NSO beauty: Fake tanning 101

For a tanorexic (read: person addicted to fake tan) like myself, it is absolutely essential that my skin is beautifully bronzed all year round. Just as I am obsessive about applying my face every morning, my weekly fake tan routine has been fine-tuned into a 15 minute activity that I engage in every Thursday night—so I’m all good to go for the weekend ahead!

Even if you have never used a fake tanning product before, a little practice should have you bronzing it up with the best of us—and since it is now winter it is the perfect time to practice as any streaky boo boos can be easily covered up with some winter woollies!

First things first....

A good tan needs a good base, so the first step to ensure your tan is even and streak-free is to exfoliate well in your shower using a scrub or loofah to remove any dead skin cells. After you have completely dried off you are ready to begin tanning!

Spray, Mousse or Liquid?

Selecting the right product for you is quite often a matter of trial and error—I have tested many many formulas and the results achieved are often dependent on your own skin type and tone, so sometimes recommendations may turn out unsuccessfully. The easiest place to begin in selecting which products to try is to decide which type of tanning product you most like—the most common types are creams and lotions, sprays, mousses and liquids.

Personally I like to use the airbrush sprays, like ModelCo’s tan in a can or St Tropez self tan bronzing spray (the St Tropez self tan bronzing mousse is also quite good). However these can tend to be quite messy so they are best applied inside your shower cubicle where the spray can only travel so far.

From left to right: St Tropez Whipped Bronze Mousse, $39.95, Model Co Tan in a Can $45, Fake Bake Xtreme Self-Tanning Gel, $49.95, St Tropez Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion $39.95, Model Co Self Tanning Glove (set of 4), $38, all from Adore Beauty

It's all in the application...

The correct technique to use when applying the fake tan will vary depending on which formula you are using, but there is one thing you MUST do regardless of which type of fake tan you use—Always always wear thin plastic/latex gloves! This will prevent your palms from turning a tell-tale shade of brown, but don’t forget to apply some product to the backs of your hands at the end of the process.

For lotions, creams and mousses, use a circular motion to work the product into your skin as evenly as possible. You may need someone to help you apply product to your back. If you are using a spray, practice really makes perfect with this and you will need to hold the can at about a 30 cm distance from your skin and work very quickly in short circular motions to ensure the tan is applied evenly over your body. It may take a few tries but once your technique has improved the results of the spray tans are very even and natural looking.

Now just chill....

Wait until the product has dried before dressing and do not shower or allow your skin to get wet for a few hours after tanning. This is why I usually will apply my tan at night and rinse off any residue in the morning to ensure the product has had time to sink into my skin. In order to maintain your tan and help it to last longer, moisturise nightly and use a gradual tanning moisturiser after a few days to top it up. Fake tans can last anywhere from 3 to 7 days, but once it starts looking patchy it is time to scrub it off and start again!

NSO beauty: Nail it!

Nail It!

Written by Jaqui Wednesday, 18 March 2009

Every now and again I’ll have one of those days that seem to be controlled entirely by Murphy’s law—everything that can go wrong, will. And by the end of the day when I’ve had enough of rude emails, un-returned phone calls and peak-hour gridlock one of my favourite things to do to unwind is a DIY mani and pedi.

Clichéd I know, but there’s something so soothing about spending time focused on something mindless that produces such pretty results. So the next time you’re in need of some “me” time, pull out your manicure kit and follow these steps to have your nails looking elegant and polished to perfection!

Prep:

Make sure you remove all traces of old polish before you apply the new. File your nails into whichever shape you prefer—the trend for winter 09 is a return to squoval, but personally I believe you should go with the shape that best suits your own nails. If your cuticles are looking dire, soak your hands in some warm water for a few minutes and carefully push them back.

Colour:

Always always always apply a base coat to your nails before you paint on any colour. This will help to prevent any discolouration of your nails—yellow nails are not a good look. Follow this with two thin coats of colour. Coming into winter, the best colours to go for are the deep dark colours we saw last winter, but with a twist—instead of mostly blacks, nail trends are moving into gunmetal greys, eggplants, deep cranberry and navy blue. I like OPI’s Russian Navy and Chanel le vernis in Vendetta (this one is the Black Satin of 2009). If dark colours don’t suit your skin tone, another trend for this winter which will carry into spring is metallics, which work well on all skin tones. Try My Private Jet by OPI (one of my personal faves) for an awesome holographic look.

