Sleek True Colour Lipstick & Pout Paint Haul

I just wanted to share some swatches with you of the Sleek lipsticks and lipstains I purchased recently.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick  ~  Peaches & Cream ~  Liqueur  ~  Coral Reef

Peaches & Cream ~  Liqueur  ~  Coral Reef

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These lipsticks are highly pigmented come in a gorgeous range of creamy full-coverage matte & sheen shades.  Has a non-drying formula which contain vitamin E to help keep your lips hydrated and protected.  Applies smoothly and doesn't feather, I am not normally a fan of lipstick but these don't dry my lips out and the lasting power is pretty good.

You can pick these up off the Sleek Website for US$6.49 each or from Lipstick Republic for AU$7.95 each.

Sleek Pout Paint  ~  Milkshake  ~  Minx  ~  Peachy Keen  

  

Milkshake  ~  Minx  ~  Peachy Keen

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Pout Paint comes in a selection of 11 shades, it is a lipstain that can be applied alone or mixed together to create your own unique shade.  Glides on easily, highly pigmented, they give full coverage and are non-sticky.  You only need a tiny amount on your finger and then apply it to your lips.  I find this product goes on best with a lip brush and then give it a few minutes to set.  Sleek recommend you top this paint with a coat of sheer lipstick or lipgloss, my favourite is to mix it with gloss, you can come up with some wonderful colour combinations.  NOTE:  I have found that the tube should be shaken before use as the paint tends to separate. 

I have discovered that Pout Paint make gorgeous cream blushes for your cheeks.   Just apply a teeny tiny amount to the tip of your finger and with a circular motion gently apply to the apples of your cheeks.  The colour is buildable but start with a small amount and work up to the shade you require.  Milkshake turns into a beautiful natural looking English Rose flush on pale skin.

You can purchase these lipstains off the Sleek Website for US$6.49 each or at Lipstick Republic for AU$9.95 each.

I hope you like my swatches.  Have your tried any Sleek Cosmetics?  Please leave a comment and let me know what your favourites are.


Jac x0x

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge-On Foundation

I have been searching for a new foundation because my old ones just don't do it for me anymore, as you get older less is more but I still need good coverage to cover redness caused by my LUPUS.

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I recently purchased this Elizabeth Arden foundation in Vanilla online.  I applied it dry, directly from the sponge included and I didn't like it.  It was thick, went on cakey, collected in my pores and creases and looked patchy and greasy after a while.  I though Sheesh I just wasted 50 bucks!! Shoved it in the TOO HARD basket and forgot about it.

I then received a sample of this foundation in Toasty Beige, which I believe is their most popular shade.  I was mucking around with my Sigma F80 brush and thought I would buff a bit of this on my face to see what it looked like.

Toasty Beige  ~  Vanilla
elizabetharden.com.au

Damn!!  Its Good!!  Toasty Beige is a little dark for me, makes me look tanned.  What I did was evenly buffed a little all over my face and then I got out my Vanilla and added a layer to places I wanted to lighten up, forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.  My skin looked great and I didn't even have to use powder to set it.

Toasty Beige  ~  Vanilla  ~  Mixed 

These swatches were applied dry for photographic reasons but you can see how thick they are, adding some moisture sheers them out but you lose none of the coverage.

The trick is, throw away the sponge and grab your favourite buff brush.  The Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki is perfect because of its short dense bristles.

Spray a little hydrating mist ( I used Kosmea hydrating rosewater mist ) to dampen the brush, swirl it through the foundation (Toasty Beige), and then buff your face.  The mist helps the foundation to blend more sheer with your skin so you don't use as much product.   Give it a few minutes to oxidise and then swirl your brush again through the foundation ( I used Vanilla this time ) and go over the areas that need extra coverage or lightening.

Toasty Beige  ~  Vanilla  ~  Mixed
All three buffed out, sorry bit fuzzy hard to photograph but you can see how sheer they get
matillysthisnthat.blogspot.com.au

All my redness was gone.  I used a little extra of the Vanilla to conceal under my eyes and around my nose by patting it in with my finger.

