Gel Rocks My Face Off

Elegant Touch Gel Rocks Duo Nail System is a two-step system that gives you the results of a professional gel manicure at home without the need to cure the nails.

Elegant Touch Gel Rocks uses an innovative gel activating top and base coat system and it is really easy-peasy to apply and it promises to last for up to 10 days. 

The Gel Rocks comes in eight gorgeous colours.

All you do is choose a colour, paint the colour on in 2 coats, letting each one dry before moving on.  I used 2 thin coats of the Elegant Touch Gel Rocks nude (named Unoriginal Sin), let each one touch dry (I don’t have time to hang on forever) and then I applied the gel activating top coat.

I let that dry while I watched some telly and I was incredibly happy with the results.

Normally nail polish only lasts about 2 or 3 days with me.  I wash dishes, clothes, mop floors, go to gym everyday, so I’m hard on my hands.

But this Elegant Tough Gel Rocks lasts for ages – even with me!  I’m on day #7 already and only one nail has a small chip.

It gives a gorgeously glossy and plumped up finish, very similar to the look of a professional gel manicure.  It does this with a blend acrylic materials (that act as a plumping activator on the base of the nails) and gel polish colour to deliver a finish that is lifted and super shiny.

I’m impressed for R119.95 at Dischem

How to Apply False Eyelashes

Here is Ginger McLashes' way of applying False Eyelashes....

Magic happens outside your comfort zone", they say...

"You are only going to grow if you are willing to feel awkward", 

they say...

"Be Brave enough to travel the path unknown", they say...

"Do one thing every day that scares you", they say...

I decided to do something that pushed my limits.

I AM BUSTING OUT!

I've always loved the way that false eyelashes look in the glossy magazines - all beautifully full and perfectly curled - it just makes anyone's eyes POP.

Trouble is, I've never been able to apply them properly.  I always look like a lopsided caterpillar has slithered onto my eyelids and parallel parked there (not very efficiently).  The glue gets stuck to my lashes, my fingers, my tweezers...  I always have to reapply over and over and I make a total hash of it.

I figured I'd give it one last go AND take the challenge to wear them to work!

Here is the outcome!

 

John Frieda Full Repair™ Repairing Oil Elixir

John Frieda Full Repair™ Repairing Oil Elixir claims to reverse the look & feel of damage with every use.

I couldn't wait to try this product as I've only heard brilliant things about ALL the John Frieda products on Beauty Bulletin.  I was keen to see what all the fuss was about.

Not only is this wee 100ml bottle of happiness good for colour treated hair, its makes your hair feel and look silky smooth.  

It's packed with repairing Inca Inchi Oil which is great for repairing damaged hair and preventing more damage.  I love the pump-action bottle, which means each time you get the exact amount and there is no wastage.  You really don't need much of this luxurious golden liquid.  One or two pumps to damp hair does the ends of my long hair - bargain!  It will last me longer and good value for money.    

It smells great and conditions my hair and helps with those thin fly-away hairs.  It conditioned my hands to boot too!  Bonus!

Price: R109.95 for 100ml -  a bargain!

Give it a whirl!

Africology

Another hand-crafted product that I won on a Beauty Blogger's giveaway is the Africology Chamomile Body Balm.

A treat for both mind and body, Africology Chamomile Body Balm combines the

fragrant signature basie with the calming effect of Chamomile. Whether you have had a stressful day or if you're just in need for some good-ol' pampering, add a blob to your bath for a comforting soak or massage the balm into dry skin.  

This pretty vintage chocolate pot with golden screw-top lid is quite an intense chamomile fragrance.  It is a hydrating treatment which makes it brilliant for eczema and stretch marks.  It hydrates your skin immediately and is easily absorbed to areas that need care.

Perfect for my Winter Hands! 

It keeps the Mozzies away too, believe it or not.

This waxy cream is quite solid, but a dollop rubbed between warm hands softens the balm and is easy to apply.

Made with 100% Natural Essential Oils, marula, african potato, rooiboss, rosehip and aloe vera.  Great South African ingredients!

R245 for this wee 125ml pot of Proudly South African product.  

Worth every penny.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lips

Hi Love Lassies

Ginger McLashes has already done a video review for the Smashbox lippy products, but for those of you who don't have access to watch videos at work or even at home. 

Here's my written review:

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipgloss in Pout. I usually don't like lipgloss because it has that sticky feeling on your lips and doesn't last very long. Also, every time the wind blows my hair onto my lipgloss, my lipgloss lands up all over my face and hair. Not so Legendary. But this lipgloss is nice for when you're not outdoors in the wind as it leaves a silky smooth glass-like textures and its not sticky at all.

Price : 220

Smashbox Be Legendary Long-Wear Lip Lacquer in Coral

This wee pot of loveliness has a wet consistency but a creamy texture goes on velvety smooth and has a moisturising feel. Once the top layer and shiny finish wears off (about an hour after application) lips are left with an even stain of colour. It hydrates and compared to other long wearing lipsticks it doesn't feel patchy or drying.

