Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

Fast February

Hello little birds!

I don’t know about y’all but I blinked and February was GONE, plain GONE. We’re already in the last week. It’ll be March far sooner than I’d like it to be. I had so many plans for this blog for February but as we all know, life is what happens in the interim.
So without further ado, here’s an update on the things making my life easier (and prettier) during this rapidly disappearing month!


(pictured L-R; TopShop bikini top, Sportsgirl earrings, Sugar & Cotton ‘Unicorn’ make-up brushes, Neutrogena Hand Cream, Dr Dennis Hydration Booster, La Mer ‘The Renewal Oil’, Urban Decay Illuminated Trio, This Works Energy Boost, Too Faced Sweet Peach Creamy Oil Gloss, the Modern Renaissance Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills, Samantha Wills Bohemian Bardot ring, Quay sunnies, Mecca Cosemetica Mineral Sunscreen, Byredo Bal D’Afrique EDP)


TopShop Frill Bikini Set

Years ago I bought a pair of Alannah Hill bikini bottoms on discount that were white and navy striped. High waisted, flattering, rouched at the front, perfect! Except… no matching top in my size. Oy.
So for the last few years I’ve mixed and matched different tops, never quite finding the right one. This summer, however, we’ve had a break through!
The perfect shade of blue to compliment the stripes, a flattering frill, and a top that holds the gals down. This top does come with a matching bottom, but as said, bottoms were well taken care of.

Sportsgirl Tassel Earrings

Rose gold, and opalescent stones, and little beads and aahhhh. I saw these earrings in store and I don’t even really remember picking them up, I just sort of walked out with them in a bag? Like the need to purchase them was so strong I forgot actually purchasing them? Anyway they have become my favourite go-to statement accessory, and earned themselves some mass Instagram love the first time I wore them. And of course rose gold – how could I not?

Sugar & Cotton Unicorn Brushes

Ooooh boy. If you saw my Instagram post a few weeks back you’ll know all about these dreamboats. Ethically made brushes from a new start up, crafted to look like unicorn horns, with part of the proceeds going towards US student literacy programs. What’s not to love?!
They’re so, so ridiculously soft and just so damn pretty I know I’ll love them forever.

Neutrogena Hand Cream

This $7.50 hand cream comes pharmacy recommended and it’s the only thing that takes care of my weird psoriasis-dermatitis-eczema thing on my hands (that are always dry anyway) that oddly comes up whenever I’m super stressed? Anyway this balm is a literal life saver. I’m talking my hands being so badly chapped and dried that they were cracking and bleeding – this is the only thing that helps them and does a proper job of it.

Dr Dennis Gross MD Hydration Boost

Ohmygod do I love this stuff. Ohmygod ohmygod. It can be used as a serum, mixed into moisturiser, mixed into make up, pressed on top of make up… Ah!
I use this as my serum and my skin loves it. Plump, juicy skin results and I don’t get that awful ‘tight’ feeling during the day, even if I’m wearing a full face of make up.

La Mer ‘The Renewal Oil’

This has been a long time coming, and by that I mean, I’ve saved my pretty pennies and used vouchers and waited until I absolutely could not live without this anymore. The Renewal Oil combines Miracle Broth with natural actives to revitalise and restore the skin. For me? It takes care of dry patches, evens my skin out, helps any blemishes to heal themselves up a little quicker, also aids in preventing blemishes from happening sometimes, and gives my skin that Chrissy Teigen glow which really, aside from everything she cooks and her #goals marriage and cute bubba, isn’t that what we all want? Hot tip from Clare at Mecca; sleep in a layer of this over Sunday Riley’s Good Genes (which I’ve raved about before) for the best, glowiest, freshest skin of yo’ life. It’s actually life changing skin care.

Urban Decay Illuminated Trio

I’m sorry to say this guy was limited edition, but I’m not sorry to say that I got it and I love it and and and just look at the swatches! Look at them! Look at the pigment! The shimmer! The glow! 


I love layering them one over the other for a multidimensional, unique glow look. I also love brushing the shade ‘Oasis’ over my shoulders and collarbones on a night out.

