Camping fun!

This is just a quick post to follow up on my Camping Essentials blog!

  We went..we camped...we got wet!  Yes folks, the weather forecast was spot on and it rained, and rained, and rained!  Now camping in the rain is not so bad in itself - but putting a tent up in the rain, (and I don't mean the kind pitter patter of a British drizzle - this was torrential downpour, end of days kind of rain - Australian rain) - well let's just say, it was a bit of a cheerfulness challenge.  And the thing is, when we got to our campsite, yes there were some grey clouds, but there was also blue sky - great big patches of it - the sunlight was streaming through the trees, everything was glistening - hubby and I looked at each other, bit of a wink, each with our own smug face unfurling with increasing force as the minutes went by - 'we got this camping malarkey' is what we each were thinking.

And yes we got confident.  There was the big decision to erect the tent.  Little 3 was running through the leaves squealing with delight - hubby was swaggering around preparing the tent - we unfurled the fly sheet - the bit that should definitely not get wet...it was all laid out on the ground..right now for the poles....aaaaand - it began....

Now this downpour was a relatively short one, but reader, make no mistake - this was 5 maybe 10 minutes of the heaviest rain known to man.  There was chaos...3's squeals turned to screams, I ran back to the car with 3 under one arm - threw her in to the relative safety of the vehicle and started hurling various plastic bags and pillows around with super human effort looking for our waterproofs or an umbrella - every time I glanced up all I could see was Dear Husband's face scrunched up, very animatedly calling out various 'instructions' to me!  I have no idea what - he was like some strange silent mime with the occasional audible expletive carrying across to me....  And then the rain stopped - I wish I could say it was quiet - but there was quite a bit of rage emanating from Himself - I lingered by the car with 3 for as long as decently possible to allow the worst of it to pass...and then sauntered over, casually, quietly - respectful of the minor disaster that had struck us at the very onset of our 'Great Camping Trip'.  We then put the poles in, each with now with a look of grim determination on our faces, intermingled with a hint of panic - 30 minutes of looking fearfully into the sky should it decide to open once more.  But we did it - we got the tent up!

We gazed upon it with some dismay - little 3 could have used it as a paddling pool - and so began the great the mopping up ordeal - any dry, non essential piece of clothing or material we had with us was sacrificed for the name of the cause - that is - restoring the tent to some semblance of a dry refuge where we could realistically spend the night.  Mission accomplished!

The rest of the trip went pretty smoothly - rain and all!  We went for lovely rainy walks through the woods - I heard my kookaburras - and yes, we toasted marshmallows over a fire which we were able to intermittently maintain!

For your viewing pleasure...

Hope you enjoyed some family pics of our great camping adventure!...and FYI - I was very glad that I packed my waterproof mascara!

Crystelle xx

Camping Essentials!

So the weather has taken a somewhat damper-can't-get-the-washing-dry-for-at-least-3-days turn for the worse!  It has rained and rained and rained.  And so we thought...hey lets go camping!

Errm...

First proper camping trip to be embarked upon with our little 3 year old ragamuffin!  And I want to be excited - I really do..but am I?

Well, we only booked our tent site for the one night and it's only about 40 minutes drive from our house, which at the time we were really patting ourselves on the back for our ingenuity..if it all goes terribly wrong we have just a short drive back home and I think we even pass a MacDonalds!  But you know what, it has very quickly become clear that the amount of 'gear' (excluding foodstuffs) one needs for one night of camping is pretty much the same amount of gear you would need for 4 nights of camping...and then it further becomes apparent that for all this 'gear' required and effort expended, one night seems hardly worth it...but...onwards and upwards - we will stick to the plan!

Camping seems the perfect time to consider what my minimalist beauty essentials kit will comprise of!  What imperatives does a lady require to maintain some modicum of glamour on wet, rainy, camping trip?


