If not pink, how about blue?

Illamasqua Apocalips

Lime Crime No She Didn't

I don't always agree with Rihanna - though I'm all for holidaying in Barbados at the drop of a hat! I got super excited about her blue lipstick outing though and as you know, I'm not one to back away from a bold statement or a challenge.
I went to the expert for guidance on wearing blue lips. Frances is a key makeup artist for Illamasqua.

Illamasqua Disciple

If your after a day time look I say it is really up to the person wearing it! There is no right or wrong way, teaming it up with a blush and eye makeup is personal preference either way Apocolips and Gender will always be one of the boldest colours of the makeup. I love to wear Apocalips myself and I feel the best way I enjoy to wear it is with very bronzed glowing skin and soft eyes. 

The beautiful Jess Anne from Taken By Surprise gives the following tips:
At night time, you can get away with a little more makeup, so pair your blue lipstick with some amber or orange toned eye shadow. These two shades complement each other gorgeously, and don't overpower each other. Try a warm gold eyeshadow applied with your finger tips in a wash over your eyelids and a deeper copper shade blended into your crease. Finish off with black mascara and defined brows.

There is every shade out there from palest blue to darkest navy. My recommendations are Illamasqua Apocalips, Discipline and Gender and Lime Crime does a stunning pale blue (GREAT for pale skin!) called No She Didn't.

http://www.illamasqua.com

http://www.makeupnet.com.au/

Powerfully Pink

Isn't it funny that as a kid, I shunned pink and picked red as a statement colour and yet now, I love every shade from fairyfloss to fuschia? Perhaps it takes confidence to recognise that pink is actually a really strong colour and since it draws attention, you have to own it!
With that said, I'm taking the next step from pink leggings to pink hair. Not all of it! There is bleach involved, after all. Wish me luck. I go with Fudge paint box in Pink Moon in my arsenal.

If pink hair isn't your thing, you'll still be excited by Illamasqua's new homage to the glamour and beauty of pink with the Glamore Collection. Though I'm get to lay my hands on it, I have my eye on that killer shade of pink, Luster. Glissade looks amazing too - a deeper, less candy colour. You can find Illamasqua at Myer.

Illamasqua Luster and Glissade

Do I Need a Program or Can I Go It Alone?

This will depend on a couple of things.

• What are your goals?
• Will you be training in a gym, at home, outdoors or elsewhere?
• Have you been able to get the results you want in the past?
• Are you injured and do you know how to avoid agitating or worsening it?

If you can confidently say you've met your goals before and you know your training ground and how to make the most of it, then I'd suggest you pick up some fitness magazines or browse good fitness sites for ideas and motivation rather than depending on a trainer.

If you end up spending more time looking around your training ground thinking, "What now?" than you do actually working out, get a program from a trainer you have seen in action. You want to know they prescribe workouts that you'd WANT to do!
The more experience you get and the more you understand WHY you're doing particular exercises and for how long, the more prepared you'll be to design your own workouts in the future.

If you want to go it alone, here's my guide to making your own program:

• What are your weaker areas? (ie. many people have a weaker back from sitting and hunching forward)
• What are your time and budget? (this will define how much time your program takes to complete and where you'll exercise)

Prioritise your weaker areas first - and usually, you'll want to work with the bigger muscles down to the smaller ones to make sure you have the most energy to devote to the larger muscles.

SAMPLE PROGRAM

Back Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Chest Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Glutes Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Leg Exercises - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Shoulders - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Abdominals - Number of repetitions - Number of sets 

Stretches

Dance + Pilates + Yoga

Tracey Mallett is a big influence on my class choreography. I love her barre and pilates workouts - whether 10 minute YouTube options or full DVDs.
She's challenging but just when you are thinking she must be crazy, this isn't POSSIBLE, she introduces a new move and you carry on!
Here is a ten minute option from PopSugar, which offers great fitness content. All you need is a chair that you can hold at hip-height for balance. Choose an even, non-slip surface to work on.

