Nail Art: JLo "I Luh Ya Papi" Edition

Despite the silly title of the song, I, along with many others, have become a fan of Jennifer Lopez's song, I Luh Ya Papi. 
It grew on me quickly- You gotta admit, the lyrics are catchy & the beat is pleasing to the ears lol. Anyhow it's not her latest single anymore, ILYP was released in March. 
A few weeks ago JLo dropped the equally catchy "First Love", from her recently released album A.K.A. 
I loved how the ILYP video is kind of ghetto fabulous, it shows Jenny Lo & two girlfriends flipping the script on rappers/men who continually make blinged out videos with half naked women surrounding them, for.. no .. reason.. at.. all!

The result is RAD, with so much going on in the video (The shirtless guys weren't bad either lollll) you may have missed JLo's amazing manicure, so here it is.

The MAN-icurist responsible for this nail art is Tom Bachik. He works with Loreal, All the top fashion houses and celebrities, as well as being Jennifer's long time nail guy.

The nails are inspired by Versace's geometric high fashion prints, and seem to mix in an urban graffiti feel, also some bling, in the form of the gold glitter lettering. 
If you check out Tom Bachik's instagram he often posts pics/videos of what he's up to with celebrity clients, just like he did here :-) Thanks Tom, You are so amazingly talented.


Portfolio: cloutierremix.com/tombachik
Instagram: instagram.com/tombachik
YouTube: YouTube.com/TomBachik
Twitter: twitter.com/TomBachik

* Pictures from Tom Bachik's instagram

Mac - Something About Pink Nail Lacquer

This polish is from the Mac x Hello Kitty collaboration that came out in 2008. The name is "Something about Pink", It is one of 3 released from the collection (The others were a grey & a white).

Mac cosmetics wasn't on my radar back then, so i bought this little baby on eBay, about 2+ years ago. I haven't worn it much, and it's not a unique colour, but the packaging is so, so cute! 

The colour you see in the bottle, is what you get on your nails. It's a neutral to warm, medium pink with a cream finish. Two coats achieves opacity, which is what you see in the pics as well as one coat of Seche Vite top coat. The 3rd picture (below) is the most true to actual colour.

Mac Nail Lacquers contain 10ml, cost $22 aud, and come in a variety of shades and finishes. They have just revamped the formula & made the brush wider, which i think is a welcome change.

She's Got Style: Lana Del Rey

I was a bit late catching on to this lady- I had heard/seen people talk about her for awhile until i came across her video for 'National Anthem' which featured the very delicious A$ap Rocky. 
Since then i've become a big fan of Lana's Music & style, I like how she seemed to take the best of the 50's & 60's aesthetic, and make it modern.

Lana Del Rey has just released her new album titled 'Ultraviolence'.
I have noticed she has somewhat pared down, or simplified her look lately.

All promotional pictures except bottom right is cover of Fader Magazine

For example, at the premiere of her short film 'Tropico', (about 7 months ago) she wore a plum coloured crushed velvet long slip dress with a leather biker jacket & black Doc Martins. Her hair was wavy, silky & dark, and her makeup was luminous with a thin cat eye liner, topped off with a bright magenta lip.

 Lana at Tropico premiere

She has left behind the bouffant do, hair extensions, dramatic eyeliner & cute mod accessories. Instead going with a cool, almost grunge, rock chick vibe. For most of the 'Ultraviolence' promo pictures, her hair is a beautiful chestnut shade, parted in the middle, with makeup being heavy black liner & nude/brown lipstick.

I'm really loving the new album, as well as the videos for 'West Coast & 'Shades Of Cool'. You should check them out!

Top pic is a still  from West Coast video & others are promotional pics

FB:  facebook.com/lanadelrey

IG:  instagram.com/lanadelrey

Web:  lanadelrey.com * soundcloud.com/lana-del-rey *  youtube.com/LanaDelRey

BYS Lip Tar Swatches

BYS is an Australian brand designed & developed in Melbourne. Despite having a low price-point, they pride themselves in making on trend, fashion forward products. I have a few of their lipsticks, blushes & nail polishes.

