Update: Nutmeg shoes not so yay

You remember those Nutmeg Melbourne shoes I went nuts about last week? So shiny. So full of hope. So many places I was going to walk in them. Was.

The first time I wore them, they split. The patent leather cracked, and I'm not talking little cracks. I'm talking huge cracks right across the shoe. Shoes. Both feet.

On the plus side, I got a full refund from David Jones (they had sold out, so exchanging wasn't an option) AND THEN discovered the same shoes were on sale for $30 cheaper on the Nutmeg website.

On the minus (gosh, that statement doesn't make sense), if the first pair cracked do I really want to replace them with the same?

Decisions decisions. What would you do?

My brownie recipe, via Honey Honey

Are you on the Honey Honey mailing list? No? Well then, you missed out last Friday. I was waxing lyrical about bags and brownies and manicures and music in their weekly newsletter.



One of the things I talked about was my go-to comfort food – magical chocolate brownies that I make myself. Toot toot, these babies are amazing. I have been using the same recipe for years and it never ever lets me down. I had a few requests on twitter to share, so here it is.

200g butter
½ cup cocoa
2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon imitation vanilla essence
1 cup plain flour
2 eggs

1. Preheat oven to 180c. Grease a 20x30cm tin.
2. Put butter and cocoa in a large pan. Melt gently over very low heat (careful not to boil it!)
3. Add sugar and vanilla. Stir really well.
4. Remove pan from heat. Sift in the flour. Stir.
5. Add eggs. Beat mixture well.
6. Spread evenly in tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

I occasionally add chopped up white chocolate into the mixture while I’m pouring it into the pan, just in case I want to turn a sweet treat into a super sweet treat (not advised for diabetics – this is coma-inducing). You can also add walnuts or hazelnuts for extra crunch. Serve them hot with ice cream or let them cool just a bit and eat them when they’re all fudgy and chewy.

Thanks to the Honey Honey girls for having me! I'll tell you about my recent HH purchase soon.

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Urban Outfitters haul post! Yesssss!

I get so excited by online shopping, especially when it’s from overseas stores. Whether it’s my own purchase or I’m living vicariously through someone else’s basket, there is a total thrill from hitting the submit button, then waiting for the parcel arrive. Then the rush of success when that box hits your desk and you piously open it to withdraw your beautiful clothes and accessories that have just come from across the ocean.

I got one of those parcels a couple of weeks ago. I had been putting off making my Urban Outfitters order for a while because it was all summer dresses, and ordering summer dresses in June just seemed like self-inflicted cruelty. But August is fine. It’s kind of like summer-lite in Sydney right now anyway. Right? Right?! (this is me justifying it to myself)

In no particular order, I bought: a sequin cardigan, bright green sleeveless dress, orange chiffon dress and some very rude cross stitch cards. I have worn the orange dress 5 times already (it’s a total keeper and looks rad with black tights), worn the sequin cardi twice and it’s slated for another outing this week, I have written one card and the green dress sits poised and ready for the warmer weather. I just can’t bring myself to wear a sleeveless dress when it’s still this cold.

My theory is by buying from Urban Outfitters I won’t run into too many people who have the same clothes as me (this is a huge problem when you shop at local hotspots like Sportsgirl or Myer). That said, I got in a lift this week wearing a blazer I bought from UO last year and the girl standing next to me had the same blazer in a slightly darker colour.

Price: (all in USD)
BDG Pleated Frock in green - $40, Pins & Needles Puff Sleeve Chiffon Dress in orange - $50, Silence & Noise sequin cardigan - $40, Go F*ck Yourself Subversive Cross Stitch Notecards - $5, Shipping $10
From: Urban Outfitters
Why you need to hit up UO: Fabulous, awesome clothes which are very affordable with the exchange rate right now.

Picture credit: all pics graciously stolen from urbanoutfitters.com

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If your pores need minimising, you need to consult a Benefit Porefessional

Anything that minimises pores deserves a gold medal. Getting into those pores to make them look smaller is not particularly a nice job, kind of like cleaning up the Domain after Field Day, or collecting abandoned trolleys in the IKEA carpark on a Saturday. All a good honest days work for an honest day’s pay, but you can think of other things you would rather be doing.

