April Favourites: Camilla

Gatineau Serenite Soothing Concentrate Serum Julia and I were sent some Gatineau products to try recently (more on that soon) and this serum has quickly become a firm favourite of mine. It is intended for skin which is ‘in crisis’ and in need of a bit of TLC. It works by strengthening the skin’s natural barrier and rapidly reducing any redness or reactivity – and I can attest to the fact that it really does work. It is a real pleasure to use – the texture is luxurious and silky, and it glides onto the skin like a dream. I have been…

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The Best Winged Eyeliner Tutorial

Mastering the cat eye | All Dolled Up

As I may have mentioned before, my New Year’s Resolution for 2014 is to master the cat eye. I’ve read and watched what feels like hundreds of blog posts and video tutorials, and still I can’t seem to master it. I’ve come close a couple of times but it never looks quite right. Like in the photo above, it pretty much only looked good if I half-closed my eyes… not really practical for getting through the day! Last week I stumbled upon this one from the delightful Essie Button and it all seems to make perfect sense to me. I’m…

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My Manicure Essentials

My Manicure Essentials | All Dolled Up

Nail polish remover Obvious I know, but picking the right nail polish remover can make the difference between strong, healthy nails and ones that split and peel from dehydration. Bourjois Magic 1 Second Nail Polish Remover comes in a convenient little pot containing a sponge in which you dip your finger and twist to remove the polish. It’s super quick, plus the acetone-free formula is made with nourishing sweet almond oil to enrich your nails.

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Latest Loves: Beauty YouTubers

I’m a total YouTube addict – I spend as much time watching beauty tutorials and product videos as most other people stare at the cooking channel or watching the news. I’ve mentioned my all-time favourites before but I’ve recently found a few other beauty vloggers that are keeping me entertained for hours on end. Here are a few of my favourite new YouTube subscriptions: Sharon Farrell This feisty Irish make-up artist living in Sydney is my NBF, she just doesn’t know it yet. She does great hints & tips videos, product reviews and step-by-step tutorials (especially helpful if you have…

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Quick Reviews #1

Mio QuickStart Exhilarating Shower Gel | All Dolled Up

I find writing long reviews of individual products quite intimidating so they tend to languish in my drafts folder for months. I find it easier to give a short overview of products I’ve tried (like in Monthly Favourites) so I’m going to try putting together posts that offer a brief idea of my thoughts on a few things, then you can just leave a comment if you want more details. Yes? Ok, let’s go:

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DIY Tea Tree Toner

DIY Tea Tree Toner | All Dolled Up

In my recent Morning Skincare Routine video, I mentioned that I use Lush’s Tea Tree Water before moisturising to make sure my skin is extra clean for the day ahead. The main ingredient is of course, tea tree oil, which is famous for its antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties which help to neutralise the bacteria that can cause spots. Tea tree oil has a long history of medicinal use. The practice of applying tea tree oil comes from Australia, where Aborigines have been using it as an antiseptic to treat cuts and burns for thousands of years.

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Link Love #4

Beauty Read of the Day - Beautezine | All Dolled Up

If you don’t follow us on Twitter, then you would have missed me linking to my top ten recent beauty reads yesterday morning. I wouldn’t want you to miss out so I’ve compiled them here for a little light weekend browsing: Best of MAC from Beautezine Here are seven of the legendary brand’s best-selling star products to kick off your collection or bring you back to the basics. Read more »

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