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

I really love these pics. My favourite pet ever was a little guinea pig, Zelda. I dream of having a little free-range guinea pig farm one day… no joke.

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?

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

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.

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.