Ahhh, but Benefit Porefessional does it so well. It has a hint of tint for totally seamless blending. Do you remember me banging on about Smashbox Primer? It’s a totally amazing cult product that I am in love with and would possibly go on a date with if it were a real life person. Benefit Porefessional is like his tanned cousin. The smashbox primer is clear, while the benefit cousin comes from up north – you can always tell the Queensland cousins in family photos at Christmas ‘cos they’re the ones who are a bit more tanned than everyone else.

Very similar texture, very similar feeling when it glides on (Smashbox feels a tad more wet), very similar magical work to make pores vanish. This also means you need to clean your skin the same way – use a precleanse (I love Dermalogica precleanse) and then a cleanser to make sure you get it all out! Think about it...anything that makes pores vanish, would be filling your pores right? Well duh, you need to get it back out again so it doesn’t clog them.

Price: $53
From: Benefit stores and Benefit counters (on sale from tomorrow, Aug 28th)
Why you need it: To even out your complexion and hide pores and scars. Make up always looks better on a perfect canvas.

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Plenty of room at my table for Table of Plenty!

You know when you find a new food and you become so addicted that you want it all the time...you fall in love with a new restaurant and go there once a week, or discover a new takeaway and put them on speed dial. That’s how I feel about Table of Plenty muesli right now. SO GOOD.

I have always been a staunch advocate of ‘breakfast at any time of the day’ and this is no exception. Sure, I have it for breakfast of a morning with two big spoonfuls of Gippsland Dairy Organic Yoghurt (the wildberry is d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s), but I also have it for lunch, a handful as an afternoon snack, and I may have even had it for dinner twice in the last fortnight (I’m eating properly Mum, I swear!)

There are two flavours: Heavenly Honey and Velvety Vanilla. The honey has lots of yummy cinnamon, as well as apricots, apples, almonds and other assorted healthy bits. The vanilla mix has macadamias (!!), cranberries, sultanas and oats and grains and whatnot. It’s a blend of toasted and untoasted, so you get the best of both worlds (flavour and health benefits). Trust me on this one (I look trustworthy, right? Right?!). This stuff is so tasty you won’t even realise how healthy you’re being.

Price: $5.44 – 500g box
From: Coles
Why you need it: Whether it’s breakfast or dessert, this is an all occasion meal.

Picture credit: tableofplenty.com.au

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Slap a cheap touch of happiness onto your skin thanks to Nivea

I have been using the Nivea Touch of Happiness Body Lotion for about a month now and every time I use it I think ‘the scent really reminds me of something from my childhood, but I don’t know what!’ I then proceed to mentally catalogue every lolly, ice cream, lip gloss, soap and shampoo from my younger years to pinpoint what it is.

Finally, it hit me last week. Did you ever have to take liquid penicillin? It was a pink, sticky liquid and it had a distinctly sweet cotton candy-ish kind of smell. That’s what Nivea Touch of Happiness Body Lotion smells like. It’s not a bad thing, it actually smells nice. Plus of course, because it’s Nivea it’s super-hydrating and really nice to use.

I prefer my daily body lotion in a pump-top bottle purely for ease of use, but I don’t mind the flip top lid because it smells so good. Talk about cheap thrills.

Price: $6.25
From: The supermarket or Priceline
Why you need it: To bring a splash of joy, and an odd kind of nostalgia, to your day.

This product was sent to me for consideration

News shoes! Yay Walnut Melbourne!

You know what makes a crappy Monday better? Buying a new pair of shoes. And that's exactly what I did yesterday.



Hello, Walnut Melbourne flats. I am a little bit in love with your shiny patent leather, comfy elasticated fit and sturdy rubber sole. You have made me very happy.
(shame the service at David Jones was so crappy - no one likes snotty sales assistants)

Price: $89.95
From: David Jones
Why you need a pair: Why not? Nude and black are classic and they are a style that will never date. PLUS that's a great price for comfy leather flats.

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Food Fashion Friends from Fleur Wood - all the things I love in life

It’s really difficult to restrain myself not to post when I buy beautiful things to give as gifts. I bought the incredibly gorgeous Food Fashion Friends by Fleur Wood as an engagement present and thankfully the party is over now, the present has been delivered and I can post about it. Happy engagement J&J!

