Thursday 28 March 2013

Makeup look: A splash of colour for Autumn or Spring!

Today I decided to do a bit of a crazy addition to my usual nude-toned eye makeup.

In my March LHI box, I received 2 green skin crayons, and I have been hanging to do something with the bright lime one in particular.

I achieved this pop of colour by just simply lining my lower waterline and lashline with the bright green pencil, which goes on really creamy and lovely.

For my everyday nude look, I use my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, first using "Foxy" all over the lid, right up to the brow, then "Tease" in the middle of the eyelid and up over the crease as a transition colour. Blend in well with the highlight.

Next, I use "Verve" in my inner third, blending it back into the "tease" colour.

Last of all, "Busted" goes in the outer third and along the crease, then I blend everything together nicely.

Using Australis Curve Ink liquid eyeliner, I create a slight winged look, and top it all off with MAC Plush Lash mascara.

You can add a splash of any colour you like to make this a more seasonal or fancy themed makeup look.



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Wednesday 27 March 2013

FREE SAMPLES FOR AUSSIES! Check out Pinchme!

Another awesome website to share with you guys!

I've signed up with these people, and received samples from them, so I can tell you from my own personal experience that it works exactly the way that they say it works. You sign up, they release samples of products every day in limited numbers. If you happen to be able to get online when the new sample comes out, you can order it, they send it you, you give feedback, the end.

That's it. No gimmicks, no 50,000 emails a day, just the one to let you know that new samples are available.

The only thing that people seem to be whinging about is the fact that the samples are limited in number and not every one of the 46,000 members gets every sample every time.

So far, I've had a sample of Herbal Essences shampoo, a samples of swisse vitamins with extra energy, and a sample of flavoured coffee. I'm loving it!

Check it out at www.pinchme.com.au


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Tuesday 26 March 2013

Tresemme 2 in 1: Trying something different.

My hair is so super fine, wavy, frizzy, flyaway and there isn't really much of it. On the upside, it's really easy to tame and style.

Conditioners seem to weigh my hair down and leave it looking lank, but if I just wash it with shampoo, it lacks the softness that I like.

So, how better to cure my problems, than to use a 2 in 1 conditioning shampoo?

I started using this Tresemme one, after I bought it at the supermarket, and I'm really impressed with it. It hasn't made my head itchy, my hair looks great, really healthy and shiny, and although it doesn't leave it quite as soft as my conditioners do, it's lightweight and leaves my hair tangle free. For those of you wanting an easier alternative to shampoo and conditioner, this is definitely worth a try! Available from all good supermarkets and beauty stores.


Monday 25 March 2013

Australis Bronzing Primer!

Years ago, I had a Boots No7 product called "liquid sunshine, which was a liquid gold shimmer for all over use. It had these lovely little reflective bits in it that made my skin glow and I always looked so healthy. I've never been able to find a comparable product here in Australia...until now.

This week, Australis release their new bronzing primer, which is almost exactly the same effect! It gives you a hint of colour and a golden glow, even after you've applied your foundation.

In the picture below, you can see that i applied the primer only to my contour areas, and it's had a lovely overall effect on my makeup look. In the winter months, I intend to wear it all over instead of foundation on days when I don't want to wear a face full of makeup, but I still want some protection from the winter cold and wind.


This product is absolutely gorgeous, and a must have for every beauty-conscious makeup fan this season.

At $13.95, it's a total steal, especially considering it contains all the good stuff to keep your skin moisturised and protected from free radicals.

 Head over to www.australiscosmetics.com.au or into your local Priceline store and pick it up today!



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Friday 22 March 2013

Katy Perry Peacock inspired eye makeup.

You guys know I've been working out a lot lately, and I've just figured out my technology enough to run my tracker app and my music on the phone at the same time! So I love nothing better than to pop in my headphones and pound the pavement to a selection of songs with a tempo >120bpm.

One such song (with a very cheeky, naughty lyrical line) is Katy Perry's "Peacock", and it's been in high rotation on my playlist because I particularly enjoy it.

