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  • Suki Hairdressing and I are going on a very important mission.... to save my hair.

    I've been blonde my entire life. From having white hair as a small child to bleaching, highlighting and dying my hair since it started to turn brown. My hair has been through a lot and withstood it for a very long time, but a couple of years ago (after some mishandling from a hairdresser) my hair just fell to pieces. I lost length and thickness and I've been trying to get it back ever since.

    My hair has certainly gotten thicker and longer since then, but I still feel like it's a little subpar; that's where Suki Hairdressing are coming to my rescue.

    Suki Hairdressing is a L'Oreal salon based here in Newcastle, NSW. I'd heard about them before but I had never ventured in. Suki aren't about doing anything to crazy with hair; they are all about getting hair looking fresh, natural and healthy (everything I'm looking for at the moment).

    When I went in, I had let my last balayage grow out a fair bit, and while I had been liking the extra brown I was beginning to no longer feel like such a fan. I didn't however feel like I was ready to go completely blonde. I was also open to having as much hair cut off as necessary to help the healing process. I basically left my hair in the hands of Suki's blonde expert, Bek, and came out super impressed and happy.

    We decided to keep a little brown at the roots to help give my hair the illusion of being thicker and having more volume then it actually does. The brown roots also help to extend time between appointments because it becomes less obvious when your hair does start to grow out. We also lightened up the blonde and didn't have to cut off to much length in the end, while also adding a few layers under the hair to give a little more volume.



    I also picked up some styling tips along the way which might take me a little longer to master but should help me have hairdresser-fresh feeling hair at home when I do.

    The salon itself is great. The design is simple but sophisticated and they have great little touches, including popping your name and appointment time on the mirror in your allocated spot (so you feel a little bit VIP when you arrive). Bek and the owner Sandy were super welcoming and so forthcoming with tips, advice and knowledge to help me with my hair.

    Before I left the girls also stocked me up with loads of good haircare products (all products they used while I was there) to help keep my hair in good knick until my next appointment in six weeks time (I'm already excited to go back).

    SmartBond Professional SmartBond No 3
    This is my new go-to conditioner. This stuff will help to repair the inside of my hair to help in the process of getting it long and thick again. When I used and brushed it though in the shower I was nervous my hair wouldn't come out feeling very soft or tangle-free when I dried it without putting my usual hair oil in. I was however pleasantly surprised and still find my hair feels really soft and smooth, and I know it's getting all sorts of good treatment benefits at the same time.

    If I'm ever wanting to get my hair looking super shiny and feeling a little smoother than the SmartBond can achieve, this hair treatment is something I can grab. I think I'll be giving this a go when hair washing time swings around again to test it out.

    L'oreal Magnesium Silver Shampoo
    To help maintain a nice clean, white blonde colour, this is my go-to shampoo. Popping this in my hair and letting it sit for a few minutes before washing it out will help to rid my hair of any yellow tones and keep it looking fresh and on-point.


    This shampoo was also given to me. If I find that using the purple shampoo is starting to give my hair a bit of a purple tinge and I'm not feeling like having that, then I can use this shampoo every other wash instead. This shampoo aimed at helping strengthen damaged hair and stopping breakage.

    Keratase Ciment Thermique
    If you have colour treated hair you should never be going without some sort of heat protectant. This product also adds to the overall softness that my hair has even after being heat treated. A little goes a long way and the best way to apply this is to put some between your hands and pull your hair back like you're putting it up in a ponytail and run it through the hair. Then, any you have left on your hands you run through the top. I also love the smell of this stuff and it gives my hair that 'I just left the hairdresser' scent but in my own bathroom.


    As Bek described it to me, if hairspray and dry shampoo came together and had a baby, you'd get this stuff. As someone who prefers a bit of a messy, undone look to my hair (mainly because I tend to touch my hair so much during the day that I mess up any hairstyle I have and my hairstyling time in the morning is minimal and therefore this type of look is basically all I have time for), this will help to give me that look but still keep it looking neat. Whether I'm popping in a bit of a wave and want it to hold a little better, or just want to add some texture, spraying this Kevin Murphy product in at the end will help. This can also help me extend time between hair washes.
    . 6/27/18 .

    Saved by Suki

    . 6/27/18 .


    Suki Hairdressing and I are going on a very important mission.... to save my hair.

