Showing posts with label beautybloggersaus. Show all posts

MAY

Change is as good as a holiday, right?




Remember way back when, when hope was high and life worth leaving? When I dreamed that love would never die? And God would be forgiving?
March 2015 guys, March 2015. Remember when I said I’d fallen in love? It never died. When it comes to chocolate brown hair, my HEART WILL GO ON AND OOOoooOOOooON. I didn't let go, unlike Rose #Jack5ever

 



So come May, my gorgeous friend @hairbyprue helped me take the plunge. 



And the cut. it was a tad Kylie J but I loved it, and still do! Going brunette was a little tricky considering how light my balyage and blonde were, but Prue did an amazing job getting the colour down. We went short because I basically said “cut off the dead hair” not realising HOW dead my hair actually was. 




In the end, I had a colour, cut and vibe that was very much needed for #kickass2016.

Tweet tweet xx

APRIL

So Dr Dennis Gross MD is a pretty rad guy. Dermatologist in the Big Apple, the best of the best for radiance, clarity, and just plain good skin.



He developed his Alpha Beta Peel Pads for his clients, as a way of maintaining their skin in between clinic visits. I could get super science-y here, talk about AHA’s and BHA’s, acids and neutralizers, but let’s keep it basic (like my blonde in January, HA!)



Ultra Gentle Peel Pads – 3 types of acids to exfoliate + coconut oil. Easy peasy.
Original Alpha Beta Peel Pads – 5 acids to exfoliate
Extra Strength Peel Pads – 7 acids
Medi-Spa Peel – 12 acids. Twelve! OH MAMA.

For the record, I use the Ultra Gentle range because I’m really sensitive, and if there’s even a chance my skin could freak out, it’ll do it ANYWAY because it’s thoughtful like that.

The pads are pre-packaged in sachets; you tear one, use it all over until it’s dry, wait two minutes (and scroll through Insta @beautybyasparrow) and then use the second pad to neutralise the acids eating all your manky dead skin. Follow with your normal serum and moisturiser, and boom! You’re done! Yay!

In case it wasn’t clear, these peels chemically exfoliate the skin. The acids dissolve all of the dead skin cells and are able to get deeper into the pore to exfoliate. Some skins can handle daily exfoliation. Mine cannot. Believe me, I tried. (It was not pretty.)

When using peel pads, I go 3-4 days a week. So Monday, Wednesday and maybe Friday or Sunday. They tend to send me quite red, but it calms down by morning. If you hate scrubs (put DOWN the St. Ive’s!) or struggle with break outs and pimples (YO) then these are an amazing option for you.

I love them to pieces, they’ve changed my skin for the better!

Tweet tweet xx

The Little Red Blogger: The Interview, Part Two!

If you haven’t checked out The Little Red Blogger then what on earth are you doing with your life?

whatta babe!


My gorgeous gal-pal is not only one of my biggest inspirations in life, but in style and fashion too. WATCH THIS SPACE. She’ll have her own label and more followers than Bec Judd in the next two years, just watch!
She did a little interview with me late last year which you can check out here, and I recently got to turn the tables on her

so nice, you see her twice x

Sparrow: When and why did you start blogging?
The Little Red Blogger: I started at the beginning of the year, mostly because I have an unhealthy obsession with clothes and fashion and pretty things and needed an outlet. I'm studying full time so am on a student budget so wanted to share my experience of being a broke-ass fashionista with people. I know there's more of us out there!

Sparrow: Where do you draw inspo from? Life? Work?
TLRB: All of the above. I'm so inspired by people on the streets for fashion. People watching is one of my favourite past-times. I love seeing how people dress and how they put outfits together. I blog about everything though, and usually whatever is in my heart at the time (how hooey does that sound?!) but if I'm on struggle street I'll write about it, if I cook a mean dinner I'll write about it, if I'm having a bad hair day I'll write about it. Blogging is a great outlet for that!