How better to express my appreciation for Katy's hit song than to pay tribute to it with a makeup look?






 I started with Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed, and a chunky eyeshadow crayon in a pearly pink colour and covered my lid entirely, leaving it a little thicker up under the brow for a highlight.

Then I went in with an emerald green with sparkles to the middle third of the lid, pushing the colour up and across above the brow bone to the outer corner of my eye.



My inner corner is a matte mint green colour, which I used in the inner corner, just under the eye in the inner third, and blended out between the highlight under my brow and the emerald green.

Last of all, a lovely sapphire blue colour swept across the outer V into the lid, up from the lashline to create a feathery look.

I used teal and blue pencil liners on my waterline, and black liquid liner (my trusty Australis curve ink liner) on the lid.

Last of all, a generous helping of mascara and Ibiza lashes from Hedkandi by Eylure, and I was all done!

What do you think? What events do you have coming up where this might be a good look?


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Thursday 21 March 2013

Australis Pout Paste: Review & swatches

 Yesterday I gave you guys my first impressions on the brand new Australis Pout Paste. Today, we'll have a closer look and see how it performs.

It comes in 3 different colours; Pash Me Pink, Berry Nice Kiss, and Love Bites. They are all super-pigmented and the colour really lasts. It's a sticky vinyl-sheen type of gloss feel, with the colour output and staying power of a lipstick!

Yesterday I compared them to OCC Lip Tar, and they really are very similar in their characteristics.

I do like that these ones have an applicator wand, though, and the fact that they are an aussie brand who are cruelty free is another couple of huge bonuses.

Unfortunately for my readers in the USA, I'm not 100% sure where/if you can get Australis products in the states, but try online, and see if you can find these. They're great value at $12.95AUD!

The colours in this picture from top to bottom are: Pash Me Pink, Berry Nice Kiss, and Love Bites.
You can see for yourselves how pigmented they are, and I didn't lay them on thick at all.

You can buy these online at www.australiscosmetics.com.au, or you can find a stockist near you on their website. I know that they are available at Priceline stores nationally.


Wednesday 20 March 2013

First Impressions: Australis Pout Paste

I'll let the video do the talking for me today, stay tuned for a proper review of this product tomorrow!



Tuesday 19 March 2013

Weight loss and Tough Mudder training update.

February 2013
I know you guys come here for beauty tips and tricks, but I also know that some of you are on the same journey as I am, in terms of struggling with excess weight, obesity, and the health concerns that arise from the condition.
I want to dig a little deeper and share a bit more with you guys today, and maybe I'll update you about once a month with my progress, so that you can share this awesome journey with me.
Those of you who follow me on Instagram (@katylylak) will have seen the almost daily posts about it, and I'm trying to record it as best I can, because I feel like it's important and helps me stay motivated to see where I've been as well as where I'm going.
March 2013
I started out when I signed up for Tough Mudder a month ago at approximately 115kg. I'm 5'6" tall, I'm quite broadly built, and I'm obese. I've been obese for 12 years. When I met my ex-husband in 2001, I was a size 14, and I very quickly gained and ballooned out to a 16-18. Then I had babies. I started my first pregnancy in a size 18 at 110kg, gained 9kg, lost it, didn't lose any extra, then gained a couple more. Six years later, in a size 20, at 112kg, I had a second baby, gained 11kg, lost it all plus 5kg more.
I went through a marriage breakup, had some ups and downs, fair amounts of stress, and always made myself feel better with food.
Over the course of 2 years, I yo-yo'd between 107 and 115kg.

Over the years, I've tried and tried to lose weight. Something always happens to make me fail, I'll feel stressed and start the eating cycle again, I'll get so unbearable after a few days of sugar withdrawal that people encourage me to eat again, my moods, my motivation, all are linked and have seen me fail over and over in the past.

