I can’t believe 2011 came past so quickly, with the hundreds of products coming through my trial box, here are some of the highlights of 2011. While I am not using every single item right now but these are the products that has worked for me at one point and I would happily recommends to others.
As with ponikuta tradition, click away.
Favourite Cleansers/Makeup Removers in 2011:
- SKII Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser
- Invisible Zinc IZ Cleanser
- Biore Cleansing Oil in Cotton Wipes
- Dermalogica Precleanse
- Face of Australia – Gentle Make-Up Remover
- Rodial Glamtox Cleanser
- Chanel Sublimage Essential Comfort Cleanser
- Jan Marini C-Esta Cleanser
Favourite Skincare Products in 2011:
- Biore UV Perfect Face Milk SPF50+
- Biotherm White D-Tox Translu Cell Neo Whitening Serum
- DMK Direct Delivery Vitamin C Serum
- Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant*
- Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator & Cooling Eye Illuminator
- Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster
- Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Cleanser, Serum & Moisturiser*
- Skinceuticals Retexturing Activator
- Alpha H Liquid Gold Skin Perfecting System*
- Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30
Favourite Primer Products in 2011:
- Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pore Minimizer & Mattifier
- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
- Face of Australia – Face Base Primer
- NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base*
Favourite Base Makeup Products in 2011:
- Invisible Zinc UV Silk Shield Foundation & Invisible Staying Powder*
- Estee Lauder CyberWhite EX Extra Intensive BB Creme
- Naruko Narcissus Total Defence BB Cream Essence
- Clarins New Skin Illusion Foundation SPF 10
- Vichy Aera Mineral BB SPF20
- bareMinerals Mineral Foundation*
Favourite Makeup (Colours) in 2011:
- Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour
- Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara
- Illamasqua Cream Blusher
- MAC Semi Precious Collection*
- Bebe Poshe Sweet Doll Super Palette
- Benefit They’re Real Mascara
- Estee Lauder Pure Color 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette*
- Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow
- Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow*
- WKW for Shu Uemura Holiday 2011 Eye Makeup Palette
- Chanel Illusion D’ombre*
- Tom Ford Eye Color Quad
- Maybelline EyeStudio Hyper Diamond Eyeshadow Palette*
- Hello Kitty Pretty Eye Liner*
Favourite Lip Products in 2011:
- Clarins Rouge Prodige True Hold Colour & Shine Lipstick*
- Burt’s Bee Tinted Lip Balms*
- Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15
- Clinique Chubby Sticks
- Australis Show Stopper Gloss Stick
- Jill Stuart Lipstick
- Hello Kitty Shine & Kiss Lipstick*
Favourite Haircare Products in 2011:
- VS Sassoon Big Hair Styler
- Wella Elegant Shape Body Mousse
- Schwarzkopf Taft: Full On Rough & Tough Styling Powder
- Fudge Dry Conditioner
- ghd Root Lift Spray, Heat Protect Spray
- Pantene AquaLight
- Tangle Teezer Detangling Brush*
Favourite Body Products in 2011:
- Korres Guava Shower Gel & Body Butter
- Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion
- Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Body Oil
- Jurlique Jasmine Body Cream
- Jurlique Moisturising Hand Sanitiser
- Burt’s Bee Sugar Scrub in Mango & Orange*
- Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Perfume*
Favourite Hand and Nail Products in 2011:
- OPI Texas Collection
- Orly Nailtrition*
- Illamasqua Nail Varnish from Magenta Muse Collection
- Sally Hansen Salon Effects*
- Dr Organic Rose Otto Hand & Nail Cream
- Chanel Rouge Carat
- Guinot Long Vie Hand Cream*
Favourite Beauty Treatments/Gadgets in 2011:
- SKII Whitening Source Derm-Revival Program*
- Beautymate Anti Blemish Repairing Nano Mask*
- DMK MicroPeel *
- Rodial Snake Mask
- E-One
- Oral B Triumph with Smart Guide 5000*
- Lemon Detox Diet
- Schkinny Maninny Cleanse
- STOP Facial Skin Renewal Device*
- Hakuhodo Makeup Brushes*
- Braun Silk-epil 7 Dual Epilator
I have previously blogged about Chanel’s Rouge Allure Laque back in 2009 and Glossimer in 2007 and 2008.  Both products are staples in Chanel’s make up line and you can expect releases of new shades every season. As a result, both products often discontinue shades from time to time. Be sure to stock up on shades that work for you.
Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque in #707Â
RRP AUD$55
Apologies with the blurry picture, my camera refuses to focus on the glossy wand. Chanel’s Rouge Allue Laque is packaged approximately the same size as Rouge Coco Shine, this compact gloss lipstick comes with an easy to  use application wand.
#707
This is a musty pink shade (very close to my natural lip colour) that goes on creamy and doesn’t accentuate any lip lines. Bonus points for tasting like lollies. If you are not much of a lipstick person, the Rouge Allure Laque would definitely hit the spot.
Chanel Glossimer #307
RRP AUD$44
Oldie’ but a goodie. This one gloss and shimmer like no other lip glosses.
#307
My lips are naturally blood red, more often than not the camera always catch my lips really red. Glossimer #307 is a translucent shimmery clear gloss. Recommended to apply on top of lipstick or on its own like my picture above. As you can see the finish to be quite shiny and the shimmer isn’t over the top tacky type of shimmer.
