Rosy Lipsticks for Brown Girls

Hey everyone,

I know I have been away for a while but today I figured it's about time I show the world my sick sick obsession. Rosy-hued lip products.

It's hard being a brown girl in a world where cosmetic companies cater a majority of their products to Caucasian skin, especially the more affordable brands. So finding any product, let alone lipstick that worked for me was always a challenge.

Over my years of exploring higher end brands though, I have come to find some excellent MLBB shades for in-between skin tones like my own. For skin-tone reference I wear Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 and Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Natural Beige

Some of my favourites are as follows:

From left to right: Dior Addict Extreme 667 Avenue, Dior Addict 666 Icone, Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle, Nars Dolce Vita Lipstick, Nars Dolce Vita Lip Pencil, Mac Lipliner in boldly bare

1. Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick 667 Avenue - A very warm bright and glossy pink

2. Dior Addict Lipstick 681 Icone - Slightly more blue based compared to Avenue but just as pigmented. Less glossy.

3. Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle 05 - A satin finish and brownish-pink that seems to have equal parts warm and cool tones.

4. Nars Lipstick Dolce Vita - A glossy mauve-brown-pink that has light to medium coverage of the lips. 

5. Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencil Dolce Vita - The matte version of the Dolce Vita lipstick. Probably my favourite one and has featured many times on this blog.

6. Mac Lipliner Boldly bare - The perfect nude lipliner which can be worn as a very matte lipstick. A slightly less pigmented version of Dolce Vita. 

See lip swatches below. Note that these were taken in daylight with no flash to try and capture their truest colour.

Left to Right, 1 to 6 (as numbered above)

Some tips for when you're testing out lippies in store:

* Always check the lipstick either on your lips (if it has been properly sterilised by the attendant) or on the inner side of your finger tip and hold it up to your lips. This is the most accurate way to assess what it will look like with your skin tone. The back of the hand is usually a different colour to your face.

* Wear the colour in daylight before purchasing. The colour may look fabulous in shop lighting. But when you walk outside, the Rose Huntington-Whiteley lips you were looking for may actually be truer to Nicki Minaj.

* Try on the colour as deeply applied as possible.  If it looks good like this it will look good any time including when it has worn-off/dabbed/stained.

* You know your face the best. That insistent sales person is NOT the expert here, you are. If you feel a colour isn't right for you, speak up and don't be forced to buy something that doesn't make you feel a hundred percent fabulous

I have to give prop's to these high-end cosmetic companies. They are universally appealing brands and I think their success is largely due to their ability to cater to every woman, no matter her colouring.

People always ask me why I am willing to spend so much $$ on "just makeup." I think if something can make you feel good and you can afford it, be that a round trip to Europe, a $2000 bag or that perfect red lipstick, why not? Work hard. Play equally hard.

New Post's coming soon!

Love always,

Beauty Doc
xo

Top 13 of 2013

Hey Everyone,

I figured a round up of my favourite skincare, makeup and haircare products of 2013 might be a nice way to reflect this last year of beauty.  These are all items I have used religiously over the year and will probably continue to do so in 2014.

 Here goes, in no particular order:

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Ethereal Light

2013 was the year of a new breed of face powders. The Ambient Lighting Powders are incredibly finely-milled powders that come out translucent but make your skin glow. They have multiple uses and a variety of shades. I use the very lightest shade Ethereal Light under my eyes and sometimes over my whole face which makes my skin look like it does at sunset, absolutely radiant. I have read other blogs where girls use these as highlighters since the other colours seem to have more shimmer. Although it is the lightest shade, on my brown skin it never looks ashy.  The next shade I would love to try is Diffused Light which is slightly warmer toned.


2. Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencils

Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencil
L-->R Dolce Vita, Dragon Girl, Red Square

I couldn't pick just one colour to feature on my top 13 so picked all three of my favourites as a collective. These are the best lip colours I have ever used. Drugstores no matter how hard they try have not been able to dupe these. These provide the right amount of pigment, moisture and blendability. The "Dolce Vita" a natural rose-pink I use for work; while "Red Square" an orangey-red and "Dragon Girl" a pinky-red are my go to party colours. I'm pretty sure by the end of 2014 I will have the whole set!






3. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This stuff is my holy-grail skin pick me up. My very first blog post was about this serum and I am still to this day relying heavily on it. Have a read as to why I love it so much in my in depth review

4. Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire

This cleansing solution must be Holy Water because it is divine. It is the best way to remove face and eye makeup for my skin because it doesn't exacerbate eczema which other cleansers tend to do. I know that the hype for this product is huge and I completely agree with it. As proof, I have been through two x 500ml bottles over the course of this year and onto my third.

5. Benefit Benetint

Benefit Benetint

This was an unexpected love. Here is the back story behind this product. Stop reading if anatomy scares you...Back in the 70's the Benetint was created for an exotic dancer to give her *nipples* a pink flush....weird I know. But now it is has a cult following for use as a cheek and lip stain. This honestly gives my cheeks the most natural rosy flush. Similarly my lips look super healthy when I stain them with this. I haven't come across any other brand that does a product like this, it is definitely unique.





6. OPI Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment

This stuhas reduced my need for regular manicures. It keeps my cuticles in check. Since I'm constantly washing and drying my hands at work I need something that keeps my cuticles from drying out too much. This allows me to push them back easily minus the snipping.

7. Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus

This year I had my hair balyaged again. This meant even drier ends. So I was on the search for a deep conditioner. Ojon Hair Treatment Plus is a solid balm at room temperature. You take a small amount between your fingers which allows it to melt to an oil consistency then rub it into the ends of your hair. Leave it on for as long as you like then wash it out as usual. It leaves my hair so super soft. The concept reminds me of what my nana and mum used to do with coconut oil.





8. Moroccan Oil

Yet another product to hydrate my dehydrated hair is fine by me. This is a staple in my haircare routine and I did review it here.

9. Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm

I cannot get over how soft my lips have been since using this. Come winter or summer I have not had any chapping. My most recent post was a review of this product

10. Nars Albatross Highlighter

Nars is a brand that has really taken 2013 by storm for me. I am so impressed by their lip and face products. The Albatross Highlighter is a beautiful champagne gold colour. In the sunlight is reflects stunningly. I use this over my cheek bones and under my eyebrows. Some highlighters on tanned skin can look chalky and chunky glittery. This ones shimmer is so super finely milled that it doesn't have that problem.

Nars Albatross 

11. Tangle Teaser

I was late on the bandwagon with this one. But now that I'm on it, I'm not getting off. This innovative hair brush has managed to tame my tangled hair without the tears.

12. Kheil's Creme D'Elegance Repairateur

Loving this moisturiser, no surprises I guess since it is a Kiehl's product afterall. This hydrates with out irritation or congestion, leaving skin smooth and healthy. It is like the facial version of Creme De Corps Body Butter.

13. Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation

When I was in Hawaii I picked this up in Sephora as a spur of the moment purchase. I was looking for a fairly light coverage foundation that would let my skin breathe. The colour selection is extensive. I love how this foundation doesn't feel like anything on my skin. Over the course of the day it blends with your inherent facial oils and looks even more natural. Best part, it doesn't clog pores. I use it with the Sephora Mineral Powder Brush which gives a lovely even finish.


My beauty resolutions for 2014 are:
- To use sunscreen regularly, especially over summer
- To use heat protectant on my hair regularly
- To incorporate a chemical exfoliant into my skin care routine

Let me know what your beauty resolutions are for the new year too!

I wish you all a very successful and joyful 2014 and may all your dreams come true!

xo

Beauty Doc

Lip care

Hey everyone,

Just a simple post today on a relatively neglected part of the beauty regime. Poorly cared for lips can reveal age and bad habits. Like your skin they are quick to show the effects of dehydration, sun damage, age and smoking. Its no wonder every year millions of dollars are spent by women (and men) seeking a young full lip with fillers. My suggestion would be to prevent the need for toxic chemical implants by providing your lips with some easy TLC.

Left: NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm
Right: Fresh. Sugar Lip Polish

Like your skin the two major aspects of lip care are exfoliation and moisturisation.

Lips are made of stratified squamous epithelium, which is really just an anatomical term for cells that are made to shed. Assisting the shedding process can encourage a healthy glow. My favourite exfoliator for lips is the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish. As you can tell below it is a sugary/grainy consistency, however unlike facial exfoliants it has an oily base which provides hydration. Over exfoliation can lead to blistering and irritation. I suggest gently rubbing the polish over lips in a circular motion before bed no more than 2-3 times a week.

