Make-up Tip

One of the Best Kept Secrets in the Beauty Industry...
Many women complain that their eye make-up does not wear well throughout the day, their eye shadow creases or they end up with the Panda eye look, frustrating them to the point of foregoing eyeshadow altogether. A solution exists. You read right! To ensure your shadow lasts all day or all night, use an Eye Primer not to be confused with you standard Face Primer, these are specifically made for the delicate eye area, a primer designed for the face is far too harsh for the eye area and could cause irritation, dryness or puffiness. I recommend Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion & Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base, these two products have provided the best results. Dab the primer over the eyelid in a very fine layer, it should not be visible. The primer will make the shadow stay put, so brush on colour with much care, you will notice the colour will look more intense than usual. You will see your eye shadow collection in a whole new light now you've discovered Eye Primer. One of my clients who was about to give up on wearing eye make-up to work because by the end of the day it was smeared under her eyes, has told me this product has changed her life! Wow!

Candles

Today I met Glasshouse Fragrances founder Nicole Eckels, firstly I was star struck because she is gorgeous and the exact image of Toni Colette, she is also passionate about her work. A New Yorker transplanted to Australia she discovered that our market was missing truly fragrant candles which enveloped a space with their scent. Thus the birth of Glasshouse Fragrances and their Triple Scented Candles, the large size offering a double wick allowing for the fragrance to develop well once burning. Much research, testing and passion goes into all the creations from the Glasshouse Fragrances brand, currently the line-up includes Hand & Body Lotions, Triple Milled Beauty Bars and Diffusers, Nicole advised she has many products currently in development so watch this space. One of my favourite things about these products are the names, my preferred candles are Manhattan Little Black Dress, Amalfi Coast and Monte Carlo. Products are all proudly Australian made though.

Make-up Tip

It can be confusing trying to maneuvre your way through the vast choice of Blushers out there, check out some of my favourites if you simply don't know where to start. I love MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Peechykeen for a natural rosy blush, Revlon Powder Blush in Smokey Rose is great for the evening and Lancome's Blush Subtil in 08 Brun Roche is great long lasting blush if you know you're not going to have time to touch up whilst on the go.

Beauty Tip

CAUTION! Eyelash extensions are addictive!!! I am in love with my new lashes by Love Those Lashes 274a Oxford Street, Paddington NSW, Australia. Right next door to the MAC Pro Store, how convenient, two must visit places so close. I had the Full Set of Silk Lashes applied by Flora, it was so comfortable and painless I nearly started snoring. I ticked YES to thicker, fuller, longer lashes and NO to Natural look, Flora inspected my own eye lashes, advised the length and the curl for the extensions, then negotiated with me cause I wanted them BIG. I don't even know that they are there, that's how comfy they are. Standard rules apply, no showering for min 8 hours, only use water based mascara (not oil based and no waterproof formulas) and only use water based eye make-up remover.

Make-up Tip

I can not wait for this adorable blush from Lancome's Fall 2011 Collection to hit the stores! The detail is incredible. It is Limited Edition so don't miss out!

Beauty Tip

With the Winter weather upon us many may experience dry, cracked lips this can be quite painful. The remedy which I recommend is Carmex and Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Ointment. Chapstick, Paw Paw etc just don't cut it in this instance, they are great for general everyday lip balm but to remedy genuine dry, cracked lips try the above recommended products.

Beauty Tip

My preferred wax is Julienne. The large strip wax for the legs and the hot wax for the bikini area. I have noticed that women whom are afflicted with facial hair remain au naturel or they SHAVE!... this is a No No! Women should not shave their faces, use small wax strips created specifically for the removal of facial hair. This will slow growth and keep hair soft so as not to become like man stubble.

Beauty Tip

I am not a fan of products that discourage oil, I find these drying, along with the numerous acne products available. The natural oil and elasticity of young skin degenerates with age, resulting in wrinkles and sagging. I believe in trying to maintain the youthfulness of skin by keeping it hydrated at all times, keeping skin moisturised around the clock and drinking a lot of water. Wearing make-up adds a protective layer from pollutants in your environment. If you are afflicted with acne I believe that it is systemic, no amount of scrubbing or product that dries will help clear the skin, it will probably create scarring and pigmentation . Consult a doctor, they may prescribe medication and a possible change in diet. Otherwise you could be doing serious damage to your skin that you will need to live with forever, if you tackle the problem with your doctor early, there may be some short-term risks in taking medication but for long term gains. In fact I also believe that using oils specifically created for the skin (NOT a Canola oil from your local grocery store) are highly beneficial and worth adding to the rotation in your skincare regime.

• Products I like: Shu-umera cleansing oil, Bio Oil, MAC Cleanse Off Oil.
• Commonly prescribed medication: Roaccutane, Contraceptive Pill.
• Diet: Reduction in consumption of saturated fats and sugar, quit smoking, increase consumption of fresh vegetables and fish.

Tutorial Shoot

I had a really productive day filming Make-up & Skin care tutorials for my You Tube channel. Mark our Videographer & Photographer was great today! Our models Breeanna and Frano were very patient and did a fantastic job! View the results from today's shoot now, under the tab Melinda's Look Book and stay tuned for the full video tutorials to be released over the next few weeks.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Tonight I went to my local Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Parlour and ordered my Banana Split upon selecting my ice cream flavours starting with Peanut Burra Cookie Dough, I was informed that it has now been discontinued, I was aghast, I held my chest and felt the heart palpitations. This is a very sad day in history.