Both products are now available on Chanel counter
When Lancome agreed to sponsor my MBBE 2011 event earlier this year and to take out the ‘blush’ category, I was over the moon. Â Lancome has always been notorious for their bronzers in Australia but people often neglect they do pretty impressive blushers too. Their new Blush Subtil Rose Multi Color Powder Blush is a delight to have and here’s why.
- Comes in 4 shades:Â #10 – Rose Rose, #20 – Rose Corail, #30 – Rose Melba and #40- Rose Rouge (#40 is pictured above)
- #40 – Rose Rouge comes with a rosy red, sleek pink and a bronze powder for sculpting cheekbones and to add dimension to face with warm glow
- Despite the product name, this blush works to enhance skin by – highlighting, contouring and adding colour to cheeks
- Even though the product looks very vibrant in colour, the powder is very delicate and fine hence pigment can be quite sheer to medium which helps to build up the colour.
- Shade #2 is actually a shimmery shade (apologies with my camera not being able to pick up the gorgeous shimmery shine) which only requires very little to highlight the cheeks
- I love how versatile this blush is and the fact that I can use it on my cheeks and is advised to use Shade #4 on the brow bone (although I have yet to try this)
- My only wish is for this palette to be a little bigger so my blush brushes can work through the powder easier without colour contamination
- Made in Korea
Merry Christmas 2011 everyone. Eat up, drink up and stay safe in this silly season. Here’s a funny video I made up at JibJab wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the three of us. I’ll leave you with a mani I attempted two weeks ago.
Products used from left:
- Sally Hansen Hard As Nails $12.45
- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri $13.95 #Sonic Bloom
- Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat $9.95 #Antiqued Gold
- Mode Cosmetics Nail Enamel $2.95
- Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat $9.95 #Fuchsia Shock
- Sally Hansen Insta -Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat $15.45
The gorgeous green shade is from Face of Australia, it is however not in the market yet so product shoot was not included. The fuchsia crackle on top of the green shade worked out pretty well.
Here is a shot of my never seen before left hand making its appearance on my blog. As I am left handed I never shoot pictures of it with my wonky right hand application. I took approximately 30 pictures for this and this is the ‘clearest’ pic that I can produce. Clearly no right hand shooting for me, I suck at it. So what do you think?
For glowy healthy skin and make up to last, here are some of the trialled and tested handy tips that has worked for me and helped me overcome skin issues. Hopefully you’ll find it useful during this silly season.
1) Wear a primer
One for the face and one for the eyes. Especially if you have oily eyelids NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base is god sent. Whatever you do, don’t put silicon based primer on your eye lids or else even the toughest long wearing shadows won’t be able to stay in place.
Other primer recommendations include - Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Primer $45, Napoleon Perdis Autopilot Pre Foundation Skin Primer $55, Face of Australia Face Base Primer $11.95, NP Set – Pre Foundation Brightening Primer/Calming Primer $33 each
2) Use mask regularlyÂ
5 years ago, I banged on about my obsession with facial masks. 5 years later, I still do and commit time and effort to do at the very least two facial mask sessions a week. Be it cream, gel, facial cloth, clay variation I make sure I do masks according to my skin’s need.
Facial masks that I recommend – Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (for boosting), Rodial Snake Mask $85 (for tightening), Shu Uemura Depsea Hydrability Intense Moisture Filling Mask $95 (for moisture), Jan Marini Skin Zyme Mask (for brightening)
3) Use lash strengthening products
With sparse eyelashes like mine and daily abuse (curling, mascara, make up removal), I find my lashes fall out faster than they can replenish that was until I met lash boosting products. These products not only work for lashes so if you have brow sparseness you can use it too. It helps to prevent lash prematurely breakage and to keep lashes healthy, strong and boosts the length.
Highly recommend – Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum $65, Xtreme Lash Amplif Eye Lash & Brow Fortifier $129, Â MAC Prep + Prime Future Lash Serum $60
4) Never neglect eye cream
It worked for me and I firmly believe eye cream works. With new technologies, eye cream helps to de-puff, tightens, reduce dark eye circles and plump up the eye area.
Try: Garnier Skin Naturals Caffeine Eye Roll-On $17.95, Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator $95, AUM Anti Age Organics Firming Eye Cream $26.95, StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles $69
5) Arm yourself with make up spray
Think of it as your “hairspray” for your face. Helps to lock in moisture, make up and to help blend everything together. Usually just spray 2-4 pumps all over face after make up is done and gently pat everything in place and viola, long lasting makeup all day!
Love: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray $29.95, Clarins Fix Make-up Mist $34, Kora Balancing Rose Mist
Ulta 3 – #Tangelo
An orangey red colour that goes on very shiny. While the brush applicator is smaller than I am usually accustomed to, with a few careful strokes, the application can be quite smooth.
Ulta 3 – #Mojito
My favourite shade from the lot. The colour is a beautiful minty green shade.
Ulta 3 – #Orchid
A rich royal purple shade. For some reason, this shade is a little harder to apply as it is bit more lumpy and richer than the rest.
Ulta 3 – #Frangipani
Bright, vibrant shade that is clearly not my usual cup of tea but makes a great candidate for party nails.
RRP AUD$2.50 each
Available now at Terry White Chemists, Blooms the Chemist, Good Price Pharmacy and other selected pharmacies
