Pretty Pretty Pretty

In the news: heat damage August 21, 2008

This from Stuff about hair straighteners.

Some dermatologist says:

Patients with major hair damage from tongs are told to keep their hair short for one to two years, stop use of tongs, hair dryers and heat products altogether and avoid sun exposure. But to avoid damage in the first place, only use the equipment on dry hair, never more then (sic) twice a week and at temperatures under 170 degrees celsius.

Which may be good advice, but don’t give up your GHDs just yet. If you get crud hair from your straighteners, then obviously give them up. But if you can maintain good hair with regular use, then why stop?

Smell good… August 19, 2008

I was recently reflecting on prettyprettypretty and what we’re all about: the things that we like that make us look good, smell good and feel good (and more of course). I don’t for a minute believe the aforementioned things can change my life in any deep and meaningful way, but if I derive a smidgen of satisfaction for my senses then I reckon that thing deserves a mention - if only so you can achieve the same smidgen, if you so desire.

So that’s why I want to share with you a shopping story - a deeply inane and unmeaningful shopping story.

I was on holiday in Auckland a few weeks ago, with some time up my sleeve between engagements. I wandered right past the World Beauty Store mainly because I didn’t want to spend any more friggin’ money. But something pulled me back, the shiney, the smelly, the sparkly, the pretty-ness of it all.

Once inside the store I was completely overwhelmed. And to make matters worse the shop assistant was genuinely friendly and extremely helpful. I was quickly in way too deep. Even a hardened spendthrift (aka discerning consumer) like me was weak. I started inhaling perfumes at a rate of one breath per second. The shop assistant snuck smelling salts under my nose to snap me back to reality.

I told her how I like floral fragances - ones that might remind me of Hawaii. She pointed me to a perfume exactly like Hawaii! I couldn’t stop sniffing the sample on my wrist as I walked around the store feigning disinterest - I didn’t want to reveal my irrational obedience to my olfactory function.

It was like I had fallen in love, deep and meaningful love with a perfume. Nah, just kidding, I know it’s just perfume. But I did pay the rather plump price for it and I still can’t resist a spray when I see it sitting on my own bathroom shelf. Every sniff is still satisfying and I don’t regret the splurge.

I needn’t tell you the name of the perfume, nor the brand. Perfume is particularly particlar to the individual, so a recommendation from me is futile. I do recommend the shopping experience though.

Review: Beauty tubes August 17, 2008

Beauty tube, wtf??? Well beauty tubes were first developed by Kevyn Aucoin, writer of the Making Faces make-up books- that is if you believe the lady at Mecca Cosmetica who told me so. And since being developed, the idea has spread to many cosmetics brands. And here I’ll review L’oreal’s version.

But first, ‘tubes’ in the world of mascara refers to the effect this new range of products has on each lash - it surrounds each lash with a latex-like substance, which thickens, lengthens, and awesome-ifies lashes. The tubes are apparent when you remove your mascara, at which time the tubes slide off the lashes using only water!

Check out the advertising and product claims here.

The above photo shows the L’oreal mascara (on the right) benchmarked against one of my favourite mascaras - YSL’s Everlong (on the left).

Good points about the L’oreal beauty tubes:

• It really does lengthen and fatten lashes.
• Leaves a ‘false eyelash look’, great for going out.
• Washes out in water cleanly, leaving no smudgey black panda-ing (if you are under the shower).
• Reasonable price (approx. $NZ30).

Bad points:

• It’s really heavy, and does clump lashes together.
• Not a natural look - I wouldn’t wear it for ‘everyday’.
• It takes 30 secs to remove if you’re using a cotton pad - that’s a long time. In fact it is quite difficult to remove using a cotton pad, and blobs of black remain all around the eyes. BUT if you shower to wash it off, it removes entirely.

Verdict: On balance, I still prefer my YSL for most mascara wear. The L’oreal is great for going out, when you can spend the extra time to apply (you need to apply primer & black) and to remove. But it is fussy to apply - I recommend having a lash brush handy to brush out the clumps. And it looks a bit ott for everyday.

For more info on new mascaras see this herald article about mascara.

Craft at Pataka, Welly August 15, 2008

I’ll be there behind a stall - so come along and visit!

CRAFTING is on again at Pataka.
Saturday August 16, 10am – 2pm 

This ‘craft’ market is where you will find some fun, funky, unique and stunning handmade goods that will delight your senses and fulfill all of your shopping needs.  We are hosting a range of artists and crafters who will be selling jewellery, kids clothes, t-shirts, cushions, lampshades original artworks and much, much more.  It’s worth a visit!

Telephone 237 1511 for more details
www.pataka.org.nz 
Cnr Parumoana St and Norrie St

Porirua City

Review: Aesop hair moisture masque August 13, 2008

On my recent excursion to the land of Auck, I picked up these six, yes count them - six!, free samples of Aesop rose hair & scalp moisturising masque from the World Beauty Store on Vulcan Lane. (By the way the lady at World was way knowledgeable about fragrances and awesome.)

