NOTD: Bubble Bath

No Base CoatNails have white acrylic tips.3 x thin coats OPI in "Bubble Bath"1 x coat Seche Vite topcoat.
This is my third attempt at wearing this polish, it just lacks the obvious "WOW" factor for me.
After having my nails done midweek and wearing FOA Iron Ore for the weekend I wanted something light (and low maintenance) for the next few days.
This colour is very sheer - and whilst it doesn't completely change the colour of your nails, it adds a lovely, light pink glow to your nails.
And I think it looks great for a feminine spin on top of a regular french mani.

This polish was received from Lust Have It as part of the Australian Beauty Bloggers Weekend  - This has in no way affected my judgement. For more information, please read my Disclosure Policy.

Review; Tan Off

If you are anything like me, you will indulge in a spray tan [or 12] over the course of summer to get that sun kissed glow without the skin cancer. The downside to spray tans is that unlike suntans where the tan gradually fades, spray tans become patchy as they age and fade.

Tan Off

This used to mean scrubbing several layers of skin off with a mix of lemon juice and bicarb soda.

I was lucky enough to recieve a Tan-Off mitt at the ABBW and it's a pretty nifty invention.

Streaky Tan or Vitiligo?

See above? That is what I was dealing with a week and a half after my spray tan.

Still a few days before my next tan appointment I began the Lemon juice/Bi Carb prep when I remembered the Tan-Off mitt.

I have to be honest. I didn't think it would work.

By rubbing the wet mitt along your wet skin it would remove all your tan without shredding layers of skin? I don't think so, sounds way too easy.

Slightly red, but tan free

Once again, I was proved wrong.

With just a few strokes the tan had noticeably shifted without being abrasive to my skin.

The orange side of the mitt is for light exfoliation, whilst the black is stronger.

I used the orange side, the black was not needed at all.

My skin was left slightly red but disappeared after a few minutes, and was nicely exfoliated.

I am now tan free and ready for my next application.

Old tan stains. Ew. Rinsed right off - Yay!

The glove itself is easy to maintain.

Just hand wash with water, and leave it to dry before packing it away.

The Tan-Off mitt should last you 6 months, depending on how much you use it.

Tan-Off can be used on any kind of fake tan to even out or remove. Or, use it before application to help exfoliate your skin for a smooth application.

Tan Off retails for $24.95

NOTE: A comment from the lovely Tegan raised the point of what is IN the mitt to have it remove the tan. Tan-Off does not contain any chemicals, it is a special weave of fabrics which makes it more effective at tan removal than a loofah or washcloth.
From their website:
"After many hours of trials and research, we have found it! We have developed a fabric made up of two different weaves that will erase sunless tanning residue and which is also kind to the environment. The fabric weave is the most significant part to the removal process."

For more information, and stockists, click here

Product was supplied as a product sponsor of The ABBW - this has in no way influenced my review or opinion of the product. For more information, please read my Disclaimer page.

NOTD; Lavender Orchid

I decided I needed a little bit of bling in my life and I have been looking for weeks to find a way to incorporate my new Barry M glitter polish into a work acceptable mani.
2 coats Ulta3 in Orchid3 coats Barry M in Lavender on ring finger1 coat Seche Vite top coat.
I do love Ulta3 polishes, but find it hard to source them in colours I like, I received this shade from the ABBW event at the end of September and I LOVE it.I think it works well with the Barry M Bling, what do you think?

Products in "Italics" were supplied as a product sponsor of The ABBW - this has in no way influenced my review or opinion of the product. For more information, please read my Disclaimer page.

IMATS; Mini Haul

It has now been a week since the weekend that will from here on in be referred to as "The Greatest Weekend Of My Life" and whilst I am sad that it has been an entire week, I am happy to share with you the ridiculously lousy haul I managed at IMATS Sydney 2011.
As much as I would LOVE to tell you I took home the above amazeball display of Inglot nail polishes, I did not.The Inglot counter was way to insane for me to even get close enough to read the colours of the polishes.
Instead, I bring you the following:

This PINK travel brush set from Royal and Langnickel. 

