My Day with A-J-E // Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2014

A-J-E, my Favourite Australian Label, shared a breathtaking show this past friday at MBFWA. I was incredibly lucky to have seen behind the scenes and experience just how much love and dedication the AJE team had put into their collection. 

Visit A-J-E either online at a-j-e.com.au or in store at their beautiful locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Backstage I was fortunate to have been able to quiz the makeup artist on their tips and trick.  The makeup was being done by Lancome, and their goal was to achieve a natural glowing complexion with defined brow and sculpted cheeks. 

And the finished result, well just look at the girls.

Every piece was perfection and I am so thankful to A-J-E for having me. 

Here a a few cheeky instagram shots - instagram/laurenalicehutton

DIY O'mbre Hair - Blonde to Brown (And Cure for Ashy Green Hair)

On Saturday night I decided to dye my own hair.. Never a good idea right?? Well this time it actually workout really well. As we are heading into winter in Sydney, I thought it would be appropriate to go a bit darker. I picked up L'oreal Excellence Creme in number 6 Light Brown. To be honest, I only picked this colour because it was on sale, and looked close to the colour I wanted. I didn't even read to see if it was a semi permanent or permanent colour. Silly me!! I am no hair expert but I thought the way I applied the colour gave my hair a really nice affect that I thought I would share.

Step One   
Comb though your hair to get all the knots out and section it onto 2, as if you were going put your hair into piggy tales. Then section your hair again, going from your ears to the back of your head. You now should have 4 section, two on each side.

Step Two
Mix the colour with the developer which are both provided in your box. 

Step Three
Starting at your roots place the colour onto your hair, making sure that your only getting colour on the hair around your roots. As you go, massage the colour into your scalp and roots to make sure the colour is evenly distributed. At one stage I caught myself squeezing the product into my hands and applying to my roots like shampoo. 

Step Four
Once your entire scalp is covered in dye, grab a comb and gentle brush the dye through the mid lengths of your hair. Make sure your very gentle because this aint good your your mane.  Be careful not to make it look perfect or in a straight line. You want it to be a gradual fade. 

Step Five
Once the product is around ear level, wait for 20mins to let the dye develop. It should look like the picture below.

Step Six
After waiting for 20mins grab your comb again and brush the product through the extra lengths of your hair avoiding the very tips. Then wait an extra 10mins.

Step Seven
WASH WASH WASH. Make sure to shampoo it twice to ensure its all out.

Step Eight - Green or Grey hair Cure
If you come out of the shower and your hair is green or grey do not fear!!! Mine came out really ashy and I fixed it with lemon juice and coconut oil. 
Squeeze 2 lemons into a bowl with 2 table spoons of coconut oil and put it into your dry hair. 
Let it sit for about 20min or longer if your hair is really green, rinse and your ashy grey hair will have a lot more warmth to it. 

Would love to see how this technique works for you. Send me a photo on twitter or Instagram

Here is My Finished Result. Let me know what you think. x

L'Oreal Color Infaillible - Endless Chocolat

Possibly the most beautiful eyeshadow I have ever used! Its consistency resembles room temperature butter, that glides onto your eyes like a dream. The L'Oreal Color or (Colour) infallible eyeshadows are a pressed pigment, which means its in between an eyeshadow and a loose pigments. The beauty of these little pots of goodness is that you don't get the messiness and fall-out that you sometimes get with a loose pigments, however the pigmentation and effect is nothing short.  Im dying to get my hands on more of these eyeshadows. 

Sunday Funday #2

Yet another Sunday Funday spent in beautiful Sydney...

Its such a wonderful time of year where the days are always sunny and warm, and then we are bless with an afternoon shower to cool off. Sundays have never been so fun. 

Today kicked off in true Sunday Funday style with some wheat free banana pancakes, cuppa hot coffee and a flip through the Collective Magazine, which has an incredible article and interview with Nicole Warne from Gary Pepper Vintage. With our tummies full and caffeine levels at max, Trav and I scooted of to Little Bay, which is just south of Maroubra. Words cannot describe how quaint and stunning this hidden beach is. It is only 20 minutes drive from the city and yet you feel like you are on an island get away, miles away from any city. We spent our afternoon collecting broken bits of glass that had been softened by the sea.  With our day now coasting to an end, id like to wish everyone a super Sunday! 

