Back to Basics

By Tammi Ireland

Before I left for Europe, I celebrated my birthday with my nearest and dearest at my favourite restaurant.  Is there anything more special?  With red wine, fresh food and loud laughs, the evening was fantastic.  It was natural, raw and intimate, and possibly one of the best birthdays yet.

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Sometimes, in order to be happy, we need to get back to basics:

- Seeing the friends who cherish your friendship, and letting go of those who are toxic.

- Eating only foods that make you happy, and only when you’re hungry.

- Not drinking sub-par coffee / wine / tea / mojitos.

- Travelling without carrying your home baggage with you, instead taking the bare minimum and collecting more experiences along the way.

- Breaking out of your routine and challenging yourself.

- Getting outside, in the sun, rather than in the gym.

Your Guide to New Years Eve Party Makeup

So, the end is near.  2010 has been a helluva year and as it comes to a close, we’re all making final arrangements on how to bid adieu in style.  Personally, I’m celebrating with a low-key house party.  And what will I be slapping on my face come 5pm tomorrow?  I’ve got a few options to share with you…

HOORAH!

There are a bunch of ways you can look smokin’ hot during the final hours of 2010, and they all involve preparation.  Be sure to tick (fake) tanning, moisturising, hair removal and priming off your list before you even look at that foundation.

Get Her Look: CARRIE | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

Growing up, I would watch Sex and the City religiously.  Often out of the eyes of my parents, I’d watch Carrie date countless men, muse on her relationships and write about them in her column.  I’d admire Miranda’s work ethic and Samantha’s no-holds-barred attitude, and I’d love Charlotte’s determination for the picture perfect romance.  I learnt a lot from those four friends, be it that clashing prints work, that I want to be a writer, that friendship is one of the strongest bonds you will find in life or that romance – any and every type – is just fabulous.

SATC the TV series.

When the first movie came out, I was beyond thrilled.  I hated it in cinemas but loved it during the re-watch.  The second movie was cheesy, a full romp.  But the fashion was wonderful and the friendship stronger than ever.

SATC the Movie.

What I most loved in SATC2 was the makeup.  The girls had each changed just a little.  Samantha was rocking a powerful red lip, Miranda had a more relaxed attitude thanks to the fact she quit her job, Charlotte was mostly the same, save for a bit more pink (influenced by her girls?) and Carrie – with the biggest noticeable change – had a more tanned, bronzed makeup.

Throughout the week we’ll be showing you how how you can use their makeup progression for inspiration.  First, the star of the show, Carrie Bradshaw…

The Best of Beauty

There’s a magazine on the stands that you all should know.  It’s called Allure and it’s a bit of a beauty bible.  There’s no Aussie version but the October American issue has just been released with Blake Lively on the cover and a whole lot of great articles.  My favourite is by far Best of Beauty where “the 190 greatest shampoos, lipsticks, moisturisers, concealers, frizz busters, mascara, wrinkle fighters, and more – handpicked and field-tested by Allure’s editors”.

Blake Lively covers Allure's Best of Beauty Issue

Here’s my selection of the top products within Allure’s Best of Beauty:

Beige Eye

‘Many so-called beige shadows are too white, too golden, or simply too boring.  Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Beige has a delicate sheen that flouts the blah stereotype.’

Grey Eye

‘Swipe on Laura Mercier Lustre Eye Colour in Celestial, a stormy shade of pewter, and voilà: instant smokey eyes.’

Product of the Day!

Another perfume love for you CC‘s, this time courtesy of Paris. One of four fragrances released at once, Inedite by Lubin is a musky scent in a supremely cool, architecture-inspired bottle.  Wood and sharp lines make this one for display.

The Unique Fragrance You Must Own

Juliette Has A Gun is the label. Calamity J is the name.  A masculine scent for women, this incredible fragrance is perfect for every woman in these days of androgyny.   Fronted by a naked, shot-gun toting Lou Dillon, the packaging is exquisite with its text and gun-metal grey colour.

Peiw, peiw!

Not at all floral, the notes are a masculine mix of patchouli, amber, musk and iris.  A sexy fragrance not many other women will have.  We love those fragrances that aren’t mass-produced and lend a little exclusivity and identity to your look.

Praise the Sun God!

A few weeks ago, I had the lovely fortune of attending two July weddings.  I love the idea of a winter wedding – it’s the season when it’s all about love and snuggling together under a warm doona with a good movie.  Nice, by-the-fire receptions following on from sweet ceremonies in quaint churches.  Beautiful.  Except with my white skin, my dress wouldn’t look so beautiful on the night with the bright flash of the cameras.

Busy work loads and cold weather meant I didn’t have the time, nor want, to sit in the nude for an hour as my spray tan dried.  Nope, I needed something fast.  Something gradual that would also moisturise and prep my winter skin into looking fabulous.  I needed St Tropez Everyday Body.

Product of the Day!

A few people have come to me to confess something I find almost astonishing.  They lean in close and whisper, ‘it’s winter T, so no, I don’t exfoliate or shave my legs until I have to show them again’.  Phwat?  But what about when you go to the gym?  Or when you engage in hanky panky?  Or just for feeling nice?

Then I thought, maybe they don’t exfoliate because they’re not having fun doing it.  The most fun I have in the shower (sometimes) comes from turning the water up hot, hot, hot in winter and slothing away all that dead skin for a new, shiny layer.  Where I run into problems is when I have to hop out of the shower and put the cold moisturiser on my body.  Brrrr….

BALL & FORMAL SPECIAL!

You’ll want to bookmark this post.  You see, it contains everything you need to know for that next huge, glamourous event in your life.  School formal?  Charity ball?  Wedding?  The tips, tricks, product reviews and industry insider goss you read on this here post will be all you’ll need to look fabulous.  Trust me!

Hair

There are three ways you can go with your hair for a formal occasion.  You can choose to go trendy, opt for a casual look and let your dress shine, or go all out and make it a formal up-do.  It does depend on the event as to which type of hair style you use, however we’ve gone and selected the best of the three and we’ll tell you how to do them, too.  (Lucky you!)

Trendy: It’s all about Alexander Wang’s side plait.  Imagine this, will you?  You’re in a long, slinky black gown. Your makeup and skin is golden and just dark enough to come across mysterious, yet fun.  Your shoes are sky-high and you’re feeling a million bucks.  But so is every other girl at this thing, because that outfit I just described can often be ‘cookie-cutter’ (read: everyone does it).  Set yourself apart from the pack with a fashion-forward hair do:

Product of the Day!

I don’t really like pink.  I won’t wear it ever in the form of clothing.  But I love it for packaging, in flowers, as the shade of my favourite lipstick and when marshmallows are coloured in it.  MOR Belladonna Body Butter is also an exception simply because it smells so good!  The only way to describe the scent is that it smells pink – very light, fun and girlie.

The consistency is milky and doesn’t leave a residue, the packaging is divine and the small 50g size is perfect for your handbag.  It’s a win for MOR!

RRP $16.95 for 50g.

Yummy!

T x

pic: supplied