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
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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
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-  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
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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

COVERGIRL Midnight Magic Nail Polish Review

This is just a quick review with some photos of a nail polish I picked up from Amazon.com the other day.

COVERGIRL outlast stay brilliant - Midnight Magic

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Midnight Magic

  

I really like the shade of this one.  It's a Blue Grey Steel with an oil slick effect and holographic sparkles.  This is another polish that I can't pin down the shade of as it changes from almost black to silver, blue, purple, red, grey, green and when you hold it up to the light it just sparkles.  Truly is a beautiful polish.

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Natural light shaded

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Day lamp

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My photos really don't catch all the different colours but it should give you some idea.  It goes from quite dark inside to brilliant in the sun.

Applies really easily and the drying time between coats (2) is fast.  I have worn this the past two days while doing house work and there has been no chips so far.

This is one of those nail polishes that when you wear it out in public all eyes follow your nails, true!!  I think I could have hypnotised the girl at the petrol station today lol...........

Make sure when you purchase through Amazon you buy from them directly because they have the best shipping rates to Australia. 

Beauty Repurchased Makeup

I have such a large collection of cosmetics it was really hard to find a few products that I liked the most and repurchase, I buy far too much makeup than I will ever need!!

Here are a few things that I have really loved in 2012

Bonne Bell blend'nglow in natural blush.

This is the one and only Bronzer/Highlighter that I have ever found that matches my fair skintone.   The four shades can be used individually as bronzer, blush and highlighter or a general sweep over the entire pan can be used for an all over healthy glow.  Natural matte like finish with just a little bit of glow, perfect for my skin, I use this exclusively to contour my entire face.  I have to purchase this from Amazon.com because it isn't available in Australia.

EVERYDAY MINERALS MULTI-TASKING NEUTRAL - SEMI-MATTE mineral powder.   I can't wear mineral powder on its own because it is too drying on my skin. I love to use this product for setting my liquid foundation or when I am wearing BB cream and want a little bit of extra coverage.  I have been using EDM for years and this is always the powder I reach for, nothing else compares.

ALMAY ONE COAT GET UP AND GROW MASCARA.  This is the mascara that I reach for most often and have repurchased several times.  I have very sensitive eyes that itch like crazy when they come in contact with anything foreign and this is one of the very few mascaras that does not irritate my eyes.  Thickens and lengthens and stays put.  I really like Eye of Horus Mascara too but I haven't had to repurchase that yet but I will.

ELISHACOY ALWAYS NUDDY BB CREAM.  I have tried many BB creams but this is the one that I have repurchased.  Gel like texture that leaves your face with a healthy glow, doesn't break down or settle in your pores, lasts all day and is a great base for mineral foundation.  Recommended for all skin types but I have found that this is more moisturising than other BB creams which is probably why I prefer it, I don't think it would be suitable for oily skin.

My favourite cosmetic is Lip Gloss, I don't wear lipstick as I find it too drying but I have lip gloss everywhere!  I love MIRENESSE LIP GLOSS.  They come in sheer glosses, sparkle, shimmer and matte shades.  Super moisturising, long lasting and the colour range is fantastic.  Another lipgloss that I have fallen in love with this year is;

MUA Makeup Academy Intense Kisses Lip Gloss, my favourite shade is Sealed with a Kiss.  Lovely creamy matte musky rose, non-sticky long lasting formula, for a budget lipgloss these really are the best.  Available online at www.muastore.co.uk or Superdrug, they do ship internationally.  This is a good brand of cosmetics, very reasonably priced and I have loved everything I have purchased from there so far.

My all time favourite go too eyeshadow would have to be Covergirl Eye Enhancers Tapestry Taupe.  Very very popular with Beauty Bloggers worldwide, you can find it on Amazon, Ebay and Priceline have it here as part of a quad called 'Country Woods'.  This is a magical eyeshadow that can be worn on its own but depending on the light lookes multi-dimensional.  Very buildable colour which makes a great smoky eye for very fair skin and stays put all day.  Everyone should have this in their beauty collection.

My all time favourite concealer is Benefit Erase Paste in fair.

 



This is just the best concealer, great coverage and very blendable.  I conceal under my eyes after foundation, I just pat this in and I'm good all day.  Doesn't build up in the creases and give me an extra boost of moisture, while brightening my under eye area.  What I like best about this concealer is I don't need to set with powder which can be very drying on my skin and accentuate lines.

This was a very difficult blog to write as there are so many favourites but these are just some of the ones I find my self using every day.

Please don't forget to leave a comment, I would love to hear what some of your favourites are.