Food Fashion Friends is a beautiful coffee table tome full of all the things Fleur Wood loves in life. Whilst she is best known for her sartorial offerings, she is also a passionate cook and entertainer (the food kind, not the singing and dancing kind...or maybe she is? I dunno). The book is full of whimsical and creative ideas for dinner parties and afternoon teas – fondue degustation, butterfly shaped canapés and picnics worthy of fashion shoots.

While the recipes are bang-up top notch, the main selling point is that it’s inspirational to look at. One of my favourite features is the fact it is printed on all different types of stock. Thick, shiny stock for the dark fondue pages, matte stock for the colourful picnic...flicking through the book is exciting because each page is a visual treat and you never know what you are going to get when you turn over. Hopefully the recipients enjoy it as much as I did for the few days I had it in my possession!

Price: $59.95
From: Fleur Wood stores, Fleur Wood online, all good book stores
Why you need it: To fill a gap in your cookbook collection – this is not just food, but how to create the whole package for the perfect event

Picture credit: fleurwood.com

Antipodes week: The SPF that doesn't feel like an SPF

I have left my favourite product until last (I think Vanessa Williams wrote a song about that once) – the daily SPF. This product just makes sense to me. I know I should be wearing an SPF everyday, but regular sunscreen makes my skin throw tantrums and I don’t really like the way it smells (first world problems, I know). Obviously I persist with the SPF situation (skin cancer and all that jazz) but nothing has felt right to me until now.

Immortal Daily Moisturiser SPF 15 is a beautiful day cream that smells good AND it has SPF in it. It’s like I have tricked my skin into wearing sunscreen (shhh....let’s keep it a secret). It’s also light so it doesn’t feel like it’s clogging my pores and it is not greasy at all. Another selling point? Pump bottle. I love anything that has easy application. When I was asking Elizabeth about this product she said, “This is one of very few genuinely natural SPFs. It feels beautiful and light on the skin and it provides broad spectrum protection 15 times your natural burn time in the sunlight.” So, uh, I was on the right track when I said it was light. Would have been awkward if I had said the opposite, hey.

This nails two birds with one stone because my SPF is now in my daily moisturiser (one step ticks two boxes – gosh I’m efficient) and the lovely anti-ageing ingredients like raspberry oil, vivanza grape (there’s that Marlborough wine again) and hyaluronic acid keep my skin healthy. No wonder it's called immortal.

Price: $49
From: David Jones
Why you need it: Don’t make me give you the daily SPF lecture! This is a supernice way to cover off a necessity.

Extra bits and pieces you need to know about Antipodes: While you can currently buy Antipodes in David Jones, you will also be able to buy it from Myer from October 1st! This is excellent news if you’re into collecting Myer One points (they give gift vouchers, which gets a thumbs up from me).

Also: Antipodes has an amazing new product called Joyous Protein-Rich Night Replenishing Serum that will be on shelves September 1st. I’m really looking forward to this prod because it claims it will help restore collagen, deliver natural radiance and protect & hydrate. Expectations are high! If I try it, I’ll report back.

Picture credit: antipodesnature.com

Antipodes week: Look after your hands, you only have two of them

If you have visited my other project The Nail File, you might be aware that I’m a wee bit obsessed with my hands (and if you haven’t visited, you should. It’s fun, I promise). I always have my nails painted and do my best to keep my hands looking nice, even though I think I have the world’s driest cuticles. This means I go through a lot of hand cream and you can always count on me to have one stashed on the bedside table/in the handbag/on my desk/under the couch.

The Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream is a bit of a favourite because it smells good, feels good AND doesn’t damage my jewellery! There are a few hand creams that I really love but they tarnish my silver claddagh ring when I put them on, and that’s kind of annoying. According to my jeweller, hand creams should never damage gold (and goodness me, there must be something wrong with them if they do), but some hand creams contains ingredients that don’t mix very well with silver or costume jewellery. Quickest way to catch your man out...that ring he claimed was white gold? Yeah...

Anyway, this hand cream contains avocado oil for nourishing and hydrating, and sweet orange, tonka bean and sandalwood for an amazing amazing scent. I read a study once that you should use citrus cleaners in the home because the smell of citrus is very uplifting and energising. Same goes for your hand cream – this cream will slap you across the face and snap you to attention (although not literally slap you, ‘cos that’s not really very nice).