This Works Energy Breathe 

My best friend during stressful, thesis, I-can’t-do-this-anymore-and-I’ve-exceeded-my-daily-caffeine-limit friend, this guy has actually been helping me get to sleep on these particularly sticky, awful summer nights. Something about the aromatherapy benefits must really work with my system – my head feels clearer, my body unwinds, and I can feel myself relaxing as soon as this guy’s rolled over my pulse points. Is it a placebo affect? I honestly don’t care. To be able to fall asleep within 10-15 minutes of going to bed is amazing for me and my highly strung brain. So regardless of whether it’s “real” or not, it’s a winner for me.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Creamy Gloss Oils in Tickle Me Peach


You may have seen me sporting Stila’s Venezia on my Instagram posts because I love the coral-red shade – however matte lips aren’t always my best friend because my lips are almost always dry (like the rest of my skin). But I love that coral-red shade! Enter: new lips from Too Faced. Cream oil glosses that mildly stain the lip, provide hydration, smell like peach pie, and look really, really cute in Boomerangs. Check the swatch for colour pay-off – so bright! But still so buildable and creamy! Peachy perfect.

Anastasia Beverly Hills, the Modern Renaissance Palette
 Yup. I did it. The Insta famous, gorgeous, pigmented, heavenly palette is finally mine and as I’ve already said those pigments GOT ME SHOOK. 
Check the swatches.
YEAH. THOSE ARE REAL COLOURS. The Burnt Orange in particular is a new fave. Add the fact that I’ve studied Renaissance history and art quite a bit in my time, and this palette is well on its way to being one of my most coveted beauty possessions.
















Samantha Wills Bohemian Bardot Ring

Almost like red lipstick, but in jewellery form. Pretty much, no matter what I’m wearing or doing, if I put this ring on I suddenly feel a heck of a lot more sophisticated and cooler than I actually am. I adore Samantha Wills jewellery and I find the white stone works with pretty much everything in my wardrobe, whether it be boyfriend jeans and a tee, or a sun dress and Chucks.

QUAY Australia sunnies in Modern Love

These cat eye, matte black framed sunnies are not only my favourites, but they cover my whole eye area (I’m constantly getting burnt under my eyes which is the worst place to be burnt aside from the butt) and protect my eyes from sun strain. And they just look so gorgeous on! Gotta love being sun smart and chic.

Mecca Costmetica Mineral SPF 30

I’ve raved about this already but I need to go again because it’s seriously so lovely. No reactions, no break outs, and more importantly, no sunburn. I love this as a daily option, but also underneath my make up. My only tiny qualm is the pump doesn’t always want to be my friend, but even then it’s so easy to twist open! Yay for being sun smart!

Byredo Bal D’Afrique, EDP

This scent was inspired by Paris in the 1920’s at the beginning of the Modernist/jazz movement. Think the movie Midnight in Paris in parfum form. Personally I love it because it kinda smells like cake? Think heady summer evenings, buttery smooth vermouth and low jazz on a hot night, a haze of cigarette smoke in the air with the quiet French chatter in the background.

Links are in the titles because I figure if I love something maybe you’ll maybe like it a lot too. February was literally a blur, but these favourite things made it a fun, buttery-scented blur!
Until next time,

Tweet tweet xx

The January Edition

Hello

We’re eleven days into January and I’m pleased to report I’ve accomplished two of the things I really, really wanted to do in 2017.

First; Zoe Foster Blake acknowledged my existence via emoji and it was glorious. I posted via @beautybyasparrow on Instagram about aiming to complete more Teeny Tiny Acts of Love (#ttal) this year and the ethereal @ZoTheySay seemed to like that sentiment quite a bit. As you can imagine on the third of Jan I was pretty chuffed, borderline hysterically excited over it all. EEEEE!





Second, I finally did exercise that wasn’t incidental (i.e. wasn’t just me running for the train/running on the shop floor/squatting to reach into drawers) and swam laps at my local pool. Got myself some schmick new bathers from Speedo (chlorine resistant and a built-in shelf bra!) as well as cute new goggles and did the thing. The swimming thing. Swimming, swimming, in a swimming pool… breaststroke, sidestroke, fancy diving too, oh don’t wish you never had anything else to do but.. I digress.



Point is, both of these things have contributed to my overall idea for 2017 – not a resolution, or a goal, because they come with pressure and guilt and other shitty things – that idea being just to be healthy in 2017. Properly healthy! Not super fit or a clean eater or ripped body or any of that business, just healthy. In every way, too – I’m one of those people that get so caught up in whatever it is they're doing that physical activity, mental health breaks, and sleep, become second priority. I’m guilty of it especially when I’m studying or trying to do too many things at once. And maybe a teeny part of me didn’t feel like it mattered if I didn’t eat right or work out enough, because maybe I didn’t matter.

Well that attitude is staying the heck back in 2016. I like me (and I hope you like you too!) and I need to start treating myself a bit better. Beauty can be a handy shortcut to small acts of self-care. Each time you choose to take care of yourself, whether it be as simple as washing your hair, or as big as a full body massage, or even just painting a new colour on your tootsies, you’re deciding you’re worth looking after. And I sincerely hope you always feel like you’re worth caring for, and that your health – as well as your beauty routine – is a priority.