Sparrow: Your top three designers?
TLRB: Oh my gahd how does one choose? There's so many! I'm going to cheat and give you six. Top three Aussie designers are Toni Matecevski, Dion Lee and a tie between Ellery and Josh Goot and top three international are Jean Paul Gautier, Alexander McQueen and Yohji Yomamoto. Ok, that's actually seven but that was a tough question…

Alexander McQueen 2015
Dion Lee 2015
Ellery 2015
Jean Paul Gautier 2015
Josh Goot 2015
Yohji Yomamoto
Toni Matecevski

Sparrow: Haha, revenge is sweet! So what do you love most about fashion?
TLRB: I love that it can be interpreted in so many ways. There no right or wrong, there's no rules. What you wear can literally change your entire mood, and I love that! Rachel Zoe once said “Style is a way of saying who you are without having to speak”, and I find that to be so true.



Sparrow: I agree, absolutely. So then, what do you think about mainstream, fast fashion chains finishing at size sixteen? Do you think it limits women and their style choices?
TLRB: Absolutely it does. I think times are definitely changing though and there are more and more brands waking up to the fact that the average Aussie babe doesn't always fall into the sample size category and a lot of brands are starting to realise that they're missing out on a huge market there. There are some great brands like Basque and Bib (available at Myer) that to do beautiful and fashion forward pieces for curvy girls. Online stores like Asos are great too because they show the clothes on a body so it makes buying online without trying it on a little less scary.

Sparrow: On that note, you’re petite and lovely – is shopping ever frustrating for you? Pants too long, nightmare jeans?
TLRB: Always! I'm barely 5'3" so everything I buy is too long. Even midi skirts are maxi's on me. Luckily I'm pretty handy on a sewing machine! But I have learned to always try before I buy and even if I absolutely LOVE the piece, if it doesn't fit and look flattering then I'll leave it behind. And then cry. Or console myself with a new pair of shoes.. Even though I'm quite petite I'm also pear shaped so I have trouble finding jeans that fit my thighs and waist which can be super frustrating. I've found Forever New jeans are the best for that.











Sparrow: Heels – how do you make them work?
TLRB: Oh man I would sleep in heels if I could. I love them! I always put gel cushions in my heels, no matter the occasion so I can last in them all day or night. It makes a world of difference! I think pointed toe heel with a pair of jeans and a tee is SO sexy, but I can't go past a statement heel. Anything in a crazy colour, crazy embellishments, straps, buckles, whatever. If I could have a closet full of Sophia Webster and Nicholas Kirkwood heels I would be one happy lady!

Sophia Webster
Nicholas Kirkwood











Sparrow: You’re currently studying at fashion school – what’s that like?
TLRB: Intense to say the least. I think the biggest misconception people have about fashion school is that "It's just fashion, it must be easy." It's not. Really, really, not. The contact hours are pretty standard, twenty one hours a week in second year, but the homework expectation is about the same amount of non-contact hours. While you work and intern and try and have some sort of life on the side. Yup. Sure. Easy. They make it tough because the industry is tough and competition is fierce so they want you to be prepared. I really love it though. I love being constantly challenged and being able to be creative and being able to do something I'm passionate about. I feel very lucky for that. Even if I am a walking zombie for lack of sleep all the time. Coffee becomes your best friend at fashion school.

 Sparrow: End game, where do you see career in fashion heading? Owning your own brand? CEO of Chanel? Chief editor of Vogue?
TLRB: All of the above of course. I'm basically Grace Coddington. (It's all in the hair, ha.) In all seriousness the end game is to have a career making beautiful things, whatever that entails. I've always thought the best thing in the world would be to be walking down the street somewhere and see a girl wearing one of my designs. I couldn't think of a better feeling. I love painting and drawing too so would happily do that for a living if someone will pay me for it!

Sparrow: How important do you think beauty is to fashion? Do runway shows need hair and make-up for looks to work?
TLRB: Oh it's so important! Your beauty look is the icing on the cake. Even if it's simple and you wear it the same every day (like yours truly because I'm so lazy) it finishes off your look and, like fashion, makeup and a good blow-dry can literally change your entire mood! For runway fashion the beauty look gets just about as much love and time and research as the fashion itself. It completely changes the look and feel of a show. And a lot of the time the beauty look of a runway show is the first thing to become mainstream because it's easy and much more economical to recreate. Hello Chanel smoky eyes and black headbands!


