How to create beautiful collages in minutes

Creating collages used to be something I dreaded doing. It takes hours of painstaking research to find the exact photograph of a number of different items, source them properly and then to find them all with a white or even better yet, a transparent background is just horrid work. In the blogging world there are collages, and then there are collages. You know the ones I'm talking about, those beautiful, seamless compilations you find on the top fashion and beauty blogs, and then you get the first few I ever made. Chalk and cheese really.

Well I am going to let you in on my secret to creating beautiful collages like this one, using a free site called Polyvore...

Creating collages using Polyvore

The above collage was created using the very easy to follow (and did I mention free) website Polyvore.

Polyvore works a little like Pinterest in that you are able to create your own online pinboard of images. There are a number of different categories, and from these you can make stunning and professional collages for your blog. Why not make your own gift guides for Christmas? Or how about creating your own wish list to help your friends and family in picking out the perfect gift for you? 

The site is designed to share clickable links to the prices of the items in your creations on the usual social media platforms, so you know the price and where the closest stockist is to you. But as I only want to use the image as a graphic, I simply screenshot the collage and go about inserting it that way.

Here are a few more collages I've created using Polyvore.

I'd love to see yours creations too. Simply upload them to my Facebook Page so I can have a look!

Good luck and happy creating!

x

{South Korea} Pretty Packaging

Everything here in Korea is packaged beautifully. Skin care products, stationery, hair care products, nail care...even the milk! I am going to have to devote a whole blog post to the stationery here (I have done a few before, click here for drool worthy letter sets, notepads and stickers!).  

The FaceShop - Arsainte EcoTherapy {review}

This is my second review of products from The Face Shop (you can read my review on the Chia Seed collection here) and the reason...I just love all of the products I've used so far from this brand of skin care  here in South Korea. 

With all my reviews I aim to be as honest as possible with the products I review. I have not been sponsored in anyway, and the views here are entirely my own.

Most skin care lines here in Korea consist of the following types of products:

Cleanser

(cream/oil/foam)

Toner

Essence/Serum

Lotion/Emulsion

Cream

This may all seem a little excessive, but Koreans (and I think I can generalise to most Asian people) have the most incredible skin. All the ladies at my school look at least 10 years younger than their actual age. They must be doing something right, and I think their skincare (and the fact that they spend NO time in the sun baking like us Westerners do) has a lot to do with it.

-Cleanser

 is your first line of cleansing the skin to remove all traces of makeup and impurities

-Toner

 is to get rid of oil & dirt left after cleaning, to moisturise & to neutralise the ph balance of the skin

-Essence/Serum

 is a light, concentrated treatment to correct skin problems. It is easily absorbed and penetrates deep into your skin. Some beauty experts advise waiting 5-10 minutes AFTER applying your essence before you apply any other moisturizer. Essence or serums are essentially clear, thick, liquid moisturizing products. Some companies tend to label their products as serums, while others label them as essences. Serums tends be slightly more concentrated than essence.

-Emulsion

 is a much lighter, daytime moisturiser 

-Cream

 is a much more rich product, usually used if your skin is very dry or in need or more moisture

Arsainte Ecotherapy Multi-Care Cleansing Foam

I've only used this cleanser a few times as I am trying to finish up the vast array of other cleansers I seem to have amassed in my short time here in Korea (I just can't be helped when it comes to products!). But it seems to do a good job of cleaning my skin without stripping it and leaving it feeling dry and leathery. The product description says that it can be used as a mask too, when left on the skin for 5 minutes. I'm looking forward to trying that out in the next few weeks. I'll let you know how it goes on my Facebook Page. 

Arsainte Ecotheraphy Extreme Moisture Tonic with essential

"An essence toner that needs to be shaken before usage to mix the aroma essential oil and golden palm oil, uses bamboo extracts instead of water"

I love the fact that I have to shake this toner to combine all of the essential oils and bamboo extract before using it as I can actually see the different levels of moiuture that will be absorbed into my skin. The fragrance  is light, fresh and very exotic, leaving my skin feeling renewed and glowing after each application. 

Being an 'essence' toner it is a multi-beneficial product, combing essence and toner in one, allowing me to save a little time on my beauty regime (ok, not a lot of time but still, those few extra seconds do count!). It prepares my skin for my moisturiser and aids in retaining moisture.

