Manhattan
Just a casual roof party looking over Manhattan…
NY by night đ
Chillin
Oh HEY there Empire State Building :p
IT’S PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME
Walmart. The only place you can buy lollies, deodorant, lawn mowers and rifles.
Waffle fries with melted cheese and bacon on top. One of the best and worst things you could ever ingest.
$5 of berries. I †NY
Now DATS a slice of pizza!
The first beach I set my eyes on in Hawaii…#nuffsaid
Aloha!
Turtle Bay Resort Sarah Marshall Style đ
Turtle Bay Pool AKA Children’s Secret Toilet
Token ‘knees in beach backdrop’ pic
A truly hideous view :p
“I can’t go to Taco Bell, I’m on an all carb diet. God Karen you’re so stupid!”
Apparently Dolphins & Seals dive through this… not really but how cool would that be!
Amazing – Lush green mountain meets crystal clear water.
Edward – My new friend
“I know ever’thing there is to know about the shrimpin’ business.”
Movie Makin’ Ranch
The Hunger Games, Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, LOST, Hawaii 5.0, 50 First Dates, Pearl Harbour, You Me & Dupree, Godzilla …
No words to describe this beauty!
Now I got time fo dis!
Long & languid summer days spent snorkeling with sea turtles or floating around the ocean on a blow up lilo.
Hanauma Bay – Snorkeling in a Volcano
2nd Hunger Games was filmed here – it’s THAT good!
Cliff Diving
Just your average Hawaiian Lake
The rain was welcome after a hike up a volcano in 40 degree heat.
Bubba Islands
Oh Hawaii – Why you gotta be so pretty! Me not wanna leave!
Bernard the blowhole
Dat view…
I †Hawaii
Kualoa Ranch
Balmy evenings watching the delicious sunsets before sleeping to the backdrop of the swell of the ocean đ
Just because your bank account doesn’t cater towards your penchant for Choo’s, doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the finer things in life. Add a touch of luxe with these decadent delights….
Creme De La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream
This is the famous skincare brands NEW take on the original cult cream, which delivers the same amount of age-defying Miracle Both (the secret formula La Mer is renowned for) as the original version. Perfect for people who found the original too rich for their oily or combination skin type, this is an almost gel-like consistency & absorbs like a dream! $250 creamdelamer.com.au
Danné Montague-King ACU-MIST
This new hydrating & anti-bacterial mist is perfect for blemish/acne prone skin sufferers to have perched on their desk. Formulated to help acne sufferers restore the acid mantle (skin barrier), it eliminates acne-causing bacteria fast, as well as hydrating the skin and protecting against trans epidermal water loss. Perfect for people who feel like their skin ‘breeds’ blemishes during the day. Thank me later. $49.50 1300 00 SKIN
Yves Saint Laurent Blush Radiance
A good blush will lift your cheekbones, create a shimmering air of health & give your general complexion radiance. This chic YSL compact adds just a flush of colour to the cheeks. The blush formula seamlessly blends matte and iridescent textures to create a shimmery look. Containing self-adapting pigments, the formula works to capture and transform light intensity into a vibrant colour source that compliments any complexion. $72 Myer & David Jones
Dior Serum de Rouge
A new generation of lipstick that combines an elixir of active skincare ingredients with pure pigments for lasting radiance (AKA colour that lasts forever without getting all feral & flakey). Highly concentrated in hyaluronic acid microspheres that increase in volume upon contact with lips, the formula fills micro-wrinkles and eliminates the appearance of minor flaws in skin texture. $58 02 9695 4800
La Prairie Cellular Eye Cream Platinum Rare
If you’ve been privy to any of my skincare posts before, you know how much I despise eye wrinkles like crows feet *shudder*… Soooo it should be no surprise that this little gem is on my list of must-haves as it’s one of the best eye creams on the current market. It brightens & tightens skin tissue while decelerating ageing by enabling ageing skin to reflect light in the same manner as young skin. The formula contains soft focus diamond core powder to reduce the appearance of lines & wrinkles (while also lending a subtle sheen). The illuminating effect is enhanced by a dual peptide complex that helps eliminate dark circles under the eyes by strengthening the skinâs support system by activating the skinâs own elimination system. The tightening effect comes from the natural tensing action of polysaccharide & acacia gum that forms an invisible mesh on the skin surface to produce an immediate lift and visibly decrease wrinkle depth. Wax helps prevent the adipocytes reducing the feeling of puffiness under the eyes. This is enhanced by caffeine which aids the removal of excess toxins. $490 1800 251 010