This Fresh product is not surprisingly pricey. A cost saving alternative is the Lush Sweet Lips Sugar Scrub (bubblegum flavour is my personal favourite) which has slightly thicker grains but works just as efficiently. An even more affordable option is a home made scrub.


Home made lip scrub:
Brown sugar - one tablespoon
Olive oil - few drops

In a tiny bowl add small amounts of olive oil incrementally to a tablespoon of sugar until desired consistency is met.

I have tried this in the past and love the result but for me it is easier having a storeable product to keep in my bathroom cabinet.

Left: NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm. Right: Fresh. Sugar Lip Polish

Hand's down, my favourite lip moisturiser is the Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm. Not exaggerating, this stuff has been touched by angels. I am not sure about the science behind this, but somehow it is the most nourishing balm I've ever tried. I put it on at night and its consistency is that of a thick balm/wax. It smells a little bit of honey but certainly not overwhelmingly so. Waking up the next morning I have intensely plumped hydrated lips. It is great for wearing under lipsticks because its texture on the lips is not greasy and completely natural. Again it is a pricey product, the alternative I highly recommend is Nivea Lip Butter Unscented.

Lips after using the Fresh. Sugar Lip Polish and NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm

Some other tips I have for healthy lips:

• Minimise licking lips as this can precipitate chapping.
• Matte lipsticks and lip stains can be extremely drying; using a balm underneath can prevent cracks forming with long-wear.
• Drinking water hydrates lips from the inside out.
• Using a lip product with SPF in the sun prevents chaffed and burnt lips.

Let me know if you've tried these or similar products.
Wishing you all soft kissable lips!

xx
Beauty Doc

Hawaii Paradise on Earth

Hey everyone,

I went to Hawaii earlier this year for a much needed vacation and fell in love with the place. It is breathtakingly beautiful and has so much to offer. I thought, instead of trying describe in words how special Oahu is, I would just show you. Here goes:

Welcome to Waikiki Beach

Had to be done, it's a beauty-blog after all

Honolulu Zoo

Semi-obsessed with Monkey's

Always looking to the sky

Pink Flamingos

Where lost was filmed

Iphone the third-person-narrative type

It's real 

Locals doing what they do

Cousin Donovan and the Aloha Circle Island Tours Ohana

Sheraton Princess Kaiulani - Hula every night

Honolulu looking all Gatsbyish

Life through the window of a trolley

Honolulu city. Spot Bruno Mars' High School

Watermelon juice at Hard Rock Cafe

Talented street-artist Varian

Island sunset

Bliss

Mandatory airport shot. Till next time

Tell me where your favourite holiday destination is, I am constantly looking for inspiration!

xo
Beauty Doc

Thoughts on Skin Care

Hey everyone,

I thought I would return to the blog-world with a post about something I am truly passionate about, Skincare!

Your skin is a reflection of your age, health, ethnicity, style and even your life choices (smoking/sun/alcohol). It is arguably the first thing that one notices about you, not to mention it is the largest organ in the body.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser, Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment, Bioderma Solution Micellaire, Kiehl's Creme D'elegance Repairateur, Kiehl's Creme De Corps

Five gem's I have learnt over my lifetime are as follows:

1. KISS (Keep It Simple Silly)

I know, I know, the fascination with new and exciting products is never ending (I'm talking to you Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, Kate Sommerville Exfolikate and Clarsonic). But from my anecdotal experience, nothing beats as simple a routine as cleansing and moisturising.

Fancy toners, serums and peels are only there to compliment your base. My base consists of the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser followed by Creme D'Elegance Repairateu. This moisturiser is very similar to the Origins A Perfect World (see blog post). Basically I alternate the two to ensure my skin does not become immune to their effects. Additionally, an eye cream is just as important to incorporate into routine. See my blog post for some of my favourites.

Exfoliation is useful, but it seems nowadays it is being overdone. People are using acids, rough brush heads, microdermabrasian, and they're doing it way too regularly. While exfoliating once to twice a week is a good way to stimulate the epidermal cell turn over; doing it any more frequently or roughly is going to cause what some call "purging." This is where skin turns into a hot mess with nasty breakouts after a facial/new product/exfoliation and people justify it by saying that it is "removing all the impurities". However purging is as urban a legend as Joshua Jackson with blonde hair (a reference for kids from the 90s). This topic is worth its own blog post so I wont get into the debate here.