I don't know what's different this time. I suppose, because I'm at a good place in my life, I'm in a loving, happy (but long distance, which is stressful) relationship with a man who supports me 100%, I have a goal that I've laid my pride and my hard-come-by cash down for (the entry fee for Tough Mudder when I signed up was $150), I've got a really, really great team to work with, all really supportive and working towards the same goal. I'm just more motivated, and my willpower is stronger than my urge to do the things that have me falling back into the same habits again. I have this blog, my instagram, and a weight loss and fitness group on another website, all keeping me accountable for my progress.

So far, a month in, I'm seeing the following side effects, good and bad.

I'm sleeping better - I was a really bad insomniac for years. Now with regular exercise and healthier eating habits, I'm sleeping easily and for longer periods of time. a good 8 hour night is the norm for me now.

I'm very tired - My body is going through a lot of changes, which include increased output (exercise) and decreased fuel supplies. For now, that makes me very tired. Dealing with 2 kids in the evening is sometimes quite difficult when I'm running on empty, but as the days go by, it's getting slowly easier.

I'm eating less and feeling fuller - I'm at the point now where a sandwich full of spinach and lettuce and chicken and avocado is almost too much for lunch. I'm having to space my eating out better during the day and eat smaller amounts more often because my stomach is shrinking and can only accommodate small meals.

I spent a month hungry - Getting to that point has been a huge challenge. I was so hungry all the time in the beginning. My sugar withdrawals were extreme, my moods were horrendous, and I just wasn't very pleasant to be around at all.

I'm getting fitter -  A decent 5km walk isn't a hardship now, in fact, I regularly walk 3-5km at a time, and feel fine afterwards. My fitness level is improving so fast, I really though it would take a lot longer before I could jog even a couple of hundred metres, let alone do sprint exercises with my brother and climb up and down over piles of mulch. My strength is improving, too. It will get easier as I drop weight. Much easier to lift 70kg than 115!

I've struggled really badly at points with my fitness, sometimes pushing my body too far - Sometimes, it's really hard. It's still really hard. The intense workouts and training sessions that we do once per week are designed to really challenge our bodies. I just keep repeating to myself "without challenge, there is no change".

I just generally feel better - I breathe easier, my joints don't hurt as much, I'm more motivated in other facets of my life. It's a really good feeling.

I look better - Of course! I don't care what all of those "proud fat girls" say. On a prehistoric, biologically-driven level, we, as animals, are more attracted to healthier-looking specimens. It's just that simple. Healthy = Attractive. I don't need to be thin. I actually want to keep my curviness. I just want to be healthy, and healthy-looking.

People have asked me recently "Hey Katy, you look different already! How are you doing it/what's your secret?"

It's not a secret. I posted on my facebook timeline this morning exactly what my plan is. To get down to a healthy size, with increased fitness and strength, and without resorting to surgery, there is only ONE effective way to do this. Eat healthy and exercise. Break your bad habits. Change your entire lifestyle. You HAVE to change your life before your body will change to fit it. MAKE the time to exercise. If I can find the time without special gyms or equipment, without anyone sponsoring me, without anything other than the 2 legs I was born with and my fat ass waddling down the road, on my own with 2 small kids, YOU CAN DO IT TOO! For a really long time I thought I was failing because I didn't have time to exercise, or I couldn't go out to walk with the kids, or that nobody would help me. That was my biggest mistake. You don't need anyone to help you. You just do it all by yourself, and it happens. It really does,

Ok... off my soap box now.


Just a little one, on the first day I had the app.
Two apps I've found invaluable have been sports tracker (for timing and measuring my sessions. It uses GPS to track your movements and gives you a detailed description of your workout when you're done), and My Fitness Pal, which keeps track of what you're eating, and how that ties in with what you need to be putting into your body. It even tracks you vitamin and mineral intake and lets you know if you're low. It even has a barcode scanner and over 2,000,000 different foods and drinks in its database. I generally just scan everything as I put it into a meal, or manually enter things that don't have packaging. It knows all of the nutrient values.

So that's about it for now. Hopefully I haven't bored you too much. I'll be back in April with another update, and hopefiully some very different-looking pictures.

Monday 18 March 2013

Lust Have It March 2013! Spoiler alert: It's massive in value!

