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Hi girls!
Just the other day I got to attend the ghd Style Lounge in Cape Town. (I know, I know, you all hate me... I feel your evil vibes, voodoo pins and whatnot – but hey, at least I've got amazing hair...)
Anyhoo, as it turned out, 'lounging it' ghd-style involved a Benefit cosmetics makeover and getting your hair 'did' by a flat-iron-wielding stylist. (That and gorging on a shameful amount of white Lindt bolletjies...) Once all razzled up, us invitee's got to snap our piccies and thus I can show you this: moi plus Lynelle, my lovely hair stylist and Cecile, my Benefit make-up artist extraordinaire.
Of all the products I got to play with, the two that impressed me the most were ghd Fixation Spray (a light, non-sticky hairspray that offers a firm hold), R195, and Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal, R215.
You see, the day I attended the lounge, it was disgustingly, hideously hot. Just the kind of weather to destroy a new 'do (quelle horreur!) and I really wanted to show it off to my friends come sundown. Fortunately, however, a light misting of ghd Fixation spray kept them looking Sarah Jessica Parker-perfect from noon until time for a night cap!
And that brings me to Busy Signal. It's something I'd wanted to try ever since I'd read about it in Allure's Best of Beauty issue. (It won out in the 'best brown' eye shadow category and was lauded for never creasing), Now, having given it a bash in severe test conditions, I'm pleased to tell you that yes, you can totally believe the hype! Despite make-up melting humidity, this little beauty Did. Not. Crease. In fact, it stayed put for almost 11 hours straight – sans primer! Love, love, love...
Now, let's talk about what's new and fabulous in beauty...
Even Stevens
Revlon has launched a new skin care range called New Complexion Even Out aimed at those with uneven skin tone. Each product is choc-ful of various acids known for their skin exfoliating benefits, but the collection itself is pretty simple and consists of just three products: a Daily Moisturiser with SPF 15, R130, Night Concentrate, R155, and Mark Minimising Serum, R99.
The latter, a targeted treatment, claims to assist in "reducing the appearance of dark marks". While we haven't been able to put this claim to the test just yet, I can assure you that thanks to all the chemical exfoliators in each product, they certainly will go a long way towards brightening up your complexion, much like an incredibly efficient face scrub. However, thanks to the addition of mega-moisturising Aqua Cacteen extract, your skin isn't likely to become irritated or dry.
Green revolution
Remember how Chanel sent the fashion pack into a tiz when they launched Chanel Le Vernis Blue Satin nail polish? Well, this year, they've done it again with a new cult colour called Jade, a pale green hue with a "slightly hazy undertone". This polish is such big news, it sold out the minute it hit the beauty counters. (SA stores included). Now, if you really want a bottle, you'll have to bid for it on eBay, but expect to end up paying around $100 (R747) excluding shipping!
Fortunately, I did a little digging online and have found what the net's most respected beauty bloggers reckon are the best 'dupes' for the elusive Ms Jade: Essie Mint Candy Apple, Orly Mint Mojito, OPI Hey! Get in Lime! and MAC Peppermint Patti. At R120, OPI's polish is the most expensive. However, even if you lump them all together, they cost a snip of the price of what it would to get your mitts on a bottle of Chanel's. A recessionista score!
Wear sunscreen!
As of the 12th of this month, Elizabeth Arden will be taking to some of SA's most popular beaches to hand out samples of their Eight Hour Sun Defense For Face SPF 50 Sunscreen PA+++, R165. Light weight and oil-free, this little baby plays nice with sensitive skin whilst offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Keep an eye out for them on the shores of Clifton 1, 2, 3, and 4; Camps Bay, Margate, Ballito, Robberg and Beacon Isle.
Anyway, that's it from me – for now!
Love and lip gloss (with a SPF of at least 15!),
Leigh
X x
Just the other day I got to attend the ghd Style Lounge in Cape Town. (I know, I know, you all hate me... I feel your evil vibes, voodoo pins and whatnot – but hey, at least I've got amazing hair...)
Anyhoo, as it turned out, 'lounging it' ghd-style involved a Benefit cosmetics makeover and getting your hair 'did' by a flat-iron-wielding stylist. (That and gorging on a shameful amount of white Lindt bolletjies...) Once all razzled up, us invitee's got to snap our piccies and thus I can show you this: moi plus Lynelle, my lovely hair stylist and Cecile, my Benefit make-up artist extraordinaire. Of all the products I got to play with, the two that impressed me the most were ghd Fixation Spray (a light, non-sticky hairspray that offers a firm hold), R195, and Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal, R215.
You see, the day I attended the lounge, it was disgustingly, hideously hot. Just the kind of weather to destroy a new 'do (quelle horreur!) and I really wanted to show it off to my friends come sundown. Fortunately, however, a light misting of ghd Fixation spray kept them looking Sarah Jessica Parker-perfect from noon until time for a night cap!
And that brings me to Busy Signal. It's something I'd wanted to try ever since I'd read about it in Allure's Best of Beauty issue. (It won out in the 'best brown' eye shadow category and was lauded for never creasing), Now, having given it a bash in severe test conditions, I'm pleased to tell you that yes, you can totally believe the hype! Despite make-up melting humidity, this little beauty Did. Not. Crease. In fact, it stayed put for almost 11 hours straight – sans primer! Love, love, love... Now, let's talk about what's new and fabulous in beauty...
Even Stevens
Revlon has launched a new skin care range called New Complexion Even Out aimed at those with uneven skin tone. Each product is choc-ful of various acids known for their skin exfoliating benefits, but the collection itself is pretty simple and consists of just three products: a Daily Moisturiser with SPF 15, R130, Night Concentrate, R155, and Mark Minimising Serum, R99.
The latter, a targeted treatment, claims to assist in "reducing the appearance of dark marks". While we haven't been able to put this claim to the test just yet, I can assure you that thanks to all the chemical exfoliators in each product, they certainly will go a long way towards brightening up your complexion, much like an incredibly efficient face scrub. However, thanks to the addition of mega-moisturising Aqua Cacteen extract, your skin isn't likely to become irritated or dry.
Green revolution
Remember how Chanel sent the fashion pack into a tiz when they launched Chanel Le Vernis Blue Satin nail polish? Well, this year, they've done it again with a new cult colour called Jade, a pale green hue with a "slightly hazy undertone". This polish is such big news, it sold out the minute it hit the beauty counters. (SA stores included). Now, if you really want a bottle, you'll have to bid for it on eBay, but expect to end up paying around $100 (R747) excluding shipping! Fortunately, I did a little digging online and have found what the net's most respected beauty bloggers reckon are the best 'dupes' for the elusive Ms Jade: Essie Mint Candy Apple, Orly Mint Mojito, OPI Hey! Get in Lime! and MAC Peppermint Patti. At R120, OPI's polish is the most expensive. However, even if you lump them all together, they cost a snip of the price of what it would to get your mitts on a bottle of Chanel's. A recessionista score!
Wear sunscreen!As of the 12th of this month, Elizabeth Arden will be taking to some of SA's most popular beaches to hand out samples of their Eight Hour Sun Defense For Face SPF 50 Sunscreen PA+++, R165. Light weight and oil-free, this little baby plays nice with sensitive skin whilst offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Keep an eye out for them on the shores of Clifton 1, 2, 3, and 4; Camps Bay, Margate, Ballito, Robberg and Beacon Isle.
Anyway, that's it from me – for now!
Love and lip gloss (with a SPF of at least 15!),
Leigh
X x