Price: $32
From: David Jones
Why you need it: To keep your hands moisturised, your cuticles in good nick and your spirit buzzing.

Picture credit: antipodesnature.com

Antipodes week: Work harder at night

Did you know you need a different cream for daytime and nighttime? Well...need might be a bit of an exaggeration. But, think about it...during the day you’re out in sunlight, you need SPF, you’re battling smog and pollution, you’re wearing makeup. At night you’re resting & rejuvenating, and so is your skin. Different situations, ergo, different treatments required. I’ll tell you about my day cream later in the week, but right now we’re talking sleepy time.

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream is a beautifully thick and rich pot of slap. It deeply hydrates while you snooze, and promises to enhance the production of collagen. Personally I haven’t spoken to my collagen cells lately, so I can’t verify whether they are working overtime, but my skin does seem a little tighter. Also, this little prod contains a potent antioxidant extract from the Vinanza Grape, which helps to neutralize evil free radical damage. These are from Marlborough sauvignon blanc grapeseeds. My favourite kind of grapeseeds! Mmm...sweet Marlborough sauv blanc.

Even Elizabeth, the woman who dingin' created this product, is amazed by it. “This is our number one product, with very impressive in-vitro collagen results, placing it very firmly in the anti-ageing category of skincare.” In-vitro means the tests were performed in a controlled environment like a lab. Probably a bit more high tech than a high school science lab with bunsen burners and test tubes (and to this day, I can't say test tube without hearing the voice of Mrs. Lipari, my year 7 science teacher)

Quick hint: When I put any cream on my face, I always put a little extra on the back of my hands to stop my hands showing early signs of ageing. You’re welcome.

Price: $49
From: David Jones
Why you need it: Make the most of your sleep and use a hardworking night cream.

Picture credit: antipodesnature.com

Antipodes week: Buzz buzz...a sweet treat for your cheeks

Whinge whinge, moan moan...it’s hard to keep skin happy and hydrated in winter (gosh I can’t wait ‘til we can turn the heating off in the office!) My skin is in a perpetual state of dry and dull, which doesn’t look or feel very nice. I have been using the Aura Manuka Honey Mask two or three times a week and it has made a huge difference.

It’s the easiest mask in the world to use:

1. wash your face as you normally would before bed
2. squeeze some mask out of the tube and onto your face
3. enjoy the faint smell of honey; resist the urge to lick your face
4. read a magazine for 10 minutes
5. wash the excess off with warm water
6. apply your night cream
7. crawl into bed knowing your skin loves you.

I occasionally substitute a book for a magazine in step 4, but essentially the routine is the same.

My skin? Feels softer and more hydrated. It’s not some sort of miracle cure, but it’s definitely a little luxury to do a simple mask a few times a week.

Price: $49
From: David Jones
Why you need it: Take 10 minutes out of your day to spoil yourself and keep your mug hydrated

Picture credit: antipodesnature.com

Welcome to Antipodes Week!

By the power vested in me as the writer of this blog, I hereby declare this week to be Antipodes Week!! This means I will spend the whole week gushing to you about one of my new favourite brands and how much I love it.

I have been using Antipodes products for about 4 months now and I am completely obsessed. I have told you about The Divine Face Oil before (allow me to refresh your memory), but this week I’m going to tell you about the other products I can’t (and won’t) live without. They include an SPF moisturiser, moisture mask, night cream and hand cream.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Barbalich, the creator of Antipodes, and it was a joy to hear about how the certified organic brand was started and where her inspiration comes from. Antipodes is a kiwi brand and each product contains local kiwi produce like flowers, seeds and grapes from the Marlborough region (hello, this had me completely sold since all the wine I drink comes from this region!)

When I asked Elizabeth about the face oil, which contains pure avocado oil, she said it is, “a fabulous nutrient rich daytime oil with hydrating and collagen boosting properties”. Yay for hydrating and collagen boosting! Slap that on your mug if you’re feeling a bit parched.

Stay tuned for the rest of the week, when I wax lyrical about my other favourites.

Which house on Crescent Row do you want to live in?

