The BEST beauty therapist in Sydney

Does this sound like a big call to you? It's the truth, and I have been to quite a few beauty therapists over the years. Thankfully said beauty therapist happens to manage the best day spa in Sydney, so it's all terribly convenient really.

The beautiful and incredibly talented Melisa Giraldo is the therapist in question and she really knows her juice. She manages the luxurious Fifty Four Park St (located, oddly enough, on Castlereagh St in the Sydney CBD) and while the salon is the first line in glamour and opulence, Giraldo is as down to earth as you could get. She is approachable and gives practical advice, loves a good chat and you can't fault her treatments.

The day spa offers the usual day spa-y services like waxing (I get compliments on my brows they are so good now), spray tan (St Tropez, natually) and manis & pedis. Just on this, before Fifty Four Park St, Giraldo was head manicurist for Miss Frou Frou and helped create the Miss Frou Frou line of nail polishes - she comes from an excellent manicure pedigree. Beyond these, there is also a menu of Carita, Thalgo and MD Formulations eye, face and body treatments. Giraldo's current recommendation is the Thalgo Hydra-Moisture Source facial to get tired skin ready for summer. She explains, "dry winter skin is in need of a pick me up as we go from season to season and this treatment ticks all the boxes in 75 minutes with a steam, extraction, massage and hydrating mask". Sounds like heaven? Yeah, I agree. Or if you want to treat the whole bod, and who doesn't, you should go for the Thalgo Ocean Memory treatment with a full body exfoliation, massage and wrap.

The spa itself is unparalleled in class and style. Beautifully appointed with marble, brass and vintage pieces that would leave any interior designer with their jaws on the floor, it doesn't feel pretentious but it does feel classic and inspiring. Kind of like stepping into the old-world glamour hotels in New York. Gosh I miss New York.

Honestly, if it's good enough for Giraldo's celebrity clients like Cate Blanchett, Kate Bosworth, Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman (she even manicured an Olsen!) then it's good enough for me.

Price: eyebrow wax $30, express mani $55, Hydra-Moisture Source facial $150 - call the reception to enquire about all prices
From: Fifty Four Park St Day Spa - (02) 9282 8999
Why you need to visit: For some special pampering with one of the finest, nay, THE finest therapist around

Picture credit: fiftyfourparkst.com - steveback.com.au

Yay!!

Massive CONGRATULATIONS to Stuff That I Bought reader eskimojo on winning the Look Academy competition for a one day course at the Look Academy here in Sydney. Have a fabulous time! Make sure you come back and share all your beauty goodness with us!

Ring in - style for your handbag

I'm so totally late to the handbag hanger party. I remember seeing them floating around last Christmas and thinking 'yeah they're a nice stocking stuffer idea, but really?'. I think every single Christmas gift guide had them, and there are so many different colours and designs all covered in bling and patterns and crystals and whatnot. Me? I'm not so much of a fan of the flashy bag hanger, BUT I can see their value so I'm pleased that I have found a really nice, basic one. In my humble opinion, it's actually even more versatile than the bling-on-top-hook-on-bottom design, but let me know if you disagree.

Not only does the Clipa hook onto the table, but it also works on doors, stalls (hello, public toilets), rails, sinks and backs of chairs. It's a simple spring loaded ring with rubber grips so it won't move around and it can hold up to 18kg. This is most excellent news if you're keen on sticking your small child in a bag and hanging them from the back of your chair. Plus, because it's just a ring you can leave it attached to your bag all the time. I have the polished gold one, so it blends in perfectly with my handbag (comes in silver and gold). That means when I sit down and want to hang my bag up, the hook is already there and I don't have to go fishing around in the black hole (12 lipglosses and I can never find the one I want!). You could also wear it as a bracelet or tie a scarf around it if you really wanted to accessorise. Fancy.

Price: $29.95
From: handbaghanger.com.au
Why you need it: To keep your bag off the dirty ground

Picture credit: handbaghanger.com.au

Smoothie? Yes please! All over my lips!

I was cruising the Clinique counter the other day (as I have often been known to do) because I am out of my Blushwear Cream Stick and it’s one of my top 5 desert island products. It is seriously one of the greatest products ever – goes on smoothly as a cream, blends well and sets with a light powdery finish. I have been using the 01 Glow Blush because it is a bronzey colour and works really well to highlight and contour my cheeks (using the word contouring feels kind of dirty, but that’s the best way to describe it). I also have the Rosy Blush, so I use the bronze round the edges and the pink on the apples. If you’re looking to take baby steps into the bronzer market, the Glow Blush gives you a nice healthy colour for summer.

