Beauty

World Organics – Lou’s Store is LIVE!

World Organics…We are good to go!   Lou’s World Organics site is live! Click here.

In case you missed the back story and are wondering, “what’s Lou on about now? What’s World Organics?”, I announced via a Facebook post (below) a few weeks ago about the decision to join the World Organics team.  This followed my review of a couple of World Organics products for my blog (I wrote this post). Long story short, trying out World Organics’ primer and concealer, coupled with a lot of research, lead me to make a big decision: To hop on board the World Organics train and become a consultant. Why? Because their philosophy resonates with me and, simply the makeup products I tried were that good!

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Ten Christmas Present Ideas That Won’t Break the Budget

Last year I did a blog post last Christmas with ideas of affordable pressie for beauty geeks and foodies. A gift that’s certain to delight its recipient is one of the fruit baskets from Gift Tree, especially for the foodies out there! It was a hit, so, here’s 2016’s version.

Please note: I still reckon last year’s post had cracking recommendations so definitely check that out. Oh, I’m about to recommend a new twist on the Go Vino glasses.

Bonbon Vegan

bonbon vegan

I adore Bonbon Vegan. This Kiwi (Whakatane) beauty range is all 100% vegan, natural and unprocessed. Nice. (more…)

Skinfood Review

Skinfood sent me these goodies to review. I know. How lucky am I?

Skinfood Review

Backing up the bus a little, 2016 has been, unintentionally, the year of using mainly natural-based skincare. I’ve been unashamedly flirting with a bunch of different brands and I’m loving it. Why? I’m delighted with how my skin has responded and, big claim: I reckon the aging clock has slowed down. So, with this reasonably new-found love of natural-based skincare, when Skinfood asked me if I’d like to review some of their products, I replied with GUSTO. “Yes please!!!!!”  I said (bloody extroverts and their exclamation marks).

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Lou Loves – November Faves

It’s that time of the month – again! This time… I’ve mixed things up. 

This month’s beauty and foodie favourites is a video. Hell. I was so nervous when I pushed the publish button on this one… You have no idea. I had (and still have) mega butterflies in my tum.

Look, this video. It’s a bit amateur. I don’t know how to edit videos (so I didn’t). I’m quietly proud, that said, that I figured out how to do an intro cover title page thingymajig. Oh,  I need lighting, I need a microphone, I need a remote control doofer thingy so I can zoom in and out. But it’s a start!  Let me know what you think!  Thumbs up, or thumbs down? 

Note: I hope you don’t aren’t lying in bed next to someone reading this. You might accidentally press ‘play’ on the vid and wake them up. I get in trouble when I do that.

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World Organics Makeup Review

world organics makeup reviewThey say don’t judge a book by its cover. Well, I blatantly did that when I was offered the opportunity to review two items from World Organics makeup range (which is called The Organic Skin Company).  Can we just talk about the bamboo packaging for a second? Perfect and gorgeous. I haven’t seen packaging this cool for a while.  Yes please, World Organics, thanks for asking, I’ll try a few things: Your packaging is The Bomb.

Backtracking a little, I’d stumbled across some images of products from World Organics on Facebook, but I hadn’t ventured as far as checking any products out.  Why? To be honest, there so many makeup and skincare products popping up now it’s hard to try everything. Sadly, my wallet is not bottom-less.  Anyway, when Maryanne Gilles contacted me and introduced herself: Makeup Artist and World Organics Consultant, she piqued my interest. I sensed (and hoped) that as a makeup artist, she’d be using products that worked.  Bingo. During our correspondence Maryanne relayed to me that, as a make up artist  (and a beauty therapist) she wishes World Organics had been around earlier in her career.  Also, I was interested to learn Maryanne only uses World Organics makeup on her clients. 

While I waited a couple of days for the products to arrive,  I did some research. I’m a geek like that! Who was behind this company? Where were they from? What’s the guts?  First up, World Organic is a Kiwi Company, founded by  New Zealander, Megan Douglas. Megan, among other jobs (like model and fashion designer) is also a qualified herbalist. Megan used her background and expertise to  create her own organic skincare company.  There’s a few different range, including skincare, that come under the overall brand, check them out here.  (more…)

Max Factor Masterpiece Eyeshadow Palette – Review

Max Factor Masterpiece Nude Palette Review

I lusted after this Max Factor Masterpiece eyeshadow palette for quite some time after stumbling across it in Farmers.  After playing around with the tester, making pretty swatches all over my arm, I concluded this palette a gem.  I didn’t buy it though. Yes, you read that right: It got left in Farmers! Uncharacteristically restrained, right?!  To be fair, at the time, I gave myself a stiff talking to: “Lou you don’t need another eyeshadow palette”.  Oh, but I wanted it!  It definitely passed the 24 hour test.

A month or two later a makeup loving friend’s birthday was on the horizon.  I knew Lisa would appreciate an eyeshadow palette and, naturally,  I knew the perfect palette.  So, off I skipped back to Farmers and, boom, there was a sale on! All Max Factor items: Buy one, get one free. Well helllooooo!. One palette for Lisa (she got ‘Cappuccino Nudes‘), one for Lou.  Being a blondie with green eyes, I felt the Cappuccino Nudes palette would suit Lisa better, I got myself ‘Golden Nudes’ as simply as it has all the colours I like.  Happy days.  Price? NZ$33.99 each (of course, I got two for this price).

This post is a review of my eyeshadow palette, Golden Nudes (02). (more…)

Lou Loves – October Faves

Here’s my October round up of things that are floating my boat!

Ketz-ke Lace Core Tank

Ketz-ke Lace Core Tank

I wasn’t going to mention this singlet in this month’s faves simply as I featured Ketz-ke’s trackies in a faves blog post a few months back… I didn’t want anyone to accuse me of being in bed with Ketz-ke and being on commission! I’m not! I adore this singlet and it’s been thrashed by me for the last two months and, out of everything in my wardrobe, this is at the top of my Love List ATM. So there. By the way, it’s officially a ‘tank’ not a singlet. But I’m a kiwi, and I call it a singlet.

This is essentially a simple black singlet (95% rayon, 5% spandex) that has a feminine lace trim detailing at the bottom which makes it the PERFECT layering singlet. I particularly love wearing it with tops that are probably verging on being slightly too short. Whack this singlet on underneath a top that’s too short and your problem is eliminated as the singlet adds length. It also totally dresses up a plain singlet and a pair of jeans. I love items of clothing that can make a quick transformation.

I bought my singlet from Willow in Rotorua. Locals: Donna has these singlets in as base stock and if she doesn’t have your size, she’ll get one in for you (next day delivery). Alternatively you can buy these online. I’m dead keen on getting the white one for summer… Price NZ$59. (more…)