Every night I tell my daugther stories, these are often in the form of “Princess Coco” tales which have the same start and ending but a different middle. Then I kiss her eyelids and tell her the fairies will soon sprinkle their fairy dust on her eyes to give her good dreams. In the mornings when she has “sleepy dust” or “sleep” in her eyes she says it is fairy dust and is delighted. She also has some crazy dreams about balloons but that’s a whole other story.

The other day when I was getting ready for bed about the same time as her (yes she was up late, we’d been visiting friends), she watched me do my nightly routine of massaging oils and lotions into my face and neck. As I dabbed Osmosis Refresh PM around my delicate (and ageing) orbital area she asked me sweetly, “Mummy is that going to give you good dreams?”

I thought, “yes, darling it shall. You see it works in magic ways and keeps my eyes looking youthful.”

Which is the best way to describe this product really. As far as skincare ranges go, I like Osmosis and this recently released eye cream does the trick.

Despite some saying it can be worn day and night, I find the formula a bit too thick and greasy under concealor but for nighttime it’s magnificent. It’s a thick cream with shimmers (so on the right person would make a nice illuminator under the eye) – these are super fine liquid crystals. It’s also got niacinamide, peptides, harmonized water, CoQ10 and a few other ingredients that don’t sound toxic. It plumps this defiantly fine skin into a cushion of happiness… well it does to mine anyway. Happy eye area – happy me. I can’t believe how much this part of my face has changed in the past few years!

How about you? What does your nightly routine entail? Which products are you loving at the moment?

~ Tamsin xoxo

Tell us what you do…

As ridiculous as it sounds, I currently have four jobs and I love them all. My ‘two day a week office job’ is editing trade beauty magazine ‘BeautyNZ’, which is distributed around professional beauty therapists and keeps them up to date with industry news and research. I have learned so much about skin structure and ingredients, and my own skin has never been better as a result.

From home I work as a screenwriter for television and films. I recently had a short film made and am waiting on funding for a feature length film.

Last of all, I write my blog, Beaunz (pronounced Bones), which is a daily scrapbook of beautiful things. I love that other people get so much out of it, because it truly is a joy to write, and it reminds me to stop and find beauty in the little things – of which there are many.

Oh, and I’m a mum to my 18month old daughter Poet!

What’s your daily skincare routine?

I recently discovered Osmosis skin care, and I love it. I’m using their vitamin A, vitamin C and antioxidant serums, their sunscreen, and Quench, which is a divine hydrating product. Since I stopped exfoliating and switched to daily vitamin A and C, my skin has never been better. I cleanse at night only, and just splash my face with water in the morning. I am religious about taking off my make-up with cleanser and water; otherwise I am guaranteed breakouts.

What’s your daily makeup routine?

I don’t wear much make-up, just a dab of mineral make-up down the centre of my face and blended outwards, so as to maintain the natural contours of the face (an insider trick from my lovely friend Daniel Sandler), then I dot Lancome Eclat Miracle around my brow and cheek bones. I wear red lipstick in some shade every day, usually just pressed onto my lips with my fingers because I’m too lazy and clumsy to maintain a perfectly applied pout. I then blend a tiny dot of the same lipstick onto my cheeks, and finish with mascara.

How do you change this for night?

At night I do much of the same just with more depth, and I’m partial to a dot of sparkle in the inner corner of my eyes, to catch the light.

What are your first makeup memories?

My gorgeous Nana, once runner-up Mrs. New Zealand, was an Avon lady and always had drawers full of make-up. Whenever we visited, my sister and I were allowed to play with all her testers, and choose something to take home. I always chose a miniature lipstick, which came in a little white tube, and I adored them.

Any makeup or hair faux-pas over the years?

I was given the most awful haircut about 6 years ago, by a friend who said he knew ‘exactly what my hair should look like’. Unfortunately I trusted him, and spent two years growing out a platinum Beatles bob.

What’s your signature fragrance?

I have worn Lalique de Lalique for ten years now, and I will never wear anything else. If I could imbibe it into my skin somehow I would. It is warm and feminine and expensive smelling, unfortunately you can’t get it in New Zealand so these days I rely on friends coming over from London to bring me bottles.

What treatments are your ultimate indulgence?

Good massages, and truly holistic facials, but they are really hard to find! Just today I had a Phyts organic treatment for work, and it was so good I booked again straight away, even though it is across the other side of town from where I live.

What do you wish you had more time for?

I never have enough time to write. I have so many ideas for films and articles and Beaunz posts and poems, and I never manage to get them all written. Thank goodness for pretty notebooks – I have dozens of them scribbled in and tucked into pockets and corners, just waiting to be revisited and brought to life.

What inspires you?