I then follow with my Olay eye cream (which I have been using and loving for the past 2 years) and finally my Chia Seed Lotion. I had been using the Chia Seed Watery Lotion and although I liked using it, I have used this toner the last time I was in Korea and wanted to try it again. Both the Chia Seed and this Arsainte toner are wonderful products, but I do feel that the Arsainte is more moisturising as it contains essential oils, and so its perfect for me here in Korea as we are heading into winter when my skin is always more dry.

With winter approaching, I am on the lookout for a new moisturiser/serum. If you have any recommendations, please pop me a comment below, I'd love to hear from you.

x

Smitten with Forever21

We don't have anything like Forever21 in South Africa. I mean Typo, Topshop, Forever New (and H&M soon!) have hit South Africa's sunny shores and while those stores are lovely, they just don't have anything on Forever21.

I mean, look at all this pretty?!

There was definitely a lot of punk, rock and lumo in the branch I went into here in Seoul, South Korea. But what made my heart go pitter patter was all the pink and the pearl. 

Soft, sweet and feminine. 

Just lovely. 

{Un}Luckily for me I live about a 5 hour journey from the closest Forever 21 so I had to load up on goodies and will have to wait a {long} time before I step foot in there again. And with the huge sale going on, I was able to go a little girl crazy and still have enough for a Baskin and Robbins ice-cream on the way home...oh sale time I do love you!

What colour accessories are you into at the moment?

TheFaceShop ~ Oil Cut Sun Cream {review}

Oh what a wonderful find here in South Korea. This suncream from my favourite South Korean cosmetic brand, The FaceShop, works like a charm on my combination to oily skin. In the 100% humidity, it is still vital to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. But layering on a whole bunch of products usually leaves me looking like an oil slick once I head out the door.

The 'oil cut' range of sun care from The FaceShop takes care of that for me. It sets all my skin care products (I am still loving this Chia Seed range of skincare I bought a few weeks ago) and is the perfect base for makeup. With an SPF of 40, not only does it protect my face, but it prevents my skin from becoming shiny throughout the day. It is seriously long lasting, and I mean its a real Long Wearing product, you really have to cleanse your skin to remove all traces of it. This suits me just fine as I know that even with the humidity, I'm not going to be sweating it off. 

I do apologize for all the sweaty talk, but unfortunately, no matter how glamorous us Westerners here in South Korea may start out the day looking, within the 10 minute walk to school I am reduced to a hot, sticky mess, complete with frizzy hair, and rosy red cheeks. At least I won't have any wrinkles to add to the mix...

x

Have you tried any other great suncreams? I have heard good thing about Innisfree and Neutrogena too. 

Growing your own beautiful, strong nails

After posting this photograph  on Instagram I received a number of questions from ladies asking me how I get such 'nice' nails. I've never really thought about my nails very much until now. I mean, I always have them looking neat or painted in a pretty colour, but when it comes to achieving long, strong nails, well then I'm no expert. All I can do is tell you what I do, and then you can try it out and let me know if you get results.

First I have to tell you, although you may not believe me from looking at these photographs, but I used to be a biter. Not a dainty little nibble here and there nail biter, but a proper when-I-chew-all-thats-left-behind-are-stumps-flayed-cuticles kind of biter. So how did I get my nails to look like they do now? Whats my secret? Well, to be honest, I don't have one. Instead of spending a fortune on supplements and OPI nail treatments and manicures and the latest cuticle oil and hand creams, I started eating lots of yogurt. The chocolate chip kind. An increase in dairy for my little body, meant a huge increase in calcium, leading to stronger nails. I used to have a nasty habit of rubbing my nails over my teeth until they would become so weak, they would inevitable break and peel. Then I would just bite them as they looked so terrible anyway and so the vicious circle began. When my body started to respond to the huge injections of calcium two or three times a day, my nails started to grow, little by little. Even a little bit of nail looks better than stubby fingers. Slowly,  my nails were given a chance to strengthen and lengthen. No amount of funny tasting 'bite proof' nail polish could help, and no amount of bribery from my poor mom could get me to kick the nasty habit. It was the good old choc chip yogurt that finally did the trick.

So now that's the growing part done, how about the strengthening part...