Dry Shampoo

So the forecast is for rain!  And camping very rarely entails a hot shower with access to shampoo and conditioner (in my experience..), so Dry Shampoo is a must.  This product is superb and absorbing any greasiness in between hair washes.  Great for instant results, but also I have sprayed into my hair in the evening before going to sleep and wake up with wonderful, fully of body hair!

Bobbi Brown Spf 30 BB cream

This BB cream is perfect to simply glide over the skin to even the complexion and give a great natural glow to the gal who wishes she was glamping rather than camping!  (just kidding husband)  This gives great results with minimal effort!

Waterproof mascara

I can almost hear the sound of thousands of people everywhere scoffing - 'Mascara when camping?!'...and to those antagonists I say - 'C'mon people - we're campers not heathens!'  This is a particular favourite of mine!

Stila lip gloss

Again, only a few seconds of effort and your pout will be feeling hydrated and nourished - these babies have vitamins A, C & E on board - mix that with a subtle hint of colour and the fabulous smell and you will emerge from your tent looking and feeling like Australia's next Top Model!


Face Cleansing Wipes

These are a must - I always have a stash of Simple Facial Wipes in the cabinet and these are ideal for removing makeup and just general grime when there is a lack of a sink and hot water!  I still seem to be in the habit of carrying around baby wipes which always do the trick too!

Clarins Eye Gel

I always seem to have a travel size sample of this wonderful eye gel in my makeup bag - This gel is so soothing and really helps with under eye puffiness and dark circles! And while I am persevering in being the voice of optimism there is the whisper of negative nelly telling me that I am probably not going to get a lot of sleeping done camping in the rain with a  3 year old and that this puts the chance of puffiness and dark circles at an all time high.

Loccitane hand moisturiser

What can I say...my hands get dry...and I think just the act of rubbing this delightful cream into my hands at night just before I lay my head on my pillow - deeply breathing the fabulous almond aroma - has very much become a sleep inducing ritual for me.

And that will be pretty much it on the beauty essential front for me.

And readers, to be perfectly honest - despite my somewhat raffish elbow digging at our seemingly doomed camping trip and the knowledge that our expedition into the wilderness and more importantly our level of preparedness for said adventure which is increasingly becoming somewhat akin to the Burke & Wills 'affair'...the thought of smelling the rain  as it filters through the eucalyptus trees creating an aromatic haze as it mixes with the strong earthy scent of wet soil - the thought of waking up to the iconic and instantly recognisable sound of the kookaburra as it laughs it's way into my consciousness - the thought of getting muddy - the thought of toasting marshmallows over the campfire - the thought....of, well, camping...It makes me feel rather excited!

Thanks for reading!

Crystelle xx

10 Ultimate Beauty Must Haves!

Hello to my lovely readers!  Hope that you all had a nice Easter break?

At some point in the next week I hope to finally 'crack the facebook share button on my blog' code and it would be fabulous if you do like to read my (hopefully, as I am getting into my stride) increasingly eloquent entries, that you share them with the rest of your facebook families...  There will be further begging and pleading regarding this request at a later date, but until then, I hope you like this next post.

Here is 10 of what, I believe, to be my 10 essential Beauty Bag Must Haves (at the moment..it's a very dynamic entity is my beauty kit)...so here they are...

1)  Eyelash Curlers!!


Shu uemura Eyelash Curlers $29

Personally I love the shu uemura eyelash curlers!  I find that if I do nothing else in my  beauty routine, the act of simply curling my eyelashes really 'wakens' my face up!  I instantly appear brighter and fresher.  I love my eyelash curlers!

