I’ve just finished yet another bottle of this stuff and have opened my backup. I have the most dehydrated skin ever (regardless of how much water I drink and supplements I take), it’s always tight and being sensitive, I’ve yet to find a serum that doesn’t break me out. Hydrating masks work for a day or so and then I’m back to wanting to tear off my skin.
Thankfully I discovered MAC Fix + spray and my skin has improved out of sight. I spritz my face before applying moisturiser and the difference it makes is amazing. Key ingredients glycerine, green tea, chamomile, caffeine, pro vitamin B5, and cucumber soothe, refresh and hydrate the skin leaving it perfectly primed for skincare and/or makeup.
As a makeup artist I see a lot of skin and most people suffer from dehydration. Skin should feel firm and bouncy when touched and if it doesn’t, there’s a good chance it’s in need of more moisture. Even oily skin can get dehydrated and a spray like this can help with oil flow. If your skin is hydrated, not only will it feel better, your makeup will stay on longer, look more flawless and you’ll look younger and less tired (I can handle that!).
Usually during a makeup application I apply Fix + before moisturiser. On really dehydrated and flaky skin I use Fix + before moisturiser, after moisturiser and sometimes even after foundation if I need even more moisture. When I’m applying concealer to the under eye area and I want it to be super lightweight I spritz my fluffy MAC #224 brush with Fix + before I dip it in the concealer. Fix + also is great to spray on your eyeshadow brush before using loose dusts or pigments to get that wet, foiled look.
As I said, I cannot live without this product – both in my bathroom and in my makeup kit. MAC Fix + Spray retails at $27AUD and is available from MAC counters, stores and online at www.maccosmetics.com.au
Trompe de L’oeil – or to ‘trick the eye’ is a reference to French murals dating way back in time that fool the viewer into believing they are looking at the real deal (usually a landscape) instead of simply a painting.
Well, my eyes are more in love than feeling tricked by the new Chanel temporary tattoos being released in Chanel stores worldwide very soon, these babies look amazing! I cannot wait to get my paws on them, my love of body art and all things Chanel has been rolled into one. Never before have tattoos been so glamorous (even my mum likes the look of them!), and I can’t decide from the pics I’ve seen whether my favourite will be the sultry garter or the elegant necklace.
Les Trompe L’Oeil de Chanel Temporary Skin Art will be sold as a set of 55 temporary tattoos for $90 in Australia at Chanel boutiques and the Chanel Makeup Studio in Sydney. You can be connected to the stores via 1300 242 635 to go on the waiting list for the Peter Phillips designed transfers. Until then, I will keep gazing at the pictures in absolute awe.
Gemma xxx
First of all – Happy New Year to all of my readers! I hope you all enjoyed your holiday season and are ready to get a great start on 2010!
It was around the end of November I got sick of carting my heavy hardcase plus my suitcase full of makeup to wedding jobs. With those plus my chair (which saves my back so much I never leave it at home unless I know there’ll be a high stool to sit my clients on – it’s the Franklin foldable chair available at Ikea for any makeup artists out there – LINK), it was so much hassle!
If I’ve done a trial, generally I know exactly what I’ll need and can leave the fluorescent pink eyeshadow, bodypainting gear and glitter at home (unless it’s a very special wedding!), so there’s no need to take everything I own. I purchased a MAC Carryall soft case and it’s seriously changed my life. Now I just take my chair, my carryall, and my fully stocked brush belt and I’m pretty much set for anything. Sometimes I throw in one of my lip palettes (as seen HERE) and my emergency kit (more on that later!) but it’s less than half the weight and inconvience I was used to.
I seriously recommend the Carryall to any freelance makeup artists, or simply anyone who owns a lot of makeup. Being soft it barely weighs anything, and it fits sooo much inside. You can also fit a small travel lock on to hold the zips together if you have children or any sticky fingers around that may want to get into your makeup without permission!
So, exactly how much stuff can I fit in there? HEAPS!
