Tip for Tat! Top 5 Exfoliating Tips!

Exfoliating your skin is not only great prep for a spray tan but also great to boost a bright and radiant appearance. All of which are what we are all searching for this summer! So to help you this summer I have compiled my top four exfoliating tips to ensure a brighter and luminous appearance.
Firstly, forget the fluffy nylon bath things your Nana gives you with the bottle of body wash. Secondly throw out the bacteria infested loofah that has been sitting in your shower for way too long! They are generally too abrasive for your skin anyway! Instead trade them all in for a basic wash cloth! Your new best friend when it comes to exfoliating. Exfoliating gloves are also a god sent- use them in a circular motion for best result!

1. Apply oil to skin

2. Take a dry brush or gloves to the skin starting from your feet- light strokes!

3. Next, step into the shower use a sugar or salt scrub starting again from your feet using circular motions.

4. Rinse, apply a salicylic acid body wash, pay attention to knees, heels and elbows. If you have back acne focus on this area as well.

5. Dry skin and apply a moisturizer

I hope these few handy hints are helpful and let your skin glow and pop like the fire works on New Years Eve!

In with the New

I love living in Brisbane, the people, the city and most of all my favorite boutiques and fashion stores.
The Met in Fortitude Valley has re-opened its doors after going through renovations. The club is back to its best, with more seating and most importantly a great new floor to dance the night away with your girlfriends! They have a great dj line up for NYE as well check it out!
Before you hit the dance floor with your girlfriends the best place to eat, drink and catch up on all the gossip you have to try Vepiano's, a great Italian restaurant that will have you coming back for more! Yes Carb heaven, I like to call it my cheat meal of the week, to justify all the carbs, it is definitely worth it!
So check out these new hot spots and enjoy them with your very best girlfriends!

ALERT- Cheap Thrills

Make the most out of your wardrobe these days I am find more and more that I am shopping around for the best deals and making the most out of my money, yes I will go and purchase that Vintage no name skirt that costs more than a small car but it will pay off in the amount of times I wear it and all the compliments seem to ease the fact it cost what felt like the earth!

However it is what you team the amazing earth costing skirt with that will put the bang back into all your bucks! I watched an interview with Marc Jacobs the other day and he was explaining the fact that women can pair an amazingly cut skirt with a plain t and look so chic and stylish and this is the trick to fashion and all of my cheap thrills sometimes a cheap thrill is a better feeling than purchasing that bag you have been lusting over for over a year. Anyway back to my amazing earth costing skirt that fits like a glove that I never want to take off, which in fact i usually don't! Eek I know this is gross however I do confess I part with it for 24 hours while it is at Elaundry being cleaned. Getting back to wearing my amazing skirt generally every second day which means teaming it with different colours, textures and accessories all of which I like the challenge of. And can be picked up at an amazing price all you have to do it keep your peepers open for them!

Take a basic t, add my amazing skirt, my boyfriend watch and I am out the door! Or add a basic tank top from target or kmart yes I shop at kmart it makes me feel justified when I buy my Vintage pieces. Grey, white, pink, black all the colours of the rainbow tank tops and I will have several different outfits add a necklace, bangles up to my elbow, my obsession with boyfriend watches I seem to collect total tally 4 as of now and once again I have reinvented my skirt! Oh not to mention add some killer heals for night or some sweet flats and I am good to go from day to night!

Fashion is somewhat suppose to be fun, and fun doesn't have to come at a earth busting cost all you have to do is be smart and choose the correct pieces to spend that earth busting and bank account busting buck on!
Stores that supply such "great bargains", as my dad calls them, Kmart (don't be ashamed everyone has shopped there admit it or not), Collete Accessories, Target (they have a great line for city chic women), online sales including Urban Outfitters, Shop Bop (amazing sales on Diane Von Furstenberg) and of course Camelia Carlton! Enjoy and also enjoy looking at a healthy bank balance for once! Xx CC

Silly Season Should'NTS- Three reasons to keep that Santas hat in your wardrobe!

To bust out the Santa's Hat this silly season is my dilemma I face around this time of the year and generally makes me question/ notice how committed I am to fashion. Will this match that? Will my frilly and utterly gorgeous festive frilly dress match my crazy Christmas earrings, is that even in Vogue? Much of which all run through my head around this time of the year! Sometimes making me think fashion is driving me crazy until one of my delightful friends turns to me while on a bus and explains how much she loves her velvet green vest for Christmas and how it matches her pointy toe elf looking booties she bought three winters ago yet, how much she dreads the 'Santas Hat' and any conversation about a Santa's hat.