2)  Nars Pro Prime Eye primer




Nars Pro Prime $34

Without this miraculous product I would literally be unable to wear eye-shadow!  And before I started using it, I rarely did - I was that person who within minutes of applying my eye makeup would find that it had almost instantly 'pooled' down into my creases and any kind of 'polished' look would have instantly evaporated (along with my makeup it seems).  This wonderful formula glides on super easy adding only seconds to any routine and ensures that your eye makeup will stay put for the entire day!  It provides a base for any colour to adhere to and is simply marvellous!  Thank you Nars for this one! (among many others)

3)  Nars Dual Intensity Eye shadow - Desdemona



Nars Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Desdemona $38

This bring me to my next beauty fav at the moment and that is the Nars Dual Intensity Eye Makeup.  The great thing about this product is that for a more subtle application you use it as a dry shadow, but if you want to ramp up the intensity you mist some water over your make up brush and you have a much more intense, really high impact colour!  This colour in particular is fabulous!  I find that I can use this colour dry over my lids, well blended with a neutral tone, and then using an dampened angled brush I apply the more intense colour as an eye liner, top and bottom - then finish off with a few good coats of black mascara!  Very pretty!

4)  Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream $25

This cream has reached iconic status in the beauty world and the great thing about this product is that it has so many uses.  Cracked lips?  This will moisturise them!  Unruly eyebrows?  This will tame and gloss them!  Irritable skin post wax? This will soothe it!  This cream is great for cuticles, sunburn and dry heels... in fact, if there is any beauty concern this cream won't fix, I don't know what it is!  I always have a tube of this in my skin care kit!

5)  Stila One Step Illuminater

Stila One Step Illuminater $48

I have been using this on a daily basis at the moment!  Especially as the weather starts to become a little bleaker as winter (it's all relative) descends upon us Down Under, I think it's nice to add a bit of extra radiance to one's complexion!  I apply this as a primer, just before I apply my foundation and it makes my skin feel and look great!  Again on 'no makeup' days I just apply this and curl my eyelashes and I am done!  It feels very nourishing and is full of vitamens A, C and E.  And you know what, there is something to be said for the pleasure that one can derive from applying a 'pretty' product.  The swirls of pink, champagne and latte beige are so darn pleasing!

6)  Estee Lauder Doublewear Light Foundation Spf 10



Estee Lauder Double Wear Light $50

I love trying new foundations!  Lancôme's Tient Vissionnaire, YSL's Touche Éclat Illiminating Foundation, Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - All great products - but many years ago I used Estee Lauders Double Wear Foundation and I find that I keep coming back to it!  It is a long lasting (15 hours is the marketed figure) oil controlling formula that provides medium coverage, but which is also easily buildable!

7)  Clinique Light Reflective Airbrush Concealer

Clinique Airbrush Concealer $40

Again, I have enjoyed using this product for many years and use it on a daily basis.  It is great for concealing shadows but also illuminating the eye area as well as any other shadow prone areas of the face.  I will generally use this product under my eyes (just where it is needed), the sides of my mouth, down the bridge of my nose and between my eyes.  The coverage is adequate for my purposes, but I find that if I think I am going to be photographed much on a night out or I am requiring a heavier coverage I will use my Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage!

8)  Loreal Lip Gloss

Loreal Shine Caresse Lolita

This really affordable lip gloss is my new go to natural lip colour!  It is part of Loreal's Shine Caresse range which offers some great colours of lip gloss, but the great innovation behind this product is that due to the high water content in the gloss (30%) mixed with moisturising oils, it just feels so nourishing when you apply it.  The great thing is that the high colour pigment in the gloss creates a subtle and very flattering staining effect on the lips. 

9) Chanel Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner pencils



Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Pencil in Beryl

I believe, dear readers, that this product is no longer available! (sob)...I love this product and the colour is fabulous.  The subtle lavender is a great substitute for those mornings where, I've been up a lot the night before (thank you Miss G) and I need to trick people into thinking that my eyes are not as red as they actually are.  The trick is to line your waterline with said colour, I have also been using a nude pencil, but as I say, the lavender is so pretty and achieves the same effect.  Any suggestions for alternatives in a similar colour would be greatly appreciated!

