Happy Mandela Day:: Ladies, This Is Your Call To Action

Today is Mandela Day.

What does this mean? For 67 years Nelson Mandela has dedicated his life on working to correct human actions that have led to poverty. Nelson Mandela continues to fight the good fight and change the world.

Today, to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 67 years, Dermalogica are hoping you can direct microloans to women who need a hand. You can be a change maker in the click of a button. All the loans are fully funded already - all you have to do is click to make someone's life completely different.

Please go online by midnight today - we're trying to direct 670 microloans today!

Did you know
* 66% of the world's work is done by women, yet...
* 70% of people below the poverty line are women
* 1% of the world's land is owned by women

You can learn more here about the important role Dermalogica is playing in helping women in poverty and empowering women entrepreneurs. Their joinFITE community and initiative has already funded over 14,000 women and businesses.

Click here to play your role in directing a loan. It takes seconds to make a change!

Together we can empower 670 women around the world who are less fortunate than ourselves to make changes to their lives. That's pretty damn powerful. GO!

* I have put so many links in here to make it as easy as possible to click through and change a woman's life.

Beauty School

BEHOLD!

Today I discovered something tres magnifique!

I'm trying some new L'Oreal products - and I have got to say - I was slow on the uptake but dudes, BB cream is the shizzle!

Before I tried it, I thought 'yeah yeah, another wonder cream', and then I tried it. And then I applied it to my mum's face - I was so spellbound by its wonderous powers. BB cream for the win!

I've never tried a BB cream - but I thought this was good. If you're interested - try the L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream, seriously birds, it is good and won't leave a dent in your purse. I'm thinking it could be good for everyday use - when you just want a light coverage - and then just use foundation when I need some more serious coverage. It applies easily (although the texture has a slight grit to it), and self-adjusts to your skin colour. HELLO WHERE HAS BB CREAM BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!

I haven't used a primer for a reeeeeally long time - but I've cracked this one open and it reminded me how easy it makes applying foundation. It creates a velvety smooth surface, and the foundation is applied easily with not a heck of a lot of work.

And the Lumi Magique Stylo Touche de Lumiere is very similar to one of my all-time favourite products - YSL Touche Eclat - except L'Oreal's version is bang on the buck - and looks every bit as glam in your beauty bag. It gives a touch of light to under the eye - perfect for me when I am seriously low on the sleep, but need to freshen up my face. When I had newborns - I swore by the YSL version - however - the price killed me. This one is affordable and am sure, destined to be my BFF.  Dark bags under my eyes - begone!

This post is not sponsored. As you already know, I love trying new beauty products, and when the chance came up to learn more about L'Oreal and their ever-evolving range of products, I jumped at it. I am a beauty junkie in my own bathroom.

What's your favourite beauty potion of the moment?

New Hair

I got a new 'do!

Do blondes have more fun? I switched to blonde when I was about 17. For a couple of years. And then I switched back. I have more fun being a brunette. It's less maintenance, and I just like my own dark tresses.

But here I am with a Newtown assymetrical do.
Thoughts?

The Positivity Parade

I don't know about you, but more and more I see this quagmire of negativity and hate being rained down on people on Facebook. It's becoming an ugly place where people use it as a springboard to whinge and whine about what you didn't get. What happened to me? Poor me! Boo hoo!


Seriously. What happened to you to leave a trail of demoralising comments.


It's crippling.


Someone on the other end of the interwebz is receiving your negativity - and they have to deal with it. Negativity can be crippling.


Today I'm making it the International Day of the Positivity Parade. Let your good will shine! Let it shine! Leave a trail of positive comments on Facebook today! For friends. For companies. For everyone. I'm officially sick of the hate brigade.

There is more power in the Positivity Parade.

PS - Photo? Fab things for today: pink pens make me positively perky, stripey beauty bag - perfectly punchy, Donna Hay twine - because it's precisely peppy, and the photo is me posing at a Toni&Guy launch last night. More on that later because it's perfectly good news all 'round.

What's In My Kit?

By now if you read my blog or follow me on Instagram, you know I am a big fan of lip colour.