 Sparrow: What’s your favourite make-up brand? Or do you mix and match?TLRB: I mix and match and tend to try new brands especially for foundation. Australis is definitley my go-to brand for bronzer and powder but for liquid foundation I love Nars and MAC. And for lippy it's usually Revlon, MAC or Sportsgirl.

 Sparrow: Ok, you did it to me, so it’s payback time – I’m ditching you on one of the nicer desert islands and because I’m nice you can take a whooping FIVE products with you. And a copy of Elle magazine.
TLRB: Haha thanks, you babe! Ok I would take my Lucas Paw Paw ointment because I can't live without it, Sukin Eye Treatment, Olay moisturizer with SPF 30+ (so important for us pasty white redheads!), my favourite perfume Hot Couture by Givenchy and.. my phone? I know it's not a beauty product but I'm going to need a way to blog about how you abandoned me on a desert island.

Sparrow: Good luck getting bars out there! Speaking of, does YouTube ever factor into your styling or beauty routines? Do you have a favourite YouTuber?
TLRB: In all honestly I never go on YouTube. Ridiculous, I know! The few times I have though I've found its very easy to find some incredible beauty bloggers and I find it a great platform for that. I have noticed there a very few fashion bloggers on there. Maybe I need to change that? Still waiting for a BeautyByASparrow YouTube, just quietly…
not everyone can make me ugly laugh like this

Sparrow: Ok, ok! Point taken haha! (and yes you should missy!)
 What’s the best thing about Melbourne?
TLRB: Where do I start? The coffee, the shopping, the architecture, the people, the fashion. There's always something to do, always a new store to find, always new designers popping up and good coffee on every corner. What more do you need?


Sparrow: What’s your favourite beauty treat? A mani-pedi? A face mask?
TLRB: I love a good mani-pedi but you can't go past a good facial. Especially when they throw in a face and scalp massage. Heaven.

 Sparrow: Finally, what’s your go-to beauty look for a night out?
TLRB: Usually it's a smokey eye with browns and golds and a peachy-nude lip and I'll throw some messy waves in my hair. Although if I'm pressed for time it'll be liquid eyeliner and a red lip, a lá Amy Winehouse. You know, without the beehive hair and druggy boyfriend…

I feel you girl, I feel you. Thank you so much, my lovely little red blogger, and I can’t wait to see your next big move in the fashion game!
Pleeeeeaaaaasssee head on over and subscribe to her blog, and follow her on Instagram @thelittleredblogger <3

Until next time little birds,
Tweet tweet xx

Sheer Glow, Sheer WOW

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.
WOW.
Oh wow.

Species Sparrowtus Dorkius
This is my face approx. ten minutes after I visited the lovely ladies at Mecca and had my make-up done. It hurts my heart to say that my beloved Inglot has either changed its formula, or my skin has changed, or something weird is going on with the universe, because my favourite YSM foundation just isn't what it used to be. Don't get me wrong, it looked beautiful, but three hours into a working day and my nose was a trainwreck, and no matter what primer/setting powder/finishing spray I used, it didn't help.

So I ventured to my happy place, to my beloved Mecca Maxima, to find something with the lasting power of my Australis Stay Put, the colour match of my Bobbi Brown Longwear, and the finish of my Inglot YSM. Easy job right?

I wandered around the aisles, looking at NARS in particular, because a lot of my work friends have been recommending it to me. I meant to get some samples, but the lovely Mecca girl saw me hovering and offered show me how the NARS Sheer Glow would look on my face. I explained my situation (with work, and getting sick of bad colour matches), and even mentioned my little allergic reaction (UGHHH), and within five minutes I was hooked, because HOLY SHIZBALLS, it's the best colour match I've ever had.

I know, I know, I promised I'd use up my other foundations before I bought another new one, but hear me out. The NARS Sheer Glow, in Mont Blanc, is literally the best colour match I've ever found in a foundation. The only other times my make-up has looked this perfect is when it's been done professionally, and girrrrl that can't happen daily. Australis Stay Put will still be my go-to in summer, and when I have a tan, and I think my Inglot will be perfect for nights out because it has no SPF. I did end up using up all of my Bobbi Brown, but I'm so glad I didn't repurchase. I've been using my NARS for about four days and I'm so, so impressed, I still can't believe how well this product is sitting on my skin.