    I've been blonde my entire life. From having white hair as a small child to bleaching, highlighting and dying my hair since it started to turn brown. My hair has been through a lot and withstood it for a very long time, but a couple of years ago (after some mishandling from a hairdresser) my hair just fell to pieces. I lost length and thickness and I've been trying to get it back ever since.

    My hair has certainly gotten thicker and longer since then, but I still feel like it's a little subpar; that's where Suki Hairdressing are coming to my rescue.

    Suki Hairdressing is a L'Oreal salon based here in Newcastle, NSW. I'd heard about them before but I had never ventured in. Suki aren't about doing anything to crazy with hair; they are all about getting hair looking fresh, natural and healthy (everything I'm looking for at the moment).

    When I went in, I had let my last balayage grow out a fair bit, and while I had been liking the extra brown I was beginning to no longer feel like such a fan. I didn't however feel like I was ready to go completely blonde. I was also open to having as much hair cut off as necessary to help the healing process. I basically left my hair in the hands of Suki's blonde expert, Bek, and came out super impressed and happy.

    We decided to keep a little brown at the roots to help give my hair the illusion of being thicker and having more volume then it actually does. The brown roots also help to extend time between appointments because it becomes less obvious when your hair does start to grow out. We also lightened up the blonde and didn't have to cut off to much length in the end, while also adding a few layers under the hair to give a little more volume.



    I also picked up some styling tips along the way which might take me a little longer to master but should help me have hairdresser-fresh feeling hair at home when I do.

    The salon itself is great. The design is simple but sophisticated and they have great little touches, including popping your name and appointment time on the mirror in your allocated spot (so you feel a little bit VIP when you arrive). Bek and the owner Sandy were super welcoming and so forthcoming with tips, advice and knowledge to help me with my hair.

    Before I left the girls also stocked me up with loads of good haircare products (all products they used while I was there) to help keep my hair in good knick until my next appointment in six weeks time (I'm already excited to go back).

    SmartBond Professional SmartBond No 3
    This is my new go-to conditioner. This stuff will help to repair the inside of my hair to help in the process of getting it long and thick again. When I used and brushed it though in the shower I was nervous my hair wouldn't come out feeling very soft or tangle-free when I dried it without putting my usual hair oil in. I was however pleasantly surprised and still find my hair feels really soft and smooth, and I know it's getting all sorts of good treatment benefits at the same time.

    If I'm ever wanting to get my hair looking super shiny and feeling a little smoother than the SmartBond can achieve, this hair treatment is something I can grab. I think I'll be giving this a go when hair washing time swings around again to test it out.

    L'oreal Magnesium Silver Shampoo
    To help maintain a nice clean, white blonde colour, this is my go-to shampoo. Popping this in my hair and letting it sit for a few minutes before washing it out will help to rid my hair of any yellow tones and keep it looking fresh and on-point.


    This shampoo was also given to me. If I find that using the purple shampoo is starting to give my hair a bit of a purple tinge and I'm not feeling like having that, then I can use this shampoo every other wash instead. This shampoo aimed at helping strengthen damaged hair and stopping breakage.

    Keratase Ciment Thermique
    If you have colour treated hair you should never be going without some sort of heat protectant. This product also adds to the overall softness that my hair has even after being heat treated. A little goes a long way and the best way to apply this is to put some between your hands and pull your hair back like you're putting it up in a ponytail and run it through the hair. Then, any you have left on your hands you run through the top. I also love the smell of this stuff and it gives my hair that 'I just left the hairdresser' scent but in my own bathroom.


    As Bek described it to me, if hairspray and dry shampoo came together and had a baby, you'd get this stuff. As someone who prefers a bit of a messy, undone look to my hair (mainly because I tend to touch my hair so much during the day that I mess up any hairstyle I have and my hairstyling time in the morning is minimal and therefore this type of look is basically all I have time for), this will help to give me that look but still keep it looking neat. Whether I'm popping in a bit of a wave and want it to hold a little better, or just want to add some texture, spraying this Kevin Murphy product in at the end will help. This can also help me extend time between hair washes.
    . 6/25/18 .


    It's Bellabox time again; so lets dive in and see what arrived on my doorstep this month.

