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July 17, 2012
Gurlinterrupted
In Beauty

Sigma – Make Me Classy

Make-up brushes are THE essential tool for makeup artists, but in my opinion, they’re an essential tool for ANYONE wanting to properly apply their makeup.  So I thought I would share my favourite brushes with you!!  It can be quite daunting knowing which brushes to choose and which brushes are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.   For me personally, I am a HUGE fan of the US brand – Sigma; and although I’m often heard stating “I have MAC pumping through my veins” (I stand by that statement by the way), I have to say that in all honesty Sigma really do have equally good brushes at a fraction of the price  (that being said, I will never part with the infamous MAC217).

When looking to buy my first set of ‘professional makeup brushes’ I found it was just too expensive for me to purchase all the brushes I wanted in the MAC range (at NZ$40-$50 per eye-shading brush, this can be a little unobtainable for most people).  So after weeks of trawling the net and ’email quizzing’ friends in the industry overseas, I decided to give Sigma brushes a go; and I havent looked back since.

SO, WHAT ARE MY FAV BRUSHES……… the Sigma ‘Make Me Classy’ Essential Kit. 12 brushes in total that come in a uber cool brush case that protects your brushes from being damaged when you are travelling (this particular set comes with case) and converts into 2 brush holders when you’re at home or have reached your destination.

Whilst I realise that NZ$136 may sound like a lot of money, trust me, for a set of professional brushes, it’s actually not too bad at all. (shipping from the US to NZ costs an additional $17).

The brushes included are:

E05 – Eye Liner: Create smooth and even lines. Use with gel or liquid liners.
E30 – Pencil: Soften and smoke out lines. Soften pencil liners along the top and bottom lash lines, add shadow to line the eyes, or use to highlight inner corner of eyes.
E40 – Tapered Blending: Soft blended crease. Using just the tips to apply color, sweep back and forth through the crease for a diffused and blended finish.
E55 – Eye Shading: Even application of color. Place color across the whole lid for an even and strong application of product.
E60 – Large Shader: Uniformly cover the whole lid with product. Apply cream shadow base or cream shadow for quick and even coverage.
E65 – Small Angle: Create precise lining. Moves fluidly and easily across the upper and lower lash lines. Use with gel, cream or powder liners.
E70 – Medium Angled Shading: Soft application of color. Use for brow highlighting or to blend the crease.
F30 – Large Powder: Even powder application. Uniform blending of powder products onto the face and body.
F40 – Large Angled Contour: Subtle cheek application. Use the angle to softly contour the cheekbone. Can also be used to apply blush.
F50 – Duo Fibre: Creates an airbrushed effect onto the skin. Can be used with powder, liquid or cream products.
F60 – Foundation: Smooth foundation application. Apply liquid or cream products such as foundation and primer.
F70 – Concealer: Conceal small areas. Conceal the hardest to reach areas such as around the nose and eyes.
You can also choose from a range of super cute colours, such as the Mrs Bunny kit (there’s even a Mr Bunny Kit), Make Me Crazy Kit, plus a load more colours.

 

So head along and check it out www.sigmabeauty.com – however, this link comes with a warning – you will be tempted by many eye shadow palettes and a heap of cool accessories!!
Ange xx
PS:  There’s also a code which you can use to get 10% off your purchase, just enter: AP2012 when going through the ‘checkout’ (valid till July 31).
July 11, 2012
Gurlinterrupted
In Beauty

Smoke Signals from Urban Decay

I’m SUPER excited to write this blog because, A) its makeup and, well, I’m obsessed; and B) I get to write the words (which of course makes it real, that’s the rules right?  Say it out loud/write it down, its real!).  I digress…….”Urban Decay have released a NEW PALETTE!!”  Not just any palette, no it’s not NAKED3 , because let’s be honest, NAKED2 was a little underwhelming and felt a bit like it was just 1 hue away from the original NAKED palette.

Urban Decay have released……….. SMOKED

Yes I have MAC Cosmetics pumping through my veins, however, I do adore Urban Decay just as much and in particular, my Urban Decay NAKED palette.  The trusty NAKED palette is the first thing I pack when travelling (heck it’s the ONLY palette I need to pack) and the first thing I reach for when I have little time to spend on my makeup but still want to create a simple smokey daytime eye in record time!  So when UD announce they are releasing a new palette (released in the US/UK this week), with new colours inc. jewel toned hues no less, I’m excited!!

So, what does the  Urban Decay SMOKED palette have to say for itself:

SMOKED

EYESHADOW PALETTE

This is the smoky eye done the UD way: a true range of shades (Neutral mattes! Shimmering jewel tones!) for a range of smokey looks.

