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.

Preparing for Summer with Cocoa Brown

With a couple more days until Summer officially begins in Australia it is the perfect time to start preparing for the warmer months. Not only will it mean that you can leave the house without a trillion layers - yippee - but for the first time in a long time skin will be shown.

Whether you gravitate towards dresses and skirts or shorts, it is important to make sure those legs are looking good. Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter is a popular tanning brand in the UK. Not only do they have 1 hour self-tanner but they also have a range of skincare designed to keep your tan and skin looking the best. Begin preparing for summer with their Tough Stuff 3 in 1 Body Scrub* which is designed to remove the stubborn left-over tan you can't get rid off, exfoliates and prepares your skin for the new tan. This is a very dense exfoliator that feels quite tough. It spreads easily in the shower, lathers up to give you good coverage, and leaves your skin feeling fresh. I also love the fact that despite being a body exfoliator  it comes in a tube. Nice and simple! I've used exfoliators in tubs before and it is a nightmare. You can buy Tough Stuff for $15.95.

I adore the Chocolate Whip* which is a oil-free body moisturiser with Vitamin E & Panthenol. You can use this before you tan, as a normal everyday body moisturiser (even if you don't have a tan on) and to prolong your tan and help your tan to fade nice and evenly. It is very light-weight and sinks in super quickly which is fantastic! It feels instantly moisturising and this feeling lasts all day. A lot of body moisturisers are too thick, heavy and slow to absorb to use as a hand cream but not the Chocolate Whip! I adore using this as a hand cream because it literally sinks into your skin within seconds leaving no residue behind. A word of warning though...it doesn't smell like chocolate! Instead it smells like cocoa and gardenia, absolutely divine...just not like chocolate!

*Products provided for review. 100% honest opinions.

February Favourites

Today it is time for me to write one of my favourite type of posts...monthly favourites! So let's skip all the inevitable rambling about where the month disappeared to and get onto all the products that won over my heart this month.

I'm going to begin with Garnier's Moisture Match Start Afresh Moisturiser. Last month my skin was feeling dreadful. I put it down to a lack of a good moisturiser and, hey presto, once I started using this moisturiser my skin felt so much more hydrated. I love this moisturiser and definitely recommend it!

A product that is by no means a new love of mine, rather a love I have rediscovered, is Rimmel London's Stay Matte Pressed Powder in 'Silky Beige'. I think this powder is dearly loved by many bloggers and for good reason. I'm not a "powder" person and this is the only powder that has ever impressed me. In particular, this month I have been loving this powder in combination with the Physician's Formula CC cream. I wrote a post all about that, click here to read it.

All month I have been blown away by the Essence Maximum Definition Mascara. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to love it this much because it costs a mere $5.75 which is ridiculously cheap. But it is a really good mascara!!! The brush is great and even though it isn't a waterproof formula, it never smudges on me. A great everyday mascara, check it out!

Moving away from face products and onto the lips, I have two lip balms that I have been loving recently. Nivea recently launched their Pure and Natural 'Olive and Lemon' Lip Balm here in Australia (I think this was launched in America a year ago?). I feel like this lip balm actually moisturises and heals my lips. You would think all lip balms would do that, but no...I actually find a lot just dry my lips out unless I slather them in lip balm every 20 minutes. Am I the only one who thinks this? I have also been loving the 'Salted Caramel' Lipsmacker. After hearing that the company had been sold in the news I thought I would relive my childhood. It truly does smell like salted caramel, absolutely delicious! Plus it does moisturise my lips and is a decent lip balm - a yummy scent isn't everything!

This is where all orderliness goes out the window. We have a random nail polish and a body butter. Shall we talk about the nail polish first? 'Timbleberry' by Sinful Colours is a polish that I have had for a couple of years now and I haven't worn it for over a year :( With the crazy hot weather we were having I thought it was time to break it out. And I love it as much as I did when I first brought it. Timbleberry is a gorgeous (and very bright) coral pink. Great for the summer!

I have also been loving a new discovery, Jergen's Deep Conditioning Shea-Butter Rich Body Cream. This is a luxurious body cream that absorbs quickly, lasts a long time and isn't greasy. It also smells really nice. I'm not a huge body moisturiser person but what makes me love this so much is that it doubles for hand cream. Most body creams and body butters are way too thick and greasy for hand cream  but this truly sinks in quickly.

