Say hello to Clinique’s latest limited edition long last lipstick in #Runway Coral. Coral has made a huge splash all over the beauty scene in the past five years or so and you’ll see from time to time corals keep emerging back on trends and in our lipstick palettes. Many have tried but not many have nailed the formula without making lips too drying or clashing with your skin tone.

Inspired by Clinique’s Global Colour Artist – Jenna Menard, this super flattering coral is definitely a must have if you’re looking for the perfect coral for your lips.

Look at the smoothness, the comfortable shine that only a well moisturised lips could have. Big love!

RRP AUD$36

Available online now exclusively via Clinique

Great Lengths Multisonic 

Much like eye lash extensions, hair extensions are often misunderstood for being bad for you. Through my personal experience in trialling both services, I have to admit if the treatment is done right; it can do wonders for you. Today, I am going to tell you why I chose hair extension and how it can be the best thing I have done for myself to date. If you have gorgeous, full volume and length hair, you can stop reading now but for the rest of you, let’s have a chat shall we?

Great Lengths Hair Extensions

Bit on my hair story, I have dead straight, volume-less hair that is in its awkward growing out length. Naturally, I fall into the perfect category of A) wanting long hair, B) wanting volume and C) wanting for a change. Now, we are all no stranger to Great Lengths and their ethnically sourced 100% real human hair extensions. Their new Great Lengths Multisonic Hair Extension session only takes an hour to complete instead of your traditional 4-6 hours of sitting still waiting for your extensions to be applied. When I first heard of the dramatic time difference, I knew I had to jump on it to experience myself

Mieka Hairdressing (available in Melbourne & Gold Cost) who was recently announced as 2012 Australian Salon of the Year at 2012 Australian Hair Fashion Awards was my go-to hair salon for hair extension because they are the experts in town and also houses the head trainer of Great Lengths in Victoria – the very talented D’Artanian. Instead of rushing into the whole process, I had an in-depth consultation with D’Artanian answering my concerns, working towards my expectations and most importantly chatted through my hair colour and what coloured extensions to order for a 100% perfect match. 

Shortly after the initial consultation, I went back to Mieka for colour and again within 48 hours of freshly dyed hair to have my Great Lengths Multisonic Hair Extensions fitted. We agreed on 40cm length that falls naturally just on my chest with a combination of 3 shades -black + 2 shades of brown aka natural, highlights and lowlights, all chemical free and fused with keratin for an undetected, natural finish.

Hair extensions being applied

Hair extensions being applied with Multisonic technology

Finished look

The procedure itself was surprisingly quick, all under an hour and I walked out of the salon with a full head (150 strands) of extensions. Thanks to the new Great Length’s Multisonic technology, they were able to apply 5 strands at a time, creating exquisite smooth pillow bonds that are pre-bonded with keratin protein and attached to my natural hair via an air pressure & cold fusion method. These geniuses little pillow bonds also stay flat and minimize hair from being tangled and matted. Gotta love new technology and how far hair extensions have progressed.

With D’Artanian in our matching blue top

With proper care (especially important to use correct shampoos and conditions), hair extensions can last up to 6 months with the help of regular hair brushing (recommended twice a day with a Great Lengths brush which is specially designed to work with the bonds), a check-up appointment following the initial application and utilizing Great Lengths Anti-Tap Water remedy to eliminate damage from alkalinity in water.

Styled hair extensions

I love how I can go about with my usual hair styling including heated Irons, how lightweight my full head of extensions feel (trust me I’ve done this with another brand before and have not felt this liberated) and sleep in peace without feeling something is sticking out or poking into me. That and of course the compliments I keep receiving from ladies and gentlemen alike about how gorgeous and natural my hair extensions are.

Highly recommend Great Lengths Multisonic Hair Extensions for the time poor, those who wish for volume + length and brides to be to have the perfect dreamy hair that looks natural and seamless not only in person but in pictures too.

Before hair extension, clean and straightened hair

After extensions

For more information about the hair extension and salon, please visit:

Great Lengths Hair Extension

Mieka Hairdressing

#1 Remington Salon Pro Keratin Therapy Tong – Perfect timeless wavey curls each and every time with this tong.

#2 Garnier Hand Intensive 7 Days Protecting Hand Cream – Effective and value for money with the amount you get.

#3 Molton Brown Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod - Refreshing and great for time of the month to de-bloat.