10)  Mecca SPF

Mecca To Save Face SPF 30 $38

Do you all remember that song 'Everybody's Free' - you know the part where the guy is imparting all this great life advice -

 'Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '99...Wear sunscreen! 
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.  The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists...'

Well this is my advice to you!  If you want to do anything to have more youthful looking skin, and I don't care if you are 18 or 80...wear Sunscreen!  In the summer here in Oz, I will wear a SPF 50 every day!  My problem has been that I can never find a sunscreen that isn't too greasy or leave that white mask on my face after application, and is at least SPF 30.  Well, ladies and gents - Mecca Cosmetica has listened to my (and thousands of other aussies everywhere) and launched their own formula SPF.  And it is fabulous!  Not only does their To Save Face have a SPF of 30 (tick), providing broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, it has a hydrating matte finish cream - non oily (tick), it contains hyaluronic acid, pomegranate extract and vitamin E in a non-whitening formula (tick, tick tick!!)  No wonder this product has been a #1 bestseller since it's launch and I believe is now being marketed overseas! High five Mecca!

At this point I would like to make a special mention to Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (mwah) and Bobbi Brown BB Cream!  They also hold a special place in my heart!

Well that's it!  My 10 ultimate beauty must haves!  Remember to drop me a line with any recommendations or feedback - I love to hear from you all!  I hope you enjoyed reading and until next time...

Crystelle xx

Frugal Fashionista!

So, as a mother of a small human being, who I often have to cajole, bribe, and beg into a variety of toddler outfits (and might I add if it doesn't have Ana or Elsa featured prominently for all to see then it is not getting within ten feet of this little miss) it is my constant goal to master the art of dressing myself. 

I dream of leaving the house looking polished, pulled together, effortlessly trendy.  But this, my trusted readers - is a challenge.  Is it really attainable to leave the house without looking like a bag lady?  Can I be 'that girl' (okay 30 something lady) who owns more than 1 pair of flip flops for the summer and 1 pair of boots for the winter.  Is it possible to achieve said fashionista status without spending the years clothing budget on one item?

I will find out all this and more as I enter my quest to become a Frugal Fashionista!

So below are some items that I personally covet from a few of my favourite stores!  See what you think - Fashionista or Frump?



Crochet Top Target

I actually purchased this top from Target for a very reasonable $59 after being unable to find a very similar one from Topshop.  Here is the Topshop one which would have cost around $90 I think...

Cutwork Embroidered Top Topshop

Not too shabby me thinks!  I did well with my Target purchase and have received many compliments when I have worn!

I also purchased these Boyfriend style jeans from Target at the same time which I wear with the cuffs rolled up slightly...again, after my local Topshop store had sold out of their line of B/F jeans.

Target Boyfriend Jeans $59

I love these jeans - they are really comfortable and despite reviews saying the distressed areas become gaping holes after a few washes I have found this not to be the case - but I have been washing them inside out! 

I have actually worn the jeans with the crochet top with these super cheap pointy slingback flats I purchased in..wait for it...Big W!

Now for my wish list...

Boden Annabel Dress $138

I love the look of this dress and think it would look really sweet with this Denim Jacket.

Boden Amanda Jacket $81-108

Also from Boden these shoes are also high on my Boden 'must haves'.

Boden Lille Lace up Points $138

And a few other wish list items from Esprit...

City lights Stripe tshirt $49

Jacquard knit jumper $69.95

Soft frayed scarf $39

Faux fur hooded jacket $199

So, any thoughts?  Any particular shops I should be aware of for bargainlicious purchases?  What good online shopping can readers recommend?

Thanks for reading and remember, I love to hear from you!

Crystelle xx

Amazing new Exfoliation glove!!

So whilst browsing the shelves of Priceline the other day for any exciting beauty innovations which may have skipped my attention I impulse bought a Feggari Peeling Glove.  I literally saw it hanging on the shelf, thought 'oh I could do with a new exfoliating mitt', and threw it in the trolley.  I almost put it back when I got to the checkout and realised it had cost $34 bucks!  But curiosity got the better of me and with one carefree paypal wave I was on my way out the door.

