I've been doing quite a few manicure posts lately. Sorry to those readers who are bored by them.
But I wanted to try my new green polishes from Jaztee, and put them on straight away.
Jaz, this mani is thanks to you 
The Vogue Forums are responsible for a lot of the products in my bathroom cabinet, shower, makeup purse, shelves in my bedroom…
Actually, probably all of them.
So when I read about the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque in a thread recently, and it got rave reviews on MakeUp Alley, I wanted to give it a go.
For starters it was only around $6 on eBay.
And it made seductive promises like "Helps dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads & shrink enlarged pores".
I know there's no product on earth than can achieve those claims.
But that doesn't stop me living in hope that somewhere, somehow, someone has invented something I can slap on my skin for 10 minutes, and then eat all the chocolate I like, drink 4 coffees a day and stay up til the wee hours.
And look like JLo.
Unsurprisingly, this $6 face mask isn't it.
Someone Like You
It seems like every time I get into my car to drive home from work lately, Adele's 'Someone Like You' is playing on the radio.
It's actually an awesome way to knock off work, driving along, belting out that amazing song and pretending that I was born with a set of pipes and talent like hers.
I love singing along to Adele.
I'm also in love with her look. Gosh, she's beautiful.
I want to look like her.
In my last post, I wrote about how, as part of My Journey to Beautiful Skin, I've taken up drinking lemon juice in warm water first thing in the morning.
A couple of readers (Hello Louise and Annie ) commented about their concerns that the acid in the lemon juice would cause the enamel on my teeth to wear.
That was not something I'd considered and, of course, it's definitely not something I want to happen to my teeth.
My parents spent a lot of money on my wayward teeth when I was a kid, and I've always taken good care of them, so I did some reading about the effects of lemon juice on tooth enamel.
I've always had problem skin. It's been the bane of my entire existence.
Breakouts, congestion, redness, sensitivity, oiliness.
Why couldn't I just have genes for beautiful skin like some incredibly lucky people?
Like JLo.
Actually, it was seeing the video for I'm Into You that filled me with intense jealousy, and a determination to get her skin, no matter what.
Now before you tell me she's wearing tonnes of makeup (I know) and the whole clip's been completely touched up (I know), this is what she looks like without makeup.
Her skin looks so luminous in that video because she has incredible skin to start with. The rest is just enhancements.
Anyone who reads this blog regularly probably knows I try to avoid harmful chemicals as much as possible.
I only buy eco friendly and non toxic cleaning products and laundry detergent, and I try to make sure anything I put on my skin – bath and body products, skin care – is as natural as possible.
Including my shampoo.
***
These are just two of the most recent "no nasties" shampoos I've been using.
If there's a sulfate free, paraben free, phthalate free, organic, vegan, animal friendly, ecologically sound shampoo, and it's available in Australia, I've probably tried it.
High end. Mid end. Low end from the supermarket in a regrettable burst of optimism. I feel like I've tried them all.
New perfume releases generally pass me by with very little interest, because I don't wear perfume.
Or rather, I can't wear perfume.
I used to. I wore Estee Lauder Beautiful for my entire highschool education. And then Elizabeth Arden's Fifth Avenue. Banana Republic Classic. I flirted with SJP's Lovely.
But a few years ago, I noticed that every time I wore perfume I started to feel nauseous. And it wouldn't go away until I washed it off.
I blame Calvin Klein IN2U. I got a his n' her sample, and made Mr K put it on with me. Five minutes later, driving in the car, I was so sick, I desperately wiped it off both of us with the only thing handy – windscreen cleaner wipes.
No idea what it did to me, but ever since then, I haven't been able to wear perfume. I don't have very kind feelings towards Mr Klein.
***
So, even though I'm certain Katy Perry's new perfume, Purr, would make me want to hurl – I want!
One morning a few months ago, while I was brushing my teeth, I realised my toothbrush was starting to look a bit shabby and it was time to replace it.
And, as I've become accustomed to doing whenever I'm holding something ready to discard, I wondered whether it could go in the recycling bin.
Of course, I immediately concluded that toothbrushes can't be recycled, and it suddenly dawned on me that every toothbrush I've ever used is now sitting in landfill.
And will continue to do so for a few million years.
It was a long time coming, but I finally got around to putting together this post on The Oil Cleansing Method, after receiving a few requests when my skin was having a hissy fit.
It took a while to compile all the research I'd done on various carrier and essential oils into an easily usable document. But now it's ready for you to download
Ta da!
Best Oils for The Oil Cleansing Method
Okay, so now you've got the oil info, but how do you use them to cleanse your skin?
And, more importantly, why would you want to? Haven't we been told our whole lives that oil + skin = bad?
Yes, if it's mineral oil, but – as the pdf shows – some plant and essential oils are rich with nutrients and properties that are hugely beneficial for our skin.
***
So how does it work?
I think there are two types of people in the world – those who love having a good old gossip/catch up session with their hairdresser, and those who prefer to get the gossip from the magazines in their lap.
I fall into the latter camp.
I'm sure it makes me sound very anti-social, but it's not actually the case.
In fact, I spent 1 1/2 hours chatting with my colourist (and previous hairdresser who I'm now cheating on… the guilt!) today because we have a long-standing relationship and I actually don't think you could shut her up if you stuck a round bristle brush in her mouth.
She's absolutely totally lovely and I genuinely enjoy hearing about her life and filling her in on mine.
Most of the time.
But sometimes, like today when I salon hopped to get my hair cut (with my new "mistress hairdresser", Bronwyn) afterward, I just like it when a hairdresser can tell you're not in the mood for idle conversation and is happy to let you hit the mute button.
I suppose now that I'm sharing my hair love around I get to experience both – the chatty colourist and the chilled out stylist.
I can live with that.
I love my new mistress hairdresser.
xx Kiki
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