Using a damp brush or sponge and less product makes all the difference for a perfect base.

Contains micronised diamond powder to reflect light and diminish flaws.  Very hydrating without being oily and leaves you with a healthy glow and great coverage all day.

elizabetharden.com.au

The sturdy Gold and Iconic Red Door Compact with a full sized mirror is just gorgeous.

I don't think I would go and buy these two separate shades again, next time I will look for a better match in-store instead of purchasing sight unseen online, usually the lightest shade is a perfect match for me.  Not this time!  That might be something you need to take into consideration before you purchase this foundation too.

Have you tried this foundation or have a favourite, do you have to mix shades for your perfect colour?   Please share and leave a comment below.

Jac x0x

Hair 2 Go Winners

Congratulations to the FOUR winners of the Hair 2 Go $30 Vouchers;

3.  collegegirldai
1.  TriedandTestedBlogger
7.  thegoldencrystals
8.  foxoduck

If you were one of the eight entrants you can check for yourself to see if you were a winner in the Random.Org Widget above, just copy and paste the line your name & number appears on below and follow the prompts.

1.  TriedandTestedBlogger
2.  mandachic84
3.  collegegirldai
4.  amber.boyce
5.  Lauren Anastasiou
6.  Cherie Montorio
7.  thegoldencrystals
8.  foxoduck

Could the four lucky winners please email me at matillyrose@gmail.com within the next 24 hours with your name and email address so your Voucher Code for an amazing $30 off your first order can be emailed to you directly from the company Hair 2 Go.

Thank you all for entering my competition and supporting my blog.

Jac x0x

Just One Word TAG

I saw this tag on Sanja's blog this week Sparkle with laughter. 

I found this to be very thought provoking and words can be so powerful.

The rule to this is that you have to answer the questions with just one word that pops into your head. 

Where is your cell phone?

Non-existent

Your partner?

Soulmate

Your hair?

Up

Your mother?

Next-door

Your father?

Lost

Your favorite material object?

Wedding-ring

Your dream from last night?

Nightmare

Your favorite drink?

Margarita

Your dream car?

Mustang

The room in which you are right now?

Bedroom.

Your ex?

Dead

Your fear?

Loss

What do you want to be in 10 years?

Here

With whom did you spend last night?

Husband

What are you not?

Two-faced

What did you do last night?

Dream

What's the last thing you did before this?

Coffee

What are you wearing?

Tracksuit

Your favorite book?

All

The last thing you ate?

Apple

Your life?

Routine

Your mood?

Sad

Your friends?

Distant

What are you thinking about right now?

Crying

What are you doing now?

Blogging

Your summer?

Starting

What's on your TV?

DVD's

The last time you laughed?

Friday

The last time you cried?

Now

School?

Work

What are you listening to?

Birds

Your favorite weekend activity?

Sleeping

Dream job?

Shopping

Your computer?

HP

Just outside your window?

Garden

Beer?

English

Mexican food?

Ring-O-Fire.

Winter?

Boots!!

Religion?

Faith

Vacation?

Huh??

On your bed?

Eeyore

Love?

Found 

If you would like to do this TAG please leave a comment below so I can come read your answers.

Jac x0x

Makeup & Hay Fever

When the Wattle blooms Spring is just around the corner.

Spring has Sprung and Hay fever Season is upon us!  Three out of Five members of my family 

suffer from hay fever including Miserable Me.  Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to 

pollen released seasonally from trees, grass, weeds, flowers, fungi and mold spores.  

Common symptoms include, sneezing, itchy watering eyes, blocked/running nose, 

itchy throat and sinus pressure/headaches.