12 piece PINK brush set for less than $25 that is actually fabulous quality? Yep!

And did I mention it was PINK?

IMATS meant I got to see Illamasqua products in the flesh for the first time in my life.This made me squeal like a child. I was so happy.It was Illamasqua's first year at IMATS so the selection wasn't fantastic, but I managed to get a foundation and two nail polishes for $35.
Whilst the foundation [Light Liquid 215] is a little too light, I'm not complaining. It works really well with my Face of Australia bronzer so I am making it work.
The polish shades were very limited, in fact, by the time I found their counter there were only two left. Victory and Propaganda. Of course I bought the both of them.I will be swatching both soon, so keep an eye out.
Did you go to IMATS this year?If not, I strongly recommend hitting it up next year, not only is there discounted makeup and beauty tools, but also seminars and competitions and about 85 squealing beauty bloggers.

NOTD; Sea Gurl

ORLY; Sea Gurl

Have to be honest here, I thought I was going to hate this colour on me.

Way to grown up and sophisticated.

It still kind of is, but woah.

It is LOVE.

ORLY describe the colour as "Gun Metal Grey Shimmer" but for me it goes from a grey-brown to a dark khaki green depending on the lighting but maintains the gorgeous metallic shimmer regardless of the colour.

Like all ORLY polishes I have used in the past, this formula is amazing.

Brush is easy to handle, and no streaking or pulling.

It is also relatively fast drying so no huge time investment is required.

No top coat used in the above pics and I am now on day two - no chips, dents or wearing!

ORLY bottles contain 18ml of polish and RRP is $18.95 from here

Disclaimer: I received this product from a PR event, as always, this has not influenced my opinion or my review. For more information, please see my Disclaimer. 

And the award goes to...

WTF? Alex Kerr The Future PR Queen has awarded me with the "Versatile Blogger Award"

Me? Really? I am honoured! Thank you lovely!

So the rules go like this:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post;
2. Share 7 things about yourself;
3. Pass the award along to 15 recently discovered blogs (contact them to let them know).

1. My middle name is spelt incorrectly. On my birth certificate. So the pronunciation is off. If you are going to use Primary School rhymes to check spelling of your child's intended name on a birth certificate remember there are exceptions to rules, and exceptions to the exceptions of rules. 

2. My calendar still says it is June; I am strangely okay with this. Until I forget birthdays, which was the downside to deleting Facebook.

3. I don't have a Facebook. I did. I was an addict. It was surprisingly easy to give up.

4. Despite having worn makeup/ had acrylic nails/ dyed hair for at the least the past 10 years, I am actually pretty rubbish when it comes to painting nails, makeup application and choosing hair colours/styles that suit my colouring/face shape. And I write a Beauty-ish Blog? pfft, learning as I go people :)

5. I am so good at time management it's scary. Until I leave the office. Then I lose it. If it's a work thing, I am ridic organised, personal? forget it, whatever.

6. I've watched half the pilot episode of Mad Men. That's it. I liked it. I just haven't found time to watch it  watch all other new stuff first then never get around to it.

7. I didn't get Business Cards made up for ABBW2011 because it still freaks me out to tell people -in real life-  that I have a blog. Everyone who will be there has a blog, I'll be the chick standing there pretending she doesn't know what you are talking about. Yep, I am a little cray cray.

So, now you know seven more useless facts about me, I hereby award the Versatile Blogger Award to 

-Drumroll-

1. Ms Critique

2. Fashion Hayley

3. Jade Musing

4. Commander In Chic

5. Beauty In The Sky

6. Hip & Haute

7. Chasing Elixir

8. Beauty Blogged

9. Haute & Stylish

10.Don't They Know Who I am?

11. Good Golly, Miss Holly

12. Dempeaux

13. The Veggie Mama

14. Styling You

15. Eat Paint, Sniff Glue

Okay, I cheated, these aren't all "newly discovered" but I love them, and they deserve more than a few pixels telling them how awesome-sauce they are!

Sydney; Get Ready!

GUESS WHAT!

There are only:

Big Kev has NOTHING on me. I'M EXCITED!