2. Sweat pants, hair tied, chilling with no makeup on, that's when your the prettiest

Drake is a gentleman that knows a thing or two about skin care. Giving your skin time to breathe is so key to keeping it clear. Wearing foundation every day is bound to clog pores and cause zits. But understandably going from the Transvestite/Kim K look to an All Naturale/Miranda Kerr overnight can be scary. It can be difficult to wake up and leave the house face-naked, so I suggest transitioning to a makeup free persona in small steps. For example instead of using a high coverage foundation, try a BB cream or tinted moisturiser. I promise your confidence will sky rocket and you will begin to appreciate your true beauty which may include freckles, a beauty mark, flushed cheeks and everything else that makes us individual. I choose to only wear foundation on special occasions. At work concealer is plenty.
Makeup removal (if you are going to wear it) is so important. I use Bioderma which is perfect for dry sensitive skin. I cannot recommend this stuff enough. It has massive hype in the beauty world so thats all I'm going to say.

3. Smoking/Diet/Alcohol/Exercise/Sleep

Smokers lines, from DermNet

These are the four most notorious offences known to mess up your skin. Smoking is something that you shouldn't be doing anyway for your general health. But to add to the list of reasons not to do it, smokers lines and loss of Elastin leading to premature ageing are some of the pleasures smokers can look forward to. If you don't believe me check out Derm Net - I can spend hours at a time on this website, dermatology is fascinating.

Alcohol has short and long term consequences. In the short term it exacerbates breakouts and redness. In the long term, you can end up with what is called "Rhinophyma" Google image that you guys!

Sleep can be more personal. Some people look great despite less than 6 hours shut eye a night but others (me) look like zombies. I try and prioritise my sleep over everything else no matter how hectic life gets. Diet again is also very personal. Foods that have been known to cause acne include processed foods, sugar, oils/fats, dairy and so on. Now obviously you cannot live a normal life never eating any of those components (unless your a starving celebrity) so its necessary to figure out what works for you.

4. You wouldn't buy fruit and veges from a butcher

Why buy skincare from a company that isn't dedicated to the cause. Your skin should be invested in. I have noticed that buying skincare from brands that specialise in skin care gives me better results. That doesn't mean it has to be a high end brand. Nivea and Aveeno are my two favourite drug-store options. Aveno infact is one of the brands that dermatologists here in NZ recommend, especially for sensitive skin. Buying skin care products from a makeup brand is sometimes okay; but you will want to ask yourself, are they are putting as much resource (financial, research and otherwise) into their skin care products as they are into their makeup?

5. No matter what, always use sunscreen

Want to do something that your future self will hug you for....wear sunscreen daily, regardless of the weather conditions. While your 30-60 year old friends will be subjecting themselves to human pincushioning with botox, you will be safe and smug with true natural wrinkle-free beauty.

Also don't forget the skin on the rest of your body. My favourite body moisturiser is Kiehl's Creme De Corps. While it is expensive, I figure, if you can afford it, why not. A less expensive alternative is the body shop body-butters, just as delicious!


The inspiration for this blog-post came from the most stunning woman in the world, my Nana. She has beautiful skin and anywhere she goes, she is complimented on it. I asked her what her secret was and she told me that she has only worn makeup once in her whole life (her wedding day) and to this day basic cleansing and moisturising are what have kept her looking so fresh. I am so blessed to have her and her genes. Love always.


xo
Beauty Doc

PS: I promise this post was not sponsored by Kiehl's, although I would have loved that!

Shout out to Nars!

Hi Everyone,

I could apologise for my lack of updates but lets be honest, sometimes real life trumps blogging life. I do in fact work to fund my lifestyle aka purchasing unnecessary amounts of beauty products. So on that note, I thought I would dedicate this post to possibly my new favourite make-up brand, NARS.

I have only bought two products from Nars so far, but trust me, there are plenty of items sitting inside the shopping cart in my head waiting to proceed to checkout. Onto the products:

Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner and Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

1. Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte

This is one unique product. It is a nude gel-type twist up eye liner that stays on your waterline for hours on end with out bleeding and yet manages to glide on effortlessly. Its something I use to reduce redness on my waterline and give the eyes an overall brighter-wider effect (much needed after late nights). The reason I say it's unique, is its beige colour; which I haven't seen a lot of other eyeliners duplicate. It certainly looks a lot more natural than using the alternative that is white eyeliner. I am looking forward to trying out the vast range of colours in the collection. To be fair, it is pricey for an eyeliner, but well worth it in my opinion.