This morning, I received my Lust have It box in the mail, and I knew that they were making some changes in preparation for their increase in price from $14.95/mth to $19.95/mth...but I tend not to take these things too seriously when they say "Yeah, we're going to give you 100 bucks' worth of stuff for 20 bucks".

Oh boy, was I surprised!

First, when I add all of this up, and don't include the sample-sized products, the value here is  $136!!!

Then, the sample sized products are really generous. The face mask is enough for a really decent mask, or two if you're a bit more savvy with it. The hair treatment is easily enough for 5 goes on my fine, shoulder-length hair.
Let's have a look at the products, shall we?

First, we have Bio Elixia Body Shaper Cellulite Contour Creme. RRP $59, 150ml FULL SIZED PRODUCT
I'm always a bit dubious about these kinds of products, so at the very least, I have a really nice, high end body moisturiser that smells great and just might help out with my bumpy thighs and tummy. I'm very pleased with this.

Gosh eyeshadow - light brown
Next up is Gosh Cosmetics Mono Eye shadow RRP $16, FULL SIZED PRODUCT
I got this one in colour "light brown" and it's a really gorgeous nude colour with a slight shimmer. It will definitely be a regularly used product in my house, as I do so love to wear nude colours.

Then there's The Natural Source Camouflage Colour Crayons RRP $9.95 each (I got 2!) FULL SIZED PRODUCT
I got a nail polish last month from this company, and I really liked it (except the way it smelled), so I was pleased to see colour products here again from the same company. I got 2 green colours, a lime and a more army-ish camo-type colour, so they'll be really awesome for any green-ish makeup looks I'm doing. They would have come in really handy for St. Patrick's Day yesterday! Very pleased with the creamy consistency.

Next, I got 2 sample sized products, Goldwell Dual Senses Rich Repair hair treatment (RRP $20.99 for the 200ml bottle) This is a really decent sized sample. Like I said, it'll do my hair probably 5 times, so I'll be able to really get a sense of how it works with my hair and skin and get a decent review out for you guys.

Last of all, there's Advance Natural Calming and Soothing Mask ($39.50 for the 50ml product)
This is a gorgeous face mask. I seem to be amassing a huge collection of mask products at the moment, so I might need to have some girls over for a bit of a pamper session! It has chamomile and chickweed to calm the skin, which is great for me, because every time I come home from a big workout session, my poor skin is all angry and red and sweaty. This will be a lovely treat.

On that, I've found that treating my body from the outside can often feel as good as filling myself with sugar and fat. A lovely face mask, a nice relaxing bath, all go a long way to rewarding myself for a job well done, and although I know there's a long way to go, I'm staying really motivated with these little things.

Now, there's some extra value in the box.

A $15 voucher for The Iconic.(min. spend $59)
A 25% off voucher for Bio Elixia (So, if you bought the same product again, you can save $15 there.)
A free first month voucher for Dollar Shave Club (If you choose the executive razor, you can save $10)

Oh, and a lollipop! It was very quickly claimed by Max, but I didn't mind, since I'm not having sweet things anyway.

All in all, an amazing box! Check it out for yourself at www.lusthaveit.com.au


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I think I might have a problem....lip product excess!

 I posted a little while ago, a post about "goo hoarding". This week, I took a look in my lip products box (I have my makeup organized into 5 litre tubs, by product type), and it struck me that I may have a hoarding problem.
The picture above is the inside of my lip products box. Not even organized, just all thrown in there.

 First up, here they are, all organized and neat so that you can see what I have.

This first picture is lip care products (lip balms, etc), lip pencils, and plumping products, as well as a couple of sample sized Benefit tints.








Next up are my lipsticks. I don't have a lot of them, because I'm not really a lipstick kinda gal. If I had to choose a favourite, I'd go with the Modelco matte red one (second from left in the bottom row) because it's gorgeous and everything-proof!








Last of all, my lipglosses. So many of them that I need two pictures to show you!

As you can see, I really love my pink shades. For special occasions, I like a plum, and for everyday, I prefer nude-type shades.

