How to use BB Surf Spray and wash your hair less often


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{My “day 2 hair” after having styled it with Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray the day before}

It was love at first sight for Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray and me. Ever since my hair stylist Caitlyn first introduced us a few months ago, we’ve been inseparateable. Sure, it cost me $29 that I could have spent on, say, a few other products. But it’s such a small price to pay for something that has been there for me when I needed it most – on good hair days and bad, through thick and thin, curls, waves, and straight hair – BB surf spray has helped me overcome my “day two hair blues” like nothing and no one ever could. And I predict that this will be a long-lasting, committed relationship.

Contrary to the suggested use of this product, I actually rarely use BB Surf Spray to create “beach-y waves” (although it’s good at doing that too). I use it so that I don’t have to wash my hair every day.

Before you close your browser thinking – “Gross! Sarah doesn’t wash her hair everyday” – listen to me for a second. Contrary to how it sounds, I’m not a gross, dirty person. I promise! Washing your hair every day is actually BAD for your hair! Don’t believe me? Google it! Or just read one of my or my guest posters’ previous blog posts that have talked about it.

(Not that you asked, but just so you know – I still take daily showers, using a shower cap on days I’m not washing my hair.)

So, anyway! BB Surf Spray is fabulous for absorbing oil and making sure your hair doesn’t fall flat a day or two after you wash it. (Some people can even make it a week between washes with this product!) I find it especially helpful for my bangs, which tend to get oily the fastest.

Step 1: Shampoo your hair as usual. Lightly towel dry. Then establish your normal part by combing your hair as you usually would.

Step 2: Brush your hair back at your hairline so that the hair that usually brushes against your face is away from your face.

Step 3: Holding the bottle about four inches from your head, spritz the under part of your bangs along your hairline with BB Surf Spray. Hold your bangs back if that’s easier for you, like I’m doing in the photo. I usually spray this area about seven times, distributing fairly evenly along my hairline but focusing a little more on my bangs.

Step 4: After you’ve tackled your hairline, lift your hair at the roots along the back and the sides of your head, spraying your roots as you lift, where you wish to create volume (and absorb the oil that your scalp produces throughout the day).

Step 5: Style your as your normally would – with a blow dryer, or not. Straight or curly – it doesn’t matter! (Or try one of these hairstyles.)

The BB Surf Spray should have given your hair extra lift at the roots, resulting in extra volume. And the next day your hair should still be oil-free and voluminous. If you feel that your hair needs a touchup a day or two later, spritz your roots again with the Surf Spray and blow it dry with a hairdryer.

Oh, and in case you don’t already own this life-changing product – you can purchase Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray on amazon.com or at your local Target store (or at Au Salon in Portland on NW 23rd, where I bought it.) There’s a reason the Surf Spray is Bumble & Bumble’s best selling product – it kicks butt!

Interview with Celazome Skin Care: Anti-aging, acne treatments, and caring for your skin at your age


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I had the opportunity to interview Carolyn Veroni, the Director of Business Development for Celazome Clinical Skin Care, on the topic of skincare issues that the average woman struggles with. I apologize ahead of time for the lengthy post, but I just couldn’t bare to cut her interview down too much because she shared such great information that I think everyone will be interested in. Here is what she had to say. (TCPJ is me, or “The Confessions of a Product Junkie”… and CV is Carolyn Veroni.)

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TCPJ: What are the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to taking care of their skin?

CV: The biggest mistake we see often comes from people not changing their products to match what their skin type is “today.” Your skin changes several times throughout a year and you need to use the correct product as it changes. What works in the winter might not work in the summer.

TCPJ: How is adult acne different than teenage acne? Should it be treated differently?

CV: The cause of acne is the same at any age, and involves overactive sebaceous glands that produce an excess amount of oil. When this oil mixes with dead skin cells and other debris on the face, it clogs the skin’s pores. Bacterium builds up underneath the surface of the clogged pores, which leads to breakouts. Although the root cause of acne is consistent at any age, this is where the similarity ends.