If you'd like to see more pic's for our adventure come say hi at my Instagram... instagram/laurenalicehutton

Quest for the Perfect Mascara

Mascara is one of the hardest products to shop for as it is always a gamble. There is never going to be a 100% guarantee if your going to like it or not. And because all of our lashes are different, no-one is going to like the same thing. I have recently gone through 8 different kinds of mascaras in search of the perfect one, and may I tell you the quest still isn't over. Over the duration of this quest I have managed to pick up a few little tips in order to find my holy grail mascara and give a review of each one that I have tested. When looking for a mascara I look for features such as volume, black, and something that is going to separate my lashes and not clump them together. So this means I need a big fluffy wand for separation, thick consistency for volume and in the colour black.

I started with Essence. I picked up two of their mascaras after hearing awesome reviews on the Lashmania Reloaded mascara from Fellow Aussie Bblogger, Chloe Morello. I decided to pick Lashmania (Wand is the 1st from the left) and Lases Go wild (Wand is  2ndfrom the Left) as it looked like a great dupe for the Eyeko mascaras. Both Mascaras perform amazingly on there own, but pairing them together is a match made in heaven. Using the plastic wand from Lashmania first, helps to define and lengthen your lashes, then with the dense long wand from Lashes go wild adds an immense amount of volume, and no smudging! Another bonus of these mascaras is there price, I picked these beauties up for under $4!! Such a Winner in my books 10/10.

Next is Model co FatLash Volumising Black Mascara (Wand is 3rd from the Left). I received this in a Bellabox a few months ago and was so excited to give it a go. The wand looked like it would work miracles on my lashes, but sadly I was wrong. This mascara is one of those products that actually made my lashes look worse. It made them clump together to make them look thin and sparse. It weighed them down and actually made them straighter than normal. It just absolutely did nothing for me. 0/10

I got given the Australis Twista Sista free with a purchase and was curious as to how Austalias mascaras performed (Wand is in the middle). The wand is so frikken cool, as it actually twists! There is a dial on the handle that lets you twist the wand so that is turns into a twista shape, Amazing! I fell in love with this wand as it is customisable and super affective. However the formula of the mascara is what lets this product down. It is so thin and liquidy that it is impossible to build any volume. I am going to hold onto it for a while longer to see if once the formula has dried, the performance is better. 5/10

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara, oh dear! (Wand is 3rd from the right). This mascara is an epic fail in my opinion. The wand is so flimsy and its lack of stability denies any kind of grip to your lashes. The formula itself isnt that bad, but compared to the other that I have tried its a real dud, plus it smudges like a mother licker. 0/10

Dior Diorshow Mascara (Wand is 2nd from the right). Hello lover, this has been my absolute favourite mascara for about 6 years. The wand is huge, and is perfect for building both length and volume. I like to look at this mascara as a fine wine, as it ripens with age. The more this mascara dries out the better it gets! Pricey but worth it!! 10/10

Revlon Lash Potion was added to my collection literally because of its packaging. It is so bright and vibrant I need to try it out (Wand is 1st on the right). This Mascara reminds me a lot of the Dior mascara, as they both have similar wands, and have a great thick formula. Im going to pop this baby on the shelf to see if it ages nicely as well. 8/10

Last but not least may be the pick of them all. It is MaxFactor Express Volume mascara (Wand in picture below). This double ended mascara is an absolute winner. The first side is a dense wand, much like the Dior wand, and creates a full and separated lash. The second side is a lacquer, which intensifies your volume like nobodies business. This might just be the one people. 10/10

DATE NIGHT Vlog // GetReadyWithMe

So I decided to take you guys with me for a romantic night out with my Boyfriend and I. I have never tried vlogging but always thought it looked fun and figured id give it a shot. Come along with us as I take you through me getting ready to our lovely dinner at Out of Africa in Manly. Hope you enjoy x

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Review

 Luminous Flush

 Dim Infusion

Wearing Luminous Flush

Hourglass recently released their Ambient Lighting Blushes, and I was grinding at the bit to get my hands on them. As I am a huge fan of the Ambient Lighting finishing powders I had high hopes for these little beauties. 

