THE MEN’S ROOM: Trumpers Is Forever

By Mark Reed

The twin V2500-A1s barked instructions at the plane, bringing it to a halt on a cold, barely realised morning. It woke me suddenly. I thought of Tammi, and my promise to her: To write the review in the style of Ian Fleming. This would be an assignment like no other.

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Melbourne.

I was here for three days. Business and pleasure. While in town I would surround myself with friends old; new; and as yet unmet. Enjoy a match of the national game. Hear from an infamous artist.

I would have to look my best. Come Monday night, a shave was a must.

137 years ago, George Trumper opened a distinctive barber shop on Curzon St in Mayfair, London. Geo F. Trumper still stands today, offering cuts, shaves, and a line of shaving products consisting of all natural ingredients. High quality, old fashioned, yet also timeless and retaining a distinct class. The Sandalwood Skin Food and Limes Shaving Cream were about to be put through their paces.

New: Carrière Frères Industrie candles

By Tammi Ireland

Since moving to Bondi, I have burnt more candles than I remember, as I spend long nights writing by the ‘fire’ they produce, being transported by their scent – to Tahiti (coconut and lime), to Donnybrook (French pear), to Paris (almondine).  The memories and feelings candles can help emerge are frequent, and I must thank the candles I find for eliminating moments of homesickness as soon as the match is struck to light them.

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As a result, I’m always on the look-out for a great candle with the trifecta – aesthetically pleasing, gorgeous scent, long-lasting.  Ambrosia Candles has a carefully selected library of international and Australian candles that tick all three boxes, some of which I’ve previously reviewed here and here.  The latest brand to join their coveted store is Carrière Frères Industrie, a French brand founded in the 1800s by two brothers.

Trend to Try: Plum Eyeliner

By Tammi Ireland

With cooler weather comes a longing for something different in the makeup department; something a little… spicy.  I’ve often turned to a burgundy lip (as seen at the recent Met Gala) when the mercury has dropped, but this season it’s time to let the eyes take the spotlight. Introducing my new winter makeup obsession – the plum eyeliner.

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Used exactly as you would a black kohl liner, the plum look gives an alternative from the predictable black line.  Best of all – it’s suitable for all skin types.  In the photo above, I’ve used Estee Lauder Pure Colour Intense Kajal EyeLiner in ‘Blackened Plum’, on my top and bottom waterline, as well as along the top lashline on my lid.  Using my finger to help melt the waxy pencil texture, I’ve smudged it lightly for a worn-in feel.  The Estee Lauder liner goes on a dream, and is my pick for best Plum Eyeliner on the market.  It has a blue-black look, which was piercing against my pale skin and deep brown eyes.  I wore it with a sweep of Tom Ford Cheek Color in ‘Savage’ and Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara in ‘Black’ only.  Let the eyes do the talking.

WELLBEING: What Your Sex Drive Has To Do With Age, Libido, Body Image and Desire

By Tammi Ireland

Within our wellbeing section, we’ve talked about healthy eating, drinking right, doing relaxing exercises and being better people, but what makes you – YOU – a better person more than being sexually confident in your relationships, and thus in yourself?  Here at Coveted Canvas, we believe in sex.  Sex to show someone you love them, sex to scratch an itch, sex with yourself, and sex to empower.  Whether empowering yourself or your lover, sexual activity is important in any relationship and in any womans’ life.  So why do women’s libidos seem to disappear faster than a man’s, especially during menopause?

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I was recently sent a copy of Sex Drive: In pursuit of female desire by Dr. Bella Ellwood-Clayton (RRP $27.99), who is a sexual anthropologist, by the lovely folk at Allen & Unwin.  The book questions why a woman’s desire is so much lower than man’s, why society has accepted this as the norm, and explains why it doesn’t have to be that way.  Among the reasoning are tidbits on why sex is good for a relationship and for a woman as an individual. With the topic being spoken about on Mamamia recently, frequent sex in adult relationships appears to be against the norm – but it shouldn’t be.

Alter Ego: Anja with Illamasqua ‘Human Fundamentalism’

By Tammi Ireland

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Illamasqua’s latest range, Human Fundamentalism, is fun. Really, truly fun!  The idea with Illamasqua products is that you create your alter ego, and with a focus on white and bright skin in Human Fundamentalism, what better alter ego to use as a muse than the white and bright Anja Konstantinova?  Using the photo above, this is how I interpreted Illamasqua’s Human Fundamentalism - 

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How I Started: Fresh faced, with clean hair and not a scerrick of makeup.