Now I used said product this morning in the shower and...Oh.  My.  God.  I am not normally one to tout miracle products but this thing is amazing. 

The Feggari Peeling Glove promises 'Revolutionary exfoliating' giving the user silky smooth skin.  There are specific directions -

1.  Soften skin in shower for at least 3 minutes prior to use.
2.  All soap products must be rinsed from the skin.
3.  The glove should be used on wet skin but not whilst under running water.
4.  Massage in a vertical direction.
5.  Rinse glove after each use.

But within seconds of using on my legs I could see icky brown skin residue being removed.  With other exfoliation mitts I find the physical exfoliation quite irritating for my skin type and I often feel I am doing more damage than good with the scratchy, abrasive fabric.  The makers of the Feggari Glove state that the secret of the glove rests in its composure of 'irregular threads of different degrees of elasticity'.  This seemingly allows 'perfect adherence to the surface of the skin enabling it to eliminate impurities even in the most minute cavities, such as pores.'

Most definitely this product works - my skin feels so wonderfully smooth and my moisturiser was absorbed more effectively instead of sitting on the top of my skin. 

Now I did a quick google search on this product and it seems I am not the only one raving about it's brilliance.  There are hundreds of reviews from people insisting its helped their pregnancy stretch marks to ladies proclaiming it has been more effective on their faces than chemical peels!  These things I can neither confirm nor deny - but it worked for me, I would definitely buy it again and, as a bonus, Feggari is proudly Australian owned!

Please share any thoughts or recommendations - I love to hear from you!

Crystelle xx

Bathtime Bliss!!! with LUSH

                     

Hey Ho folks!

Now I used to be the person (pre-child) who loved to take baths!  For me - relaxation was sinking into a hot, scented, sometimes oily, bubbly bath!  If there were candles - great!  If there was wine - you just try and wipe that smile off my face!  And dear husband got right on board - some nights I would arrive home to find the lights dimmed, bath filled, with the above mentioned necessities - glass of wine and book of the moment within arms reach, some soft music playing - gosh darnit the man had been even known to scatter rose petals....

And then along came bubs!  And I thought - I can still be that person who relaxes in the bath - I will just relax and jiggle baby at the same time - I had visions of these soft focus scenes of mother and child creating an unbreakable bond, the skin to skin, the songs (nursery rhymes) we (I) would sing...what a magical time bath time would be....

Poops!  There was poops!

And somewhere along the way, bathtime (for me!  I still have a clean child) was lost.  Until approximately 2224hrs last Wednesday.  No longer able to resist the delicious array of scents that wafted around my body as I passed my local Lush store I had gone in and purchased a selection of bath bombs.  Oh what a treat!  And so it was that by 2230hrs I had sunk into what can only be described as fragrance, fizz wonderland.  I was so excited to be having an 'adult' bath I kept hearing myself giggle - the 'smug' in that bathroom was palpable.  And, oh it was relaxing.  In light of the immensity of such an occasion I had chosen Lushes Twilight Bath Bomb and indeed, as Lush had promised, it was the 'gentle, reassuring hug that leaves you feeling like everything's going to be okay'.  There were whiffs of Lavender, an immersive cloud of Ylang Ylang...and GLITTER.  A very subtle shimmer in the bath water that left your skin soft, and iridescent on exiting bathtime wonderland.  That night, I slept better than I think have in a good 3 years (did I mention I have a 3 year old?) It was wonderful.  Thank you Twilight Bath Bomb and thank you Lush!



Twilight Bath Bomb

And a few other purchases of the day for me to indulge in...







Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb



Dragons Egg Bath Bomb





Blackberry Bath Bomb





So if you haven't even yet experienced the 'senses explosion' that is Lush - please do yourself a favour and have a Bomb bath!

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave comments or recommendations!

