Being a busy PR girl, I adore those saviour products designed for on-the-go moments. Between my PR role and this beauty blog, I am often rushing off post-work to events and so therefore carry a fair few beauty staples in my handbag. I now have a new favourite which is one of those rare finds that once you have it you wind up wondering how you ever functioned without it! This is the Silver Bullet Mini Moods hair straightener with a delectable, stylish look (available online from www.i-glamour.com).

Silver Bullet Mini Moods Hair Straightener in 'Florentine' rrp: $29.95

 Another handbag essential for me is the Borne Naked Handbag Liner. Made from clear plastic, they come in various different sizes so that you can keep all your bits and pieces together, find them with ease and swap between your favourite handbags in seconds.

Borne Naked Handbag Liners prices from $24.95

Lip Therapy pots by Vaseline are super versatile and pocket friendly. You can use them on cuts, chapped lips or dry skin. The formula moisturises, soothes and hydrates skin/lips.

Vaseline Lip Therapy Pots rrp: $3.99

 Polka Dot Mini Slant Tweezers by Tweezerman, are the perfect answer for all your on-the-go plucking needs. Featuring the same professional slant tip Tweezerman is famous for except in a cute little miniature version. The polka-dot designs are adorable, yet still functional. Available in pink with yellow and white dots, black with pink and white dots, or blue with pink and white dots. Each tweezer also come with a bonus clear protective case.

Polka Dot Mini Slant Tweezers rrp: $26.95

The Blush Cheek and Lip Tint by Kit, gives lips and cheeks a natural rosy blush for dewy radiance. Featuring a delicious watermelon scent, this 2-in-1 compacted colour also contains green tea and rose hip extracts with vitamin E. The squeezy tube is pocket-friendly and provides easy pop-on colour in an instant.

Kit Cheek & Lip Tint rrp: $22.95

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub rrp: $9.95

Bubblegum (The candy pink, scrub which smells like the real deal- I am IN LOVE with this one)

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub rrp: $9.95

Sweet Lips (The lip-smackingly tasty chocolate lip scrub with added scrumptious vanilla)

LUSH Sweet Lips Lip Scrub rrp: $9.95

No need for your regular 3pm sugar- fix when you can get it from one of these nifty little pocket-friendly pots!

Available in stores from July

(L-R): Foxy Lady, Back to the Fuchsia, Wild Child, Spiked Punch and Dancing Queen rrp: $34 each

1. Benefits lip glosses have a super soft, moisturising formula, so they never go on cakey or sticky
2. With a specially designed custom brush, Ultra Shine Lip Glosses glide on smoothly and evenly
3. Gives a superb, dazzling gloss with a mirror-like finish
4. Lightly scented: a sugary-sweet perfume that isn’t too overpowering
5. With 5 sumptious and sizzling shades in the collection, there is a gloss for every day of the (working) week

The perfect way to get your 5-a-day!

Time to detox and cleanse your make-up bag! Ere Perez is a naturally enriched and practical make-up range born out of a love of natural, good-for your skin products. The latest editions to the Ere Perez family, are these wonderful cheek and lip perfectors, which are made entirely from natural veggie products to help you on your way to 5- a-day!

Natural Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint rrp: $29.95

Ere Perez Natural Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint gives a natural, glowing, look that lasts with a completely waterproof formula. Easy to use, with a roll-on applicator that delivers just enough colour to the cheeks and lips.

Natural Carrot Cheek & Lip Balm rrp: $27.95

Ere Perez Natural Carrot Cheek & Lip Balm has a two-in-one formula that works to keep cheeks and lips soft, supple and hydrated. Contains olive oil and candelilla wax as well as oils of avocado and carrot. Available in four natural looking tints, Healthy (caramel in colour-above), Happy (reddish tint), Harmless (shimmery pink), Holy (light plum-below).