    I currently have so many Neutrogena goodies stock piled in my spare room, but I'm never mad to add more to the collection. Neutrogena is one of my favourite skincare brands and my skin seems to always get along with their cleansers in particular, so I can't wait to try this out. This scrub aims to clear away dead skin cells and clear our your pores to help your skin look and feel refreshed and clean. I always love having a more exfoliating scrub to use at night in the shower to really help clean my skin after a day of wearing makeup and dirt build up.

    When it comes to nail polish, I'm a huge fan of a more neutral shade. Particularly because I'm now working full-time, having a more neutral shade means I don't have to redo my nails after every weekend to make them work-ready. While I do love exploring into more vibrant colours sometimes, a colour like this is defiantly my go-to.

    I took a trip to the hairdresser this weekend (a blog post on that will be coming shortly) and they stocked me up with a bunch of products, including a hair treatment, so I'm intersted to try this one out in comparison and see how it goes. This mask contains coconut oil, Moroccan Argan oil and Jojoba (all the good stuff) and it aims to help repair, hydrate and strengthen your hair (all things my thirsty blonde hair needs). Also, can we take a moment for the brilliant packaging. This mask also aims to help protect your hair against any heat treatment you use and fight again flyaways and split ends.

    You all know I'm a face mask kind of girl, so I'm never opposed to having a new one come my way.  This masks sounds all kinds of interesting and fun and aims to help illuminate your skin by leaving it looking and feeling more smooth and radiant. It says it has a jelly-like formula which I'm very intrigued to test out and is also parabon free, which is always a big thumbs up from me.

    I'll admit I'm a bit behind on the Burt's Bees train. While I knew they had plenty of lip balms floating around, I've never really looked any further into their product range; so I'm interested to give this night cream a go. This products contains a lot of good things including Vitamins A, B2, and E to help boost your skin moisture and hydration levels, which also goes towards reducing signs of ageing. The name itself is giving me visions of waking up with plump and soft feeling skin.


    While I am a regular fake tanner, I don't often tend to tan my face. I find whenever I do, it only lasts for the few hours in between showers, because as soon as I cleanse my face it all fades off and my skin is back to my natural colour. Having my face tanned or not is not something that has ever really bothered me, but I'm intersted to give this a go and see if it has more longevity than other products I've tried.

    . 6/21/18 .


    Bobbi Brown certainly know how to make a good lipstick. Their latest Crushed Lip Colour Range will help to give your lips a new colour, while also keeping them hydrated and smooth.

    While these little babies look and act like a lipstick, they feel more like a lip balm when you apply them. Full of Vitamins E and C, as well as beeswax, these glide smoothly on to the lips and will leave you with a matte finish, but won't dry out your lips as you wear them. 

    The shade range is really wearable, with a fewer brighter or darker shades if you're looking to go for a look that is a little more bold. 

    In terms of wear, they will transfer and wear off a little during the day like any lipstick, but they will keep your lips with a bit of a stain so the colour doesn't completely disappear.

    The packaging itself is sleek and beautiful as always from Bobbi Brown, and also feels quite heavy and expensive, so it will certainly last the test of time in your handbag.

    . 6/19/18 .


    When I put together some of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe at the moment, this is what I get. 

    My newest and latest obsession has been these leopard print pants which I brought from Sunshine Dreamer and are from the brand Reverse. As soon as I saw these I was in love, so I grabbed a pair in my size as soon as they were back in stock. I've been loving a good statement pant at the moment (probably thanks to the cold weather here; can I go one blog post without mentioning it...). They just make any outfit go from Plain Jane to rock goddess in an instant, and you don't even really have to try with the rest of your outfit.

    I've paired it with this denim vest with an awesome embroidered detail on the back from Riders by Lee. I'm not really a big vest person, but if I'm going to own and wear a vest, this is the one. I really want to start experimenting with more ways to wear this.

    I've then got this Nirvana top (typical) which I brought from Factorie over a year ago, so while this one in particular may no longer be in stock, it's certainly not hard to track down some sort of tee with a Nirvana print on it (trust me I've been tempted to buy them all).

    Lastly I've got the one hat I can bring myself to wear, my Baker Boy hat from Stoned Saint Moon. While I still struggle to feel completely comfortable it in, I certainly can't go past it when I haven't washed my hair for a couple of days but I've got a coffee date to head to.