So for the record I have compiled the my top five holiday SHOULD NOT'S! I know there are probably more than five and I would love to know what yours are! Please feel free to share on my facebook wall!!!

NO NO Number ONE:

The first offender that I would like to point out would be the head to toe Christmas outfit, I attend an ugly Christmas jumper party every year where a bunch of friends go to op shops and find the most awful sweaters and jumpers with Santa and rain deers on them and we all show them off at out ugly Christmas party, it is fun however, some people seriously wear these and not only stopping at a Christmas t, or jumper but the whole outfit is a shrine to ugly Christmas paraphernalia. View the below and I rest my case.



NO NO Number Two:

Yes it is summer and yes our summers are hot there is no denying that, but really visiting your family and grand parents is not an invitation to show too much skin! It is Christmas after all and a time to dress a little more conservative, I like to wear floaty dresses, pretty yet gives me all the room I desire to scoff as much pavlova as possible! Thigh-high miniskirts and jean shorts and cut-to-the-navel dresses may look great on the runway, but in reality they are almost impossible to carry off, let alone wear to Christmas dinner or brunch with the family. Not only is it possible to dress sexy while leaving lots to the imagination, and also stuffing your self full of Christmas decedents. The secret here is to accentuate your best features with a suggestion: a lace-trimmed camisole under a blazer hints at great cleavage, yet you wont kill your Nana with showing all that skin or a small slit on a skirt gives a glimpse at gorgeous legs yet wont show your behind to your relatives, a halter dress shows off toned arms and all that work you have been doing at the gym.

NO NO Number Three:

Too many blingy accessories that make you light up more than your Nan's Christmas Tree. Come on now ladies lets leave the bling to the Christmas tree this year, rain deer ears that light up with matching flashing Christmas earrings are something out of a night mare not Christmas. See below I rest my case!

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Look Taller and Thinner Without Trying!!!!

Ever want to look for Victorias Secrete than short and stubby? Well, You don't have to wear black everyday to look your sleekest or very most Vistoria Secret-ish! Try these simple figure flattering tips to elongate your body.

1.Opt for a monochromatic outfit.

2.Add contrast color or texture with a blazer, cardigan or overshirt.

3.Leave the blazer or cardigan unbuttoned for maximum vertical lines.

4.Any stripes on the garment should be vertical.

5.Choose scarves tied loosely with long, vertical dangling ends.

6.Match pantyhose hue to skirt or pant and shoe color.

7.Avoid big belts, which can cut you in half visually.

8.Use long necklaces or pendants and avoid chokers.

9.Wear skirts that are longer than they are wide.

10.Choose shoes with at least an inch heel: the taller the better and that are in a nude colour it will instantly increase your leg length by squillions!!

11.Elongate the neck with V-necks.

The Camelia Carlton Tube Top is great to elongate the body with a deep V that will look amazing on most of us!!!! What is more perfect is that this material won't crease! No ironing means more time spent doing some of the more exciting things when getting ready to go out and tackle the world!

Alert: I LOVE your Handbag?! Is it Fake or Real?

A handbag is like a girls security blanket or the ultimate accessory and one that I must admit I spend the most on and enjoy the most! I see girls strutting around Brisbane and must admit to also strutting around with my hang bag no matter what it is slung on my arm like candy. However spotting a fake between real or good quality genuine leather to the fake PU China Leather is a fine line.

So what is new and all the rage in Handbag Fashion well I like to think it is up to you, and the way I determine this is all upon where I am going.

How to Choose the Right Handbag

Just like a great pair of jeans, a handbag should fit your body type. The shape of a bag shouldn't match your figure: instead, choose the opposite of your body type. For example, pick a bigger bag if you're a tall and thin woman. Don't be afraid to try the handbag on at the store. Get a feel for how it fits. Pass on anything that makes you uncomfortable. Basic designs and styles will last you through the years while maintaining a sense of up-to-date style. Bigger styles are great for on the go gals and guys, I love the Camelia Carlton Tote bag for days where I'm at the gym one minute, university the next and work in the late afternoon!
 

Fakes vs. Lookalikes

Before I become an obsessive freak that I am about this subject I would like to explain a few things before I get too carried away on this subject, I am a devoted Louis Vuitton Lover I have been in a relationship with him for over a decade and have recently about a year and a half started a love affair with Marc Jacobs and Chanel so please excuse my hatred of Fakes and Lookalikes and the people who try to carry them off as real. 
 