#4 Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks – Very hydrating even for dry lips and comes in a range of GORGEOUS shades. Also love Midnight Rose.

#5 Bioderma Crealine H20 – They don’t call this the miracle cleansing water for nothing. Great for even the most sensitive skin.

#6 Sisley Phyto Blanc Intensive Lightening Serum – Haven’t seen such great results from a brightening serum in a loooong while.

#7 Tom Ford Nail Lacquer Spring 2012 – Designer luxe + beauty = cult must haves!

Notable mention, I LOVE Clara H Nails from Tsumiki Design.

I have a little story to confess. When I first swatched these nail polishes, I didn’t like them and in fact I hated it. Both was gloopy, didn’t dry for ages and was a pain to apply. So I stashed them away and have totally forgotten about them until I saw a few positive blog posts raving about them. After a few thoughts, I took them out again to test run it again and boy am I surprised that by changing my technique of applying nail polishes could make such a huge difference.

You see, I am accustomed to a certain brand of nail polish and have always been on the heavy handed side (I much prefer one thick coat rather than 2-3 thin coats), much to my surprise Orly nail polishes certainly works like a dream with very thin and carefully applied coats. These swatches are all two thin coats.

Orly #Faint of Heart

The perfect taupe for Autumn. Glossy, creamy and is incredibly smooth.

Orly #Jealous Much

Minty pastel green and is a must have for those who are a bit adventurous and think of all the nail art possibility with this!

Orly Cool Romance 2012 is a limited edition collection featuring muted palettes of cool metallics and pastel shades. There are 6 lacquers available for this new range.

RRP AUD$18.95 each

Available on counters now

1. Garnier Gentle Brightening Foam/Scrub AUD$6.95 (each)

• Affordable
• Doesn’t feel harsh or strip skin of its natural moisture

2. Maybelline Volum’ Epress One by One Satin Black Mascara AUD$19.25

• Limited edition made to celebrate Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012, only 100,000 available throughout May
• Massive 300 bristles brush that de clumps with a carbon black finish

3. Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ AUD$29.95

• New improved formula
• Cult favourite and one of the best rosehip oil available in the market

• Very autumn appropriate collection
• Featuring shades of browns and deep reds

5. Veet High Precision Wax for Sensitive Skin AUD $12.99

• For the sensitive areas like upper lips, chin and brows (Note: I’m not a brow wax fan so have only tried this on my upper lips)
• Handy slanted precision tip to control the amount of wax to apply

6. John Frieda Salon Shine Hair Dryer AUD$69.95

• Has metallic matt finish and high gloss chrome accents
• Utilises advanced ionic technology, 3 heat and 2 speed settings + cold shot option
• Lightweight to carry around

Chef’s Menu – The Sharing House, South Wharf

Chef’s Menu – The Sharing House, South Wharf

Chef’s Menu – The Sharing House, South Wharf

Chef’s Menu – The Sharing House, South Wharf

Tsuke Don, Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe

King Fish Neck, Aka Tombo

Food for the sick

Thank you TINNIPOO! I love you long time.

The Lot, Pattony’s (our local)

Steamed bread, butter + kaya, Pappa Rich QV

Honey + Jujube Tea, Oriental Spoon

]]> http://www.ponikuta.com/2012/04/eats-food-through-my-instagram/feed/ 0 http://www.ponikuta.com/2012/04/beauty-news-megan-harrison-makeup-classes/ http://www.ponikuta.com/2012/04/beauty-news-megan-harrison-makeup-classes/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:53:09 +0000 ponikuta http://www.ponikuta.com/?p=6087  

Melbourne ladies, get excited. There’s a new make up guru in town and it’s Megan Harrison. She is not your cookie cutter make up guru, she believes in using products that work for your skin tone and embracing products from EVERY brand. Now, this is a make up guru who knows what she is talking about.

I had the luxury to peak into Megan’s makeup collection couple of weeks ago and boy am I impressed to see she’s a big fan of Ellis Faas, Chanel, Bobbi Brown, Bioderma, Bourjois, MAC, Estee Lauder brands to name a few.

Specialises in print, ad campaigns to bridal work, Megan has done some pretty impressive work and you can view her portfolio here. If you’re a budding make up artist or simple someone who just want to pick up some make up skills and industry knowledge, Megan is your go-to lady in Melbourne. She also gives pointers to networking, know-how to build your website, set up portfolio and keeps you up to date with industry tips.