My current favourites are the Benefit "life on the A list" salmon-y colour, and my new Yes to Carrots C-me-shine nude colour, as well as the Illamasqua one in Belladonna.

 In this last picture are my MAC glosses. Some are the real deal, some are knock-offs. I honestly can't tell the difference in the actual product itself.

Also there are some other brands here, the Max Factor sparkly one is super cute, the Bloom one is a lovely shade, and the Silk Oil of Morocco one is fantastic, and I love the colour, but it's more of a liquid lipstick than a gloss, and it wears off strangely, leaving a line of very light pink on your inner lip which just looks weird. It does smell amazing, though.

So...what do you think? Am I a hoarder? Is it time to do a cull of some of these products?None of them are particularly old, I just have so many of them, and i can't seem to stop acquiring more and more!


Thursday 14 March 2013

March bellabox!

The months are rolling around fast this year! Already we're in March and the first lot of sample boxes has been released.
This month's offering from bellabox is another so-so one. The products are nice enough, and there are a couple of full sized colour products there, so we really got our money's worth this month again, but there's nothing I'm really super excited about.

Of course, the first thing I did with the box is run home to video the unboxing, so here's that little piece of early morning awesome:




Review; Lancome Hypnose Star mascara




In the February Lust Have It box, I received a cute little sample of Lancome Hypnose Star mascara.I am quite the mascara connoisseur, so I was excited to try out a high end product like this and see if it lived up to the hype.

It totally does. In a few different ways!

First of all, it's a glossy, blacker-than-black colour. Just one coat of this makes my lashes pop and my eyes are defined absolutely.


Then there's the added benefit of not needing to tightline. I hate tightlining! It's uncomfortable, awkward, and risky, and the effect is not worth the hassle, to be honest. However, if you can get the same effect with no extra effort, it does make enough of a difference to bother with it.

The shape of the brush is what lets you get right in under the lashes to the upper waterline, and it coats the skin there right on the lashline as you pull the mascara through your lashes.
It lengthens and separates the lashes beautifully, and if you want a bit of extra volume like i do, you can always use a lash primer or fibre coat first, then apply this over the top. In my pictures, I've used a maybelline XXL pro lash primer (from the 2 step mascara that I usually use), then just one coat of the Lancome product over the top.

Now, in terms of where to get it and how much "high end" costs, it varies unbelievably between Australia and the USA. Here in Australia, you need to get it from the Lancome counter at Myer store, and it's going to set you back $52.
If you're in the USA, you're lucky, because at Sephora, you can pick this baby up for $28! I'm going to make do with my sample for the next few months and pick up a couple of full sized ones when I go to Texas in August.

Definitely a product to try out if you have the urge to splurge on a nice product. If you can find a sample somewhere, even better! I don't like to spend huge dollars on mascara, because technically we're supposed to ditch them every 3 months. It makes me wish that they came in smaller and more affordable product sizes. the sample that I got in my LHI box is just about a perfect 3 month supply for me, wearing makeup 4-5 times per week.

Check it out, though, it's a fantastic product!

Wednesday 13 March 2013

LonVitalite; the future in facials.

Last week, I reviewed a hand mask from LonVitalite, and I loved it (and their 24k face mask, which I had tried previously) so much that I went to their website and bought their whole range of face masks.

Since then, I've used a few of them, and reordered their entire range of face, eye and hand products.

The best part about it is that the entire range, at full regular price, cost me $20 (plus $10 shipping, which I didn't have to pay, as a part of their facebook promotion)!

I wanted to show you guys their whole range, as part of my "make time for you" pamper series, so here it is, straight from their product description pages to you:


24K ACTIVE GOLD YULAN OIL FACE MASK

  • Provides immediate intense cooling and soothing relief.
  • Highly moisturising and nourishing; smoothing out wrinkles, and hydrating the skin.
  • The extremely active ingredients promote micro circulation in the face as well as skin regeneration.
  • Removes lines and supplies water and nutrients for the skin cells leaving the skin more evenly pigmented and soft.
  • Can relieve symptoms of allergies such as puffy eyes, inflammation and irritation.

