MBFWA

So this week is Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia and the CBD is alive with fashion designers, models, bloggers, writers and buyers from around the world.

This year, there are some impressive international guests including Elin Kling of Style Kling, Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast and her buddy Bryan Boy. Susie Bubble of Style Bubble was also spotted today in one of her cute colourful outfits.

As much as I'm sure people love seeing photos of semi-famous people, I just honestly couldn't bring myself to go up to these honestly normal people and take a selfie. I was on best behaviour when they were all of 2 meters away from me and I'm proud of that.

In between going to work, this week will be spent helping Lisa Kelly at her suite at The Shangri La Hotel with the showing of her Summer collection.

This morning we had a bit of spare time in between appointments and walked down to the venues, did a bit of schmoozing, scored some awesome Redken Haircare products, and generally people watched.

We had our photo taken by some bloggers and look forward to seeing the shots.

Today I wore one of Lisa's kaftans but I plan to make a sincere effort with my outfits this week. Tomorrow I plan to whip out my neon green Cambridge satchel.

Below are a few snaps from today. I'll definitely try and take more tomorrow.

Better go and plan tomorrow's outfit!

Love,

Wear + Tear.

PS loving the lavender coloured jelly wristbands for fashion week!

Shades of Silver Make-up look photo tutorial

Hi everyone!

Today's post is a first for this blog - a proper make-up tutorial with step-by step photos and the products used.

I'm also writing this blog from the new Blogger app for iPhone, so this is really a new and easy way for me to blog more regularly, as I've been so damn busy lately and neglecting my lovely blog baby.

So this look was initially done yesterday. It's not a look I'd typically go for for work, but something possessed me to do it. I was actually worried it would be too "full-on" for work, but I also straightened my hair which I haven't done much lately, which I think helped make it look more polished than if I'd had my usually beachy (minus the actual beach) wavy mess.

The minute I walked through the door at work I got compliments not only about my (not typically) straight hair, but my eyes and makeup in genera.

I often get one or two people comment on my eyeliner and ask how I get it so perfect, but this was a much broader reaction overall.

So I thought I'd make this a long, but thorough post, because I also took photos of every step and every product I use on my face on a daily basis (lately - this changes week to week or season to season) to show how I do my skincare and foundation BEFORE I do my eye makeup.

So please do enjoy. I hope you learn something and if you have any questions, please comment below.

Also, if you're signed in with gmail or blogger, don't forget to click "follow".

Love,

Wear + Tear.

So this is the make-up look:

This is my personal make-up box and bag. I have an identical box with supplies for doing other people's make-up,  and although I often use my products on other people, I like to keep my favourites all together. This is certainly not all my make-up - I often find I'm filling this up with products I don't use regularly anymore, so I move them into my drawers.

Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner. I recently discovered this product and have been using it daily. It's quite acidic/alcoholic and has a strong smell (which I strangely like), and can really feel it dry up the oil on the surface of my skin when I wipe it on with a cotton circle. I have combination skin - an oily t-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and normal cheeks/under-eyes. I use this product all over, when I wake up, to remove oil that has built up over-night. DO NOT USE THIS ON YOUR EYES. It doesn't say so on the bottle, but when you smell it/feel it on your skin, instincts kick in and tell you it will burn. Anyway - I haven't really made this sound appealing, but it is awesome. If you think you've taken your make-up off well and cleansed well the night before, think again! This stuff will really finish off that cleaning process before you start slapping it on again. It doesn't leave any residue either.

Shiseido Pureness matifying oil-free moisturising fluid.
I use this again to give my skin a nice even base to do my make-up. It helps to keep the oily areas in check (but ultimately nothing can completely prevent this all day) and dries completely. My skin doesn't take well to thick or creamy/oily moisturisers. They don't ever soak in completely. I haven't been using  primer for a long time, because I haven't found one that works. I did buy the Illamasqua matte primer, and it was ok, but I decided to keep it for nights out only because it almost has a PVC glue texture to it and I don't think I want that on my skin all day.

One the moisturiser has dried completely it's time for foundation. I recently became obsessed with Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation. It's meant to be a foundation, concealer, moisturiser all in one type of product, and it's awesome. I'm mainly impressed with its light-medium coverage, thin weight and colour match to my skin. Priced at $68 - not to impressed. I did buy my first tube at the Illamasqua counter in Myer Sydney City, but then bought a second one for when it runs out from the Illamasqua website for about $45. You can also buy this brand on asos and get free shipping. I would recommend having the Illamasqua staff give you a trial and help you pick you colour, maybe even ask for a sample - then you can buy it online. They have way more shades than most brands and the shades are blendable.

For this look, I applied the skin base in shade No. 6 with a Manicare precision blending sponge. When I was in HK I bought the heavily-popular "Beauty Blender", and it was great and soft, but one day the point just disintegrated and I threw it out. Considering it cost $24, this was pretty disappointing. The manicare sponge is just as good, if not better because it is harder/sturdier and so I bought a new one to use for other people's make-up. I think this was about $5 from Priceline.