TO MORE FUN THINGS!









This month is already flying on by, and I’ve already had to repurchase some faves. “Which faves?!” you ask. “I’m telling you now!” I shout back, srsly guys learn to scroll…

HOURGLASS
Mineral Veil primer, because it’s been FREAKIN’ HOT and water resistant primer is your friend. Sweat can take a backseat to my foundation when I’ve got that guy on. SPF 15 because again, it’s been FREAKIN’ HOT, and light colour correction. Ah, the love I have for this primer!
I’ve hit pan on Luminous Light Ambient Powder (which is so totally devastating), so I went ahead and got the Ambient Lighting Wardrobe to replace it. Three more new Ambient Light Powders to play with, yay! Mineral based, glowing, and foundation setting. What more could a gal want?

URBAN DECAY
I went through my All Nighter setting spray so quickly in this heat, so I wasn’t surprised I needed a new one so soon. This time I opted for Chill, which is a hydrating setting spray that leaves the skin with a frosted sheen. Hoping it’ll be as make up securing as its predecessor.

FRANK BOD
Do I even need to tell you? Do I even need to explain how much I adore this scrub? And Frank knows I adore his body cream. I’m on my fifth tub. I think I’m going to have to stock up because if they ever stop making it I’m screwed.

BUMBLE & BUMBLE
Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner – for starters it smells like happiness. I bought the mini for my swimming bag (yeah guys I have a swim bag now, it’s a thing). The theory goes that if you wet, and then smother your hair in conditioner, chlorine can’t penetrate the hair shaft as easily, thus minimising the damage. I tried it at my last swim and when I got out of the pool my hair didn’t feel totally horrible and stripped, so I’m tentatively confirming the theory works?

And that’s all for me! What are you favourite, must-replace-ASAP-products? Tell me, let me snoop in your make up bags…
Until next time,

Tweet tweet xx

OCTOBER

Keep it simple, stupid.



October arrived far too quickly for my liking this year. That said it was probably because October saw me submitting my thesis, my brain baby, a piece of work ten months in the making, without doubt one of the biggest, hardest things I’ve ever done.

So why oh why would I complicate one of the trickiest times of my year by having an overly complicated beauty routine?

By October I’d perfected the ‘I’m-maybe-wearing-a-bit-of-make-up-but-it’s-so-minimal-I-could-also-not-be’ face for uni, days in the library, and days where a full face wasn’t immediately needed.

For all my skincare picks, flip back to the last post of blogmas.
Following my Too Faced Hangover Primer (ultra hydrating coconut-water based make-up prep) I usually turn to the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. 












Sometimes I’ll prime, sometimes I won’t; I go for a mix of the two matte shades, Heaven and Nudie, as I find they colour correct my purple-toned lids and the Heaven shade (a light cream) brightens my eyes so I look awake. Then it’s time for brows – lightly filled in with the Hourglass Arch in warm brunette. A waterproof wax pencil that makes them look a little less sparse and a little more Brooke Shields. 





The one thing I refuse to give up or compromise on, even on days off, is mascara. Nope, not happening, NOT TODAY SON – the bigger and bolder my lashes, the more doll-like, the better. Lately I’ve been favouring the Perversion Mascara by Urban Decay (star of blogmas July), as it is the blackest black mascara imaginable.

















After eyes, I use my fingers to apply Bare MineralsComplexion Rescue in vanilla. The formula is an oil-free gel cream that gives medium coverage with SPF 30+ UVA/UVB protection, and a really dewy finish. 

Always followed by an under eye concealer – my pick being the Smashbox CameraReady BB Cream with SPF 15 (all the SPF possible) which brightens and colour corrects under the eye. The amazing thing about Smashbox is that all of their products – even the ones with SPF – don’t give a flashback when photographed. 



If I’m having a bad skin day (common in times of extreme stress, like thesis submission) I’ll conceal with Nars Radiant Creamy concealer in vanilla. It contains turmeric which helps any blemishes to heal, as well as tone down any redness.







For cheeks, I pop on a little Stila Convertible Colour inPetunia. A bright, happy pink that always makes me smile. Over the top of this I blend – you guessed it – Josie Maran Argan oil Illuminiser along my cheek bones, a tiny bit on my cupid’s bow and the tip of my nose.














Everything is set with Luminous Light by Hourglass and that’s it! My simple face, daily, easy-as, glowy, hydrating and all-round “Yes I do that Natural Beauty Thing” appropriate.

If you can’t do something simply you can’t hope to master it!