I don’t know much about this brand, but if they stock it in World I’m guessing it’s expensive, and perhaps even good.

You’re supposed to apply one sachet (I needed two because I have long hair) after washing and leave for a while, and do this once a week. That’s the pain with hair masques though - so time consuming.

I’ve used it twice now, and I don’t really notice much difference, except that maybe (but I’m not sure) my hair is a bit softer. There is certainly no instant and dramatic change though.

Still, it smells nice and is great for a free treat! It won’t hurt to ask World for some for yourself…

Men’s skincare - are they for real? August 12, 2008

Many many traditionally female-focused skincare lines now promote men’s skincare ranges. Is it just marketing widening their consumer net by rebranding the same old products? Or do men have particular skincare needs that only specialised products satisfy?

I think the answer to both these questions is a paradoxical Yes, which is sad for men. You see, I visited a well-respected site that convinced me that men probably do require different skin products to women, and a quick google-ing seemed to confirm this.

productfiend.com says:

guys really do need to use some products that are formulated for men. You see, man skin tends to be oilier, more acidic and have bigger pores with smaller sebaceous glands, so girly cleansers and moisturizers just don’t cut it. In addition, guys have thicker skin due to more collagen, so they don’t show aging as early as we do but when they start to get lines, there’s some serious wrinkle action.
Plus, on top of that, you’re probably shaving 50 percent of that skin, scraping away protective top layers every single day! Ouch.

However, industry practice doesn’t seem to reflect this difference between men and women. Some time ago a Clinique counter lady let it slip to me that their men’s M Lotion was just the same as the women’s Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. I found this ingredients list for men’s M lotion:

Purified Water, Mineral Oil, Sesame Oil, Propylene Glycol, Tea-stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lanolin Alcohol, Petrolatum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, fd and c yellow no. 5 (CI19140), fd and c yellow no.6 (CI15985), d and c red no. 33 (CI172000) [iln5386]

and the women’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has exactly the same ingredients, listed in the same order (implying quantities are similar if not the same).

What the deuce??? Are men being gyped??? Are they being tricked by clever marketing into buying products designed for women’s skin???

Jungle party August 10, 2008

This weekend, me and my friend Kel went along to a ‘Jungle’ themed party. It’s pretty hard coming up with costume ideas, especially when nowhere in Wellington seems to sell pith helmets. But Kel saved the day by finding these great jungle costumes from Fin on Cuba St, Welly. Fin have fairly recently gotten into costumes, and hire them out at reasonable prices. They even tailor made some of our costume for no extra charge.

I’m not sure why I have such a sleazy look on my face!

How to: contour your cleavage August 8, 2008

Tired of guys not leering at your chest? Sick of having to say ‘hey buddy, my breasts are down here’? Well, do I have a post for you…

And I know it’s not exactly boob-tube weather in New Zealand at the mo, but I guess any time is a good time to show a little (or a lot) of cleavage. Here’s how to do it in style with Enkore from pursebuzz.com

Mecca Welly update August 7, 2008

Oh my gosh oh my gosh, I’ve just been into the new Mecca Cosmetica area of Kirk’s. I’m thoroughly excited. Here’s why:

• They have a really good range of cosmetics and hair and beauty products.
• The assistant was super knowledgeable about all the brands (and competitor brands) their products and could answer all my questions. And encouraged me to play with the products.
• They have flipcharts at each brand counter with a price list, so you can look at prices before you fall in love with the product.
• They have free make-overs (you can book or pop in).
• They have the Bumble and bumble hair range with the cool dry shampoo product.
• NARS eyeshadows were awesome - the assistant recommended them because I asked for highly pigmented eye colour, and boy were they highly pigmented!!

The negatives:

• They wouldn’t let me take photos for PPP.
• Stila (one of my favourite brands) is expensive there, but I remember it being a cheap brand in the UK and it’s also cheap on strawberrynet.com.
• Not forthcoming with the free samples (I’ll have to push a bit harder next time).

Mecca @ Kirks August 6, 2008

If you’ve wandered past Kirk’s in Welly recently, you may have noticed the curious shop signage and goings-on inside the store - something about new cosmetics and beauty ranges… All will be fully revealed to the public tomorrow when Mecca Cosmetica opens in Kirk’s.

Mecca is an Australian company, already open on Ponsonby Rd Auckland,  that “scout the world for the hottest and most innovative products in colour cosmetics, skin care, hair care, body care, perfumes and home fragrance. We lay out our shops so our customers can touch and play with the products”.

Mecca stock great international brands such as Stila and NARS, and even Kevyn Aucoin (make-up artist and author of some great beauty books). Can’t wait!!