And it doesn't stick to my hair so I don't get lipgloss residue all over my cheeks and hair. Booyah! Bonus!

Here's a Tip: Wear the lipliner with the lip lacquer. I think because it has a spongy applicator so you tend to slather it on. It tends to feather and bleed into the wee lines around your mouth! So remember to use lip liner with this product.

Price : R250

The packaging for both the lip gloss and lip lacquer are not that impressive. For something that's supposed to be "Legendary", the plastic feels cheap. The matt top picks up loads of dust, crumbs and fluff (which every woman has at the bottom of yer handbag) and starts to look shabby. I do love the chevron stripes though! 

Price: 6ml for R250 

Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in Nude Light

The Twist off top lip liner is lovely! It glides on easily and prevents the lip lacquer bleeding into your little lines around your mouth.

A long-wearing, water resistant lip liner that self-sharpens every time you twist the cap off. Neat wee trick!

Price: R230

Great products, but a wee bit too pricey for me. I will buy the lip lacquer again, though. My hair doesn't stick to this lip lacquer. Big plus!

Heaven Sent - Picture Perfect Blur Primer

I won an Oh So Heavenly Hamper on the #FridayPrizeDay Giveaway on Beauty Bulletin and decided to treat my mum to these products. 

Thanx to our current post office strike, she still hasn't received them.

However, I did keep ONE of the products in the hamper for myself...only because my mum doesn't wear make up, so she wouldn't have used the Picture Perfect Miracle Blur Primer anyway.

Thats MY excuse and I'm sticking to it! Okay?!

I've tried some of the other Oh So Heavenly products before. I especially love their hand serums, so I knew I was going to get something that not only smelled divine and good enough to eat, but that it would work!

I love the cute pink packaging, which is so feminine and girly. it makes me feel as if I'm really treating myself to something special. I've never used a primer before so this was my first try and I LOVE IT. 

It's supposed to "Blur" fine lines and wrinkles and it sure does, for me anyway. It makes me skin feel moisturized and gives it a smooth silky finish. I adore that. The microspheres scatter the light in all directions for that perfect skin finish. It may just be an illusion, but an illusion that makes my skin look picture perfect, its my kinda brand.

After this wee baby, I'd love to try some of the "heavier" primer brands...

I know that Oh So Heavenly are against testing on animals, which is a huge plus for me.

This 45ml tube retails for R119.95 and is available from Clicks Stores. A great price for what this product does to my skin.

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Fragrance

Hi Lovely Lassies


The concept of this fragrance is centered on the idea of natural and simple beauty, freedom from conventions and the choice of once own vision of happiness. 
It's fresh, clean and incredibly feminine. It's a sweet, fruity fragrance with with hints of vanilla.

Beautifully packaged and its PINK! 

Super cute.

Julia Roberts is the celebrity face of this fragrance and La Vie Est Belle means "Life is Beautiful" in French.

Happiness in a pretty spray bottle.

R999 for a bottle of 75ml spray available at all cosmetic and beauty outlets.

I love this fragrance.....so pretty and girly.

Those Mean Girls

Hi Lovely Lassies

Growing up, I was always the geeky freckled ginger who everyone teased and called “Duracell”  (the coppered colour top – get it?) 

Yeah, I got a lot of those ginger nicknames. 

If you’re a ginger, you can relate to having transparent milk-bottle skin, and ginger eyelashes and eyebrows.  

As a teenager, I got into trouble at school for wearing mascara!  

I was only  trying to look like all the other pretty popular girls. I could never get away with the mascara, because my eyelashes are so long and the mascara would rub off and smudge on to my eyelids and give my secret away.  The teachers would make me wash it off and I’d be left looking like a spook once again. Detention would ensue, and a letter would go home with me explaining my crime.

My Mum would not let me tint my eyebrows or eyelashes, so I did the next best thing,  I used a nail scissors and cut my long, ginger eye-lashes in half!   

I would get away with wearing brown mascara to school without it smudging all over my face - and at least I didn’t look like a Ginger Ghost.

It took forever for my stumpy eyelashes to grow back to their former glory.

Daft or what?

That being said, I could never really do without my mascara now.  Avon SuperShock Mascara is the single product that ALWAYS gives me confidence to walk tall, strut and embrace my Ginger Awesomeness.  I love the wide bristles that give me an even coating of mascara to each lash.  I detest the clumpy mascara look. 

As for those mean girls at school who used to tease me? 

Well, I don’t think I’d greet you if I bumped into you on the street.  

Most of you have gotten so old and fat,  I wouldn't even recognize you anyway…

And The Winner Is....

Hi Lovely Lassies

Congratulations!!!

The Winner of my Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing and Cleaning System Competition is Lizna. 

A huge thank you to all the Beauties at Beauty Bulletin who entered the competition and submitted videos.

Marlé
Desire
Candice
Ayesha