This is my mug wearing Inglot YSM foundation in 41

If you look at my hairline you can see that shade 41 isn't quite matching my skin tone. Even the tiny bit of neck visible under my scarf doesn't match my skin. This is first thing in the morning, so as you can see the finish is quite matte and flawless.
NARS doesn't have any of these problems, at all, and is still matte, and perfect. It matches my skin tone so well, and I haven't had to conceal anything!

I still use Bobbi Brown concealer under my eyes (because these nine hour shifts and six day streaks are killing me folks) and set my T-Zone with my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. AND THAT'S IT. The only comparable experience is using my Australis Stay Put foundation, but that product did need to be set occasionally with more powder throughout the day (because summer and sweat and ick). I've struggled with blemishes throughout my teenage years (and unfortunately to this day) and I can't believe that I don't need to conceal any of my blemishes or redness. It's actually incredible! 


I think I love you. 

Keep in mind I've only been using this foundation for a little under a week. For all I know, in the next two days my face could blow up and becoming a blemished, horrible mess, but I'm feeling hopeful!

My face today - no filter, still can't believe that finish!

Stay tuned little birds, because I have some news about the inversion method and my hair! And remember how I said I needed a new, better cleansing method? I think I've found it!

Bottom line: if you're looking for a sheer, buildable, full coverage foundation that offers near perfect colour matches, NARS Sheer Glow could be the one for you!

Until next time, 
Tweet tweet xx

Back to Basics (and a bit of balyage too)

I bit the bullet and went into my hair dressers last week. The re-growth situation was out of control and Mumma Sparrow let slip at her appointment that I was considering chocolate brown and my hairdresser suggested I come in straight away for a consult before making any major colour changes.

And boy am I glad I did!

I always try to arrive early for my hairdressing appointments, just to make sure I’ve given my stylists all the time I can to get my hair right. I’m also one of those people who prefers to be super early for something than running late, and usually I need to take my hair out of its bun/pony tail/braid and brush it out before my appointment starts.

The colour wheel I'm sticking with
Baby Sparrow - natural colour!
I sat in the chair (same one as last time I think?) and got a good look at all the colours available in the Nak soft colour range. Re-growth is a real pain for anyone, but I’ve reached my point over the last few months where as much as I love my blonde, and I love being a light, almost platinum blonde, I can't deal with REGROWTH. OH MY GOD. NO. Over it, so, so over it. I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching (oh that sounds really douchey, I’m sorry) the last few months and it’s lead me to wanting to be as honest with myself as I can and, funny as it sounds, I want to get back to something like my natural colour, something I haven’t seen in, oh, about five years?




This time around a different team member took my appointment and I’ve got to say, he’s brilliant. All of the team are, and no matter who does my colour it always comes out looking superb, but the end result was so, so perfect, I couldn’t be happier. The base/root colour was a mix of 6.7 and 7.7 with 10 Vol, worked down and painted by hand. The light, almost white blonde my gorgeous girl Prue perfected during the pink period was left alone, and became the ombré tips to the darker shade.




The other wonderful thing about ditching the blonde foils and highlights is the time is cut in half! Anyone who’s ever had their hair colour treated or lightened to blonde will tell you that about three magazine’s worth of time is taken up with waiting, waiting… waiting…
This time around I was sitting only for about half an hour, forty minutes, before I was taken up to wash.

While my colour was being done my hairdresser and I had a good chat about life, relationships, and of course, hair. I was a little concerned about my colour, simply because I’ve done a lot to my hair over the last six months, but he reassured me that going darker would look great, but also wouldn’t do any more damage. I’d mentioned earlier on the blog that I’ve got very, very thick hair, and that has been my saving grace throughout all my colour changes. Whilst he had noticed some breakage, my stylist reassured me that my hair was ok, and would recover. He also talked about how porous some hair can be, and that I’m lucky mine isn’t too much so. The big problem with taking your hair down from a bleach-blonde shade to anything remotely darker is that your hair can turn green. Depending on how porous the hair is, what shades of blonde are involved, what type of dye, what amount of Vol is in the hair – it can all lead to a big, green-ish, unhealthy mess. Luckily when you’re working with an experienced colourist using good quality products, those disasters can be easily avoided!
Blonde hair mid. Jan 2015
Pink hair Feb 2015














As you can see in the above photos, although my hair looked pretty, the texture was quite dry and damaged near the ends, so it was really important to stop bleaching and colour treating my hair for a little while.


