Image of Perfection

I know i'm always oohing and aahing about perfect blended makeup in general and on Camilla Belle's face but everytime i see her makeup i always get the same reaction. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect foundation that would keep my shine at bay and stop me from looking 'yellow'. Call me slow, but i only realised this past weekend that on the MAC foundation labellings, W stands for warm and C for cool; i usually buy the NW50 but i've always felt that i looked slightly yellow so i'm going to try the NC50 on our trip to Sydney which is next week. Fingers crossed, i'll be able to finally meet my foundation match. I'm going to try out the studio fix fluid spf15 because it is oil-free, long wearing and gives a matte finish; and select spf15 because it is water based, long wearing and also gives a matte finish. Although i must admit that the NC50 in the select foundation does look a bit weird from the pictures as it is very light but we all know that pictures can be deceiving.

Image via Justjared.com

MAC Collection: Warm & Cozy

MAC has released a new collection aptly named 'Warm & Cozy'. I want to assume that this collection is more about prepping us for Autumn which is almost 2 months away as opposed to the current summer because it is already hot. Here's what MAC describes this collection as:

"Cuddle up, cozy down, chill out. Beauty succumbs to the most sensuous and luxirious essentials. Dim the lights, and relax in the soft candlelight of thisseason's most mellowed-out shades. Be warm & cozy"

The collection contains 4 eyeshadows, 4 shadesticks, 3 lipsticks, 4 tinted lipglasses, 2 tinted lip conditioners with SPF15, 2 shades of mineralize skinfinish, 2 blends of essential oils and 2 nail lacquers. The only thing i'm looking to buy from this collection is the tinted lipglass in feeling dreamy. When my shopping ban is over, if i'm in a very generous mood i might pick up one of the eyeshadows. Does anything from this collection interest you?

MAC: Love Lace Collection

Love Lace is the new collection from MAC that has been released in Australia. I don't know if i'm alone on this but their collections are becoming more boring and uninventful as time goes; i feel like i can compare their lacklustre releases to Nokia that also seems to be losing their mojo in the mobile phone department. I can't possibly see anything from this collection that i'd want to shell my money out for.
Credit: Image

MAC Colour Craft

MAC Australia has come out with a new collection aptly named Colour Craft. With the whole economy living a life of its own and days becoming more emotionally gloomy for people around the world, there's enough colour in this collection to brighten the day for those cosmetic users. And if you're looking for an excuse to splurge on this collection, i have one for you: spending helps the economy because the only way we're going to get out of a recession is if there's a flow of income from households into the economy and back again. I'm pretty sure my economics teachers would be proud of me because this is the second time today i'm relating economics to a consumer good.

Anyway, this collection consists of 6 mineralize eye shadows (quad), 6 marbelized lipglasses, 6 lipsticks, 3 mineralize skinfinish (trio) which can be used either as a highlighter or a cheek blush and 6 mineralize blushes. From the colour swatches that i can see online, i feel like much thought hasn't been given to this collection and maybe it was a bit hurried? I'm not excited about it and i don't for one minute feel like there was anything new on their part. The blushes seem like colours from one of their previous collections while the mineralize skinfinish and the eye shadows feel like deja vu to me. But the most uninspiring one for me are the marbelized lipglasses; my interpretation of the descriptions they've given on their site means that there's 3 different shades of the same colour in each lipglass. To me, this feels like they're trying to remix what Estee Lauder already did for their Chocolate Decadence collection where they have 2 different lipglosses with 3 complementary shades in them. I have to say i expected better from MAC and they've been slowly disappointing me. If this was a Bobbi Brown collection, then i'd be impressed but MAC used to go all out and blow my imagination but they're going through a phase right now i think. I can't see myself shelling out any amount for this collection.

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Your Autumn & Winter Wardrobe

Before i talk about the cold weather wardrobe essentials, might i just say that the MID SEASON SALE in Australia has begun. If you've always wanted to buy something or happen to have a wishlist like i do, this is the time to head into the shops. I'm telling you people...i went into Myer yesterday and i had to leave quickly because the sale prices are ridic.....30% off some items from Basque...all bags from Basque were $75 yesterday at Myer wollongong....i wanted to punch myself in the face. Seriously!!!! I swear the recession is leading to great sale prices so better head down to your local shopping centre and shop WISELY!!!! No unneccessary purchases people! You need to tighten the belt ok??? If your belt doesn't have a buckle or any fastening holes then now is the time to invest in one.

I'm currently preparing for my autumn and winter wardrobe update and i usually make a list of items that i need to replenish my wardrobe for the cold season. Sure, Australia's winter is like Autumn or Spring in some countries but the cold season happens to be my favourite season off all. It is also an excuse for me to play dress up because you can afford to wear thicker clothes and more layers compared to summer where you might be contemplating peeling your skin off due to excruciating heat! During the week, i talked about recession shopping and i've just found a couple of fab deals to make you look scrumptious during the autumn and winter without creating a major dent in your wardrobe. My advice would be to spend this Easter break evaluating the items you have in your wardrobe and creating a list of new possible additions to complement what you already have. Don't go spending money on flimsy unneccessary purchases in these hard times.

For those of us who live in Australia, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must because the sun is ALWAYS shining here irrespective of the weather outside...talk about a sunny winter!!! And to coincide with the new season, Ray Ban has released a new must have sunglasses shape...it's called 'THE CAT' and it is a re-invention of a vintage classic and you'll soon see everyone who knows anything sporting them. But these bad boys are gonna set you back a whopping $300!!! Yup, $300! I'm sure you could replenish your wardrobe for that amount. Luckily, i've found two options to put a smile on your face that woulldn't break the bank. I'll be writing my wish shopping list at the end of this post and i'll include the sunglasses.