Crystelle xx





A few of my favourite things!

A few of my favourite things...

Oh there are so many.  So I was going to do a general 'favourite things' post - but as I calculated all these pertinent 'things' in my mind I very quickly came to the realisation that this may be ambitious and, well, a little lengthy!  So then I thought - a run down of my favourite makeup & beauty products would be more concise..nope still teetering on 'protracted' comparative to the Complete Works of Shakespeare (incidentally, one of my favourite reads as an angsty teen).  So I have for you - a list of my favourite Masks/Serums/Treatments...for now!

1.  Eve Lom Cleansing Balm

This product is, the epitome of luxury.  It was definitely a splurge buy but I have not had a moments regret.  It is a cleansing balm and utilises deliciously aromatic plant oils, the smell of which, will instantly make me feel as though I am sitting in a decadent day spa somewhere fabulous!  It has this fantastic, ever so subtle grainy texture, but by it's balmy nature allows you to massage it on, which is great for decongestion and drainage of lymph build up.  It also comes with a muslin cloth which really compliments the exfoliation and cleansing.  You can obviously use it on a daily basis, but I tend to use mine on nights when I have the time to give myself a bit of a facial.  I put on my favourite tv show of the moment..err Game of Thrones is back on the 12th April (yay)...and I give myself a really long 20-30 minute facial massage.  It is divine and my skin always looks amazing the next day.

2.  Dermalogica Multivitamin Recovery Masque

This mask is, as the name suggests, like taking a high dose of multivitamins for the skin!  It is full of vitamens A, C & E and great for skin repair and replenishing.  I really feel like my skin feels smoother and plumper after using this mask and I generally feel a whole lot more refreshed.

3.  Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

So, as you can tell, I am a bit of a Dermalogica fan.  Prior to discovering this product I used your typical abrasive exfoliants - the scratchier, the better - oh how I wish I could rewind back the clock and give the back of my hand a slap!  So there are two types of exfoliation that one could utilise to aid with the sloughing off of the dead skin cells on our face.  Physical or chemical.  This wonderful Dermalogica product works through chemical exfoliation, which for me, personally, is much better.  My skin type is prone to irriation and I found that using physical exfoliators were making me prone to break outs and redness.  The Gentle Cream Exfoliant utilises Lactic Acid and Hydroxy Acid to assist with 'washing' away the dead skin cells, thereby enhancing skin cell turnover and creating a glowing and smoother complexion (for me) after just one use.  I will always use this product if I have a special night out planned and find it brightens my whole face and evens my skin tone!  Any areas of dryness vanish.  And also is good to point out that by regularly exfoliating your skin, it allows my other type of favourite skin product - Serums - to work more effectively.

4.  Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask.

I am a very new user of this product but it definitely does what it 'says on the tin'!  This is another luxury item, but the somewhat pricier cash bracket will indeed give you 'Instant Youth - smoothing, plumping, brightening'.  Sigh - if only for a short time!  When I first used this product, as recommended to me by one of the beauty editors for Marie Claire, who very fortuitously happened to be a house guest for a couple of weeks, I was amazed at how immediate the results were.  I was also very pleased to note that even the next day my skin was dewy, plump and healthy looking.  Yay for Sisley.

5.  Decleor - 3 Minute Radiance Mask

This is a great mask if you are short on time.  I find that I can put this mask on in the morning, brush my teeth, get brekkie ready for my little one, and then wash off and continue with my morning make up routine.  It is very easy to apply, has a lovely citrus-y scent which really is revitalising in the mornings and definitely very radiance enhancing.

So I do have other products I was going to write about - Serums etc, but I think this might be a two parter.  So, until next time - I hope that some of you found this helpful and inspiring.

Are there any other masks that you readers (okay I am assuming that this blog has readers - bit of a long shot but I am going to go with it) ;)  have used that you can recommend to me?

I would love to hear any thoughts and opinions!

Crystelle xx