Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Lookin' good, traveller: Makeup



Good skin is half the battle won - but sometimes we need that little extra oomph to get ourselves psyched to face the world.

I don't know about you guys, but there are some days I don't feel like I've really woken up until I've put my face on! I really don't sleep, so I have horrible horrible dark eye circles, and when I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror seeing how tired I look makes me feel tired too. Also, I just yawned typing that.

Now we've already established that when you travel you really don't want to bring your entire kit around with you. The same principle goes for makeup, so really, there are only three things you'll want to bring with you when you travel (plus maybe one little extra for the sake of pampering yourself a wee bit):

Eyebrow pencil

I'll admit - I'm obsessed with keeping my eyebrows looking good, which means I check them all the time and I absolutely never leave my house without having checked my eyebrows to see if they're filled in properly. I'm naturally missing half my left eyebrow, so unless I fill that in my eyebrows really do look rather strange.

I swear by Shu Uemura's Hard 9 brow pencil, which I've used for years and own in two different colours. It stays on all day, lasts forever, and is incredibly easy to apply. I love the specially shaped point, which you can get resharpened for free at any Shu Uemura counter, and which is just perfect for application. What can I say? I love love love this product.




Translucent face powder

The last thing you want when taking holiday selfies is to check the camera and see that you've got oily skin which glaringly shows up in pictures. Translucent face powder is perfect because it evens out your skin tone just enough, mattifies your skin, and is lightweight.

I try as far as possible to wear only lightweight products because I don't like the feeling of wearing makeup - I love how it looks, but I'd rather have the feeling of fresh, clean skin!

If your skin needs a little more coverage, try a BB cream or tinted moisturiser. A concealer can be a good idea, too. Some of these products are available in matt finishes, which also help to prevent oily skin from showing up in holiday photos.

Blush

This is the magic thing which gives your face a beautiful flush of colour and keeps you looking warm, glowing and radiant. Blushes are so versatile - they give your skin a healthy flush, or you can even double up a cream blush as a lipstick if you need to.

I'm particularly fond of cream blushes because they last longer on your skin, look more natural, and can be applied with your fingers so you don't even need to bring a brush with you!

Check out the NYX range of cream blushes and MAC mineralise blushes.

~Image, Makeup by Cheryl H

Optional:

Mascara

Just like every other girl out there, I love my mascara. The only reason I'm putting this on the 'optional' list is because mascara is one of the hardest makeup products to take off, and you really don't want to be struggling with taking your makeup off after a long day of travel. But that being said, I love the look that mascara gives. It's up to you whether or not you want to trade those lashes for easygoing comfort while travelling.

Lipstick

This one's just in case of any extra-glam nights you might be going out to; a gorgeous lipstick is the one perfect finish to the va-va-voom of any outfit. I like taking one with me in a nice deep burgundy shade (see MAC's Viva Glam III) because it's sophisticated and versatile enough to be used in any situation.

*

Now, here's an extra tip: when you travel, your products are bound to get thrown around. A lot. So when you travel, minimise any powder products you bring, in case they shatter in transit. The last thing you want is for powders to get all over your clothes (it's really not fun). For this reason I advise not bringing eyeshadows with you - you don't really always need to wear eyeshadow every single day, so kick as much out as you possibly can.

Remember to travel light!

What makeup do you take with you when you travel?

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Grey days in Salzburg, Austria

Statue of Pegasus, Mirabell Gardens, Austria
I believe Austria must be one of my favourite countries in Europe. I first visited Austria when I went to Vienna with my school choir in 2006 after having competed at a competition in Olomouc in the Czech Republic, and visiting Salzburg reminded me again why I still think Austria is a special place and Austrians are special people.

Genuinely, every single person I met was sweet and helpful. And why wouldn't everyone be, living in a place as pretty as this?

The Mirabell Gardens.
Accordion player in the Mirabell Gardens.
I've said that Salzburg is a musical place, and hearing this nice accordion player while I was strolling through the Mirabell Gardens just confirmed that. I love how he even has a nice acorn and pinecone treble clef in front of him - even if the treble clef is mirror image!

The Mozart Bridge.
Salzburg is kinda obsessed with Mozart. After all, Mozart was one of the greatest composers of music ever to walk this earth (I kinda love him more even after watching Amadeus, which is a great film) and Mozart was born in Salzburg. There's the Mozartplatz, the Mozart Bridge, Mozart's birthplace and Mozart's residence which you can visit.

There's just so much of the man, that everywhere you go you're constantly reminded that this is Mozart's place!

Also, because I've watched the Sound of Music so many times, it's easy to feel almost as though I know the place already. Remember the scene when Maria and the children were running across the Mozart Bridge?



Interior of Salzburg Cathedral.
Overlooking Salzburg and the Salzburg Cathedral.
I thought it was great that even though the skies were grey and overcast, the skyline of Salzburg still looked so beautiful. So old, ancient, antique, and so many things that many cities these days aren't. Salzburg isn't modern like other cities - it seems largely lost in its own world, as if from a different time.

