BAM IT'S JOANNE

These five pieces that I'm about to introduce to you are items that are on high rotation in my current spring/summer wardrobe. I'd wear them everyday if I could! They can also be styled back with your existing wardrobe basics to create more interesting looks.

Personally, I have blemished skin, so a good primer + foundation combination is a must have. I love the Beauty Blender Opal Essence Serum Face Primer, because it's moisturising but also give you that dewy look. My skin dislikes silicone primers, and prefer more hydrating primers, so this is one of my favourites as it feels like a serum, as the name suggests.
Another hydrating primer that I really enjoy is the Becca First Light Priming Filter. It's super hydrating and gives you that glow, while keeping your makeup lasting all day. I am down to my last drops in this one! The only downside to this is that the packaging is made of glass and therefore quite heavy, so I tend to use the Becca one at home if I have time, and my Beauty Blender one on the go.


Foundation wise, I can't go past the Benefit Hello Happy Flawless Brightening Foundation. I have tried other foundations since, but I still go back to this little guy! I have found this to be the perfect amount of coverage, without being cakey for my dry skin. I wouldn't recommend this to oily-skin users, unless you're ready to set it with powder and setting sprays. The only downside of this product for me is the limited shade range. They are only 12 shades available, and I was a Shade 04 during autumn when I first got my hands on this. But towards the end of winter, 04 was too dark for me, but 03 was still way too light. I sit between 03 and 04, but I can't be bothered mixing it everyday, especially when doing your makeup on the go means bring two bottles with me. So I just resort to using 04, and blend it downwards towards my neck. It's a bit too dark but I am hoping by the time summer is in full swing, I'll be a true 04 again. This proves how much I love the formulation! It's the wrong shade but I'm still continually using it, even with the amount of foundation I have at my disposal!


Then my next steps are brows. I am a loyal consumer of the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in Medium Brown. This is my OG brow product since first year of Uni and am still on it! I'm on my second tub, because the first tub dried out so quickly. The key is to close off the tub as soon as you get some product on your brush. I haven't have any drying out issue with my second tub, which I have own for maybe two years now! Winning!



I would then choose a lip product, using it as lips, eyeshadow and blush. In order to achieve this multi-purpose look, the lip product has to be pigmented and easily blend-able. Ideally a lipstick, and not a gloss or lip stain. I would swipe it across my lips, then dab my lips with my third and fourth fingers, and apply it to my eyelids and my cheekbones. I love this technique because it not only saves time and space in my makeup bag, it also gives me a monochromatic look and ties my whole face cohesively together.

My favourite pigmented nude lip that lives in my handbag is the YSL Rouge Pur Couture in #5. It's both hydrating and pigmented at the same time - I don't know how they do it! I do find myself having to re-apply throughout the day, especially after coffee or food, but I don't mind it. I'd much rather re-apply a hydrating lipstick than having dry, cracked lips that lasts all day. Plus, stay all day liquid lips are soo last season!



Once my eyes perfectly blended with lipstick, I'll put on my favourite mascara - the CliniqueFit Work Out 24 hour Mascara. I love this because it perfectly separates my lashes and doesn't clump them together. It also lasts all day and doesn't smudge on my bottom lids like other mascaras do.




Would you like to see a video tutorial of this look? Which of these spring beauty products are on your wish list?

While wearing contact lenses everyday is certainly flattering, there are certain days where you just want to let your eyes breathe (oxygen is so important for your eye health!) and wear glasses instead. However, much to my dismay, this means sunglasses are out of the picture because as soon as my glasses are off, I’m blind as a bat (my prescription is -5.5!).

A lot of people I know, like my dad, my brother, and his girlfriend don’t even own sunglasses (to my horror!!) because they can’t wear them. They are severely short-sighted and full time glasses wearer, therefore as soon as they take their glasses off, they’re blind. So sunglasses are out of the question!

It’s fine if you’re not fussed about sunnies, but if you’re like me, sunglasses are a fashion statement. They are my favorite accessory second to shoes (yes! I love sunnies more than bags!) and I am not even slightly ashamed to declare I have over 100+ pairs of sunnies in my drawers and every crook and cranny of my bedroom. Being a sunglasses buyer for David Jones for the past 18 months didn’t help either. All the samples and gifts I received from suppliers at that time added to my already slightly concerning addiction.