TEEN ACNE

Teen acne usually features a number of common characteristics, including:

• Breakouts typically occur on the forehead, nose and chin, known as the T-zone
• The catalyst for teen acne is usually the hormonal fluctuations that are common during puberty – when puberty is over, the acne often disappears
• May appear as blackheads, whiteheads, pustules or cystic acne
• May respond well to over the counter treatment options

Because teenagers typically have oily skin, the over the counter acne solutions are geared toward this skin type. While these work well for the majority of teens, these formulas may be too harsh for adult skin that tends to be drier and more sensitive. A trip to your skin care professional can help curb these problems.

ADULT ACNE

Adult acne differs somewhat from teen acne, and usually sports the following characteristics:

• Breakouts are more common on the lower part of the face, including the chin and jaw line
• May be due to the hormonal fluctuations of menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause
• May be exacerbated by stress
• In addition to blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cystic acne, adults may develop a form of rosacea with their acne breakouts

Because adults often have dry or combination skin, the usual over the counter treatments often do little more than irritate the complexion. You would need to visit a skin care specialist or dermatologist for these treatment options:

• Microdermabrasion
• Chemical Peels
• Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Smoothbeam laser Treatment

TCPJ: What should people in their early twenties be focusing on when it comes to skincare? How about in their thirties and forties? Fifties and up?

CV:

TWENTIES

The teenage years and associated adolescent hormones that showed up in your skin should be calming now. It may be that blemishes are less likely, and you may have combination skin – Oily T-zone and Normal or dry skin on the cheek area. For some, the teenage years didn’t give the expected pimples and they have now found themselves in an acne situation in their twenties. Pimples need to be healed as quickly as possible to negate the likelihood of scarring. It may be that in your twenties you are entering a period of life that includes pregnancy, post natal and associated hormonal fluctuations are likely to indicate changing skin care requirements.

THIRTIES

If you had oily skin or were besieged by pimples during your teenage years and into your twenties, by your thirties these issues are likely to be in the past. However, for some, adult acne may be a problem. Your skin may present with sensitivities as well as a period of life that includes pregnancy, post natal and associated hormonal fluctuations. These symptoms are likely to indicate changing skin care requirements.

FORTIES

For most women in their forties protection against the environment is of utmost importance. Your first concern in this instance is to treat the skin in a gentle manner and strengthen the skin. You will need to look to more nourishing/moisturizing day and night care complete with a broad spectrum UVA UVB protection sunscreen for your daily regimen.

FIFTIES

Mature skin tends towards dryness and loses its elasticity. Our skin gets a little thinner. You may feel you have very sensitive skin often due to synthetic chemical skin care and or harsh treatments such as peels or acidic exfoliating treatments. The important issue is that you are able to recognize your skin condition and be aware that it changes therefore your day care needs to alter as well.

TCPJ: What key ingredients should people of those age groups be looking for in their skincare products?

CV: Anti-aging skincare most likely will contain active ingredients like Retinol, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Vitamin C, Peptides and Kojic Acid that boost the level of collagen and elastin fibers within the skin and hydrate it intrinsically. As a result, they enhance the skin texture, diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.

Avoid Unprotected Sun Exposure If you have exposed your skin to unprotected sunlight in your younger years, chances are damage has already occurred. Furthermore, unprotected sun exposure may just aggravate the damage and enhance the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Moreover, the skin tends to become dry and lifeless.

Never venture out in the sun without applying sunscreen. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that offers protection against the UVA as well as the UVB rays of the sun. Apply sunscreen at least 15-20 minutes before you go out.

TCPJ: People tend to peg their skin as a certain “type” – oily, dry, combination, etc. Is this a good way to be thinking about and treating skin?

CV: Absolutely! Understanding your individual skin type is the first step in building a regimen and taking care of your skin. Once a person understands their skin type, it is easier to understand what is needed to treat their skin. If a person does not know their skin type, I recommend going visiting a professional who can help them determine what their current skin type is.

TCPJ: What is the appropriate age to begin using eye cream?

