Gift idea for the traveller, the gym junkie or the hair product obsessed

Dry Bar's Up, Up and Away! set

When I was inducted as one of Sephora's VIB Rouge elite members (in other words I dropped a butt load of money at Sephora this year) early last month I received a fistful of samples, including Dry Bar's Sake Bomb Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo I found to be pretty meh to average at best, however if you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain, well Dry Bar's conditioner will certainly have you singing in the shower.

You're singing Escape (The Pina Colada Song) now, aren't you?

For kicks I picked up this nifty little travel pack prior to leaving Las Vegas. It was one of those last minute, gotta have it now splurges I didn't mind forking over twenty-five bucks for.

The brush is handy with its rubberised exterior and happens to be conveniently coloured in Drybar's telltale buttercup yellow hue. Short in stature, big on saving room.

As I said before the Sake Bomb moisturising shampoo is counter-productive with its ability to leave your strands feeling raw and stripped after washing. The conditioner though, is luxurious, moisturising and makes for a silky situation.

Finally, the Detox Dry Shampoo is the bottled dessert looking to coax the grit, grease and grime out of your hair. Its scent is heavenly, think tawny port or pralines drenched in caramel. If you or your friend has medium brown to black hair, get ready to massage/brush out the white residue left behind after application. The extra elbow grease might be a major detractor for some. 

TSA Approved, under thirty dollars and covers the Gift Giving Guidelines*.

*Gift Giving Guidelines (GGG): 

• Is it appropriate for the recipient? Got a balding Grandpa? Then he might not appreciate the Dry Shampoo as much as your Aunt Pearl.
• Is it a sensible price point in that it won't break the bank for you and also won't make your friend feel guilty for not dropping as much coin on you.
• Does it pass the "I would totally buy this for myself" test?

Red-y for the holidays?

Red, red, red.

Lots of things scare the crap out of me, like curling wands without clamps, crying babies and flying over the Pacific Ocean on my own. Red lipstick was once on the 'scary list' and occasionally lumped in the 'too hard basket'. Red lipstick is tricky, but when it's executed beautifully all bets are off.

It's December, so let's throw caution to the wind just this once. Dust off that tube of red lipstick and scrub those lips smooth for your best pout yet.

Without further ado, here are a few of my favourite red lipsticks working from wicked cheap to super luxe.

Rimmel's Kiss of Life ($12.95 AUS / $4.97 USD) - a rich, matte formula that'll last 'til the end of time.

MAC's Ruby Woo ($16.00 USD / $36.00 USD) - the lip pencil version of this classic red is my personal fave. Be sure to pick up the Keepsake Red Lip Bag before it sells out!

Illamasqua's Maneater ($25.00 AUS / $24.00 USD) - A red you have to work hard for, but it's totally worth it.

Burberry's Fuschia Pink ($30.00 USD / $50.00 AUS) - the motley crew of reds. Pink sentimentality with a cherry red twist.

Which shade of red lipstick do you like to reach for?

My pit stop at Sephora in Sydney, Australia

Sephora in Sydney 

Hello! Jeanne here, sorry for my absence, uni has been crazy this year. Anyways now that I'm done, I'm doing a bit of traveling on the east coast of Australia, and had the opportunity to visit Sydney's brand new Sephora! 

Sephora is located on the Pitt Street Mall, a bustling pedestrian mall in Sydney's CBD. I visited on 10 December, and they still had the queue-dividers up to help keep people lined up in an orderly fashion. When I walked past at around 2pm, there was a moderate queue of about 25 people, so I decided to come back later. It had calmed down a bit around 4pm and there were only 6 people in line, so I decided to join them. I didn't have to wait long, no more than 5 minutes, and I was in the store. The floor space is not very large, but there are two stories. Most of the makeup is located on the lower level, while skincare and the cash registers are on the upper level (there were some sales assistants with EFTPOS machines in a corner on the lower level, but I recommend going upstairs because near the cash registers is where the very tempting small/travel sized items are located!). Even though it was still pretty busy, the staff were friendly and efficient, and I never felt crowded, rushed, or uncomfortable.  

My mini Sephora haul

Since I am still traveling, I had to control myself and only picked up two small items (even though the OCC Lip Tar and Tarte Lipsurgence sets kept calling out to me!). I purchased Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Concealer in Light 18 and a pack of Sephora's brand of Targeted Eye Makeup Remover Swabs. I have been on the hunt for years for an opaque, liquid, cruelty-free concealer and I hope Kat Von D's lives up to my expectations! The lovely lady at the cash register said that she loved it because it's highly pigmented, long-lasting and doesn't crease. I forgot to pack eye makeup remover with me and I haven't seen cotton swabs that contain eye makeup remover in them in Australia yet, fingers crossed that Sephora's brand don't sting my eyes!      

Kat Von D's Lock-It Concealer in Light 18

Sephora's Targeted Eye Makeup Remover Swabs

Have you been to Sydney's Sephora? What have you hauled?  

S.Y.C. (Save Your Cuticles)

Eulactol Cuticle and Nail Cream Gold

My cuticles can go from zero to ragged in 3.5 seconds, especially in winter. During a recent visit to French Pink Kara, my nail saviour/manicurist, suggested I try Scholl's Eulactol Cuticle & Nail Cream Gold. It's an emollient cream that works to keep the cuticles hydrated.

Before going to bed every night I pop a small amount on the pad of my index finger and massage the nail beds and along the cuticles until the cream has been completely absorbed. 

A small dollop will do

The biggest test for me was my visit back to the States and going two whole weeks without a manicure. The horror, I know. To prevent my cuticles from drying out, I religiously slathered this stuff on in an effort to keep my nails as happy as possible.

It's been close to two months since I first started using Eulactol Cuticle and Nail Cream Gold and I've noticed a major improvement. Manicures last longer (less chipping), my two problem nails (right index and middle fingers) no longer peel, cuticle trimming is almost a thing of the past and pulled hang nails heal in record time (note to self: stop pulling them).

The only slight downer is the scent, it smells like old lady perfume. If you can get past that, your cuticles will go from this (said in my cheesiest infomercial voice):

Slightly dry cuticle situation bringing down this awesome mani (wearing CND's Vinylux in Cake Pop and Black Pool)

To this:

I went three weeks without having to trim my cuticles (wearing Sephora's Devious over Essie's Midnight Cami)

I was so happy with the results I even left a tube with my Dad to help treat his troublesome nails.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Scholl's Eulactol Cuticle & Nail Cream Gold:

• $9.99 AUS 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 10 out of 10 bags — works hard while I get my sleep on.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• I'll be getting multiple back-ups.