That means:

I have this many days to

1. Save and/or unfreeze credit card [Yep. Literally frozen. In Ice. In my Freezer. At work]

2. Pack

3. Buy clothes TO pack

4. Shed as many KG's as possible

5. Recover from tonsillitis. However, may be good excuse to avoid any karaoke.

6. Find out why hotel hasn't charged Debit Card yet. Does this mean I'm not booked?

7. Find alternative locations to keep my car. Hotel won't book a car space. Boo

8. Consider getting a tan.

9. Get a tan.

10. Scrub tan off.

11. Pack 5 pairs of heels, only to realise I can't actually WEAR heels anymore and replace them [whilst pouting] with sensible flats 

12. Keep avoiding the Tina/Jacie dance showdown. If I'm not there, I cannot pick sides

13. Source & Buy the BIGGEST box of Cheezels known to man. A Cheezel'd Jacie is a happy Jacie.

14. Look for boarding accommodation for Oliver. I doubt any of you would mind him being there, but Ibis might. Nonna is looking like the best bet.

15. Actually research products I need/want so I don't wander aimlessly for the day and end up freaking out and buying a whole lot of shizz I don't need/wear/suit me. Brushes, ladies, I need brushes!

16. Stare in awe at the amazing work Kimmi and Jacie have done in setting this up. You girls are absolutely magnificent!

But seriously, don't forget, even if you don't blog, or missed out on ABBW registrations, there is absolutely NO reason why you can't attend IMATS! You don't HAVE to be a Make Up artist. Just get down to Sydney [Convention Centre, Darling Harbour] on the 24th or 25th September [2011] and come along and join the fun.

We will be an easy group to find, follow the cheezel dust, listen for the "Squees" and the "Oh Em Gees" and the breakout dance moves of two fine laydees from Melbourne!

Tagged; IMATS

This great tag was done by the beautiful Emma , so I am stealing and tagging all you gorgeous ABBW dolls!

1. Which IMATS are you attending?
IMATS Sydney 2011

2. Have you ever been to IMATS before?

Nope. Never. To be honest, I had no idea what is was before Jacie and Kimmi began the ABBW


3. How are you getting there? 

Driving - I live 2.5 hours north of the event and I hate public transport [snob!]
So, you know, if any of you lovelies are arriving into Sydney airport after about 6pm on Friday I can pick you up.

4. Are you bringing anyone along?
Nope. Was going to in the beginning, but decided to dedicate the whole weekend to spending time with the people I chat too all day long on Twitter instead.

5. Is there anything else in the IMATS host city that you want to see?
I was born and bred in Sydney, in a suburb pretty close to where the action is, so after all is done at IMATS I will be doing some drive by stalking of my old hood [FYI, Bronte is THE beach to hang in the Eastern 'Burbs]

6. What days will you be in the city that IMATS is in? 

 Driving down after work on Friday night, Staying until Monday morning

[5am drive up the Freeway! YAY!]

7. Who do you want to meet?
Can't wait to see the MBBE girls again! And give Kimmi and Jacie huge hugs and accolades for all their hard work. Plus all the Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane ladies I have yet to meet in person.

I have a sneaking suspicion Sydney isn't ready for us to all be together.

8. What companies exhibits are you most excited to see?
Probably Mehron, because of their special FX makeup. Looks amazeballs! And Inglot, SLA, MAC and Napoleon for purchase

9. What products are you looking for?
Nothing so far in particular. Except brushes. I have to get brushes.

Would love to buy an airbrush AND be taught how to use it but that won't happen in a single weekend. Because I am pretty useless.

10. How much do you plan to spend?
Oh who knows. I do know I will be leaving my credit card at home and just taking what I have. Have been saving for a while for this one.

11. What do you want to get out of IMATS? 
I want to get everything I possibly CAN get out of IMATS and ABBW.

Am excited to meet everyone, excited to see everything, and I am in awe of the whole thing.

I want to walk away feeling confident about blogging, and about the whole beauty industry.

But, you know, babysteps.

If I can walk away and say to people "Hey, I write a blog" without feeling like an utter goose, then hell, it was the best weekend ever!