Anyway, while I was lurking around the counter I noticed the Vitamin C Lip Smoothie lip gloss. My brain literally went New. Need. Now. and I grabbed for the tester. Not only does this beautiful range come in six juicy shades with an easy brush applicator, but it’s also good for you (smoothie is a food, after all). It contains acai berry, pomegranate and vitamin c, which are like the ultimate trio of anti-aging superheroes. Kind of like if you got Batman, Spiderman and Captain Planet together, but with less fitted lycra & crime fighting and more wrinkle fighting. I tried out Raisin The Bar and it’s my ultimate natural-lip-but-sexier colour (handy hint: if you ever want to know what shade a lipstick/gloss will look when on your lips, test it on your fingertip – it's the closest match you will find in colour and texture and thus will give you the truest indication). This is definitely going to be a repeat purchase for me - fingers crossed they don’t discontinue it like they did for my last favourite super balm! Damn you Clinique and your addictive lip products.

Price: Vitamin C Lip Smoothie - $37, Blushwear Cream Stick $43
From: Clinique
Why you need it: Clinique is a brand you can trust – quality product, best ingredients, skin friendly.

Picture credit: Clinique

Wishlist: Lily Allen jewellery

I'm not ashamed to admit that I am a dirty great Lily Allen fan. There is no shame in loving a pop princess, especially when her songs are so fun and catchy and she is stylish and gorgeous. I'm going to see Britney next week, aren't I? Anyway, YAY that Lily Allen's eponymous jewellery collection is now available in Australia. I remember seeing pics of the line in Grazia at least 2 months ago, and, just as an aside, it's really annoying when a magazine is all 'OMG look at this amazing bag/necklace/dress!!! Yeah, you can't buy it for another 2 months. Suffer in your jocks'. It just makes me angry with anticipation, and that doesn't really make much sense.

The Lily Allen line is exclusively stocked through website Trilby Phoenix, who also sell other really cool jewellery, clothing and accessories. Think of it as the Aussie version of Miijo. (I'm completely in love with the One Of A Kind hamsa bracelet [see above left] and I intend to buy it as a treat for myself for making it through the next 2 weeks, but we're talking about Lily Allen here so I better not derail this post any more). It doesn't look like Trilby Phoenix are stocking the entire range, but they have all the most important pieces like the flamingo necklace, panda necklace and poodle earrings. What is it with me and animal jewellery lately? They also have the gold coin necklace, which Lily has spoken about as a reference to her granny who was a gypsy. Very cool. I'm also partial to the smiley face necklace, which is a reference to her Keith Haring acid house tattoos, some of which she had inked whilst in Australia. Ok, now I'm beginning to sound like a crazy fan-girl.

Price: Pieces start at $70 for earrings, $120 for the big crystal animal necklaces
From: Trilby Phoenix
Why you need it: Awesome jewellery and a piece of pop culture - yes please!

Picture credit: Trilby Phoenix

Sportsgirl gift madness

So I mentioned on Friday that I went a little nuts in Sportsgirl. I couldn’t help it though! They have just brought out their new gift range, meant of course to give as Christmas gifts since we are coming into the biggest consumer period of the year, but it was all gifts for me. Because I’m worth it.

First thing I picked up was the LOVE mirror. Why? I have a real soft spot for the Robert Indiana LOVE pop art sculpture and have been hunting for one of the original 1964 Christmas cards that the image was created for. I’m not sure where I’m going to put it (at the time I seemed to think I knew, but I’ll be buggered if I can remember) but that doesn’t matter! I’ll find somewhere, just give me time.

I also grabbed a jewellery rack. One of the lovely Sportsgirl girls told me that they had sold over 60 of them since they got them in the previous day and that I was purchasing the last one. Kismet – I was meant to have that jewellery rack. Or at least that’s what I told Boyfriend when he asked why I bought a jewellery rack.

Last thing I picked up was probably the most frivolous (and after reading what else I bought, you must really think I’m nuts) – DIY calippo containers aka Freeze and Squeeze icy pole tubes. Yellow and pink silicone moulds that you fill, freeze and enjoy. As an ‘I learnt this the hard way’ lesson – the packaging says “fill with your favourite fruit juice”, which I thought was the packaging’s way of encouraging me to be healthy. Wrongo. Turns out if you use soft drink and then put the lid on the top, the bubbles in the soft drink push the lid back off. Anyone who did science in year 7 would probably have realised that, but I didn’t have any juice in the house and got a little over-excited. Meanwhile, it took some patience but I got some raspberry soft drink frozen so yay for me!

