The Makeup Case

As you may, or may not know, Rebecca is getting married later in the year. There is lots of planning and booking and deciding going on so I thought I might help out with a bit of inspitration for hairstyles.

We have done quite a few wedding hairstyles in our time but Becs hair is THICK and there is HEAPS of it so may be difficult to find something that is different to normal and that will hold all day.

The first place I stopped at for hair inspiration is Hair Romance. If you need to know something about hair, you will find it here. If you haven’t been to Hair Romance before you should definitely take a look. She turns everyday hair into great hair everyday.

Thanks to Google, I also came across Girls Mehndi Designs which had some really nice hairstyles. Some may not be wedding appropriate but I thought they were awesome.

So this is just a start. If you have any ideas we would love to hear them (and see them) you can post them on our Facebook page or just email us themakeupcase@hotmail.com

You can also check out some of our work here and here.

What hairstyle did you have for your wedding? We would love to see some photos.

Finally…….! I did this makeup and hairstyle for a year 10 formal back in December! and I have only just got around to showing you.

Disaster struck! The photos were on a camera I don’t usually use and when I tried to get them off the camera, something happened and they dissappeared. Vanished. Gone for good!

These are the only photos I have and were taken on my phone. So please excuse the bad lighting, blurring, and just the overall quality of the photos.

This is Nina. She wanted a messy low side bun with a braid across the top. I really loved the hairstyle and it was really easy to do. She wasn’t sure what she wanted on her face (because she doesn’t usually wear makeup) so we went for a not too dark smokey-ish eye and natural lips. She wore a pretty bright dress that was coral and silver, so it went well.

This photo does not do her justice, she was a complete knockout! She kept looking in the mirror and saying “it doesn’t look like me” She looked fabulous and I hope she had a great night.

PS it looks like her foundation wasn’t right but I promise you it was a perfect match. The light coming through the window was really harsh and I was using my phone to take the photos.

So, I finally got around to using these. Just after Christmas when my sister came to town. We both needed a hair cut and thought it would be a good time to colour our hair aswell. I just got a trim, it was about 20cms off, is that still a trim? Sara, got a fringe cut and some layers. Off home again, after a pedicure, to colour.

Who got which colour? We couldn’t decide. So we did half half on each other. She got red at the top and brown underneath and I did brown on top and red underneath. You can see the colours in the picture above. We both have similar coloured hair its kinda medium brown and pretty boring and even though we got it cut, it still comes to nearly half way down our back.

This is what you get in the box, and a pair of black gloves to protect your hands from staining. Its pretty easy, you empty bottle 2 into bottle 1 and shake it like a polaroid picture. Then put the pump top thingy into to bottle 1 and you’re good to go. So here is the tricky bit, you squeeze the bottle you don’t pump it. It took me ages to get used to the idea. But got it in the end. It comes out like foam so it doesn’t drip everywhere.

OK, you’re not supposed to put the foam directly onto your hair (we read the instructions after we were half way through, oops) but it still worked just fine. Best of all, it didn’t drip everywhere and ruin more of my mums towels. It was very easy to apply and there was
HEAPS of product to cover our hair. We even had some left over, but couldn’t persuade anyone in the house they needed their hair coloured. You leave it 30 minutes, I think, then wash it out and use the conditioner, bottle 3, provided.

The result? Ummm……it was ok. Easy to use but the colour was not really vibrant. Especially the red, it was not very visible at all. I am happy with the brown, it gave my hair a nice all over even colour that it has not had for ages. The first photo below was taken in daylight, inside the house. The second was taken in sunlight outside. I will say this, it was the quickest and easiest to wash out. The packet says rinse till the water runs clear, like all home hair colours. It only took around 10 mins and no colour on my mums towel when drying. WIN!

The hair colour range is available from  Target, Coles, Woolworths, Priceline and some pharmacies and is around $22, depending where you go.

*these products were sent to The Makeup Case for editorial consideration, please see our disclosure policy here

I hate waxing! Come to mention it, I dislike any form of hair removal that involves too much mess and too much time. I do like looking clean and hair free though, oh dear, its hard being a girl sometimes! A million moons ago I decided to laser my legs and ventured off to a reputable beauty therapist every 6 weeks for treatment. I never found it painful but I did find I had to make a massive effort to book my appointments and save all my money before I went. It was like an endless cycle of laser and no money between appointments because back then laser was so new and the price tag was hefty.

