One more..just in case...

Hahahaha...remembering the last time i said that is making me giggle uncontrollably at the moment. An extremely awesome friend of mine kissed me and i'd fancied him for ages before that so i was so very shy when it happened but then just before i got out of his car, i said "one more, just in case" and kissed him. Aargh, i'm so embarassed thinking about it now because it was such a forward thing to do but he didn't mind...if anything he was very pleasantly surprised. (you know who you are...i hope you're doing well and we should catch up soon!!)

Anyway, in this case, i meant one more post because i'm probably not going to write in the weekend....this post is going to be about things that i luurve at the moment....

Let's see...I stumbled on an extremely talented dancer (athlete) known as Sofia Boutella. She's Algerian and extremely talented. I have so much respect for a chick that can do the things that she does. She use to be a gymnast but i'm not sure what she does nowadays. She isn't very famous but she is one of the key women Nike uses for their Nike Women ads. Here are some photos of her doing what she does best! She's such an inspiration!

Next...I am crazy about Napoleon Perdis (NP) make-up...A few months ago i was walking through Farmer's and got given a free make-over at the NP counter..i actually never heard of that brand before (I now know it is Australian) but who doesn't like getting made over!! So the chick there, Sarah, was so lovely and i explained that i don't like wearing loads of make-up but i like really nice eye make-up. She did a fabulous job really and i ended up buying a lot of the products:

I have the "gold" coloured lip gloss - It's called Cairo. It smells divine and goes on very well (the applicator is an actual brush) and is absolutely glorious because it has a light plumping agent (doesn't mean you look like your lips are bee stung) which fills in the grooves on your lips giving it a fuller look. I highly recommend the stuff!

The blush patrol blush is actually a blush and bronzer in one..it's so pretty that i feel bad for using it but the effect is so much nicer than normal blush. There's more of a shimmery glow. I use it as a base blush as well as an overall shimmer. The white tube is known as an Auto Primer. The NP rule is "Not to prime, is a crime" - this is a pre-foundation primer that creates a barrier between your skin and the make-up. In other words, no breakouts. I know that a lot of people say that you only get breakouts from using oil-base make-up but personally the skin on your face could be irritated by different things (bacteria in your make-up brush for example) so having the primer there really helps. It smells really lovely and goes on smoothly without leaving your face greasy but instead it helps make-up glide on.

I didn't get any NP eye make-up though, they come in little pots and i found them quite pricey and i normally don't use much more than black eyeliner and mascara but i'm definately going to go back and get some at some point. The pigments in them are higher so even on darker skin you can actually see the colour. There is also a way of blending the eye-shadow with a liquid base from NP that instantly makes the colours pop even more and lets you use your eyeshadow like liquid eyeliner. Oh i just remembered, i also have a NP charcoal eye liner...it goes on easily, can be smudged when it's first applied but then doesn't smudge easily once it's set. Perfecto!

Hmm what else...

I got converted into a Clinique fanatic at the start of the year. I tried Dr. Lewinn's for a while and it was good at the start but then i felt my skin was just plateauing. So i decided to go and get a Clinique 1-2-3 travel pack which costs me about NZ$50.

The set contained the cleansing bar, clarifying lotion, Dramitically Different Moisturising Gel and a bonus Total Turnaround Skin Renewer. The pack said that it would lasts for about 2 weeks, i used it for a month and am still using the cleansing bar. The stuff is great...it's important to suss out what your skin type is but once you've done that, the regiment is tailored to your needs.

I would have never thought i'd be comfortable using a bar of soap to cleanse my face but i've since gotten use to it and really like the clean feeling afterwards. It also is really good value for money because it lasts for a while. Next, you take a cotton pad and use your Clarifying Lotion like you'd use a toner. The idea is that this is an exfoliation process so if it stings a little you're alright. My Clinique facialists uses a 4 on me when she does my facials but i normally use a 3 everyday. The 4 stings a lot more but it also takes away more impurities. The stinging just means it's going really deep into the pores...of course you don't want need such an abrasive exfoliation everyday. Lastly, i slather on my DDMG...now there is a HUGE difference between the gel and the lotion. For those of you who have oily skin like me, the gel is a lifesaver. It leaves your skin feeling extremely hydrated without a sticky or greasy residue. It really feels like your skin drinks the stuff up.

Now the Total Turnaround Skin Renewer isn't part of the 3 step but it is a wonder product. You apply it before sleep because this is the time when your skin heals itself. It's a light moisturiser that speeds up regeneration so seriously, you wake up the next day and your skin feels awesome. There's a mask that is part of the Total Turnaround range that is perfect for a pamper day too. The make-up remover by Clinique is a treat to use... It's made up of liquid and oil so it's important to shake it before using it as the two parts tend to separate. It removes even the toughest stuff without tugging hard at the delicate skin around the eyes...fabulous!

One more Clinique product that i swear by...the High Impact Mascara. I scored a sample of this and was very very happy with the results. See, i'm not a fan of mascara that needs to be scrapped off...this stuff creates a long lasting effect and is water resistance but not waterproof so washing it off with water is easy as pie.

Gee...i wonder what else i can rave about...OMG...Of course...how could i possibly leave that out. I am a proud owner of the holy grail of hair straighteners - GHDs. Yes yes..they are so overpriced but i swear you know money was well spent everytime you use them. They are my prized possession and i can't think of a day that's gone by that i haven't used them. You can do more than just straighten hair, it's possible to do smooth and bouncy curls too. They heat up in 10 seconds and your good to go.

Since we're on the subject of things i love...i recently decided to buy the 20th Anniversary Collection of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Go on laugh...Toby does, he thinks i'm some sort of sponge that absorbs everything Oprah says and worships the ground she walks on. NOT TRUE! The way i see it is, women nowadays don't have a lot of role models...i personally think that what she does and the differences she tries to make in the world are inspirational. I don't necessarily believe or agree 100% with everything she says but it does make you think and reassess your life and most importantly, be grateful everyday for what you have. I think everyone should know how to do that. I watched the 6 discs when i was sick last week and Toby came in to find me curled up on the couch crying a lot but its cathartic, you cry with the women who have face adversity and made it through another day. You feel strong with them and it helps you get through another day..