NOTD - Dree

Hi lovelies,

It's been a while since my last NOTD post, so I decided I'd better get cracking and share this with you!

I was wearing Zoya Dree last week, which is a gorgeous olive/khaki creme polish. Like all the Zoya polishes I've tried so far, it applies very smoothly and easily, providing an even, opaque finish with two coats. The formula is neither too thick nor too thin, which is great because you don't get a streaky application, and you also don't get early chipping within a couple of days from too thick a polish layer.

Dree is part of the Smoke and Mirrors collection (which I love as it sounds like something out of a fairy tale, for some reason). This manicure actually inspired me to wear my olive coloured jeans (as you can see from one of the photos below), and it went together perfectly!

Zoya Dree in artificial light.

Dree in natural daylight (on top of the jeans)!

Dree in direct sunlight.
(My favourite photo of the lot)

After a few days, I decided to dress it up a bit with some gold shatter on top, and this is what I came up with!

That's all for now, lovelies! I do have a couple more NOTD posts which will be following shortly!


Much love,
MM.
x

Product Review - Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Hi lovelies!

As per my last post on beauty confessions, I have to confess I'm not big on deep conditioning masks. Why, you ask? Mainly because my hot water supply is limited, and so I can't let something sit on my hair for 5-10 minutes before the water runs out. It also always seems like a bother to pop a mask on, get out of the shower, wrap your head in a towel, and then get back in half an hour later to wash it all off.

Having said that, I do believe in looking after my hair, particularly as it's coloured (although I get semi permanent colour instead of permanent colour, as semi's are more nourishing for your hair). I get the keratin treatment put in every six months, and I always believe in putting heat protective treatments in my hair prior to using a hair dryer. Lately, I've been spoiling my hair with the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment.

In case you haven't seen it before, here's what this little beauty looks like.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment.
(taken from the Macadamia Hair website)

Now, my hair is in fairly decent condition despite my rare use of deep conditioning treatments. This is in part due to my constant use of hair oils and serums (like Kerastase, Babyliss Argan Oil, etc). Now, the Macadamia healing oil treatment is a great treatment because it's lightweight composition combines the moisturising effects of Macadamia oil with the highly absorbent properties of Argan Oil. The composition is actually quite similar to sebum, the natural oil our own scalp produces, which is allows this oil to infuse into hair and scalp so well.

Here are the benefits as listed on the website:

• Provides intense nourishment, smoothing and long-lusting, frizz-free finish.
• Instant absorption and lightweight, non-greasy finish.
• Reduces colour fading, therefore extending the life of colour treatments.
• Provides natural UV protection.
• Reduces drying time by an amazing 40-50%.

Mind you, just the last one alone would've convinced me to try this, as my hair is quite long and thick, and therefore, takes ages to dry! I have to say that I'm really happy with this product, my hair does feel quite silky and kink-free after applying it, and it does seem to decrease the drying time (although I can't say if it really is by 40-50%). I also love the scent, it's hard to describe but it's a light, warm, vanilla fragrance that smells really lovely!

My favourite way of applying this is as a styling product; just apply a small amount (about the size of a five cent piece) to damp, towel dried hair (just the mid to end lengths), before using a hairdryer. When I'm done blow waving, I rub a tiny, pea sized amount between my hands to warm it up, before gently running it down over my hair. This keeps frizz at bay, minimises fly-aways and also gives my hair a lovely shine. I have to agree that it's highly absorbent as I don't find that it weighs my hair down or gives it a greasy look!

You can also use it as a conditioning treatment by applying it overnight or just before washing your hair. Macadamia oil can also be used with colour treatments, either by applying it to your hair prior to the dye application or by adding it directly to the colour mixture to increase absorbency, minimise damage and increase the vitality of the dye.

This oil treatment is part of a full range including the shampoo, conditioner, masque, leave in creme and oil spray, and you can find more information on these products at their website. You can purchase these products in Australia directly from Ry. As pictured above, the oil comes in different sizes (with pricing depending on the size) so you can purchase a small sample to try before deciding if you want to commit to a larger bottle. While it may seem a bit expensive, you have to remember a little goes a very long way, so it actually works out to be very cost effective in the long term!

What hair oils are you currently loving, beauties? Have you ever tried this product?

Have you entered my giveaway yet?