Their soft and velvety texture makes for a seamless application and makes them relatively fool proof. It's not because the product isn't pigmented, believe me it is, it is that the marbled colour pattern softens the pigmentation so that it does not become overpowering. The effect that these divine blushes gives is delicate and simply just 'pretty'. They have been the only blushes I have been reaching for since I purchased them. 

Placing them next to their steep price tag, I believe them to be totally worth it. They are so unique and are a lovely blush to add to your collection. I picked mine up from Mecca Cosmetica for  $50 - www.meccacosmetica.com.au

February Favourites 2014

Boy o Boy, I cannot believe we are approaching March Already! 'Times are a ticking' Which means its about time for a Favourites Video. I have grouped together a handful of products that have stood out to me during the month of February which I cannot recommend enough. I hope you enjoy the video, Much Love x

- Products Mentioned -

Mac Lipstick - Ravishing

Models Prefer Brushes  

Konjac sponge 

""Link to my review ""
Bobbi Brown Corrector - Bisque

Korres Body Wash Rum and Juniper

DiorSkin Blush Duo - Paradise Duo

Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden - 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask

Sunday Funday

Ahhhh Sunday, you bring such joy. The one day of the week where I can relax with nothing on my plate. Its the one day that Trav and I have completely to ourselves to explore the city, eat out, and veg out. Today I managed to squeeze a little retail therapy in as well. Mecca Cosmetica had finally brought in the Ambient Lighting blushers, so I snapped up 2, Naughty me! The are simply divine, the top right photo shows we wearing Dim Infusion (Keep an eye out for a review). Happy Sunday everyone, Much love x

Models Prefer Makeup Brushes

I have always been a little bit of a snob when it comes to purchasing makeup brushes. I always opted for higher end brushes like Mac or Sigma. However with the name comes the price tag, and throwing $30+ dollar at a single brush can make even the most dedicated makeup advocate squirm. 
But ladies and gentleman, I have found a line of makeup brushes that are high quality, have gorgeous long black handles, are beautifully soft and are all UNDER $25!!! 
I share with you the Models Prefer Makeup brushes. I have collected 4 in total and are absolutely blown away at the quality of these affordable brushes, especially the flat top buffing brush. If you are a fan of the real techniques buffing brush I urge you to try this little beauty. Its is so lush and dense and makes foundation application a dream. I cannot rate these brushes enough! Pick them up from you nearest Priceline....Much love x

Everyday Makeup I Spring Summer

SIMPLE. EASY. QUICK Summer Makeup

It is that strange time of year where Australia is creeping into Autumn and the Northern Hemisphere is blossoming into Spring, so there is an even playing field where our climate is similar. Seeing as we are all seeing some warm weather, I thought I would put together a short demonstration of my go-to look for the warmer months and share with you lovely people. I hope you enjoyed... Much love x

Face of the Day #3

                                                                          

Face of the day is all about super natural and wearable makeup for my day ahead. Nothing Fancy, just fresh natural makeup, that is perfect for day time. 


Eyes - Mac Eyeshadows in Naked Lunch, Cork and Sable.  Dior - Diorshow Mascara // Base - Nars Sheer glow in Santa Fe. YSL Le Teint Touche Eclait in 3. Bourjois cream blush - 2 // Lips - Mac Syrup 

Essentials to Take Around With You

I think if we all took a second right now we would all find approximatly 3 lipstick, a handful of bobby pins, 1 broken hair tie and 5 stray eclipse mints. Sound about right? Well I think its about time we tidied up our bags a actually organise a bunch of products that we need. So here are my essential products to help me through the day. If you always carry around with you these 6 basics, You will never go wrong.