Make-up Tip

My favourite mascara is by Lancome. They have a wide range to suit varied needs. I use Amplicils the waterproof version. I have found that waterproof mascara aids your lashes in staying curled, you may have noticed that after putting in effort to curl your lashes you then apply mascara only to find they de-curl, well waterproof is the answer to your problem. For me this mascara lifts, separates and defines. I always grab a triple pack when passing through Duty Free at the airport.

Restaurant Review

Cafe La-Bas 19 Pittwater Rd, Manly NSW 2095



This is my local cafe which I frequent daily, for my morning coffee before work during the week and brunch on weekends. I could not make it through the day without my regular cappuccino with one sugar. The Head Barista & Owner Lecio makes awesome coffee and is skilled at creating designs in the froth. Which I think is very important, even when I am gettting take-away and there is going to be a lid. His partner Patricia is Head Chef and makes an amazing double layered carrot cake, which for a bit of a twist on the norm, contains pineapple chunks. My staple is the Croque Monsieur which is the best one I have tried in Sydney. I also like to try the specials which are updated regularly. This place is well priced and the portions will not leave you feeling hungry.

Beauty Tip

For soft supple feet my favourite product is Eulactol Heel Balm. Good idea to do this of an evening - rub the tough areas of your sole with a pumice stone or foot file when in the bath or shower. Then pat dry, smother the balm over your feet and put on a pair of cotton socks. By the morning your feet should already be feeling softer.

Paul Newman

I am going through a Paul Newman phase right now. What a stunning man!!! Honestly why don't they make men like that anymore?! If you don't know what I am talking about you need to view "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "Paris Blues" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" for starters...

Restaurant Review

BODEGA Tapas Bar & Restaurant - 216 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Last night my friend Frano and I tried this trendy little restaurant. We were seated at the bar overlooking the kitchen, it was great watching the action, we saw dishes come to life and asked which dish it was so we could add it to our order. These guys really do flavour well, every dish was packed full. We ate:

• Fish Fingers - which is slices of Kingfish on bruschetta style bread topped with ceviche & fennel
• Garlic Mushrooms - amazing
• Jamon & Mahon Cheese Croquettes - very tasty
• Steamed Pork Buns - incredible flavour, I could not figure out what was in it, you just need to try it yourself
• Spatchcock - perfectly cooked

There is also a fantastic selection of wines, Frano was our designated driver and had a tough time restraining herself to one glass.

This place gets full as soon as the doors open so get there early or prepare to queue.

Beauty Product Maintenance

In order to keep your products working their best for you there are a few care tips to employ:
Use cotton tips or mini spatula when using product from jars, never stick your fingers in, as this will expose the product to the oils on your fingers and allow bacteria to form thus lessening its effectiveness. Make sure that products are kept away from sunlight, the heat from the sun can cause product to sweat, separate, solidify etc. Always replace the lid, if you don't you are leaving the product exposed to the elements: dust, oxygen, insects etc once again this will lessen its effectiveness.

Make-up Tip

MAC Face and Body Foundation is the most amazing product. It is light but can be layered for heavier coverage in desperate times. For a dewy finish I will use it alone but for a photo finish I dust some MAC Studio Fix over the top. This is a product I can not live without! Last year on my European Holiday, I was prevented from boarding the plane with my MAC Face and Body Foundation, so I turned around, found the Post Office and sent it to my home address, then as soon as I stepped off the plane in London I jumped online, found the MAC Pro-store (which incidentally is located in Covent Garden) hauled ass there and purchased a new bottle. Crisis averted. Drastic times call for drastic measures.

Astrology

I adore Astrology my favourite Astrologers are Susan Miller, Jessica Adams and Yasmin Boland. The ultimate Astrologer though was definitely Linda Goodman, amazingly accurate material published in 1979 in Love Signs. Her books Sun Signs and Love Signs are timeless.

Public Notaries

Okay so I thought that a JP was the creme de la creme of witnesses, well hold on to your hats, cause this is not so. They are not permitted to witness documents for use in foreign countries. I can hear your gasp. If you are an Australian applying for a VISA to the UK for example and are required to supply supporting documentation and if you are paranoid like me and don't want to part with originals you need a Notary Public. Anyway I love learning something new so I thought I would share.

Online Shopping

I am loving this designer right now Karen Neilsen perfect for classy swimsuits. The only problem is which one to buy.

Headaches & Migraines

I have a headache, hoping that it doesn't turn into a migraine. I frequently suffer with these, one can attribute this to any number of things, I have a few ideas... It could be Bruxism: jaw clenching and teeth grinding, I do this day and night. I have an NTI but it only really helps protect my teeth cause the clenching can still occur. It could be the TMJ problem, where the tissue between my jaws is being mushed into a mess, resulting in pain. My migraines make me sensitive to light, smell and motion - any of those things makes me vomit. So a head ache is not so bad in comparison. The cause could also be the loud heavy metal band playing across the road at the local youth centre.