Much love,
MM.
x

Note: This sample of the Macadamia Healing Oil treatment was kindly provided for my consideration. This has not affected my opinion in any way. For more information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Beauty Confessions!

Hi lovelies!

I have to confess this wasn't the post I was intending on doing today, but I simply couldn't resist when I saw it over at two of my favourite beauty bloggers (check out Beauty in a Bottle's post here and Glossy Beauty's post here)! Perhaps we'll start a chain?

(Taken from Beauty.ic)

Confession #1

I never wash my make up brushes as often as I intend to. I know I go on about how you should wash them frequently to remove bacteria and product build up (which is totally true, by the way), but somehow it's just really easy for time to fly by! I'm actually feeling a bit stressed out now about the fact that I haven't washed them for a bit!

Confession #2

I never give my nails a 'break' from polish. They're always painted. Period. I do, however, pay special attention to make sure there are no discolourations or growths etc. which might be an indication of a health problem (that's the main reasoning behind giving your nails a break from polish, as paint might cover some problem indicators).

Confession #3

Okay, it's not strictly beauty related, but I don't get enough sleep. I never go to bed on time, and when I do, I find I can't drop off to sleep! I'm a night owl so I find going to bed early very difficult, plus sleeping late just once throws my routine off for the entire week! So I'm pretty much always sleep deprived, and always tired.

Confession #4

I always say you should file your nails in one direction to avoid splitting, but I don't always follow my own advice. I'm quite fortunate in that my nails are quite strong so they can take it!

Confession #5

I don't drink enough water. I do try but drinking 8 glasses is a bit difficult sometimes. I try to drink hot water and hot green tea while at work, which helps a bit.

Confession #6

Again, not strictly beauty related, but I haven't exercised properly (on a regular basis, that is) for about...oh, ten years now. I used to be very fit and played tennis five to six times a week, and then I went the other route and became a complete sloth! It's definitely in the plan for this year though, I just need to find some time amongst my daily routine to fit some in!

Confession #7

I'm hopeless with accessories when it comes to a daily basis. I somehow just don't have time to add cute accessories/handbags/shoes to my routine, it's usually just whatever is handy at the time! I do make more of an effort on weekends but that's something else I'm trying to change this year. I have so many cute things that I miss wearing!

Confession #8

I love all things make up. I'm trying to stop myself from buying more until I've used up some of what I already have, but somehow things seem to just...call my name! I often forget I have certain things, and then I find them in my stash and fall in love all over again!

Confession #9

I haven't let my hair dry naturally in a very long time. It's quite thick so it would take ages to air dry naturally..and even then the inner layers remain damp. So it's just much easier to blast it with a hair dryer and go on with my life.

Confession #10

I'm not as good with home pampering treatments as I'd like. It's been far too long since I last popped a deep conditioning mask on my hair, or put a clay mask on my face! Somehow I always plan to do it later and then forget.

Confession #11

Similar to Beauty in a Bottle, I refuse to frequent stores where I have been given bad customer service. I don't care how wonderful your products are but if you can't spare a smile or even just answer my questions, I'm out of there. That sums up why I haven't bought MAC products for the past ten years.

Confession #12

I don't eat enough fruit and veggies. I always mean to and then somehow, I end up skipping it! It's something else I've been making a concerted effort to improve on this year, though!


There you have it, lovelies! My top twelve confessions!

They do say that confessions are good for the soul, so have you got any confessions you'd like to share with me?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Much love,
MM
x

Beautyheaven Australian BlogStar Awards 2012 Nomination!

Hi lovelies!

How are you all doing? I seem to have tipped over the middle ground I was straddling and fallen straight over into the 'catching a cold' territory, as I'm dealing with sniffles, watery eyes and a sore throat! However, I'm feeling pretty positive in general due to some amazing news I received yesterday!

One of my favourite websites, Beautyheaven, is sponsoring their annual Australian BlogStar Awards (ABA), where beauty bloggers could put in some original blog entries in an attempt to win a coveted top ten nomination. Beautyheaven members then pick their favoured bloggers from the shortlist, with the winners from each category (there are four in total) scoring a monthly guest blog spot on BH for a whole year and an amazing beauty pack valued at more than $1,200!