Originally published on Sassi Sam

Firstly, I love the concept behind Crescent Row. A whole family of fragrances, each with their own unique personality much like any street. The first set of Crescent Row fragrances (Laugh with Me LeeLee, Something about Sofia, My Place or Yours Gina) were just gorgeous and I can get behind any sort of product with a back story. You’re not familiar with it? Let me enlighten you…Jean’s daughters Maggie and Annie (as in Jean Ford, one of the creators of Benefit) were on a trip to Bath in England and were inspired by the beautiful Royal Crescent. The girls envisioned different types of chicks living as neighbours on this iconic strip, and Crescent Row was born. And now we have three new girls moving into the neighbourhood.

Of the three perfumes there is one I am head over heels in love with, one that I like and one that doesn’t work at all on my skin.

On paper Lookin’ To Rock Rita should be right up my alley but it just doesn’t smell on my skin. Perfume is a very personal thing and works differently with each person’s skin chemistry; for some reason this just didn’t work with my skin and seemed to disappear as soon as I sprayed it. This was disappointing because it’s a beautiful scent with very coconut-y top notes followed by fig and violet. When I sprayed it on my guinea pig it was beautiful and had a slightly tropical feel (probably the coconut top notes – coconut always makes me crave cocktails and sunshine!)

Garden of Good and Eva is best described as fresh. The initial hit of pear and watermelon is very crisp, and then it mellows out as the rosebud and jasmine comes through. To me this is a really summery fragrance and it works well on my skin. It reminds me of being in the country and was very enjoyable to wear.

My favourite of the three is So Hooked On Carmella and I have been wearing it obsessively since I first got my hands on it 2 months ago. It is an exquisite blend of vanilla, rhubarb and peony, and smells like Baileys. Honestly, I’m totally cool with smelling like Baileys! This is definitely the creamiest and smoothest of the Row family, and is lovely and girlie.

Price: $59 each
From: Benefit stores/counters
Why you need it: There is something on the Row for everyone and a new perfume is as good as holiday! (especially if, like me, you didn't get a real holiday this year)

These products were sent to me for review through Sassi Sam

A lick of colour and a hint of cool

Can I tell you how massively in love I was with Rachel McAdams hair in 2007 when she did the pink highlights thing? Massively in love. I desperately wanted to run pink highlights through my hair, but didn’t have the cool factor to pull it off and would have ended up looking like a try-hard who abused a tube of fudge. Très tragique.

I had long forgotten about that phase until a few months ago when some hot young socialite I follow on twitter post pics of herself with subtle pink highlights through their hair. “Oh wow”, I thought, “that looks hot”. And then someone else posted a pic of themselves with pink highlights. When the third person in a week twitpic’d their hot new hair I knew it was a trend and I wanted in. Sadly, I still don’t have the cool factor for it, but that doesn’t stop me these days.

Instead of going the fudge route, I had to go a safer option. I might work in media, but I don’t think my (male) boss would quite ‘get’ what I was going for, which led me to clip-ins from Splice Curls. Just as I was googling them (Ricki-Lee and Dannii Minogue both use their prods, wouldn’t you know) an email from them popped into my inbox. Fate. The universe wanted to me to have pink highlights!

If you have never tried clip-in extensions before, let me tell you how easy they are. You literally just clip them in and you’re done. They don’t hurt and you don’t even notice they are there. You style them the way you would normal hair with styling products and straighteners/curlers. BUT personally I always take them out overnight and to shower – you really have to look after them and treat them gently for them to last.

I tried out the baby pink colour and it was so much fun! It’s just the tiniest lick of colour, so it catches your eye when you move. I photographed it for you in my sister’s lovely blonde hair (in various lights) because, dare I say, they looked better on her blonde locks than on my brown mop. But whatever, I’m not bitter. For the few hours I have these in, I like to think I’m cool.

Price: They range from $15.40 to $24.20 depending on the length you get (they come in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50cm)
From: Splice Curls are available through the Headlines Hairpieces website
Extra info: There are 14 colours to choose from if you don’t have pink fantasies like me - Aqua, Baby Pink, Black, Blonde, Blue, Choc Brown, Caramel, Copper, Green, Orange, Pink, Plum, Purple and Red.
Why you need them: To add some personality to your hair (not that your hair doesn’t have personality already sugar, but, you know, this adds something extra)

This product was given to me for consideration

The Family Law by Benjamin Law - I wish my family was this funny

One of the main reasons I buy Frankie magazine is to read the brilliant wordsmithing of Benjamin Law. Boyfriend can write a mean sentence, and his paragraphs! Whoa! Such amazing structure! Not to mention he is funny, witty and incredibly intelligent. Am I gushing? I tend to get really excited when I’m talking about writers I love.

