Tip of the day: Where to apply blush

So where have we all always been told to apply our blush to? The apples of our cheeks. We've been told to smile, and then apply blush to the fleshy part that juts out under our eyes right? Wrong actually.
You see, when you apply blush to that part of your face when you're smiling, it drops down your face as soon as you stop. The only time doing this will work for you is if you're always smiling (and that kinda hurts after a while).
So instead, smile first, to remind yourself of the area to apply blush to, then stop smiling and apply it to the skin that is there now, and blend up and out.

Tip of the day: More anti aging

I've been meaning to post this since the weather has started heating up, its a good tip that can be overlooked.
Everytime you go outside you should be wearing sunnies. Why? Because squinting will give you wrinkles, and the glasses will reduce the urge.
The hottest style this season to be looking out for are fifties style cat eyes, there are a lot of flattering styles out there at a range of prices, my best picks for a bargain are Sportsgirl and Jay Jays.
I'm not understanding the fugly odd looking glasses that are out now though, can't say they're appealing to me when you can look so much better in classier styles.

P.S still no internet, this is starting to really annoy me.

Make up Storage

Phew! Well moving house has completely worn me out, and I'm only half unpacked! The cleaners are coming this afternoon to clean up the mess of the previous tenants (the walls are filthy among other things) so I can't unpack too much yet anyway. But I have been able to unpack my bathroom and find all my acrilic storage units.
I bought these from Priceline a while ago, and they are magnificent in small spaces, all your gear neat and organised, ready when you want them every day. Certainly something I would recommend.
I'll have to add pictures and links to this post when I get full size internet back, there's only so much you can do on a phone!

Tip of the day: Save your neck!

Now of course you all put sunscreen on daily don't you? Of course! I'm not even going to indulge the idea that you may not. But do you apply it to the back of your neck?
This is a much forgotten part of your body that is frequently on show. Just think of all those short haircuts, upstyles, and the fact that most clothes don't cover your neck.
So many times I'll be sitting behind an older lady or gentlemen and see that the skin on their neck has aged terribly, people with a 30 year old face and 50 year old necks! Ick.

It just takes 10 seconds longer people, do iiiiiit.

Birdette does Laundry: How to wash your clothes

Boring! Yes I know. Trust me, I know. But it never ceases to amaze me just how clueless the majority of people are when it comes to washing clothes, guys in particular, but yes, some girls I know, the horrors! All in one, no colour sorting, bras in the dryer, No no no no no! My god no!
So I'm going to tell you all everything I know. Barely any of it I learnt from my mother so I don't expect yours to have taught you that well either. This will also help out anyone who has just moved out from home. Do not take your laundry home for your mother to still do once you move out. Grow up, buy a machine and do it yourself, she has only been looking after you for the best part of at least two decades! In fact, go buy her some flowers, just because she's been awesome all these years.

Buying a machine:
Personally I only have one piece of advice here, get one with a central spindle, mine does not have one, and it is a bitch that likes to tangle clothes and get stuck on repeat. Will be getting a new one when I can afford it.

Washing Powder:
My best advice it to use what your mother uses, chances are she's trialled a lot of them and she knows her stuff, plus you already know you are not allergic to it.
Also use white vinegar as an end of wash softener, it neutralises soap powder and finishes your clothes nicely.
Lastly buy a woolwash for your wool and silk items, best to handwash these.

Separate your clothes:
I normally do my washing once every two to three weeks, this is enough time to get up decent load sizes so I do not waste water in the machine, it will generally take at least 40 litres of water to run the smallest load, so you're better off hand washing if you have anything less then perhaps two kg of clothes to wash, (generalising here).
The categories I break up my load into are as follows (you may need to adjust depending on your wardrobe):
Blacks
Whites (I sometimes add lights into this load as I do not wear much white)
Lights
Brights (can need to be further broken down into colours, blues, reds etc)
Dulls (Mid range colours, but not brights, think tan, olive, grey muted shades)
Darks (nearly black but not quite, navy, charcoal  a lot of denim etc)
Delicates (silks and wools)
Dry cleaning

Also worth mentioning here is that you should wash your tea towels daily, bedsheets weekly, and towels at least weekly. they can generally go in the same wash as they tend to be colourfast, but check the labels. if in doubt, separate.
Take dry cleaning to the cleaners, and save your receipts, a lot of jobs will let you claim dry cleaning as a uniform or work related clothing tax refund.