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Conceal: With Estee Lauder’s Disappear in ’02 – Light’, I concealed any possible dark areas, including around the mouth, under the eyes and the nose crease.

Q&A with Nice’n Easy Colour Expert, plus Colour Blend Foam Review

By Tammi Ireland

When I dyed my hair back to its natural brown after years of balayage last December, to say I felt neutral about the results is an understatement. I was Switzerland.  What I wanted – although I didn’t know it until I dyed my hair last fortnight – was a deep brown, sexy, solid colour.  Balayage was over in my book, and I wanted to look smouldering – Angelina Jolie/Anne Hathaway style.

Thankfully, that’s when I got the opportunity to chat with Clairol Nice’n Easy’s colour expert Belinda Jeffrey, as well as a shot to try out the new Clairol Nice’n Easy Colour Blend Foam in ’4 Dark Brown’.

First – the hair:

From This...

Bid Adieu to the Ped Egg – This is the New Must-Have for Smooth Feet!

By Jenny Ahern

I’m the first to admit my feet get a little neglected when it comes to my beauty routine, which is ironic as cracked heels are a pet peeve of mine. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to regularly exfoliate, file and moisturise my feet – and don’t even get me started on the ped egg!  So when given the opportunity to trial a product that promised to take the chore out of DIY pedicures, I jumped at the chance.

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I’ve been using the Emjoi PediSmooth (RRP $29.95) twice a week for a month now and I find it works a wonder. Quick and easy, the PediSmooth features a motorised sandpaper-like roller, which buffs away rough, dry and calloused skin in seconds. Note: it is a good idea to do this over a towel as the skin from your feet will fall like snow – a gross image, I know!

Another Easter Chocolate (and this one helps you lose weight!)

By Tammi Ireland

Easter can be overwhelming, with more chocolates and hot cross buns available to you than you ever thought possible, and all for only a limited time.  So when I heard of QuickSlim Slimmies (RRP $39.95 for a pack of 30), I was excited at the prospect of eating a chocolate that claimed to stave off hunger.

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Individually wrapped, each Slimmies chocolate looks like a mini-bar and claims to swell up when followed by 300mL of water 30 minutes before a meal.  The idea is that you feel so full you’ll eat less.  So, did it work?

Body Science RTD – Protein Shake

By Tammi Ireland

You may remember when I wrote about Body for Women’s Protein Shakes and how they’d significantly helped me on my way to reaching the goal of running a half marathon this year.  Well, I’ve just discovered Body Science also do Ready To Drinks (RTDs), which are essentially pre-made protein shakes in a bottle that you, well, shake and then drink.

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These have been amazing as I try to get more sleep in the morning.  Literally grab and go, I can shake one of these puppies and down it in no time, in preparation for a harder workout.  The taste is even better than the ones I have to make myself (how do they do this?) but they cost more eventually, so I’d stick with the powder if using everyday.  But if you’re in a hurry, on holiday, or even staying over at your boyfriend’s house… stick a Body for Women On the Go in your purse and …GO!

 

How Bloom Made Me Love Glitter

By Tammi Ireland

I’ve never loved glitter.  I wasn’t the girl to wear it on her eyes during high school, I never wear sequined clothing, and I never, ever wore glitter top coats on my nails.  I remember trying once while at a sleepover and then begging my mum to help me remove the ‘tacky’ polish that kept getting caught on my woollen jumper at the time.  It was rough, technicoloured, and felt horrid.  And so I refused to put glitter on my nails again.

However, I’ve since fallen in love with technicoloured photos of our galaxy.  I’ve fallen for a gold glittery Ellery number.  And I adored the glitter hair at last season’s MYER preview.  So, when I was offered Bloom Cosmetics’ Glamorous Sparkle Top Coat in Gold (RRP $19.95) to trial, I thought I’d give it a go.  Thank God, I did.

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This glitter top coat is so far from the ones of my Year 8 hey-day that I’ve already re-applied it three times.  A nice gold colour (read: not garish), the key to Bloom’s adult look with the sparkle top coat is in the different sizes of glitter particles.  There are regular, hexagonally-cut glitters and then there are very fine glitter pieces.  The result, when coated over Bloom Nail Polish in Lucy II was astounding.  A gorgeous result that I just kept getting compliments on (11 at last take!)