Finish:

Finally, finish off with a glossy topcoat to seal the nail and keep the colour longer—you can reapply your topcoat every second day to prolong your manicure and help it stay fresh. Personally I can’t stand chipped nails, which are especially obvious with dark polish, so be sure to remove the colour once your mani starts to look a little worse for wear.

Repeat for your feet and you’re done! And the best part about a fresh mani is it’s a great excuse to relax, have a cup of coffee and do nothing for a few minutes—after all, your nails are wet!

On hiatus

Unfortunately holiday commitments, sales shopping and other bouts of business have prevented me from having any considerable period of time in which to write postings for this blog! As a consequence, particularly coming up to the hectic Xmas/New Year double-header, I have decided to take a hiatus from blogging for the time being.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Love Jaqui xx

NSO beauty: Test Drive: Gammazon beauty range

Supporting Aussie brands is something we can all do in order to contribute to the struggling Australian economy—and with the state of our dollar at the moment, it’s a lot better on the hip pocket than buying from overseas. In the lead up to summer I have been testing out a few products courtesy of the lovely Australian beauty brand Gammazon, which has a range of pure, all natural skincare products for women and men.

Over the last few weeks I have tried out two products from the Gammazon range: SCRUBmerge, a granulated body scrub, and the Velvet Butter, which is a rich body butter.

SCRUBmerge ($24.95 for 200g) is a heavily granulated scrub, so it’s great for those who like a physical exfoliant that you can actually feel working. The other key ingredients in SCRUBmerge are a base of Aloe Vera gel, Shea butter and natural plant oils, all of which nourish and moisturise the skin, preventing that dry, tight feeling post-scrub. The CocoNilla fragrance, which obviously is a blend of coconut and vanilla, transported me to a tropical paradise as only sense-memory can.

The Velvet Butter in MangoDusk ($15.00 for 100g, $22.50 for 250g) was my favourite product of the two, for two reasons: firstly, the mango passionfruit fragrance is truly good enough to eat. Secondly, the butter is very true to its name as it is delightfully velvety in texture unlike any other body balm I have tried. I found this product very hydrating, and thankfully it left no sticky residue, which is a pet hate of mine when it comes to moisturisers. Definitely highly recommend this one, the only drawback being how quickly I used it all up!

All Gammazon products are all natural and clearly made in Australia with a lot of love and care. The two products I tried, along with a smorgasbord of others are available exclusively on the Gammazon website, along with some indulgent Christmas gift packs. So treat yourself with something delightful from Gammazon and help the economy at the same time—it’s the perfect excuse!

The lovely folks at Gammazon would also like to offer Never Shopped Out Readers an exclusive discount code, valid until December 20th - Spend $10 or more and receive 25% off your order with discount code NSO

NSO beauty: Coming clean

When springtime comes around each year I eagerly anticipate its arrival for two reasons:
1) My birthday is in spring
2) It’s time to do some spring cleaning
Actually, cleaning is one of my most despised past times, however in spring I am willing to make an exception since this is the time I choose to go through my beauty booty and replace all of the products which are nearing expiry.

Yes, although many cosmetic products lack a “use-by” date on the packaging, they are still prone to going off so it is important to be aware of the age of your products in order to avoid creating infections or spreading germs.

Lamentably this can occasionally mean throwing out a treasured limited edition MAC palette or a holy-grail discontinued lipstick, but take heart in the fact that although it’s out with the old, there will be plenty of room and excuses to buy new products to try and love. Obviously any makeup that has changed colour, texture or odour should go straight into the bin no matter what time of year it is, but as a rough guide you can follow these dates to ensure your cosmetics are safe and hygienic (you are putting them on your face after all):

Liquid Foundation: 3-6 months

Concealer: 6-8 months

Powders (including eyeshadow): 1-2 years

Mascara: 3-6 months

Lip gloss and Lipstick: 2 years

Eye/Lip Pencils: 1-2 years

As a general rule, skincare products should be tossed after about 6 months (if you haven’t used them up by then). Also, don’t forget to wash your makeup brushes with brush cleaner or gentle shampoo on a monthly or fortnightly basis to remove oil build-up and any bacteria which may have formed.