I spread the foundation out with the sponge and then blot/stipple it to blend it in - I do my whole face and neck, but not my eyelids.

As you can see - it's hard to tell I even have any foundation on, but if you'd seen me before, you'd know ;)

Rimmel Match Perfection concealer in Ivory. This step is optional, as sometimes the skin base is enough to cover my dark under-eyes and a few blemishes. Today I wanted that extra kick, so I used this under my eyes and on a few spots. This is 1-2 shades lighter than my foundation to brighten the eyes.

Nude by Nature Mineral Finishing Veil. For a while I was using this entire product range, but in the end it really didn't give me the liquid-esque coverage I was after. I still use the finishing veil to set my foundation/concealer.

For this look, I tap some out into the lid and using a small kabuki brush in a circular motion I brush this all over my face (lightly, minimal pressure to prevent "drag marks") avoiding eyelids. I use this on my neck and collarbones to make sure my face matches the rest of me.

Lime Crime Makeup's Candy Eyed eyeshadow primer - I use this product every single day and it makes any eyeshadow or liner pretty much 99% smudge-proof, water-proof - basically your eyeshadow will stay intact all day and night until you remove it thoroughly with eye make-up remover (oil-based works best)

For this look, I apply a thin layer to my upper eyelid all the way up to the eyebrow and out to my temple - basically anywhere I want the eyeshadow to stay out and that has a tendency to become oily. No need to use this below the eye.

Illamasqua 4-colour Liquid Metal Palette. I used the colour bottom left - Phenomena. This cream can be used on its own as a base for eyeshadow, but as my eyeshadow always creases without the Lime Crime Candy-eyed eyeshadow helper, I used this afterwards (while the helper was still moist).

For this look, I just dabbed this on with my fingers (keeping it above the crease, just into the socket of my eye and blending it up and out a little lighter on the brow bone.

Lime Crime Makeup loose eyeshadow dust in Mirror Mirror. Such a nice mid-silver colour - the main colour used in this look.

For this look, I used the rounded blending brush below to apply a decent amount on top of the Illamasqua silver cream (into the crease) and up to the brow bone and blending out to the temple.

I then used this same brush to apply MAC matte white eyeshadow to my brow bone and inner corner of my eyes. (not sure where the photo is)

I then used a smaller flat, round-edge brush to apply Lime Crime Cupcake Thief to the lower eyelid (this should still be blank)

Then I used Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Ironic to the outer socket to add depth with a slightly darker shade of silver.

I also used the smaller brush to add the pink and silver Lime crime under my eyes to join up to the upper lid.

Next I use a MAC angled eyeliner brush and the above neutrals/browns palette from eBay to fill in my brows.

Revlon brow gel - purchased about 6 of these on eBay from the UK for about $5 each. It is clear, but this one has been used, hence the beigey colour it has become - seriously though, this is a great way to keep brows in place all day. Use sparingly or it will dry and flake off.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Black - amazing. I hate wearing false eyelashes unless they're individuals. This mascara can be used sparingly for a quick even coverage, or built up and strategically used to lengthen each lash. I like to use the tip to draw out my outer lashes a little longer to open up my eyes a bit more. I would NEVER suggest using this on bottom lashes. I generally never wear mascara on my bottom lashes, but if I do, I use a sample-sized mascara with a tiny brush - never a lengthening mascara as it then touches my face and leaves splodges - nightmare!

Revlon lipstick in 006 Pink Sugar. It's kind of a sheer metallic peachy colour. It's not the best textured lipstick I've ever used, but I bought it because it's a nice subtle shade for work.

Natio - Peach Glow. Lastly, a brush of this with a MAC large blush brush onto my cheekbones and apples of my cheeks.

I still have my hair tied up with a clip and held back with these nifty velcro things I got as a gift with purchase from sasa.com

Hair down and VOILA!

I'm back, bitchez!

I'm back!
I know I went AWOL for over a month, but it's been a big one
Here's just some of what's happened:
1) I bought the shoes from my last post
2) I finished up at my old job
3) I did a trial at a new job and got it
4) I went to Melbourne for LMFF with my mum for 4 days
5) I started my new job
6) my band Cordelia Dead's single was finally mastered and uploaded to Triple J Unearthed
7) I've had some girls nights
8) I've had some meetings with my photographer friend and some stylists about some upcoming shoots
9) I've cleaned out my wardrobe at home and am trying to get rid of it all without eBay
10) I've ordered shoe shelves to store 60 pairs of shoes but they haven't arrived yet
11) I've bought more make-up (shock horror)
12) I brought a sewing machine into Alex'a tiny apartment and made a skirt

Here are some things coming up
1) my birthday on the 9th June
2) I was asked to be Maid of Honor at my friend Marion's wedding next March
3) two photoshoots in the next month or so and some make-up for a third
4) I will undoubtedly buy more shoes
5) several concerts and movies to see
6) more regular blog posts

Love,

Wear + Tear.