August, 2008
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Three post-event 2am tips you probably already know
- If you go on a fabulous tropical holiday and get really badly sunburnt, apply some rich moisturiser. Do it again a couple of hours later. And again. And again. If you’re not in the act of moisturising, then you should be in the act of thinking about when you’re next going to do it. That way, you’ll avoid godawful peeling. Although picking is fun.
- If you’re going to be wearing a physically irritating piece of clothing – like a non-lined sequined shrug (as opposed to a mentally irritating piece like anything Mischa Barton may wear), apply a barrier cream underneath it. That means either something sport-astic (ha, like I can name brands) or something for preventing Nappy Rash, or 3B cream, with those creepy ads with personificated boobs, thighs and butt crack. You’ll be far less irritated by your clothing, and thank me for it in the morning.
- Beware wax creams that go underneath eyeshadow, because they may make your eyeshadow crease. Okay, so that’s not really a very well thought-out tip, but how about I add “Beware the luxury and fantastic service of the Hawthorn Lounge” to that, and we call it a day?
Win Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set!!!
You could win this Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set worth NZ$78!!! That’s right, the very same Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set the PPPs have been raving about for ages. When our friend Karyl from Mary Kay found out how much we love it she kindly donated a set for our dear readers to win win win!
Alls you gots ta do is leave a comment on this post with your best quick beauty tip (you can even research PPP for your favourite tip). The winner will be drawn at random. Competition closes on Monday 8th September.
The Satin Hands® Pampering Set includes Extra Emollient Night Cream, Satin Hands® Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub with a convenient pump dispenser and Satin Hands® Hand Cream to condition and moisturise for hours. All three come in a pretty peach-colored bag.
Satin Hands® Satin Smoothie was awarded the 2007 SELF Healthy Beauty award for “Best Hand Scrub” in the U.S.
Reader mail: lumpy mascara
We recently got this email from a reader:
I have a make up question for you!! I just bought the L’Oreal telescopic mascara in carbon black and its really really gluggy/clumpy. Ive used the same kind before (although in regular black), and it wasnt like that. Any tips on how to un-glug it? Its brand new so I dont really want to bin it just yet.
I got Amy to answer it cos she’s smarter:
My first thought is, take it back. It might be a bung batch of mascara. Exercise your consumer power!
But if you can’t be bothered taking it back, how about a lash brush/comb – do you have a lash brush to brush out the clumps with??
Or maybe apply a lash primer first?? The lash primer that comes with my loreal mascara seems to thin the mascara out a bit and make application a bit smoother. It might work…
So we heard back:
Thanks for such a quick reply! I don’t have the receipt any more, so can’t take it back (although I did consider that).
Lash brush might be the best option. It is quite a thick mascara generally – which is why I like it. I have short blond eyelashes and it always makes them nice and long and black. This is my fourth one! I’m not very adventurous though, once I find something I like I tend to stick with it.
On a different note, I also bought the L’Oreal sensitive eye make up remover but it doesn’t seem to work with the telescopic mascara! It doesn’t seem strong enough and I always end up using a facecloth to wipe the rest off.
And Amy finished off:
Also, just one more thing… When I worked at Smith&Caugheys we didn’t require a receipt to give money back or replace a product – as long as we stocked it we had to replace it. We didn’t even ask for a reciept. So depending on where you bought it you could try taking it back…
And now we turn to you, dear reader – how do YOU deal with clumpy mascara?
Hard news for Hard Candy
Remember how in the mid nineties, there was a nail polish company that everyone was talking about? And how the nail polish came with a little matching ring? I had a gold glitter one, and another colour as well which I can’t remember, except that I was oh so proud I had something mentioned in Pavement.
Well, that was a company called Hard Candy, and now they’re winding down, which means that everything on their website is 75% off! I have a Sweet Spot Lip Gloss and it smells good enough to come recommended too. But the bad news? They don’t ship international. I bet some of you have a cunning way around this though, so please feel free to share your secrets.
PPP Photo Posing Party
Have you ever wanted to dress up to the nines, and have a whole bunch of photos taken of you in ridiculous poses? Here’s your chance! We’re having a Pretty Pretty Pretty Photo Posing Party on Saturday September 6, and we’d like you to come along. We’re going to hold it at Amy’s house and it’s going to be fantastic.
Here’s what you should bring along:
- Something to drink, and snacks to share
- Your makeup collection
- Your most fabulous clothes (costumes that you have are welcome) as well as accessories like hats, boas, canes, snakes, parasols or anything else like that
- Your camera – we want to have a couple of people shooting each girl at the same time
There’ll be music, make-upping, modeling and mayhem, so leave us a comment if you’d like to come along.
Review: Herbatint hair colour
Herbavita’s Herbatint is one of the few ‘natural’ hair colourant brands I’ve seen. And I reckon it’s all good. It gets a big pretty thumbs-up from me.