Whenever I apply polish, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use a base coat on my nails. It doesn't matter the brand (although I have always loved Rimmels Stronger Double Duty base coat ~ click here). Even if its a clear nail polish colour if you don't have a specified base coat on hand, use it! Applying a base coat not only helps to lengthen the life of your nail colour, but its protects your nail bed from the chemicals inside all nail polish. This means you won't be left with yucky yellow stained nails too.

Then, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS apply a top coat. Not only does a top coat seal in your colour, but it prevents your nail polish from chipping. Your manicure will last longer, you wont be tempted to fiddle with pretty looking nails, and your nails will be protected everyday wear and tear we subject our hands to. 

Lastly, I keep a cuticle oil on my bedside table and rub it in whenever I remember to (I am quite fond of Sally Hansen Vitamin E & cuticle oil which you can pick up for R80 at Clicks & Dischem in South Africa). Keeping your cuticles soft and moisturized can help strengthen your nails.

Lastly, make sure you take care of your hands. Your nails are a lot more fragile than our hands, but get subjected to a lot of rough treatment everyday. Wear gloves when you wash the dishes, use a mild cleansing soap when you wash your hands, massage your cuticles when rubbing in hand cream, and drink plenty of water to keep your body healthy and hydrated.

I have tried hair, skin and nail supplements before, but to be perfectly honest really saw no results. You might have better luck, but they can be pretty pricey and if you aren't looking after the actual nail bed by wearing a base coat, using cuticle oil and wearing hand cream, you're probably undoing the internal benefits of them.

Anyway, I hope you find this helpful. Please know that I'm no expert, and am merely sharing my personal experiences with you. Do drop me a comment if you know any more tricks and secrets for growing beautiful string nails.

xxx

The Face Shop ~ Chia Seed Collection {revi

As with every other thing I have bought here in South Korea, the skin care products are packaged beautifully. Even the biscuits are individually wrapped here (a nightmare for the rubbish dumps ~ although recycling here is top notch). I was really good about not packing too many products for our move here. I 'held' back and only brought the bare minimum (a post on the 'bare minimum' to follow soon) and so was eager to try a new skin care range once we settled in.

My absolute favorite brand of cosmetics/skin care here in Korea is The Faceshop. I buy all my nail polishes there, as well as my concealer. They are currently having a massive sale in all stores (here in Korea...sorry everyone else!). I picked up a toner, moisturizer and 'oil free' setting gel. Mmm, setting gel? I hadn't heard of that before either, but I will explain here.

Chia seeds are becoming one of the biggest so-called super foods on the market. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and high in antioxidants, protein and fiber.I was unaware of these seeds seeing these products, and after all the research I've been doing, I'm on the hunt for them to ass to my cereal and smoothies in the morning.

Chai Seed Watery Toner

"A moisturising toner for hydrating inside the skin with organically grown chai seed"

I just love that description, for

inside the skin

as opposed to outside the skin :) Anyway, I use this after cleansing my skin, and either apply it with cotton wool, or using my hands straight onto the skin. Its light, removes makeup and oil from my skin, and leaves a light, summery fragrance that I can't quite put my finger on. Either way, its lovely and refreshing.

The back of the box describes this product as "a natural moisture drop absorbing moisture 10 times its own weight" how cute :)

Chai Seed Watery Lotion

A light, easily absorbed moisturizing lotion, perfect for hot summer days (and the 100% humidity here in Korea. Easy to  blend into the skin, my oily/combination skin, and interestingly enough, I have been told that oily/combination skin still needs constant hydration. This lotion is light, doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky afterwards, and does a good job with maintaining a mate appearance for the first few hours of the day. It has been doing a much better job of reducing shine, while still moisturizing my skin, than my IQ Clear Start Oil Free Clearing moisturizer which really battled in the Korean humidity. I was left looking like an oily mess by 10 o'clock. I don' think this lotion will be enough when winter comes around though, but by then I'm sure I'll be on the lookout for something new anyway.