*Ere Perez cosmetics are fragrance free, vegan and certified cruelty free! For more info check out: www.ereperez.com

Clinique's Brighter Smile Lipstick rrp: $36

Want an instant picture- perfect smile? Clinique’s Lip Collection for a Brighter Smile offers specially designed lipstick colours certified to make teeth instantly look whiter. Clinique’s specially designed lipstick colours create a contrast that brightens your smile. The brand tested their current shades using a dental colour guide during clinical testing, and discovered 12 shades that made each smile was at least one shade brighter. A lovely and safe little alternative to bleaching…

Lipsticks are available at Clinique counters nationwide and online at clinique.com.au

SJP is one girl who knows how to give good face…her make-up is always flawless and compliments her hair and colouring. On the red carpet and on set, she keeps things simple: good blush, shimmery eyes and a clean, glossed lip.

Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Lip Gloss rrp: $34

And her gloss of choice? Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Gloss rrp: $34: delivers a super luxe, shiny finish to the lips and has an incredibly lightweight formula (no stickiness!) and comes out crystal clear. Available from Elizabeth Arden counters nationally.

Picture credit: www.primped .com.au

Catwalk look numero uno: Neon pink lips at Carla Zampatti:

 The lipstick I am using is Givenchy Lip Lip Lip! Lipstick in #105 Sunrise Fuschia (rrp: $21.50, available online from www.strawberrynet.com.au). I have had this one for a while…an oldy but a goldy!

Catwalk look numero dos: Tangerine lips at Marnie Skillings:

Next up, we have Napoleon Perdis DeVine Goddess Lipstick in ‘Hara’ (rrp: $33, available from www.adorebeauty.com.au). I absolutely heart this shade- slightly risque but I think it’s great for making a statement. I think the key to a bold lip is to keep your face and hair quite neutral. It’s also good to use a white eyeliner/pencil on the lip before applying a bold colour as you get the best out of the shade by creating a clean base.

 Catwalk look numero tres: Gothic glam lips at Zimmerman:

Thanks to Twilight, Emo has never been so cool! For the above shot, I trialled Twilight Femme Fatale Lip Gloss in ‘Myth’ (rrp: $20, available from David Jones stores). It’s a really deep plum colour and makes quite a statement…hhhmmm not sure this is an everyday look…maybe best for when the bats come out!

Do you think these looks work? Which one is your favourite?

Picture credit: www.bellasugar.com.au

At the launch, I was lucky enough to hear the Smashbox story from Davis himself, who explained how the brand was developed from the photographic studios the brothers set up. Davis, who also has a day job as a celebrity photographer (he has shot stars including Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron) had access to a number of stars and make-up artists floating in and out of the studios and realised the necessity to create great products that didn’t need to be constantly reapplied during fashion and beauty shoots. Smashbox cosmetics was launched in 1996  and is stocked in 60 countries across the globe…about time then that it’s fabulousness landed on Australian shores. It has taken a while, but I can guarantee you that it is definately worth the wait!

The Smashbox range is now available in Kit Cosmetics stores across the country and there are some amazing products to be discovered. I was lucky enough to sample two of the Smashbox ‘hero’ products:

O-Glow rrp: $37.95

Introducing…O-Glow, Smashbox’s best-selling and award winning tailored cheek colour. This totally intuitive blush comes out as a soft clear gel and then, when applied to your cheek bones it mimics the shade that you naturally blush. Rest assured, the magic gel is also packed with O-so-good-for-you ingredients including Smashbox’s exclusive Goji Berry-C Complex, Ginkgo Biloba, pomegranate seed for antioxidant protection and revitalising marine botanicals for added healthy-skin benefits.

O-Gloss rrp: $32.95

There is also O-Gloss, so you can get naturally pink and pouty lips to match your rosy-pink perfected cheeks. There is nothing worse than a gloss that is sticky and icky, hooray then to Smashbox for creating a gloss that has a silky smooth formula (thanks to the added avocado oil), which moisturises whilst also giving you your perfect shade.

Demonstrating the 'perfect shade of pink'!

www.kitcosmetics.com.au

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week started early with  über -cool side-shows commencing last week. On a very unseasonally hot Wednesday,  I dropped by Carla Zamps stunning house in Woollahra for the showing of her glamorous collection, which took inspiration from 70/80’s YSL. Her elegant abode provided a comfortable and unique runway for the show and guests were treated to shots of  expresso and biscotti in her courtyard beforehand: a very relaxed and sophisticated unnoficial start to Fashion Week!

