Wild Inspiration

This year has been a big one for me in terms of ticking off goals I’ve had for a very long time, the most thrilling of which was completing the Blackmores Sydney Half Marathon back in September.  I couldn’t believe I did it, and a week after I crossed that finish line (once all the pain had subsided) I was looking at what was next.  Bigger, better… I needed to push myself harder.  Tough Mudder 2013 is booked in.

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I’m giving you this background because of the parallels it shows between myself and the lead author of my new favourite book, Cheryl Strayed.  Wild (Allen & Unwin, RRP$29.95) is a story about a 25-year-old woman who finds her life at a cross-roads after her mother passes, ends her marriage, does drugs and then decides to hike eleven hundred miles across the west of America.  Obviously, I only identify with that last part…

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.  

WELLBEING: On Following Your Dreams.

By Marian Rubock

I thought I would do something different for my latest post and give you some insights into my life and how it has led me to where I am today. For as long as I can recall, I’ve wanted to work in the medical / skincare field. I think a large part of this stems from when I was younger I suffered from poor health which at times was critical to my life. Before this, I held onto the notion that medicine alone would cure me and it wasn’t until I had to face the severity of my illness that I realised sometimes, the answers lie within and the mind is a powerful thing.

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I also suffered with acne from the ages of 16-39 and as a result of this, I have a complete understanding of the impact it can have on a person’s life. Speaking from first-hand experience, I lacked confidence and shied away from people because I was so self-conscious. When I reflect on how much I have changed since this time, it amazes me.

My own health-related experiences inspired me to learn more about the body and how the skin works so I have the knowledge to help others – I can honestly say it was the driving force behind my decision to work in skin health. I want to help others change their lives so they believe in themselves and can face their future confidently with good health and vitality.

The Women on Our Wall

By Tammi Ireland

Whether models, actors, graphic designers or socialites, these women have the confidence, sex appeal, style and beauty we most want to embody.  They cover our inspiration boards, suck us into hours Google searching their latest ventures and have us lemming hair styles and lip colours minutes after they wear them.  They are the Coveted Canvas ‘Phew’ Crew and they’re smokin’ hot.  Print the pics and stick them on your own wall, or just return here for a perve when you’re after some inspiration.  The girls will be waiting.

Anja Konstantinova

Anja

Anja

Anja

Beauty Q&A: Tara Franzinelli, entreprenuer

Tara Franzinelli, founder of The Jungle Body

Have you ever seen someone with a more bangin’ body than Tara’s?  There’s a reason for her great posture and abs to boot – The Jungle Body, a group of fitness classes she founded in Western Australia that is now taking the country by storm.  Combining all types of dance with yoga, pilates and more, The Jungle Body is fun!  The business has also won Tara many accolades at such a young age, the latest of which is a nomination for the Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female awards.  Here, she shares her beauty and wellbeing secrets with us.

 

Beauty routine, day: I use all Clarins products on my skin and have done so for years!  Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream (Youth Recovery) – it’s the only cream which I feel is heavy enough that your skin feels like its receiving moisture but doesn’t make me break out or get oily!  Clarins Beauty Flash Balm – have used this religiously every day for years. I don’t know what I would do without it! It makes any makeup glide on no matter what condition your skin is in and it seems to brighten the face without any oiliness.  Clarins Gentle Refiner – it’s an amazing exfoliating cream that makes me feel like I have had a facial every time I use it,  plus you literally only need a touch of the cream.

Makeup, day and night:

Rimmel Renew Foundation in Natural Beige – this is the only foundation I have found that leaves your skin looking dewy and bright, rather than matte or oily! It stays on all day/night and has just the right coverage for my skin.  Savvy Brow Stylist Kit – my new best friend, it has brow gel, brow highlighter, brow powder, pencil, tweezers and brow mascara in a little case.  Natio Peach Glow Blush – I love peachy colours when my hair is a warm colour.  Maybelline Collossal Volume Express Mascara – love this mascara and I load it on! I don’t where eyeshadow or liner, so my mascara is very important! I will always curl my lashes before I apply mascara, once you use a heated lash curler, you will never go back!  Christian Dior Shimmer Powder – I use this under my eyes and in the corners of my eyes to highlight!  Christian Dior Ultra Brillant Hydrating Lip Gloss – lasts forever, but moisturizers my lips all in one.

My makeup goes right through from day to night, I will just amp up the lips at night!

Beauty routine, night: Clarins Multi-Active Renewal Serum – I love how this makes my skin silky smooth and my skin feels supple in the morning.  Clarins Body Treatment Oil – this oil smells like you have been to a day spa. I use an oil over a body moisturizer because with the amount of fitness I do, I need something really intense!

