Oh spring... where art thou?

Melbourne is notorious for having four seasons in one day. Lately though, I've been feeling that all we are getting are the cooler seasons. Where is the sun? Did spring not make its appearance last month? Why has she forsaken us? And why does this perturb me so much?

Let me tell you a little story. The story begins with me complaining about how much clothing I have, and how I can never find anything to wear when I need it (nothing new if you talk to girls frequently). I one day have a lightbulb moment and decide to pack away all my winter clothing and anything chunky and knitted (jackets included). Where do these all go once I've packed them up? Because I have no room, it goes into storage, of course! So that when it starts getting chilly I can put all my summery stuff into storage and bring out all my winter stuff... *snorts*. Let's be honest, I'll most likely forget about it and buy new winter stuff because once it gets cold again, I'll be complaining that I have nothing to wear! But anyway...

So after 4 days of blissful sun in Melbourne, and spending some time in Italy where the weather was beautiful, I come back to Melbourne and find that it is experiencing an ice age in the middle of spring. Talk about bad timing! I am forced to wear the same thin, so-called "wind cheater" (such false advertising) over my chunkiest hoodie and gym pants when I have to go outside (which is every single day). All I have sitting in my makeshift closet right now (which is an entire story all on its own) are pretty, summery, light clothing that I cannot wait to put on and strut around in. Although...

... is the universe secretly doing me a favour by preventing me from baring my flabby belly to innocent bystanders? Should I exercise to be taut for summer, so people don't experience second hand embarrassment for me? Am I just being given more time to get my body into shape? And if so, then I think Melbourne will be in a permafrost state because my laziness knows no bounds.

Spring, where art though? Goddammit, I just want my cellulite ridden thighs to jiggle in the warm breeze already! C'mon spring... show your face!

Snapchat evidence of me, freezing in my room.

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless foundation review

It's only been a million years... but I have finally created a new video for YouTube! I've been meaning to buy a new foundation for the longest time but have always put it off seeing as... well, you know... I never wear makeup as it is. But then an event comes along and I feel like shit with my undone face, amongst the glamorous cake faces of the night.

As much as I hate wearing foundation, I hate standing out even more. I'd rather blend in and be one of the girls. So it was about time I got my hands on a new foundation to try! Watch the review below, but if you don't have the 3-ish minutes to spare, I list my thoughts and key points after the video:

What I loved about it:

• It really does feel weightless
• The colour match for my skin was perfect (Barcelona)
• The finish is very natural - not too matte, not to shiny. It was just the right balance which resulted in quite a lovely velvety finish.
• Very easy to apply as it was quite a runny liquid and very much like the NARS Pure Radiance tinted moisturiser (which is my go-to product)
• It barely oxidised on me. I have the kind of skin that turns any foundation into an oompa loompa shade and this one oxidised only just a teeny tiny bit.
• I didn't get to try this out for myself as I had only a small sample container to go by, but it comes in a sleek glass bottle with a pump which I already know I will love. What's not to love about a pump?!
• It does not contain SPF so it is perfect for flash photography, which happens fairly frequently during events/night's out!

What I didn't like about it:

• It did oxidise, albeit by just a tiny bit
• I didn't use a powder with it, so maybe that would have solved this problem, but it felt like it never really set. If I rubbed my face, some would come off.
• It got a bit shiny as the day went on. Nothing that blotting or a dusting of powder wouldn't fix, but I'm the kind of person that doesn't do stuff like that throughout my day simply because I don't like carrying extra makeup and brushes in my bag.

Final verdict? I like it enough to buy. When I did the review, I wore it to work. I'm quite active and busy at work, on my feet all day and sweating and such. I really put it through its paces. However, my intended purpose for a new foundation is to wear it to events or night's out only, which means it suits my purpose just fine.

Shopaholic strikes again!

I'm at it again. Buying things I don't need. Buuut... sale. So why not? Here are my latest purchases:

Kookai dress - $40

Kookai top - $50

Guess dress - $149.95 (I had 20% off)

Guess top - $79.95 (I had 20% off)

Flannel shorts - $150

Today I actually spent my time packing up some clothes and shoes and transporting it into my storage unit... only to refill the space I made with these new purchases. Go figure. Here's some pictures from Snapchat of my day (follow me! "luvrin"):

Shoe addiction, confirmed.

