The Sisterhood of Smudged Make-Up. And Skirts Tucked Into Stockings.

The other night I got home and realised that I had eyeshadow smeared down the side of my eye. I don't know how long it had been that way, for all I know, it was all night. I'd been out socialising, and as far as I was concerned I spent the night looking like I had a partial black eye. Hawt or what?

And just the other day at work I caught sight of my face in the mirror. My lipstick had done a neat lick up the side so I looked not dissimilar to the Joker. How long for? I don't know.

Pair this with the fact that a few weeks ago I was sitting at my desk, went to stand up and realised that my dress was tucked into my stockings. I'd just walked through the whole office, up the stairs of the main entrance, and back to my desk. How visible were my knickers? I don't know.

The question is: why didn't anyone tell me I looked like a massive goober? Why people, why?

I always make a point of telling people (subtly) if they have lipstick on their teeth, or their mascara has run, or even tucking tags in for them, simply because it's embarrassing going back to the mirror and discovering you look dishevelled. Or have your dress tucked into your knickers. And that you walked. All. Through. The. Office and the foyer, and everywhere this way. Gulp.

So this is my point, why don't we have a sisterhood of smudged make-up? I solemnly pledge and promise that I will tell my sisters if things have gone awry in the interests of not looking like me, a goober, in public.

image via here

Beauty School

BEHOLD!

Today I discovered something tres magnifique!

I'm trying some new L'Oreal products - and I have got to say - I was slow on the uptake but dudes, BB cream is the shizzle!

Before I tried it, I thought 'yeah yeah, another wonder cream', and then I tried it. And then I applied it to my mum's face - I was so spellbound by its wonderous powers. BB cream for the win!

I've never tried a BB cream - but I thought this was good. If you're interested - try the L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream, seriously birds, it is good and won't leave a dent in your purse. I'm thinking it could be good for everyday use - when you just want a light coverage - and then just use foundation when I need some more serious coverage. It applies easily (although the texture has a slight grit to it), and self-adjusts to your skin colour. HELLO WHERE HAS BB CREAM BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!

I haven't used a primer for a reeeeeally long time - but I've cracked this one open and it reminded me how easy it makes applying foundation. It creates a velvety smooth surface, and the foundation is applied easily with not a heck of a lot of work.

And the Lumi Magique Stylo Touche de Lumiere is very similar to one of my all-time favourite products - YSL Touche Eclat - except L'Oreal's version is bang on the buck - and looks every bit as glam in your beauty bag. It gives a touch of light to under the eye - perfect for me when I am seriously low on the sleep, but need to freshen up my face. When I had newborns - I swore by the YSL version - however - the price killed me. This one is affordable and am sure, destined to be my BFF.  Dark bags under my eyes - begone!

This post is not sponsored. As you already know, I love trying new beauty products, and when the chance came up to learn more about L'Oreal and their ever-evolving range of products, I jumped at it. I am a beauty junkie in my own bathroom.

What's your favourite beauty potion of the moment?

What's In My Kit?

By now if you read my blog or follow me on Instagram, you know I am a big fan of lip colour.

I go through phases, and for many, many years I was only into glosses. I really love the look of a glossy lip, but as I've gotten older, I've developed a new appreciation for lip colour - and all the goodness it can bring you.

I am a firm believer that even if you have no other make up on, putting a slick of colour on your lips can help you feel a bit more groomed, add some colour to your face as well as put some pep in your step.

This week I am trying a new colour that was sent to me from Kit Cosmetics.

This new lipstick is not only a fab colour (Party Fever), it's long-lasting and pigment loaded - meaning the colour is super vibrant. Plus it contains vitamins A, C and E to moisturise and lip conditioners chamomile and aloe to soften up your pout.

At only $24.95 I can afford to buy a few and change my look as often as I please! For the full colour range click over here. Next on my shopping list is Task Master and Show Stopper. What's not to love?!

A Really Good Sandwich. And A Funny Makeover.

So guess what. Tiny got into my make-up again yesterday. Yes. Yes. I know I've already been told to put my stuff up out of reach. In theory this would work. In reality, I'd have to put pretty well the whole house up out of reach, or alternatively put Tiny into a straitjacket, and I just don't think she'd be into that. And life doesn't work when things are all up out of reach. Unless you use stilts every single day.

And am I in Cirque de Soleil? Nope. Can't even spin a hula hoop on my hips.

So here I present to you, Tiny's new look. Considerably less Emo than the last look. She's gone for a pink lip and hot pink cheeks. That girl's onto something.

PS I had a really great sandwich on the run today from Sonoma. They can do no bad in my book. Y to the UM!

A Tiny Makeover

Tiny and my make-up do not mix.

This morning was no exception.

It started off like any other Sunday morning. Full of sunshine and promise.

This ended rapidly after I'd painted Tiny's nails for her - with my nail polish I received as part of my birthday present. Which I hadn't used. She got peeved with the Doctor and threw the bottle on the ground. It smashed to a kazillion pieces spattering pink nail polish all over the floor. All over the Doctor. All over the Doctor's favourite t-shirt, new jeans and socks. All over the Doctor's Beyblades.