A few tips I would like to pass on to you all to help minimise your symptoms are;

-  speak to your doctor or chemist about treatment, a combination of medication 
   tailored to your symptoms works best ie, anti-histamine tablets, nasal spray 
   and eye drops.
-  start taking hayfever remedies two weeks before the season starts to 
   lessen symptoms.
-  a spoonful of locally produced honey every day helps build immunity 
   (all year round).
-  keep windows and doors closed, switch to recycle on your air-conditioning in 
   the house and car.
-  protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses, keep your hair tied up and wear a hat 
   outside, hair is a great pollen catcher!
-  whilst outside, coat the inside of your nose with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, 
   it helps prevent pollen entering the nasal passages.
-  eliminate fermented foods ie:  alcohol, yeast, cheese, yoghurt, mushrooms, 
   pickles, olives, dried and processed foods.
-  eliminate Histimine releasing food 
   (they release histimine when you eat them causing reactions) ie;
   Chocolate, Bananas, Strawberries, Pineapple, Eggs, Milk, Fish, Shellfish 
   and Alcohol.

Unfortunately for me makeup isn't an option when I am having a really bad day.  Less is best on days like this so I don't end up looking like a Hung-Over Panda.   My red itchy eyes drive me crazy and I just have to rub them making it impossible to wear any kind of mascara.

Clinique all about eyes rich - Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer
matillysthisnthat.blogspot.com.au

Here are a few tips that work for me, during hayfever season and less is definitely best especially round the eyes.

-  regularly apply cold eye packs to calm red puffy eyes, cold soaked chamomile or 
   green tea bags kept in the fridge work great.
-  apply a good eye cream like Clinique's All About The Eyes to reduce puffiness 
   and dark circles
-  have your lashes dyed so you don't need to wear mascara.
-  reduce exposure to irritations from your skincare and makeup routine by going 
   hypo-allergenic ie;  Almay, Clinique, Covergirl, Maybelline, Neutrogena, Revlon, 
   Clarins, Physician's Formula all have hypo-allergenic lines.
-  apply a good face primer like Clarins Smooth Perfecting Touch, so you can wear 
   less makeup (I use this on my eyelids with no irritation before I apply eye shadow).

Almay intense i-color trio for browns - Almay get up & grow mascara - Almay for green eyes
matillysthisnthat.blogspot.com.au

-  wear waterproof mascara to lessen chances of it smudging, flaking and 
   falling into your eyes.
-  wear cream eyeshadow, less chance of it falling into your eyes and 
   causing irritation
-  stay clear of loose powders, I prefer to stick to liquid foundation and 
   cream blush, NO face powder!
-  wear less on your eyes while accentuating your lips with a bright lipstick.
-  ALWAYS remember to completely remove ALL your makeup at night.

Dr. Lewinn's Skin Perfect - Revlon Nearly Naked ~ IVORY
VIVO Lipstick ~ TANGTASTIC - VIVO Colour Lip Crayon ~ SWEET DREAMS
VIVO Cheeky Cream Blusher ~ BLOOM
matillysthisnthat.blogspot.com.au

Well these are little things that help me get through the hay fever season, I would love to hear what tips you have so please leave a comment below I would love to hear from you.

Jac x0x

When Beauty isn't so Important

I have never felt so helpless in my life than watching those I love the most grieve.

My husband's Grandmother passed away in August and left my husband absolutely devastated.   It brought up many deeply buried emotions for him as it was his mother's mother and he lost his mother when he was 17.  At the funeral his mother was mentioned many times and each time I could see my husband crumble and slump to the point that I was having to hold him up, the pain etched a little deeper on his face.

The past two weeks my twin sons have been dealing with Suicide.   At 13 years old this is not an easy topic for me as their mother to discuss but Suicide is something that all parents SHOULD discuss with their children.  One of my boys best friends tried to take his own life due to bullying and ended up in hospital, what makes this even more difficult is that their friends father took his own life 7 years ago.

  

This has had quite an effect on my boys and brought up emotions in them that they have found very difficult to cope with.  Trying to understand why their friend would want to die has been a very difficult subject to discuss with them, it has left them on an emotional rollercoaster alternating between sadness and anger.  We have made many trips to the hospital to visit and I think it has been very healing for them all.  

I lost three male friends to suicide whilst I was growing up and being the mother of four children it is a fear that flickers in the back of my mind at times.  Suicide is a common cause of death in teenagers, especially in men between the ages of 15 and 24.  If you know anyone who you think might be at risk there are professionals you can turn to for help.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

SuicideLine 1300 651 251

You don't have to be a trained professional to be able to help, just being a good listener and a friend by offering emotional and practical support can make all the difference.

