I had tried some other John Freida blonde shampoo and conditioner last year (at my own expense) and didn't care for it. There was no purple tone and it smelt weird, like the glue you peel off your fingers in primary school.

When the opportunity to review the new Sheer Blonde Colour Renew tone-correcting shampoo and conditioner arose through BEAUTY / Crew, I thought I'd give the brand another shot.


I've been using the Fudge Clean Blonde violet toning shampoo and conditioner and have been really happy with the ashy tone it gives my blonde hair. I've also used the Matrix Hello Blondie range in the past and enjoyed that as well.

This one had the same fragrance as the previous product. I knew this before I'd even used it because it squished out in transit. Bleargh. I don't mind a nicely scented product but this one doesn't do it for me.

Both the shampoo and conditioner claim to be formulated with a UV filter, optical brightener and "lavender technology", whatever that may be. The biggest claim is that the product "converts UV rays to a white-blue light, making colour-treated hair appear lighter and brighter."

Wut?

In layperson's terms, it's designed to tone down brassiness. The shampoo is a satiny mid-purple colour that isn't particularly pigmented when you start working it in, unlike the Fudge product which foams up purple and works as a toner as well as a washing shampoo. It had the same feel as the blonde brightening range on application, which to me is not salon-quality but more of a mid-range supermarket product. The conditioner is a light purple and I felt like it took ages to rinse out and get rid of that slippery, slimy feel.

I used these products twice each and did not enjoy the results. My hair felt limp, flat and decidedly lacking in volume and any toning effects were minimal. When I went running back to my Fudge products apologising for my indiscretions, I noticed the improvement in results immediately.

To add injury to insult, one of the tubes sensed my indifference and attacked me by backflipping off the shower caddy; slicing a nasty scratch down my belly, which was the final straw.

Should you want to make up your own mind, you can find these products in Priceline* as well as supermarkets but it's a no from me.

********************************************
I was sent these products to review by BEAUTY / crew and a modified version of this review has appeared on their site. For more information, please see my PR & Media policy.

* Affiliate link.

A little while ago, I introduced you to online retailer StyleWe with a couple of dresses they kindly sent me.

I'm pleased to report they liked the way I wore them so they also sent me a couple more things to share with you!




First is this very mod ribbed mini dress. It's one size fits all and is one of the most unusual garments I've ever worn. Check out the boing in this fabric! (Thanks Mum for the demo and taking the rest of these photos.)


I feel very avant garde in this dress, like I should be a live installation in an art gallery or driving an MG with Joanna Lumley and Twiggy.




I'm looking forward to pairing this in cooler months with leggings and boots for a sleek 60s vibe.

They also sent this lovely bright silky scarf that feels amazing and has a fun graphical print. I paired it with white pants as part of my #NeverSayNever2017 challenge and it gave a great lift to an otherwise monochromatic outfit. Excuse my face. I really do like it.


Have you ever had a dress that boinged? Would you wear one? Or is the scarf more your style?

*****************************************
Dress and scarf kindly provided by StyleWe for editorial review. Images and opinions are all mine, all the time. For further information, please see my PR & Media policy.

Recently I was sent a couple of fun new products to try out thanks to BEAUTY / Crew; the Maybelline Dream Cushion foundation and the Bricks Bronzer.


Now, I ran out and got a cushion foundation as soon as they affordably came on the market because I love things that are new and interesting, plus I was looking for a dewy finish foundation to use my new cream highlighter with. The result was more sweaty-looking than dewy, so I promptly placed it on a shelf in my cabinet and forgot about it.

Then I was sent the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation and it was a completely different experience. Although the packaging and presentation were very similar, the formula dried down to a comfortable finish that still offered a healthy glow without the Darwin wet-season vibe. And happily, I landed a perfect colour match that I'm really happy with. In fact, just between you and me, I think I prefer this product to the high-end foundation I bought recently which is both awesome and annoying. I'd call the coverage medium and it is certainly sufficient for my needs with regards to a day-to-day face. Once on, it is completely weightless and doesn't feel greasy or tacky. I can use this without touching up for the day so the wearability factor is high for me. It's also got an SPF rating of 40 which, as we all know, is rather a good thing.


The cushion foundation is packaged within a sturdy compact with a separate compartment for the round applicator sponge that flips out to reveal the foundation cushion beneath and a handy mirror in the lid, perfect for travelling or on-the-go usage, as well as at home in your make-up application space.

It's available in six shades and I heartily recommend you go and see if one of them is suitable for you. Look out for a special!


Is there anything more beautiful than an untouched palette??

I'm not much of a bronzer person, mostly because I'm not confident in applying it without looking too Oompa Loompaesque but the Maybelline Bricks Bronzer palette appeased my concerns like a pro. Featuring a larger square of matte bronzer next to shimmering bricks of pink-toned highlighter, this is an excellent multi-use product, packaged prettily in a metallic bronze palette that closes firmly.

Using a light hand, I applied the bronzer in place of blush and used the highlighter bricks to dust over the top of my cheekbones for a little glow. The colour is buildable and as such, could be used in a variety of ways, depending on your preferences and skin tone. I really liked the colours in this palette as I have found other bronzers to be either too muddy, too orange or too glittery to be wearable. This is an affordable and handy addition to any make-up bag!


What say you to these offerings from Maybelline?

Check them out at Priceline!

*****************************
I was kindly sent these products to review by BEAUTY / Crew and these reviews have appeared there in similar form. All opinions and images are mine, mine, mine. Post contains affiliate link. By clicking through and purchasing, you don't pay any extra but I make a small amount of coin as a result.For more information and collaboration opportunities, please see my PR and Media policy. 

As I become older and wiser and my horizons broaden, I'm finding that I am relaxing previously firmly-held beliefs and being a bit more open-minded when it comes to a lot of things, including fashion and beauty-related matters.