People. I love looking at people and imagining a life for them. How they got where they are, why they chose their outfit that day, what sort of parents they have and what they wish they were doing. What can I say? I’m a storyteller…

What books are you currently reading?

I have been struggling through a book called Breakfast with Socrates, not because it’s badly written, but because I’m so perpetually sleep deprived that I fall asleep within minutes of starting to read.

What’s on high rotation on your ipod?

Bon Iver, Real Estate, The Gossip, Kid Sam and The Adults.

What sort of exercise do you do?

I love to run; it is a great way to explore and find new places. Lately there isn’t much time to disappear for an hour or so without my daughter, so I take her with me in the pushchair and get twice the workout in half the time!

Are you fond of taking supplements? If so, which ones?

I don’t take supplements, but I put a couple of scoops of Udo’s Greens into my water each day. It is packed with all sorts of phyto-nutrients, and makes me feel really good – even if it does look like swamp water.

What would you tell the younger you if you could turn back time?

Invest in professional skin care, stop eating dairy (I realised really late that I am lactose intolerant and it has transformed my skin and my life) and stop worrying! Put your heart in the right place and everything will turn out just as it should.

There’s nothing like a bright lip to freshen up a summer look and in this case I chose L’Oreal Paris Color Riche in Magnetic Coral. Keeping the rest of the face simple I simply added lashing of L’Oreal Paris Lash Architect 4D.

Make sure you’ve joined our Facebook Page or follow me on Twitter @beautygoss to keep up to date with What I Wore Today.

~Tamsin xoxo

If you’re anything like me  then you relish the start of a new year. Armed with a bevy of resolution-like lists you start with a great fervour, only to slow down as the months go by. Yes, it’s hard to maintain that motivation and momentum but with outlook reminders (seriously) you can make sure you stay on track in the second half of the year.

I make lists for practically every area of my life but when it comes to beauty, it’s a great time to do an overhaul and rethink the regime. Remember your needs change as you age, so reviewing where you’re at seasonally, annually, monthly – is great.

Here, Bobbi Brown shares her top tips updating your makeup bag and reveals her essentials for flawless skin.

Downsizing your make-up bag for the New Year: 

“Start by dumping all of your makeup onto a table or the floor and arrange the makeup into the following categories: lips, cheeks, eyes, skin.  This way you’ll be able to see what you have too much of and what you’ll need to complete your beauty kit.  First, toss out anything that’s broken or missing a cap.  Then, check for quality.  All products have an expiration date so it’s important to get rid of anything that’s outdated.  The easiest way to tell if a product is still good is by its smell.  If it has a strange or chemical odor, throw it out.”

Hydrate summer skin:

“Hydrate and soften from the inside out.  Try to drink eight to ten glasses of water a day to help flush out toxins and keep skin clear.  To make it easier, carry a reusable water bottle, which is more environmentally friendly than going using several plastic water bottles.  Try using new Hydrating Face Cream $105.00 to lock in the moisture.”

Conceal tired party eyes: 

“Under eye darkness can bring your whole look down.  For an instant lift, use a pink- or peach-toned Corrector $50.00 to brighten and neutralize discoloration under the eyes.  Next, layer a yellow-toned Creamy Concealer $50.00 one shade lighter than your skin tone directly over the Corrector.” Concealer Kit $70.00

Perfect Skin Starts Here: 

With Bobbi Brown’s new BB Cream, you can achieve the look of gorgeous skin.  “This cream not only offers amazing ingredients and benefits but also comes in three skin tone correct shades that look natural on everyone”.  Test the color on the side of your face and also on your forehead (it should disappear) BB Cream SPF 35PA+++ $75.00

Update your beauty look for 2012:

If you want to update your look and aren’t sure where to start, get the opinion of an expert.  Stop by your local Bobbi Brown counter and have a makeup lesson by a Bobbi Brown Makeup Artist. The artist will show you different options that are within your comfort zone (and budget)…

And remember… “Great skin is part what you put in your mouth and part what you put on your face. Make sure to enjoy plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. It’s about finding something you’re comfortable with and that you can stick too.”

Sage Maitri

When I went to LA last year I met a woman with the most amazing skin and beautiful cheekbones that were perfectly flushed with a light cream blush.Unsurprisingly she is a makeup artist, and a pretty amazing one to boot. Sage Maitri is represented by The Wall Group and started her career over a decade ago. She’s worked with some of the world’s best fashion photographers including Raymond Meier and Patrick Demarchelier and has been published in Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Nylon and SOMA. While perfecting her craft she assisted Charlotte Tilbury, Christian McCulloch and was first assistant to Val Garland for several years. Most importantly, she’s a pretty cool chick and I loved having a wine and catch up with her. For the recent Golden Globes she created this amazing look on actress Judy Greer. Inspired by the Balenciaga dress that Judy was wearing, Sage started with a flawless face and punchy orange lip. LOVE! She shared the details with me:

“Judy’s skin is already so gorgeous, but just to give it a little glow I took KohGenDo Manfaishi Moisture Foundation in color 002 and mixed in a little moisturizer to sheer it down. Laura Mercier’s Translucent Powder was used just in the Tzone, keeping the natural moisture on cheeks as a highlight.