I bought his new book The Family Law a few weeks ago and it sat idly on my bedside table, neglected as I got sucked into the humdrum of daily life. Cut to me slipping a disc AGAIN last week, and I’m flat on my back and stuck in bed. Finally, no excuses. I started reading at 9am and literally could not put it down (I didn’t even stop to eat, such was my commitment). Four hours later I was done and I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing and crying.

The Family Law is a collection of essays and recollections of Benjamin’s years growing up on the Sunshine Coast in a large asian family. Being child number three of 5, gay and with eccentric parents, he has a lifetime of fodder for future books, but this one certainly delivers. I actually laughed out. Very loudly. You might even say I guffawed.

I won’t ruin any of it (I hate book reviews that spoil the storyline) but I now know far more than I ever needed to about Mrs. Law’s vagina. I also saw reflections of my own adolescence in Benjamin’s experiences (I’m white and female, he’s asian and male...yeah?) – growing up in Australia in the 90s and the music, the culture, the schooling...it’s all there. Just like my adolescence. Except when he retells it, it’s really really funny.

Price: $27.95
From: All good bookstores (and possibly a couple of crappy ones too)
Why you need it: For a really enjoyable read. Especially if you like vulgarity and crassness (lots of that). Not so much if you like stories about dancing geese (none of that).

Picture credit: blackincbooks.com

Try a keratin treatment in your own shower

For the last few months we have been hearing about how awesome keratin treatments are for hair. How could you not love a treatment that smooths your hair, leaves it shiny and means you cut your blow-drying time in half?! Regular commenter Miss Sher had it done a few weeks ago and, while not properly showering for 72 hours was a challenge, she said the results were well worth it because it only takes her a few minutes to blow dry now and it’s perfectly straight with no iron. Darn her!

I would love to have it done, but unless someone wants to pay the bill (someone? anyone? no?) then I will just have to deal with my frizzies and flyways. BUT the good kids at Brazilian Tech Keratin have brought out a range of haircare prods with keratin in it that has given me a taste of the keratin goodness.

Brazilian Tech Keratin works to replenish your hair’s natural keratin supplies that have worn away over time, and repair structural damage, shine and increase moisture and smoothness. I have been using these products (shampoo, conditioner and treatment) for just over a month now and I have noticed a 42% reduction* in frizzy bits, a 56% increase in shine* and a 31% increase in me making up my own stats. BONUS: the whole range smells really good – think coconut and pineapple, like Batiste tropical dry shampoo. My one gripe? The double cap on the shampoo and conditioner. Shampoo and conditioner don’t need two lids! I will happily admit I am alone in this gripe though, because it has been pointed out to me that the double lid is perfect for travelling. Makes sense - I'll be converted yet!

Price: $19.95 for each member of the trio
From: http://www.i-glamour.com/ and selected salons
Why you need it: To get a taste for the smooth and shiny goodness that keratin can offer.

*scientifically proven in my imagination

These products were supplied to me for consideration

Silly me! More brow stuff I forgot in my last post!

I can’t believe that after rabbiting on about how I care for my brows, I forgot to include a brow product that lives in my handbag! Silly blogger! Actually, it’s more kit than product, and everyone should carry one at all times.

Meet the Tweezerman Mini Brow Rescue Kit. This tiny little plastic case slips into pockets, handbags, desk drawers and superhero tool belts. It contains mini slant tweezers, brow mousse, brow highlighter and a spiral brow brush.

I think everyone knows that Tweezerman are the bees knees when it comes to tweezers, and this little kit is no different. The cute pink tweezers do a bang up job of catching all the little strays in between shapings – high five, tweezers. Take a well deserved long weekend and sit out the rest of this post.