I never really thought of myself as someone addicted to shoes. Sure, I buy my fair share and have more than I really need. But lately I have been finding it hard to find places to put away the new shoes that I keep buying. In the past 5 days, I have obtained 5 new pairs of shoes (all heels, all high and all unnecessary). What's going on? Why do I keep buying shoes that are impractical and don't serve any purpose for me other than to take up space in my room?

These are the shoes that prompted my questioning, ordered online on sale for $80 from Kookai. In fact, I should have been concerned on Saturday, where I was out by myself in the city, window shopping to kill time before meeting up with a friend for her birthday dinner. The window shopping turned into an actual shopping expedition, and I spent $160 on a pair of heels from Tony Bianco. They weren't on sale or anything, I just decided that they looked nice with my outfit and I wanted to wear it for the dinner. 

I also tried on a pair of brown, suede soled wedges that didn't particularly look good or anything, but they were really comfortable to walk in while giving me height. They were on sale for $80 and I wanted to buy them as well but didn't want to be lugging around two shoe boxes at the dinner. So I asked the sales assistant to put it on hold for me, and I went and purchased it the following Monday.

If you follow me on Snapchat (luvrin) you would have seen all these photos before. I'm quite prolific on Snapchat! I'm always alone so it's not like I have anything better to do. And therein lies the problem... I'm alone. If I were with someone, I would not be shopping for myself. I would be engaged in conversation, or assisting whoever I'm with with their shopping or whatever. Also, me being single plays a huge part in this ridiculous addiction I have. There is no one for me to focus on, so I focus on myself. Well, I have the kids, yes, but I buy them things all the time anyway and it doesn't count because they always need new things. But me? No, I don't need to be buying ten pairs of heels per month, yet here I am... *sigh*

I even returned a pair of heels today that I had ordered full price from Tony Bianco. I had ordered them a week before and had just received them on Monday (yes, that very Monday that I bought the wedges on hold for me)! I really liked them but they were far too high for me and I found them quite uncomfortable. Not to mention, I had already bought the pair from Tony Bianco on Saturday that were the exact same colour and very similar in style. I would have kept it if I hadn't felt so guilty about already owning a pair that was just as nice, but far more comfortable.

Today when I got home from work and saw the package from Kookai for me, I knew I had a problem. Who needs that many pair of heels? I don't ever go out, so it's not like I will get much use from them right now. I really need to stop buying shoes... maybe I should start dating again, haha!

A video posted by Rin (@makeupdownunder) on Jan 7, 2016 at 3:46am PST

Online shopping sleep disorder?

After a massive shopping expedition at Chadstone for some christmas gifts for family, what does one do? Go home and shop some more, of course. Thank you, world wide web, for being such an enabling c**t. 

I did only buy sale items, though... well, two were full priced but if I signed up to recieve newsletters I'd get 15% off those items - technically still a sale, right?

And who doesn't need shoes? We always need them! We cannot leave the house without them... *rakes brain for more excuses to try and justify the purchase* 

Isn't it ironic that I had to spend more on a 7 year old's shoe, than I did on my own?! How does that even work? Even my teenager's shoe cost more than my own. Hmmm!

It's nearly 2am and I'm half asleep. I've noticed that I tend to do a lot of online shopping at this time. In the morning I've forgotten about all these purchases until I  recieve the confirmation emails, PayPal receipts and tracking advice. Maybe this is a form of sleep disorder? In which case, it would probably end up costing me less to go see a specialist.

Can't wait for my purchases (that I've forgotten about) to arrive, though! It's always a pleasure signing for my parcels.

