range, Paparazzi Perfect, due to hit beauty counters nationwide on April 1st. As a just-graduated-on-a-first-year-PR-chic-salary, I am a huge fan of Australian made, affordable cosmetics and Australis have really turned it on in recent years. Now they've come up with a range promising to make you look like Erin Wasson in photos! Ok, maybe I added that last bit, but hey a girl can hope.

With the babelish Tahyna Tozzi coming on board as the first ever brand ambassador in 2009, there was a noticeable shift in emphasis to trend based, quality products (which is exactly what I’m after). The Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick was one of the first products that really got me hooked; with SPF 15 and essential jojoba, evening primrose and avocado oils starring on the ingredient list, this is an extremely comfortable wear lipstick that lasts for hours and boasts a gorgeous assortment of colours. My (and my friend Katie’s) personal favourite is an ultra flattering nude shade called Mambo. I’m also a sucker for 90s cranberry coloured lips, so Boogie Woogie – a deep plum shade is another winner in my big brown eyes.

Above: Brand Ambassador Tahyna Tozzi, Below: Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick available from Target, Priceline, Big W and Kmart RRP: $12.95

But back to the new prods! I did a little research and stole borrowed these pics from Cherie's blog The Daily Gloss on Primped, from the Paparazzi Perfect launch held in Sydney last week for the beauty editors. The range consists of Paparazzi Perfect blush, eyeshadow, foundation and tinted moisturiser.

Images courtesy of PRIMPED. Above: Paparazzi Perfect Eyeshadow RRP: $15.95, Below: Paparazzi Perfect Tinted Moisturiser also RRP:$15.95

I can't wait to get my grubby little mitts on the eyeshadows which look simply delightful with their diamond pattern. Available in four palettes: Snap Attack, Totally Busted, Frock & Roll and A-Lister Sister. The tinted moisturiser also looks to be a real gem, promising to feature light-reflecting properties combined with sapphire and pearl powder to create a sheer complexion that corrects imperfections (we all need help in that department from time to time). This will be available in two shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Dark.

So what's the verdict beauties? Will you be stocking up come April 1st?