‘Invest Now, Rest Later’: Wise Words from a Cosmetics Founder

By Ali Sims

Founder of La Glam Minerals 2009, Amanda La Monica, is one of Sydney’s most sought after bridal makeup artists. An editorial favourite, business woman and mother, her hard work and success is a credit to her life philosophy “Invest Now, Rest Later.”  Amanda’s also been nominated for the 2011 Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female awards.  Here she takes us on the journey of creating her business and explains why natural is best.

The La Glam range.

Amanda La Monica

When and why did you create your mineral makeup line? Why natural? Why Vegan?

LaGlam was created in 2009, I wanted to create a brand that was natural and could offer my clients everything that they asked of me.  I am not vegan myself, however I believe if we can go back to basics and be as natural as possible with what we’re using on our skin then that’s got to be the better way. These days so much research is released showing causes of different diseases and I believe this is why people are looking towards more natural products rather than using chemicals etc.

How does the philosophy of your makeup line “Look and feel glamorous naturally” translate into your everyday life?

I believe that a woman should look naturally glamorous or beautiful without looking like she’s trying or that it’s intentional –a natural beauty is most appealing.

How do you look and feel glamourous naturally?  What do you do in your everyday life that adds a bit of glam?

My hair and makeup is always done, even for the early dash to school for drop off. By my makeup being done I don’t mean full glamour makeup but showing effort in my presentation to look natural but beautiful. Using LaGlam I can achieve this in less than 5 minutes giving me more time to get the kids ready!

Beauty Q&A: Louise Bell, online retailer and blogger extraordinaire

Louise Bell, online retailer and blogger of Table Tonic

 

I’m apartment hunting at the moment.  It’s hard-going out there, vying against 30 other people for the same matchbox-sized place to call your own.  But what gets me through (and actually inspired me to get out there and start looking in the first place) is the Table Tonic blog, which taught me it’s okay to have a little colour in your home.  Here, founder Louise shares her beauty secrets with us.

Beauty routine, day: I cleanse with Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, as it’s gentle (for a foaming cleanser), but thorough. I apply Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil to my face and neck when I get out the shower – it’s a beautifully soothing hit of moisture, plus great for sun damage and any kinds of scars. I then use a Khiels eye cream (love Khiels) and Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream (it really does smooth!). I apply some kind of body butter religiously every day (I’m currently using one by MOR), and run some Moroccan Oil through damp hair, or sometimes a dab of Terax conditioner (it’s amazing stuff!)

Beauty routine, night: Same as in the day, but with Lanolips Rose Balm Intense Hand Cream, and without the body butter.

Makeup during the day: Becca concealer in Cashew around the nose and under eyes, followed by a Kit Cosmetics bronzer, Chanel lip gloss on my cheeks (I have a compact with 4 shades, and there’s a blackberry colour which is so perfect!), and Bourjois “Blond Fonce” brow pencil. At the moment, I’m also using/loving Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour in Dark Honey.

Makeup for night: As above, but I’ll add a swipe of Bloom glitter eyeliner and some Benefit mascara. And if I’m game, my latest purchase – L’Oreal lipstick in Red Passion!

What’s great about everyday Aussie beauty? Anything goes.

What’s great about Sydney beauty? It’s diverse and it has a bit of a natural vibe, which is lovely.

Hair salon: Until recently, La Boutique in Sydney’s Double Bay. Belinda Jeffrey was the first person to ever colour my hair, and I’ve gone to her for the past 16 years! My new salon (since we’ve moved house) is Mana hair in Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Nail Salon: Hmmm. Hate to admit it, but I’m a bit of a nail bar person these days, although lately, I’ve been doing my own. Glittery nailpolish can be applied by a monkey and it still looks fab!

Muse of the Moment: Dree Hemingway

Dree Hemingway is a babe. Tall, slender and with the sartorial credit that makes you green with envy, she’s one to watch. My inspiration board is currently covered with photos of her natural makeup, perfectly-matched outfits and clean, healthy hair.  Plus she’s the great-granddaughter of writer Ernest Hemingway.  Could she be any cooler?

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more inspirational pics after the jump…

Mondayitis? Use this Visual Inspiration!

On a cold Monday morning, sometimes it’s hard just to get out of bed let alone do your face and hair in looks that will rock your week’s world.  For this reason, I’m making today’s post all about visual inspiration.  Copy these hair and makeup looks today and you’ll look better than you feel!