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? 

Natural Instinct Hand & Nail Cream Review

We are well and truly in the midst of winter at the moment so I have been slathering on the moisturiser, lip balm and hand cream. I was sent the Natural Instinct Hand & Nail Cream* a couple of months ago and since then it has became part of my evening routine. The Natural Hand & Nail Cream* comes in a 125ml squeeze tube with a hinged lid and has an earthy aromatherapy scent, which I find very relaxing in the evening. Like all Natural Instinct products it's a vegan product, not tested on animals, pH balanced, made in Australia and free from 400 potentially nasty chemicals (parabens, sulphates, petrochemicals...etc).

The consistency of the cream is quite thick and absorbs into the skin quickly leaving your hands feeling super soft and smooth. When applied to the super dry, chapped, skin between my fingers and especially around my thumb, it gets rids of the awful sore red skin and injects much needed moisture into the skin. I sometimes find that I am left with a slightly oily residue on my hands after applying this which is why I prefer to use it before going to bed. If you don't put too much on you shouldn't be left with that oily feeling though. I always seem to put way too much hand cream on. Unlike some other hand creams I feel like this one does actually moisturise my hands for a long period of time and has good lasting power. It has also improved the condition of my cuticles and the skin around my nails, something I don't notice with most other hand creams. When I wake up in the morning my hands still feel moisturised but not oily. Nothing beats a lovely luxurious and thick hand cream before going to bed, especially when it smells this good!

*I received this product for review purposes. This review is 100% honest and completely my own opinion.

Natural Instinct Cream Cleanser Review

I'm reviewing the Natural Instinct Cream Cleanser today. This product was kindly sent to me for review but, as always, this review is 100% honest. If I don't like a product I don't bother  using it. However, I have been really enjoying using the Natural Instinct Cream Cleanser and have been using it for over month now.

 It is a very gentle cleanser that feels really creamy and lathers up nicely. It has a very subtle scent - a little bit 'earthy' - which I can only smell if I have the product on my hand and I directly sniff my hand. As we are in the middle of winter my skin can feel quite dry but this cleanser hasn't dried out my skin at all, my face feels clean but not tight after using it. I haven't experienced any breaking out whilst using this product and my skin has been in great condition. 

There is nothing I can complain about in regards to the packaging. It is very sensible - a squeeze tube with a hinged lid. I absolutely hate products that have lids that unscrew because I always end up dropping them, so I love that this has a lid with a hinge. The simple things in life, hey?

I really value products that are free from nasty chemicals and always read the ingredient lists of products before purchasing. Natural Instinct is amazing chemical-wise as their products are free from sulphates, petrochemicals, parabens, PEGs, artificial fragrances, artificial colours, preservatives, animal derivatives, PABA, DTA, mineral oils AND over 400 ingredients that are potentially harmful to us and our environment.

Natural Instinct's Cream Cleanser is a lovely gentle cleanser that easily cleans your face without drying it out, is free from a very long list of nasty chemicals and is a bargain at  $10.29 for a 125ml tube. But at the moment Priceline has 25% off so this comes down to $7.71. I'm definitely going to be buying myself another tube of this next time I'm at the shops!!!

Thanks for reading and have a great day :)