Tweet tweet xx

SEPTEMBER

Skin4theWin



This is a beauty blog (obviously) but aside from real beauty coming from within, real beauty also comes from what’s underneath your make-up – your skin! If you’ve been following me for a while you’ll know these three commonalities of my skin to be true;

1.      It still breaks out, despite the lack of adolescence
2.    SENSITIVITY OUT THE WA-ZOO; if there’s a way to freak out about something, my skin will find that way and ACE it (I’m nothing if not a high achiever)
3.    It likes to be dry, and not the good kind of martini dry, just plain dry
So by September this year I’d managed to settle myself into a routine that my skin actually not only tolerated, but seems to still thrive from.

DAYTIME
First things first (I’m the realest) I use a creamy cleanser (Swisse is still a fave, as is Kate Somerville Goat’s Milk) to wake myself up and get my skin ready for the day ahead. I then use a nourishing eye cream (Kate Somerville AgeArrest, ah!) followed by a hydrating serum, Dr Dennis Gross’s HydrationBooster. So, so good. I then pop on my moisturiser of choice (September, Darphin Hydraskin Rich, today, Drunk Elephant La La Retro Whip Cream) and to seal in all that skin-fun-time-goodness, a beautiful oil. My pick? Goldfaden MD Fleuressence. A blend of eight different oils designed for acneic, pimple-prone skin, that dries into the skin super quickly but leaves it luminous and fresh. Topped off with an SPF and ta-daaah! Skin is ready, prepped and excited to greet the day!

NIGHT TIME
Firstly – take off the mask. AaaaaAAAaLL the make-up. All the SPF. All the good stuff from the morning. Take it OFF with Nude Perfect Cleanse Omega Jelly. It’s amazing to smear your face like a Picasso and then rub it all off. Following this, I’ll either use Dr Dennis Gross Ultra Gentle Peel Pads or Sunday Riley Good Genes serum – NOT together. That’s a triple exfoliation. Dat’s bad.
If I’ve used a peel pad, I’ll be popping on more Dr Dennis Gross Hydration Booster (more water less problems). If not, I’ll follow with my moisturiser, or sometimes as a treat-yo-self, La Mer Concentrate (AH!) because it’s regenerative, hydrating and just beautiful. Following moisturiser – all of the oil. Ok, well, not all of it, but enough to make a lovely little barrier for my skin and to keep it lush.

Gotta tell ya, this routine hasn’t changed much and my skin is all the better for it. I’ve swapped out my serums as the weather’s changed this December, but this routine – cleanse, gentle exfoliation, hydrate, moisturise, nourish – it hasn’t steered me wrong yet!
#skingoalsalways


Tweet tweet xx

JUNE

Ok so you know how sometimes it takes you a while to get on board with something? Whether that be smashed avocado, matcha green lattes (still not quite there guys, give me time), Game of Thrones/Stranger Things/Black Mirror/- insert latest Netflix obsessive show here – or exfoliating with chemicals (still embarrassed about that one), sometimes it takes time to come around to something new.

That’s kind of what happened with La Mer and I. Not that I disliked the brand or anything – don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a luxe brand featuring a fish tank in David Jones – but not unlike, say, myself and a model working Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, we just never crossed paths. I might’ve passed on my way to Priceline and taken a glance, but never had a chance/opportunity/means of going to a La Mer counter, or visiting the shelves at Mecca in Myer.



Enter; The Mother of All Reactions. Ooh boy.
I’m not entirely sure why or how my skin felt the need to freak itself out over a light Argan oil blend, but BOY HOWDY did I hear that freak out loud and clear.

















My skin felt like it was cracking. So dry that no amount of my normal serum or moisturiser could help. Make-up? Not an option. My face just hurt. I can’t even really describe it; I just know that at one point I cried to Mumma Sparrow about how bad it all felt.
I knew I had a little sample of Crème de La Mer that I’d been holding onto for Mumma Sparrow, having read and heard all about its regenerative, healing properties. After consulting with Centaine (glossco.com.au) and sussing out whether the La Mer would worsen the situation (she assured me it wouldn’t) I decided to give it a crack.

The photo speaks for itself really. 



A week after using the original cream my skin was unrecognisable. I couldn’t believe it. Gone were the dry patches, and the redness, the uneven texture, and my face didn’t hurt anymore. Break outs… eh not much can be done about them when I’m unable to use AHA’s or any kind of spot treatment (skin dealing with a reaction shouldn’t use anything too active because the last thing it needs is something full-on to contend with) but the inflammation brought on by a break out most definitely died down.
As winter wound its way through Melbourne I came back to La Mer again and again, eventually getting onto the Renewal Oil and I think it’s the main reason my skin didn’t totally collapse on itself during a harsh, cold season. La Mer is a brand I now trust absolutely and completely for my skin, and will probably have an everlasting love with til the day I forget what skincare is.