*All products are linked to where you can purchase them online

Revlon Nearly Naked Powder - This is a great powder for touch ups during the day. It elliminates shin, as well as adding a touch of coverage . 020 Light Pale // Lip balm - Lanolips lemonaid Lip Aid - Super moisturising // Concealer Nars Creamy Concealer - This is the best all round concealer that you can by! // Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial - Perfect for on the go, to quickly hydrate and refresh // Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash, Great hand sanitizer that doesn't dry out your hands // Sportsgirl Rollerball Perfume - You're a Gem - Surprisingly gorgeous fresh scent in a handy rollerball packaging that can be carried around with you. 

The Konjac Sponge // Review

Today's post is all about the Konjac Sponge. This squishy sponge has cemented itself into my nightly routine as a tool to wash my face. You apply your favourite cleanser onto the damp sponge and mush it on your face. If you are looking for a tool that will gently, yet thoroughly exfoliate your skin then this is the tool for you!I will call it squish and it is my squishy!Sorry, I couldn't resist a little Nemo reference. 

I found myself in a little bit of a kuffuffle where I couldn't get my head around chemical exfoliates (Yikes) and course, grainy exfoliating creams just seemed to much for my sensitive skin. Of course I do have the clarisonic, but it is also too harsh for everyday use. I then stumbled across this    Konjac sponge, and my skincare routine is happier then ever!! There are four different kinds to choose   from, and they all differ depending on your skin type. I choose the French green clay one, but I cant wait to try them all!

Pick yours up from Cult beauty >>>  Konjac Sponge 

TOP Ways to Use Coconut Oil in your Beauty Routine

So many people who are close to me (especially my boyfriend) are aware of my obsession with Coconut Oil. I constantly smell like a baby coconut as I use it for skincare, hair care and for cooking! Its such a versatile product and has really helped my skin over the past year or so. So without further a-due I share with you my favourite ways to use coconut oil.

Make-up Remover -
Coconut oil is my go-to makeup remover. I cannot stress how well this stuff melts away all of your makeup and leaves your skin nourished and clear. Coconut oil has a surprising amount of antibacterial properties and works really well as a gentle cleanser. Just massage it all over your dry face and see your makeup lift and melt away. Simply wipe it off with a damp cloth and your good to go! As for my oily skin type ladies, do not fear! Oil cleansers are your best friends, trust me  :)

Eye Cream and Eyelash Conditioner -
Coconut oil does wonders for the fragile and sensitive skin under your eyes. It moisturises the skin and also conditions your eyelashes :) As it is super oily I only recommend  it for night time, but by morning your undereye area will glow and your lashes with be nourished and fluttery.

Coconut, Blueberry and Chia seed mask/scrub -
This is one of my all time DIY face scubs! Is is so easy, so nourishing and super quick to whip up.
I just put a good 'blob' of coconut oil, about a tablespoon of blueberries and chia seeds that have soaked in water into a blender. I try not to over blend it as the chuckyness of it can be used to lightly exfoliate your skin. Gently massage the mixer over your face and neck and leave for 10-15 mins, then swip off with a damp cloth. Like a Babies Bum!

Hair Mask -
Coconut oil is one of the only oils that are fine enough to penetrate the hair. God I hate the word penetrate! I love to add a large scoop of coconut oil, 1 egg, honey and an avocado into a blender and combine until it is a fine paste. Pop it on your hair, focusing on the tips and add any access to your scalp. This mask will soften and nourish the most tired and damaged locks, with NO chemicals or nasties.

Best Budget Makeup Picks

The silly season is officially over. I feel as though everyone is pretty poor at the moment, slightly hungover, and in need of some cheaper alternatives to help us look and feel great. I have raided my stash and have gathered my favourite budget makeup buys to help us through our party season withdrawals.

Products Mentioned -
Maybelline Color Tattoo - Bad to the Bronze // Jordana Blushes - 38 Coral Sandy Beach & 20 Sienna - $2.95 // Bourgois Healthymix Foundation 53 Light Beige // Rimmel lipsticks - Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in  07 - 106 & Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar and Luna // Modelsprefer makeup brushes MPA103 Airbrush Buffing, MPA102 Airbrush Contour and MPP120 Crease.