Their lipstick in "Champagne Rain" is a good dupe for Mac's Hue lipstick... I think they have quite a few dupes for high end colours actually (Nothing wrong with that in my humble opinion!)

 My Camera is being fixed; hence crappy iphone pic- Apologies!

Anyway earlier this year they became the latest brand to release a lip tar formula, which is based on the famous original Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars.

The formula is a super pigmented liquid Lipstick best applied with a brush, it dries down after awhile to an almost matte finish & lasts for ages.

Top right, clockwise: High Tea, Louvre In Paris, Party In Ibiza, The Big Apple, Barbados Bikinis, Sunset In Spain

Just like OCC's Lip tars, These come in similar packaging with a mini lip brush included, and have a peppermint scent/taste. You only need the tiniest amount for a application.

They are $6.95 AUD & you can buy BYS from Kmart, Fashion Addict, Bardot, Gloss, Glassons & The Reject Shop.

I bought "Party In Ibiza" which is a pretty fuchsia pink thats warm enough for me to wear. I experimented using a lip liner & a matte lipstick underneath (Mac Pleasure Bomb) & it lasted 12 hours through drinks & meals. Although very oily/greasy food is a no-no as it acts like a makeup remover.It was not drying on my lips at all, and was moderately hydrating.

BYS Cosmetics are not tested on animals.

Hair products i L0VE + My Lush Story

Like my skin, my hair needs change season to season (I think that happens to everyone, right? ;) 

I've noticed coming into Autumn & the cooler weather my scalp had become dry & a bit flakey, As opposed to normal-oily in the warmer humid months. So apart from drinking more water- which i swear i'm gonna do! I've switched up my hair regime. 

Please excuse crappy iphone pic

Why I Converted to LUSH

You'll see that i use a lot of Lush products- This brand is my H.G Holy Grail brand for so many reasons. 

About a year ago i had a terrible itchy scalp that was getting worse with time. In the end i was forced to wash every single day and was still really itchy in between washes, my head was sensitive & red from the irritation, i was using a coal/tar based shampoo from the chemist that kind of helped a little with the flakes but not the itch.

Then Lush opened a popup shop in my local shopping mall & i was so impressed with everything about the brand. 

They strictly use no nasties in their products, Take SLS (Sodium laureth sulphate) which is a detergent used in shampoo as well as most other bathroom products. SLS allows your shampoo to be all lathery, saving you a lot of elbow grease. It is also known to cause irritation, dermatitis etc.

  

Lush sourced their form of SLS from coconuts, so it is naturally derived and causes no irritation! Thats just one example. 

They also have a thing where you bring back 6 empties (the black tubs or tubes) and choose a free face mask. 

They use little to no packaging for their products, but the biggest thing of all that i love about Lush is that it WORKS! 

After one wash with their Soak & Float solid shampoo bar my scalp problem was infinitely better. 

However it wasn't until i swapped my expensive Redken/Matrix conditioners for Lush conditioner that the problem was completely solved. My hair & scalp respond so well to these natural, gentle ingredients

 Please excuse fuzzy iphone pic

What i'm currently using

• Lush I Love Juicy Shampoo is a fruit enzymes & seaweed mixture packed full of vitamins & minerals that makes my hair feel really soft & clean. It's more gentle than the Seanik bar.
• Lush Seanik Solid Shampoo Bar is made with 2 types of seaweed, sea salt & lemon to get rid of my oiliness (i mostly use this in warmer months) and makes my hair shiny.
• Organic Instinct Natural Conditioner is affordable, organic and made entirely from plant derived ingredients. It is a lovely gentle, moisturising conditioner. They've recently been sold to a new company & changed the packaging.
• Lush H'suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment is made with avocados & other protein enriched stuff, balsamic vinegar for shine & my hair eats it up like crazy. I use this once a week & it's amazing plus this tub is lasting a forever.
• Lush R&B Hair Moisturiser is made with creamy tropical butters, wax, calming oat milk and orange blossom that has my hair smelling beautiful for days. I use about a teaspoon and rub through my balayage damaged hair, from the midsection to the ends. 
• Lee Stafford Argan Oil is a good light weight oil which i alternate the R&B moisturiser with so my hair doesn't get used to one product too much. (I'm a big believer in that lol)

A few weeks ago i ran out of Lush Retread Conditioner and as soon as i finish my current conditioner (white bottle in the pic) I'm getting it again because It.Is.Awesome. 

