Nothing But Neutrals

Global Concepts - Robert Delong
So lately I've been swamped with assignments involving me cutting out pieces of white paper onto black cardboard. I've always loved mounting things and so lately I've been really inspired by straight lines and cut out edges. I love the play of material too, from firm and structured to free flow silhouettes. Keeping it simple and minimalistic has always been one of my favourite looks - whether its white on white, black on black or black and white I've found you can never go wrong. Basically, 
it's back to basics and Global Concepts really gets me in the mood!

What do you think?

p.s. I do not take any credit for any of these photos.

One's A Party, Two's A Crowd... NOT!

So a few months ago (I'd say maybe a month and a half seeing as I haven't had this blog for long) I had a near mental breakdown when I discovered Topshop in Sydney stopped selling the Beguiled lipstick that I so badly loved for the season. My love for wine is slowly becoming a sickness, I need help!

As a last minute I'm bored but I have 20 minutes until work starts visit to Myer in the city, I made an impulsive splurge at MAC and purchased a wine shaded matte lipstick, Diva. Not only that but I purchased the closest shade of lip liner available, Burgundy. 

I felt pretty good with myself as I went to work for a few hours; knowing that my quest for the perfect shade of wine was completed I thought I'd treat myself to a little bit of shopping. That was when I saw it, dammit. On the shelves of the Topshop make up section, the word Beguiled just staring back at me, smiling. I was furious, I was confused, I was silly. Without even thinking about what I had done just six hours earlier I marched to the counter and completed the transaction for my lipstick.

So, I guess you can now say I have two of the same shades of lipsticks - and this actually isn't the first time! You can't tell me you've never bought the same nail polish shade because you liked the shade so much! Hmm, thought so!



I noticed however, as close as they may be, when I used them I noticed significant differences. Which is odd considering I thought I loved the Topshop's coverage! And I still do, I'll have you know. Diva seemed to glide more easily, I guess that's what is expected from a MAC lipstick. I felt that I instantly knew I'd get a much fuller lip from it. Whilst Beguiled, whilst it has amazing pigmentation too had more sheen to it, so it made me even more happier.

MAC's Diva in Matte vs Topshop's Beguiled, in natural light

In terms of value for money however, I still believe I'm in a win win situation. I have yet to fall for a drug store brand lipstick; they either seem to thin, last for a very small amount of time and seem to be worth double what I paid for with Topshop! In Sydney, MAC lipsticks usually range between $20 - $30 so it's a given you expect top notch standards, which I do and did receive. For only paying $15 at Topshop I'm still so pleased with the amount of pigmentation and the duration of the lipcolour. Given you use a lipliner like I do, I can actually go a whole 10 hour shift of talking to people.

Why can't all my other lipsticks last like this?

So I guess this union could only mean one thing: t that I now have a Beguiled wine lippy for the day time and a Diva matte lippy for night! And if I ever had to go from day to night I wouldn't have to worry about removing one shade to another, because I could simply go over it like a usual lipliner would. (BWHAHAHA)

I guess when you put two shades of wine together you really get to spot the difference; one makes me feel like red velvet cupcakes the other makes me want to write love letters and seal it with a kiss.

MAC's Diva in Matte vs Topshop's Beguiled, in flash

What I've also fallen in love with in terms of lip care is my spur of the moment purchase: Lush's Mint Julips Lip Scrub. I've been sick of having such horribly chapped lips, and since winter is slowly approaching I couldn't deal! I'm actually surprised with how addicted I am to it, and how I need to refrain from eating it every now and then. But it tastes like white chocolate, with a minty twist its delightful even if it is just tasty sugar.

 So how about you guys? Ever loved a shade so much you splurged like I did in the same day? Or perhaps, anything in general? Maybe I should stay away from the wine for a little while...

Cara Ra Ra!

So with rumours circulating around the internet as to who could possibly be the new face for YSL's new beauty campaign, I felt it was an appropriate time to create a dedication post to one of my favourite faces in the industry today.

Cara Delevingne; when you hear that name, what exactly pops into your head? Gorgeous? Fascinating? Eyebrows? There's a thousand different words you could use to describe this gorgeous human being, and all I can really focus on is: wow, she's my age, what on earth am I doing with my life?

With a tough, laid back, tomboy exterior comes a fascinating Delevingne transformation into the utmost pristine feminine with a cheeky stare. You can't help but stare into her eyes in any photograph and think, dammit Harry Styles you go for Taylor Swift and NOT Cara, are you ok?

So here are just a couple of photos of a girl who is just a couple of months older than me... Not weird right?

What do you think of Cara as the next face for YSL? And do you think my slight girl crush on her is completely ridiculous?! I can change! Hahaha.

January Inspirations: A Photo Log

- I do not take any credit for these photos within this post.

Sorry Shellac!

Throughout the last few months of 2012 I resorted to the new craze in nail care: Shellac - you know, the gel nail polish which dries in like 10 minutes given you keep still underneath the blue light machine thing? Yeah. Turns out, it's not for people like me. You know, the type who get fussy over the colour after a week or so. 

Tragic story cut short; I would usually peel them off leaving my nails completely ruined! So lately, I'm back with just doing my own nails. I'm not too crazy with how I do them, I'm more of a fan of natural nails rather than acrylic too. 

So I grabbed out my OPI and with a little faith, trust and pixie dust I was able to successfully paint my nails without a smudge mark in site! Yay!

Hot and Dangerous

I can't believe how unbelievably hot it is in Sydney, let alone Australia right now. With temperatures escalating to an average of 41 degrees celsius I actually can't even comprehend how difficult mother nature is being with Australians. 

As part of my New Years Resolutions list for 2013 I promised myself that I'd try and get into shape. But the weather is definitely not working with me. Am I destined to be unfit? I think so. Boohoo! So, I guess for the meantime I'll have to resort to 'healthy eating' - what even is that?! 

The other day though, when weather was bearable I did go to my favourite sites for a revitalising jog! I actually really miss it, considering I've practically been locked up in any room with air-conditioning! The Coogee - Bondi beach run: I swear, any place with a scene and fresh air breezing through my skin is the ideal place for a run, or a jog or lets face it, for me, a brisk walk. 

Since I'm always surrounded by gigantic buildings practically caving me in, I always tend to forget just how amazing the world could be. Cliche and corny? Present! I could honestly, never pass the opportunity to take some touristy shots. Bear with me?

Pretty isn't it? If that isn't motivation for me, then I don't quite know what is. Apart from staring at the dreadful Victoria's Secret Models I think this would do just well. 

Hopefully this year it'll be different - wow, I'm filled with cliches someone help me! But seriously, I need to get motivated and be prepared for what's out there. I need to make something of myself, explore the world, grab a hold of opportunities and what not. 

Wow. This was an extremely corny post. I'm sorry!