You can enrol to her classes ranging from beginner to experts here. Best of all? $10 of every course goes to charity (either Look Good Feel Better or Animals Australia).

With Megan Harrison at her studio

]]> http://www.ponikuta.com/2012/04/beauty-news-megan-harrison-makeup-classes/feed/ 0 http://www.ponikuta.com/2012/04/ponikuta-com-goes-on-holiday/ http://www.ponikuta.com/2012/04/ponikuta-com-goes-on-holiday/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:26:13 +0000 ponikuta http://www.ponikuta.com/?p=6078  

Hopefully I will have internet access to instagram along my way. Be sure to search for “ponikuta” and add. Expect my regular daily posting to be sporadic. Otherwise, I will be back in June!

Along with their Spring 2012 collection, Tom Ford Beauty releases four additional nail lacquer shades to their existing nail lacquer collection. Previously I have blogged about the Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes and this time around, I will be swatching 3 of the 4 new shades.

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer –  #Gold Haze

True to its name, it is a subtle metallic gold shade that is quite light and is flattering to the nails. Texture wise, this is a breeze to apply and remove and I like how pigmented they are. You only need one careful coating.

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer – #Burnishes Rouge

Surprisingly, this shade looks darker on the nails than it is in the bottle. Also, it has more of a glossy overall finish. Again, you will only need a very teeny amount for an even, smooth coat.

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer – #Silver Smoke

Frosty finish, my favourite out of the lot and is such a gorgeous subtle metallic silver shade. A must have!

RRP AUD$45 each

Available on Tom Ford Beauty counters now 

Comes with 5 shades to choose from, peptide formulation to help increase skin’s elasticity and SPF15 sun protection

Why I love it: 

• A girl will always need a foundation in her drawer to fake “sleep and glow”. Rimmel’s Wake Me Up Foundation does exactly that.
• Pump bottle liquid foundation aka my foundation of choice most months of the year (cept’ for a few really good cream foundations )
• Texture wise it is part liquidy part creamy. So you’ll have to make sure you work it and thoroughly massage all over face. I had no issues working this with my fingers all over my face, goes on smoothly with no issues
• It also has illuminator in it that helps to reflect light (healthy glow) onto skin to A) minimise fine lines, B) minimise signs of fatigues, C) minimise the visibility of pores and flaws on skin
• Due to the illuminator content, my face did look a little dewy-er and shinier than usual which I am not very accustomed to. So if a bit of a healthy dewy and shine is not your thing, may I recommend to go over it with powder?)
• I find this pretty long lasting with zero powder on top, this lasted pretty much all day (I never touch my face with my hands throughout the day) and by the end of the night, it still looked natural not masked like on my skin. I am also happy to report that I didn’t feel my skin dehydrated or have any sinked into my fine/facial lines
• Coverage wise, this is medium to full and is buildable. As you can see in my swatch below, the foundation actually covered the green veins on my hand pretty effortlessly
• If you’re after fresh, radiant, glowy skin finish, this has to be your one-step GO TO foundation and skip the illuminator.

I am using shade #100 Ivory. My apologies with the overtly “yellow” lighting.

RRP AUD$19.95

Available on Rimmel counters now or call 1800 812 663 for stockist

“For ten years, Sisley Laboratories have studied the mechanisms of melanogenesis, and striven to understand pigmentation disorders and the origins of a radiant complexion to provide a highly-effective solution for skin in need of a lightening treatment.” 

Why I love it:

• A new and highly concentrated serum with strong and powerful brightening ingredients (see star ingredients), designed to target brown spots, pigmentation and skin’s overall clarity by visibly reducing the appearance of brown spots caused by environmental factor and the natural ageing process.
• Star ingredients: Ascorbic Acid 2-glucoside (vitamin C derivative), lemon, white mulberry extract, scutellaria, prickly pear flower extract, vitamin A palmitate, essential oils of lavender and marjoram, natural alpha bisabolol
• The technology behind this serum is by exfoliating and boosting cell renewal and soothes skin all at one go.
• This serum has a milky to watery fluid texture and goes onto skin fairly quickly, feels very lightweight and is one of those products that you feel it has thoroughly absorbed into your skin quickly instead of sitting on top of the skin.
• Love the soft, matte finish
• Made in France, non comedogenic and is suitable for all skin types

My results: After using this for close to a month both AM & PM, I see an instant boost of clarity to my skin overnight, overall more even + brighter appearance, and here’s hoping those annoying age spots will never pop out of my skin post 30s. In the past month there’s been some crazy weather as well and this serum continues to deliver through those really cold and dry nights to help keep my skin hydrated and I am excited to bring this along with me when I go on my holiday in Asia/Europe this week too.