I also blogged about getting long gloves for winter and i've found TWO options...one of them is leather which is remarkably expensive - $130 - but they come in classic colours so could be considered an investment. But i also found a knit alternative for my long gloves which come in at $60 and these babies are so chic you could wear them from day to night without the need for the fashion police to put you behind bars. The best thing i love about fashion is that you could be someone else just by changing your ensemble. But remember three things: 1) Your accessories can make or break your look so accessorise wisely...purple and black are the colours of the season. 2) Shop smartly. This means spending more on classic pieces and colours and saving on the fads...think jodhur pants...you should spend the least amount possible on these as they're gonna die out of fashion soon. 3) If it takes you more than 5 minutes to decide if a look is hot on you or not, don't waist your time buying it as your instincts are always right.

So having said all that, let's get to the fun part....MY POTENTIAL SHOPPING LIST....
* Sunglasses: This pair from Oroton has the shape of the new 'CAT' sunnies from Ray Ban but costs less than half the price at $135 while these from Sportsgirl are even cheaper at $30. If your sunglasses don't come in a hardcase, it is worth investing in one as it means your sunnies are better protected when in your handbag.

* Gloves: These are pretty much a basic in any winter wardrobe and i usually like to have various options just to spice up my look once in a while. You can get a long knitted glove from Country Road in black, navy two toned and charcoal two toned for $60. You can also purchase a washed leather glove from Country Road for $130 in chestnut or black. For $30, you can get black leather gloves from Barkins.

I have to say that since i'm cutting down on my expenditure, the majority of my winter wish list is actually coming from Barkins and i have to say it's a pretty good deal. Here's what i have my eyes on...

Tuxedo Jacket , $80 OR Suit Jacket, $70

Lace detail tunic, $30

Longer lenth cardi, $40

Wide stripe cardi, $40

Cashmilon sweater dress , $30

Winter trilby, $25

Plaited knit scarf, $20

Zip legging, $20

If you're not interested in clothes shopping but are in desperate need of a pick-me-up, there's nothing better than a RED LIPSTICK to boost your mood and confidence. Just walk up to the Chanel/MAC/Shisiedo counter and tell them you're looking to purchase a red lipstick and they can make you over with various options and you don't even have to buy any when you're done. But if you really want to purchase one, might i suggest MAC's Ruby Woo or Russian Red??? These babies are on FIRE!!!

Source: Photo

New MAC Studio Sculpt And DVB Sunglasses

The weekend has been stressful for me and ended up leading to a stressful beginning to the new week. But when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!!! Yes i know its a stupid mantra but its my blog so i can say it...hehe. It's just Tuesday but i'm already stressed out of my mind with assignments and house hunting. So you can only imagine my excitement when i headed over to JMC's blog only to find out that she's got the inner scoop on the DVB sunglasses i've been dying to get designed by none other than Victoria Beckham herself. yes they are on sale and i have ALREADY ordered one. I wasn't waiting for the sun to shine to decide on whether i should get them. I'm totally going to rock these babies even if it means i have to starve for the next month!!!

As for MAC, they've finally gotten round to release a waterproof concealer and foundation - the foundation is a creamy gel texture. You know what? It's about bloody time they did this! Their competitors have been making long wearing and water-resistant makeup and in this Australian heat that some people refer to as MILD, it is a very refreshing change! I soooo cannot wait to get the foundation and concealer and i'll certainly be reviewing them here so you guys have an idea of what it's like. But before i get ahead of myself, i certainly have to find an apartment to move into if not i'll become a HOMELESS girl in a foreign country! For those who are interested in purchasing them, the products are Studio Sculpt Concealer and Studio Sculpt SPF15 Foundation.

call me picky but when are makeup companies going to start releasing foundations and concealers with SPF 30? Those who live in a harsh climate like Australia's would certainly understand where i'm coming from. It would reduce the need to wear layers of creams and potions just to protect your skin. Please do not even bother mentioning MAC's SPF50 primer! I'll save you time and money and let you know that it is absolutely crap! It felt like i had paint on my skin and just made the whole thing worse instead of better! My MAC foundation didn't stick to my skin at all, you're better off buying Napoleon Perdis' primer or NARS. In my opinion, NARS is the better one out of both of them but i do admit it is expensive!

Source: MAC, Photo, Napoleon Perdis, Mecca Cosmetica

Makeup Whores And Listeners

For all those makeup whores out there who havent heard the shinding yet...the collaboration between MAC and Hello Kitty has finally reached the shores. But if you happened to have ventured online to the MAC store, you'll realise that most of the products are actually sold out!!! Seriously, for a makeup whore like me this news is really heart breaking. But wipe your tears and make your way straight to e-bay as there are people selling off their MAC stash of Hello Kitty for a ridiculous devilish price. Talk about ripping people off during this recession. Anyways, i got the travel brush set and the makeup holder for a cool US$64...i have to say that's a pretty decent price especially since here in Oz it costs about $125! So, if you're patient enough and look hard on e-bay, i'm sure you can find yourself a nice bargain.

Now i have to wait patiently for my MAC purchase to arrive from the states. For those of you who are interested the three brushes in the set are the skunk brush, contour brush and shader brush. I think they're travel size brushes because from the pictures i've seen online, they seem to fit pretty well in the makeup holder.

Onto other issues...i had tutorials today for MGMT 102 'Communication in Business' and we had an active listening session and it showed how information can be distorted when passed on from one person to another. Things get exaggerated and important information tend to be lost when the details are passed on from one party to another. It's interesting the amount of non-academic things you can learn in a management class. Tutorials are finally becoming more interesting and now i'm hoping that i'll have a law module to take another semester..this is certainly a good arguing point.

Source: Photo