We’re giving you everything you need to create the perfect smoky eye, Urban Decay style. Zipped inside this sleek, mirrored case are ten decadent shades (five are exclusive), including neutral mattes and shimmering jewel tones for a range of smoky looks. Sure, you can create a smoky eye with a range of gray and black shades. But what about a touch of purple, blue or bronze? The Smoked Palette lets you keep things simple… or get a little more creative. (TIP: If you need a basic daytime look, stick to the range of matte neutrals. Throw the palette in your bag, and add some smoke as you leave the office.)

Our secret smoky eye weapon? A blacker-than-black matte pencil. Included with the Smoked Palette is a full-size 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, AND a travel-size Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Also included is a beautifully illustrated, step-by-step guide to 12 smoky eye looks, written by Urban Decay founder Wende Zomnir. Both smoky-eye pros and shadow newbies will benefit from this detailed guide to looks from “iconic” to “smoldering” to “reality star”.

A “non Urban Decay Marketing speak” breakdown of each colour:

Kinky (a new soft ivory peach with a matte finish), Freestyle (a new light pantyhose nude with a matte finish), Mushroom (a repromoted warm gray with a shimmery finish – LOVE!!), Backdoor (I shall resist the urge to make a joke here……a new true dark brown with a matte finish), Blackout (a repromoted blackest black with a matte finish), Barlust (a new dark golden brown with a metallic finish), Rockstar (a repromoted deep aubergine with a shimmery finish), Evidence (a repromoted deep navy blue with a shimmery finish), Loaded (a repromoted deep emerald shimmer with a metallic base), Asphalt (a new deep gunmetal with silver micro glitter and a metallic base) and Perversion (a repromoted matte carbon black).

So , excited yet?  I am!!  Now to just get this bad boy in my hot lil hands.  Well its on its way as I type this blog (thank you Nat – you little PR Guru – and fabulous makeup buying friend – you).  I will be sure to blog swatches and give a full review the moment this palette arrives!

RRP around NZ$90 

 

July 10, 2012
Gurlinterrupted
In Fashion

The Colour Wheel

colorwheel2

The Colour Wheel – this is as much of a wardrobe staple as the LBD, only, BRIGHTER!!

So, I don’t know about you guys, but me, I hear this sentence a lot when I’m out shopping……”I love this colour but it really won’t go with anything in my wardrobe” (maybe you’ve even said it yourself?!). Or, “this colour top/pants/skirt is gorgeous, buuuut, I’ll just buy it in black because black goes with everything”.  Enter, the Colour Wheel…..

This is a quick and easy guide to ALWAYS knowing what colours to team together and which ‘colour opposites’ attract!  To get started here are some easy steps to using the Colour Wheel. These combinations are the perfect ‘colour partners’ on the wheel:

1. Colours that form a 90 degree right angle with each other. e.g. green & orange; violet-red & blue; red-orange & yellow.

2. Colours that are directly next to each other. e.g. green & blue-green; yellow & orange-yellow; violet & blue-violet (basically, any colour directly next to each other goes, clockwise or anti-clockwise).

3. Colours that form a ‘T’  e.g. orange, blue & violet-red; yellow, violet & blue-green (you get the picture).

4. Colours directly across from each other. e.g. orange & blue; red & green; orange-yellow & blue-violet.

5. Colours that form an ‘X’  e.g. yellow-green, blue, orange, violet-red or orange, blue, violet, yellow.

Given brown is a neutral, rest assured it will go with pretty much any colour on the Colour Wheel.  As will black and white.

So, when you choose an item of clothing in a colour that has you a little baffled as to what you should partner it with, find it on the Colour Wheel and use the steps listed above to find it’s perfect colour combo!

For accessories, team gold toned jewellery with ‘warm’ coloured outfits and silver toned jewellery with ‘cool’ coloured outfits (using the ‘Warm/Cool’ Wheel below).

 

Happy Colour-Combining xx

 

July 8, 2012
Gurlinterrupted
In Fashion

Redefining Max

Iconic New Zealand fashion brand, Max, has been redefined with the introduction of new CEO, Trisha Whiting; Buying Manager, Liz Mannell and Creative & Marketing Director, Tracy Heaven, who together combine many years of expertise in both New Zealand and abroad in the fashion and apparel industry.

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending REDEFINING MAX, the Spring 2012 Launch Event and Runway Show.  Entering the venue, The Sphere in Cross St, immediately I knew I was in for a treat with a grand and enticing entrance, cocktails at the ready and all the who’s who of the NZ Fashion industry eagerly awaiting the big reveal, Redefining Max.  The new era for Max begins with the launch of three spring collections, HACIENDA, IN THE GARDEN and TO CATCH A THIEF.

