The Makeup Case

Okay so I don’t mean to brag BUT guess who is heading to Thailand for some sun and cocktails this weekend?!? Me! I have had some bad packing experiences in the past, not being able to fit everything in, spilt bottles of sunscreen and perfume.  This time I am not going to experience any of that as I have found the cutest carry companions on the planet and they are both made by Demalogica.  You can never go on a holiday and think that you can leave your skin care routine at the front door and Dermalogica has made it so easy that you practically don’t even have to think about it with the Normal / Dry Skin Kit and the Daylight Defence Kit.

Normal / Dry Skin Kit: This little kit of goodness is jam packed with cute holiday friendly sized bottles. They are all under 100ml so you can also take them on the plane with you as hand luggage if you desire. The kit contains; Essential Cleansing Solution 50ml, Multi-Active Toner 50mL, Skin Smoothing Cream 22mL, Gentle Cream Exfoliant 9mL, Climate Control Lip Treatment 4.5g (So great for to take on the plane to avoid dry lips) and two great samples of Pre Cleanse and the Skin Hydrating Masque.

Daylight Defense Kit: If you are travelling somewhere sunny like I am then it is a good idea to carry an effective sunscreen with you. This Dermalogica pack contains all the essentials to make sure your skin is getting the protection it needs against the suns harsh rays. The Daylight Defence Kit contains; Multivitamin Body Block SPF 20, Solar Defence Booster SPF 30, Solar Shield SPF 15 and After Sun Repair.

I can’t wait to pack these in my suitcase; I know they are going to fit so snugly and not leak all over my clothes.

RRP: Normal / Dry Skin Kit $68 and Daylight Defence Kit $59 both available from Dermalogica and Ella Bache Salons or through the Dermalogica website.

*Images courtesy of Beauty Directory

With winter looming around like a bad smell it is no wonder our skin is rebelling. Being pushed inside warm air-conditioned offices and shops and then back outside into the wind and rain our poor skin doesn’t know what to think. So it rebels and becomes dry and dull and screaming for some love and attention. That is when Clinique’s Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream comes to the rescue. With its yummy peppermint scent and soft granules it makes our winter burdened skin love us again, polishing dry and rough skin into smooth soft attention filled beauties.

I have been using Sparkle Skin going on three months now and my skin has never been better. I use it at least 3 times a week in the shower, massaging on rough dry areas such as elbows, heels and arms. I then follow up with a good moisturizer before putting on my warm and fuzzy pyjamas. Nothing beats the winter blues better then nice moisturized skin, pyjamas and some 30 rock. I would also not pass up a good glass of red wine!

We here at The Makeup Case don’t like to discriminate against the seasons; Sparkle Skin is also a great product to use during summer and is an amazing pre tan exfoliate.

RRP: $50 FOR 250ml and available from David Jones, Myers, free standing Clinique stores and the Clinique website.

The Makeup Case is running our very first competition. The competition will commence when our facebook site reaches ’100 likes’. So get your friends to jump over to our facebook site and hit that beautiful ‘like’ button.

Once we hit the 100 mark we will select a Makeup Case fan at random who will receive 50% off our new Hens or Party package or 50% off an individual Makeup and Hair service from Amy and Bec. Not only will you get beautiful Makeup and Hair you will also receive a professional photographer to shoot and capture the fun while you are getting ready and a 45min shoot afterwards.  All images will be provided to you on disk.

So come on guys, get liking for your chance to WIN!!

Note: Competition is open to Sydney residents only – sorry! 

Want something different for your hens night??

Having a theme party and want everyone to get involved???

Why not get the Makeup Case to join in on the fun and give everyone some basic makeup and hair styling to kick start your night out!

Some of our favourites are;

• Era hens 60′s, 70′s, 80′s and don’t forget the naughty 90′s.
• Colour theme Hens (pink, gold, B&W etc).
• Glamorous and Hollywood Hens.

Makeup *                            $40 pp

Makeup* and Hair **     $80 pp

Groups of 10 or more    $35 pp (makeup)* or $70 pp (makeup and hair)* **

*Basic makeup only: eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, blush, bronzer and concealer. False eyelashes will incur an extra fee.

**Basic hairstyle only: GHD straight or curls, crimp, curling tong and simple blowdry.

Travel and parking fees may apply.