I was over the moon to find out that my blog featured twice in the top ten list for my category 'Best Beauty Blog Post - New Blog'! You can read my winning entries here and here. Now, I just want to say I'm so honoured that my blog made it into the top ten shortlist in my category. I started The Made Up Maiden because I'd been feeling like my creativity was being stifled, and slowly draining away in the past years, so I wanted an avenue to inspire and share my creativity, and also, with the hope that things I do might help or inspire my readers in some small way! Although blogging is great fun, I do put a lot of effort into my topics, photographs and writing skills, and thus, it's an amazing feeling to receive some validation that I'm doing a halfway decent job! I'd really like to thank BH for giving that validation to me, as well as all of you, my dear readers, for without you, I would not have made it this far.

Competition is pretty stiff as I'm up against some truly amazing entries/blogs, and as some of my favourite bloggers are also listed, it's very exciting times indeed! Beautyheaven have provided me with some links to get you, my dear readers, to vote for me (if you choose to, that is), so if you are so inclined and can spare a moment, I would dearly love if you'd support my blog by taking a moment to vote for me! All you need to do is click on caption on the image below to be taken to the voting form!

Click on this caption to be taken to the voting page!

Voting is strictly for Beautyheaven members, but it only takes a couple of minutes to sign up, which you can do right here. There are also 100 packs to go to lucky voters, so you could score a pack just for voting! Voting closes at midnight on Sunday, 10th of June, so get in quick! Thank you in advance!

Don't forget to enter my blog giveaway!

Much love,
MM.
x

Giveaway time!

Hi lovelies!

I've been wanting to do this for the longest time, and I finally got myself together enough to pull it off (I hope)!

I just wanted to thank all my regular readers for their support and for following me on my journey thus far! It really means a lot to me and always puts a smile on my face when I see your comments, so thank you from the bottom of my heart!

It's always fun receiving a beauty box filled with little goodies, and so I've put together my own little beauty box with a mixture of make up, nail polish and skin care as the prize! I do hope you'll like it, here is what it looks like.

All items.

Skin care.

Make up and nail polish.

You get the Avado sensitives gel exfoliant, Crabtree & Evelyn Citron hand cream, Caron bump eraser, Kosmea replenishing moisture cream, Ozotic 530 nail polish, mini Lancome L'absolu Rouge lipstick in 132, Face of Australia lipstick in Beach House, Rimmel Day to Night mascara, Estee Lauder eyeshadow palette and a Models Prefer black eyeliner.

All you have to do to win is complete two small steps. The first step is to follow me on Google Friend Connect (GFC), and the second step is to leave me a comment below this post. You can comment on anything you like, but I'd especially appreciate any feedback you might have (such as what you like most about my blog or what you'd like to see more of). If you have a blog, I'd love for you to include the address, I will be adding my favourites to my blog roll, which I'm quite overdue on updating.

I will be checking to make sure the winner does both steps, so please be certain you've completed both. This giveaway is only open to Australian residents and will be open for two weeks, until the 9th of June, so do get your entries in quick! I'll be using random.org to draw the winner.

Good luck, lovelies!

Much love,
MM.
x

EOTD - Red love

Hi lovelies,

It's been a wet and wild day in Melbourne today, with the rain just bucketing down all day. It was anticipated that the rainfall today would be equal to the rainfall for the past month! How crazy is that?!

I'm still slightly under the weather, so I came straight home after work. I've just realised that it's been a whole week since I uploaded an EOTD post! Can't have that, can we?! I spent all day today thinking about red eyeshadow. I actually bought this gorgeous red shadow from Inglot a few months ago, but have yet to wear it out! I was a bit concerned I'd look like I had bleeding eyes, so I thought I'd better do a practice run with it before actually wearing it on a night out. Since I was home tonight, I decided it was the perfect time to give it a go!

Here's what I ended up with. I also decided to use my Harlotte half lashes as it's been a while since I last applied falsies and I need to practice! Funnily enough, they don't sit quite right because my own lashes are so curly from the lash perming! This post might be a bit picture heavy as I do my best to do this look justice. It's a little bit more vivid in real life but for some reason, it's just not coming through with the photographs.

I did this look with Mac Paint pot in Painterly all over the eyelid, the red Inglot shadow (pearl 450) over the eyelid (up to the crease), a grey Inglot shadow (AMC shine 47)  in the crease, and a bit of matte black eyeshadow from my Beauty UK Day and Night palette in the outer corner. I also added the purple shade from the Day and Night palette under the eye. I used a bit of gold from my 88 palette in the inner eye corner, white pencil on the lower waterline, Essence black gel eyeliner on the top lashline and finished off with Loreal 4D Lash Architect mascara.