If you have damaged, coloured, or just hair crying out for moisture, You need to try this conditioner! They give out samples at Lush so you can try before you buy. 

It's called their triple strength conditioner and it's chock full of seaweed, yoghurt, cantaloupe melon and jojoba oil, amongst other things like violet & musk that will make people want to smell your hair alot.

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She's Got STYLE: Solange

Click to enlarge & admire

I have been a fan of Solange since she dropped her first album 10-15 years ago (Solo Star), even then her sense of style was unique, it was around the time all the celebrities were looking like Beyonce or Jlo clones- Long lightened hair extensions, tight, bright brand-emblazoned outfits with tan midriff showing & bling accessories. 

Solange came out with dark auburn braids, bohemian-earthy tones in a cool, urban but feminine cut. The style could be called hippy-chick, but in a young modern way. The look really made her stand out and i fell in love with her style as well as her music from then on.

She has always gotten attention, especially in the last few years, from editors, stylists, fashion websites etc. A total risk taker, she seems to effortlessly mix and match patterns and textures to give her 'fits that wow factor.
A few years ago she made a big decision to embrace her natural curly african hair texture- If you don't already know, this is a huge deal for any woman during these times. 
Anyway it suits her down to the ground and only added to her appeal in my humble opinion.

This creative lady has a lot of impressive titles to her name, including: Singer, Actress, Song-Writer, Dancer, Musician, Designer, Painter, CEO of her own record label, and Mother. Just to name a few :-)

Instagram: instagram.com/saintrecords
Facebook: facebook.com/solange
Websites: solangemusic.com * mydamnblog.com * saintheron.com

Haul + Stila - Lipstick Queen swatches

Last month i snuck off to indulge in some Friday late night shopping. Where did i go? My beloved Queen Street mall :-) The place has pretty much all my coveted beauty brands all in a 1km radius. HEAVENN. 
First i made a beeline for Myer, as i had gotten a phone call from the Illamasqua counter letting me know my shade in Skin Base Foundation was back in stock. Luckily for me they had a promo on - Buy any foundation and receive a corresponding Skin Base mixer, as a free gift.
I was given the shade Amber and from what i understand, SB mixer is to be mixed with your foundation and blended in places like, under your cheekbone, sides of your face, jawbone (Although the Mua kept saying it wasn't a contour product) Also it can be used in summer to warm up/tint your foundation when you inevitably tan a few shades darker, this is what i'll probably use it for.

I grabbed 3 cute speckled Illamasqua nail polishes that were on sale, They are: Scarce, Fragile & Freckle. I already have the mint & purple ones so now i have the whole set.. andd... that achieves nothing LOL

Whilst in Myer i stopped at Kit Cosmetics & bought Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, i was given a sample by a lovely sales assistant a few weeks back & thought it cleared my pores really well. I also bought Lipstick Queen Rose Sinner Opaque Lipstick, My first product from Poppy King! The finish is matte & feels luxurious- as does the packaging, it can feel thick when you first apply but after a few minutes i forget i'm wearing it. 

LEFT- Lipstick Queen Rose Sinner  RIGHT- Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Bellissima

My last stop was Mecca Cosmetica in Wintergarden where i gave in & treated myself to a Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in shade Bellissima, i love the beautiful pink-peach-nude colour & the formula is nice- comparable to Australis Velourlips or Lime Crime Velvetines. 

The Salesgirls at Mecca are always so awesome, i was given Philosophy the microdelivery peel sample to try out, it's a 2 step thing which i managed to get 2 uses out of.
I noticed a big improvement in my skin tone so i would definitely love to purchase. Next time gadget....next time... heheheh. <--------------------------------If you're too young to get the Inspector Gadget thing then, i apologise!