What were your favourite products for February?

Summer Skincare Routine 2015

I think I have perfected my summer skincare routine. My skin was like a temperamental toddler in the beginning of summer, it probably also didn't help that we have had an unusually wacky summer. January was abnormally cold, usually it is abnormally hot...But finally I have a handful of products that I would like to praise. Thanks goes to the following products for keeping my skin well behaved and pimple free for the past couple of months:

Olay Complete Defence Daily UV Moisturising Lotion SPF 30+

If I am going to take a step out the front door I wear this moisturiser underneath my make-up. With SPF 30 it is great for the Australian summer. It sinks in nicely, doesn't leave any residue and doesn't interfere with my make-up. It is very lightweight and feels moisturising however I do feel like I need another moisturiser in my arsenal because this sometimes doesn't hydrate my dry skin enough. I definitely love this product though and will definitely repurchase it.

 Garnier Moisture Match Start Afresh Light Softening Cream 

This is the latest addition to my skincare routine and the product that I feel has really completed it. Before using this moisturiser my skin was misbehaving. Despite usually having oily / combination skin I felt like my skin was dry. It was tired and generally just not feeling or looking great. After using this moisturiser daily for 2-3 weeks my skin feels more hydrated. It sinks in quickly and I don't think it has been leaving any residue on my skin or interfering with my make-up, but it has been quite hot so it is difficult to tell when it feels like your make-up is literally going to melt off from the heat! So far I have been super impressed with this moisturiser and for a mere $10 it is definitely worth giving it a try. There is a number of different moisturisers in this range, depending on what your skin concern is, so there should be something for everybody. I'll post a full review of this product once I have worn it for a little longer.

Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you will already know this...but I LOVE the 'Yes to' skincare range. I have tried several of their cleansers and the latest one is the 'daily cream facial cleanser'. This is a gentle cream cleanser that has been working great for me lately. I sound like a broken record, but again, I haven't had any breakouts while using this product and it has done a great job at controlling my skin. If you have very dry skin I'm not sure if this will be the best cleanser in the world for you but otherwise it's pretty good! 

Nivea Pure & Natural Olive and Lemon Lip Balm

This lip balm was launched ages ago in America and in the past month itfinally arrived on our shores here in Australia. I was super excited when I saw it and brought it immediately. I have had dry, chapped and generally flaky lips for ages. However since using this balm I have felt like my lips have been a lot smoother, less dry and less flaky. Yay! Is it only me or do you feel like a lot of lip balms either do nothing or dry your lips out? The scent of this lip balm is quite unusual and it doesn't disappear immediately after application which is good. I've been a long time fan of Nivea and I actually think this is my favourite Nivea lip balm. 

So these are the skincare products I have been loving lately. What products have you been loving this summer? 

Thanks for reading, 

cheers :)

The Moisturiser Edit

Brilliant skincare is hard to find. I have no trouble finding ordinary skincare - products that work and do the job relatively well - but it takes a lot for me to fall in love with a skin care product. Whats more, my skin is always changing so a product that works for me in April might not do much good in January. Plus what works for me might not work for you. Oh boy!!! Skincare is a minefield of dilemmas but some some products are worth their weight in gold. Today I want to share with you the moisturisers I have been loving and have made a little moisturiser guide for you :)

My holy grail moisturiser is the Mario Badescu 'Buttermilk Moisturiser'. I started using this seven years ago when I was in high school and had terrible pimples and oily skin. I have lost count of how many bottles I have gone through of this moisturiser. This moisturiser is very lightweight and a little goes far. It sinks in instantly (seriously), leaves your skin feeling supple, moisturised and soft. My skin is often quite red and whenever my skin feels irritated or I have some pesky pimples or that dreadful dry patchy skin you get after a pimple, I apply this and my skin is immediately soothed. As this moisturiser absorbs instantly, doesn't leave any residue on your skin and is lightweight, in my opinion it is my perfect moisturiser all year throughout. It doesn't interfere with any make-up you wear apply on top of it and if you are looking for a moisturiser for all situations this is the one I recommend. You get 59ml and you can buy this for $28.95 from Kit Cosmetics and Mecca. 