The statement piece of this look was the lip, which I did in Makeup Forevers color #40, which is a shocking orange.

You need something on the cheek to not look washed out, but I didn’t want too much, so a soft, barely there pink was the way to go. I love Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Pale Pink.

The eyes were also kept simple, but lashes were the focus. Lots and lots of mascara.”

Can’t wait to see what Sage does for the Oscars!

~ Tamsin xoxo

A hand cream even hand cream haters could (possibly, maybe) love.

With all the joyous praise we beauty writers lavish on the products we love, have you ever wondered what happens when we get a product we don’t want to review? Like, last week, when Tamsin sent me hand cream? Inside my head is a bit like this:

“Let’s get one thing straight, Tamsin. We’ve known each other for a long time. And you seem to think I’m a HAND CREAM GIRL? I am not a hand cream kind of girl. Yes, I know I write about beauty products, and claim to be obsessed with them but hand cream? It ain’t my jam. Why not? It’s sticky, and gloopy and never absorbs as well as it says it will, and frankly, I just use body lotion. Or whatever is left over from moisturizing my face. And now I know what I’ll be giving my Grandma for her birthday, so thanks, but no way, Jose. Not my thing.”

Except….except. I always feel a bit guilty, because I do have some professional pride, and last week, I picked up the bottle again. And I saw the word ‘hyaluronate’. That my friends, is the secret code-word beauty products use when they contain some form of hyaluronic acid, that deliciously plumping, hydrating ingredient. It’s very seldom sticky, and very often absorbs straight away. I also saw the word organic. Now that, friends, is my jam. When it comes to products that go on your skin, the less unnecessary chemicals the better, especially when a products’ job is a simple as stopping your skin from being dry.

Aren’t you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next? (Humour me.) Did I fall in love and declare myself a hand cream girl?

No. I will never be one. But I can tell you that I tried it. And I liked it. And I didn’t give it to my grandmother. It actually does absorb like it says it will. It’s full of nifty ingredients that keeps my moisture levels in check with one nightly application, whilst allowing me to return to my kindle within 2 minutes, without greasing up the whole situation. And I put it on my feet too. Cause I’m multi-tasky like that. And gosh it works, without making my sheets all sticky.

So what if one nightly application is the most committed I ever anticipate being to a hand cream? I’m sold. Even if I do need to find my grandma a real birthday present.

~ Kate Montgomery

Aum Handcream is available at pharmacies for $16.95

Ever had that feeling of wondering what on earth to wear? Do you read magazines and online fashion sites but still feel confused about what’s on trend for the season? One of the best ways to learn is to attend a fashion show but this is not always possible, until now.

It seems absolutely crazy to be thinking about winter when we’ve barely had a summer, but the reality is that in just a few week’s time new season garments will go on sale in the shops, so save yourself the heartache of worrying to wear by going to check out what’s on offer. If only we could order direct from the catwalk.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the New Zealand Fashion Festival. The festival runs from Friday 24th February until Sunday 4th March and unlike Fashion Week in September it is completely open to the public.

Tickets for front row (with goodie bag) sell for $60, second row (with goodie bag) is $50 and all the rest is $40.

Designers and retailers confirmed are:

• Andrea Moore, Annah Stretton, Barkers, Bendon, Blak Luxe, Carlson, Celine Rita, COOP, Cybele, Farmers, Hailwood, Helen Cherry, Huffer, Ingrid Starnes, Jimmy D, Juliette Hogan, Kimberley’s, Lennox, Lonely Hearts, Max, MisteR, Moochi, Neverblack, Pearl, Playtex, Ruby, Sabatini, Sable & Minx, Salasai, Skull and Bones, Starfish, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Storm, Sylvester, Taylor, Trelise Cooper, Whiri, Who’s Henri, Workshop, WORLD, Zambesi, Zambesi Man.

The BB Cream (blemish balm) is a fairly new phenomena here but it’s bound to take hold. These hybrid products are so effective at multi-tasking you’ll be forgiven for wanting to ask it to take messages. In a nutshell it’s a product with serious skincare benefits while smoothing out the complexion with foundation-like qualities. Some are thicker formulations than other, but most operate like the combination of a tinted moisturiser, primer and illuminator all in one.

Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream, $75 is no exception and has knocked off my newly bought foundation off it’s perch. I’ve barely worn makeup this summer but when I have, this cream more than does the job. It smoothes out my complexion, offers a bit of a gorgeous glow and provides the perfect base for my all-time fave blusher (Nars Orgasm in cream). It feels light yet nourishing and contains UVA & UVB SPF 35.

A little goes a long way, you definitely don’t need to smear a lot over your face but if you do want to build up coverage on areas that need it, you can.

Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream contains:

Light reflective pearls for a pretty glow (needed that after New Year’s Eve),

Emollients for hydration,

Scutellaria extract to reduce the appearance of discoloration,

Argireline to boost collagen production,

Caffeine and sucrose to combat redness associated with irritation and blemishes,

Sodium hyaluronate for moisture and,

Vitamin E and Rice Bran Extract to protect skin from free radical damage.

It’s hard to rave about products without sounding cheesey but I’m really quite taken with this one. It’s beautiful to apply, lasts the distance and makes my skin look gorgeous – what’s more to love?

Have you tried this BB Cream? Have you tried any? It’s truly time to get on the BB bus!

Tamsin xoxo

The first thing you need to know about the Bodyshop’s Rainforest Volume shampoo for fine hair is that it smells like heaven and angels. If you’re not sure what that smells like, my brother says it smell “like rainforest”. But he has less imagination than me. In reality, it’s both sweet and woody, but not sickly or overpowering. It’s one of the best shampoos I’ve ever smelt. And I’ve smelt a lot of shampoo. Which is both a recommendation for this shampoo and a cause for concern for my brain cells, I think.

The second thing you should know about this shampoo is it comes with a matching conditioner – Rainforest Volume conditioner for fine hair.

And the third thing you should this pair is that they are free of parabens, sulfates, colours and silicons. All excellent news for your hair and scalp – neither of them need, or need to absorb, that stuff.

The fourth thing you need to know? The lack of those chemicals mean the formulas take some getting used to. The shampoo doesn’t foam like you’re used to. And the conditioner isn’t as slippery-slick as you’ve been conditioned (ha!) to like. You’ll need to foam the shampoo in your hands with a little water. And make sure you massage both products in throughly, even though it feels like you don’t have enough product. You do. Trust me.

The fifth thing you should know about these two is that they work. Incredibly well. While the learning to use the shampoo and the getting used to the texture of the conditioner made me worried about the results…I shouldn’t have. After three weeks of use my hair is softer, less frizzy and definitely has more body, in a subtle way, that makes people comment on how great my hair looks, without being able to define why. And oh my gosh, it’s shiny. Very, very shiny. It’s like having pre-teen hair again, without the corresponding scary eyebrows and fruit-patterned-leggings. (Thanks, mum.)

The final thing you should know about the Bodyshop Rainforest Volume shampoo and conditioner for fine hair? You should try them. As soon as you can. Because they’re fantastic. And because there’s only a certain amount of time you can stand in the store sniffing them before the salespeople want you to leave. I mean, so I’ve heard.

Rainforest Volume Hair Care – Shampoo and Conditioner 250ml $23 each, 400ml $33.50

by Kate Montgomery 

It’s crazy to think that Bobbi Brown cosmetics has been around for 20 years. Twenty years seems like a long time, especially in the fashion and beauty industries where what’s hot changes frequently. While it’s a brand that most of us know of well and some of us can’t live without, it has also maintained a modern, fresh approach – a style leader, not follower. Still, after 20 years.

the original lipstick shades

Bobbi Brown is a celebrated makeup artist who started off making lipsticks because she couldn’t find colours that she wanted to use. She created ten lipstick shades that had a brown base, which is what she says is universally flattering to skin tones. A story in a magazine sparked a flurry of phone orders and then department store Bergdorf Goodman launched her eponymous collection. At this stage Bobbi hoped to sell 100 lipsticks in a month – she achieved that within the first day. From here she developed a full range of cosmetics including yellow based foundation (most at this stage were pink). Her makeup had a more natural look to it and was quickly snapped up by the well heeled set.

To celebrate these humble beginnings Bobbi Brown has just released the limited edition 1991 Lip Palette, $125. It is, quite simply, the must-have accessory! It has the ten original colours plus ten new 2011 shades, including a coral, fuschia pink, the perfect purple a dark berry and and the perfect nudes. If you’re about to travel, take this – it solves all those lip dilemmas in one hit. I’m going to keep mine in my handbag so I’m never without the right lip colour. As Bobbi says, “Lipstick is one of the simplest makeup steps and great way to instantly change your look.” It’s also a great way to trial colours you might not consider buying.

The Limited Edition 1991 Lip Palette is on counter now.

Tamsin xoxo