    . 6/12/18 .


    It's been a while since I've had a Peony Parcel land in my mailbox so I'm excited to finally have another one to share with you all. If you want to check out more about Peony Parcel you can see some of my past posts here, here, and here . But for now, lets jump in to what is inside the latest Peony Parcel; The Tranquility Edition.


    This product couldn't have come into my life at a better time, as I was just running out of my last eye serum and in need of a new one. Given the name, I expected this to have a bit of a coffee scent to it, but can confirm this product is completely scent free. Also, applying the product with a cool roller ball under your eye helps to reduce any puffiness you may have. This product contains Green Coffee Bean extract, Siberian Ginseng, Kakadu Plum, Pomegranate Seeds and Sea Buckthorn Oil to help not only hydrate your eyes but tackle any puffiness, to leave you looking  more awake and ready to take on the world, whether you really are or not.

    If you're looking for a candle that is going to give your house a fresh and clean scent, this is the candle you need to pick up. One thing to note is to keep an eye on the wik while it's burning so that it doesn't end up encased by wax like mine did.



    PEONY SPA Luxe Headband 
    If you're going to pamper yourself, you need the right tools to do it, and this Peony Parcel has you covered. Whether you're wanting to pop on a face mask or keep your hair dry while having a bath, Peony Parcel has you prepared with the inclusion of this headband.

    With winter here, there is nothing better than a nice warm bath on a cold and rainy night. As such, I've recently been smashing through my bath salts and soaks, so I was so glad to see this inside the box. The perfect product to help transport you away from the cold and make you feel like you're on a summer vacation with scent notes of salt air, neroli, bergamot, melon, citrus, Bois de rose and woody musk.


    I still haven't given this Matcha drink thing a go, so I'm a little excited to give this stuff a try and make myself a tea or coffee. Something inside me says I won't be a fan, but I can't knock something until I try it. Matcha is suppose to help boost your metabolism, detoxify your body, give it a big antioxidant boost, improve your mood and concentration and so much more. With so many benefits I can't not give it a go/

    VATÉA Nourishing Body Wash & Beautiful Body Moisturiser 
    I had never seen or heard of this brand before now, but I have to say everything about them is so beautiful. As well as having beautiful packaging and great quality products, including baby care products for those with smaller humans in their life, they are also a natural and organic brand who source their ingredients from Australia and New Zealand; can you really get any better than that. The only downside to these products are I only got the smaller versions


    . 6/8/18 .


    Let me introduce you to the new collection from Revlon, the PhotoReady Collection. It's feel like it's been a while since I've really dived into some new makeup, I feel a lot of my recent posts and reviews have been around skincare, so I'm super excited to bring some makeup back to the table. As the name of this collection suggests, Revlon has brought out a range of products aimed at helping you get that flawless look; so know matter where you go or what you do, you're always ready if someone whips out a camera. They kindly sent me a few pieces from the new collection to test out, so keep on reading to hear my thoughts.


    With a name like that I was putting some high expectations on this foundation. Firstly, I love the design of the packaging. The product dispenses as you twist the base and comes out through the top of the sponge. It's such a great way to have real control over the amount of product you're using, so you don't waste anything, which I love. I don't actually use the sponge to apply it, I just use my regular Beauty Blender, but there is certainly no reason you can't use it and it would be the perfect solution if you found yourself without any other tools on hand for whatever reason. 

    When I was first applied this, I wasn't sold straight away. As I applied I felt like it wasn't settling into the skin and I worried it was going to sit funny. However, I gave it another minute or two to settle and damn was I impressed. Nothing is going to make your skin flawless, but I certainly felt like I'd gotten a few steps closer. The foundation settled so smoothly onto my skin and didn't grab on to any dry areas or imperfections. 

    I tend to wear my makeup for most of the day as I work, so all foundations certainly get a decent test run. I also have an oiler base to my skin and it's almost impossible to find a foundation that hasn't separated to some extent by the end of the day. This foundation didn't break any records in that department but I certainly felt it looked better when I got home at the end of the day than some other products I've used in the past.


    I've heard so much about colour correcting, but I never really bothered to give it a go. But with these Colour Correcting Pens in front of me, I figured it was time. While I don't have any major pigmentation issues, though I certainly get some redness around pimples and dry areas at times, I was definitely impressed with the results of using these. 