C1 WHITENING, MOISTURISING & PIGMENT TAMING FACE MASK

  • Moisturising and nourishing, smoothes out wrinkles, and replenishes skin with moisture.
  • Vitamin C aids in inhibiting the production of melanin effectively brightening the skin.
  • Can reduce skin damage caused by exposure UVA and UVB.
  • Grume essence extracted from seaweed.
  • Heat relieving and toxin expelling – strengthening blood circulation.
  • Boosts skin metabolism allowing for intensely hydrated skin.



C2 COLLAGEN PROTEIN WRINKLE REMOVING & MOISTURISING FACE MASK

  • Accelerates skin metabolism, reinforces skin growth, tames and smoothes out fine lines, and enhances skin moisturising function.
  • Recovers balance between skin oil and moisture, increases expanding between cell tissues, quickly increasing moisture content up to 12%.
  • 100% natural collagen protein provides skin structure with new energy, sooths and replenishes the skin with nutritional ingredients.
  • Improves skin pigmentation with a soothing effect on acne and pimples.
  • Contains Hyaluronic Acid which cushions and lubricates the cells leaving the skin feeling hydrated.


C3 COLLAGEN FIRMING & WRINKLE REMOVING RED WINE FACE MASK

  • Supply Collagen, mildly seal water in the skin, improve skin luster, fade wrinkles, promote the regeneration of damaged cells.
  • Collagen helps soften the epidermis to improve luster and assist hydration.
  • Provides calm soothing relief to the skin from over exposure to the sun reduces inflammation from sun burn.
  • With 300% water absorption, the nutrients instantly penetrate, repairing the skin tissue, removing fine lines and fading deep wrinkles.
  • Improve oxygen in skin, promoting blood circulation, fade dull and yellowish tone, firm the skin and make it supple and taut.


C4 COCONUT MILK HYDRATING & NOURISHING FACE MASK

  • Penetrates into the deep layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying layers.
  • Coconut oil is well known for its highly effective moisturising properties, supporting the natural chemical balance of the skin.
  • Helps to relieve and prevent dryness and flaking of skin, sagging of skin and age spots.
  • Helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.
  • Assists with acne, helping to dissolve obstructions to the skin.



24K ACTIVE GOLD FULL EYE MASK

  • Intense cooling and soothing relief to the skin from over exposure to the sun.
  • Contains pure whitening essence milk, Vitamin B3, mulberry extract and grape leaf essence.
  • Boosts the blood circulation for the eyes removing dark circles, bags under the eyes and rapidly abating swelling or tiredness around the eyes.
  • Highly moisturising and nourishing; smoothing out wrinkles, and hydrating the skin.

C8 COLLAGEN CRYSTAL EYE MASK

  • Eliminates dark circles and fine lines that appear under the eyes as a result of age.
  • Promotes an evenly toned luminosity to the delicate skin that surrounds the eye.
  • Instant firming effect smoothing out fine line and wrinkles, rejuvenating the eyes for a youthful and bright appearance.
  • Containing Hyaluronic Acid which cushions and lubricates the cells leaving the skin feeling hydrated.
  • Vitamin C aids in reducing skin damage caused by free radicals.




C9 CRYSTAL MOISTURISING HAND MASK

  • Provides soothing relief to the skin from over exposure to the sun.
  • Helps to revive rough hands with natural soothing chamomile extract.
  • Highly nourishing; the mask smooths out wrinkles and replenishes the hands with moisture.
  • Aids in reversing damage to the skin from external environmental factors and promotes skin metabolism.





    C10 CRYSTAL MOISTURISING & WHITENING HAND MASK

    • Assists in eliminating age spots and the appearance of fine lines on the hands.
    • Effective anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties from Aloe Vera working to improve the skins pigmentation.
    • Provides soothing relief to the skin from over exposure to the sun.
    • Instant firming effect, leaving the hands feeling softer and more hydrated.
    You can shop online for these (Australia and New Zealand only, unfortunately) at www.lonvitalite.com and make sure you stay up to date with their latest promotions and news at http://www.facebook.com/pages/LonVitalite


Tuesday 12 March 2013

February favourites!