Yesterday I received the news that my ex-husband and father of two of my children, had gone to sleep and didn't wake up the next morning.  He was only 51 years young.  Watching my children's grief would have to be the most difficult thing I have ever witnessed and if I could take away their pain, I would do it in a heartbeat.  All I can do is hold them and allow their raw emotions to wash over me and hope that my love is enough to see them through.

I ask all my readers to please pray for my family and send us positive energy, we could really use it right now.

I am sending out LOVE & STRENGTH to all my readers and if there is anything happening in your life and you need to talk please reach out to a friend.

EVERYONE IS WANTED BY SOMEONE

Jac x0x

Liebster Award

I have been nominated for a Liebster Award by the lovely Harriet over at nailhilism who has some gorgeous nail related blogs, please pop over and show her some love by following her wonderful blog.

This one is a little different to the original Liebster Award I completed back in February you can read that here. I don't know if I really qualify but as I have under 200 followers on GFC I thought I would give it another go!!

Rules;

1.  You must link back to the blogger who nominated you.  Harriet
2.  Answer the 11 questions given to you
3.  Nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 Followers
4.  Go to the blogs you have nominated and leave a comment letting them know they have been nominated.
5.  Give your nominees 11 questions to answer.

Harriet's Questions

1.   What has been the best experience you have had in the nail blogging world?

I really haven't had much experience in the nail blogging world but getting the guts up to show my nails in the first place is a biggie!!

2.   What has been the worst?

Probably my first ever nail swatch, my nails are short for work and they really looked terrible.

3.   Cats or Dogs? and why?  I love both but prefer cats because they are more independant.

Indi
www.matillysthisnthat.blogspot.com.au

4.   Would you prefer to read the book before the movie, or the other way around? (e.g. Harry Potter)

I prefer to read the book but I get so disappointed when I see the movie after the book because they invariably leave too much out.

5.   What do you think the next big nail trend will be?

Honestly I have no idea but I always liked the idea from the original Total Recall movie where the Rekall receptionist had a touch pen which changes the colour of her finger nails.  That would be a pretty cool device to have.

6.   What's the furthest you have ever been from your hometown?

I was born in the UK and moved to Australia!

7.   Who does the dishes in your house?

We all take turns

8.   When did you last change your toothbrush?

Probably not as often as I should but when it starts to lose it's shape

9.   What would be a perfect day for you?

Bargain shopping with unlimited funds, I love a bargain, hate paying full price for anything!

10.  Favourite Flower

Purple Dutch Iris

11.  Which manicure are you most proud of?  Provide a link.

Besides a few swatches, nail mani's are not my thing, though I love looking at all the talented bloggers and their gorgeous creations.  I love this one by Harriet 'Rose Champagne'.

My Questions.

1.   What is your favourite cosmetic/nail product you like to blog about (ie; eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara, nail polish etc)

2.   What made you start blogging?

3.   Besides blogging do you have any other hobbies?  What are they?

4.   What did you want to be when you grew up?  What did you eventually do when you grew up?

5.   What is your  idea of a perfect romantic night out? (ie; dinner, movie, walk along the beach)

6.   What is your all time favourite Chick Flick (movie)?

7.    Real nails, Fake nails, which do you prefer?

8.    Do you prefer to wear your hair up or down (if it's long) or do you prefer short hair?  Why?

9.   Can you remember the first cosmetic product you ever bought?  What was it?

10.  What is your favourite eyeshadow and lipstick that your using right now?

11.  What is your favourite brand of cosmetics/skincare?


I don't like to link anyone personally and make them feel they have to do this  SO  I am going to put this out to  All  my readers.  If you are a blogger with under 200 followers these awards are a really good way to get your self out in Blogger World and introduce yourself.  You will meet a few really nice people and have some fun.  Please give it a go and leave a comment below so I can come read your answers.

Jac x0x

Please don't forget to enter my Hair 2 Go Giveaway, you could win a $30 dollar voucher from Hair 2 Go.  Just leave a comment and your username here.