Way back in the beginning of last year, I posted about the forthcoming 70s revival and how one should probably learn to never say never, lest it bite you when you do finally succumb to the trend.

via GIPHY
If you read the post I linked to above (go ahead, I'll wait), you'll notice I had a bullet list of items that I was still dead against, despite the topic of the post, one of them being white pants / jeans.

Now, while all the hottest boys in Year 9 wore white jeans way back in '92, since then I've firmly believed white pants to be the sole preserve of eastern suburbs matriachs, to be teamed with a bejewelled sandal, trout pout and voluminous kaftan.

I made a snide comment in the squad group chat after I was instructed by an online retailer to "pair [a particular top] with white pants". This initiated a discussion complete with Pinterest references as to how they could ever look cute. I started to think maybe, just maybe, there was potential there after all and the #NeverSayNever2017 challenge was born.

First, I had to acquire a pair of said pantaloons and Katies came to the party with their 50% off everything sale. I tried them on a number of times . . .


It took ages for me to actually get around to wearing them for the first time, I chickened out a number of times prior, feeling like there was too much potential to get dirty so here's the first time I wore them out, during a rainy January day. As it was casual Friday, I went for a more relaxed look with this boho blouse and my metallic brogues.


It took me another long while to get to the second wear. I chickened out a few more times, feeling like my thighs looked too big or the overall combo was too weird. Being jeggings, it's critical to get the right length of top to ensure complete business coverage. The second time I amped up to a more workday look with this scarf from StyleWe and some almond toed flats.


Finally I took them into the night with this top, also from Katies and my lace-up block heels from Spendless.


So from never wearing to three ways, I'm feeling like my position has changed slightly on white pants but I'm not sure I'll ever feel entirely comfortable in them as they are stressful to wear.

Thinking about getting on the bandwagon but not sure where to start? Here's some places to suit any style, shape, age or budget . . .

White denim from Katies
White denim from The Iconic
White denim from Cotton On
White denim from Rivers

If you need more inspo, Allison from Sydney Fashion Hunter wore her white jeans every week for a year!

What's your position on white pants? How do you like to wear them? How do you keep them white? Asking for a friend.

********************************
This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through and purchasing, you're not paying any extra but I earn a small amount of coin to expand and move past my style prejudices. For more information, please see my PR & Media policy.

Along with the Infallible Total Cover foundation I reviewed last week, I was also sent the L'Oreal Infallible Concealer Palette from the same range by the good people at BEAUTY / crew at or around the same time.

Now, don't get it twisted! It's spelt INFALLIBLE, despite the unfortunate typo on the packaging.

Awks.


I'd noticed these vari-coloured palettes coming onto the market and always marvelled at the idea of putting green or purple or yellow onto my face without sitting down at a face-painter's stand but was keen to give it a go (as I am with most new makeup ideas). The L'Oreal Infallible Concealer palette comes with a trio of beige shades that will hopefully suit a range of skin tones, as well as a purple shade for brightening dark circles and green for neutralising redness. They have a handy chart on the back so you can use the right shade for your needs.


Here's the thing about concealer for me; up until the time I had my daughter, I'd never really used it, apart from a little dab to cover a blemish. Fast forward to having a six-month old and I found myself trying to wipe mascara from under my eyes . . . when I hadn't worn mascara in a week. #Mumlyf, am I right? Enter concealer into my everyday makeup arsenal.

It was a year or so ago when I noticed I was getting pigmentation marks on my forehead. I carried on without paying much attention until I was in Sydney recently, doing my makeup in natural sunlight and I have to say, I was shocked at the level of pigmentation I had reached without realising. My bathroom mirror is directly underneath a downlight (because the woman who designed it clearly never used makeup as also evidenced by the shallow cabinet that can barely fit a palette), it wasn't that noticeable. And of course, once we notice things, then they become a problem. Here's my head, base-free . . .


I used the middle beige shade to try and cover that mess up and the purple under my eyes to see what happened. While in Sydney, I did get the Tarte 12-hour concealer and I'm very happy with that but this is also good for large-scale application, leaving the Tarte for "good" and under-eye brightening, as per below.


The palette is a cream formula and the shades are smooth and slippy, blending nicely for full coverage of imperfections.

To apply, I used my finger on my first go before buying a concealer brush from Priceline. The middle beige shade suited my skintone and did a reasonable job of covering the pigmentation, however application in my bathroom was difficult, given the light. Another attempt in my husband's better-lit bathroom was more successful.

I do like an all-in-one product, and providing you can successfully use at least one of the beige shade on your skin, this would be a super handy product to have. I tested it on freckles and even used the green shade on this burst blood vessel mark on my arm from where Ken Grillett bumped the desk and my skin got pinched in maths class 1993 with reasonable results.


The sturdy packaging, generous pans and multi-use properties of this palette make it ideal for travelling and I am impressed enough with the coverage to maybe slightly regret the more expensive Tarte purchase very briefly but this way, it will last longer!

Naturally, being L'Oreal, you will pick this up on special almost anywhere and if you're in need of a full coverage, multi-purpose concealer, then you should probably consider this one.

Side note: I went into a laser clinic to see about my forehead and was told laser wouldn't work and to use a cream to break it down but maybe needling might have an effect. At $990 for the course, I think I'll try my luck with the cream. Stay tuned for a future blog post on how that goes.

Do you use a multi-colour corrective cream palette? Would you give this one a shot? I'd really recommend you do! Suss it out at Priceline!

**************************************
This product kindly provided for review by BEAUTY / crew and this blog post has appeared there in a slightly different format. Images, opinions and forehead marks are all mine and all authentic. For more information or to discuss collaboration opportunities, please see my PR & Media policy.