I know, I know, we're almost halfway through March, but my week off has pushed my schedule around a little bit.

Anyway, I finally got around to filming my February Favourites video, and here it is! You'll have to excuse my post-workout hair and sweaty forehead, it's been almost 3 weeks since we had a day under 30C, and it's so humid here. With my little daylight bulb up, it was really super warm in my room.

So here it is, my February favourites!


Sunday 10 March 2013

Blog stats, changing things up a little bit.

Hey guys,

I was looking over my stats today, and it seems I'm getting as many hits in the USA as I am here in Australia. It strikes me that I should really be giving the USA product information, where to get things, etc.

So from this week, if I do a product review, I'll be including price comparisons and distributor information for readers in the USA as well as my homeland of Oz.

I guess it helps that I'll be in the states in August, and will definitely be picking up some things that aren't currently available in Australia for my use and review on the blog. I'll also be waiting until I can hit a Sephora store to pick up things like the Lancome mascara that I'm reviewing this coming week, as it has a price tag of $52RRP here in Australia, and is only $28 RRP in the states! That's not a rare occurrence, so I'm sure I'll need a whole bunch of spending money. My poor boyfriend will just have to drop me off and go do man stuff for a couple of hours while I shop!

While I'm just blogging about my everyday stuff, I'll update you on my workout schedule and my weight goals, etc.

I've been working out at least a little bit almost every day for two weeks now. I'm already seeing a difference in the shape of my body, and I'm very pleased with my fitness progress. Today we even did walk, jog, sprint training things that I really would not have been able to do 2 weeks ago, and I did them 3 times! See the pic above for a bit of a progress pic. It's not a huge difference, but we are only talking about 2 weeks here, can't expect too much.
I'm stepping up my clean eating plan this week, so I expect to see more of a difference on the scales. The amount of strength training and weight lifting I've been doing has seen my weight drop by only 2kg in the 2 weeks, but the muscle mass that I'm building weighs a lot more than the fat that I'm dropping, so I don't see it as a demotivational thing.

The main, and most exciting, thing about it all is how good I feel. Most days I get a bit sore and stiff and sometimes I get hungry or crave sweet things, but I'm mostly being guided by my body about what I need. If I'm hungry, I eat. I try to keep the sweets to a minimum (I've had chocolate once in 2 weeks!) and I've cut liquids other than water and the occasional sugar free gatorade (only with intense training sessions) out completely. I don't keep soda, chocolate, cookies, chips, or any other tempting snackfoods in the house any more, and I make sure the fridge is always well stocked with fruit and vegetables so that any time I'm hungry, there it is, all right there in front of me. I'm also drinking optifast (they used to be only available by prescription, but they are on the shelf now) shakes for breakfast every day, and lunch as well on workout resting days.

I've switched all of my white carbs for wholegrain, and I've cut out potatoes. Obviously, the kids are still having everything they need for their growing bodies, I just make my vege portion bigger and cut out the mashed spuds or pasta or whatever they are having. I eat vegetarian once a week, and I eat lean red meats at least 4 times a week, the rest of the days are chicken, as I don't eat fish. I know it seems like I've made pretty radical changes, and I guess as far as my body is concerned (for the first week, my entire body was in a bit of shock, like WTH is going on???) the change is quite huge, but the main thing that's kept me on track is keeping my motivation up. I have lots of ways to do that, and even on days when I thought I couldn't possibly work any harder, I've managed to keep going and get the work done that needed to be done for that day.

OK, so that's a big update on where I'm at. If you're in the USA and you're happy about my blog changes, let me know in the comments below. If you're on a weight loss or fitness journey, give me a high five in the comments too!

Have a great week.

Katy

Friday 8 March 2013

Review: Lush Colour Supplement - Jackie Oates



On my last trip to the always-yummy-scented Lush, I decided to check out their new Emotional Brilliance cosmetics range. I was actually looking more for their amazing highly pigmented colour products, but one little gem caught my eye and I just had to check it out for myself.