I go through phases, and for many, many years I was only into glosses. I really love the look of a glossy lip, but as I've gotten older, I've developed a new appreciation for lip colour - and all the goodness it can bring you.

I am a firm believer that even if you have no other make up on, putting a slick of colour on your lips can help you feel a bit more groomed, add some colour to your face as well as put some pep in your step.

This week I am trying a new colour that was sent to me from Kit Cosmetics.

This new lipstick is not only a fab colour (Party Fever), it's long-lasting and pigment loaded - meaning the colour is super vibrant. Plus it contains vitamins A, C and E to moisturise and lip conditioners chamomile and aloe to soften up your pout.

At only $24.95 I can afford to buy a few and change my look as often as I please! For the full colour range click over here. Next on my shopping list is Task Master and Show Stopper. What's not to love?!

Stuff. On My Bedside.

I have a mountain of stuff on my bedside table. Actually, a lot of it is Matt's stuff, because I decided we were swapping sides. Why? Because every single night one of the smalls would come in and wake me up. Every night. I got so exhaustipated that I said we had to do a "side exchange". Much like being an exchange student in a foreign land, I am now sampling the delights that are the other side of world bed. As part of this exchange I have inherited a whole stack of Matt's books, art catalogues and reading matter. 


On his side are some disinfectant wipes that are still there since Tiny had the vomiting lurgy. And another stack of books and some dust bunnies. It's a home interiors photographic dream, quite frankly. 


But back to my side. I have my nightly must-haves. Hand cream (this Aesop hand cream was gifted to me sometime again, and my goodness, it is certainly one of my favourites). And Blistex. I HAVE to have lip balm on before I go to sleep. Or I can not, will not go to sleep. I know. Go figure.


It's all part of my nightly ritual.


I also have a stack of newspapers next to my bed. I still read the news old school. I like the smell of newspaper, I love a broadsheet, and I keep those weekend papers there for the week so I can suck out the marrow of the news for the week. 


I am crazy like that.


What's on your bedside? 

Perks For PottyMouths

Pssst! It's so close to Mother's Day, but even if you're not a Mama, I have some sweet little offers available to my awesome readers. 


Old Shanghai Massage House is offering 20% off all treatments to PottyMouthMama readers until the end of May. 


From the brains and beauty behind The Victoria Room, the Old Shanghai house is a really beautiful place to indulge in a treatment. Decorated in an eclectic mix of beautiful and ornate Chinese elements, and easily located in Oxford Street, Paddington, it feels like you're in another world. 


I had a massage there pre-Christmas and really loved the experience. Jin gave me the mother of all massages  and performed miracles on me, fixing all my sore spots. Afterwards I indulged in a warm cup of green tea. 


Trust me - either treat yourself or ask for a treatment for Mother's Day. When you ring up, your code word is 'pottymouthmama' to make the most of the 20% offer (valid until end of May).

While we're talking beauty, Darling - creators of my FAVOURITE nail colours have just launched their Autumn/Winter collection. Darling is the brainchild of two of my ace friends, and a culmination of lots of hard work and awesome creativity. 


The palette is totes radsicles. If you spend over $40 you will receive 15% off your purchase with the special code 'HELLOPRETTY'. Valid for the month of May.  




you could always print this post out and leave it lying around for your smalls/partner to find, and then they will come to the end here and I will say - YES DO THIS FOR THIS AWESOME MAMA! It's Mother's Day! And she's RAD!

Wrinkles Are Better Than Plastic Surgery

Halleluljah! Monica Bellucci is preaching to the converted over here at Chez PottyMouthMama.

What was it I was banging on about, how almost refreshing it is to see women ageing gracefully a la Dame Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett et al.

I don't want to look at an inflated face that can't express. Not only is it immensely difficult to read facial expressions, but it looks like a fembot meets Stepford Wife.

Emote. Emote. Emote.

I've also been thinking about the message botox sends to our small people. That we value youth. And at any cost, we'll try to cling onto those last moments of youth, by injecting our face with a toxin. That ageing isn't valued in our society.

I'm out on a limb here. Botox for cosmetic use is age-ist. It says: I'm afraid of getting old. I don't want anyone to see me as old.