Ballet Sculpt

Gwen Stefani - Abs Ahoy!

First of all, aspiring to anyone elses' body is destined to disappoint, but being INSPIRED is a different animal! Gwen Stefani trains like an athlete - let's not pretend those ab muscles just happened.
If you want strong, defined abs muscles there are a couple of factors. You need to train the abs from different angles and you need to vary your training so that they don't just go "oh, this again? Whatever."

That's right, your muscles have an attitude problem and given the option, they'll just laze about. Give them something new to chew on!

Also, having strong abs is one thing, but if you want to see some definition, that layer over the top is not going to budge just because you're crunching and planking like crazy. You need to focus on healthy fats from fish, nuts, avocado or coconut oil for omega 3s as
well as lean proteins. Cut the fried foods and beware of stress and lack of sleep. Both cause a rise in cortisol production, enhancing the belly fat storage. Also, if you're serious, cut the alcohol. If you can't make my Ballet Sculpt classes, take on the 2-Week Plank Challenge at home! Hold as long as you can, then collapse and start again.

If you're less inclined to cut the booze entirely and plank daily, then join me in getting super excited about the fact Gwen Stefani has joined forced with OPI to release rockstar nail shades. My favourite three are Hey Baby, I Sing In Color, and Over & Over A-Gwen. FOR STOCKISTS CALL 1800 812 663

Hitting Your Thirties: What To Update

When I turned 31 last year, my sister happily congratulated me on now being "the wrong side of thirty".
Since my 20s weren't all that great, I'm actually thinking this is the RIGHT side, BUT there are
some adjustments that need to take place to nutrition, fitness and skincare once you're beyond the invincible 20s.

1. Maintain or START a resistance training program (ideally with weights to protect and build lean muscle 
2. Ensure you are meeting your iron, calcium and vitamin D levels to stave off fatigue, mood fluctuations and disease
3. Learn how to prepare some basic healthy meals and keep these as your staples - invest in a cooking class or cook book! Nina Stabey (right) is a naturopath and clinical nutritionist who runs clinics and workshops Australia-wide. Find out her locations and availability at The Healing Ingredient (health rebates available)

SKINCARE

First of all, get those sun spots and freckles checked out by a doctor or dermatologist - better safe than sorry. Especially if you are 100 shades of pale, like me.

I might be out of my 20s, but I'd like my skin to stay as youthful as possible.
I don't spend up on skincare, instead relying on a prescription retinoic acid cream to act as an exfoliant and collagen booster. My doctor prescribes ReTrieve cream, which I apply around the eyes and on any blemishes. It has the bonus effect of being an acne treatment so blast wrinkles and spots overnight! It's $50 a pop and lasts for 6 - 8 months.

If puffy peepers are more your concern, my favourite organic skincare brand, live clean, makes Fresh Face De-Puffing Roller Eye Treatment. Packed full of lavender, cucumber, vhamomile, milk thistle, mallow, aloe and buckthorn, its my morning eye massage. Hypoallergenic, vegan and totally clear of mineral oil and petroleum. It's the bomb at approx $32.

Once you've done the groundwork - get to know what colours and makeup effects suit you. This will save on the number of products you have lying around the bathroom and bedroom, AND the amount you spend on products! That said, my nan had about 50 shades of coral lipstick and I used to be thrilled to open her makeup drawer and ogle them all.
Your staples should include a lip liner in a shade darker than your lips, an SPF-enhanced foundation or BB cream, concealer, and eyeliner.

If you're me, a whole lot of glitter and lipstick in every shade under the sun will round things off, but you're not me so you're probably much tamer with your choices!

I cannot rave enough about Rimmel ScandalEyes Thick/Thin liner. It makes it super easy to draw a long-lasting, smudge-proof line. You can carry it around in your handbag forever without needing to sharpen it.