Tuesday 31 December 2013

New Year's Eve Nails



Given that it's New Year I think a little sparkle is in order! Here's the look my nails will be sporting tonight.


After applying a base coat of Manicare's Beginning to End, I started with a quick layer if Essie's Marshmellow.


The sparkle comes in the form of Sportsgirl's Glitter Gold. This polish is amazing. One layer provides an incredible pay-off - it's the ultimate glitter pigment. I didn't worry about a second coat of this baby so I went straight on and applied my top coat of Beginning to End.


I'm loving how gloriously glam this look is. If you can't pull off glitter on NYE then i don't know when!

I hope you all have a happy and safe new Year and get just as suitably glam as I have! 

Happy New Year!

Rachel x

Monday 30 December 2013

New Year's Eve Essentials


Party season continues and the big night is almost upon us! For many New Year's Eve is the biggest and best night of the year. It marks the start of something new in a joyous and optimistic way. However, there are some essential items one should have to blaze her way into the new year looking and feeling vibrant and fresh. Especially after she's been dancing and partying the night away in the middle of the Australian Summer! Here are The Beauty List's essential NYE items that will get you through the night - and possibly the morning after!


NYE in Australia tends to be hot, hot, hot. Add this to the customary amount of dancing you'll do in one night and you'll be hard pressed to find a combination of makeup that stays with you until curtain fall. In such circumstances, I adopt a 'less is more' attitude and pull out my trusty BB cream. It moisturising whilst providing you with that slightly 'blurred' complexion. This Dream Pure BB oil-free formula from Maybelline is my favourite; I never feel shiny or greasy, yet it still adds a reasonable amount of coverage.


Just because we're going light in coverage doesn't mean we have to embrace our dreaded blemishes or under eye areas! Being a lover of full coverage foundations, whenever I opt for a lighter base, I find that concealer becomes my best friend. The Healthy Mix concealer from Bourjois is perfect to go in the handbag for touch-ups, and it smells awesome too!


If you do find you suffer from shine, or you just know yourself well enough to admit that you'll be giving the dance floor a red-hot go, it would be well worth adding some blotting papers to your bag. These ones from Paula's Choice are great and can help get that shine sorted out in a jiffy.


Tousled hair is a great look, but not when it comes from sweaty, OTT dancing. We all know the style; we're all guilty of sporting it. The kind that you look back on photos throughout the night and watch your perfectly primped 'do dissolve into a greasy, knotted mess. Not this year! Arm yourself with a brush and, of course, dry shampoo. These little travel sized cans from Batiste are ideal, as well as adorable. You'll have that mop sorted sooner than you can say 'dance break'!


It helps to enter the new year smelling the part - it amazes me how much confidence can be derived from a quick spritz of your fave perfume. These handy sample sized bottles are ideal. They fit perfectly into any sized handbag and won't weigh you down. I'll be stuck for choice this year between Estee Lauder's Modern Muse and Beyonce's Heat Rush.


There are only few occasions where it is deemed excusable to use facial wipes. NYE is one of them. It is the only night of the year where partying into the morning is compulsory and we all know the feeling when we come home. It'd take a saint to get up and go through the processes of cleaning, toning, hydrating etc. - especially if you won't be returning home that night. I give you permission to pull out the facial wipes. Just be sure to check that they're alcohol free first- this option from Dove is lovely and gentle.Try to smack on some moisturiser before bed too - your skin will thank you for it.


Next morning is always tough. The first day of each year is generally spent curled up on the couch, dozing in and out of various DVDs. The easiest way to avoid this is to steer clear of alcohol the night before. That is, of course, easier said than done for a lot of us! All I can say is; remain hydrated.. Keep chugging down that water! It might also be useful to add a little help as you do. This Recoverlyte from the brand Gastrolyte is specially formulated to follow a 'late night out'; full of electrolytes, vitamins, amino acids and minerals that will get you up on your feet faster.

I hope this helps as you plan your NYE and welcome in 2014! Please stay safe and be responsible! Make sure you have a way home sorted before you party and be aware of those around you.