Salzburg skyline.


Horses and carriages.
As the grey turns darker and darker, the sky changes, the streets change.





A woman buys perfectly polished fruit at a stall.
Mozart's birthplace.










Friday, February 22, 2013

Photo Friday: Salzburg Snow

Pigeons take flight over the Salzach River.
Snow makes the whole world look completely different. It blankets everything in a thousand shades of white, and it's both beautiful and deadly. Snow turns the trees silver, falling on your nose and eyelashes. It is cold, yet it is warm. And it is that magic sprinkling of dust that turns a place into a winter wonderland.
Snow on the banks of a stream near the Untersberg Mountain.
Salzach River, Austria.
Trees on the sides of a white Untersberg Mountain, Austria.
With temperatures at -9 degrees at midday, windblown snow forms blades on a fence on the Untersberg Mountain.
The sides of the Untersberg.
Snow on the Untersberg covers everything in sight.



Snow turns trees silver as seen from a cable car descending from the Untersberg.
Red berries sit underneath light, fluffy powder.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

This week on the Internet: 14/2/13-21/2/13



Check out this video of goats yelling like humans. Look out especially for that awesome dude at 00:23.

Also, dead bodies are rising from the grave in Montana, USA. A TV station's emergency alert system was hacked to bring viewers this very important message warning people to beware.



So you know what that means, right? There are zombies. RUN!



Zombies, Run 2 is soon to be released. Following in the footsteps of the massively popular fitness (yes, you read that right - fitness) iOS and Android app, Zombies Run 2 is poised to be as much of a massive hit as its original app.

Now, what I really want to see is zombies doing the Harlem Shake.



Send me more this week on the internet!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Lookin' good, traveller: a skincare how-to



Travel is harsh on the skin, of that there is no doubt. When I was in Italy, I had the worst skin I'd ever seen - and I really do mean, ever. It was red, dry, angry, and looked absolutely dreadful. I've never been so glad for my bangs, which covered up my whole forehead quite nicely and hid the angry red bits of my skin.

Especially if you're a girl, it's tempting to want to take all your skincare with you when you go travelling. Unfortunately, airport authorities aren't particularly keen on us taking every single one of our creams and serums with us in hand carry, and to be honest carrying 11 products around while travelling does seem a little... Shall I say it? Cray cray.

So for all the girls in the house who still wanna keep pristine skin even while you're subjecting it to the stresses of travel, here's how to do just that.

#1 Multitasking

Get products that really work their weight! Don't bring a moisturiser and a sunscreen when you could get a two-in-one, saving valuable space in that tiny bag of 100ml bottles. This goes for any and all of your products - if you can get products that do more, bring those instead.

I started using Soap and Glory's Feel Good Factor SPF25 because it provides a decent amount of sun protection and it's a moisturising cream. I've since grown to like this so much that I use it on an every day basis even when I'm not travelling - the lightweight formula is great on your face!



Remember - the key here is to cut as many things out from your routine as possible without skimping on the steps that are important.

#2 Bare essentials

You don't really need two night creams, three day creams, toners, a serum and a whole host of preventive treatments. Clinique got it right with their three-step system; cleansing, toning, and moisturising. Of course, everyone is different and you might be able to cut out a step or need to add one more there - but you get the idea.

Can you afford to skip out on that ultra-luxurious La Mer cream for a week or two while you're on holiday? Do it. If you absolutely must bring it along and think it's something you can't do without, put it into a little 15ml jar so it doesn't take up so much space in your bag.

Your everyday skincare routine at home should have already kept your skin pretty clear, so all you need to do while travelling is to keep it looking that way.

#3 Emergency kit

So you've taken out more than half of your every day skincare routine. Good on you! Give yourself a little pat on the back. You are now allowed to bring with you exactly one item for last-minute emergencies, like when you have big red blotchy splotches on your forehead or have one angry zit on your cheek. Or when you have dry skin and none of your regular moisturisers will do the job.



Everyone's skin is different, so what goes into your emergency kit will be different for everyone. My skin is combination-oily, so I tend to get pimples. When this happens, the first thing I reach for is either Oxy10 or tea tree oil; depending on my mood, I'll reach for either one when I'm packing.

People with dry skin may want to bring packets of hydrating face masks, and others may choose to add that one miracle product that cures absolutely everything. Whatever it is, make sure it's small so it fits in your little transparent travel-approved bag.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Photo Friday: Natural Europe

The Trossachs National Park, Scotland
Thinking of Europe brings to mind big cities - Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and the like. And no wonder; it's easiest to get around when you're in big cities, isn't it?

Today, though, I'd like to show you another side of Europe: the Europe of film sets, of magic, of legends and myth.

Today, I'd like to present to you: Europe as she was before humans came along. In case you've missed anything:

The Reca River and Divača Caves.
Frognerseteren, Oslo, Norway. 