HACIENDA
The show began with Hacienda.  Hacienda embodies the theatre and power of the flamenco and a Spanish Fiesta with rich combinations of texture and colour.  A stunning mix of intricate lace, peplum detail, daring fringing and to anchor the collections, a signature print exclusively commissioned for Max.

IN THE GARDEN
The second collection down the runway, In The Garden.  In The Garden takes you from Grandad’s garden to the Chelsea Flower Show with a market stall of botanical bouquets and a burst of floral pastels spiked with citrus or warm vegetable brights creating an organic colour feast.  Not for the faint hearted, the floral jacket and floral pant was a standout on the runway as were the fabulous bright ankle grazers and floral drape dresses.  This collection has me yearning for Spring/Summer.

TO CATCH A THIEF
The final collection to hit the runway, To Catch A Thief.  The ultimate in glamour and classic uncomplicated chic!  Think a culmination of a St Tropez sunset promenade along with the classic effortless lines of a true 50’s hollywood starlet.  Everything about this collection oozed hollywood glamour.  The warm pastels with cool neutrals tell the story and lines are simple yet eternally classic with embellishment that is crafted in tonal and textured contrast.  I was immediately drawn in the moment the first model sauntered down the runway channeling Grace Kelly.

A few of my key picks from the runway show (I am simply in lust with the lace bolero – hola!):


All spring collections are accompanied by a gorgeous selection of shoes, handbags and on trend accessories.

I’ve already purchased 2 of my hot picks from the new collections, roll on 27 August when I can get my hands on my ‘must have’ pieces from the To Catch A Thief Collection!

Congratulations Max!! Redefined and Fabulous!!

 

July 6, 2012
Gurlinterrupted
In Beauty

Giving Your Nails a Little Ray of Sunshine……

I love French manicures, but at the moment what I’m loving even more is a French manicure with a pop of colour! To achieve the look I created on my nails, all you need is: a clear base coat, a good neutral/nude polish (I’ve used OPI’s ‘did you Ear about Van Gogh?’ which retails for $24.95), your nail tip colour of choice (I’ve used Santee’s ‘beach yellow’ which was $3 from the 1,2,3 dollar shop), a nice glossy top coat to seal the deal (I’ve used Designer Brand’s ‘top gloss’ which was $6.95) and last but not least – a steady hand (however if you don’t think your hand is quite steady enough you can always buy the french manicure nail strips from a pharmacy and use those until you get comfortable applying freehand).

Step 1: Apply base coat
Step 2: Apply Neutral colour of choice (x3 coats). Allow to fully dry!
Step 3: Apply your ‘tip colour’. Apply using a small amount of polish on end of brush and apply side to side along tip of nail. Allow to fully dry.
Step 4: Finish off with a glossy top coat.

And that’s it, a super simple way to give your nails a little ray of sunshine – much needed in the dreary winter weather of late!! Swap out colours, mix things up, add some glitter polish, but most importantly, just have fun with it!

June 26, 2012
Gurlinterrupted
In Fashion

boohoo.com UK Fashion Hits NZ Shores…

 

 

 

Finally, access to UK brands has hit our shores.  www.boohoo.com is now open to NZ and the best part is, FREE SHIPPING to NZ!!

If you’ve not heard of boohoo.com or havent yet checked out the website, basically its all the UK Fashion you could ever want, at the click of a button and it’s totally affordable!  Dresses, tops, shorts, coats, swimwear and more, to bags, jewellery, sunnies and the most amazing range of shoes you could ever imagine. From the ‘gaga-esque’ Tallulah Gold Cut Away Wedges to the Bardot Black Glitter Peeptoe Platform Heels (with a red sole reminiscent of the Louboutin), this site has EVERYTHING, even something for the boys with a full range of menswear.

The site is totally user-friendly and the moment you log in you can change the currency to NZ$, so there’s no hidden costs or currency converter worries!

If you’re struggling for inspiration, hit the ‘Trends’ tab and you can shop by collection, celebrity look, catwalk to closet, or even tune in to boohoo tv.  A good tip – go straight to the size chart (located at bottom of the home page) before you start shopping and write down all your sizes (they convert your NZ shoe and clothing size for you) so that you can make your selections without having to toggle back and forth between the size chart and the item you want.

My key picks from boohoo.com:

Tallulah Gold Glitter Cut Away Wedges

Alina Sequin Mesh Top Chiffon Mixi Dress and the Coral Lilly Bodycon Midi Dress with Mesh Cutouts

Lila Skull Embossed iPad Case and Laura Print Woven Cuff Trousers

Rihanna Studded Top Handle Shopper Black Bag

 

HAPPY SHOPPING xx