CV: I would say 22 and over is an appropriate time to start using eye cream.

TCPJ: Now that we understand skincare a little better, tell us a little but about the company you work for, Celazome.

CV: What is the most delicate, sensitive skincare situation you can think of?

How about helping to rehabilitate the skin severe third-degree burn patients? Celazome was originally born when we were asked to develop a technology that would help deliver moisture and nourishing ingredients to the most fragile skin. We have since transferred this exclusive nanotechnology to a full range skin care line that was once only carried by dermatologists, physicians, and clinical offices. By understanding the science of the skin, incorporating our nanotechnology, and hand selecting ingredients from around the world, Celazome provides a skin experience unlike no one else.

TCPJ: There are a lot of skincare products in the market today. What makes Celazome different from other skincare brands?

CV: The skincare landscape is competitive to say the least. I would say there are 3 differentiating factors that separate us from the rest-

1. Life sciences- What many don’t know about Celazome is that our parent company (Dermazone Solutions) is a life sciences company that developed our proprietary nanotechnology. We incorporate this exclusive nanotechnology that works with the skin unlike the vast majority of brands out there. First, we are able to penetrate the top layer of the skin, allowing our hand selected ingredients to be delivered where they are needed the most. Second, the nanotechnology has a time release function once it gets to the layer of skin it needs to be in. Your skin can only handle so many ingredients at once. Because of this time release technology, we are able to make the skin and ingredients work in harmony together throughout the day. We like to say our technology makes our ingredients work smarter.

2. Ingredients- Did you know that there are different standards used in skin care? Celazome choses to go above and beyond standards required by the skin care industry and selects ingredients that pass pharmaceutical standards. This means our ingredients and manufacturing process is held to higher standards- we only want to offer the best experience possible, which means we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard then the rest. By being involved in the ingredient selection with our clinical background, we are able to understand the highest percentages and concentration levels a particular ingredient will work fast with the skin.

3. Guarantee- We are one of the few brands who openly offers a guarantee on our product. Throughout the years of developing our nanotechnology, hand selecting only the best ingredients, and continually testing our formulas, we are that confident in knowing our products will work for your skin with 2-4 weeks. When your line is carried and used by dermatologists, physicians, and clinical practices there is no room for error- we have to work for your skin.

TCPJ: Which Celazome products are your absolute “must have” products that you can’t live without?

CV: That is a tough question to ask since much of our line and recommendations are based on skin type and understanding our customer’s skin history. But as the summer is quickly approaching, I would say the “must have” is Celazome’s Moisturizing Sunscreen. With prevalence of skin cancer cases on dramatically on the rise, it is so important to make sunscreen part of your regimen and lifestyle.

Celazome offers 3 different types of sunscreen which offers broad spectrum protection- meaning your skin will be protected against UVA and UVB rays (check your sunscreen right now- do you know if you are getting maximum protection from the sun?). Depending on your skin type, lifestyle, and what you are looking for in a sunscreen we have developed a sun care line that we guarantee will protect your skin.

TCPJ: Thank you Carolyn for a great interview!

Don’t forget to check out Celazome’s website and see what solutions they have for your skin!

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Carolyn’s Bio: Carolyn Veroni is a former Spa owner of 15 years and is licensed in Cosmetology, Trichology as well as Lymphatic Drainage. She is the Director of Business Development for Celazome Clinical Skin Care (a subsidiary of Dermazone Solutions an FDA manufacturing facility specializing in clinical skin care and nutraceuticals). With more than 25 years of experience in the industry; Carolyn loves sharing her expertise in the beauty field as a speaker, trainer and writer for a variety of publications.

5 myths about SPF, UVA and UVB


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With the sun peeping out from behind the clouds more days than not lately, it has become increasingly important to pay attention to the condition and care of our skin. There are a lot of mixed messages out there about UV exposure, so I decided to do some research to debunk a few myths (specifically those relating to women/beauty) and give some perspective on making educated decisions about UV rays.

