All about Seaweed

Okay, so I'm a little obsessed with seaweed. Huh? Like sushi? Well yes, I LOVE sushi, but I'm also talking about beauty products...

Reasons to get into seaweed:

* It's a great natural product, full of minerals, vitamins and amino acids essential for good health.

* Seaweed has anti-oxidants too, which can help protect skin from free radicals, which accelerates ageing.

* Seaweed is a natural anti-inflammatory.

* Seaweed (food) is a great source of iodine (which most people don't get enough of in their diet), which helps promote thyroid health.

* Seaweed has proven to help stimulate hair growth and thickness.

* Seaweed aids in skin renewal.

* Seaweed aids in skin suppleness.

These are my fave seaweed products that I just adore, and highly recommend:




The Body Shop Seaweed face cleanser
Ugh. I love everything about this. The smell, the way it lathers up, the way it makes my skin feel. This ticks all of the boxes that a cleanser should. I've tried many cleansers, but I always come back to this. It cleans without making your skin feel too tight or oily afterwards.
Available: The Body Shop stores and online
RRP: $17.95










Mario Badescu Seaweed night cream
I love the texture of this. It also absorbs really fast and my skin feels so fresh after using it. It keeps my skin well hydrated overnight and I don't look "tired" in the morning.
Available: Mecca Cosmetica, mecca.com.au and beautybay.com
RRP: $29




Bumble and Bumble Seaweed shampoo and conditioner
These 2 both contain Marine Extracts which help promote scalp health, which is essential for healthy hair. They are gentle enough to be used everyday (not that you should...). It's quite mild but cleanses nicely without feeling like you're stripping natural oils in your hair. It leaves my hair feeling soft and light and doesn't weigh down my roots, which I like in my shampoo/ conditioner. It smells fresh too.
Available: Mecca Cosmetica and mecca.com.au
RRP: Shampoo $33, Conditioner $35






Other products that look great and worth a shot:

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner
This contains no alcohol so it's not drying like other toners can be. Purifies and refreshes the skin. Those with redness and acne prone skin would really benefit from using this as seaweed helps reduce redness.
Available: The Body Shop stores and online
RRP: $17.95

Makeup Store Seaweed eye dust
Ok, not technically a seaweed product, but this is such a pretty shade and perfect for those who love green and olive shades. Makeup Store eye dusts are pigments which are versatile, depending on how creative you want to be. Apply with some fix+ on a brush for more intense pigmentation.
Available: Makeup Store stores and online, beautybay.com
RRP: $35 (Makeup Store), $27AUD (Beauty Bay)

Fashion Edit: Gunmetal

Gunmetal! I LOVE it! It's smokey, it's rock, it's perfection!

Why do I love gunmetal? It's the perfect "inbetween" shade. It's not as harsh as black but it's not a "typical" metal like silver or gold. It's this winters "it" metal and it's easy to see why. It's the perfect accompaniment to burgundy, blue, grey and black. It stands out in an edgy way without being over the top, and one of the biggest reasons I love it, it's different. You never really see this shade around too often. 

Without further ado, here are my gunmetal must haves for this winter... 

Beauty:

* Makeup Store glitter eyeliner in "Showstopper"

$26
Makeup Store and beautybay.com

* Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in "Uzi" 
$30 (mecca), $33 (beautybay) 
Mecca Maxima, mecca.com.au and beautybay.com

* Stila Smudgestick eyeliner in "Triggerfish"
$26
Mecca Cosmetica, mecca.com.au and beautybay.com

* Australis Metallix cream eyeshadow in "Lana Del Grey"
$8.95
Priceline

* Makeup Geek eyeshadow in "Graphite" and "Stealth"
$5.99USD each
makeupgeek.com

Graphite

Stealth

* MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadow in "Legendary Lure" (due for release June/July)

MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com.au

* OPI nail polish in "Lucerne-tainly Look Marvellous" (Swiss collection)
$19.99

David Jones, Myer, Price Attack, selected pharmacies and nail salons

* Makeup Store Strass in "Silver Rain"
$28
Makeup Store

What do you think of gunmetal? How do you wear it?

Review: Makeup Store glitter liquid liner

We all know how much I love I love glitter. I don't care how it comes, I want it! I'm very much a Weka in that way (FYI: a Weka is a New Zealand wood hen that LOVES shiny things, not dissimilar to a magpie, but they're a brown, ground bird). 

However, I'm also pretty lazy in that I do not like making my own glitter liner, I'd rather just buy a tube than mess around with something so pedantic as glitter, and trying to create a smooth line. 

That's where this baby comes in. The Makeup Store glitter liner. Ahhh, it's pretty majestical.
The liner I'll be reviewing for you today is Chocolux. A really pretty chocolate browny bronzey, shade. You can already tell I'm into it huh?!

The brush is nice and thin with medium density, so you can manoeuvre it around nice and easily but it doesn't kind of "flick/ flop" around like soft, flimsy brushes do. When I looked at the brush when I pulled it out of the tube, I didn't think it would deposit much glitter but I was definitely wrong. It coats the perfect amount. Not too thick (you know when you get those ball like chunks on some?) or too sparse. Sure you can go in for seconds to create a thicker line if thats your style, but it definitely isn't necessary. 

L-R: MAC Pinkphonic, Girl Groove, Makeup Store Chocolux
1 swipe vs layered.  

The brush is also nice and smooth and doesn't drag along your lash line, so even if you're in a hurry, you can master this with ease. So even if you can't be bothered, you can still inject a touch of glam into your look. 

It dries quickly, so it doesn't transfer to your lid if you sneeze or something by accident. Which is super handy. 

It wears very well, although I have only tried this as it's intended purpose as an eyeliner. I never experience any fallout and it lasts well throughout an entire day (10-12 hours) without any transference or sliding due to lid oiliness (although I tend to only get oily in my actual crease). I don't find that any flakes off during the day and it doesn't feel overly crunchy or crusty on my lashline either. 

Removing the liner is also a breeze and you don't have to fiercely scrub at your eyes to remove it. I just use my Garnier Micellar cleansing water to remove my eye makeup. 

Size comparison to a MAC glitter liner. 

I highly recommend this liner if you like your glitter liners. I have several from MAC from long, past years and this is definitely my fave and my recommendation for a glitter liner. I definitely want to grab a few more, namely Showstopper (silver), Lux (green) and Dancing Queen (cobolt blue). I cannot think of a single thing I don't like about the liner at all. Maybe more colours could be cool, like an orange or bright pink? Either way I'm sold and then some! 

Purchased from: Beautybay.com or you can email Makeup Store directly at enquiries@makeupstore.com.au
RRP: $35