The mini size of the kit means you can throw it in your suitcase and not have to worry about any other brow prods when you’re travelling. Something to brush the brows into place? Check. The brush helps you make sure everything is well groomed (and also works if you want to use hair spray like I mentioned previously). Something to set the brows in place? Check. The mousse keeps hair in place without becoming crusty. Something to make the brows pop? Check. The mini highlighter is a great alternative when you’re strapped for space and don’t want to carry a full sized Benefit High Brow.

The only thing this kit is missing is a mirror, but it’s a great space saver and you should stash these all over the place so you always have good brows.

Price: $49.95
From: Selected David Jones stores, http://www.i-glamour.com/ and some salons and pharmacies (only the goods ones though...)
Why you need it: Perfect brows, no matter where you are

Product was supplied to me for consideration

In the bathroom: my brow maintenance

I get a lot of compliments and comments on my eyebrows (does that sound vain? It’s more a statement of fact than a brag) so I thought I would metaphorically take you inside my bathroom to show you the sorts of prods I use to maintain these slugs.

I have them shaped regularly by the uber-talented Melisa Silvestro at Fifty Four Park. As a kid they were big and bushy, and then over the years got gradually thinner and thinner (silly!). I’m trying to reverse that damage now and get them back to a thick and healthy shape, but occasionally they need a helping hand.

To cover the few little spots around the edges where the hair has been a bit slow coming back in, I use Benefit Instant Brow brow pencil (now available in ‘deep’, for those ladies with really dark brown/black brows – holla at me, asian girls). I set them in place using either Covergirl clear mascara or hairspray on an old cleaned mascara brush; thrifty. To highlight the shape of the brows I use a quick swipe of Benefit High Brow underneath. High Brow is a lovely, creamy light pinkish pencil that adds an extra dimension to the face and makes the brows pop, which I totally love. Good eyebrows frame your face and make the rest of your features look good. Kind of like a backup dancer who works their ass off to make the lead singer look good (Kevin Federline is the exception to this rule).

My top tips for brows are 1 – Always have them professionally shaped. Even if your brows are in reasonable shape, having them done every few months by a pro can totally transform them. Promise! 2 – Make sure they are the right colour for you. My brow girl recommends either a couple of shades lighter or darker than your hair colour. Matchy matchy can look drab, and stark contrasts like dark brows and blonde hair are best left to high fashion. Always seek a professional before changing your brow colour – there are a million things that can go wrong. 3 – Make sure your waxer uses good quality wax. I had a wax once at a cheap-o salon that will remain nameless (coughLeah’sWaxworkscough) and they used the cheap’n’nasty strip wax (leg wax) on my face. MY FACE! My brows and eyes swelled up like a balloon, which was not a pretty sight. I shudder just thinking about it. 4 – Don’t ever put real slugs on your face. Unattractive.

Benefit Instant Brow pencil
Price: $39
From: Benefit

Benefit High Brow highlighter
Price: $39
From: Benefit
Why you need them: Perfectly groomed brows can make you look younger. Need I say more?

The Monday Click-Fest

I love a good list on a Monday, don’t you? Lists make me feel more organised, which is generally a good feeling at the start of the week (before it all goes to shit on a Tuesday and I spend the rest of the week chasing my fluffy little tail). Without further ado...

• I want you to pop over to The Mane Loves and check out my good friend Kat’s new hair blog. This chick knows tonnes about hair care and we spend hours talking hair masks, treatments and shampoo.

• Speaking of hair, you know the awesome hair prods and now skin care prods from hilarious brand evo? The brand that writes the funny copy on the bottles? Yeah, their new website has just been launched so you can buy their goodness online and have it land in your letterbox. Any brand that has online purchasability (yep, made that word up) is a-ok in my book.

• Pop on over to the fabulous Sassi Sam and check out what I thought of the new Benefit Crescent Row perfumes (here’s a spoiler: I thought they were good). I will also re-post my review here later in the week if you can’t be assed clicking.

• If you can be assed clicking though, head on over to The Nail File and check out what I have been doing lately. Let me assure you that I go through a lot of nail polish remover to keep that little blog running.

• I won an award at work last week! Check me out wearing the gorgeous new Nars Matte lipstick in Vesuvio. It’s surprisingly moisturising for a matte lippie and the colour is outstanding. It will be available Aug 23rd exclusively at Mecca for $54 - get excited.