Sisley Phyto Mascara Ultra Stretch
The BEST mascara I have ever used (big call I know), this is my go-to product for day wear in ‘Deep Brown’. It defines, curls & lengthens lashes with a single flick. The mascara helps to reinforce and protect lashes leaving them silky & supple. Can’t stress how amazing this product is! $70 1300 780 80
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
For the ultimate relaxing & indulgent shower experience, look no further than a slathering of this beautiful almond oil. One of my all-time favourite L’Occitane products, this silkily textured shower oil emulsifies with water creating a gorgeously luxurious cleansing milk. $52 02 8912 3000
Molton Brown Celestial Maracuja Body Souffle
An indulgent moisturiser for the body & senses, this soufflé is infused with organic Amazonian maracuja passionflower, caramel and olive oil to moisturise, soften and richly fragrance the skin. The fragrance is soft & delightful and your skin feels like heaven for hours! $92 QVB
Bobbi Brownâs Extra Repair Foundation SPF 25
Protect your mug while looking uber flawless with this super emollient formula. A moisturising treatment foundation that gives skin a fresh, dewy and healthy looking glow and also helps undo the visible signs of ageing by smoothing out lines, while firming and lifting skinâs appearance. $132 David Jones
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Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree
Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree’
Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.
Are you, Are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be’, ‘If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.
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Thanks to Australia’s harsh sun, a constant infliction of AC, prescription only acne-gel, and a sometimes poor diet lacking in water-rich foods; my skin at the best of times is generally pretty dehydrated and the rest is an extreme mix between dry and oily.
So how do I KNOW that my skin is dehydrated rather than just dry? This is one question I get asked on a daily basis with most people using products that are suited towards dryer skin types when in fact they should be targeting their skin’s DEHYDRATION. So how do you tell the difference?
Dry skin is visibly sallow and extremely dull looking. It will look lack-luster and can even flake. Dry skin usually feels exceptionally tight and your pores will be barely visible if at all. Wrinkles are more prominent and skin can feel itchy and uncomfortable. Dry skin will generally be VERY sensitive and react easily to different products, which is why it’s best to stick with a simple regime boasting products with high moisture properties.
DEHYDRATED skin is super easy to self diagnose. Look closely in a mirror before pushing the skin on your cheek towards your eye. Is there a crepe papery effect? Are there visible fine lines around your eyes and/or on your forehead that probably shouldnât be there just yet? Is your skin still prone to oiliness yet it looks dull rather than all glowy?
Any yes answers to the above are probably suffers of skin dehydration.
Better yet just head to your nearest L’Occitane boutique for a skincare consultation and the friendly staff can actually test your skin’s hydration levels. đ
Thatâs what I did and my skin’s hydration level read at a measly 38% đź (Generally 40-70% is considered normal yet dehydrated).
Oh rats đŠ
Note the wretched fine lines lurking around my eyes & on my forehead. BAD hydration levels BAD!
So I discovered the power of Angelica and have fallen in ridiculous amounts of love with the prodz.
You see, all skin needs is a mixture of oils and water in skincare for it to remain balanced and feel comfortable. Angelica stimulates the production of aquaporins (the skin’s water channels) and makes them efficient, maximizing levels of hydration. The Angelica range contains the following PLANT BASED AND ORGANIC ingredients in the delicious and luxe formulas. The Angelica ingredients are extracted from the roots of the Angelica plant that has marvelous abilities for self-hydration. The cheeky plant can grow 2-meters in a matter of days!Â
The combination of the above result in a very happy epidermis that retains water far better. YAY FOR PRETTY AND DEWY SKIN!