Let me tell you guys, it’s hard to feel attractive when your head is piled up with dye and you’re wearing what is essentially a high quality garbage bag.




Once the dye was washed out, my hair was thinned a tiny bit on the right side of my head (the heavier side of my part), as to the left of my part, my hair is that tiny bit thinner, and so much easier to handle! Having the two evened out has helped A LOT in the last two weeks alone. Then my hair was blow dried, and given a slight wave/curl, and voila! Done!




It’s actually quite a subtle change – I wasn’t greeted with the shocked gasps and screams that came with my first attempt at balyage, nor the squeals of going to back to blonde, but a lot of people do love it (including yours truly) and I couldn’t be happier, honestly. This colour is going to be so much easier to maintain, so much easier to style, and it’s got the right hint of blonde to be going along with. Stepping down to a darker shade for Autumn/Winter is also pretty exciting, and I feel a lot more confident going along with this season’s trends now that I have the hair to pull them off.

 




Until next time my little birds,

Tweet tweet xx

Max Made Masterclass (or the time I dorked out like a pro)

Surprise! My last post I mentioned a surprise and here it is -

On Friday night I was lucky enough to attend the Max Made Masterclass at Sportsgirl, Bourke Street!



I arrived good and early, and like the major dork I am, took a seat in the front row. Sportsgirl staff were handing out sparkling water and I was so excited to find a pen and notebook in my bag. I'm a huge nerd so by the end of the masterclass I had about twelve pages of notes and sketches that I'm going to share with you all! 

Waiting for Max to come out and start teaching!

Max came out with his stunning model, and I was so excited to hear we would be learning how to master the Folk Rock look, the gold smoked eye. 
Gift Bag Goodies + the Bold in Gold cheat card 

My first impressions of Max were that he was tall - very tall - and I could immediately pick him as a make-up artist. The on trend ripped denim, shiny black t-shirt, cool loafers and healthy tan, as well as the confidence - this was someone who knew his craft and OWNED it! 

The products used for this look included the Metallic Eyes Bronze edition palette , the Bronze Me jumbo bronzer, the Get Cheeky blush palette in Pyramid Rose, the Blink Big fibre lash mascara (which I've previously blogged/raved about!), the Draw the Line liner, the Pencil it In Brow Pencil (which y'all know I've been loving since 2013) and the Duchess lipstick (which I got in my goodie bag! Yay!).

Max picked three gorgeous girls who also had the look replicated by a team of three make-up artists whilst Max was talking and teaching. I was sitting quite close to them, and I can tell you each girl had a different skin tone and hair colour, and this look was incredible on all three of them!

 
Max the Master at work

One of the most important features of this look were the brows. Max gave some great tips on how to master the bold brow, and if you can follow my little diagram you'll see what I mean:
I tried these tricks last night for my brows and THEY WORKED. Essentially you take your pencil and line it up vertically with your nostril - that's point 1. You then position your pencil diagonally from your nostril, and that's where you make your arch, point 2. Then, you take your pencil to the very, very outside of your nostril, and make point 3, and join the dots - voilà! Perfect brows!


More diagrams of How To...

Max also taught us the technique of trunking, where the mascara wand is used to create "roots" in the lashes before applying your usual two coats. I did try this technique last night but I think I need more practice, as I just ended up with a big clumpy mess that I hurriedly had to fix before leaving. 

Just to give you an idea of how AWESOME this guy is, HE TOOK MY MODEL PHOTO FOR ME! 
(which was lucky because I was actually WAY too short to even get anywhere close to her face for a photo)

Then the class was over! Everyone rushed up for photos, and then rushed out, and I waited patiently with my little notebook and asked Max what his NUMBER ONE, ABSOLUTE tip for beauty would be, and he said.... 