They say:
A herbal based permanent hair colour with aloe vera, no paraben, NO AMMONIA and only 3% peroxide. Herbatint has fewer chemicals in than other permanent hair colours on the market and unlike products which contain ammonia it has no smell once mixed. The absence of ammonia results in little or no penetration of the epidermis and is less likely for people to have allergic reactions.
The Good:
Easy application, you apply to dry, non-washed hair, mix two bottles, spread through hair, wait, and rinse out. No strong smells. Covers grey (don’t ask how I know). It was quite a clean application – the mixture doesn’t splash much and it seems to cling to your hair so doesn’t drip from your hair. And I don’t think it stains the bathroom like other dyes – the couple of drops that did fall wiped off the floor easily even after many minutes.
A few washes later, and my hair is still super shiny and soft feeling.
The Bad: It takes 40 mins to develop colour, but actually I didn’t mind it taking this long at all.
Costs: around $30 from Hardy’s natural health stores.
Oh, and remember to do a patch test first – there’ll be no anaphylactic shock on my watch!!
We read it so you don’t have to: Madison August 2008
Straight off, I bought Madison because I was in the mood for a trashy weekend/holiday read. and while it was $8.95, it offered a free Napoleon Chocolate Kiss lipgloss valued at $25. In fact, I got two of them, and you can win one simply by posting a video of you pretending to be America’s Next Top Model. And I really like this stuff, so I recommend that you do enter. Anyways, so to the magazine. I think it’s aiming to be Marie Claire rather than Cosmo or Vogue, but its intellectual stories fall far from the mark. Their pieces on identity theft are boring – although they get to do the traditional “IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!!! OMG!!!” sidebar, the piece about the New Jersey rich man who OD’d on cocaine has no relevance to their Australian audience – he’s not even hot – and their cover story on Madonna I have read before on the internet. Oh yeah, and by the way, the answer to their cover question “Is your salary affecting your sex life?” is “yes, rich people get more sex” apparently, but they don’t rank it according to the salary of women themselves. After all, you’re living off your partner’s income, right? And he’d like you to buy some more Louis Vuitton (FYI Microsoft Spellcheck totally gives you the correct spelling for that, while Linux, which is what I’m running, suggests “Louis Spittoon”. Open Source FOR THE WIN!) luggage, right? And maybe have a facelift so you’re pretty enough for him.
There’s a piece on how Sally from Home and Away is now on the radio now with two larrikans, and they’ve photographed her in this white floaty ball dress. However, you see the thing is, I’ve grown up with Sally, and whilst I’ve been spreading rumours she starred in a porno, I’ve also noticed that she has somewhat of a chest on her. The model in this flat white ball dress? Not so much. They have airbrushed her waist down to nothingness, and have given her a Gwyneth Paltrow chest while her head is larger than her body. If they hadn’t put her in a lowcut stripey dress in another photo, with her waist tucked behind her arm, and if it hadn’t been for those pesky kids, they would have gotten away with it!
As for fashion shoots, they do a Homer-age to Brooke Shields in Calvin Klein with a brunette model wearing tight faded jeans. Please please please tell me that bleached denim is not coming back in fashion. I do not want to believe it. Also they have a shoot called ‘Jump To It’ which looks like an ANTM shoot (blonde girl jumping in the air in front of a bunch of hot guys/distractions) who looks like Kristen Johnston playing Betty Grable. I like the bright colours of the dresses, but there are too many puff balls for me.
To summarise, don’t buy. It doesn’t have the trashiness of Cosmo, or the “well, at least I am learning about the women of the world” like Marie Claire. Just win my lip gloss, and we’ll all be winners.
PS: Check out Glossed Over’s live-blogging of the big thick Vogue
Pretty pretty people: Karyl from Mary Kay
I was raving about the Mary Kay hand treatment we tried out at the last couple of PPP parties. Turns out my friend knows Wellington’s senior sales director of Mary Kay, Karyl Anderson. So my friend jacked up a meeting between me and Jo and the lovely Karyl. Turns out Karyl has led an interesting life and career. She’s such an inspirational lady, we are stoked she responded to our PPP questions…
Karyl’s been with Mary Kay for 19 years and joined when teaching nursing and raising a three year old. She also found Pilates 6 years ago and loved it so much decided to train as an Instructor. Karyl teaches Pilates at Hearts & Bones Pilates Studio, Ghuznee Street in Wellington.
What made you get into Mary Kay?
Mary Kay Ash founded the company way back in 1963 & did so because she wanted to empower women. Her philosophies are what sets us apart as a company and that’s what ‘sold’ me on joining. She had taken early retirement because she was fed up with the way women were treated as second best compared to men in sales positions (we’re talking Mad Men times). Started writing down how she would run a company and then decided to do exactly that. She and her mother had used products developed by a hide tanner, for over 10 years and Mary Kay bought the formulations from his grand-daughter. Our business plan allows women to be as successful as they’re prepared to work for.