I really did like playing with this red shadow and it's surprisingly versatile. I think I'll definitely be using this a lot more!

Much love,
MM.
x

Let a little kink into your life!

Hi lovelies!

I hope everyone is doing well today! I've woken up with a bit of a sore throat and a small bout of the sniffles, so I'm desperately hoping I don't get sick. Let's hope willpower does it, one day to go and then it's the weekend!

I had a little bit of a play yesterday with the Vidal Sassoon Wave Envy, which I received in my Glosscars pack. I'll be honest, I wouldn't have done it quite this way if I'd been preparing to go out, but I was really curious to see what my hair would look like with the full effect, so to speak. If you're not familiar with this little beauty, here's what it looks like.

(Taken off the VS website)

(Taken off the VS website)

On the whole, I really do like this tool, it's very easy to use and very quick. I managed to do my whole head in about 15 minutes, and that was using small sections of hair. If I were doing it for a night out, I'd probably use larger sections of hair, so I'd probably get it done even quicker! All you need to do is press locks of hair between the barrels, clamp for a few seconds, release, and move onto the next section of hair.

It's got three different heat settings for different hair types (I used type 2), ceramic technology for even heat distribution, indicator lights, cool touch ends, an easy swivel cord for easy accessibility, and an automatic safety cut off system (which is good if you forget to switch it off).

Okay, for the part you've all been waiting for, photos! Prepare yourselves for a bit of a giggle! I do apologize for the photo quality but I decided to experiment on a whim and my camera battery was dead, so I had to settle for using my iPhone instead.

So here's what my hair looked like BEFORE I went crazy with the Wave Envy...(who knew it was so hard to take photos of the back of your head)?

And here's what it looked like AFTER the Wave Envy!

I then brushed it out and ended up with seriously voluminous hair, which was pretty helpful for the top knot I rocked to work today. ;)

I hope you enjoyed my little experiment and had a bit of a giggle...I promise to try it for a proper HOTD soon and will post photos when I do!

Have you tried any VS appliances? What's your favourite?

Much love,
MM.
x

Four ways with one lipstick!

Hi lovelies,

I was having a chat with a friend, and she mentioned that she’d received a lipstick in a colour that she wouldn't necessarily have chosen for herself as a gift, and wasn't sure what to do with it as she didn't think the colour suited her.  

As a result, I thought it’d be a great idea to do a post on the different ways you can apply lip colour, and how you can get some use out of that lipstick you never thought you’d wear! I’ve used Mirenesse lipstick in Pierre as my example, which is a glossy, dark red when applied directly on my lips from the bullet. I do find it a bit too dark for daily wear, so these are the different methods I use to get some wear out of it (and the many other lipsticks I own that are too pale/bright/dark for my liking).

Method 1 – Directly from the bullet.

It’s always easiest to apply the lipstick directly from the bullet straight onto your lips. If you’re like me, you've been applying lipstick for so long, you can actually do it without looking in a mirror (best used for nude colours and not shades requiring precise application like red lipstick).

Method 2 – Use a lip liner

Applying the lipstick over a lip liner achieves two purposes. It adds longevity to your lipstick (which means you’ll get more wear out of it before having to touch up) and changes the colour of the lipstick. My tip is to use opposing shades; if you have a lipstick that’s too pale, apply it with a darker liner underneath, or alternatively, if you have a lipstick that’s too dark, use a pale liner underneath. In this instance, I've used a nude lipliner (Youngblood Pout) under the lipstick to lighten the colour of the lipstick. As you can see, it looks a bit more muted than when applying it directly from the bullet, and also provides a more matte finish.

 

Method 3 – Use a lipgloss

Applying a lipgloss over the lipstick also changes the colour. In this case, I used a pale pink lipgloss from Mirenesse, called Hello Kitten. It’s the same principle as Method 2, but it’s a great option for ladies who prefer a bit more moisture on their lips or increased shine.

  

Method 4 – Apply it as a stain

Use the lipstick as a stain, and press the colour gently onto your lips using your fingertips. This will sheer out the colour and give you a pretty flush, as opposed to a concentrated colour. You can also use a lip brush or a cotton bud in lieu of your finger, just dab it on the lipstick and then apply it to your lips!