Buy some garment bags.
Best to have about half a dozen of these, some mesh, some normal, the mesh ones are best for knickers, while the other variety are best for bras, fabric belts, and other items, Have a look around, a good price for these is just a couple of bucks each, I like Ikea and department stores to find them.
Items that you'd want to put in these are (but not limited to):
Bras
Knickers
Clothing with straps and attached belts (wrap around dresses and tops)
Shoestring singlets
Hosiery
Lingerie in general
Keep like with like in the bags, and make sure you do your bra clips up when you chuck them in, they catch on everything.

What temp to use?
My rule is to always use cold water, it's too much stuffing about if you separate your clothes by temp to wash in, cold water will wash everything and use up stacks less electricity too. Only bother with hotter settings for things like bedsheets, and if you haven't mixed your loads. Apart from risking colour leaking from item to item, it can sometimes shrink your clothes.

Got a top loader? Let the machine fill up a bit without any clothes in it yet.
For top loaders, it's a good idea to stick your washing powder in and then let it mix with some water before you put your clothes in, this is a good time to sort you load and garment bag any items that need it.

Suit your wash to what you are washing:
Gentle Cycles are for dedicates and items that are recommended for hand washing (if an item says to hand wash, I stick it in a garment bag and on a gentle cycle.) Heavy duty loads are for Tradie's uniforms, incredibly messy gear, rarely washed jeans and for linens. Everything else can go on a regular cold cycle.

Dryer vs. hanging up:
Do your electricity bill and the environment a favour and hang your clothes up to dry as much as you can. Some items of clothes you simply cannot chuck in a dryer, bras,  jeans, and sports gear come to mind but check the label before you put anything in the dryer. Personally, the dryer is made for uniforms that have frequent wash and wear, linens and for extra crisp cotton shirts. Bonus tip? If you dry your cotton shirts in there, and grab them out and hang them on coat hangers IMMEDIATELY, You made not need to iron them at all.
Also if line drying in the sun, turn your clothes inside out as this will prevent the majority of colour fading in garments, who cares if it's on the side? At least you can't see peg marks on the outside!

Well I do hope that's helped some of you out at least a little, I have more so share but I'm really over typing at the moment! If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to let me know!

Tip of the day: Keep your eyecream in the fridge

This is a great tip for summer. Keeping your eyecreams in the fridge has more the one benefit, apart from feeling delicious when you put it on, it will work even better at deminishing puffy eyes. This is especially true with rollerball style eyecreams.
In addition to that, it will also keep for longer. So even though I know it's a pain, I still do it!

Tip of the day: Applying Bronzer to sculpt

Finally a use for the heathenous duckface! You know the one I'm talking about, a certain Miley Cyrus is a fan, but there are numerous girls on the internet. the best way I can discribe it, is either extreme pouting, or smiling and pouting at the same time. Here are some examples, with eyes blacked out because even I'm not that mean:

Wow ... now that I am super turned on by all the hotness, let me give you an actually good use for this face. Yes I want you to make it, at your self in the mirror.
If you smile and pout at the same time, it will cause a concave shape under your cheekbones which will guide you in where to apply bronzer to sculpt your cheekbones. Check it out on my wonderful and willing model below. (Actually, I think Kim Kardashian may be the one person on earth who can duckface and get away with it.)

As you can see, if you apply your powder bronzer along this nook, starting from directly below where your pupil sits in your eye, and up towards your ears, you will get a lovely shaded cheek, then just dab some more bronzer on your temples, blend, and you're done. Add blush as desired.

MBFF Graduate show tonight!