Highly recommend to those who have constant acne scarring, freckles, pigmentation and brown spot issues. I find this particularly great for uneven skin tone issues too; results will be amplify with the use of the Lightening Toning Lotion and Mask from the same collection as well. When you get a chance, please do give it a go!

Phyto-Blanc Intensive Lightening Serum 30ml RRP AUD$390

Phyto-Blanc Lightening Toning Lotion 200ml RRP AUD$150

Phyto-Blanc Ultra Lightening Mask 60ml RRP AUD$150

Available on counters now

Bioderma aka 3rd most prescribed brand in France is finally available in Australia. Founded back in 1977 and with 30+ years in business and with over 50 world patents, Bioderma’s advanced research has developed dedicated solution for each skin condition. Here in Australia, we welcome the launch of sensitive, acne prone and dry skin ranges.

Today, I am reviewing the Crealine H20, also known as their best selling product is a ‘cleansing water’ that remove make up from all skin types including really sensitive and intolerant skin that are prone to redness. Its gentle formula helps to reduce redness, soothes skin and yet does its job incredibly well at removing makeup off my skin, leaving it soft and clean with no signs of burning, oiliness or any residue. I even tried going over the same spot a second time with a new piece of cotton pad and there was no residue left, this goes to show how gentle yet powerful this cleansing water is.

Apart from great at removing make up, this is also great as a gentle daily morning face wash without physically have to wetting your whole face (my type of AM routine) and rinse any cleanser residue off as this cleanses and tones the skin thoroughly.

Additionally, this is also great for in and around the eye area without burning my eyes. So in the AM, I use this to wipe and cleanse my face and go straight to my regular skincare/makeup routine. At night, I use this to cleanse my face/lips and double cleanse my face with a cleanser after to ensure eye makeup and residue is thoroughly removed.

TIP: Did you know, you can use the cleansing water with a folded tissue paper as well to cleanse through the face and neck as well as a cotton pad?

Soap free, fragrance free, alcohol free, preservative free, hypoallergenic

RRP AUD$39.95

Available on counter now

Call 03 9505 3086 for stockist 

#1 Tsumiki Design - A gem in Melbourne for their excellent hair and nail services.

#2 Skinceuticals CE Ferulic – Skinceuticals never fails, always delivers what it promises.

#3 BYS Brow & Eye Pencil – Best budget find of 2012.

#4 Laduree Pressed Cheek Color – Pretty and very pigmented,love this blush!

#5 GHD air – Best at home dryer so far, so lightweight and quick to dry.

#6 Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense – One of the best eye liner to date. Creamy, pigmented and goes on effortlessly without smudging.

#7  Darling Nail Polish – Gorgeous nail colour collection!

#8 Face of Australia Barbados Collection – MBBE represent/collab. Definitely a very proud moment.

Gorgeous isn’t it? Love Clara H‘s work. It’s a mixture of gelish, pink glitter and 3D nail art. Clara H professional nail services including Japanese nail art is only available through Tsumiki Design.

Tsumiki Design address: 1st floor/ 155 Greville St, Prahran VIC

Tsumiki Design number: 03 9510 5520

Continuing my posts on Rouge in Love, today we have #377N Midnight Rose. Another winner in my books.

#377N Midnight Rose – Fuchsia reddish shade that is sheer to medium pigment. Upon first swatch, the lipstick is quite sheer, so will require 2 layers for a more pigmented coat. Also be sure to layer on lip liner if you are after a bolder finish.

The finish result painted with a lip brush in two layers of #377N Midnight Rose. Even though this falls in the fuchsia family, this shade has more of a reddish than a purple finish which means it will make your lips look younger looking rather than dated.

Another three lip tips for the day:

Lip Tip #1 - To keep your lipstick clean and rid of dirt, be sure to gently wipe your lipstick on a clean sheet of tissue after each use.

Lip Tip #2 - For lipstick to stay in place, layer with lip liner, blot, apply lipstick and gently dab on a layer of translucent loose powder.

Lip Tip #3 - When it comes to lipstick, I believe there’s no right or wrong makeup rules. Mix and match lipsticks to suit your personal preference, be bold and try shades you’ve shy away from before and most importantly remember to wear your lipstick with a smile.