These days the price of laser has dropped a lot but my laziness to head to the salon has remained the same. It is like the guys over at Phillips knew how lazy I am about this stuff and sent us over the brand new Phillips Lumea Precision Plus to enjoy from the comfort of my very own home. It’s so great and I can even do this on my lounge while watching Big Brother, oh my, what a sad little secret.

The Lumea Precision uses an Intense Pulsed Light, the same that professional salons use to prevent hair growth. The device applies gentle pulses of light to the hair which produces heat that moves to the hair follicle. Once the heat hits the follicle it is stimulated into a resting phase, which means the hair sheds naturally and future growth is inhibited. The Lumea Precision has an integrated UV filter and advanced safety controls so we know we are really protecting our skin. There are also 5 control settings that let you choose the appropriate intensity for your skin type and hair colour, so you are not over doing it.

The Phillips Lumea Precision is the only at home IPL device that is extra safe to use on your face and also comes with a bigger attachment so you can treat both your legs in 15 minutes! Heck yes, I am all for simple, fast and easy beauty routines. When my pretty box arrived on my door step I could not wait to try it out and I knew exactly where I wanted to try it, legs (little bits of re-growth are starting to appear since I last had it done), underarms, maybe the appear lip. I also have plans to use this on the bf…hahaha…he doesnt know it yet.

Before you use your Precision you need to ensure that each area you would like to treat is clean-shaven and of course you have read all the instructions. It is worthwhile pointing out that the laser is not recommended for ladies (and gentleman) with white or blonde hair. This is because there needs to be some pigment in the hair follicle for the laser to work. Now, once you have done all this and charged the battery you are all good to go. I have to admit the first time I pressed the laser to my skin I was scared to pull the trigger, I didn’t want it to hurt! I screwed my eyes shut and said a little prayer while bf sat on the lounge yelling at me to “just do it, geez”. I did it, I pressed the button, and it wasnt bad at all. Not the slightest bit of pain, much better than waxing and definitely less messy.

The first time treating my legs took me a bit longer then 15 minutes, mainly because I was getting used to the device and how to use it. After about 10 minutes I was on a roll and didn’t want to put it down, thinking of everything I could laser. Thoughts of making last-minute decisions of going to the beach in summer and not having to worry about any unsightly growth made me happy and spurred me on. The device is really so easy to use, you place the attachment so it is flat on your skin, a green light flashes up saying it’s “ready”, you press the laser button and whoosh your off. You don’t even need to keep pressing the button, you can press it once and just glide it over your skin so the flashes of light are released as the Precision moves over your body. Plus! The only negative I had with the Precision was that I felt like I should have been wearing some sort of protective eye wear, you can purchase these if you want to, I just shut my eyes.

After I was done lasering I applied a small bit of moisturizer to the parts I treated. I didn’t experience any redness afterwards or any pain, it was like I just shaved. After treatments you need to wait 2 weeks until you can redo the process, during that time you should try not to do any form of hair removal so you can truly benefit from the product. It should take about 4 treatments to see maximum results but I noticed mine after the first time.

My hair took longer to grow back and when it did it was much finer and lighter. I am just about to do my fourth treatment and I cant believe I used to waste all that time and money on waxing. The Precison Lumea Plus is so easy and you really see the results. During one of my treatments I was staying at my mums and it was so compact, you simply place it in the protective bag and thow it in your suitcase (not literally thow of course). I am never going back to waxing again, I am 100% converted!

RRP: $1,299.95 and available from The Shaver shop nationally.

* This product was sent to The Makeup Case for editorial consideration – please see our disclosure policy.

As I tried to brush my hair this morning, (I haven’t brushed it in about 4 days and have been camping in that time so you can imaging the matt) I thought to my self, Its time for a cut!

I have had the same hairstyle for a very long time now. Its straight and long, I sometimes have some layers and sometimes a fringe but it is always long. At the moment, it is really long, I don’t think I have had a hair cut since……I can’t remember the last time! And I can’t reach the end when I brush it.

I need something simple and easy to maintain, cause with 2 little ladies needing my attention, I don’t have much time for hairstyling, or anything really. I have been thinking about a big chop, cutting it all off. I haven’t had short hair since I was in year 1 at school, I think my mum got sick of the knots and all the brushing (I have 2 sisters) and just chopped off all our hair.

So I turned to Google for inspiration, and came up with these.

