Saturday, June 30, 2012

Celebrity Fashion: Pop Star Edition!



Katy Perry at the Los Angeles premiere of her movie 'Part Of Me' in a red Dolce & Gabbana dress, still rocking the purple hair. Blue, purple, any bets on what colour's next?


Ke$ha at the 26th Genesis Awards, looking like she has no feet, in an interesting lightning bolt motif outfit. I say interesting but I mean hideous. The side of her head is shaved, too. That's always flattering.


J.Lo in a sparkly bodysuit during her current tour. Yes, it's a stage costume but surely you can have SOME class? Although, if my vagina could produce a Glittery Spider Monster, I'd be doing a song and dance, too.


Miley Cyrus looking fantastic in a black Zimmerman cut-out dress at the Australians In Film Awards & Benefit Dinner in LA with her now-fiance, Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth.



Avril Lavigne in God Knows What That Is. What I do know is that this starry/stripey abomination is wrong on so many levels. I'd totally rock those slutty-looking shoes though!


Photos by Fame/Flynet and WENN from Celebitchy.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Get Winning Skin SkinCare GiveAway!


Time for another giveaway on Max The Unicorn, and come to think of it, I haven't held one in ages! The theme is clear, healthy skin (because who wants to look like an extra from ZombieLand) and here's what you could win in my Get Winning Skin SkinCare GiveAway!




The Prize
Bio-Oil 125 ml
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Night Renewal Cream 75g
Elucent Anti Ageing sample set (3 x 10ml)
2 x U Little Beauty Drought Relief Hydrating Facial Gel Mask (2 x 30ml)
2 x U Little Beauty Dinki-Di Day Cream (2 x 30ml)



BIO-OIL contains PurCellin Oil to target scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, ageing and dehydrated skin.

PALMER'S NIGHT RENEWAL CREAM contains Retinol, Shea Butter, antioxidants and peptides that work together to leave skin soft, smooth, firm and radiant.

ELUCENT ANTI-AGEING SAMPLE PACK contains Gentle Cleanser, Day Moisturiser and Night Moisturiser, which contain AHA's and Vitamins B3, C and E.

U LITTLE BEAUTY HYDRATING FACIAL GEL MASK contains Vitamin E and Aloe Vera, and helps to cleanse and tone whilst replenishing lost moisture.

U LITTLE BEAUTY DINKY-DI DAY CREAM contains herbs, seed oils, flower extracts and is enriched with Jojoba Oil, to help leave your skin feeling light and silky.





How To Win
1) Be living in Australia (sorry overseas readers)
2) Follow this blog publicly through Google Friend Connect (located on the right sidebar - click 'Join This Site')
3) Answer this question in the comments below: What's your favourite skincare brand?
4) Please leave your email or Twitter username in your comment so I can contact you if you win 

Terms & Conditions
One entry per person
This giveaway will be drawn randomly via the Even-Sized Bits Of Paper In The Hat method
One Winner Takes All!
Ends at 5pm AEST Thursday 5th July 2012
Winner will be contacted and posted on this blog shortly after the draw and will have 48 hours to reply with address or a new winner will be chosen randomly.

Thank you and Good Luck! :)



Saturday, June 23, 2012

Essie Winter 2012 Mini-Cube Collection: 4 Polish Mani!





I was lucky enough to win the Essie 2012 Winter Collection, a set of four mini nail polishes that come packaged in a cute little cube. The shades are:


Size Matters (Ruby Red)
Bobbing For Baubles (Sapphire/Navy Blue)
Cocktail Bling (Pale Blue Grey)
Bangle Jangle (Lavender/Lilac)


My favourite shade is probably Size Matters because it's such a rich, deep, sexy red. Bobbing for Baubles wears as an extremely dark blue, at times looking almost black. Cocktail Bling and Bangle Jangle look lovely but they are quite similar, and I would have liked Bangle Jangle to have been a little darker.



L-R: Bobbing For Baubles, Cocktail Bling, Size Matters, Bangle Jangle
L-R: nails- Bobbing, Bangle Jangle, Size Matters, Cocktail Bling, Bobbing


What's your favourite shade from the collection?