Myth #1: Your daily moisturizer with SPF is enough to protect your skin

Of course, it’s convenient when our makeup or moisturizer already has SPF in it. But be warned – According to Glamour magazine, most daily facial moisturizers with SPF usually only protect from UVB rays, not UVA.

Ultraviolet-a (UVA) and ultraviolet-b (UVB) pose different threats than one another. UVA are longer wavelengths from the sun and penetrate deeper into the skin, and may be the culprit behind aging. UVB rays have shorter wavelengths and are more likely to cause sun burn and skin cancer.

Products that contain SPF (“sun protection factor”) only protect the skin from UVB rays, which isn’t enough to completely protect us from the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.

This is why it’s important to use a block that is UVA/UVB or broad-spectrum protection. Look for moisturizers and sunscreens that contain zinc oxide, or a combination of avobenzone and octocrylene. And are SPF 15 or higher.
(Sources: Glamour magazine and Skinfitnessfacts.com)

Myth #2: A few minutes in the sun never hurt anyone

Although it might feel like you weren’t in the sun for very long, your body doesn’t see it that way. The truth is that it only takes about 10 minutes for UV radiation to begin to damage your skin. The moral of the story? Don’t skimp on the sunscreen just because you’re only going to be in the sun for a few minutes – you’re better safe than sorry. And it’s not like you were expecting to get a tan only being in the sun for a few minutes, right?

Myth #3: You can only get vitamin D from the sun

Yes, we all need vitamin D. And yes, the sun is a great source of it. So it’s easy to jump on the “tanning = vitamin D bandwagon.” But did you know there are also high levels of vitamin D in dairy products, cereal, and fish? So eat up!

But if you absolutely must get your vitamin D from the sun, please note that it takes much less UV to get your recommended level of vitamin D than it takes to get a suntan (or burn). And vitamin D can (and will) penetrate through most sunscreens, with the exception of the highest levels. So vitamin D is not a reasonable excuse to cook your skin. Sorry.
(Source: Vanterbilt.edu)

Myth #4: All sunglasses are created equal when it comes to protecting your eyes

Like everything in life, more expensive does not guarantee better quality. But frankly, that’s often what it’s an indicator of.

Price aside, the most important thing to look for in a pair of sunglasses is UV protection. Without it, your sunglasses are no more than an accessory to your outfit.

For example, I like wearing earrings but I don’t expect them to keep me from getting sunburnt. (Sorry – I’m a cynical person.)

So if you’re going to purchase sunglasses on the cheap, make sure that they have the sticker that says 100% UV protection. Otherwise, they’re useless to you.

Myth #5: If you have skin cancer, you’ll know it when you see it

Unless you have a trained eye (or previous experience with cancer), you probably won’t be able to tell if you have skin cancer. Scary, I know.

To make training our eyes easier, Glamour has provided a really great Skin Check Guide for us to compare our moles to.

But your best bet is not only to pay attention to your skin, but also to see a dermatologist regularly to have your moles checked out. If you have no history of skin cancer in your family or self, then an annual check should be sufficient. If you have a history of skin cancer in your family, you should consult your doctor to see how often you should be going in to get checked out.

In closing…

I’m not trying to lecture anyone about the evils of the sun and tanning beds – I’d be a hypocrite (I’m pretty sure I may still have a few old tans left on my package at Tan Republic). Although I have drastically decreased my UV exposure in the last few years, I still occasionally slip up and forget to apply sunscreen.

However, I am going to say that it’s important to be smart and know the facts so that you can make educated decisions about your skin. It’s YOUR skin and YOUR body and ONLY YOU you can decide how you want to care for it (gosh – I feel like I’m giving the same talk that I’ve been giving about why I became a vegetarian). All I’m saying is that just like tofu is a reasonable substitute for meat (really – it’s tasty!), sunless tanner has come leaps and bounds since it was first invented. Although it’s not the same as the real thing, it’s pretty damn close and you won’t have to live with any negative consequences afterwards.

