Salon Review: Sloans, Lane Cove

By Tammi Ireland

Since moving to Sydney, I’ve been on the hunt for a fantastic hairdresser who can turn my thick, curly hair into a manageable, ‘looks like I didn’t even try’ ‘do. I’d also love for that place to come with some cool staff, a wealth of experience and be in a good location.  Last month, Sloans ticked all the boxes.

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The salon is located in a quaint street surrounded by cafes and flooded with natural light. The team is fun and a nice mix of classic and contemporary with their own style, making the salon a great fit for families and fashion forwards, alike.

My hair was cut by salon owner and creative director, Scott Sloan.  Scott is also an international creative artist for Schwarzkopf, so he knows his stuff.  He cut my hair into layers underneath, leaving a veil of long hair on top, meaning I didn’t lose length but I did lose a lot of that weight that was keeping me from styling anything other than a ponytail pre-cut.

Get The Look: Catwoman

By Tammi Ireland

Something happened when I watched the latest Batman movie. I developed an obsession for Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Let’s just take a moment to admire how well she kicked that role out of the ballpark, especially when almost no one thought she could do ‘sexy’ (“She’s too girl-next-door,” they said). Well, she proved them wrong, and my little obsession swiftly saw me purchase some sparkly cat ears from ASOS so I could do this here post on Getting Her Look*.

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The first thing you need for a smouldering look like this is a leather body suit flawless face. I mixed Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Illuminating with Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation and blended the two in with the Manicare makeup sponge.  Then, I swept a bronzing brush full of Clinique’s Superbalanced Powder Bronzer (RRP $65, on counter September 2) around the temples and below the cheek bones to create some cat-like definition.

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.

New Year’s Resolutions

By Tammi Ireland

Happy New Year, beauties! Another year gone and it’s time to reflect on what we want for 2012.  Hopefully you’ll all have nursed your New Year’s Eve hangovers away by now and have a pen handy because it’s time to make our New Year’s Resolutions.

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Some people I know don’t believe in resolutions, saying they only lead to guilt and disappointment when you can’t check them off at the end of the year.  However, I think having goals are a great way to ensure you stay focussed on what was once – at a moment of downtime – important to you.  

‘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:

The Tips and Tricks Every Beauty Lover Should Know

By Ali Sims

I have always believed sharing is caring, unless we’re talking about a vintage Chanel (a tip from me to you – that should never leave your sight!) The world would be a more beautiful place if everyone shared the whereabouts of their favourite hairdresser (Lee Preston), the best tanning salon (there would certainly be less oompa loompas running around) and, dare I say, the best online boutiques (*gasp*).

I have never really been that great at keeping secrets, so I’d like to share with you some of the best makeup tips and hair tricks I have discovered and practiced religiously over the years (more gifts from me to you!) Enjoy!

1. Learn how to highlight your facial assets with your bronzer

Khloe, I love you, but Kim's subtle bronzer is the winner

Bronzer should not be used as a blush below your cheekbones – it should be a subtle brush stroke to add definition to them. To slim your face, slightly brush your bronzer down both sides of your nose and on your forehead from the top most point of your eyebrow up to your hairline. Also apply your bronzer with light strokes down the middle of your neck. Less is more, so always tap your bronzer brush before application to remove excess powder (*Ed’s tip: don’t blow on your brush, as you could spread bacteria).

2. Use an eyebrow powder instead of an eyebrow pencil

Loving Leopard

The leopard trend has been huge for almost a year now, and it’s not looking like heading off any time soon.  While the Louis Vuitton leopard scarf will remain on my wish list thanks to its hefty price tag, there are other ways to incorporate the foxy animalistic print into your wardrobe.  Being a beauty blog, we’ll give you the top two beauty items you’ll need to make this fierce look even fiercer.  Roarrrw!

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Here’s what you need….

Looking for the Perfect Nude Gloss? Found!

A nude gloss is the little black dress of your beauty bag – every girl should have one… or five!  Just like little black dresses, it’s often hard to find the right fit.  A nude gloss should look wet, be the right colour for your skin tone, and not feel sticky or uncomfortable.  You’d be able to wear it every day to work, or with a smokier eye when you head out on the town at night. 

Kim Kardashian works the nude lip like no other.

Benefit Cosmetics launched their ‘ultra shines lip shine’ on Monday and they feature the perfect nude, nudie-tude, as well as a pink-based one for night, patootie.

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: CHARLOTTE | Sex and the City 2 – the Movie

So we’ve moved through Carrie and Samantha‘s looks from the Sex and the City 2 movie and now it’s time to take a relaxed look at Charlotte.  Her look didn’t change so much from the series or the first movie.  All that really changed was a little bit of added pink, inspired from her two girls.

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A little pink tinge to your beauty routine adds a touch of romanticism, exactly what Charlotte is all about.  If you’re not into putting it onto your face, try a slick of pink or cream on your nails.  I love Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Slip (RRP $13.95) for its transparency.  It’s a lovely cream-based pink colour that would be perfect for a wedding or a garden party.