"Contouring. Contouring gives you structure, it's so, so important. And brows, brows give you the bone structure and frame the eyes, they're so important."

After that I walked away practically squeaking in excitement. I called the Little Red Blogger to thank her (she tagged me on Instagram and I was able to get a spot super quickly!), and was nearly walking out of David Jones when I realised I left my goodie bag back at Sportsgirl! Luckily it was still there and all the staff were really lovely about me being my dorky self. 

And to top off what was seriously one of the most exciting Fridays, the MAN HIMSELF liked and commented on my Insta post! 

Don't mind me, just over here freaking out...

OH and that's another thing! Beauty By a Sparrow now has an official Instagram! So for updates, daily thoughts and photos, follow me @beautybyasparrow 

Until next time my little birds,
Tweet tweet xx


P.S. I met a lovely blogger, from Melbourne Fashion Journal at the masterclass, so check them out for their take on the evening! 

Going to the Dark Side

I've fallen in love.

I know, I know. I can already hear what you're all saying. So soon? When? How? Are you already over your last love? 

What can I say? When you know, you know... 


Ash blonde balyage, you will always have a place in my heart, and haunt my dreams, but I can't deal any more. 

I can't deal with the re-growth, the maintenance, the cost, the whole kit and kaboodle. I do love being a blonde and I think it suits me quite well, but a student budget and champagne tastes - and hair! - just doesn't work out. 

So I was trawling through Pinterest (don't we all) and minding my own business, when 
BAM!


Oh. Oh my. 

Luscious, dark, rich, chocolate brown curls. Goodness gracious me. 
I've written before about how ashy blonde-brown my natural hair colour is, and whilst I still believe an ash blonde balyage would have worked with my natural tones, there's something about the richness and depth of this brunette shade that I can't resist. 


Anne Hathaway is bae

Melbourne is quickly moving into more autumnal, wintry weather, and the less sun I see the less I feel summery, bubbly and blonde-like, and the more I'm attracted to auburn, brunette shades. I'm also loving pale skin against rich, mahogany and cocoa palettes, and as we move into winter and fake tanning becomes far less necessary, I think my own pale skin would 'pop' a little more against a brunette shade. 

I'll admit I'm a little scared. Stepping down from gold/blonde to brunette isn't as easy as TV would have you believe. That being said, last February my hairdresser managed to get me down from a brassy-gold to a quite dark, dark almost black-brown without too, too much drama or damage. Even if I have to first go down to a caramel-brown before I can get to the chocolate-auburn shade, I'm more than happy for that to be the process. 


More than anything, I feel I need a change. Going to pink a few weeks ago gave me a taste that I want more of - something different, something new, and something that will hopefully be a little less intensive than maintaining my blonde, currently. I'm overdue for a trim anyhow, so at my next session with my hairdresser I'm going to get her advice and tips for going down to such a dark, warm shade. 
In the meantime LOOK AT IT IT'S SO PRETTY 


I mean come on. And with Easter next week, it's never been a better time to do chocolate! 

I haven't been this obsessed since I found Sportsgirl lipsticks and that's really saying something. Also I'm planning to travel at some point this year, and I know that a darker, brunette shade is going to be so, so much easier to up keep while I'm away than any blonde could ever be. 

"BUT WHAT ABOUT BALYAGE?!" I hear you cry. I know, I know. I do still adore the soft, feminine feel of a well done balyage ombre, but as I said, I need a change, and I know the more that I try to do to my hair at once the more damaged it will be. And just because I'm not doing a balyage immediately, doesn't mean I can't or won't in future. This year's big hair trend is a new technique called baby lights, where, like balyage, whisps of colour are painted, free hand, through the hair, particularly closer to the face, to give them impression of sun kissed, youthful lockes. 

Baby lights with balyage 

And just to confuse myself that little bit more I found these gorgeous photos on Pinterest that have now got me, once more, considering a BIG CHOP



I MEAN IT'S ALL JUST SO PRETTY

I'll keep you posted my little birds, and whatever I decide to do with this crazy mane of hair, I just want it happy and healthy.

Til next time, 
Tweet tweet xx
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