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Who likes drawing?

HAHA THAT’S A TRICK QUESTION- everyone loves drawing! I love drawing. And I love drawing on my face, that’s part of the reason why I love makeup so much. Because, if you feel like so inclined, it’s your way of showing the world that pink and green and red and freckles and glitter can co exist in a peaceful harmony of lines and lashes. Drawing on my own face satisfies some deep childhood, primal need.

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Some months ago I purchased Benefit’s High Beam Illuminator, which is a kind of pearly paint that you put on your face with a mini paint brush to make yourself look awesome. And I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvve it (I’d put like a million vs in there if it wasn’t so obnoxious), oh my goodness I wear it practically every day.

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So imagine my giddy heights of excitement when I learnt that Benefit are now releasing another product which is the same principle of High Beam but in a pencil AND in a different color. Woah, woah, woah did you say PENCIL? Where do I sign up? Whereas High Beam gives you a Snow Queen chilling vibrancy, the new benefit High Brow Glow pencil gives you a champagne pink glow, like some sort of Studio 54 goddess. Yeahhhhhhhhh (with a million more hs). So here’s what I thought.

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The High Beam paint (lets call it that for ease) will always have a place in my makeup bag because of the doll-like non-greasy sheen it gives my skin. I usually use it on my brow bone, top my cheekbones and sometimes even the inner corners of my eyes.

The beauty of the new pencil is that you get a different color therefore a warmer look- I’m quite pale so the frostiness of High Beam works for me but I’m imagining when we came back into summer or for the more olive toned ladies amongst us, this new color in the High Beam Glow pencil, will be like all your Christmases have come in June.

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Also, being a pencil, I found I had greater precision and control, for example the pencil meant the inner corners of my eyes were a lot easier to get to. I also must point out, because this is kind of cool, you can use this nifty pencil on the sides of your nose and other places on your face for contouring!!! I don’t know a lot about contouring but I wish to know more, are you someone who knows a lot about this? Or would you like to know? Do you want your face to have the smooth plains and contours of the Swiss Alps? Yeah same. You should get the pencil.

Actually, can you get both? You should. Wonderful products that are not just for eyebrows, that have filled a big hole in my makeup routine, nice work benefit!

Available at Adore Beauty!

Also Check out Jade’s review of Benefit’s Watts Up illuminator on this very website, these guys have something for everyone!! <3
What do you think of the High Beam Illuminator and High Brow Glow Pencil? Do you like drawing? Lets talk about these things in the comments!

Review by Adriane Daff, glow enthusiast, drawing lover, excitable human being.

Be well,

xoxo

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A little bit of excitement over here in my office, as the last edition of the X-Press Fashion Magazine is out!! Yours truly writes an article once a quarter for this print publication, you can pick up a copy where X-Press is distributed, BUT if you don’t feel like venturing out into the cold then it’s lovingly served it up online here for you: X-Press Fashion Magazine – Winter 2012.

The ‘Forest Fresh’ article takes a look at beauty and wellness therapies and products that take inspiration from our local woodlands… let me know what you think!

Best regards,

Annette

xoxo

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Beauty & wellbeing crushes is BACK, and this time I have some superb treats to share with you. Let’s dive straight in!

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♥ Sodashi Brightening Marine Mineral Face Mask – $110

If you’re craving softer, brighter, plumper skin, then this new mask from Sodashi is hard to look past. Any day that a Sodashi package shows up in the mail is a good day, and this mask takes the cake in terms of excellent results! It’s one of those products that will make you want to endlessly touch your skin after you’ve washed it off due to how silky it’ll be feeling. Yum!

I’ve been using this prior to any big event (Going out to dinner with friends… I’m taking liberties with the terms ‘big’ and ‘event’ here!) and loving the results. Contains seaweed, spirulina, several varieties of clay and rosewood oil. Radiance almost guaranteed 🙂 Available from Peachy Clean.

♥ Random picture of Miranda Kerr for no other reason than she looks much better in gym wear than I do!

♥ Joining the Gym

I have been enjoying the gym SO MUCH since joining and noticing lots of small and exciting changes in my body! There are some fantastic yoga classes, and the equipment is top notch. I have started a light weights routine to try and gain some strength and put on a touch of weight, as well as doing lots of hill walking (for calf definition) and even a few sauna and steam room stints – which are resulting in some seriously glowy skin afterwards! I’m excited to continue on and develop my muscles & peace of mind. It’s been a great decision and I’m loving getting back into it 🙂

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♥ Grown Haircare

I was recently sent a few samples from Grown to test out, I love their ethos of ‘Botanical Beauty‘ and I’m very much enjoying the Damask Rose, Chamomile and Lavender Stem Conditioner in particular. The shampoo smells great, but I find my hair needs quite a lot of it to get the smooth clean feeling that I’m usually after. That said, my hair is a difficult beast, so I’d recommend both of these to anyone to give a go if you’re looking to give silicone-free haircare a go. Plus the bottles look just gorgeous in the shower!

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♥ Mecca Lit From Within – $40

I’m all for naturally derived glowing skin (think green smoothies, tonnes of water, exercise, steam rooms and rosehip oil), but sometimes we need a little extra help. And lately for me, there has been a LOT of extra help needed. I’m blaming the change of seasons!

If this sounds like you then FEAR. NOT. I’ve been mixing Mecca’s Lit From Within into my foundation/tinted moisturiser combo and have been receiving a lot of compliments on my skin since doing so. You can do this, and then also use an extra bit to highlight certain areas of your face to give it even more of a glow. I am really, really diggin this. My only qualm is that it contains carmine, which is a dried, ground up insect (sometimes this stuff is even found in yoghurt!), so I would much prefer to find a highlighter which doesn’t contain it. However it is doing some wonderful things for me at the moment, so I am putting up with the beetles until further notice! Leave me a comment if you have any alternative suggestions!