So I may be a little excited. And so one of my best friends may be showing her clothes in a competition parade tonight ... I'm totally stoked! Had nothing to wear as I thought all my good frocks were still packed away but hanging in my closet was a black satin and lace beacon of hope! Thank god. I'm shocked I didn't realize earlier. Handbag is full to the brim with make up so I can run to the show straight from work.
So my tip? Buy a dress that you love, even if you can't think of when you'll wear it. I have found that the day will pop up (five somewhat unexpected weddings in a year anyone? Yes, it happened to me.)
Even if you outgrow it in anyway. Chances are it'll sell for a good price on eBay.
I believe tickets are still on sale for tonights shows. I really do recommend these in particular. Tickets can be bought and picked up at ticketek, and they have an office in QPAC, two minutes walk from the tent!

Tip of the day: Easy half moon nails

I'm just discovering nailpolish, normally I can't be bothered at all, but with a little daily TLC they can look really groomed and well presented. But I'm not a fan of excessive nail art, there's just something about it that makes me think 'cheap'
One of the looks I've adored lately is the half moon, it's in a similar vein to a french manicure with the two tone effect. but instead of having white tips, you draw on a semi circle of polish at the base of the nail. Like below.

Probably the most classic way to wear this is with the colours above, red and white. But I think it looks stunning in pastels and brights. Most of the time the base colour is white, but use any constrasting colour, with the ligher of the two as the base colour.
It's damn tricky to apply by yourself, and it can be a little hard to explain what you're after to your manicurist without a picture. My tip? Nail art pens.
Sally Hansen makes a great budget friendly nail art pen in 11 different colours. For longevity and flexibility I'd recommend buying it in either silver or white, but the sky is the limit.

A sample of available colours.

Tip of the day: Skincare and Make-up when you have a cold/the flu

There are two things that spring to most minds in Brisbane when EKKA is mentioned, one of course is the show, and the other is the Flu. Both are timed at near identical times of the year for many.
And some are like me, the trendsetters who already have the damn flu. I have been sick all week and its really playing on my looks. But there are ways to minimise this.
My first tip is to STAY HOME if at all possible and look after yourself! I do understand this isn't something that everyone can do, When you work in retail, when you're a mum, when you run your own business and no one can fill your shoes. Do everything you can at home, gets friends and partners to help you out with errands. Repay the favour when they are sick. It's good karma.
Secondly, do not stop your skincare routine, it can be hard to drag yourself over to the bathroom when you have to find your way through mountains of tissues, but don't drop the ball.
Aloe Vera Tissues are awesome, get them on hand ASAP. They will make you less of a red nose monster.
Use a thicker moisturiser then normal around your nostrils. Kind of an icky thought and description, but it'll help stop your skin freaking out.
Do not forget to use a scrub. But don't over-do it, your skin will become duller because you are skin, give it a hand to look it's best.
Kinda linked to the previous, but use brightening skincare too.  Your skin needs help to glow again. I like Loreal Skin Expertise Youth Code Day / Night Cream

Now this is just what you need to do if you're staying at home during this time, Make-up will need to be adjusted in a similar fashion.
This change in skincare can make you break out, stay on top of it with a target treatment. I love that Clearasil four hour difference cream, you know the one with the guy in the chicken suit on the ad?  Yeah ... that one.
There is hardly ever a time when less is more is more suited to a make-up situation, You do not want to overdo your make up when you are sick. The urge might be there to layer it on to try and hide that you are sick but this is not the way to go at all. it will flake off with your dry skin around your nose, and be hard to blend.
If you can get away with it, use just a tinted moisturiser all over. You can then use concealer/foundation on area that aren't your nose. Healthy glowy foundations are the order of the day, I tried Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and found it perked up my appearance nicely, but needed reworking in the mid afternoon.

Use an illuminating concealer around your eyes. They're puffy because you're sick right? Pay special attention to them and pat on a Touche Eclat-esque product to throw some light onto your face.

Use a blush as well, it'll help liven up your complexion and add some warmth, otherwise a pale pink will lessen any dullness you may have too. I recommend Benefit blushes in Dandelion and Sugarbomb.