My MAC Carryall as pictured contains the following items:
1 – Cotton tips
2 – MAC Suntints Lip conditioner – Pink Tinge
3 – MAC Loose Blot Powder (decanted into small sifter jars) – Medium, Dark (unseen)
4 – MAC Primer
5 – MAC Strobe Cream
6 – MAC Studio Moisture Fix Lotion
7 – MAC Oil Control Lotion
8 – MAC Strobe Liquid
9 – MAC Fix + Spray
10 - MAC Brow Pencils – Fling, Lingering, Strut, Stud
11 – NARS Multiple – Copacabana
12 – Make Up For Ever HD Foundation – #110, #115, #128, #145, #160, #173
13 – MAC Moisturecover Concealers – NW20, NW30, NC30, NC42
14 – Duo Adhesive – Dark tone Waterproof
15 – MAC Bronzer – Golden
16 – MAC Irridescent Powder – Belightful
17 – MAC Sculpt & Shape Powder – Sculpt / Accentuate
18 – MAC Studio Fix Powder – C4
19 – Bloom Bronzer – Aloha
20 – MAC Invisible Set Powder
21 – MAC Paint Pot – Indianwood
22 – Disposable Mascara Wands
23 – MAC Fast Response Eye Cream
24 – Duo Adhesive – Standard
25 – MAC Brush Cleanser (decanted)
26 – Isocol Rubbing Alcohol (decanted)
27 – Bioderma Crealine H20 Makeup Remover (decanted)
28 – Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
29 – MAC Care Blends Essential Oils
30 – MAC Fluidline – Blacktrack
31 – Hair sectioning clip
32 – Mascaras – MAC Zoomblack, Maybelline Full & Soft, Max Factor Masterpiece Waterproof
33 – NARS Blushes x 2
34 – Purell hand sanitiser
35 – MAC Paint Pots – Groundwork, Painterly (unseen)
Also unseen is a palette of MAC Studio Finish Concealer, underneath my powders. I’ll post pictures of it in my next storage entry, coming soon.
On top of all of this, I can fit in up to 3 MAC Pro Palettes (as seen HERE) on the very top, a few lipsticks and lipglosses down the bottom, and a ziplock bag full of cotton pads. My pencils and some other bits and pieces are in my brush belt, which I’ll show you in the next storage post also.
The Carry all case retails for $95 and is available at MAC counters and stores, and also online at http://www.maccosmetics.com.au/
With only a few days to go until Christmas, I hope everyone has finished all their shopping, and is just taking time to relax and chill with family and friends. However, if you are looking for a last minute gift, or if you are looking to spoil yourself a little, get yourself into Lush to check out their Christmas collection, if you haven’t already!
I think Lush pretty much do the best Christmas products you can buy, and I always get it there to stock up on their yummy goodies each year. All products are vegetarian, most a vegan, so that your animal friendly friends don’t have to worry, and with most items under $10, they make a gorgeous stocking stuffer that doesn’t break the bank.
My favourite things from their Holiday collection?
Sexy Boy Massage Bar – he’s in the shape of a Gingerbread Man and smells all kinds of good with the chocolatey, coconutty, limey goodness!
Little Lush Pud Bath Bomb – Or bath ballistics as they call them at Lush, this little guy is amazing! Lemons, cloves, all those warm fragrances – I buy more of this to use in winter when it’s cold!
Let Them Eat Cake Lip Balm – I love Lush’s lipbalms they are my absolute favourite – and this one is no exception! Full of Christmas cake flavours like fruit and peel, it’s soooo yummy.
Star Melt Bath Melt – Bath melts are one of my favourite things – and this one smells just like the Snow Fairy shower gel! These condition your skin and make you feel so smooth – I like to add these AND a bath bomb (the So White one is awesome with this!) to my bath just to feel extra special.
For more info and store locations – check out http://www.lush.com.au
Well, this will be my last post before Christmas, so I hope everyone has a great day (or more if you are lucky enough to get some time off) with your loved ones and there is much Christmas cheer and yummy food and drink to be had. And I hope you are all spoilt rotten!
Gemma xxx
Jenny!
Congratulations Jenny, I’ve sent you a message via facebook to get your contact details and your prize will be in the mail to you shortly!
Gemma xxx
Well, this little blog is celebrating it’s first birthday today, I can’t believe this year has gone so quickly!
It’s been a fun foray into the blogging world for me and I hope you have all enjoyed this site’s journey also. I hope that the next year will give me more time to dedicate to Embellish Yourself and you will all stay on for the ride as we play with more wonderful makeup!
To celebrate, I’m giving away a cute collection of products from MAC’s Magic, Mirth and Mischief Holiday collection – one reader will receive one of each of the following:
- ‘Total Wow’ Lipstick
- ‘She Zam’ Dazzleglass, and
- ‘Devil-May-Care’ Mineralize Eye Shadow
All you have to do is join my facebook fan group and post on the discussion board to tell me your favourite makeup item ever. The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via private message on facebook the morning of Wednesday the 21st of December 2009. The prize will be mailed out as soon as the winner has organised delivery details with me.