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up for Sportsgirls gift offerings. I’ll be heading back to stock up for other people for Christmas.

Price: LOVE mirror - $14.95; jewellery rack - $19.95; freeze and squeeze - $9.95
From: Sportsgirl
Why you need them: Christmas is coming... (ps - boys take note. If you get a girl in the office secret santa, just head straight to the gift table in the front of your local Sportgirl)

Picture credit: moi. Edited with Poladroid.

Sparkle and shine on a Friday!

Happy Friday! After a quick glance in the mirror, it appears Friday is all about the sparkles. I'm rocking my black sequin cropped jacket that I bought a couple of weeks ago. I went on a lunchtime shopping mission today and got about 6 compliments on my jacket, so the ego is feeling pretty good right about now. It was a cheapie purchase from a little store in the QVB, but, according to my friend who works in fashion, it looks expensive. Works for me.

Speaking of my lunchtime mission, I bought SO much today! I went a little nuts in Sportsgirl and will write all about my purchases at some stage on the weekend. I also popped into Equip and picked up a really fat, chunky sparkler. It's a cocktail ring with a huge dome of black diamantes that is quite heavy and could do some serious damage if you crossed me in a dark alley. It's also a little difficult to type whilst wearing it, but I had to put it on straight away. Nevermind that I will probably end up with bruises on my hands by the end of the day! Maybe I should just stop working now...hmmm...

The jacket

Price: $29.95

From: Ignite - QVB Sydney

Why you need it: Sequin jacket! It turns every outfit into a party.

The ring

Price: $19.99

From: Equip

Why you need it: We covered off cocktail rings on Monday, so hopefully you have retained that important message. This is a small bucks entry into the category.

Picture credit: 'scuse the crappy camera-phone pics

Attention shoppers: it's a sale-y kinda weekend!

If you're a Sydney gal, make sure you grab your wallet, put on something you can modestly change in and out of (singlet and skirt is best) and head down to Fox Studios, sorry, "Entertainment Quarter", on the weekend for the Sass & Bide warehouse sale.

I went down last night to check it out and walked away with a couple of bargains. It's still big bucks for the fashion garments - think sequin vests, jackets, black rats and studded singlets, but the real bargains are in the jeans. With the jeans starting at $30, you're crazy not to just grab armloads. That's chump change for Sass & Bide's! There are a few seasons worth of designs, ranging from the regular blue jeans to the crazy textured, coloured and detailed seasonal stuff. I counted about 12 tables of jeans so you definitely need patience when searching (the signs that indicate what size is available on each table? Merely a guide) but you can uncover a whole bunch of denim gold (but sadly, no gold denim. I checked)

My hot tip is to lurk around the outside of the changing room (that's not as creepy as it sounds) because after people try stuff on and then dump it, it goes back to the table just outside the door to be hung and redistributed. You'll thank me later.

Price: S&B jeans from $30
From: S&B warehouse sale - Byron Kennedy Hall, The Entertainment Quarter (Lang Road, Moore Park) Friday 6th Nov: 10am - 6pm; Saturday 7th Nov: 10am - 5pm; Sunday 8th Nov: 10am - 3pm - Cash EFTPOS and major credit cards accepted.
Why you need it: Everyone needs hot jeans!

Good news for our northern friends: Brisbane gets the goods 26th - 29th November 2009 RNA showgrounds. Melbourne isn't due for another sale til 2010.

Something else special that's happening this weekend is the offtherunway.com.au pop up shop in Woollahra. Usually restricted to the cyber-highways of the interwebs, this lux accessories retailer will be live and in the flesh at 39 Queen St Woollahra peddling their wares from names like Michelle Jank, Elke, Anya Hindmarch, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Luella and many more.

I have my eye on a particular lara bohinc wallet that I have been in love with for quite some time, so if you make it down and see it, ask them to put it aside for me.

Price: $475 for the lara bohinc wallet I want (I can dream, right?!)
From: offtherunway.com.au Pop Up store - 39 Queen St Woollahra Fri 6th - Sun 8th Nov 9am-6pm each day
Why you need it: So you can touch and feel the gorgeous accessories you would normally have to buy online without seeing first.

Picture credit: offtherunway.com.au; sassandbide.com

I wanna be a Beatle!