Gel Cleanser
An ultra-light and ridiculously fresh gel that gently removes make-up and impurities while protecting the skinâs hydrolipidic film to reveal the skinâs natural radiance. This is an absolute GEM of a cleanser and poops all over some far more expensive cleansers I’ve used (and I’ve used more cleansers than Miley Cyrus has received flack for that silly haircut… heaps right!). A steal at only $26. This is a beauty must-have.
Toner
First up this bad boy is alcohol free which is super as alcohol only dries out your skin. (On a side note did you know that some TRUSTED toners on the current market have so much alcohol in them you can remove nail polish with it? *Cough Proactive. *Cough Clinique.) The toner in the Angelica range is also only $26 and prepares your skin for your treatment products and moisture. A toner is imperative for any skincare regime as it removes all traces of grot and impurities that the cleanser may have missed and this gem also aids in hydration.
Exfoliating Gel
What some people don’t realise is that some face scrubs on the market don’t use ROUND exfoliating particles to slough of dead skin cells. So in effect some abrasive products are actually causing tiny scars on your face as you scratch the skin’s surface. This exfoliating gel is very gentle (yet does the job) as it contains microbeads to massage away all the none-essentials, leaving your face youthful and fresh looking. A real radiance booster. (Use 1-3 times per week.) RRP $32.
Hydrating Mask
Primarily water based, this bad-boy takes your skin from drab to fab in a matter of minutes. I’ve been using this before I go out of a night and my skin retains its ‘dewiness’ even after I’ve plastered makeup on my mug and crumped excessively. RRP $40.
Eye Gel
I’ve banged on about eye rollerballs here and I still love these prodz. But this fellow is pretty special. An ultra fresh gel that decongests the eye area with an instant cooling effect. It boosts microcirculation and works to reduce dark circles and puffiness while immediately tightening the skin around the eye. I keep him in the fridge for an added pick-me-up in the AM and a see-ya to my puffy ‘I wanna go back to sleep’ eyes. RRP $30.
Lotion
A light, fresh lotion that provides immediate and long-lasting hydration, helping to improve skin elasticity while protecting against free radicals and sun damage. I am not usually a fan of SPF products (skin sin I know) but used sparingly this delightful lotion doesn’t clog my pores. RRP $46.
Hydration Cream
My favourite product in the range (big call as they are all amaze) this opulent cream is so fresh and silky, it makes my cheeks as smooth as a babies sweet little bottom. Â Try this for complete 24-hour hydration. RRP $52.
Hydration Face Mist
Pop one of these in your beach bag this summer for a perfect dose of hydration throughout long summer days. As it’s a light mist you can use over makeup and instead of making your face ‘slide’ it simply sets it in a very model glowy way. Love it. RRP $22.
So what did my skin look like after a facial using the products?
Well another water level test proved my hydration levels SKYROCKETED and my skin looked simply lovely (if I do say so myself) at a girlfriends birthday that night.
After Angelica!
YAY!
All of these products and a FREE skin consultation can be found at all boutiques nationwide.
One lucky LTR reader can go into the draw to win my FAVOURITE product in the range, The Angelica Hydration Cream, and then you too can begin seeing some amazing hydrating results!
To enter, tell me about your favourite ‘water’ experience. Mine is definitely when I sat underneath a waterfall with my home girl on a tropical island, sipping on cocktails as the water beat down on our tired shoulders (you know, from all the strenuous holidaying). BLISS.
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Some annoyingly self-virtuous women in the world actually enjoy eating things like natto, goji berries or dirty old kale. They also take pleasure in 6am morning wake-up calls involving horrible things like burpies and endless sprint sessions. These women also generally bang on about meditation, positive affirmations and the power of positive thinking. They are all extremely âZenâ and have figures TO DIE FOR that around bikini season the rest of us mere mortals (who enjoy sleep-ins, fried food and copious amounts of alcohol) look at for inspiration. For 7 months a year we simply look at these figures with a slight air of annoyance but for the other 5 we suddenly realise !FU*K!, our pale and slightly wobbling bods are going to be NEXT to these freaks of nature goddesses in a matter of weeks! Right, time to join a gym as the old one was cancelled due to having better things to do⊠ like oh say enjoying Gossip Girl repeats while simultaneously shovelling Doritos down our gobs.