I of course, had my eye on the make-up and was delighted to see bold lips take centre stage. Nicole Thompson, Senior Artist for M.A.C Australia, was the lady responsible for the bright, poppy-pouts, which perfectly complimented the colour-blocking featured in the clothing collection.

The main colours used were bright pops of orange, fuchsia pink, tomato red and here, Nicole,explains how she created the look above…

Products used:

Lips:  Bright orange tomato red. Products used: M.A.C Orange Lip Mix & M.A.C Lady Danger Lipstick rrp: $35.  (To get the look in one try M.A.C Neon Orange Lipstick rrp: $35)

Lips were made Matte by brushing Matte Texture over the top. This played up against the creamy porcelain skin. 

Skin: M.A.C Face & Body Foundation rrp: $60 and Studio Finish Concealer rrp: $32. 

Key for skin: Cream Colour Base in ‘Pearl’ (rrp: $35) applied to the highpoints of the face is what made the skin look glossy.

Cheeks: The final touch was a wash of the lip colour, pressed to the top of the cheek bones.   

M.A.C Lipstick in 'Neon Orange'

Picture Credit: www.zimbio.com

Bliss Balls will be making their debut at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) this year and you heard it here first! Check out www.byronbayblissballs.com.au for more info.

On the subject of sweet treats, I am embarking on a strict juice cleanse in the next couple of weeks which will see me eliminating all sugary goods from my diet (review to follow). Instead I will have to get my beloved sugar-fix from these heavenly-sweet beauty products…here are my picks of the best:

Benefit Sugarbomb 'Sugar Rush Flush' Face Powder rrp: $51.00

At any time, you will find a Benefit ‘boxed’ powder in my handbag!  The packaging is super cute and they are ideal for popping on some colour to your cheeks: Sugarbomb is my latest fave.

MOR Marshmallow Triple-milled Soap rrp: $19.95

 I fell in love with MOR products when I tried their Marshmallow Eau de Parfum a few years back. Marshmallow offers a classic powdery, sweet and delectable candy-scent.

Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub by Aveda rrp: $59.95

Aveda’s Caribbean Body Scrub is the perfect solution for dry skin. Caribbean Cane Sugar is the hero element in this scrub and will leave your skin baby soft and conditioned. It has a delicious scent of  syrupy Caribbean coconut oil mixed with citrusy island aromas.

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lipgloss in 'Sweet Pink' rrp: $17.95

Get lushious lips with Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss.  A 100% natural formula gloss which moisturises lips while providing a brilliant sheer colour gloss. Sunflower oil and sweet almond oil intensely moisturise the lips, leaving them soft, supple and healthy while citrus oils give a fresh, natural flavour. Sweet Pink is a gorgeous subtle pink shade with a hint of sparkle.

Slick Caramel rrp: $27

Curl Candy rrp: $27

L’Oreal Professional’s ‘Play Ball’ hair care range make hair-styling super fun. There is something for all hair types. I’ve used both the Curl Candy (A cherry candy flavoured curl defining gel cream) and Slick Caramel which is the equivalent of creme brulee for your hair (it works as a straightening cream to tame fly-aways).

Effervescent Revitilizing Sugar Cubes rrp: $4.95

 L’Occitane Effervescent Revitalizing Sugar Cubes give the body energy and vitality. Pop them in your bath and watch them dissolve in the water, these sugar cubes provide essential oils of mint, pine and rosemary.

Sweet Coconut Lip Butter rrp: $9.95

I’ve previously touched upon my love of the Spa Paradisa range and the Sweet Coconut Lip Butter is one of my faves. The sweet coconut scent reminds me of holidays and it’s a great little lifesaver for dry, sun damaged lips.

Marc Jacobs Biscotti rrp: $99

And finaaaallly, my last pick is the fabulous Marc Jacobs Biscotti scent from the 2010 Splash Collection. I sampled this at DJ’s the other weekend and was delighted with it’s charming and light nutty-vanilla scent. This one is Limited Edition so get in while you can!