Now, it is probably really obvious that I adore the Buttermilk Moisturiser but unfortunately there is a but. Seven years ago things like parabens didn't concern me but they do now and I have been swapping out all of my skincare for products that are free from nasty chemicals. I have found some great lip balms, cleansers and body lotions without nasty chemicals but it has taken me a long time to find a moisturiser that I love.

The Boots Laboratories Optiva Comforting Day Cream* with SPF15 is a very thick and luxurious moisturiser. It is paraben free. Unlike the Mario Badescu one this one is thicker and less lightweight and spreadable. If you have super dry skin or irritated skin this is definitely the moisturiser you should reach for. However, unlike the Mario Badescu moisturiser, I do not recommend wearing make-up over the top of this one as I find that it leaves a residue on my skin that means that my make-up doesn't last as long and by the end of the day I feel oily in my T-zone. I love this moisturiser for days when I either don't need make-up or don't need my make-up to last for a long time. This also a great moisturiser for the evening. I highly recommend this moisturiser for anybody who needs an intensive moisturiser. You get 40ml in the tube and can buy this for $22 from your Amcal or Guardian pharmacy.

The Natural Instinct Daily Moisturiser* is a great moisturiser for those people who want a moisturiser that does everything. It's like the paraben free version of the Buttermilk Moisturiser. This one doesn't sink in quite as quickly as the Buttermilk Moisturiser but unlike the Optiva Comforting Day Cream it doesn't interfere with your make-up. It doesn't leave a residue on your skin and leaves your skin feeling really hydrated. Plus it is vegan free, pH balanced and free from a very long list of chemicals, including being free from parabens, sulphates and petrochemicals. I have really been enjoying wearing this moisturiser under my make-up.You get a 125ml in the tube and can buy this for $10.29 from Priceline.

So there you have it! From my collection of moisturisers, these are the ones I love and would recommend. What is your favourite moisturiser? 

March Favourites

Hi guys!!! March is coming to an end so it's time for me to sit down and tell you all about the products that I have been loving. There is one product that is screaming from the rooftops, "talk about me, talk about me, talk about meeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!" and that would be L'oreals Colour Riche Nutrishine in 'Sandalwood Beige'. It's a hybrid lipstick / lip balm (think Revlon, Lip Butters) that gives your lips a gorgeous wash of colour and feels nice and moisturising too. I think this might be the perfect nude for me. I have been wearing it nearly every day for uni because I can re-apply it easily and I know I won't end up looking like a clown. I'll be writing a review on it in the coming weeks so stay tuned for more details!

























A couple of months ago I had a moisturiser debacle and my skin was feeing all dry and tight. Not nice at all. So I went and brought my holy grail moisturiser and my skin is feeling back to normal again - yay!!! The Buttermilk Moisturiser is, by far, the best moisturiser I have ever tried. Throughout the years I have probably brought ten bottles of this stuff! It is very soothing and moisturising without feeling greasy. The only reason I tried another moisturiser was because this one does contain parabens and I tend to avoid parabens when I can.

I have been loving Nivea's Pure & Natural Milk and Honey Lip Balm. One of my all time favourite lip balms because it actually moisturises my lips instead of drying them out like some other lip balms do! Plus, it smells like honey. I think I have raved about this balm numerous times so I'm leaving it at that for today.

I posted a review of Nyx's Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 'Beige' earlier this month (click here to read it) and have really loved wearing it. Despite being a bit sticky it gives my lips a lovely MLBB wash of colour, is incredibly shiny and lasts well.

Revlon's 'Girly' nail polish has been sitting in my nail polish drawer for probably a year now and I have only worn it once. I think the idea of removing all that glitter (as gorgeous as it is) scares me away from this polish. But, I wore this earlier this month over a nail polish that turned out to be a streaky mess and it did a great job of disguising my manicure that went wrong :)

That's it for me today! I now need to hit the books and get some study done because yesterday I accidentally found myself at IKEA and Freedom and we all know those shops take a long time to walk through. I actually brought a new make-up organiser from Freedom so I will be posting about that later this week. Have a great week, cheers :)