Feel free to leave your own recommendations for sunless tanners in a comment on this post so that my readers will know where to start when picking out a sunless tanner! And what do you know, I even have some of my own recommendations that I wrote about last summer in this post!

LBD (little black dress) spring edition


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♥ H&M dress, blazer, necklace and clutch ♥ Target shoes ♥ Clinique lipstick from this gift ♥ Michael Kors watch ♥ vintage ring ♥ Photos by Carter ♥

I bought this dress from H&M years ago and it has served me well. (You can see how I wore it last winter, here.) I guess you can’t go wrong with a basic LBD. Oddly enough, I stumbled across it in the store’s athletic section, which just goes to show that you can find some real gems where you least expect them.

I usually try to wear brighter or lighter-colored clothing when it’s spring or summer (sundresses, etc.), but throwing a white linen blazer over this breathable LBD seemed truly fitting for a sophisticated, spring evening style.

I’m not in love with this necklace, but I like that it breaks up the outfit a little bit and distracts from the simplicity of the dress. I really need to find some more fun, unique necklaces so I can ditch this one. But nice jewelry costs money and I found this one for about $12 so I think I can wait a little bit before upgrading.

On another note, do you notice anything different about me? :)

What I bought – Jeffery Campbell platforms


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I searched high and low for Jeffrey Campbell’s Mary Roks platform wedges and I think I may have snagged the last size six left on earth. But it was well worth all of the desperate searching because these shoes arrived at my door today and they are beyond perfect! Jeffrey Campbell is a shoe genius and although this is my first pair of his shoes, I’m confident it won’t be my last! (You can purchase most of Jeffrey Campbell’s line here.)

Here is some of inspiration from other bloggers for how I might wear these shoes in the future. I’ll do my own outfit post soon.

{Kaitlin from Buffalo Stance}


{Amber from ambersmouthwash}


{Playing Hooksies}

{Trestippy from Chicotopia}

{Brooke Renew from Chicotopia}


{Kitty Cotton from Lookbook.nu}


{Mai Lin from Mai Lin Talks}


{Liz from Pop Culture Afternoon}


{Arizka from Devil in the Detail}

GUEST POST: How to wear stripes


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Today’s guest poster, freelance blogger Julia, shares some of her tips for how every fashionista can wear one of this season’s hottest trends… Stripes!

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Big or small, vertical, horizontal or diagonal, stripes are totally in this season! Curious to see what the trend looks like on you but don’t know how to wear them? If you don’t know where to start, take a look at these tips for ideas to get you started.

For every fashionista:

Don’t be scared of horizontal stripes
It’s a big fat myth that horizontal stripes make you look wider. We’ve always been told to shy away from this kind of stripe for this reason. If this is the only reason you’re not pulling on horizontally-striped apparel, it’s completely unfounded and shouldn’t keep you away any longer.

For the timid fashionista:

Pair stripes with a neutral color
If you want to play around with stripes but feel the need to play it safe, take your striped piece and wear it with a neutral. Wear a block-striped top with a tan or black skirt. Pair your striped dress with a solid, neutral-colored bag and shoes. You don’t have to go over the top in order to work this great trend.

Wear smaller stripes
Try out a smaller stripe, or even a pinstripe, if you are anxious to get into stripes this summer but aren’t ready to fully commit to large block stripes. A general rule to remember is that the smaller the stripe pattern is, the less flashy and bold it looks. Throw on a pinstriped scarf with your solid color outfit, or a pair of pinstriped shorts. Once you get your toes wet, you may be more inclined to step it up to larger stripes!

For the bold fashionista:

Mix stripes with patterns
For the daring fashionista, take your striped top and wear it with a floral or animal print skirt or visa versa. It’s a great look that’s sure to get attention and make you the trendiest girl in your group. Don’t be afraid to mismatch colors either. Wear your black and white striped top with a blue and purple floral skirt.

Learn from 70s style
If you’re feeling extra outrageous and want to go stripe-crazy, take a look at styles from the 70s to get ideas. From dresses with blocks of striped going both vertically and horizontally, to retrograde stripes (both thin and thick stripes), these ladies had it going on! Transport yourself back in time and be part of the fashion movement to bring the stripe-craze back.