I think we’re a fairly typical household when I say we have an Xbox, a Wii, a PC, 3 laptops and a Nintendo DS (please don’t rob us!). For shame, we don’t have a PS3, but Boyfriend promises me it is on the way (and can be a tax write-off because of his job). That said, just because our house looks like a games arcade, doesn’t mean the consoles get much loving. I occasionally play some sport on the Wii and Boyfriend plays soccer on the Xbox, but we now have an excuse for pulling out the guitar and switching the Xbox on more regularly. The Beatles.

Rock Band: The Beatles is the same principle as all the other rock band/guitar hero games (guitar, buttons, follow the colours on the screen), but the difference is in the music and the incredible animation (see the intro clip below). If you’re not a Beatles fan then best tune out right now, because there is much gushing and fawning over the Fab Four.

They have used a great cross section of their popular tracks and their lesser known tracks from across their whole career, so there is plenty of variety. My favourite Beatles song isn’t on there just yet (Eleanor Rigby, just fyi) but I’m hoping it will appear down the track as I progress through the levels and unlock more songs (if it isn’t in there, please don’t tell me and ruin the surprise). You can either play in quick-mode by scrolling through the menu and picking your song, or by working through the story; starting at the beginning of their career at Liverpool’s Cavern Club in 1963 and going by venue by venue (and unlocking songs/levels as you go).



The beauty of Rock Band is the fact that 3 people can play at once, with a combination of guitars, drums and microphones. We only have a guitar, so bring your instrument around and play with us! (and that totally isn't meant to sound as dirty as it does)

Price: $99.95 for Xbox and PS3, $79.99 for Wii
From: EB Games, JB Hifi etc
Why you need it: To play through a brilliant musical documentary of one of the worlds greatest boy bands.

Late edit: just after I finished writing this, Boyfriend actually finished the whole game. He unlocked a whole bunch of pictures and video clips, but no Eleanor Rigby. Fingers crossed it's in the downloadable content!

Product Trial: Invisible Zinc Jet Set Spray Tan

Rather than just me giving you my opinions all the time (which I think are great and all, but I’m kind of biased), I thought I would change it up a bit so you get some different eyes and ears on new products. So without further ado, I bring you the first ever Stuff That I Bought Tan Off! On second thoughts, maybe Tan On is a more appropriate turn of phrase. Anyway.

I had two of my clever cookie friends try out the same Invisible Zinc Jet Set Tan. Both ladies are somewhat inexperienced with aerosol spray tans, and both have different skin tones, which gives us a nice similar-but-different set of perspectives.

Let me introduce our guinea pigs.

In the pink corner - Jo
Skin tone: White. Whitey-white.
Skill level with aerosol spray tan: Not a total tanning newbie, but prefers creams to sprays.

And in the blue corner - Kat
Skin tone: Asian
Skill level with aerosol spray tan: Virgin. Struggled to get the cap off.


What Invisible Zinc Jet Set Tan promises:
• Only two active ingredients (DHA and Erythrulose) for a balanced and streak free tan *Erythrulose is a chemical similar to DHA, which is what tanning products usually contain, but this addition means it’s slower to develop, fades more evenly, lasts longer and gives a better bronze colour
• A special bag-on-valve spray mechanism for an even mist
• Quick-dry formula
• Minimised fake-tan stink

What the girls said:

Jo

Colour: Very good; very natural looking. My boyfriend James actually said that I didn’t look tan at all until I pulled down my undies and blinded him with my normal white skin.
Ease of use: Very easy for the front and extremely easy for the back as I had James do it – have no idea how you’d do your whole body without help.
Scent: Very minimal, just a faint touch of that same old fake tan smell. I like that they didn’t try to cover it up with some gross flowery scent.
Streakiness: None.
Drying time: Certainly not instantaneous! It took about half an hour before skin was dry to touch.
Colour strength on your skin tone: Really good – I did about three light layers and I’d say that corresponded to about 2-3 shades darker. I think as long as you ensure the layers you do are nice and light you’re not likely to go way too dark by accident.
Staying power of colour: Not bad. It is starting to come off a bit patchily on my chest now but, to be fair, with moving on the weekend I’ve not really been taking care of it. The can says it may last up to 7 days – I think there might be colour still around on day 7, but it wouldn’t be a nice even tan.

Jo's overall opinion – I’m quite impressed and would buy it in the future – it’s quick and easy to use and gives impressive results (even if you do have to sit around in the nuddy for half an hour after applying).