When you’re done clearing out the old, the fun part can begin—you can replace your products old for new, or why not try something different and update your look in time for the spring summer season. A lot of the cosmetic houses have already begun the roll out of their Christmas/Summer beauty collections, which means you can begin to test out pretty party looks for the silly season just around the corner.

Some great new products that can help put a little Spring in your step are the gorgeous new YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in any shade, MAC Pearlglide eyeliner in Black Russian, and the always divine Guerlain Meteorites Poudre de Perles (the new pressed powder version of the legendary Meteorites).

Ginger and spice and all things nice

Image: Rous Iland Boutique
When you're a 20-something with reasonable levels of disposable income regularly at your fingertips, what does a global recession really mean to you?

Well, if you're like me, one direct impact it will have is the horror you experience when you visit your favourite US online store and discover that the prices of everything have skyrocketed by about 30%. So. Not. Appreciated.

So although I will sadly have to wait for the economy to improve before I purchase said items, I am content with a few bargains I have managed to acquire during the month at various PR and studio sales (God how I love them). Most treasured item: a Ginger and Smart leather skirt from winter 08 that I managed to score for $200 (RRP $898). Totally awesome--pics to follow shortly when I have time!

NSO beauty: Madam Lash

Lately I have noticed that lashes have become to beauty what shoes are to fashion—the way we choose to enhance this feature can dramatically impact our overall look. Just as 5 inch stilettos can vamp up an LBD, a set of fluttering falsies can similarly set heads turning.

The sneaker or thong of the eyelash world would have to be the eyelash tint. Especially handy in the summer months when lounging around on the beach or by the pool, eyelash tints are a great fuss free way to ensure your lashes always look groomed and healthy without having to worry about panda eyes. Many beauty salons offer eyelash tinting, or if you’re game you can try an at-home kit which you can purchase from chemists. My daily life requires that I dress more formally however, so for me a lash tint and thongs isn’t quite enough.

Mascara is a daily essential I believe most beauty enthusiasts reach for. Personally I can’t bear to leave the house without at least one coat on (I use Max Factor Masterpiece Max ). Mascara I believe is the ballet flat or kitten heel shoe equivalent—it provides enough volume, length and colour to keep you looking polished in most environments. Also with mascara you can achieve different effects depending on your application, whether you opt for a dramatic eye using multiple coats, or a coat of clear or brown mascara if you’re already lucky in the lash department.

I have over the years mastered my mascara application technique: in order to get as close as possible to the lash line (which helps make lashes look longer and fuller) look down into a mirror. Wiggle the wand as you move up the lashes, and use the tip to separate any clumps. I also like to give my lower lashes a light coat to frame my eyes.

False eyelashes are the stilettos of the beauty realm—for a special occasion they are perfect for completing a high glam look. Shu Uemura which is now available in Australia make some gorgeous lashes, from the dramatic feathered kind to the more demure individual lashes. Personally I find applying a full set of falsies extremely difficult, so I tend to stick with individual lashes that I can place strategically along the lash line (I recommend MAC’s 30 lash ).

To apply, complete your eye makeup (including mascara), then coat the base of the falsies with eyelash glue. Wait a few moments for the glue to become tacky, look down into a mirror and place them as close to the lash line as possible using a pair of pointed tweezers. The glue should dry clear, but you can always cover any boo boos with some liquid eyeliner. Most cosmetic counters which sell false eyelashes will apply them for you for free at the time of purchasing, so if you need a personalised lesson it is definitely worth an ask.

So the next time you are going out and can’t afford that pair of Jimmy Choos you’ve been eyeing off, try reaching for some falsies instead to add some instant (and cheaper) glamour.