Also, what are your NYE essentials? Will you be packing any of the above this year? Let me know in the comments below!
Rachel x

Sunday 29 December 2013

The Sunday Summary #3

| Family gatherings | Smorgasbord | Spoilt rotten from family and friends | My attempts at D.I.Y. presents | My little buddy, Frankie | Plum pudding - the best part of Christmas |

There's definitely been a lot of Christmas this past week on Instagram, but that's what it's all about! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas period and are on your way to recovering from your food comas. You can follow The Beauty List on Instagram @thebeautylst !

Rachel x


Monday 23 December 2013

The Sunday Summary #2

| Festive nails from this week's post | Super cool Santa hat | Family Christmas tree | Wrapping time! | 
Best tasting cookie in the world | Lovely presents under my very own tree |

If you'd like to follow me, you can find me at @thebeautylst!

Happy Sunday!

Rachel x

Friday 20 December 2013

Festive Nails #2




For those of you who are thinking of adding a little festive glamour to your Christmas Day attire, but are not sure how, look no further! These holiday inspired nails are super simple; even a nail art novice such as myself can do it!


To get this look I started with a base coat using the Manicare Beginning To End polish. I then applied two layers of my favourite Christmas-sy red - this year my go-to colour is Double Decker Red from Rimmel. After letting this dry well I got myself a trusty bobby pin (it's all about the tools of the trade) and, using the one of the rounded points, applied Sally Hansen's Extreme Wear polish in the colour White On.


This acted beautifully as a dotting tool as i opted for a special accent finger on each hand. However, I also used it to apply the white on the rest of the nails. I found that by dotting to create a line I managed to create something that reminds me of the trim on Santa's suit. I love that this isn't a perfectly polished line as it simply appears fluffy and jolly - just like Saint Nick! To finish off I slapped on a really thick layer of the Manicare Beginning To End again. Make sure you wait long enough before following this step; you want your polish to have dried properly so that no colour smudging occurs as you cross layers! 


This is a super cute and easy way to add some festive cheer this Christmas and is bound to make you look like a pro! For another equally as lovely Christmas look that's even simpler than this one, click here!

Have a merry Christmas everyone! Happy painting!

Rachel x


Tuesday 17 December 2013

The Twelve Steps to Christmas

With just one week until Christmas, I trust by now you're all totally enthralled in the Christmas spirit and have nothing else on your mind. Well, I know I am anyway! However, if you still haven't felt the Christmas cheer yet, fear not! I have a list of Christmas traditions that are sure-fire ways to get you in the mood. Read on my Grinchy friends!


Decorate the tree.
This is an obvious one, of course, but Christmas would be nothing without a beautiful tree lighting up the room each evening. If you haven't already got yours up then do so - pronto! The decorations you see above are a combination of Spotlight, Big W and Woolworths baubles which proves you don't have to spend an outrageous amount of money to have a good looking tree. Or you could make your own!



Christmas Wrapping.
Nothing brings me more joy than giving presents. Except, perhaps, the wrapping of said presents. I really love the extra kick of Christmas excitement as I sit on the floor, surrounded by paper and sticky-tape, while listening to various Christmas albums (more on that to come). This year my wrapping paper is from Typo and I picked up the ribbon from kikki.K here. I made the name tags myself by simply cutting the shape out of parchment and attaching with brown twine.



Bedroom Bling.
Decorating the house is one thing, but what I love most is having my own bedroom looking festive. This year I've hung icicle fairy lights above my bed and added some hand-cut snowflakes which are hanging on twine. I also had some extra bauble that didn't really suit the colour scheme for my tree so I made a cute little bedside table feature out of some branches in this bottle. I really am dreaming of a white Christmas, but this year I think this is the closest I'm going to get to it. I'm alright with that though - at least while this looks so pretty.



Christmas Baking.
Even if you're not the most talented chef in the world, you can still get into the Christmas spirit through baking. There are some really simple festive cookie recipes out there! I've had a fair crack at them and so far I've really loved these Orange and Cranberry Cookies which I found from LadySmart  as well as these Hazelnut Shortbread Wreaths. Other things to try this time of year are gingerbread, rumballs and mince pies!


