Style Counsellor

Must Haves

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DANDELION by Benefit, is a lovely pale, ballerina-pink refreshing powder that can be used all over the face to wakeup your complexion. It's Alison's long-time favourite which she uses as a blusher – it’s the lightest, most natural colour she's found. Use it on the apples of your cheeks for the most natural-looking pick-me up. Check out the many other great Benefit cosmetics - Style Counselonline will review a few more Benefit favourites on this page and via her weekly newsletters, stay tuned for more of the benefits of Benefit!

L'OREAL REFINISH Micro-Dermabrasion Kit

A unique and affordable at-home solution to visibly resurface your skin. Alison has been using this product for over a year now - her teenage children use it too, and more recently, her husband also became a convert! The aluminium oxide micro-crystals are the exact same ingredients used in professional salon solutions but for a fraction of the price! Use 2 or 3 times a week for instantly visible results. Dermatologically tested, fragrance and colour free, non-greasy, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores), and priced at around $30 this two step kit is an affordable investment for smooth, glowing skin.

MAYBELLINE PURE MAKEUP

Why does Alison love Pure Makeup? Because it feels like you've got nothing on, is 50% WATER, oil-free and best of all, only costs around $15! It performs just as well as some of the more expensive brands, and the colour selection is easy to work out too. There are four in each skin-tone category, and the matte-finish blends easily and looks SO natural (probably due to the high H2O content!). If you've got an oily or combination skin and you're tired of paying out big bucks for the wrong foundation, try this - I'm sure you'll love it and so will your wallet!

PRESCRIPTIVES VIRTUAL SKIN FOUNDATION

Available at Mecca Cosmetica, this high-end foundation is oil-free, looks really natural and also feels like you have nothing on. The really great thing about this foundation is the wonderful staff at Mecca Cosmetica (Queen's Plaza, Brisbane City) colour match your foundation so you can be certain you will always be wearing the foundation that is perfectly suited to your skin tone. It really is like a virtual skin - you see YOU, not your makeup! Visit Cait and the team for your own "prescription" of cult-favourite skin-care and makeup.

ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOUR CRYSTAL

Crystal Baby is Alison's favourite colour used for many student's makeups during Style Counsel Workshops. It’s a really natural colour - very sheer and glossy - and can be used over stronger coloured lipsticks to tone down colours and add a great shine. Other favourite colours are Crystal Pink and Crystal Coral. Ger proET.com

MD FORMULATIONS FACIAL LOTION

This is the product Alison swears by (politely ofcourse!). A lightweight, oil-free treatment serum for normal, combination or oily skin. Contains 12% Glycolic Compound AHA to gently exfoliate surface skin cells. Excellent for controlling oiliness, refining skin texture, minimising enlarged pores and addressing the appearance of skin imperfections and fine lines. Also enhances the effectiveness of moisturiser. Once you try it, you'll never look back. You may, after a while, think you can stop using it, but THAT'S when you'll see how well it actually was working for you. Invariably, once you stop exfoliating, your skin becomes troublesome again - as they say, "you never miss your water 'till you're dry!". Available from selected beauty salons ($110) or online from www.betterskin.com.au slightly cheaper at around $90.

LAURA MERCIER SECRET CONCEALER

This is Al's personal must-have under-eye paramedic! It's brilliant for covering under-eye circles - it's so moist it almost acts like an eye-cream as well! This concealer will erase dark circles and imperfections like no other. It never goes dry or cakey so when you find a gem like this, you stick with it! Available from David Jones City Store only (or online!).

CLINIQUE ALMOST MAKEUP & CITY BLOCK

Clinique's Almost Makeup is perfect for teenagers and adults alike who want a really natural “no makeup” look but still need to even out their complexion. It’s oil-free and also has an SPF factor 15.

Clinique's City Block is a great oil-free sunscreen which almost acts as a tinted moisturiser. It creates a physical barrier between your face and the damaging rays and is hypoallergenic. There are a number of shades to choose from - it's really an everyday must-have in our harsh climate! Find brand name cosmetics for less at StrawberryNET.com

More Must Haves

THE CASAURI LAPTOP BAG

This is Al's personally tried and tested and oh-so-chic laptop bag (hers is sky blue like this one!). It's slim-lines, sleek design, cool colours and beautiful brown trim (with detachable shoulder strap) makes it the most stylish way to carry around your laptop! Check them out at www.duckeggblue.com.au. OK, so they're not exactly cheap (the medium one pictured costs $145) but the quality and style is second to none, and after much shopping around, Al found most laptop bags were black and a bit on the exxy side, so you may as well go with something stylish! We all know how accessories can make or break an outfit, don't we!? Al's rating (yes, she's biased - she loves hers so much) is a big 10/10

HANDBAG HANGERS

These are available in a range of colours and designs from www.designeronline.com.au Hang it in your wardrobe to make all your lovely bags clearly visible and readily available. Makes putting the finishing touch to your outfit with your favourite matching bag simple. No more forgetting how many wonderful bags you have (because they're hidden in dust-bags at the back of your wardrobe. Al just bought one herself one and can't believe how she did without it all this time! 10/10

THE PURSEKET

What a nifty little invention is the Purseket from designeronline.com.au It stands upright in your handbag and coils around to fit whatever shape your bag is - put all your bits and pieces in each pocket so you never have to rummage around looking for keys, pens or tissues again! What's even better, is it makes changing bags (to suit your outfit, ofcourse!) so much simpler too...just pull out the whole Purseket and transfer to another bag! They come in small, medium and large sizes and are a must for organising any bag-lady! Al has one, and gives it a 10/10 for organisation!

DI KENNEDY A beautiful range of makeup you certainly won't find "just anywhere". This top quality boutique makeup has received rave reviews in magazines such as Madison and New Woman and is only available from Di's online store, selected make up artists, beauty salons, day spas and specialist make up stores. Check out her full range of beautiful cosmetics online at www.dkstudio.com.au