A couple of presents my not so good friend winter has brought me this season; the flu, a constant runny nose and dry lips. Although I am unable to return two of winter’s unwanted gifts, I can get rid of one…dry lips and its all thanks to Burt’s Bees Nourishing Lip Balm.

No matter what I tried on my lips this season nothing seemed to work. They all felt great when I first applied them but did nothing to actually fix the problem. I was complaining about the whole horrid affair my lips have been giving me while on a recent lunch outing with a good friend of mine. She suggested I give Bert’s Bees a try; she had been using it for a while and cannot get enough of it.

Then just like a lightning bolt I ran into David Jones and scoured the aisle for the miracle product. There were so many options in the range to choose from I felt like a kid in a candy store. I settled for the Mango Butter Lip Balm for two reasons a) Because I love Mangos so why the hell not and b) With all the rain outside I thought it would remind me of summer. And I tell you the Mango flavour did not disappoint, as soon as I opened the lid I could smell summer. With images of sitting on a tropical beach and sipping mango daiquiri’s swirling around in my head I forgot all about the gloomy winter gifts thrust upon me and enjoyed the moment.

Since using Bert’s Bees Lip Balm my lips are so much softer with no signs of dryness. It must be the incredible formula in Burt’s Bees Nourishing Lip Balm that heals, soothes, softens and moisturizes which makes this product so amazing. I now make sure I have one of these miracle sticks in my bag at all times. You never know when your lips my need hydrating.

Look at all the other amazing natural products Burt’s Bees has to offer.

RRP: $6.95 from David Jones, Terry White Chemists and selected retail outlets

* Image courtesy of burtsbees.com.au

It’s something that all girls (and some men) struggle with. No one talks about it and everyone hates it. That’s right the dirty S word…..STRETCHMARKS!

When I was first pregnant it was on my mind everyday and thoughts of how I could escape them. So being a fan of Palmers products already (moisturiser, lip balms, Foot Magic etc) I decided to use the Massage Cream for Stretchmarks. I didn’t think anything could prevent them but I thought it cant hurt. Right? I used it morning, after a shower, and night, just before bed, massaging all over my stomach, and sides.

Surprise! Not a single one. Must be the mix of collagen, vitamin E, cocoa butter and elastin, or maybe just that it smells so good.

So why not give it a go or check out all the Palmers products Palmers Australia

RRP $13.39 for 250ml. Available at Woolworths, Coles, Priceline and all good chemists.

* Image courtesy Palmers Australia

Being a person who is obsessed with what I put on my face it was only a matter of time before I went down the mineral makeup road. With so many Mineral brands on the market these days it is hard to decide which one is right for you and also one that isn’t going to break the budget! A few friends of mine had been using Prestige Mineral makeup for a while and raved about it, so I thought I would give it a try and see what they were all talking about. I went in a little sceptical and not sure about the idea of a powdered foundation.  I must say I was extremely surprised.

The first product I tried and which is now a staple in my own makeup bag is the Prestige Finish Mineral Powder Foundation. I first applied the foundation using a powder press. I found that by doing this I got more coverage and less of a caked on chalky look. The foundation stayed put all day and I only really needed to reapply a small amount around the jaw line at the end of the day.

The second week I used the foundation, I applied using a powder brush, dipping the brush into a small amount of product and gliding it over my forehead, cheeks, jaw and neck. The results were amazing, stayed all day and looked as though I had a natural glow. If I can suggest one thing it is to apply a moisturizer or sunscreen, 5 minutes or so before applying the foundation. I found that by doing this the foundation had more staying power, applied more smoothly and looked a touch better.

Now down to the juicy and important details. Prestige Mineral Foundation contains vitamin A, C and the all powerful Vitamin E which heals the skin and in my case reduces redness. In this little wonder there is also Shea Butter extract which does a phenomenal job at moisturizing the skin and Chamomile to sooth the skin. It is fragrance, talc, oil, paraben and zinc oxide free. Phew! With all that goodness why wouldn’t you give it a go?

The second product I tried was the Prestige Soft Blend Kohl Eyeliner. As a contact lenses wearer I often find that certain eyeliners or mascaras make my lenses a bit gluggy and uncomfortable. I had high hopes for the mineral eyeliner and it went above and beyond my expectations.