Kat

Colour: Feet - Orange, Legs - slightly tanned.
Ease of use: It’s very easy to use, but since it’s a clear liquid spray, you can’t tell which areas have been sprayed and which areas haven’t.
Scent: Smells like tanning spray.
Streakiness: Only 1 distinctive one on my foot.
Drying time: 2+ Hours.
Colour strength on your skin tone: Medium (with one coat)
Staying power of colour: I still have even colour after 3 days.

Kat's overall opinion - Since I was a spray tan virgin, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I did follow all the pre-tanning protocols (exfoliate, lightly moisturise knees and toes) and I only sprayed my legs. I did like the mist spray, however I couldn’t see where I had already sprayed and this was my major annoyance. My (very white) boyfriend asked me to spray him too because he was so impressed.

The Invisible Zinc Jet Set tan gets a thumbs up from each of our testers and a third thumb from me because it was easy to use, good colour and didn't stink. Pretty much all you could ask for in a spray tan really.

Price: $38
From: Myer, David Jones, Priceline
Why you need it: If you want to tan, it needs to be fake!

Massive thanks to my guinea pigs for trialling this for me, and thanks to the girls at Invisible Zinc for hooking us up.

Picture credit: invisiblezinc.com

Tasty bubbles for all occasions

Some friends of mine moved house on the weekend (Hi Jo! Hi James!) and I popped over to inspect the new abode (two thumbs up) and managed to get lost, even though they only moved 2 streets from their old house. I also had to drop off a housewarming gift, as one does when friends move. I normally go a bottle of wine or some nice beer, but decided to mix it up this time and go for bubbles instead. I'm not normally a bubbly fan - I find it can be quite tart and sharp. Is acidic the right word? I'm not sure. Kind of like wine is regular tasty cheese, while bubbly is the extra sharp cheddar. Plus it gets me drunk way quicker.

Anyway, I picked a bottle of Perle Vintage Yellowglen because the label was pretty, and I figured Yellowglen meant it would be 'orright. I was so right, if I do say so myself. It had much more flavour than I was used to from a sparkling - you could taste all the fruit, and it was quite smooth. As I understand it, it has to do with the mixture of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. Either way, it was easy to drink, didn't burn my mouth with sharp bubbles and the bottle was pretty enough to give as a present. This might be my new default gift.

Price: $29
From: The Bottle-O
Why you need it: For a nice sparkling that's easy to drink

Picture credit: yellowglen.com.au

Animal instincts (on your fingers)

I was flicking through my diary the other day and I realised I have quite a lot of events to go to in the next 7.5 weeks leading up to Christmas (can I just add at this point HOLY COW! That’s way too soon for my liking). Lots of events means lots of outfits and posing and smiling and drinking champagne. Incidentally, I learned the hard way last week that champagne from a mini bottle with a straw is an accident waiting to happen, and not in a get drunk way, but in a ‘it fizzles out over the top and goes all over you’ way. I’m all class.

So lots of parties means lots of dressing up. I’m not one for dressing up much, and I don’t wear heels despite my petite stature, so I tend to keep things pretty basic - black skirt, black dress, black top, occasionally a bit of grey to change things up. Basic black means I can recycle outfits quite easily, but it’s also a bit repetitive. SO. My philosophy for this party season is wearing my same basic black outfits (why change when you’re onto a good thing) and making each outfit look different by rotating through my enormous jewellery box. I was off to a good start last week with my new finds at Anna Design (so much colour!) and I have found a new favourite now in Najo cocktail rings.

Najo is an Aussie jewellery company that specialises in sterling silver. They do all sorts of lovely necklaces, brooches, earrings and bracelets, but it’s their cocktails rings I have fallen for. Or more specifically, the cocktails rings from their Fairytale Collection. Think Tortoise and the Hare, Puss In Boots, The Frog Prince, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Theme? Animals. But these animals are sparkling and shiny and set with cubic zirconia’s. I am head-over-heels for my new bumble bee, and my friend had the frog on when we went out last week (sounds weird, looks awesome). These rings certainly aren’t for the faint hearted – if you’re wearing a tiger or a porcupine on your hand you’re making a statement (that you love animals?) and you don’t want to wear too much else to distract away from your hands. Best wear with basic black – how convenient.

Price: They vary, but as an example – bee $205, tiger $279, frog $279, porcupine $155
From: Najo – check their website for stockists
Why you need it: For an interesting and unique statement piece of jewellery this party season (and to appease your childlike need for shiny things)

Picture credit: Najo