Now, you need to keep in mind that I generally use MAC foundation, which I consider(ed) to be the best of the best in cosmetics for everyday use. I have to tell you that I've ditched my Matchmaster foundation in favour of Lush Jackie Oates colour supplement. I absolutely lovelovelove this product and I use it every single time I apply makeup now. It's the perfect neutral shade. I'm generally a little bit on the pink side, so yellow-based foundations make me look sick, and pink-based foundations tend to bring out the redness in my skin that little bit more.

As you can see here in my picture, it provides a lovely full coverage base, and when applied with a kabuki brush and set with a pressed powder to finish, it gives a lovely airbrushed look without too much effort.

If you wanted a more casual, everyday look, you can mix it with your favourite day moisturiser and turn it into a BB Cream! It's really, really versatile. Build it up over blemish-prone areas, or dress it down with simple application techniques.

The best part about this product is the price. At $17.95, this is the best value-for-money product I've used. Even if Jackie Oates isn't for you, colour-wise, there are 4 other colour supplements to choose from!


You can pick up Lush colour supplements in Lush stores or at www.lush.com.au


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Thursday 7 March 2013

Review: Lon Vitalite crystal whitening and moisturising hand mask


 In February's Lust Have It box, we were treated to this gorgeous Lon Vitalite crystal whitening and moisturising hand mask.

I've used some of their facial products in the past, so I was really excited to try this out, and did so as soon as I'd taken photos of the box and the goodies inside.

They basically look like cloth gloves soaked in goop, like a cloth face mask for your hands. The "goop" (that's the technical term for it!) is really cooling and calming to the skin, and I felt the benefit of that as soon as I put them on.

The instructions say to leave them on for half an hour, but I only managed about 20 minutes before my hands were needed for extremely important child demands. Nevertheless, I saw a vast improvement in the softness and hydration of the skin on my hands, and the skin seemed brighter after I used it.

I really loved it, and I'll be on the lookout for more. They are available from www.lonvitalite.com
Just be aware of their flat rate for shipping of $10.00, so if you go just looking to buy the $4.50 hand masks, they are going to end up costing you $14.50. My advice is to get together with some friends and share the shipping, or do what I did and order a few things to make it more worthwhile.

Their shipping is superfast (by courier) and if you're lucky, you might even find a couple of free samples with your order!













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Wednesday 6 March 2013

Trendsday - Gimicky nail art

I don't know what it is about painting really funny, cute, gimmicky things on finger and toe nails, but it seems to be quite the trend lately, and one that I'm really enjoying.

It started probably 6 months ago, and as more and more products for producing good quality nail art are released, it's catching on more and more.

My advice, when you're looking for good products to use for nail art, is to invest in some good striper polishes and practice with them.
 "Good" doesn't always mean high priced, and there are some really great options for under $10 each, including CM, BYS and pretty much any other brand that does a dedicated art polish with a very thin striper brush.

You can, of course, use nail art brushes with your normal polishes. Be sure to clean them really well between uses.

So what sort of ideas do we have for cute, funny nail polish, and where do we find more ideas?

Well, first of all, there's the Tigger tutorial on my Youtube channel ( www.youtube.com/katysbeautysecrets ).
 Then there's the ever-popular patriotic-type nails with union jacks and stars, like the ones I did for Australia day. I'm actually going to do an American version very soon.

I think I told you guys a few weeks ago that I was growing off my acrylic nails, which I did, and now I'm just waiting for the natural nails to grow a bit more before I do some more tutorials for you.

If you have short nails or you can't wear crazy polish to school or work, there is always another option.
You could try a cute pedicure, which will be hidden inside your shoes for the daytime, but will keep you entertained once your shoes come off, like my cookie monster pedi above!.

I'm always looking for nail art ideas, and the majority of my ideas come from online and Instagram. I have inherited my dad's knack for copying things, and it extends to most areas of my creativity. The techniques used are very simple, though, and once you master the art of the nail art brush, the world is your oyster. Enjoy!