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♥ Cheeki Water Bottle/Smoothie Transportation Device

I was lucky enough to be sent a Cheeki stainless steel water bottle to trial recently, it came at the perfect time, as I was searching for something that could safely transport my green smoothies on the journey from my apartment, through the perils of public transport and the walk to school. This kid did the trick!

For ages I’d been using dodgy old water and juice bottles to cart around my morning smoothie extras, but they were always too small and sometimes leaked. Not the best. I’m super happy with my new stainless steel bottle and can’t believe it took me so long to try one out, I use it every day at school & at the gym and it inspires me to drink lots more water too. Love + recommend it! I preferred a the plain silver version, but Cheeki has a range of more colourful options too!

QUESTION TIME! Do you use a stainless steel water bottle? What mask are you currently loving? Recently joined the gym too? Recommendation for a carmine free highlighter? Talk to me about it below! 🙂

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

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The first share house I ever lived in, in North Perth (I was 19) always had one or more bottles of the original Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion in the shared bathroom. We were four broke girls and it was our favourite, affordable moisturiser go-to. It was hassle-free to use (pump pack), slid on easy, kept our legs shiny and smooth during all that dancing at summer parties, and made us smell like chocolate (reeled in all the boys!).

That was six years ago – these days, I demand more from my body moisturisers than just ‘make my legs not dry’ and ‘smell nice’ (although I still demand this!). Now I’m moving into my late twenties, I also want: ‘make skin tighter‘, ‘smooth out dimpled skin’, ‘prevent potential stretch marks’. It seems Palmer’s must somehow know this, because they’ve taken the familiar, reliable, affordable moisturiser I know and love and added in Vitamin E, Collagen, and Elastin, to make Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula – Massage Lotion For Stretch Marks.

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I have been using this all-over lightweight lotion for about a month now, once post-morning shower and again before I go to bed – on my thighs, butt, abdomen and chest. I don’t have any severe stretch marks, so I’m mainly using this product to increase my skin’s elasticity and prevent potential stretchmarks – as us smart ladies know that prevention is better than cure (for the record, stretchmarks can come not just from pregnancy, but from weight loss/gain, bodybuilding, running with an unsupportive bra, even teenagers can get them from growth spurts – read about them here!).

The results are in, and my skin legs and stomach feel hydrated, smooth and firm, and the light stretchmarking I did have on my inner thighs has almost completely disappeared.

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I love the traditional cocoa scent, but there’s also a fragrance free version (if you’re a mum-to-be with a heightened sensitivity to scent, this is handy), as well as Vitamin A (retinol) free, and contains Shea Butter (as well as the cocoa butter), which soothes, tones and moisturises (can’t have enough of these three things going on, seriously). There is also a more concentrated lotion for problem areas). At about $10-$14, depending on where you shop, this moisturiser has refound its place as a staple in my bathroom.

The lotion is available at most supermarkets and chemists, check this full list of stockists for specifics.

Have you used the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter range before? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on chocolate scented skin and what products you’ve found helpful for stretchmarks!

Review by Thousands Perth City Guide editor Danielle Marsland, who likes to keep legs dance-party ready at all times

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Growing up as a teenage girl, I was intrigued about skincare. I would try samples of brands that I thought would make my skin look as flawless as the models in Dolly magazine (which I later found out were heavily photoshopped) and after trying a few brands, I found Kosmea, on a shelf in a health food store (the vogue forums led me to try this brand) and according to the raves about this skincare line, it was –the– one to use.

♥ Rosehips in the wild!

Fast forward to today, and I continue to use the same skincare as I did then. Whether my skin gets dry in the summer months or sensitive in the winter months, it has always made my skin feel amazingly soft and clean, as well as helping to create the perfect base for makeup. Kosmea is one of the brands I keep going back to for many reasons.

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The Clarifying Facial Wash is for all skin types and contains organic rose hip oil including Australian ingredients such as lily pilly and quandong extracts. It also contains macadamia oil, which makes my skin feel silky smooth and clean.

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One of my all time favourite products is the Hydrating Rosewater Mist that I like to spritz on my face, I carry it in my handbag for times when I’m on the go. I’ve found it’s most effective after a long flight under air-conditioning vents when my skin becomes dry and thirsty. After spraying the pure rosewater contained in the bottle, my skin looks hydrated and feels soft. It also works as a wake-up call at the office, just keep it in the fridge for a refreshing lift!

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Kosmea’s Rosehip Oil contains all the ingredients for healthy, gorgeous looking skin. Applying 2-3 drops morning and night on damp skin improves the overall smoothness and look of my skin after a few days. The rosehip oil is certified organic and uses the fruit, skin and seed of the wild rosehips. I have oily/combination skin, so the rosehip oil actually repairs my skin without feeling too oily at night!

After cleansing and exfoliating, I like to pop some moisturiser on my face. Kosmea has 2 moisturisers, one containing SPF 30+ for the day, both with (my favourite) green tea extract. I love the smell of the moisturisers and it is one of my ‘can’t live without’ products in the Kosmea range.

The word ‘Kosmea’ comes from the Ancient Greek meaning to harmonise and bring into balance. It couldn’t be more true, it always seems to balance out my skin and whatever the weather, my skin always looks great.

The travel collection is available from Echolife. Happy Skin comes from using the right products and within!

♥ No photoshopping here!

What do you think of Kosmea and Rosehip oil? Love to hear your thoughts!

Review by Kelly-Anne.

Be well,

xoxo