2016 Skincare Favourites

Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen SPF50

I adore Mecca Cosmetica's To Save Face Superscreens. They come in both SPF50+ and SPF30+. For some reason there is a difference in how they feel and their formulas. I typically stray towards the SPF50 because it offers a higher level of protection. It doesn't have that yucky sunscreen scent, it absorbs into the skin super quickly and makes applying make-up easier, it sort of acts like a primer too. Bonus! You can read my full review by clicking here. Compared to the SPF50 version the SPF30 version feels more creamy.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Last February I visited Las Vegas and I had to pay a visit to Sephora. Which is where I purchased two sugar lip treatments from Fresh. AND OH MY GOD it is seriously the only lip balm I have worn all year. In 2015 I would easily have tried out at least a dozen lip balms. This though is my holy grail of lip balms. Unlike other lip balms it doesn't dry out lips out in the long-term. It has a luxurious plump feeling on the lips, lasts forever on the lips and has a delicious scent. The tinted version is also really nice.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturiser

When it comes moisturiser, my list of requirements is rather long:
- Leaves  no yucky residue behind.
- Doesn't interfere with how my make-up applies.
- Doesn't interfere with how my make-up lasts.
- Doesn't make me feel oily at the end of the day.
- Absorbs into my skin instantly.
- Leaves my skin feeling moisturised but not overly moisturised (does that make any sense?)

I find that the Ultra Facial Moisturiser from Kiehl's satisfies everything I look for in a moisturiser. I'm on my second tub of it and I'll probably re-purchase a third. It's a great basic moisturiser.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion

I overhauled my skincare routine in 2016 and for the first time in a long time I have been using more than just a cleaner and moisturiser. I introduced the Clarifying Lotion from Clinique into my routine and noticed a definite improvement in my skin. Some people say bad things about Clinique and that this is a drying product. I'm not sure where I sit on all that but overall I really think it has improved my skin.

Clique Liquid Facial Soap

Continuing on with the Clinique theme...I splurged on this cleanser and really enjoy it. It doesn't dry your skin out but it still gives that clean feeling. Used in combination with the Clinqiue Clarifying Lotion and the Ultra Facial Moisturiser, I noticed a drastic reduction in pimples and break outs! Yippee.

My Current Everyday Make-up Routine

I recently fell into a new everyday make-up routine. As a bonus, it was completely accidental - I was mucking around with a foundation that I could never get to look good on my skin and bingo I've got a new favourite look.

 After using Clinque's clarifying lotion and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturiser I use the Base Magique primer from L'oreal. This is one of my favourite primers ever. It makes the foundation apply so nicely and last really well. It truly does make my make-up last longer.

I forgot to include the next product in the main picture - d'oh! But I absolutely adore the Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen. You can use this instead of moisturiser and primer if you are in a hurry, however I often use it between my Kiehl's moisturiser and Base Magique primer. It doesn't smell like sunscreen, feels beautiful on the skin and it acts as a primer, making your make-up apply really nicely. It also protects you from the sun which we all know is very important.

The foundation I keep making reference to is Clinique's Beyond Perfecting Foundation. This is the most expensive foundation I have ever brought and I was initially very disappointed with it. However, now that I have incorporated it into this new routine, I quite like it. It's a great colour match, it has good coverage and lasting power. It might even be my favourite / holy grail foundation! Stay tuned...

Using Elf's Complexion Brush (recommended by Emilynoel83 on Youtube, and if you don't watch her channel you should go and pay a visit to to it) I use Australis' Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder on top of it all.

Finally, I use Benefit's Coralista blush. I was previously not a fan of this blush but I've been really pleased with it lately. It's funny how this new routine uses so many products that I previously didn't love and now I do. 

I obviously then go in with mascara and lipstick but that changes from day to day. I will say though that Max Factor's Clump Defy mascara is a great mascara if you prefer mascaras with a drier formula, its an extremely dry mascara. My all-time favourite mascara is the Lash Sensational mascara from Maybelline.

August Beauty Favourites

August has absolutely flown by but at the same time, when I sat down to think about my most loved products for August, there were a lot. I whittled them down to the very best products, so enjoy! 

My skin was really struggling with winter this year so I overhauled my skincare routine. The Ultra Facial Moisturiser from Kiehl's is the moisturiser that I settled on after trying a couple of samples. It is a pretty basic product but it works so very well. The main pro's of the product are: doesn't leave any kind of residue behind your skin, your skin feels supple and moisturised, doesn't interfere with your make-up and it absorbs nicely into the skin. Con's: it only comes in a tub - I would love it if this came in a tube or pump. 

Lanolin Lemonade Lip Treatment is a classic Australian lip product. It is a shimmery liquid ip balm that does wonders for dry, chapped lips. 

Mac have a gorgeous range of colours, I think we all know that. My favourite lippy from Mac at the moment is 'Patisserie' which is a super wearable lipstick from their lustre collection. On the Mac website it is described as a "creamy neutral pink" and if I was going to have a stab at describing the colour I would say it pink nude with more pink than brown in it. 

'Perpetual Peach' from L'oreals Infallible lipstick range is an absolutely beautiful lipstick. It leans more towards the coral spectrum however it is as wearable as Patisserie, only more pigmented and opaque. This lipsticks lasts really well and is comfortable on the lips. 

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Empties - October

I have 45 followers!!!! I was super excited when I logged on today and saw that I had some new followers. I love blogging but what makes it really special is having such great followers. So thank you :)

The frequent blog reader that  I am, I often come across "empties" posts which I always find interesting because the best way to tell if a product is good or not is
a) does a blogger use it all?
b) do they re-purchase it?
So I have just emptied two of my absolute favourite products and thought I would share.

First up, we have the Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel, I think I have been using this for around 6 or more years and have re-purchased it every time my bottle goes empty without even thinking about changing product. I started using this when my face was the typical teenager face - pimples, oily and breakouts all the time and now (thank god I'm not a teenager anymore) my face is less oily and I rarely have break outs. It is a gel cleanser meaning it's not foaming or frothy and leaves your face feeling super clean but not tight and dry like other cleansers do. It can be used twice a day and removes dirt, make-up and oil from your face as well preventing blackheads and pimples.

The second empty is Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve which is the best hand cream I have ever had and definitely want to repurchase it. For the 75ml tube it costs $22.00 and for 150ml it costs $34.00. Unlike most hand creams this hand cream really does moisturise super-dry skin and acts as a "glove" so that your hands are protected from dryness all day. I use this a couple of times a week (or daily if my skin is really dry) even when my skin isn't dry because it keeps my hands feeling great and is also great for my cuticles.  

Hope you enjoyed this post, thanks for reading!