I hope you found these tips useful, lovelies! Will you be trying these out on a lipstick you seldom use?

Much love,

MM.

x

Have you ever thought of eyelash perming?

Hi lovelies,

As some of you know, I'm always after the next best thing that promises great lashes, be it new mascara or a great lash curler (which may be why I found 6 open mascaras and 4 lash curlers in my drawer)!! While my own lashes are reasonably long and relatively thick, they're extremely straight and resistant to curling. A week ago, I decided to give my eyelash curler a break and indulge in an eyelash perming session to shave precious minutes off my make up/cleansing routine. 

I've had lash perming done before, but thought I'd share my experience here, in case some of you have ever wondered about the process. While I’ve considered getting lash extensions, I've always hesitated as I've heard it can be quite damaging to your natural lashes, so perming is a good alternative.

The process involves lying down while your lashes are wrapped around a thin, sticky roller by the aesthetician. A solution is applied to open the lash cuticle and 'bind' it in the shape of the roller. After about ten minutes, the solution is rinsed off and a neutraliser/conditioning solution is then applied to your lashes to close and ‘hold’ the cuticle in the new, curled shape. After another ten minutes or so, the solution is gently wiped off, your lashes are removed from the roller, and you're all set to go! The whole process generally takes about 45 minutes from start to finish.

I find that my eyes look larger and brighter with permed lashes. The perm should last up to 6 weeks (although I’ve had it last as long as 2 months), as your lashes fall out and are replaced by new, straighter lashes. I've included a photo of my eyes, without mascara, showing the natural curl that my lashes now hold.  

Pros:

- Shaves lots of time off your daily make up and cleansing routines.

- Your eyes always appear bigger and brighter, even straight out of the shower or while exercising.

- You can skip the mascara altogether if your lashes are dark.

- Your lashes may actually appear longer/thicker due to the curl!

- It really opens up small or round eye shapes.

Cons:

- A little costly at about $60 per session.

- This may not be a good option if you have extremely sensitive eyes, due to the solutions used (I actually had my lenses in while doing this, but my eyes are not too sensitive).

- Results may vary, depending on your natural lash growth.

- May be damaging in the long term so I wouldn’t recommend doing it too frequently.

Would you ever consider doing eyelash perming?

Much love,

MM.

x

EOTD - Smokey blue

Hello lovelies!

How is everyone doing today? I've had an incredibly busy day today, but I just wanted to share a quick little post with you all...I was feeling creative today and decided to do a quick EOTD! It's rather late so I will keep this post brief, enjoy the photos and do let me know what you think!

This was created using three of the shadows from the 88 palette, over Mac Paintpot, and finished off with Harlotte eyeliner and ModelCo mascara.

 

 

Thank goodness tomorrow's Friday! Stay tuned, I have a BIG announcement coming up! ;)

Much love,
MM.
x

Christmas Comes Early - My Glosscars Pack Arrives!

Hi lovelies,

About a month ago, I mentioned here that I'd been lucky enough to win a Glosscars pack, and my pack just arrived on Friday! It was delivered to work, and it was pretty heavy, so a wonderful colleague of mine gave me a hand and popped it in the trunk of my car for me. The box was a wee bit banged up, but luckily, the inside was fine, thanks to some great bubble wrap packing by the BeautyHeaven ladies!

I couldn't wait to get into it, but I really wanted to find some time to go through it all properly and appreciate it, because after all, how often is it that you receive a bumper 59 products in the mail?! It really did feel like an early Christmas!

I opened the box to find all the items inside bubble wrapped separately, with a whole mound of bubble wrap on top for extra protection! I had a great time unwrapping each little package separately, and then lining the products up to take photographs! I've already had a little play with some of the items, but I've put the majority away to be used once my current products run out. I've also given a few out to deserving new owners!

It really is a gorgeous prize pack, and I can't thank BeautyHeaven enough for the lovely prize! This has totally made my year, I've never received such a large prize ever! I haven't had much of a chance to play with a lot of the products, but I'll be rolling them out slowly and letting you know how I go as I do!

PS - One of my fellow winners, Glamourpussgirl, has also posted a great blog post with all the items grouped into their respective categories, so do check out her post here if you have a spare minute!

Much love,
MM.
x