Anyway, back to my story, this was what drove me to explore the possibility of Transitions® lens in the first place. I’ve spent the past 8 years wearing contact lens almost every single day, and sometimes even wearing them to sleep! Anyone else guilty of this? Optometrists always recommend that you take them off as soon as you get home, and have at least 2 days a week where you give your eyes their much need oxygen by not wearing contacts. Needlessly to say, I didn’t have a bar of it. And now I am definitely feeling the effects as my eyes have taken its toll.

Lately I have been experiencing red, burning sensations in my eyes, and they feel really dry, even in the mornings, after a good night’s sleep. I knew I needed to do something, so I started giving my eyes more rest and wear glasses more often. It got to the point where I was wearing glasses to work events (which I never used to do)! That was how desperate I got.

However, all these glasses-wearing made me miss my good ol’ sunnies. Not wearing them made me feel naked especially when I’m out in the sun. So when Transitions® lens contacted me to see if I wanted to try out a pair and share my experiences, I was beyond excited. What good timing, I thought! It was as if they knew my trouble and came up with the perfect solution!

Having tried them out for about three weeks now, here’s the low down of everything you need to know about Transitions® lens, and whether you should be getting them too. As a disclaimer, I’d like to mention that this post is sponsored by Essilor, but as usual, all opinions are my own.

With that, keep reading to find out my experience with Transitions® lens and shop my current picks for frames that would suit your Transitions® Signature Style Colours.




I still remember how I excited I was walking into Lifestyle Optical at Chifley Plaza. Stu was very friendly over the phone so I already felt welcomed and understood. After initial exchanges of greetings, I was ushered into the optometrist room where she performed a bunch of standard eye health tests on me. As it turned out, she confirmed my belief - my eyes are dry and irritating, and I need to give my eyes a good rest and plenty of oxygen before it gets worse. We also talked about possibilities of laser surgery (I have thought about doing them for a while now!), but due to my thin cornea, surgery poses a higher risk for me. We decided to wait a few more years when technology improves before considering this option again. For now, I’ll be relying on Transitions® lens as my alternative.

Then it was time to pick out my frames. I am the least decisive person you’ll ever meet, so naturally I had a hard time picking out the perfect one. Thank god for technology, I narrowed it to two options and had a poll going on Instagram Stories where my readers could vote and help decide. What a time to be alive! If you were one of them who voted on the day, thank you! I went with you guy’s suggestion - the Celine’s!

Lastly, I had to select my Transitions® lens colour to go with my frames. They recently launched four new colours - Amber (brown), Emerald (green), Amethyst (purple) and Sapphire (blue). I was tossing between Emerald and Amethyst, and decided to go ahead with Emerald for that green, old school Ray-Ban look. I also think it’s the most classic colour out of the four, that I know I’ll be able to wear for years to come.



About two weeks later, I got a phone call telling me that the glasses are ready to be picked up! I was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to rush in to collect them. On collection day, Stu helped me adjust the frame to fit my face. As all Celine’s go, they are certainly oversized. I happily ditched my daily contacts that very minute and wore the glasses out to dinner with some friends. They all commented and loved it!



It’s been about three weeks now since initial collection day. I must admit that I still wear contacts every now and then as I get used to the weight of the new glasses on my face, but they are slowly and surely forming part of my daily wardrobe.



There is a stigma with Transitions® lens that is reserved for the older generation, at least that was my initial opinion on them, and I’m sure many of you thought the same too. However, I soon realised that it wasn’t the lenses that were ‘old school’, it was the frame. If paired with the right frames, they are no different than wearing a cool pair of sunnies, really. The Celine frames I chose were initially sunglasses, which they pop the lens out and made them into Transitions® lens for me. When I wear them outdoors, they look just like any other pair of Celine sunglasses, and when indoors, they look like I’ve been super creative and turned my glasses into prescription ones.

I absolutely adore them because they are the kind of glasses that go with everything in my wardrobe, so the stylish factor is a no-brainer yes tick for me!

You might also have noticed that the tinted sunglasses are a trend these days, with brands coming out with various colours of the rainbow, so the Emerald lens was the perfect trendy accessory.



I was pleasantly surprised to find that they transition seamlessly from indoors to outdoors and vice versa - it feels like magic and you don’t even notice it!

The convenience factor also felt like magic to me. No more exasperated screams of “I forgot to bring my sunnies!!!” (my boyfriend will recognise this scenario all too well) or desperately searching for your sunnies in your bag as soon as you walk into the sun - as they’re already on your face! One time I thought I lost my sunglasses and was upset for a whole hour, only to get home and find it hanging on my shirt collar. None of that problem with Transitions® lenses!