Melbourne Central VIP Haul - Summer Tops

The fruits of my spoil today at the Melbourne Central shopping festival. All items purchased were 25% off from Guess and 20% off from Superdry. I intended to buy just one top that I was waiting for to go on sale but of course, once you pop, you can't stop ;)

GUESS Hot Legs swing tank - AUD $49.95

GUESS Asymmetrical Sharkbite tank - AUD $69.95

GUESS Instinct tee - AUD $49.95

GUESS Printed Snake Top camisole (coral multi) - AUD $49.95

SUPERDRY Grey Cross Stitch crop cami - AUD $44.95

SUPERDRY Blue Cross Stitch crop cami - AUD $44.95

GUESS  Military Denim crop top (rockdale wash) - AUD $ 99.95

Crest 3D Whitestrips Vivid: before & after, demo + review

I purchased a pack of Crest whitestrips from this website a week ago and gave them a try (on video)! My teeth have never been white but I wanted to see if it would make any difference at all.  I think it did, what do you think?  The above photo is the before and after.  To see the demo and review, watch the video below.

Direct link to video: http://youtu.be/o3poJxiG6iw

Jimmy Choo style on a budget

Feel like stepping out in some Jimmy Choo shoes, except you can't afford to?  Don't worry, you're not alone - I feel your pain.  Boy do I feel your pain!  And so does ZU.  Thankfully they've made some affordable "Jimmy Choos" of their own, so us paupers can step out in style as well.  Hooray!

Jimmy Choo "Kani"

ZU "Ornate"

Jimmy Choo "Vamp"

ZU "Violeta Evening"

Jimmy Choo "Kiki"

ZU "Bahraini"

While the Jimmy Choo heels range in price from $700 - $2,200 AUD, the ZU heels are very reasonably priced at under $140 AUD.  And when they have their sales, you can save even more! Just so you know, the Bahraini and Violeta Evening are currently on sale... yippee!  Check out their website and grab yourself a bargain.

By the way, I'm not affiliated with ZU in any way.  I just love Jimmy Choo shoes but can't afford them and happened to stumble upon ZU's knockoffs and got all excited :)  Now we can all step out in Jimmy Choo style!

*Jimmy Choo shoe images are from www.jimmychoo.com and ZU shoe images are from www.zushoe.com.au

Latest Australian designer lusts...

I have recently become obsessed with Australian designers.  There's something very fun and eye catching about brands such as Zimmermann and Alannah Hill.  While I'm no stranger to these brands, I've never paid them much attention for one sole reason: their prices are beyond my means.

I think I may have grown up a little and decided that dressing trashy no longer suits me.  Not that I was majorly trashy or anything, but I'm pretty sure that if I was on that show Snog, Marry, Avoid I'd have been seen as the type to avoid.  Or at least snog, then avoid!

Anyway I just wanted to show you my latest fashion lusts from some Australian designers.  The top three bikinis are all from zimmermannwear.com.  They are high in quality and look different to any other bikini I own and am seeing on the current market.  The price range is above the $200 AUD mark but if they ever go on sale, you might be able to snag it for half price.  Which I plan to do!

How gorgeous are these two dresses?  Again, they're from zimmermannwear.com.  These two are prime examples of my fashion taste gravitating towards non-trashy.  Anything that came even close to covering my knees used to be scoffed at by me, now I understand that long dresses are very good when your knees start to get fat.  I actually saw the pink dress in store and if they had had it in my size, I would've bought it then and there - groceries for the week be damned!  Both the dresses are over the $400 AUD mark but the darker one is on sale for $275 AUD (original price $550 AUD)... run, don't walk!

I like to think of Kookai is an affordable Australian label.  While they may not be up there along with the other aussie designers, they do produce some great designs and when they go on sale, it's well worth it to have a look around.  They do great basics and stunning dresses.  The two dresses above I have tried on and fallen in love with.  They're $130 AUD and $190 AUD respectively.  And while Kookai are currently having a massive sale on right now, those two aren't on sale just yet.  Hurry up, please!  I wish to own them very soon.

This dress is $590 AUD from sassandbide.com.  Ouchies!  But look how unique it is.  You can never go wrong with black and gold.  It's long, but still sexy.  It's pretty much everything a dress needs to be: classic yet modern, different and I bet it looks good on too... on me.  LOL :)  Sass and Bide also do some great unique looking accessories.  Their price is definitely high but at least you'll know you're unlikely to bump into someone wearing the same outfit as you at a party.