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

July Buys


WINTER IS HERE LITTLE BIRDS
AND 
IT
IS
FREEZING

Melbourne has been outdoing herself lately, bringing in sleeting rain, cutting winds and mornings so cold that breath comes in cloud puff or smog options. Frost, ice, and even snow in some of the outer suburbs. So, naturally, I've found myself drawn to warmer options beauty-wise and wardrobe-wise too.



Today I had a mini-spree at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse, and honestly, I shouldn't be allowed in their beauty aisles unsupervised. 
Pictured above are my favourite buys, and newer picks, from July so far. Ripped denim is an easy way to look casual and fresh, without compromising on warmth or style. Ribbed knitwear has been a key trend this Autumn/Winter, and I love the creamy colour of this piece from Cotton On. It works with both blue and black denim, and I love it with tan ankle boots. My navy Converse chucks are an awesome wardrobe staple - so, so comfy, and they're perfect for pairing back dark denim, and they'll work beautifully with summer dresses and skirts. Rose gold is my favourite metal, and this watch from Forever New adds a hint of glam to even the most casual of outfits, and I'm in love with my Samantha Wills Bardot Bohemian Ring!

Before bed, when I want to unwind from a busy day at work, I've been burning my Glasshouse Esperance triple scented candle. It's amazing, it smells of apples and mimosas, and it's just the most relaxing scent. 

Finally today I managed to re-purchase the Maybelline New York Age Rewind concealer. This stuff is amazing, and I can't wait to start using it again. I've had to grab the medium-dark shade this time around, but the Goji berry extract won't be any less effective on these big black circles! Another very necessary repurchase was my Face of Australia matte eye primer. Don't let the 'matte' fool you, shimmer shadows and whites look phenomenal over this cream. 

 
Another very necessary repurchase earlier this week, was the Sportsgirl lipstick in Bombshell. I've worn this shade of red for the last five years and each time I whip her out, I get compliments left, right and centre. 


I LOVE this lipstick. Like the Sportsgirl brow pencil, I'm considering buying about, like, maybe fifty of them, just so I never ever run out of my perfect red lipstick. I'll actually die on the inside if this red ever goes out of production!
The perfect red lipstick means nothing if it isn't perfected on the face, so I took advantage of the Priceline 3 for 2 on Australis eyes and lips, and bought myself a lip liner in 'Lady in Red'. 

Australis claim their lipliners are a 'Emollient and vitamin rich formula that won't dry lips out' - I'll report back if that's true!

Making the most of the 3 for 2 promotion, I grabbed another of their Velour Lips Matte Creams. I adore the shade N-Y-Cee, and I've seen a lot of gorgeous blogger selfies with the 'Hono-Loo-Loo' tone. I was a little nervous, simply because nude-based shades don't always work that well against my pale skin, but I was pleasantly surprised!
I felt like Lana Del Ray with this on


I honestly respect Australis so much as a brand and company. Their products are such a high quality, and I'm so glad to know they're completely cruelty free and still at such a decent price. Even without the 3 for 2, $9.95 is an amazing price for lipstick. 

And the last little Australis goodie I picked up is another that I've been seeing splashed all over Instagram. Last month Australis launched their Metalix eye shadow collection. I was a little unsure, simply because they seemed to be very highly pigmented and better suited to going out/event make-up, something I hardly get to do anymore (social life? Oh social life, where are you?!). I popped a little of the tester on my hand of the shade 'Pearl Jammin' and my rose gold obsession struck. The ROSE GOLD MAN. IT WON'T LEAVE ME BE!

In all seriousness, the shimmer and pigment caught my eye, and I figured, for $8.95, could I really go wrong? 



Look at that shimmer! 


I reaaaalllly want to try this shadow with a bold eyeliner and big, false lashes. I feel like this colour will make my blue eyes pop that little bit more, and I can't wait to have a little more fun experimenting. Believe it or not, I've never used a cream eye shadow before, so this will give me a chance to use new techniques and tools. 

And finally, I bought myself my own little jar of Coconut Oil. I've been borrowing from Mumma Sparrow's cooking cupboard lately and I figured it was time I got my own. Aside from its dandruff fighting properties, and its incredible smell, you can use coconut oil to make exfoliants, face masks, hair masks, and hand moisturiser.


And that's it!

I promise my next post isn't too far away little birds!
Until next time,
Tweet tweet xx
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