I love wearing black eyeliner on my top eyelids and I often feel a bit weird when I am not wearing it. My eyes are greedy and they do tend to eat up my eyeliner and I end up reapplying more times then Heidi Montage has surgery. I have been wearing Prestige for 2 weeks now and I have not had any issues with contact lenses, fading or reapplying, it’s been great! With all this free time I have now not having to do my eyeliner every hour I don’t know what to do with myself. The pencil also doubles as an eye shadow and is equipped with a built in sponge tip so you can create a soft Smokey eye. It really doesn’t get much better then this.

RRP: Prestige Mineral Foundation $27.95 and Prestige Eyeliner $14.95 available from selected Priceline pharmacies.

Make sure you check out the whole range of Prestige Mineral makeup. They have so many great products!

* Images courtesy of Beautydirectory.com

So we told you about our favourite moisturiser and foundation but…..how do you get them on your face?

There are many ways to apply; sponges, fingers (agh) and brushes. Our choice? Brushes. There are heaps on the market, some good, some not so good, but we have found that the Artiste brushes, by Manicare, work perfectly and you don’t need to live on 2 minute noodles to buy them.

Start with the Foundation Brush #6,. Its made with synthetic nylon bristles and provides a concentrated application without absorbing the product. Apply your moisturiser first and leave for 5 -10 minutes to absorb, then the foundation (liquid or cream). Blend it evenly over your face, don’t forget your jaw line and a little down your neck. It should create a smooth and even finish

Next Stippling Brush #17. Made with compact flat goat and nylon bristles its perfect for bronzers, loose powder foundations or just to finish off with an airbrushed look. Work in circles all over the face and blend down the neck.

If you mix two different foundations to get your colour, use the lighter one first (with Brush #6) then the darker one (with Brush #17). With #6 apply small amounts of the darker shade to your chin, cheeks, forehead and nose use #17 and circle all over your face to blend the 2 together.

What do you use to apply foundation?

RRP: Foundation Brush $27.95 and Stipple Brush $17.95. Available at Priceline, Myer, Target, K-Mart, Big W and leading pharmacies.

Check out Artiste brushes at Manicare.

*Images courtesy of Beautydirectory.com.au

Ben Webb is a Freelance Makeup Artist and all round styler. A country boy at heart who has lived in London and now resides in Sydney. Ben has also worked as a Makeup Artist for M.A.C, Rosemount Fashion Week and various fashion and film shoots around Australia. We sat down with Ben and asked him a few Makeup questions as part of our new Makeup Case section “5 questions with..”

How long have you been working as a Makeup Artist? 

I have been an artist for over 8 years now and still love it everyday.

What made you want to become a Makeup Artist and who inspires you as an artist? 

I actually fell into this career by mistake, i dabbled in fashion and styling for sometime and picked up artistry to further my styling.

Who is the best person you have ever done makeup for? 

The late Isabella Blow while i was working in london. She was a magazine editor, international style icon and founded Alexander McQueen.

What is the makeup product you can’t live without?

Mac Fix + spray. Sets your makeup perfectly and is super hydrating.

What is the number one tip you can give someone about putting on makeup?

Closing one eye at a time to apply mascara, you get the top and bottom lash at the same time.

This mascara first caught our attention through the Maybelline tv ad. It’s the same music for one of my most favourite tv shows Magnum PI, great 80′s crime drama. So loving Maybelline mascara (Great Lash Mascara) we thought its worth a try.

I’m not sure if it makes you look like you’re wearing false lashes but it certainly makes your lashes longer and really black (which we love). The flexible spoon brush helps to lift and separate lashes so you get great coverage and more visible lashes from corner to corner. It even works well with disposable mascara wands, we always use them to keep our mascara clean and hygienic.

We always use the Falsies Volum’ Express black drama waterproof mascara. It goes on smooth and lasts all day. All you need to do is apply one coat, then before it dries apply another coat. Keep building up until you get the lashes you are after.

Its Ophthalmologist tested and contact lens safe so if perfect for everyone. My favourite thing…….the bright purple tube! Makes it so easy to find in my makeup bag.

Have you tried it? Let us know what you think.

Why not check it out at Maybelline

* Image courtesy Mabelline.com.au