Lastly, use a waterproof mascara if any, you do not want to smear it all over if you need to wipe away any mess during the day.
All you need is a slick of lip balm to sooth away any dry lips your flu may have given you, and you're as good as you can be. I still recommend staying home, but sometimes you just have to get out!

Cartoonish eyelashes

I love big eyelashes, it's a look that's easy to master, can be worn everyday and suits everyone. My trick to getting them done is to layer your mascaras and use an eyelash curler.
I'm allergic to most eyelash curlers, the metal that is used in the production of most of them gives me hives, on my eyelids ... euw. My boyf calls it princess syndrome because it means I can't wear cheap jewelry too! The one I do use is the heated eyelash curler made by Ardell.

After you have curled your lashes, then it's time to use your mascara, firstly use a lengthening formula. I use Covergirl Lashblast Length. The effect is subtle, and if you're after a low key look that won't interfere with the rest of your face you can stop here, but that's not why we're here. This step I find works well with those 'tubing' mascaras, and lengthening formulas.
After I've applied that I quickly whip out my purple Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies and coat them again. Make the most of the spoon brush and wrap it against your lashes. Sort of like pressing them back against your eyelid, but being careful not to goop up your lids. Mind you, any good volumising mascara will do well too.

The best way to apply mascara to minimise mess is to lean in toward the mirror and then tilt you head back, like you're looking down on the mirror.
Wiggle the brush all the way from root to tip, this will stop it from looking funny when your lash colour varies from the mascara colour.
It's also good to flick your lashes toward the outer of your eyes to help open them up.

Products used:

Eyelash curler by Ardell.

Covergirl Lash Blast Length

Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies.

All products featured in this post are available at your local Priceline.

A massive amount of recommendable mascaras are also available online at Strawberrynet.com I love it because it's such a bargain hunter's dream! go check it out if you haven't been there before.

Tip of the day: Make buttons stay on longer.

Do this to every piece of clothing where buttons aren't sewn on by hand. I learnt the hard way by losing an Alannah Hill button at the dry cleaners, and damn she chooses some impossible to replace buttons. *cries*
Don't know if your buttons are sewn on by hand or not? Chances are they weren't so do it!
Short of taking the buttons off your garment and sewing them back on yourself, the quickest way of helping them stay on is with a bottle of clear nail varnish. Open your garment up flat, with the backs of the buttons showing in a neat little line, then take your nail varnish and dab a tiny amount onto the stitches holding your button in place. Leave to dry, For the love of lambs do not put it on while it's drying.

If you trust yourself enough, it's not a bad idea to put a tiny amount between the button and the front of the garment, pinch the fabric so the button is sitting atop, and dab a tiny amount on the threads  in between. leave to dry, Definitely do not put your garment on while drying, or you'll risk the button hole sticking to the varnish, Big mess.

Tip of the day: Make drawers run smoothly

When we moved house last week, I managed to inherit a huge set of drawers. four huge drawers, two smaller, and even a little armoire on the side to hang up more clothes. I love it, but the drawers are a bitch. All jammy and hard to open and close smoothly.
Now you could get someone to sand down the edges so your drawers have a little extra room, but then you'd have a lot of work to deal with, and need to find someone you're OK with seeing your scanties. This method is much quicker, and less messy.
Keep a bar of soap in your knicker drawer. Firstly it will keep your knickers smelling nice, and secondly it's great for rubbing on the corners of your drawers to make them run smooth. Give it a go and see.

For nice drawer soaps, just your normal imperial leather just won't do, My favourite pretty soap brand is Mor, they have a huge range so you're bound to find something you like, and the packaging is so pretty you might not want to unwrap it (buy a few bars for your bathroom too). My favourite is the Black Cherry Plum.

A range of the scents available 

Mor Black Cherry Plum Soap

Mor is also available at selected Myer stores and Cosmetics Fragrance Direct for the bargain hunters out there.