For every fashionista:

Experiment with striped accessories
Whether your style is safe or daring, play around with striped accessories. Pair striped accessories with other striped fashions, or wear them with solid color clothing for a small, yet noticeable accent. There really isn’t a wrong way to wear striped shoes, bags, belts, and jewelry!

Now that you have some guidelines for how you can incorporate this summer’s trend into your wardrobe, it’s time to do what we do best: shop! There really isn’t a wrong way to wear stripes. Wear stripes in whatever way you feel comfortable – whether it’s a “glammed out” 70s maxi dress or a subtly pinstriped espadrille. Above all, be confident. Wear the stripes proudly, don’t let them wear you!

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About the author: Julia is a writer passionate about health, fitness & blogging. When she’s not running her dog she can sometimes be found writing about Sono Bello, cooking and a myriad of other topics.

Spring Nail Polish Colors


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♥ My current nail polish collection, colors described below

When I graduated college just a year ago I ended up getting rid of my entire nail polish collection. Believe it or not, nail polish has an expiration date and mine was long expired. I hadn’t purchased a new bottle in years.

But lately I’ve been getting really excited about trendy nail colors and styles. The combination of maintaining this blog and my general interest in fashion and beauty trends has led me to accumulate a nice variety of polishes over the past few months. These are my newest additions. Among my favorites for spring 2011 are nude, yellow, and powder blue. I know they’re not what you would call classic colors, but they each bring a little bit of fun to the season.

♥ Love & Beauty polish in “Magenta”
♥ Savina polish in “Crazy Red”

♥ Zoya polish in “Maya”
♥ Deborah Lippmann in “Satin Doll” (this is one of my favorites for spring!)
♥ American Apparel polish in “Mouse”

♥ Love & Beauty polish in “Pale Banana” (another favorite for spring!)
♥ Essie polish in “Absolutely Shore” (yep – another favorite!)
♥ Sephora by OPI top coat in “Only Gold for Me,” previously seen here


♥ OPI polish in “Planks A Lot”
♥ Zoya polish in “Mimi”
♥ American Apparel polish in “Passport Blue,” previously seen here

Beetlejuice Dress


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♥ Striped dress (no longer available), similar to this one and this one ♥ Tory Burch handbag ♥ Michael Kors watch ♥ Nordstrom BP bracelets ♥ Photo credit: My wonderful boyfriend, Carter Beyl

My boyfriend calls this dress my Beetlejuice dress, thanks to this childhood favorite.

By now, most of you know all about my love for Maxi dresses (seen here and here). I counted today and it turns out I own six of them. But my others are mostly solid colors and summer-y. This one is a little bit edgier (and um, more “Beetlejuice-y”).

I figured this edgier Maxi warranted some leather – in jacket, boot, and handbag form. During the winter I got in the habit of wearing this jacket and handbag almost daily, but when the weather started to warm up I opted for lighter coats and sweaters (and switched up my handbags). But I truly love these pieces and I’m glad I threw on this jacket before going outside – because although the sun was shining, the wind was still blowing full force. This resulted in a relatively chilly stroll around our neighborhood.

Carter may laugh at me when I wear this dress but I’m actually getting a lot of milage out of it. By the time this blog gets posted I will have worn this dress three times – once with my leather jacket (as you can see in this post), once with my H&M denim jacket, and once with this blazer.

GUEST POST: Spotlight on Australian handbag designers


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In today’s guest post, Anna K, a freelance fashion writer, gives us a guided tour of the Australian handbag designers that should be on our radar (but may not be).

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Australian designer bags are unique in their styling and fabrics. They are coveted not only because they are beautiful and many times sport a “big name,” but they are often not as expensive as many of their high fashion competitors.

Milleni‘s goal is to remain the largest manufacturer and distributor of quality leather goods in the Southern Hemisphere. That includes handbags, wallets, and other fashion accessories. The company more than 3500 retail outlets in Australia and New Zealand and 30,000 square feet of showrooms, offices, and warehouses in Sydney.