Morning mist on Loch Ken, Galloway, Scotland.
The Milky Way over the skies near Galloway, Scotland.
Scenery in Vigeland Sculpture Park, Norway.
Howth, Dublin, Ireland.
Lake District, England
Llandudno, Wales
Black Sprout Woods, Pitlochry, Scotland
What are some of your favourite images of Natural Europe? Let me know in the comments below!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Sound of Salzburg



In a place known best for its musical heritage, Salzburg is truly the city of song - birthplace of Mozart, filming location of the Sound of Music. It's no Vienna, but Salzburg is an entirely different city of music. Vienna's music is aristocratic and for the music connoisseur; Salzburg's music is for everyone.

On my first day in Salzburg, what else was there to do but of course to take the Sound of Music Tour? The hostel I was staying at, the YoHo Youth Hostel, is an amazing place and I highly recommend it to anyone who is going to Salzburg. It's a really big hostel with multiple storeys, its affordable, clean, friendly with a 24h reception, and with nearby supermarkets and a neat kitchen.
Image from HostelWorld.com
Also, they play the Sound of Music in the TV lounge every single night. Yup you read that right. Every. Single. Night. I confess to being one of the 30 people (of whom only 2 were boys) who sat in that room and watched it. I mean, come on - I'm in Salzburg, right, so why not?

I booked my Original Sound of Music Tour through the hostel, which was really good because they gave me 10% off. Not gonna lie, it's not cheap at €37 (before discount), but it's a great way to feed your inner child which secretly still wants to run down the Untersberg twirling and singing The Hills Are Alive. Also, it takes you out into the Salzburg Lake District, which is lovely.



My tour guide, Peter, was a lovely Austrian chap with plenty of jokes to tell. He's super nice, and really takes care of everyone - he makes sure everyone's having a good time, and he even liked me enough to give me some sweets at the end of it all :')

Grounds of Leopoldskron Palace
After driving around the city and seeing places like Nonnberg Abbey where the nuns lived, we drove out to Leopoldskron Palace to see the lake where scenes of the children falling into the lake were filmed. If you're looking at the picture above and wondering why that house in the background isn't the Von Trapp villa, the answer is - it's not!

Scenes of the Von Trapp villa exterior were filmed at the Frohnburg Palace, today the Mozarteum University. So really, the back of the house and lake were filmed at two different locations. It's some pretty neat editing they did to make everything look seamless!

Schloss Frohnburg - recognise the exterior?
The exterior of the Schloss Frohnburg was used as the exterior of the Von Trapp villa, while the interior was recreated in studios from the interior of the Schloss Leopoldskron and the lake from the Schloss Leopoldskron grounds. So really, the Von Trapp villa is three different places!

The Sixteen going on Seventeen gazebo
Since today is Valentine's Day and love is in the air, it's impossible to forget about those sweet lovebirds Liesl and Rolf. The famous gazebo where the duet, Sixteen Going On Seventeen, was performed still continues to attract people wanting to live out their inner romantics.

The interior of the gazebo in the film was studio-recreated to allow film crews to move their equipment in, and only the exterior of this actual gazebo was shown. The gazebo originally located near Schloss Leopoldskron has now been moved several times after tourists were overwhelming the area - today it sits near the grounds of Schloss Frohnburg.

The Sound of Music bus on the way to the Lake District.
Salzburg's Lake District and town of Mondsee is a beautiful place, and it was in the church here rather than in Nonnberg Abbey that Maria's wedding scene was shot, although the exterior of the Nonnberg Abbey was shown in the final cut of the film.

The town of Mondsee is brightly coloured in vibrant painted terrace houses, and the apple strudel (German: apfelstrudel) and hot vanilla cream sauce is pretty darn good, too!

I was lucky enough to grab lunch with a nice Australian family who invited me to join them at their table, since I was on the tour alone. Nice people make me happy :')

Mondsee
Exterior of Mondsee Cathedral.
You know that feeling when you walk into a place and feel extreme deja vu as if you've already been here because you've seen it so many times before? That was exactly how I felt when I walked inside Mondsee Cathedral. It was like being in the film, with everything being exactly how I remembered it from the wedding scene.

Inside Mondsee Cathedral
Just add a whole church full of wedding guests, Captain von Trapp at the front, Maria walking down the aisle accompanied by Liesl and it would have been completely perfect!!!! (I'm not going to talk about the nuns behind the gates because it was depressing that they couldn't be a part of the wedding.)

The altar at Mondsee Cathedral
And for the final touch of Sound of Music nostalgia... Here are the rows of trees right outside Schloss Frohnburg that the children were climbing as the Captain drove past in his car with the Baroness and Max. That scene when the Captain sees the group of 'local urchins' always puts a smile on my face ;)



The Sound of Music Tour is available through Panorama Tours and runs every day at 9.30AM and 2PM. The tour lasts approx. 4h and costs €37. Bookings made through your hostel are eligible for a 10% discount.

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