All different kinds of short, I don’t know if I can go really short, its a big change. Maybe I will start small and eventually get there in the end.

Stay tuned to see if I actually chop it off or chicken out and just get a trim.

Have you gone short?

I know I am a bit late to the Tangle Teezer band wagon but I am now on it and I just love it.

My hair is so annoying sometimes! Its getting longer and with that comes more tangles, more knots and more breakage. I was at breaking point (literally) and after I couldn’t take it any more I hit the beauty blogger-sphere to find an answer to my problems. After I found out I was not alone in my woes, I then found out that almost every one out there was using the Tangle Teezer. I had to get one and jumped onto ASOS straight away, picked my colour (Disco Purple of course), entered my credit card details, paid my $16 and anxiously waited about 2 weeks for its arrival.

When it arrived on my desk I was full of excitement, I wanted to use it straight away but curbed my urge until I got home and washed my hair.  Normally after washing my hair it is so hard to get a comb let alone a brush through the mess of tangles and knots, this was going to be the ultimate test for Mr Tangle Teezer. It was fantastic! The Tangle Teezer brushed through my knots and tangles without any pulling and no breakage, it was like a miracle. Since then I have been using my Tangle Teezer just about everyday and my hair feels amazing, soft and smooth.

The great thing about this brush is that it is so compact and fits neatly in your hands so you can control the brushing. The evenly spaced bristles are the key to the detangling, letting the brush glide through the hair and removing knots without pulling.

I am head over heels in love with my Tangle Teezer. Are any of you using the Tangle Teezer? We would love to know your thought…

RRP: $16 from ASOS.

Did you see our sneak peek the other day? If you did then you must know that The Makeup Case were lucky enough to trial the new March Bare Faced Beauty goodies from Bellabox.

In case you don’t know what the amazing Bellabox is all about we will give you a quick run down. If you love trying out new products (you know how much we love to do that) then Bellabox is the perfect thing for you. The lovely ladies at Bellabox will put together a beautiful curated box full of 5 new luxury products each month for you to try. It is such  a great idea for anyone who easily gets bored with the usual day-to-day skin and makeup routine, the best part..it all arrives at your front door step once a month. No hassell of being bombarded by pesty shop assistants…plus ++!

This is what we were lucky enough to try out.

U Little Beauty, natural repair hair masque – A beautiful hair repair treatment that smells divine! If your hair is suffering from that dryness that comes hand in hand with the changing weather then this is the perfect product for you, U Little Beauty will nourish your hair and make it feel brand new! Ah-mazing! It is also so easy to use, clean your hair, apply the serum and let it penetrate the hair for about 15 min, then rinse off. Walla. Easy. RRP: $19.95 for 100mls, available from David Jones, Priceline and Terry White Chemists.

Yes To Carrots, C me blush lip tint - I have loved this brand for a long time and I was so excited to see that this month Bellabox included the famous Yes To Carrots Lip Tint, and in my fave colour – C Me Blush. What is so awesome about all of this brands products and especially the lip tints is that they are all 95% organic, containing a blend of fruits and veggies. Hey, why should your insides get all that good stuff? Now your lips and face can join in on the fun. RRP: $9.95 for 2.6 gms, available from David Jones and Priceline.

Pure Fiji Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion - The first thing I noticed about this product was the amazing smell, it takes you back to lying on a tropical beach somewhere soaking up the hot sun. No wonder this lotion smells so delicious. Pure Fiji Coconut Hydrating Lotion contains a blend of coconut milk and exotic nuts, each working together to hydrate the skin making it feel soft and fresh. I love applying the lotion after you get out of a hot shower, the smell really feels up the whole bathroom and makes your worries drift away and think of holidays. RRP: $29.95 for 100mls.

Bellamer Eye Balm - Oh Bellamer Botanical Skin Care, these guys are so amazing! All their products are natural and 100% plant derived, combined they promote the skins own ability to heal and make it smooth and fresh. Now that’s what we like to hear, all natural products that wont harm our skin and make us look great! I have only used this eye balm a couple of times so far and it seems to be working. The thing about this product is that it does leave a slight amount of excess, that is easily fix though with a quick wipe.  I recommend using the eye cream twice a day to get maximum benefits and fight away those wrinkles. RRP: $40 for 15gms.

Check out the amazing plans available from Bellabox here.

* These products were sent to The Makeup Case for editorial consideration – please view our disclosure policy.

