A Natural Summer

By Tammi Ireland

Summer is well and truly on its way, and with that comes everyone’s promise to themselves to put less processed foods in their bodies. But what about on your body?

My lovely housemates and I are on a health kick, rising at 6am every morning for a self-run Bondi Bootcamp in a bid to have a healthier Summer and make use of the sunshine.  Now – with thanks to Endota Spa – we also have a more natural pre-summer skincare routine.

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Endota are known for their delightfully-scented organic skincare products and spa offerings.  Our favourites? The Rosehip & Myrrh Face Mask and Kakadu Plum Face Mask (both RRP$35).

Beauty Q&A: Samantha Powell

By Tammi Ireland

Simple Skincare has just recruited Samantha Powell as their make-up and skincare expert. Sam has a wealth of knowledge having worked as a make-up artist for 15+ years with celebs such as Jen Hawkins, Rebecca Gibney and Miranda Otto.  We asked Sam a few questions on how to get clear, perfect skin, the simple way…

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Samantha Powell, 40, Hair & Makeup Artist

Why join forces with Simple Skincare?
I joined forces with Simple Skincare because their philosophy on skin and beauty is synonymous with my own. I believe beauty starts from within and I always strive to live a clean, simple, healthy lifestyle and the products that I choose to work with and use myself adhere to these principles.

Cleanse Without Dry Skin Afterward

By Tammi Ireland

One of the side effects to using some cleansers is dry skin.  However this isn’t just because of the types of cleansers you use, but also the amount. Clearasil have done extensive research to discover exactly what the perfect amount of cleanser for maximum results is.  All well and great for them, but it’s not as though we’re going to measure our cleanser each time we use it – in fact, cleanser use is probably the fastest step in a skincare routine because we just want to get that makeup off and move on to the skin serums and treatments.

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So it’s a good thing, then, that Clearasil have made a no-touch automatic dispenser that hands out the exact amount of cleanser required for optimum results – no less (for the skin not yet to be clean) and no more (for the skin to be dry afterward).  Introducing Clearasil PerfectaWash Automatic Face Wash Dispenser. Working via sensor, the machine dispenses the appropriate amount of cleanser.  My skin was visibly clearer within 24 hours, too – so you know the product inside stays true to Clearasil’s great reputation.  Available from all Clearasil stockists.

 

 

The Best Beauty Tip I Learned Last Year

By Tammi Ireland

Last year was a huge year for Coveted Canvas.  We increased our Facebook followers by hundreds as more and more beauty lovers joined the conversation.  We won an award from beautyheaven for our blog post on epilating.  We made friends from blogs in Australia and overseas.  And we grew the Coveted Canvas community in Western Australia, where it all began. But what you may not know is I’m learning as the site grows and grows, and it’s only fair for me to pass on my knowledge to Coveted Canvas’ loyal readers – it’s why I started the site after all.

So, without further ado, here’s the top beauty tip I learned in 2011…

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As with most of the Aussie beauty industry’s great hunks of knowledge, the tip came from our country’s star beauty writer Zoë Foster (who now writes over at our favourite current affairs site, Mamamia).  

Christmas Make-Up

By Tammi Ireland

Yay, Christmas is just days away.  Eating with the family, drinking with friends, and being merry all weekend, we can’t wait here in the Coveted Canvas office!  What are you doing for Christmas?

Whichever way you celebrate, the key for your makeup is to keep it simple. You don’t want to be running to the bathroom to check your foundation or fix your lippy in between the prawn cocktail entree and turkey main.  The key is a little in the prep, a lot in the application.  Here’s the look we’re aiming for this year…

Chloë Moretz

‘The Beauty Night’ and why you must schedule one

By Tammi Ireland

Ladies, you have to agree with me there is nothing better than feeling sexy, confident and beautiful – just for you.  But how do you get that way if you’ve worked three different deadlines in a row, felt sick from lunch and been told some horrible news?  You schedule it!  Just like your dentist appointment or meeting your superiors, this is important, too.  Once a week is all I ask, and I’ll explain why it’s so great right now…

Tonight was my ‘Beauty Night’.  I try to schedule one a week or – failing that – one a fortnight.  On ‘Beauty Night’ everything gets done. And I mean everything.  Here’s my ‘To Do’ list…

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Obviously there’s no way I could (nor should) do all these on a daily basis, so scheduling one night a week to check everything off the list is not only a great idea, but also something to look forward to.  Because you feel AMAZING afterwards.

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It’s all in the products you use – ‘Beauty Night’ is not the night to skimp on products. On ‘Beauty Night’ it’s the best of the best.  Here are my must haves, working down the ‘To Do’ list:

Natural Body Scrubs – Not All Are Built Equal

By Tammi Ireland

Body scrubs are one of those products that you don’t really need, and which can all be a bit same-same.  They exfoliate (so does shower gel with a loofah) and they wash off anyway, so why spend big, right?  Well, I had to eat my words when I tried Burt’s Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub (RRP$29.95) because the experience and the results were amazing.

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The first thing I noticed when I opened the Burt’s Bees Sugar Scrub tub is just how thick the product is – you literally have to dig down and then scoop out the scrub.  Next, I notice the texture – not too granular (read: not painful to use). Check and check!

Everyday Essential: Gentle Cleanser

By Tammi Ireland

You’d have heard me hark on about the importance of washing your makeup off before you go to bed before.  It clears your skin, giving it the platform to regenerate and calm down before you slather product on it the following day.

Sensitive skin types will often find it difficult to find a product that removes all traces of makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils, or causing redness.  Aveeno’s Ultra-Calming Moisturising Cream Cleanser (RRP $13.99) is the perfect product for this very reason.

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Gentle and relaxing, this product removed all makeup and left skin feeling dewy, clean and refreshed.  An economical ‘must buy’ for every makeup wearer.

T x

Save the Date!

By Tammi Ireland

One of the perks of being a ‘Beauty Editor’ is that we get the chance to try new products before they hit shelves.  This means we can test and review them before giving you the verdict in time for when they hit shelves.  It’s all pretty darn fabulous.

There is a downside, though.  Often we have to wait torturous weeks (sometimes even several months) before the products we may have fallen completely in love with come on sale for us to purchase.  The product I’m about to tell you about fits that bill!

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Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator ($105 for 30mL) has me chomping at the bit to get more into my hot little hands!  The orange-scented liquid works on any skin type – and by skin type, we mean to include different races, too!

Fake It: Winter Blush

By Tammi Ireland

The seasons have ticked over and Australia is finally feeling the cold nip of winter.  The fresh breeze that comes when you open your front door to stroll toward your workday is a better pick-me-up than any double shot skim latte.  But unfortunately some cities are feeling a little more refreshed than others.

Brrr.

Last weekend, I wandered the streets of Sydney with a close friend, rugged up in layer upon layer of of coats, scarves, tights and boots.  Ducking in to cafes for a quick liquid warm-up (coffee, cab sav, Baileys, tea … anything goes when you’re on holidays!), I’d often catch sight of my face in the cafe windows and admire the natural blush that comes when your nose is so cold and your eyes have been watering as you walk.  Never could I emulate that look in the significantly less nippy Perth.  Until now.

While in my favourite city Sydney, I picked up a delightful blush that gives me that fresh, ‘I’ve-just-been-sitting-outside-in-the-garden-wrapped-in-wool-drinking-hot-cocoa-and-snuggling-with-my-boyfriend’ look.