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Review: The John Plunkett Anti-Ageing Range




Advanced Collagen Lift Moisturiser
I found this to be a great, well-performing moisturiser from the John Plunkett range. It's a day and night treatment moisturiser, that claims to "help plump and smooth fine lines and wrinkles while providing optimum hydration". I'm really impressed with the results I got from this. I noticed my skin was indeed smoother and looked younger after using it daily for a few weeks. The consistency is just right for me (I dislike thick creams) and feels light on the skin. It absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. I would recommend this to anyone with fine lines and/or wrinkles. For those interested in the science behind the formula, following are some of the active ingredients and what they do:


Matrixyl 3000 - Stimulates natural collagen production to plump and smooth skin
Collagen & Hyaluronic Filling spheres - Intant skin plumping while delvering hyaluronic acid to increase hydration
Collalift - Protects collagen
Phytokine - Promotes cell regeneration and lifts skin
Deliner - Helps reconstruct skin

Refirming Eye Cream
This was definitely my least favourite product from the range. I am very fussy with my eye creams, and it doesn't help that I have double the issues in that area, namely dark circles AND fine lines underneath. So basically I am forever trying to find the perfect combination of products that will combat both of these problems. All this Refirming Cream managed to do was erase the effect of my anti-dark circle creams. Yes, creams. I use two. That's how bad my dark circles are. Benefit Ooh La Lift and Clinique for Men Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel. It is a nice consistency, again, and it absorbs quickly and easily, but it just leaves my under eye region looking really dark, so it's not the right eye cream for me. But results will obviously vary from person to person.


Creme Cleanser & Makeup Remover
This is a fragrance-free gentle and moisturising formulation that is pH balanced and contains no soap, detergents or colours. I've been using this in the shower as a cleanser and I'm loving it. It is indeed very gentle and I think it would be well-suited to those with sensitive skin. I get a satisfying clean from this, although I usually follow up with a daily exfoliant (at the moment ASAP Daily Exfoliating Facial Scrub) to get that deep-down clean, smooth skin feel. I've sometimes used it without an exfoliant, in which case I follow up with a toner (my go-to cheapie is the reliable TN Dickinson's Witch Hazel). I haven't used this to remove makeup (by itself, outside of the shower), but "natural moisturisers and conditioners" are used and it's a no-tear formula. Tear is in cry not tear as in rip. LOL.

Instant Wrinkle Filler
If you've ever used primers, you'd be familiar with products like this. It's a "translucent primer for instantly smooth perfect skin". The directions say to apply a small amount after moisturising and before makeup to problems areas. Problem areas being your fine lines and/or wrinkles. And any pores you want to minimise. I love this Wrinkle Filler! You only need a really tiny amount, so a little goes a long way. The consistency of this waterless gel is kind of weird and silky. I love the instant effect of having my fine lines greatly reduced and my skin surface smoothed out. It's a brilliant canvas for makeup application, and doesn't compromise the base your moisturiser has created. Foundation and concealer glide on smoothly over the top, and the skin looks smoother and younger. This can even be applied over the TOP of makeup as a touchup and mattifier. I tried this, but it can have varying results. I think the trick is to use a TINY amount (you can always put more on to get the desired effect) and have your concealer ready to go in case it takes some off and you need to dab a bit more on. For those into the specifics:


Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenyl Trimethicone - Unique blend of silicones fill uneven skin surface, creating the illusion of smooth, perfect skin while locking in moisture.
Silica - Diffuses light to blur imperfections.
Vitamin E - Antioxidant vitamin protects skin from ageing effects of free radical damage, while soothing dry skin.

**These products were sent for my consideration. I wasn't paid. This review is my honest opinion.**


Have you tried any products from this range? What did you think?

Monday, June 11, 2012

April/May Empties: Mega Editiion!


I've decided to combine my Empties from the last two months together into one giant post. Many of these are regular Empties products so I won't bore you with my thoughts on those. Let the Emptiness begin!





The Body Shop Papaya Body Scrub
O. M. G. I bought this in Singapore for half price. Best buy ever! The aroma was sensational and the scratchy exfoliating bits knocked my socks off. SO satisfying. Alas, this is no longer available to buy in Australia (I checked with The Body Shop staff). Although, they said try eBay. This product alone has totally got me hooked on body scrubs. Let me know in the comments your favourite body scrub!


Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Shampoo
I love this! It's infused with Wild Violet and Pomegranate. Smells great and my hair actually looked good after use. I will probably buy this again once I use up all my other shampoos.


Colgate Max White One Toothpaste
Again, I was pleasantly surprised. I'm no Dentist, but this seemed like an exfoliant for the teeth! It contains little particles that help remove stains. It claims to give you whiter teeth in one week, but I actually noticed whiter teeth after one use. Maybe my teeth are just that bad. LOL. I got two tubes for free, so I'm now on my second tube, and will probably buy (shock, horror!) one when it runs out.


Garnier Fructis Fortifying Conditioner
I wasn't really impressed with the results from this and I won't get it again. Probably not the conditioner's fault, as I need hair products aimed at fine hair, something that will give me volume. Shit know why I bought something with the word 'Normal' on it! Maybe this is hubbys? LOL.


Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Conditioner
This is a "lightweight nourishing" conditioner that is supposed to give you "hair that is beautifully nourished with virtually no weight". Apparently the Aqua Light range was developed with a low-suds formula, because when the product is not rinsed out properly (due to too many bubbles) it can weigh the hair down. Personally, this conditioner (in conjunction with the shampoo) left my hair squeaky clean. But to the point where it was really difficult to brush (ie, it left my hair tangled). I already have really tangly hair, so this may or may not be related to the Aqua Light formula.


Sunsilk Plumped Up Volume Hairspray
So I saw the words "volume thickening and flexible hold hairspray" and I thought YES, this is for me. I am on a never-ending quest for volume and thickened locks. However, I was mighty disappointed when this bastard sprayed out huge bubbles into my hair. WTF? I have never had this happen with my usual Schwarzkopf Super Styling Lacquer. So I shook that fucker like buggery and STILL got huge bubbles. Lucky I know the emergency fix: blast it with the hairdryer until the bubbles disappear. As a result, I cannot use this in my fringe, however I can use it in my ponytail and kind of scrunch it after spraying. I won't be buying this again.


Schwarzkopf EC Ultimate Repair Shampoo
I won this range of products, but it's not really suited to my hair type. It contains 3 x liquid keratin which is more suited to very dry hair. For me, it just made my hair lank and lifeless. If your hair is mega-damaged, the injection of moisture this provides would be a godsend. Luckily, just about every product works fine on my husband's hair, because I've given him this range to use, too.


Sunsilk Frizz & Weather Defence Shampoo
I have absolutely no recollection of using this, so I better not comment. In the interest of fairness.


Olay Total Effects Cream Cleanser
Love it! I've previously covered this product here


Schwarzkopf EC Super Styling Lacquer
My favourite hairspray ever. Thoughts on it here


Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush & Fresh
Adore these! I've blogged about them before here  and here and here


Saturday, June 9, 2012

Prometheus 3D





Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce
Genre: Sci-Fi

Set in the late 21st century, the story centres on the crew of the spaceship Prometheus as they follow a star map discovered among the remnants of several ancient Earth civilizations. Led to a distant world and an advanced civilization, the crew seeks the origins of humanity, but instead discovers a threat that could cause the extinction of the human race. Prometheus began as a prequel to director Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), however the script evolved over the years as different writers became involved, and Scott concedes the film shares similar DNA to Alien, but explores its own mythology. 


Prometheus is a visually stunning film. That cannot be denied. It's well acted and Ridley Scott's direction is outstanding. But I'm just left thinking, this movie could have been so much better. It's not brilliant, and I really wanted it to be. Prometheus raises more questions than it answers, and at the end, the audience is still left wondering, why?


Noomi Rapace makes a strong heroine, Charlize Theron is a cold, hard bitch, Guy Pearce is unrecognisable in bad old dude makeup and Michael Fassbender is remarkably good as David, the android (he's so talented). There are shocks, but they don't really change anything. There is gore. There is also a beautiful waterfall scene in the opening credits. So what I'm left with is, yes, Prometheus is well-shot and stunning to look at, but story-wise, it just didn't really cut it for me. It's not bad by any means, but it's just a bit disappointing overall. 







Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Max Factor Mini Max Effect Mani!




Another manicure! And this one's a tongue-twister. My Max Factor Mini Max Effect Manicure in Diva Violet. This cute little polish is part of a collection of mini's by Max Factor. You can see all the colours here .........





Are you meant to rest your nails from polish once in a while? Because, as you can see in the close-up photos, I have some bumps on my nail surface that weren't there before. I'm removing the polish properly with a herbal polish remover, but I'm wondering if it's stripping my nails. Time to buy a nail buffer!


Max Factor Max Effect Diva Violet is a really pretty lilac-hued colour. I'm loving it.







Disclaimer: I won the entire collection of Max Effect mini's. YAY me!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Cannes Film Festival Fashion!


Just thought I'd post a few pics of the fashion from this years Cannes Film Festival. Nicole Kidman made headlines when she revealed she did a real wee on co-star Zac Efron's face while filming a scene in The Paperboy, so for that reason alone, she will bookend this post and feature at the start and end. Go Nicole!


Nicole Kidman's gorgeous red Lanvin gown. Love!


Diane Kruger's amusing Dior frock. Partner Joshua Jackson may or may not be hiding underneath.


Kirsten Dunst in hot pink Dior. Love the colour!


Kristen Stewart in a sexy red Reem Acra gown. Wish she'd smile.


Nicole Kidman in a sparky Ralph Lauren creation.


Photos by WENN from Celebitchy


Which is your favourite look?