    If you're the same as I was and have no idea which colour is meant to go where, here's a quick run down; green helps to counteract red, purple for any places you're looking to brighten and an orange or lemon shade will fight away the dark circles. 

    I tend to find myself mostly reaching for the green and also adding a little orange under my eyes for good measure, and did I mention I've been impressed. Firstly, the colour is intense enough to work it's magic (especially when it comes to using the green to hide redness) but it doesn't show through once you've applied your concealer and preferred foundation. They also had no adverse affect on the foundation or concealer. Honestly, if you suffer from any colour or dull skin issues, or you're just looking to add a little more perfection to your look, I couldn't recommend these more.


    I have to say, I haven't really tried that many setting sprays but I'm still on the fence about them. A lot of beauty gurus rave about them and how vital they are, but I can't say I've been sold yet. Maybe it's just my skin type, but when I used the Insta-Filter foundation both with and without the setting spray during a full day at work, I didn't notice any major differences. I do tend to be wearing my makeup for extended periods of time to the point I'm not sure any product is really going to salvage the damage, but I still hoped to see some sort of improvement. This is the only product I received that I don't see myself reaching for all that often.

    . 6/6/18 .


    These were the overalls I didn't know I needed until I saw them in the store. I don't own anything else like this in my closet, but as soon as I tried them on I knew these had to come home with me. I picked this up from TKMaxx, which usually doesn't lend itself to unique styles of clothing, but I haven't seen a piece like this around since. The buckles on these can be a little annoying as they like to come undone sometimes, but otherwise the material of these is super soft but also heavy and beautiful quality. I've paired it with a crop from Third Form which I got for a bargain during a flea sale at The Lair.


    . 6/4/18 .


    Today we're talking all things Jurlique. If you haven't heard of Jurlique before, they are a skincare brand that originated in South Australia (yes to home-grown brands!). They create natural skincare with a strong focus on being kind to Mother Nature. To do this they have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility called Jurlique's Natural Beauty Plant, where they use solar power, low voltage light, reuse water and more to keep their footprint on this earth minimal.

    Limited Edition Rosewater Balancing Mist
    This is the limited edition, deluxe version of Jurlique's amazing Balancing Mist. If you're looking for something to soothe your skin, make it feel refreshed, give it some hydration or all of the above, you need to get your hands on this stuff. If you're not a major rose-scent fan, maybe this isn't for you, but if you don't mind it or it doesn't bother, do yourself a favour and get your hands on this bad boy. This size might not be great for travel, but you'll be thanking yourself for the extra product when you get hooked on the stuff.

    love this mask because you can use this for a variety of hydration needs. If you need a quick refresh you can pop this all over your skin for 10 minutes, wipe it off and whip out the door feeling ready to face the world. If you're needing something a little more intense (like me with this onset of cold wind lately) you can actually sleep in this stuff overnight to really tackle any dry skin issues. A big winner in my books this winter.


    Rose Moisture Plus Daily Moisture Balancing Serum
    You all know how much I love a good serum in my life and I've just found another to add to my list. This serum has helped to keep my skin tone looking on point and keep my skin looking bright while also keeping it hydrated and protected against environmental stresses and damage. All of Jurlique's products are also full of natural ingredients so you know everything your putting on your skin is only doing it good.


    If you're looking for a new lightweight moisturise to use during the day and as a part of your morning skincare routine, I'd suggest giving this product a go. This lotion helps keep my skin from drying out throughout the day, but being lightweight means it sits nicely under my makeup. Remember, you'll want to be a fan of rose scent, or at the very least not mind it, to use this range of products. If rose isn't your thing, Jurlique also have other lines of products for you to check out.

    . 6/1/18 .


    A look inside what I would normally wear on a day-to-day basis when I'm not in the office. Especially with this colder weather, some jeans, top, boots and a belt to top it all of are my go-to. They are easy to put together which is great for the little lazy monster in me, but still looks styled and like you've really thought about your look. A new belt or different top can also completely change the look in seconds with just as little effort.

    Here I'm wearing some cheeky ripped mum jeans from Factorie, a t-shirt dress tucked into also from Cotton On (similar), the belt I pair with bloody everything from Zaful and my latest addition and obsession to my boot collection from Nastygal.