Melleni handbag

LouenHide handbags were the creation in 2006 of Lou Kendall and Heidi Bailey when they knew they wanted to start a business and felt that most women love to have a variety of bags in shapes, styles, and colours. It took a year to design and manufacture their first bags because they insisted that the handbags be practical and affordable while still having quality. In only 3 and a half years, LouenHide has grown to a team of ten in their office and ten agents in Australia and New Zealand that have gotten the handbags in more than 400 stores.

Louenhide handbag, which you can purchase here

Olga Berg means contemporary fashion-forward day and evening handbags. Begun in 1995 by Olga Lippman, it has been run by husband and wife team, Mark and Kelly Lippman, since 1998. Kelly is incredible at interpreting the international trends and coming up with a luxurious assortment of cutting edge “statement” bags. The evening bags use beautiful fabrics and unexpected finishing touches.


Olga Berg handbag

Etiquette handbags and accessories are for the fashion conscious and sophisticated customers who appreciate the unique handbags that use imported fabrics and individual characteristics. Mindy Mason’s signature style has placed her in nomination as one of the world’s best accessory designers and into the pages of the most savvy fashion magazines.

Etiquette handbag, which you can purchase here

Manzoni has a wide variety of offerings from clutch bags to totes that have been called works of art. The formal evening clutch uses beautiful textured leather in a soft colour. They also feature a cross-body handbag with a long strap that goes across the body and over the head so that it is secure and leaves the woman with free movement. Manzoni’s Hobo Shoulder Bag uses crushed lambskin.

Manzoni handbag

Maiden Voyage makes unusual designer bags including one with a magnetic closure and one with a handy cell phone pouch with the bag made of real eel skin.


Maiden Voyage handbag, which you can purchase here

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About the author:
Anna is a blogger and a freelance writer who takes particular interest in fashion, especially Australian designer bags and clothing accessories. Her articles have been published on various blogs and websites.

Disclosure from Sarah: I was not given any compensation for posting this.

Clinique Bonus just made my day


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All of this… For free?!?! Okay, not quite. But basically. This was the gift I got from Clinique at Nordstrom (called Clinique Bonus) when I purchased two items – a mascara and a lipgloss.

This gift is yours when you purchase anything Clinique at your favourite Clinique counter for:

$25.00* (U.S. Dollars) or more at Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale’s.
$21.50* (U.S. Dollars) or more in the United States.
$35.00* (U.S. Dollars) or more at Saks Fifth Avenue.
$50.00* (U.S. Dollars) or more at Bergdorf Goodman.
$23.50* (U.S. Dollars) or more in Puerto Rico.
$26.50* (Canadian Dollars) or more in Canada.
$35.00* (Canadian Dollars) or more at Holt Renfrew, Mills Brothers and Ogilvy.

Anyway, I walked into Nordstrom and up to the Clinique counter just to buy some pink lipgloss, but I’m such a sucker for this type of stuff so I ended up buying an extra item just so that I could get my hands on this fabulous FREE (hah) gift! I’m yet to use any of this stuff yet – I’ve only had it for an hour – but this is what the Clinique Bonus came with:


Lash Doubling Mascara
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Different Lipstick in “A Different Grape”
♥ Mini Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in “Bamboo Pink” and “Stellar Plum” (with keychain)


Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips
Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder
♥ Powder Brush
All About Eyes

Trina Turk For Clinique Makeup Bag

Call me a nerd but I was most excited about the mid-sized makeup bag (ummm hello… it’s Trina Turk!) that came along for the ride. It is undoubtably becoming my new travel makeup bag! (It’s just way too cute not to use.)

If I find any of these products worthy of an individual review, I’ll report back. Naturally. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy my semi-free goodies.

Disclosure: I purchased a mascara and lipgloss from Clinique myself, and then qualified for the free gift with purchase that everyone qualifies for. I was not given press samples of anything.

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