What motivates you to stay in the “industry”?
I have a team of 80 independent Beauty Consultants and I love working with, inspiring and teaching them. Mary Kay Cosmetics is committed to enriching the lives of women, we still make our own products, remain a family owned business and are continually improving our product range. The company offer a 90 day, 100% satisfaction guarantee – Mary Kay Ash couldn’t stand the way women would take a product home, realize it didn’t suit, yet couldn’t return it!! I love being my own boss, love the flexibility of being self-employed, love the rewards and sister hood. We have a very special ‘deal’ at the moment – you can join Mary Kay for ONLY $99 instead of $229. Available until the end of August.
What are the constant best sellers?
· TimeWise our quick & easy 3:1 Cleanser (cleanses, exfoliates & tones) and Age-Fighting Moisturiser.
· Our amazing Oil-free Eye Make-up Remover. It’s only $25 & it’s amazing. My favourite!!
· Mineral Powder Foundation (recently released)
· TimeWise Day & Night Solution
· Satin Hands Pampering Set – prettyprettypretty knows how good that is!
· Microdermabrasion Set
What do you wear/do to make yourself feel good?
I use my skin care twice a day (religiously). I wear make-up every day because I love the way my skin feels & looks. I buff my body in the shower every couple of days because I love smooth, soft skin. I love soaking in the bath and was given some Crabtree& Evelyn La Source Bath Tablets for my birthday last year which I ADORE!
How would you define pretty?
Pretty’s about feeling feminine or sassy in your own skin: looking after and taking care of yourself.
I’d love to offer your prettyprettypretty ‘readers’ a free beauty appointment with Mary Kay. They can have that one-on-one or with a small group (4-5) of friends. No obligation. My numbers (04) 383-8393 027 4344-566 or e-mail me karylanderson@xtra.co.nz
Pretty Pretty People: Julia Deans of Fur Patrol
Fur Patrol have been one of my most favouritest bands since they got together around 1996, and their front woman Julia is hella talented and hella hott. The band were originally from Wellington, but as is the way of the world, they’re now based in Melbourne. We’re stoked she took the time to answer our questions, ahead of their New Zealand tour that begins in Wellington on August 22nd.
1. Did you always want to be a musician when you grew up, or is it something that you fell into?
Both, really. I think I was always a bit of a performer, from a very young age, and I guess my family and noticed my aptitude for music. When I was about 7, my grandmother asked me if i’d like to learn to play the piano. I thought it sounded like a good thing to have a go at… and next thing you know I’m a “grown-up” and music is my life.
2. Do you think that you have an on-stage persona, or are you the same on stage as you would be on the street?
I’m essentially the same goofball, but I have control of the microphone. which means I’m louder and less easy to ignore. I’m much more shy on the street.
3. Having lived in both cities, how are Melbourne and Wellington different (or the same), stylistically?
I’ve always found melbourne and wellington to be kinda similar. They’re both a bit grungey, lots of art, music, theatre going on, everyone wears a lot of black…
4. What do you wear/do to make yourself feel good?
Tonight it’s cold and actually raining here in Melbourne (doesn’t happen much). We’ve just finished rehearsing, and I’m really tired with sore feet. I have pulled my boots off, and am snuggled up in front of the heater with Ramone (the cat) and a cup of tea. Right now, that’s all making me feel pretty damned good!
5. How would you define pretty?
Pretty, to me, has a sense of gentleness and grace about it. It’s something soft and natural, not manufactured or contrived. It’s a sight or a sound or a smell that makes you feel like you’re five again, drawing lovely clear lines on clean white paper with a big yellow crayon. It is simple and satisfying and safe.
Fur Patrol play:
- 22nd August – Wellington, Bodega with Grand Prix & The Friendly Barnacle
- 23rd August – Christchurch, Dux De Lux with Flip Grater
- 29th August – Hamilton, Flow with The Naked And Famous
- 30th August – Auckland, Dogs Bollix with The Naked And Famous
Announcing the winner of our Skinfood prize pack
We love you all, our dear readers, and we wish we could give you all a prize. You know that, right? And while I wish that I could keep the prize for myself, I’m stoked to announce that the lovely Skinfood box of awesome is going to the lovely Martha, who attracted the most hits to us with this post. Martha has a husband and two sons, and a girl in the oven, so there are plenty of people she can share the bounty with.
Runner-up PPP Prizeboxes go to Maree who brought us traffic from Oh Baby (and proved the Three-Degrees of Wellington rule) and also Sas’s Magical Mystery Tour. Ladies, if you can get in touch with your addresses, we’ll get your prizes out to you as soon as possible. Wahoo!
D5 Creation