While I lust for these items, it's highly unlikely that I'll ever get to add them to my wardrobe so I've written this post especially for me to look back on and drool at.  Are you drooling too?  To see more of the fashion that I love, have a peek at my pinterest.  I've only just started but there will be plenty more pretty things to see!  xoxo

Chanel Rose Exuberant

I purchased this nail polish not too long ago ($39 AUD from Myer).  It's one I've been eyeing forevaahhh and the only reason why I never got it before is because I already have so many pinks. My current favourite pink shade is OPI's Kiss Me On My Tulips, but the formula for that is a bit streaky for my liking (see a review for that here).

Chanel Rose Exuberant is extremely similar to Kiss Me On My Tulips.  It is a vibrant cream and is great for a pop of colour.  However, Chanel's formula is sooooo much better.  It's smooth and streak free and in fact I would've gotten away with just one coat.  In the photos you'll see two coats, but seriously, one application is enough to yield an opaque and streak free finish.

This is Rose Exuberant in low lighting.  Still so pretty, yes?  I think that given the fact that one coat is enough (therefore more wears out of a bottle), $39 is not bad to pay for a polish that has an awesome formula and is a colour I really love and will wear over and over agian.  What do you think?

Cajun Shrimp (on my toes)!

If you can get past how ugly my feet are (hairy toes, anyone?) perhaps you will enjoy the Cajun Shrimp I put on it yesterday.  It is a cream based orangey-red nail polish by OPI that was included in The Best of the Best mini collection which came out eons ago (ok, maybe just over a year ago).

In natural lighting it looks like a very vibrant coral red.

In low lighting it looks orange!

This is not the kind of colour I usually go for but it has grown on me quite a bit.  I think it's perfect for summer as it's a cheerful, bright colour and compliments my skin tone fairly well.  My feet have been in nothing but thongs as of lately - you can see those horrible thong tan lines, can't you?  When wearing thongs, I always like to dress up my toes in a cute colour.  OPI Cajun Shrimp fits the bill :)

Cheap, effective way to remove chlorine from hair

Check out my disgustingly crispy, frizzy hair.  That is the result of many swimming sessions at the local pool this summer.  Usually, I like to wash my hair straight after a swim but sometimes I forget to take my shampoo and conditioner.  Overtime, chlorine builds up in the hair anyway, and you need a special shampoo to get rid of it.

I didn't want to spend any money on a shampoo that I'd only use a few times... Ok, well the truth was, I actually did want to go out and buy a specific chlorine removing shampoo but all the shops were closed... *sobs*!  Anyway, I turned to Google to see if there was anything I could do to effectively remove chlorine from my hair, and I found a few things I could try.  The method I am telling you about is method #3 from this website: wikihow.com.  I chose the baking soda method simply because I already have baking soda at home, and it seemed to take up the least amount of time to do.  Hello, I'm not called lazy for no reason!

What I used:  baking soda, water

What I did:  I filled a small glass about one third full with baking soda, and added some water - enough to turn it into a not-too-thick paste.  I jumped in the shower, wet my hair, turned off the shower and started using the paste I just made to wash my hair.  I made sure to scrub it all over.  I spent a good 2-3 minutes doing this.  I then turned the water back on and rinsed my hair thoroughly before shampooing and conditioning my hair as normal.

Result:  I am pleased to report that I no longer have crispy, chlorine scented hair!  This method worked extremely well for me and I'm actually grateful that I saved a few dollars.  When it came time to blow drying my hair, my hair no longer felt like it had been at the beach all day.  The "salt" feeling had completely gone and my hair was back to being soft, light and bouncy.

Thank God that the shops were closed, and that I had to resort to Google.  Google really does have the answer to everything!

My Kids

I don't think I've ever formally introduced my kids before.  I have two sons, Tony who is ten years old and Dante who is 4 years old.  They are opposites in personality yet get along very well.  Tony has moderate autism and Dante has been diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder.  To me, they're perfect & I honestly would not have them any other way.