Chai Seed Sebum Control Moisture Control

"A moisture cream that replenishes skin with moisture while preventing excess sebum

Uses good seeds and good technology that make the extracts fresh and is also good for the environment

A clear, mild cream

Real oil-zero

Uses 100% chia seed extract instead of water"

Well that just sounds amazing right?! This clear gel is refreshing, and when worn alone leaves my skin shine free for just about the whole day. When worn with my foundation, my skin tends to shine up on my T-zone area. I usually carry my MAC Studio Fix powder to zap the shine in its tracks. But when worn without any foundation, my skin stays shine free all day...wonderful! Again, I love the product description on the packaging. Applying a gel is quite a different experince, and in the heat here, a very welcome one. My face feels refreshed, radiant and supple. And in true Korean style, you cant possible only 1 lotion type product. The trick (and they do have incredible skin and NEVER look their age) is to use all 8 steps in the range of products. I starting with 4.

Overall I have been thrilled with my purchases, all coming to W43 000 (R380) on sale at the FaceShop. 

I'm after the Essence & Eye cream next.

Have you ever tried any Asian/Korean skin brands before?

{South Korea & Japan were the home to BB creams before the trend hit South African soil..these Koreans know their stuff when it comes to skincare and makeup!}

Essence BB Cream {review}

BB creams (or beauty balms as their full name) are all the rage right now as they offer loads more benefits than traditional foundations. BB creams prime, hydrate, protect & perfect skin while providing a range of coverage. They also contain SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Originating in Japan and South Korea (where I was at first very wary of trying them out while we were living there back in 2010), they can be worn alone as a tinted moisturizer, over serum and moisturizer as a regular foundation, or under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage.

Revlon & Garnier have been the first that I have seen to introduce their versions, but I have been a little wary of forking out too much to try out something that seems very gimmicky. Which is why when I saw this one from Essence at Dischem for R54.95 I thought I'd give it a bash. 

It's light and blends seamlessly into skin with very little effort. Providing light to medium coverage depending on how much you build up the product. It leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized, and so far has lasted the whole day without leaving me looking oily. As you can see from my slightly cheesy and ID look a like photo's below, the coverage is light, but definitely evens out my complexion, and does a decent job of covering up my pigmentation without looking cakey. 

My only concern is that currently there are only 3 shades, so if you don't fit into the light/medium or dark category you are kinda stuck. But, its very easily to blend with a concealer for added coverage or colour options.

If you have tried and liked any other BB creams on the market please feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments section below :)

Dove Deep Repair Treatment Mask {review}

Winter always leaves me feeling like I've been left out in a desert for days, and it's not just my skin that takes a beating. My hair feels (and looks!) dry and ill cared for, and I'm often to be found patrolling the aisles of Dischem looking for the latest hair care offering.  I picked up this little beauty in Pick n Pay (I know, most people would never admit that publicly!) and thought I'd share my thoughts...

I have really been loving this treatment hair mask from Dove's Nourishing Oil Care range of hair products. Not only does it smell heavenly, but it leaves my tresses silky soft, and without the tell tale oiliness of most hair masks. 

The packing looks great, but is a bit of a pain to travel with, as it doesn't really 'fit' well with the other goodies in my toiletry bag. Nonetheless, a small price to pay really for such a great product. 

Once applied, the creamy textures glided on smoothly and easily right through to the ends of my hair. My hair is really long, and tends to get very knotty at the ends. Once applied, my hair felt velvety soft, and my comb slid right through without a pull or a tug in sight.

After a quick rinse, my hair was left feeling clean and fresh (I am currently using L'oreal Elvive Re-Nutrition Shampoo) and silky soft. The fragrance is light and lasts even after blow drying. I use it 3 times a week, in place of my regular L'oreal Elvive Re-Nutrition conditioner.

All in all, I am very happy with this new addition to my beauty regime. Get your hands it at most Clicks/Dischems/Checkers/Pick n Pay's from -+R53.

Sigma Flat Kabuki Brush F80 {review}

Gosh I am simply mad about the Sigma range of makeup brushes. And that was well before I was able to hold or use them. After reading a few of my favourite international beauty blogs (namely Tiffany & Vivianna) and seeing how these two ladies always seem to rave about the Sigma range I have been dying to get my paws on them.

The lovely folk at SigmaBeauty sent me a welcome package when I joined their affiliate program, and I was beyond excited to find one of their Kabuki brushes in my parcel.

It was the F80 Flat Kabuki brush, designed for the application of buffed foundation. I have been happily bumbling along with my MAC #187 Stippling Brush which I love, but after using this one from Sigma, I now find my MAC brush a bit too chunky. It seems to absorb most of the foundation in its bristles, and doesn't seem to give me that flawless, airbrush finish I've been after.

