Christmas Day Make Up

I have never particularly enjoyed Christmas, even when I was a little kid I always tried to stay in bed as long as I could untill one of my parents had to drag me out, but I do enjoy a festive glittery holiday look. Since I became interested in make up, I have started trying more and more to tie the themes of whatever I'm going to into my make up look.

Unfortunately, I dont own alot of red or green glitter, but I do have orange and pink. Fortunately, I feel like that is more appropriate for a good Ol' Kiwi Summer, since it reminds me of the sun, sand and beach.

My makeup this year consisted of blending Pink bronze and Bloodline pigments from MAC together to create a pink to purple to brown gradient. Here are some piccies from the day!

Product Review - Garnier Bodytonic Firming Lotion

Garnier Bodytonic Firming Lotion is a product designed to make skin firmer, hydrated and more supple by drawing on active natural ingredients such as grapefruit, kiwifruit and apple essences and caffine. It claims to have proven effectiveness in just 7 days, which I think is a rather hefty claim to live up to. I started using this product in conjunction with the start of my diet, just as an added boost to my toning routine. I bought it from The Warehouse, where it cost around $8, which I think is quite reasonable for any body care product. I apply it morning and night and sometimes more frequently throughout the day. I quite enjoy the citrus smell, its very fresh and envigorating as a scent for the body, and I do like to put it on just for the smell. I only use a little bit at a time, about the size of a pea on each patch of skin I cover, I wasn't exactly sure what the reccomended amount was. The texture is described as 'gel-like' and this is pretty much true, it feels just like a more viscous water, and it seems to absorb into the skin as you massage it in, leaving no oily residue like some of the more rich moisturisers I've used.
As far as the whole firming business goes, I've never considered myself to have tonnes of cellulite. I'm definately a bit "curvy", but not too saggy or wrinkly. I have also been using this on my upper arms to just help firm the skin around my shoulders etc. Truthfully, I dont really know what my bum and backs of my legs looks like, so I dont know what kind of damage was lurking back there. I do feel as though I am slightly more toned in the leg area and I donbt believe I have that much cellulite, but I can't put that solely down to this product, I have been doing a bit of exercise too. Therefore I can't honestly say that I have noticed any difference in the firmness of my skin. I do enjoy using this product though, as far as a body moisturiser goes its pretty good. I can't promise Garnier that I will repurchase, since I would quite like to try some of the other firming creams on the market and see if anything actually does make a marked difference or if I simply cannot be firmed. Untill then I will quite happily use this product untill it dies

Drop a Dress Size in 6 Weeks Diet: Update - Vlog

I am now halfway into my 6 week diet in order to drop a dress size back down to a size 10. I have to admit, I've been fairly rubbish at sticking to the diet. I have been going out alot to eat, shop and mostly drink. Beer is not a dieters best friend, nor is it my wallet's. I always knew that I would be rubbish though. I'm the type of person who I really good at sticking to a diet for a week and then I get bored and go to Mc Donalds. The past 3 weeks have absolutely flown by I would say week 1 was my best for dieting, week 3 was my best for exercise, and week 2 was fairly rubbish overall.

I am really pleased with the level of exercise I have been committing to though. I can tell that I've been working out because my muscles are constantly sore, which is strangely satisfying. I've been bike riding, doing a combination of the exercises detailed in my first diet vlog and yoga and walking my brother to and from school each day so overall I feel I've been pretty consistent.

I dont exactly feel like I've lost any weight, and definately not half a dress size. From this half way point I'm feeling pretty dubious about my ability to shrink back into last years jeans without some pretty intensive dieting and workouts over the next 3 weeks. Plus with Christmas coming right at the end of the 6 weeks, I'm going to have to eat like a shrimp to actually succed.

And so, I am feeling the strongest I have for a long time, and I actully have a bit of muscle definition in my upper arms. I'm pleased with my progress, even if I'm not going to arrive in Gisborne looking like a super skinny model, I will still be relatively fit and strong. Hopefully if I just wear a large sarong, noone will notice my failure!

My Travel Make-Up Bag

As a dear FB friend has reminded me, there are only 19 days left untill we go away to Gisborne for Rhythm & Vines/ New Years. I am excited/ terrified, BUT, at least I know I will have all my make-up and toiletry needs covered. This is pretty much like a game to me, trying to make my collection of makeup as succinct as possible.

So far, In terms of make-up only, I have this:

• my Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Medium, because it gives pretty good coverage, lasts well and has an SPF of 30 so my face won't crumple into a raisin.



• an Estee Lauder quad with the colours 10 Ivory Box, 47 Honey Drop, 35 Cinnamon & 38 ChocolateA quad of really nice neutral colours that I can just quickly put all over my lid without fussing with blending etc.
  


• a BYS Bronzing Powder in Golden
This is so great! Its the most beautiful Golden colour, not really bronzer, but a great all over face colour that suits my skin tone and looks really natural and radiant

• my MAC Eye Kohl in Smoulder. I was debating whether to take this or my Fluidline. I chose a kohl pencil just beacause its easier to apply and i dont have to cram another brush into my bag



• a very cute little sphere lip gloss with one bright pink side and one clear glittery gloss
From a Local company, Phoenix Cosmetics in Auckland, I just like it because of the cute packaging


• a Dior Perfume Miniature in Miss Dior Cherie, this just smells so nice and its small enough that I'm not too incredibly worried about it getting lost



• a MAC Pigment Sample in Bloodline, in case I want to do a more glamourous or sexy look for New Years Eve. Also I wore this all over my lid yesterday and it made my green eyes really stand out



• some waterproof mascara that I have not bought yet since my current mascara smudges like a bat out of hell



• 4 brushes - an angled brush for brows, an angled powder brush, an eyebrow spooley and an eco tools all-over eyeshadow brush



• a rat tail comb for mah hair!

I'm fairly confident I can survive on these items for 5 days, I'm picking it will be way too hot to wear that much make-up anyway. Most of these products are fairly inexpensive and therefore easily replaceable. I will be a bit sad not to have my MAC palette with me but it's just not worth the risk of it getting lost or damaged

I also made my Dad but me this awesome little Colgate Travel Essentials pack from the supermarket.

It has a wee fold up toothbrush, toothpaste, a little reel of dental floss, a 50ml mouthwash and one of those strange colgate wisp things, so I can brush my teeth in the middle of the concert/ when I throw up. Cool!