Tip of the day: Prime your eyeshadow

Does anyone else end up with their eyeshadow sinking into their creases and looking awful after even just a few hours wear? Mine start heading that way by early afternoon and by the time I sign off from work they're set in greasy little lines on my lids. Ick.
Well at least they used to.
A trick I've heard of people using is to too a base of concealer on their eyelids, this will only work if the concealer is silicon based. Don't have one of these? Or your fave concealer is not something you're willing to change? I have the solution.
I bought a large container of this from eBay at the start of the year and it has been awesome. No more creases, just eye makeup that stays perfectly in place all day.

Eyeshadow Primer Potion by Urban Decay.

I bought mine in Sin, which is a pale shimmery flesh colour that can barely be noticed, but does a great job of evening out your eye colour. mine naturally are quite dark and uneven so this helps a lot.
The biggest problem with this product is getting your hands on it, as there are no official Australian stockists of the brand. (email them at info@urbandecay.com and tell them you want them is Aus!) I bought mine on eBay from these guys.
To use it you get get a little on your finger (ring works best, it's gentler then your middle and index) or the wand provided with some packages, and pat it over your eyelid with your finger, leave to set for a minute, and then do your eye make up as normal.

Tip of the day: Removing lipstick stains

This is a follow up to my previous post about removing make up stains from clothes, but worth posting as lipstick can be a real bitch to remove, particularly the long wearing gear.
A friend of mine was reading the post and told me that she had smeared lipstick all over her carpet (we've all been so drunk we don't know what we're stepping on haven't we?) and feared she'd have to move her bed into some strange diagonal and floating spot in her room to hide the stains. But her mother gave her the tip of using white spirits -like they used in dry cleaners back in the day- to move the stain.
Like before, try first in an inconspicuous spot before you go crazy. (Be wary, if you clothes tags say do not dry clean I'd be tentative to even test, and certainly don't do this if they state 'make sure your cleaner does not use white spirits!)

If after a day there is no strange marks from the spirits, dab it onto the stain gently to sort of lift it off, rinse, then wash as per usual.

Moving tip of the day: Glad wrap

Quickest way to pack DVDs and videogames stacked into shelves? Leave them in there and coat the lot in glad wrap. But make sure you can carry them. Don't do it with books, too heavy.

Tip of the day: How to stop your cape from looking frumpy or top heavy

I figure this reason is a big one why people just aren't wearing them. And I understand, the first time I put on a long one,  I thought it was just a styled sack. But here are my tips to make it more wearable and chic

1. Get a shorter length.
Getting a cape that reaches just past your elbows will still show off your middle and won't flood your body.
This is a good example from Yves Saint Laurent, you can buy it Here. Alannah Hill did a nice one last year with a cute hood and buttons and I know I've seen more around this season.

2. Belt it!
When I tried on my Cape from ASOS last weekend I kind of slumped at how top heavy it made me look, until I threw a belt on it! I also undid the top two buttons (this created a V shape that reduced my over sized bust too) and chucked on an elasticised belt. They are a godsend when you sit down all day.
Diane Von Fusternberg has a great example here, it shows perfectly how it can be done, and remember a different belt can give it different looks too.

3. Get a swooshy 70's one for summer.
I know this may give you throwbacks to your mother in her heyday, but perhaps she still has one lying about in her wardrobe? Get on board it's going to be a hot look this summer. This one is available from ASOS and is currently on sale too.

Tip of the day: Cleaning make up off clothes.

This happened to me for years and I had no idea how to fix it, on more delicate clothes you do not want to use harsh chemicals, so what's a girl to use? The answer can be so obvious you'll kick yourself.
Make up remover!
Yup, the same stuff you use on your face. Please please please just make sure you test it in an inconspicuous place on your garment first, leave it over night, then if it hasn't had any ill effects, go for your life on your stain. Don't overdo it though, you don't want to waste the stuff!
Note: Don't use those make up removing oils either. They'll be the next problem to remove.

Does anyone else have any Advice on the matter? Let me know!

Mwah!
-Birdette