By now I think all of you know how much The Makeup Case is obsessed with hair products…ummm hello…massivly obsessed is probably the best way to describe it. So after sucking out all my Herbal Essence from the bottle I was on the hunt for something new! Something that would tame my locks and make them look as shiny as Kim Kardasians 72 day wedding ring!

Now, I am going to tell you something that will knock those sweet Marc Jacobs flats of your feet…are you ready…I found the perfect product for only $3.95, that’s only 2 gold coins!

The product in question is Organic Care Dry Moist Shampoo and Conditioner. Even after I used this products for the first time I feel completely head over heels in love, it left my hair super hydrated, shiny, smooth, extremely manageable and with that all important glossy look.

Though the best part about using Organic Care I think is that you are treating your hair without feeding it all those nasty chemicals like parabens and petrochemical cleansers. Even the sound of those words make me squirm! And as an added bonus, you are also being good to the environment by using Organic Care, all their packaging is plant-based and 100% biodegradable, as well as being cruelty free. Great hair plus the warm-hearted feeling of knowing you are doing a good deed.

Check out all of Natures Organics products on their website, you may even win an iPad 2.

RRP: $3.95 for 400mls. Avaliable from Woolworths.

I have been meaning to get myself a detangler for my hair for ages. When I do think about it, I’m out and I get overwhelmed by the choice and give up, I wish this was the case when I enter the confectionary isle in the supermarket!

So when Garnier sent us a detangle at Christmas I thought all my prayers had been answered. I didn’t have to pick one and I would have un-tangled hair! It is the Garnier Fructis Instant Detangler, Nutri-Repair for dry, damaged hair.

I followed the instruction and applied it to my hair just after I washed it, so it was still wet, and combed it through. My hair gets really knotty if I don’t take the time to brush it regularly and can still be tangled after I have used conditioner. I found that it made it much easier to comb through when it was wet but the best bit was when I got up the next morning. I found that my hair was not as tangled as usual and really easy to brush out any pesky tangles that did find their way into my hair over night.

I have been using it each time I wash my hair. Not only does it detangle but it is also enriched with fruit oils that penetrate the hair and nourish and repair it from within. Oh and it really is light weight so I don’t feel like I am wearing a helmut all day! My hair isn’t really dry and damaged but the summer sun and swimming all the time does take its toll on my hair and this does help. So try it, I recommend it!

Check it out at Garnier or in store where ever you buy your fav Garnier products.

*This product was sent to The Makeup Case for editorial consideration – please see our discolure policy.

Let me hear a big gigantic holla if you suffer from dry fizzy hair! Trust me peeps, I hear your pain. I have been suffering from frizzy hair for as long as I can remember, on more than one occasion I think it has actually made me cry (sob, sob).

Now, my crying days are over thanks to my man David Babaii new Miracle Oil Hair Elixer! Goodbye to my frizz, goodbye to my dryness, a stick it where the sun don’t shine to my tears and a big hello to my soft frizz free golden locks.

Oh, life has never been better. This could not have come at the more perfect time with party season just around the corner my tresses were in need of a big pick me up. With all my favorite friends using it like you know, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie (probably Brad too), Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson but I am not going to name drop any further, oh wait, maybe I will and say one more…Amy Ross. I knew this was going to be an amazing product.

Miracle Oil is jammed packed with certified organic argan oil, immortelle essential oil for brightening and smoothing the hair,  acai berry oil with antioxidant properties to fight free radicals damage, sweet almond oil which acts as a delicate moisturising and protective agent, pequi fruit oil to revive dry hair and repair coloured or chemically treated hair and  lastly brazil nut oil which is rich in protein, vitamin A and omega 6 to nourish the hair.  Phew, what a list! Miracle oil also does not use any harmful chemicals or contain any toxins, how rad is that?

Once my hair is washed and towel dried  I work a few drops through making sure I don’t apply the oil near my roots or on my fringe (I made that mistake and I ended up having to re-wash my hair, not happy). I then blow dry and style my hair in the usual way. Since using Miracle Oil all my fly aways have disappeared, my hair is easier to manage and it seems to have become brighter, hey, I am not complaining. I have even had a few compliments about how healthy my hair is looking!

RRP: $29.95 for 120mls. For full stockist and store locator visit David Babaii website, here.

* Image courtesy of  db4wildaid.com.au

* This product was provided to The Makeup Case for editorial consideration – please see our disclosure policy.