The Flat Kabuki does just that, the design of the bristles are much more compact, allowing for a more buffed appearance when blending.

I don't wear foundation everyday, but when I do, using this brush really makes blending a breeze. I just wish that we would pick up these brushes as easily here in South Africa as you can in the US. You can order Sigma brushes online through Feel Unique but clicking here.

AND...if you use my affiliate code on the Sigma Website (43087_ you'll get a free gift when you spend over $30 online. So click here to start spending away!

Happy Shopping!

{please note, I am in no way endorsed by Sigma. I am an affiliate which means that if you purchase anything from their website with my affiliate code, I will receive a very small portion of the sale}

Cetaphil {face care review}

I recently had a short stint on a generic form of Ruaccutane for my problem skin. I had been on Ruaccutane when I was in High School and it had done wonders for my skin, but for who knows what reasons, my skin decided to act up again. I tried all sorts of lotions and potions, anti-biotics and finally had had enough, so I chatted to my Doctor about another course of these pills. I can't even begin to explain what a difference I've seen in my skin. It is crystal clear now, and I barely ever wear any foundation anymore.

But, although seeming to be a wonder product, there are lots of side effects to this drug, and anyone considering it should have a thorough chat to their doctor before making a decision. For me the worst side effect was dryness. My skin, nose, lips and hair became incredibly dry (this was great as my hair just never got greasy) but not so great as nothing I tried could take away the dryness. Finally, I thought I would give Cetaphil a try. I had always heard dermatologists recommended Cetaphil to their patients  before or after any treatments, but the packaging always looked so unappealing. And considering that I am a self confessed package junkie (often buying products just because they look pretty on the shelf...how silly I know!) I was reluctant at first.

But, these plain little bottles and tubes were a life saver. They were the only products that calmed my skin, restored moisture, and left my face feeling supple, fresh, and clean all day. The UVA/UVB defense is excellent for sun protection, and although it does leave the skin a little greasy, wrinkles aren't a good look either, and you can feel the protection on your skin from the get go. All products in the range are fragrance free, non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic, making them perfect for any number of sensitive skins.

I found these to be much cheaper at Dischem than Clicks, with savings of more than R50 per product at the time of purchase. The Cleansing Lotion 125ml was around the R65 (if i can remember correctly) and the Moisturizing Cream & UVA/UVB Defense were both around the R80 mark. All in all these products were fantastic for my very dry skin, and I would definitely recommend them.

How to clean your makeup brushes...

When I invested in my first proper {grown up} makeup brush, my MAC 18 foundation brush pictured top right, I had no idea that it would need to be looked after and cleaned. I was under the impression I would rinse it under the tap for a few seconds every few weeks. But, after giving all my brushes a quick spring clean after investing in MAC's brush cleaner (click here for a post on spring cleaning your brushes that I wrote a little while ago) I saw just how filthy these little guys can get. And thats what we are putting on our faces everyday! EEK!

So here is a post on how to give your brushes a deep clean, which I would recommend doing once a week. It's super easy, very budget friendly, and will keep your brushes in top condition lasting for many years to come.

TreSemme **Dry Shampoo**

This has now become one of my absolute favourite products...ever! Picture the scene, you've just paid a small fortune to get hair done all fancy, blow dry and all. You sleep on it, and wake up with it a bit drab and maybe a slight peek of oily roots. Disaster?! Never fear, dry shampoo to the rescue! Just give your roots a blasting with this light, oil absorbing spray and voila! Volume and vavavoom and just like new :)

How it works:

*Formulated with mineral clay which soaks up excess oil and impurities leaving hair looking refreshed

*Contains citrus extracts to neutralize odour and enhance the 'clean feeling'

*Volumizes oily/straight hair that becomes limp in between washes, giving hair added body and bounce

*Perfect for colour-treated hair, it reduces the need to was as frequently, which prevents colour from fading

How to use:

Shake can vigorously before use and in between sprays

Lightly spritz roots to inject volume and spray evenly all over hair.

Leave product in for 1-2 mins to allow time to soak up oil

Brush thoroughly to remove the white residue & then style as usual

Available at Clicks and Dischem for +-R70