And so begins (yet again) The Seven Stages Of A Gym Membership that we repeat time and time againâŠ
That moment after a holiday, x-mas or even just as you shed your winter layers, when you finally notice the excess of dimples splashed across your backside and the âcuteâ roll of flab over your waistband your mum lovingly prodded at. Then you canât stop noticing, âholy shit my cute summery jumpsuit once so loose and âbohoâ is now stretched across my width like a circus tent.â The legs so sneakily encased in black and VERY flattering stockings all winter are suddenly looking more plump than pin-tastic. đŠ Cue an onslaught of immense grumpiness as we glare sullenly at the freshly baked chocolate cake perched cheerily on the kitchen counter, warm wafts of heaven breezing up our hungry nostrils.
Butt is about to get whipped into shape. Gym memberships are signed and a brand spanking new pair of Asics and Lorna Jane workout wear is purchased because OF COURSE one needs new threads to look the part and motivate them to actually use these incredibly overpriced items. (The threads more so than the shoes, shoes are one thing you should NEVER scrimp out on. Trust me, your feet will thank me later.)
This stage is exactly as it sounds. Think about it like a new relationship when everything is new and liberating and fun. You want to spend as much time as possible with your new lover (AKA the gym) and food struggles to make a starring role in your day-to-day life unless itâs green and filled with all types of yucky goodness. Youâre so committed that not only are you visiting the gym most afternoons after work, but youâre even getting up earlier to walk to work AND youâre doing a Saturday morning PUMP class! Who wudda thought!
This is like after the honeymoon stage in a relationship. Basically food and TV appeal more than certain types of physical activities. Nuff said.
This is the stage where we secretly wish we would sprain our ankle (even going so far as to wear ill-fitting shoes on the treadmillâŠÂ or is that just me?) JUST so we have an excuse to sit at home and not attend the gym and âcomfortâ oneself with pies, peas, mash and gravy. *Watering mouth.
When this stage hits we are suddenly much more interested in things once ignored like cleaning the loo, or catching up with that super annoying girlfriend who uses the term âlikeâ more than she deems it necessary to take a bloody breath.
This stage is where our gym visits putter down to once, max twice, a week and we spend the session reading a magazine while peddling uselessly on the old persons bike (you know, the reclining one). OR you flap around in the pool like a retired seal only to be shouted at by a Speedo-clad Fabio furiously free-styling down the pool to âget into a slower laneâ. Jerk. This stage is generally just a meagre excuse for exercise and really just a cute nod towards the $20+ being deposited into the gyms cheeky little bank balance weekly before you race on home to compete in FIFA with accompanying cheesy garlic bread and jelly shots. (Now if only we applied the same enthusiasm to a year-long exercise routine eh?!)
#authorsselfportrait
This is the moment when we realise we havenât visited the gym since the last season of the Kardashians aired⊠Yet the bastards still insolently sneak our hard earned $$ (wellâŠ$$ anyway) month after month as we continue to sit on our ass. So we dutifully make our way to the gym (head hanging with shame) and once the reason for our visit is explained to the chirpy 17yo receptionist, her expression changes and you are taken to âthe roomâ. It is here that an immensely fit and gorgeous male/female (depending on your guessed sexual preference) will sit you down while giving you a slightly condescending âconcernedâ interrogation. âWhy would you choose NOT to live a healthy lifestyle and continue working towards a healthier you with usâ? âI donât know White Goodman, is it true that steroids shrink your dick?â And so as we meekly schlep out of the gym for the last time the horrible obesity pattern sets in again and soon enough the whole bloody process will be set in motion yet again. So long âquest for an ass smaller than Miranda Kerrsâ, you have been overshadowed by yet another round of Oreo eating and general lack of interest in looking in the mirror too closely.
Do you fall into this pattern also?Â
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I would like to note that this article was written ‘tongue-in-cheek’ and I have the utmost of respect for women living the lifestyle I have poked fun at. Â
Love That Red 