To tell you I wasn't impressed is a gross understatement. It's a big, fat, disgusting understatement. It's a HUUUUUGE understatement.

Usually I am the kind of woman that steps straight in and sorts things out. Not today. I jumped up and down on the spot like I was on a bed of hot coals, flapping my hands around. Then I just stood there looking at the Doctor covered in hot pink polish.

I sent Tiny away. And we got to fixing things up.

But that's not all. No. No. The story does not end here.

Back when my Mum was in Sydney helping with the smalls, I went to go to bed reasonably early. It was 9:30pm and I went to brush my teeth, and who should I meet in the hallway? Ah yes. Tiny. With black circles on each of her cheeks. It's 9:30pm. WITH BLACK CIRCLES ON HER CHEEKS.

I knew she'd been meddling with my cosmetics bag. She'd been in my bed giving herself an Emo makeover with my Stila Smudge Pots - which is like eyeliner that will not ever, ever come off, which I rarely ever use because it requires industrial amounts of make-up remover to get even a little bit off, it's the perfect eyeliner if you're Jacques Cousteau and never want your make-up to come off. And she had smeared it all over her cheeks, in almost perfect circles. Oh and all over her hands too.

The joy. The deep joy.

But friends, gather round, because this is not even close the end. I cleaned that stuff off her - she didn't flinch, she didn't cry, even though I was fuming and had steam coming out my ears. I almost did. But Tiny, nope, not even one little tear.

So a week or so later finds me at work. One of my colleagues took a photo of me, because of course I wanted to play with this and I looked so tired, I decided to put some more make-up on. Look tired? No fear, add blush. I innocently reached into the depths of my make-up bag, pulled out my trusty blush, and applied a big, fat black circle on my cheek.

It was at this point I realised Tiny had used my blush brush to apply her perfect black circles. And now I shared the same look. Except I looked as though I was sporting a massive bruise on my cheek. Hot.

Then I looked at all my damn make-up brushes. That little Tiny had used every single one of my brushes in that smudge pot/greasepaint palaver.

Tiny and my make-up? Not a great mix.

Totally Unrelated. Totally Random.

But you know how much our household loves Lego. Just how rad are these lipsticks? Oh Coco would be proud!

Budget:: Lashes?

I have rosacea in my eye which means I have to be tricky with my eye cleaning. Weird, yep, I know, but every night I have to make sure my eyes are super duper clean or they get all gross and gammy. So I avoid wearing a lot of eye make up on most days because it's a pain in the hiney.

When we went to the wedding a few weeks ago, I bought my first tube of mascara in over a year. Whoa nelly, I am crazy like that, but I realised I had been missing the mascara.

I love make-up. I am a self-confessed lover of make-up. So when I went cold turkey with mascara and tossed it to the kerb, it was a sad day.

But lately I've been thinking of false lashes. I love the look of them. Really. Love. The. Look. While dying my lashes is dandy, I already have black lashes, so I don't really see any effect. But fake eyelashes, or extensions, my oh my, me likey! Alas and alack, I do not have even the faintest idea how to apply these suckers myself, and would be worried that half my eyelashes would fall off in the middle of a meeting, giving me a jaunty-eyed look. Or fall into my cup of coffee and then I'd drink them and then be left with a milky eyelashy mo. Hawt.

I really, really want eyelash extensions. But my budget does not.

I think this is a 'first-world problem'. Uh huh.

the beautiful Twiggy via Erin Ralph

This is... My Trade Secret

Amelia nominated this week's theme, and as always, Angela at Three Buttons is the hostess with the mostess.

I'm not going to make any 'crafty' statements here. Everyone knows I am a novice, so I won't go off giving you tips on something I am still learning.

My trade secret is this... Stila Convertible Color.. Unusual choice I know. But when you're a sleep deprived, time hungry mama you gotta have some tricks on the roll. This little beauty is a cheek and lip colour all in one. My my, it's a goodie. A little on the cheeks and you look like you've just returned from a looong weekend in Byron Bay. A little on the lips and you're ready to slip into that meeting, perfectly made-up, like you've had a long eight hours sleep (and not been up and down, up and down with wiggly babies that like to sing out at 3, 4, 5am). It's a steadfast friend in my make-up bag, and the compact, my oh my, the compact is so cute and girlie, which instantly makes it a must have.

An Instant Eight Hours Sleep

I have a little secret. You might not think it's that exciting, I do, and it helps me look a bit better when I've had next to no sleep.

It's something that I swear by. In an instant, I can go from looking like a junkyard junkie, a sleep-deprived mama, to looking more like I am ALIVE! Amazing. Anything that can make that transformation - sign me up.

My secret is this. It's the perfect addition for any new mama (plus the baby, of course) to keep in her make-up bag when she needs instant sleep.

And who doesn't need instant sleep? In fact I think it should be given out by the hospitals once you have your baby, 'Here you go, we just know you'll need this.'

Now wouldn't that be a sweet treat?