So my most prized makeup possession? Easy. The MAC Jewel Eyeshadow Palette from the 2004 Adorn Holiday Collection. I love this palette, it’s so pretty and was my first MAC Holiday purchase ever, so it’s a bit special to me.
So get your entries in, there’s only a week and Good Luck!
I have been on the lookout for a new primer for ages. The thinner liquids always seem to separate on me and the thicker ones are usually too hard to move around. On a bit of a whim I picked up the Too Faced primer from Kit after the girls there gave it rave reviews (love the girls at Kit!) and I’m not disappointed!
It glides on with ease and gives the foundation a wonderful smooth surface to go on to. It keeps the foundation on really well all day, helps a little bit with shine and the best part – no more separation of foundation mid afternoon! I used it on a bridal party for their makeup on the weekend and it was fabulous, I only needed a pea sized amount, no balling up, the foundation didn’t repel, and the girls looked perfect! Looks like this is the one for me!
The Too Faced Primed and Poreless retails at $57.95 AU and is available from Kit stores and counters Australia wide. Check it out!
As some of you may know, December 1st is World AIDS Day. As some of you may also know, I work part-time for MAC Cosmetics. One of the best things about my job is being part of the Viva Glam program and MAC AIDS Fund, it is something I feel very strongly about.
Since 1994, the MAC AIDS Fund has raised money and awareness for men, women and children living with AIDS and HIV all around the world. Worldwide, through the Viva Glam product range, MAC Cosmetics has now raised over $135 million US Dollars and the amount continues to grow. The Viva Glam range consists of six lipsticks and two lipglosses, which despite being beautiful, wearable colours for everyone are very, very special. 100% of the selling price goes to help sufferers of this horrible illness.
Over the past fifteen years, many celebrities have put their name to this worthy cause and become Viva Glam Ambassadors. They do not get paid in this role, they choose to take it on to help others. Wonderful, strong individuals who deserve a mention. Rupaul, Elton John, k.d. Lang, Mary J Blige, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Linda Evangelista, Chloë Sevigny, Boy George, Pamela Anderson, Deborah Harry, Lisa-Marie Presley, Eve, Dita Von Teese and Fergie, have all dedicated their time and energy into promoting and supporting the MAC AIDS Fund. Viva Glam VII is due for release in 2010 with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper rumoured to be the next spokespeople. For more information please visit the Official site at http://www.macaidsfund.org/ and watch the video I have posted also.
One Viva Glam can change a life. Please make a difference this World AIDS Day and go and treat yourself to a Viva Glam lipstick or lip glass. Not only will you look gorgeous, but you’ll feel it too.
Gemma xxx
I’ve finally finished re-designing my website and have launched it tonight. There’s still a few more images to add… but I’m so happy – it’s finally live!
I wear a lot of makeup to work and by the time I get home I just want it gone. I was always on the lookout for a good night time cleanser that removed my makeup as well (yes, I’m lazy!). I’d tried oil cleansers before but they’d always given me breakouts despite removing my makeup and cleansing really well, I’d tried the bi-phasal makeup removers that despite getting the makeup off, I’d always have to cleanse afterwards and even then they still left a greasy residue.
Then I discovered MAC Cleanse Off Oil. I was hesitant at first, and worried about breakouts but I had one given to me for free so I thought I’d give it a go. Well, thank God I did! I’ve now been using this product for two years now and my love for it has never waned. It is mineral oil free, which for me means no breakouts, it’s water dispersible so it doesn’t leave an oily residue, and it cleanses as well as removes my makeup so I don’t have to follow up with another cleanser afterwards! With oils like jojoba, vitamin e, and evening primrose, it’s conditioning and gentle to the skin.
To use this cleanser, first apply it to dry skin (between 2 – 3 pumps from the bottle) and massage all over your face, paying attention to the eye area (don’t forget to close your eyes!) to loosen mascara and eyeliner and also lips if you wear bold or long wearing lip products. Next wet your hands with tap water (or alternatively, spray your face with a thermal water) and continue to massage your face, emulsifying the Cleanse Off Oil. Finally remove the cleanser (and all your makeup along with it!) with a wet facecloth, rinse the facecloth and wipe over again. You’re left with clean skin, ready to apply your evening moisturiser and eye cream.
MAC Cleanse Off Oil retails for $37AUD and is available at MAC Counters and stores.