Stockings.
Whether you're expecting Santa to fill them or not, nothing implies the excitement of Christmas day like hanging up your stocking. I made my own this year which adds to the satisfaction of seeing them hanging. Hint: anything with bells on it is going to double, at least, its Christmas factor. These stockings, in unison, could literally be the sound of reindeer. In other words, they're awesome.


Christmas Cards.
I love receiving Christmas cards in the mail. I find it sad that, with today's technology, they have fallen by the wayside a little bit. It really brings me pleasure to wish my friends and family - some of whom I rarely get to see - a happy and safe Christmas. It's such a simple and easy way to spread the cheer at this time of year and let people know that you're thinking of them.


Christmas Nails.
It couldn't very well be a beauty blog without adding some sort of beauty into the list! These D.I.Y. nails, which featured on my blog last week, were so simple that even a nail novice such as myself could do them! I also shown how to achieve an equally as simple, red and white Christmas themed nail. So, if you're thinking of trying something a little more festive for Christmas day but are unsure how to do it, you might also want to have a look-see here.


Christmas Movies.
I'll be the first to admit, when it comes to Christmas movies I'm a little bit addicted. It happens every year. As soon as the tree comes out, the holiday films are quick to follow suit. My favourites, in no specific order, are Elf, Love Actually, The Grinch, Mixed Nuts, Miracle on 34th Street and any version of A Christmas Carol (there are many but The Muppets do the best!). In my opinion, there is not much that can beat sitting down and enjoying a Christmas film with the tree lights shining in the background.


Add an advent calendar.
Once it hits December, the countdown begins for the big day. I still love the tradition of having an advent calendar to help me count down the sleeps. There are so many different kinds to choose from, from the simple chocolate a day to the rather indulgent calendars from the likes of Ciate, Benefit and the Body Shop. It's still not too late to pick up a cheapy and start counting down those sleeps!


Candles.
It doesn't matter where you are in the world, the scent of Christmas can always be enhance through a candle. Hints of cinnamon, orange, pine etc. are always going to get you in the mood. However, I find the simple sight of a lit candle does enough on its own - in fact, the tradition originated as a sign of charity and good will for the poor. I love the look of these tea lights in jars which I've filled with Epsom salts. It looks so pretty - just like snow.


Christmas Music.
If you've gone through all of these steps and are still struggling to feel it this Christmas, you've got to pull out the big guns. It's time to bring forth the Christmas albums. I know that you either love or hate Christmas songs. However, when "All I Want For Christmas" comes on while you walk down the aisles of the supermarket, you know it's Christmas time. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, Christmas songs have the ability to bring out the Christmas in all of us. My all time favourite albums (ie. Ones that are played on a loop every year) are Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas, Elvis Presley's If Everyday Was Like Christmas and Michael Buble's Christmas. These are all the epitome of Christmas in my world and, with the likes of Elvis, take me back to Christmas Eve as a little girl as I set out snacks for Santa and the reindeer.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a Christmas nut. However, I can assure you that if you follow these steps you will be too. If all else fails, I find that the easiest, yet most effective way in which to feel the joy of Christmas is to simply wish someone else a 'Merry Christmas'. It might be a friend, a colleague, the person behind the counter at the grocery store or even someone you pass in the street. Someone I've never met wished me a 'Happy Holidays' on Instagram the other day and it made my day. I love this time of year, if nothing else, for its ability to bring out the best in people and help us share the love.

I hope you are all having a lovely lead up to Christmas and have a happy and safe day!
Do you have any other traditions that help you get in the Christmas mood? Comment below and let me know what they are!

Rachel x

Sunday 15 December 2013

The Sunday Summary #1

 
Find me @thebeautylst on Instagram!
 

Dressing the tree | International mail! | Festive fingers #1 | My Mecca Cosmetica indulgence | Getting in the spirit at work | Best tasting cookie dough in the world - period.

What's everyone else been up to this week?

 Rachel x

It's easy to follow me! Find me on Bloglovin! Or like me on Facebook!

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Festive Fingers!

