Ethereal Beauty

Heavenly, feminine, gorgeous and radiant: this is the essence of ethereal beauty - and it's always in fashion.

Ethereal beauty is akin to the glow of pregnancy minus the baby (or perhaps with the baby), but you get the gist. 

The inspiration for today's blog is the heroine from my new favourite show, Game of Thrones, which went to air just three weeks ago in the US and has not yet reached Australian TV. It's full of sex, violence and intrigue - completely addictive. 

Daenerys Targaryen played by Emilia Clarke in HBO's Game of Thrones

Perfected skin, a soft wash of colour to the lips and cheeks, and bright eyes contribute to this angelic look, but the real key is luminosity and that means hightlight Highlight HIGHLIGHT!

You want a candlelit glow, not a disco-ball face, so choose products that are pearlised rather than sparkly.

Try NARS hightlight powder in Albatross on the tops of the cheekbones, browbone, bridge of the nose and cupids bow. US$27 from kissandmakeupny or AU$55 from Mecca online and in store.

NARS Highlight powder in Albatross

This powder imparts a gorgeous, golden-pearl radiance to the skin, especially in natural light.

A a soft flush of pink completes the look. Try Becca's lip and cheek creme in whatever colour suits you. I like Tuberose and Rosebud. AU$46 from Becca online or at selected boutiques.

Becca Lip & Cheek Creme in Rosebud

Apply to lips and cheeks for a youthful, sensuous flush.

Preview Game of Thrones at HBO.

Enjoy,

Love La x

Hey Gorgeous, you too can 'Benefit' from the strong Aussie dollar!

It's the perfect time to buy from America. Today, the Australian dollar is worth an incredible 109.5 US cents!

If you love gorgeous, girly, fun cosmetics, you should have a squiz at Benefit Cosmetics US website. Not only do they ship internationally for free when you spend over US$115, but you pay US prices!

Benefit Cosmetics are known for their fun products and collectible packaging but don't be fooled, their products are high quality and produce fabulous results!

Here are some of my Benefit faves...

Hoola matte bronzing powder is a cult product with an enormous following in the beauty industry. Benefit are famous for their collectable box'o'powder cheek products and this is a must-have!
Hoola costs US$28, which will cost you just AU$25.55 (or $51 at Myer)

Hoola matte bronzing powder

Eye Bright under eye brightening pencil is my favourite under-eye concealer. The creamy, pale pink formula blends softly to cancel out under eye shadows. US$20/ AU$18.25  (AU$36 at Myer)

Eye Bright under eye brightening and concealing pencil

Soft and perfectly angled cheek brush. Fabulous for blush and contouring. US$22/ AU$20

Slant Powder Brush

Love this tinted moisturiser with sunscreen. A summer beauty staple, but also great if you want to add a bit of warmth to pale winter skin.  US$30/ AU$27.40  (AU$51 at Myer)

You Rebel tinted moisturiser

If you've never tried Benefit before, now is the time!

Check out the Benefit Cosmetics US website here.

Love La x

Youngblood

I'm intrigued by this mineral makeup company, albeit mostly due to their name.

Youngblood conjures Twilight-esque imaginings of modern, gothic-inspired beauty, complete with luminous porcelain skin and berry-stained lips, perfectly suited to Melbourne's grey winter.

Don't be scared, in reality Youngblood has nothing to do with vampires; the name refers to a new generation of mineral makeup. I didn't realise mineral makeup had been around long enough to be reinvented already, did you?

I've ordered the Mineral Radiance in Sundance because I'm always searching for the next best bronzer.

Youngblood Mineral Radiance compacts in Sundance, Riviera, Sunshine and Splendor

I'll be back with a review,

Love La x

Stila Smudge Pots

Stila Smudge Pots have been on my beauty radar for a while now but my fear of gel liner kept me from purchasing one until recently.

I bought the black Smudge Pot and it's intensely pigmented. The texture is creamy and glides on beautifully. It sets, but will smudge a little if you have oily lids. You'll definitely need eye make-up remover to get it all off.

I won't lie, gel liner is hard to master. You really need to work at it to perfect your technique, but with a bit of dedication you can achieve retro winged-liner or sexy kitten-flicks with ease.

Invest in a fine-point liner brush rather than an angled liner brush. They're much easier to control and you can paint a finer line.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis looks gorgeous with her winged liner.

Kate Moss

Queen of cool, Kate Moss, looks chic with her flicks (no surprises there!)

In Australia you can really only find Stila at Mecca, which means you'll have to pay full price.
It's $42 for a huge pot, but I think it's worth it. Plus, the girls at Mecca will pamper you with a makeover (if you like) and free samples of luxe products.

Love La x

Review: Winter skin says yes to carrots!

Did you know that your skin loves carrots? Yes, carrots!

All this time you've been spending hundreds of dollars on luxury skin creams, formulated from scientifically derived synthetic ingredients, but all your skin really wants can be found in a humble root vegetable. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, an organic compound derived from orange fruits and vegetables, which has antioxidant and anti-aging properties.

I recently stumbled across Yes To Carrots, a paraben-free range of beauty products for hair, face and body. Yes To Carrots blends carrot juice with pumpkin, sweet potato, cucumber, natural oils and minerals from the Dead Sea to produce products that are gentle, natural and nourishing.

I've been trying the Yes To Carrots Eye and Face Makeup Remover, which I recommend for winter use or to those with dry or mature skin. The texture is so thick and creamy that you don't need to use very much. It removes my makeup well and doesn't still the eyes. Best of all, it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. The Moisturising Day Cream is also lovely, very rich and luxurious - perfect for winter ravaged skin. Its only downfall is that it has no SPF. Both products have a light natural scent that smells nothing like carrots.

Wildlife warriors will be pleased to know that Yes To Carrots products are not tested on animals.

Their prices are also pleasing.
Eye and Face Makeup Remover, 250ml $16.95
Moisturising Day Cream, 50ml $22.95

Available from David Jones, Priceline and Coles.