Ageing can be confronting. And it does sneak up on you. But you're never going to stop it. So you might have a puffy volumised face, but the rest of your body heads south all the same. Sorry, it didn't get the memo.

Read more here.

image via here

InstaBotox

I've been having a blast on Instagram, whereby I mess with the filters (not fillers) and can produce almost blemish-free, wrinkle-free skin. It's better than Botox. No needles. No toxins. No muscle paralysis. 


Speaking of which...What do you think of Botox? 


I've not had it. Not going to either. 

I like to think of ageing gracefully - of embracing the wrinkles and lines that are medals of life (and I often think - if I was a caveman, I wouldn't even be alive now - high five frown lines!). 


I had some photos taken last week - where my brow is furrowed - and well, it's probably ripe for sowing some plants in there. It's probably not perty, but it's part of me. 


I think overuse of Botox winds up looking a bit.. Odd. A bit... Freaky. It's a slippery slope, and how do you ever get off the merry-go-round of your three monthly Botox top ups? I genuinely want to know. 


A tell-tale sign, I believe, is those cray cray kick up eyebrows - that's a giveaway. 


So go to town friends, if you're pro-Botox, educate me on the joys. If you're sitting on the fence, perhaps I'll come join you. And if you're not keen on the needle in the face, talk to me too. 

YES! I Love Anne Hathaway's Hair.

She chopped it off for her role in Les Miserables, and I gotta say Anne Hathaway - I dig the hair. Short-choppy-croppy. I love how this new 'do seems to totally frame her beautiful face, her large doe eyes, aye carumba girl. I just love a gal who can embrace a short crop. It never fails to slay me. 


This new look for Anne - my oh my - I am googling like crazy to see more more more! It's a brave new world baby - I love it so. 


I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow - I'm imagining running my hands through short hair. It just feels SO good. 


Maybe...?


image via Just Jared 

How Do You Cheer Yourself Up?

How to brighten up a mamas day when she has to hit the office on an otherwise ordinary work day?

Amp up the lipstick, pop on some sequins and a super cool mani to rock the keyboard.

What do you do to cheer yourself up?

So Pretty. So Inspiring - Enter Megan Morton

Last night I was lucky enough to score a sneak peek at Megan Morton's new space.

The woman is a genius.

If you're yearning for some inspiration, some pops of colour, something to make your heart skip a beat, you should go check out her new space.

Megan is one of those rare jewels of a woman who is generous, funny, magnificently creative - I adore her.

These images are by beautiful stylist Sophie The who works closely with Megan, of The Propery. I'd like to move a bed in there and live there. There's so much to look at - I could be a magpie, but heck, I left it there for you to enjoy too.

The new space includes the very rad Kitchen by Mike and a sprawling store by Koskela, that I think you could spend the good part of a day trawling through. There is so much treasure, goodness, and gems contained within this space.

Plus there's much more in store.

Tres excitemente.

Hop in there. Like now dudes:

85 Dunning Avenue

Rosebery

all images via Can You See What I See?

The Darling Bird

Check out my new mani ladiez!

It's called 'The Bird' for reasons only known to me. And you, if you like to occasionally flip the bird too. Like it?

I truly love playing with beauty products. The ability - and the accessibility to change how I look - I create different personas witheven  just a slick of lip colour, or a different eyeshadow. It's fun and playful and I like it.

One of my totes favourite, bestest ever beauty quick fixes is nail varnish. I can change it as often as I wish and be a new person with shiny nails with colour dripping from them - et voila.

Last night I concocted 'The Bird' - my very own manicure. I created it with two colours from the brand new Darling (Showpony - which is the best pink ever, and Trophy Wife - a Limited Edition metallic glitter like none you've ever tried).

Created by two Sydney gals, Darling applies beautifully -  even with just one coat. Can I get a bit nail-nerdy on you and tell you that the coverage is sublime - I didn't use a base coat and it applied smoothly, and chip-free.

Besides a range of rad colours - the Darling nail lacquers are 3-free - NO toulene, formaldehyde, DBP or camphor and they're animal testing and cruelty free. I am so loving all of this after searching for a quality nail varnish that comes in hot colours.

This is it baby. Darling.