 
I'm always a sucker for Christmas. My plans for decking the house out with various shades of tinsel and baubles begin well before December hits. There really is no better time of the year, in my humble opinion. So why shouldn't my festive spirit spread all the way to the tips of my fingers? I recently did a little nail D.I.Y. and seeing as I've received a number of compliments (to which I reply "Don't look too closely") I thought I'd share it with you all! I've never dabbled very much in nail art. I've always found it far too intimidating. Yet, given the time of year, I thought I'd chuck on a bit of extra sparkle! 
 
 
Seeing as I'm very much a novice, I kept it all very simple. Starting with a base coat of the Manicare Beginning to End. This is a great little bottle that acts as a base polish, a hardening treatment and a top coat all in one. I've been loving it lately and have noticed such a difference in my nails. So much so that it'll be featuring in it's own little post in the coming weeks. I digress. Back to the nails!


After applying as base coat, I slapped a couple of coats of Essie's Ballet Slippers and left it to dry well. I then found myself a suitable amount of sparkle - this one is an option from Sportsgirl which was aptly named 'Silver Glitter'. I haven't invested in any decent nail tools yet, but I found a really fine artist paint brush did the job beautifully! I chose to do two accent fingers on each hand - my index and my ring finger. The trick is to go slowly - don't just slap it on or you will make a mistake. I found doing two layers of this created a better, more defined, line. To finish - after allowing to dry completely - I topped it with another thick layer of the Manicare Beginning to End and I was done! Simples!
 
This was ridiculously easy to create and I just love how pretty it looks. It reminds me of snowflakes, or the chilly winter's air. Even though my Christmas entails neither of these things, living in Australia, it still represents the festive season to me!
 
What are your favourite ways of getting into the Christmas spirit?
 
Rachel x

Tuesday 3 December 2013

REN Clarifying Clay Cleanser

 
I had been waiting to try this cult product for a while before finally biting the bullet and grabbing it online. The Clarifying Clay Cleanser from REN's ClearCalm series has received so much attention from the beauty world that I was convinced it was what I'd been needing.
 
This baby is so popular however, that it can be a real pain to get hold of. Going online, it is, more often that not, sold out. So when I saw on Mecca Cosmetica's site that it was back in stock, I clicked 'add to basket' without hesitation.

 
The cleanser itself is quite thick and is most comparable to a cream. However, there's something about it that makes it feel ... different. Yet it's not heavy like a clay mask. In fact, it feels light on the skin and moisturising. Yet when one massages it in for the recommended 1-2 minutes, it begins to dry a little and you feel the 'grit' of the clay. Having said that, it is not harsh and doesn't feel like it's exfoliating.
 
The cleanser has a lovely scent that reminds me a little of walking into a day spa. It's a very natural, earthy, heavy scent yet manages to remain uplifting. I love the feel of it on my skin as I can feel it working away instantly. It removes makeup well, but for its real job of clarifying the skin, I like to have already removed the bulk of the day's grime first. I also feel like I get the most out of the product when I massage it for a minute or two before rinsing, rather than just slapping it on and off.
 
As always, REN uses clean ingredients within their skincare. The site lists the main active ingredients in the Clarifying Clay Cleanser to be:
 
  • French Clay absorbs excess oil and purifies
  • Zinc Gluconate reduces production of sebum
  • Salicilin provides a mild exfoliation and has antibacterial properties
  • Mayblossom tones enlarged pores
  • Manuka Extract soothes and nourishes

  • I love knowing what's in my skincare. I especially love knowing that, as with all REN products, they include no parabens, sulfates or anything of that synthetic business.

    I've noticed some really positive changes in my skin after using this little beauty from REN. It's made me want to expand further into the REN range as they do a really good job at focusing on different areas of problem skin. As for the Clarifying Clay Cleanser, this is ideal of oily and/or acne prone skin. I have a combination skin, that leans on the side of oily, and find this works incredibly well. I have heard of other cases too however, where people who have a dryer complexion have used this and gotten away with it. It's best to speak to someone in store if you're not certain of your skin type, or are unsure whether this product is for you.

    I got mine for $40.00 at Mecca Cosmetica online.

    Have you used REN's Clarifying Clay Cleanser?

    Rachel x