Monday, September 29th 2014 Skincare
I have a new essential addition to my beauty routine, just in time for summer! Those of you who have been reading regularly, or know me well, may know that I am a stickler for sun protection. New Zealand receives very strong UV rays, and in addition to that I use products such as Retinoids and Vitamin C which put you at higher risk of sun damage if you don’t wear sunscreen. I want to avoid getting skin cancer, while also preventing premature signs of aging and sun damage. Getting the right sunscreen is a struggle though – some make my face too greasy or white looking while others break me out! But now, I have hope! Neutrogena has released their new Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Clear Face Sunscreen, and I was sent it to try for myself and review.
Sunday, September 21st 2014 Makeup
Sometimes, I like to have a bit of silliness on the blog, and today that’s what’s in store. I was thinking about doing a fun challenge, and so I thought ‘why don’t I do my makeup with my left hand’, and I did! It turned out to be less difficult than expected, which was interesting.
Applying my foundation was a bit tricky, I had to go slowly rather than hurriedly smear it all over my face. At first my bronzer and blush looked very stripey but some blending rectified that situation. Where it got difficult was doing my eyebrows! The gel I use requires a gentle hand, and this wasn’t easy. My first eyebrow, which is the right in this picture, ended up being a bit of a mess and looked too heavy for my liking. I wasn’t terribly precise with the eyeshadow but the shades I chose meant that I could just blend it and it looked okayish. The biggest struggle was the liquid eyeliner. I could have made things easier for myself and chosen a pencil or even gel eyeliner but that would be less interesting. I’ll let you judge my efforts for yourself.
Here’s the complete look
For both eyeliner and eyebrows, the ones on the right of this photo (my left) were the worst/messiest. I would have thought the left side would be easier, without having my nose in the way but it seems not. I suppose that both of them were the first attempt doing that, so it seems I got better with time.
I’m surprised that it doesn’t look horrendous, I was expecting a huge mess but I could almost go out in public like this! It took me a fair bit longer than it would take doing makeup with my right hand, because I was being very cautious. I’m sure it’d be a huge mess if I had worked at a quicker pace.
Products used:
Phoenix Foundation – custom blend
Sephora Bronzer – 3 Los Cabos
Sigma Creme de Couture blush – Cherry Apple
ELF Brow Kit – Light
Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette – shades Liar and Factory
The Balm Schwing liquid eyeliner
Napoleon Perdis Mascara
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – 11 Milan
What do you think of my left handed makeup look? I challenge you all to try it – if you do, link it to me in the comments, or tag me on social media – I’m @lenatalksbeauty on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Friday, September 19th 2014 Nails
I’m a big fan of gel manicures because they usually last 2 to 3 weeks on me, and they always look perfect. However, there are some downsides – you usually have to go to a salon to get them done which is an inconvenience and not cheap, usually around $60; or buy special lamps for home use; and it’s a hassle to remove, requiring the use of acetone, tinfoil, cotton buds and a lot of time. Now there is a new generation of gel-polish hybrids out – I had heard about them, but never tried one. So, when Sally Hansen NZ asked for people to trial their new Miracle Gel Polish I contacted them immediately and was really excited to be chosen. I’ve been trialling it over the last few weeks and I’m sharing the results now!
Wednesday, September 17th 2014 Hair care
I couldn’t resist – after months of restraining myself, I signed up for Lust Have It. It’s an Australian-based beauty box that also ships to New Zealand, and costs $19.95 AUD, which is around $22 NZ, depending on the exchange rate at the time they charge you. This month was their birthday box, which made it super special, and gave me a bit of an extra push to order! In this post I’ll be reviewing everything in the box, but first – here’s what we got – an awesome bag full of products:
Tuesday, September 9th 2014 Uncategorised
I like to read different tags that go around the beauty blogs, and this is one that I found on Sam Barker’s blog. I hope you find my answers interesting – and if you do it, link it in the comment section so I can read it!
1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Very slightly wavy
2. What is your natural hair colour?
A medium brown, that gets a bit lighter in summer. Here’s the last picture I have of it natural, it’s been a couple of years of dying.
3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
I go to a salon, I couldn’t do highlights at home. I’ve previously done it at home when I dyed it all one colour.
4. How often do you wash your hair?
Every 3 days usually, I can sometimes push it out to 4 days with the use of dry shampoo.
5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?
I tend to wear it in a bun or ponytail most days for work, so yes.
6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
I do my own nails most of the time, a decent salon can be pretty expensive and I have a lot of polish. If I do go to a salon, I get gel so it lasts longer.
7. How often do you change your nail polish?
Once a week usually.
8. Do you polish your toes in the winter, too or just in the summer?
All year long, it feels weird to have them bare.
9. How long does it take to put on your makeup?
For a basic face it’s about 15 minutes. If I want to do something more special it can be around 30 minutes.
10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
Face, always. Most of my eyeshadows don’t have much fall out.
11. Do you “collect” makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I seem to have become a collector…oops! In my defense, I’m NOWHERE near as bad as some people I know.
Wearing XO Beauty false eyelashes
12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
Rarely – I’ve worn them maybe three times this year. I feel like I don’t look that much different with them on, and it takes a lot of mucking about. Here’s me with them on – can you even tell?
13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?
No, on most work days I am typically barefaced. I just stare at a screen in an office full of male engineers in their 50s, so there’s not a lot of point. I do when I’m going out after work, or if I particularly feel like it though.
14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)?
No, not unless I’m blogging it! Sometimes I’m in my pj bottoms with a full face of makeup which looks funny.
15. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Of course
16. How many high end products do you have?
It depends what you consider high end? If you include MAC, which by NZ prices I do, then I have about 10 products. If you don’t…well then none!
17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?
Foundation, gel eyeliner and concealer brushes are weekly, but my powder brushes are a bit less often. I wrote a post about my brush-washing routine here.
18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?
I plan it every night for work, because I get dressed and ready in the living room while my boyfriend sleeps later. In the weekend I choose as I get dressed.
19. How often do you change your handbag?
Once or twice a year, but I rotate around bags reasonably regularly. My latest handbag is below, I LOVE it.
20. What time do you get up & go to sleep?
Too late!! I find myself going to sleep around 11-12, and I get up at about 6:45am
21. How often & when do you workout?
Three times a week, and after work. I do jazz dance class, and go to the gym too
22. Left-handed or Right-handed?
Right-handed
23. How tall are you?
5ft.5, or 164cm
24. Do you speak a foreign language?
I learned French for 7 years at school, but I don’t speak it very well any more. It comes in handy when looking at some beauty product names though
25. How many pets do you have?
None – I’d love cats though, if I was allowed at our rental. My dad and his partner have a reaaaalllly cute cat though and I like to cuddle him.
26. How often are you on Blogger?
I use wordpress, and I’m on several times a day! Reading blogs, checking my stats, writing.
27. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
I have a google document which is continually growing
28. How did you come up with your blog name?
It was a loooooong process. I nearly named it Lena’s Beauty Spot but thought it sounded like a mole. I also considered ‘Beauty Without The Bullshit’ and thought it was a bit aggressive haha. I just discussed them with my mum.
29. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?
A Sony one that my boyfriend bought for his OE SEVEN years ago, it’s practically antique. Sometimes I use my phone too, a Samsung Galaxy S2. Here’s my set up that I use to take photos after work – natural light is better but my DIY lightbox is good in a pinch
30. What is your favorite beauty/fashion magazine?
I never buy magazines – they’re expensive and usually pretty boring. I prefer to read blogs, I feel like (most) blogs are more genuine than magazines and they have fresh content all the time.