So to explain what these are I shall break it down for you, "fakes" are complete knockoffs (with fake logos most of the time) and "lookalikes" are pieces that are merely inspired by the original (like many department store handbag lines like the new Kardashian handbag line). "Fakes" may seem great at the time of purchase HEY yes they are cheap and look much alike the 'REAL' ones (Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Coach) BUT the bottom line is that these bags are cheap for a reason yes repeat they are cheap for a reason-- Not to mention counterfeiters have ties to all types of crime. How to know if your buy is fake and not the real thing? If the deal seems too good to be true (i.e. Louis Vuitton bag for $200) it probably is. Also look at the stitching, zippers, gold plating, date code and lining of the bag as these are all dead give aways when looking at a fake!
 

Research the Designer

 

Most designers have websites for you to check out their merchandise even going to the US or French Website will give you a good indication. Go ahead and get an idea of which bag you like, and if it's in your price range, get it. If your traveling overseas you might also want to check out the price in the chosen country you are visiting alot of the time Italian or french made handbags are cheaper in the country of origin.  But if it's a little too expensive, designers have specialty outlet stores and there are also plenty of websites that offer legitimate designer bags for a reasonable price such as Shop Bop- Great for Marc Jacobs and DVF Treasures (SALES)!!

 

'It' Bags

I like to call these investment pieces, my ultimate investment would be a Hermes Birkin, ever so stylish and has been for decades something that is an heirloom believe it or not yes a handbag could be an heirloom and one that I would trade my most beloved Louis Vuitton for!
 
So now that you know the difference between fakes and lookalikes, you'll want to study up on which styles are hot in the fashion world. "It" bags -- expensive designer bags that get must-have status each season -- don't come cheap but yet if you get the right 'it' bag and wear it for three seasons sporadically it will most often pay its self off and also pay off all those compliments and dying gazes you will receive. Remember that fashion goes in cycles, so hold on to these pricey investments: they'll be back in style in a few years.
 
I hope this has helped you in your search for the perfect handbag! How could we ever live without them! Enjoy loves! xx cc
 

Alert: Whats Cooking Good looking Beauty Tips

There's tried-and-true ways to properly care for your skin, from the right way to cleanse your face, to the best moisturizers and sunscreens. You could purchase the latest and greatest every week in search of the newest quick fix around town however it would cost you an arm and a leg each week! Who wants to do that?!?
All that is needed for constantly good looking skin is a proper and daily 4-step skincare routine, you'll need to know your skin type. How you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun- damaged. - A great sunscreen is key to good skin.

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen

Step 1: Cleansing

KISS- KEEP IT SIMPLE SILLY: Simple is key remember simple and consistent is key. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, stick with it and be consistent. See the best cleansers for your skin type or go to your local beauty counter and get matched it will save you time and money in the long run!

"Soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down." We agree. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.

Be careful not to cleanse too often as it will dry out your skin only making more oil which is never good. Washing at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French use. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (if you have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin). Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You'll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.

In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about over cleansing skin, see signs you are over cleansing your skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. One of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.

Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion I highly recommend Clinique 7 day scrub it is "amazabells!!!!".  Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good.
In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years from your face. Can't afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare's.

Retinoids (such as Retin-A or the more moisturizing Renova) also work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells while also generating collagen in the skin. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis Gross said in O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores." Skincare experts disagree on all sorts of things, but most of them consider retinoids to be a miracle skin saver. I'm addicted to Retin-A, which I pick up in Mexico on my yearly jaunts.

Should you use a toner? Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, "toners are only for copy machines"). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it's up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Step 3: Moisturize

A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize - So do it!! Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers a non greasy moisturizer will work wonders. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin. So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to overmoisturize - this can clog pores yuck! The stuff nightmares are made of when pores are clogged!!!

Step 4: Use Sunscreen!!!!!! 

The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage repeat the number 1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days we don't want to end up looking like we have leather skin its just not fashionable!! A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection, yes two you will save money and your skin in the long run it is worth it!! Don't use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin and make skin oily! When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.

OK ladies and gentleman enjoy my fav tips for the clearest glowing skin you could ever dream of and remember keep it simple silly! Always no matter what use sunscreen the leather look is only fashionable in clothing and on your Chanel handbag! xx cc 

Fashion News: Brown the New Black

A model wears a design made of chocolate during the 14th Annual New York Chocolate Show at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York Check out these crazy designs too good not too eat!

We've seen before the all too impractical wooden dress, however chocolate just seems so much more practical and eatable!

But wait what about the plant dress? See yourself strutting around in an eco friendly dress?

How fashion has come in leaps and bounds and in all sorts of fabric, shapes and sizes! What is next who will bust out into the fashion scene with the next genius or ingenius design?