Christmas Shoppers!

Peeps! I have it on good authority that tomorrow only, Kiehl's is giving online shoppers 15% off anything and everything.

You know how I love beauty products, so I just had to share with you peeps!

Just enter SATURDAY when at the checkout and you'll receive the 15% discount.

Sweet!

Zis Is Ze Zinc

This is a sponsored post.

So. This is (not) me on the beach. I've got one Elle of a body. Right? Yes. Image via here

Way back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, in my former life, I worked in beauty PR. I learnt so much about how our skin ages, about the three main factors of ageing:

- genetics
- hydration
- sun – lack of protection

You can’t do anything about a bad pair of genes, but you can do something about smoking (yuck, don’t do it) and sun – cover up buttercup.

My skin is naturally fair, so I’m not mad keen to be out in the full sun. I always wear a hat, I try to be in the shade, and I don’t go out in the middle of the day if I can help it.
I’ve always had good intentions of being one of those women who religiously use an SPF under my make-up everyday.. And yet? I never do. Why? Because I feel like a grease monkey or the sunscreen makes my face go white and I look like Pierrot.

This week I’ve been road testing two Invisible Zinc products and I’m going to be using them throughout Summer.

When I was asked to try a zinc product, well… I shuddered. I imagined life covered in a greasy film, with yellow and green zinc smeared across my face.

Thankfully, this is not the case. Because how the heck would I explain that to my workmates? I’m a massive Shane Warne fan?


In fact, no one even knew I was doing anything differently.


Invisible Zinc ESP Moisturiser with SPF 30+ UVA - UVB is pretty darn good. I used it under my normal foundation, and it worked well as a base, while offering anti-ageing benefits. I have sensitive skin too, and this was amazeballs. It felt light, it went on smoothly, and all day my make-up stayed in place. No one suspected a thing.

I also tried out the Invisible Zinc UV Silk Shield Foundation SPF 30+. I’ve got to say, I’m a girl obsessed. I love a two-in-one product, particularly as I am rushing about in the morning getting the smalls ready, and trying to get myself ready for school work. This is a really fab product that acts as a foundation and evens out your complexion. Plus it’s cream to powder, so it has a really beautiful texture that lasts the whole day.

I mentioned to the gals at work I was trying it, and they were impressed. It doesn’t look like your usual tinted sunscreen. This is LUXE!

What also sells me on this product? It contains no chemical sunfilters. No parabens (big tick). And it smells nice (this is a prerequisite for me, call me old-fashioned).

You want to try too? You can! Enter my super fantastic giveaway and you can try Invisible Zinc for yourself. Yes! Fo’ shizzle! This is what you can win:

1x Environmental Skin Protector SPF 30+

1x UV Silk Shield Foundation SPF 30+

1x Tinted Daywear SPF 30+

1x Junior Clip-On SPF 30+
1x Foundation

How to enter? Answer this simple question in 25 words or less:

How will Invisible Zinc benefit your Summer?

Click here for terms & conditions.

I Gots To Love This Hair

Michelle Williams regularly appears on my blog because I love her. I love her for her talent. I love the films she chooses. I love her style. I just gosh darn love the girl. And I really love her hair. Like my love for her hair knows no bounds. I really, really love Michelle Williams and her head of hair.

Once upon a time I had short hair like this. But I got mistaken for Adriana Xenides.

Well this hair on Michelle Williams, be still my beating waif heart.

Speaking of hair, you know how I love trying new beauty products. Well with the humidity that's been bewitching my hair and making me look like I've been rubbing a balloon on my head for two hours straight (I know you know that look), I've been trying Clinicare Frizz Defying Serum-Concentrate for a few weeks. I think it's the best one I've tried - and has tamed those crazy fly-aways. If you get the frizzies like me, and haven't yet braved the chop-chop like Michelle, get it. It's a collab with Pantene and Wella (and who doesn't want to be a Wella woman?) and so far, so good my friends. Balloon-hair be gone!

image from SMH 

Details

Stepping out in Surry Hills I spied these beauties. Ornately decorated tiles, juxtaposed with the strong checkerboard. I love that stylie. They don't make 'em like that anymore.. Or do they?