Above: Nars Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte. Below: Nars Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita.
(Middle: huge green vein)

2. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita

Again this is a completely unique product. It is a thick lip pencil which has a matte finish yet manages to glide on ultra smoothly and keeps your lips moisturised for hours. The colour "Dolce Vita" is absolutely stunning. It is a warm rosy red-pink-brown. The reason I describe it like this is because it looks completely different on individual lips. On mine personally it shows up as a pinky-nude colour. On the sales assistant who was also wearing it, it looked like a deeper brick red. I am so fascinated by lip products that can transform this way. For me this is the most appropriate lip colour for everyday use at work. It looks good with any colour blush (from pink to orange) and any degree of eye makeup. I will be repurchasing this for the rest of my life I'm sure. I hate to repeat my self, but once more although it's pricey, its well worth the investment.

Note: some people complain about it being difficult to sharpen because of its thick size, but I just use my old-school AVON sharpener and it does the job. Alternatively Nars sell adequately sized sharpeners.

I have officially begun my love-affair with Nars products and the honeymoon has just begun! Stay tuned for likely a number of future Nars product reviews!

xo
Beauty Doc

Basic hair care

Hey everyone,

This post is on haircare, which to be honest is not something I am particularly well-informed in.  Not going to lie, I have very low maintenance aka boring hair. Its long, wavy, layered and naturally black. I don't colour or perm it. I don't even have bangs. So take this into consideration as you read on.

My basic routine is shampoo and condition (usually some inexpensive supermarket brand, no favourites), apply a heat protectant/conditioner, let air dry or blow dry if i feel like it, tie in pony tail next morning for work. I will straighten or curl it on occasion.

What I can be sure of is that the texture and ends of my hair appear to have improved with the use of these two products (not necessarily in conjunction with one another):

1. Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique:
This is essentially a leave in conditioner and heat protectant in one. It says that it is for "dry to very dry hair" which, although my hair is not, it still works. My hairstylist recommended me this product about 3 months ago when i went for my usual trim and she was right, it is impressive. I use this after every wash of my hair prior to blow drying (and if I know I will be curling or straightening my hair).  Before using it you need to ensure you shake it up well because it has a mixture of a cream and serum inside it that need to be mixed for the best efficacy. It doesn't have an overpowering smell at all, just smells...clean.  Overall it has definitely reduced the number of split ends hiding in my hair and I notice when I do heat-style after using it, my hair is much softer and silkier than if I didn't use it.

2. Moroccan Oil:
This is one super over-hyped product. I'm not saying it doesn't work, but for what it is and does, I'm sure, there are a number of less expensive alternatives. It states it provides "instant shine and long term conditioning without leaving residue." It certainly provides shine (and like any oil you only need to use a tiny amount). But I'm not so sure about the long term conditioning claim. This is my second bottle of Moroccan oil (I'm clearly a sucker) and I cant say my hair is any healthier or stronger because of it. I guess the reason I keep using it is as a product to disguise to split ends. Moroccan Argan oil (the legit substance) has been used for years by women in the Middle East/Asia as a conditioner however this product contains a larger proportion of synthetic ingredients (dimethicone, cyclomethicone etc). So its "conditioning" potential is probably better described as "glossing" potential. In its defence, despite being an oil it does absorb very quickly into the ends of hair.

The above picture is my hair about 3-4 months after my last trim, no split ends!! PS: how cute is the rabbit necklace by Karen Walker (reminds me of my late pet bunny, RIP Shadow)

Other tips for healthy hair include the common-sense-wisdom i.e. what your mother always told you:
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat a balanced diet that includes healthy fats
- Regular trims keep split ends away (even when trying to grow out hair)
- Try not to wash your hair everyday as it can dry it out
- Keep colouring/perming to a minimum
- Use a heat protectant when styling

Leave me any suggestions you have for hair products that have worked out for you, I'm looking forward to trying out new things! Also on that note I'm considering balayage highlights in the near future. Anyone had any experience with this on dark hair?

xo
Beauty Doc