As for those of you who are full time glasses wearer - the convenience factor will be even higher for you, as you’ll no longer need to switch between prescription sunglasses and normal (clear) glasses. Win-win!



For contacts wearer like myself, Transitions® lenses gives your eyes a chance to rest from contact lens, which provides the necessary oxygen flow to your blood stream in your eyes. This is definitely a long term health concern and should not be treated lightly.

Glasses wearer? Transitions® lenses protect your eyes from UV rays so no more squinting! Which I’m sure you’re all too familiar with.

When I learned more about the benefits of Transitions® lens, this was the one that sold me. When outdoors, they provide UV protection (doesn’t work in cars though, because windshields already block UV rays). And when indoors, it has the added benefit of reducing potentially harmful blue light from devices (phones, laptops etc), which normal glasses does not provide.

As I’ve said before, I’ve only lately realised the importance of taking care of your eye health as a long term investment. You only have one pair of eyes that will need to last your whole life - take care of it!

I also believe that to be successful in life, you’ll need to maximise the use of all tools available around you that aids in helping you achieve more everyday, to be the best version of yourself.

We are so incredibly blessed to live in an era where technology like Transitions® lens is smart enough to help block UV rays and blue light which help reduces eye strain and fatigue indoors. It also lessens glare by regulating the amount of natural light you’re exposed it. With tools like that available at our fingertips, it’d be silly not to utilise them to our advantage, and invest in our long term health goals.

I like to compare this to Invisalign. If investing in Invisalign is for your long term oral health (helps your teeth align so food gets stuck less in your teeth, with aids in better oral hygiene etc), Transitions® lens is investing in your eye health (protection of your eyes for the long term).




Let’s be honest, Transitions® lens can be quite expensive. Mine cost $1,400 all up (frame was around $650). But then again, we need to consider my high prescription (-5.5) and that I got indexed lens. If you’re a much lower prescription and choose a more affordable frame (Ray-ban and Oliver Peoples are pretty good price for their quality!), it will definitely be easier on your wallet :)

I also discovered through the optometrist that my lenses were more expensive due to the fact they were custom made for my prescription through a ‘grind’ method – most people’s lenses are ‘stock’ which can simply be cut to fit the size of the frame, so of course are a little more affordable. This is starting to get technical though and I’m no expert - you should ask your optometrist about stock versus grind lenses as they can tell you what is needed for your eyes.

In saying that, good things don’t come cheap. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is an investment for your eye health, and for a grand or more, I think it’s worth the money compared to the cost of surgery when something DOES happen to your eyes (think cataract surgery, etc!). Prevention is ALWAYS better than cure.



All in all, my experience with Transitions® lens is a positive one. I’m very happy with them, and would totally recommend them to my dad and younger brother, which is why I’m recommending it to you guys.

Depending on your lifestyle and location, especially if you live in Australia or in a tropical country, it’s definitely worth the investment.

Australia is notorious for our harsh UV rays. We put sunscreen on our face daily and on our bodies when we go to the beach, so why don’t we protect our eyes when they are just as exposed to the sun every single day?

Eye health is so overlooked but so important. We only have one pair of eyes. Take care of them as you depend on them for the rest of your lives!

Let me know what you guys think of Transitions® lens. Have you tried them or know anyone who has? Are you convinced now or do you still have reservations? Would love to hear your thoughts and have a discussion going on!

THE GRAPHIC SET

THE TRACKSUIT PANTS

THE HIGH CUT SHORTS

Whether you are a working corporate or a student going for your first job interview, a great piece of white shirt and blazer is a wardrobe essential. With Arisology's new range of minimal, high-quality yet affordable work wear, you'll be impressing your work colleagues (or future bosses) in no time.


CREDITS

Top outfit:

Shirt | Arisology
Shorts | Nobody Denim
Shoes | RMK
Lace Bra | Bonds

Bottom outfit:

Blazer | Arisology
Skirt | Piper Lane
Top | Marks & Spencer


Photographed by Ashley Syne

Despite spring now being in full swing (even Daylight savings has commenced!), Sydney still gets a little chilly sometimes and this is when a nice button up long sleeve can save you from catching a cold. I like the linen material as well, because it still keeps you cool and breathable!


CREDITS

Shirt | Grana
Shoes | Billini
Sunglasses | Oscar and Frank via Haus of Palm

Photographed by Ramon Diamzon