Skincare and Haircare Empties

Make Vibrant Shampoo + Conditioner 

This year I made the switch from supermarket hair care to "salon" haircare. This was the first "salon" haircare that I found was decent. This is a really good shampoo and conditioner, definitely one to try out. 

Paul Mitchel original The Detangler 

This conditioner is okay however the matching shampoo is nowhere near finished which is annoying. I wouldn't re-purchase this conditioner as I don't like the accompanying shampoo but the conditioner itself was fine. 

Toni & Guy Intense Softness Shampoo + Conditioner for Normal Hair 

These were both pretty good products and the packaging is practical, however mine broke during the first week. I would re-purchase these. 

Clinique liquid facial soap extra mild 

My holy grail cleanser! I think my skin might be addicted as every time I try other cleansers I seem to break out. This is very gentle meaning your skin never feels stripped. I really love this cleanser. 

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.

Review | Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50

Regardless of if it is a freezing cold day, a scorching hot day or somewhere in the middle... we should always wear sunscreen. The say sunscreen is one of the bets anti-aging products you can use but we typically only start thinking about sunscreen when it is sunny and hot. Even when its cloudy and "meh" weather sunscreen should be applied. The Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Superscreen with SPF50  has been my go-to SPF product for the past couple of months. It's a no-fuss product that I absolutely adore and will repurchase when my current tube empties.

This post has been sitting in my "drafts" folder for close to a week. I think it's because I want everybody to love this product as much as I do!

This sunscreen is skin-coloured but becomes invisible once applied, leaving no white cast. It feels really hydrating on the skin, absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth. I find that this can be applied instead of or over moisturiser and used like a primer, as it provides a good base for make-up. It doesn't feel greasy and it doesn't leave any residue behind.

The packaging is great, a sleek black tube. The only thing that would improve the packaging would be if the lid flipped open instead of of the screw-off lid. There is no yucky sunscreen smell. It has no real scent, but smells nice at the same time.

Overall this is a luxurious feeling sunscreen that feels moisturising and works as a great base for make-up.

September Beauty Favourites

Time for September favourites and I have a group of really good products this month to share with you. I really love all of these products and they have been working beautifully in my make-up routine. 

Mecca Cosmetica To Save face Superscreen SPF 50

Everybody knows that sunscreen is a brilliant way to prevent wrinkles and ageing skin, however, I think there are many people that don't follow this beauty and skincare rule. I certainly don't in winter (and yes I know this is bad of me!). But I am trying to change. I have been wearing the 'To Save Face Superscreen SPF 50' from Mecca Cosmetica over my usual moisturiser and underneath my primer and I am really liking it. I don't think it has caused any breakouts, it smells really nice and not like sunscreen at all, absorbs nicely into the skin and hopefully is keeping my skin protected from evil sun rays. It doesn't seem to interfere with the wear of my make-up either which is great!

L'Oreal Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer

This primer makes your skin feel like it is covered in velvet, makes applying your make-up more effortless and I could swear it makes my make-up stay on for longer. With some primers I am dubious about their ability to make my make-up last longer but with this one I feel like it does something - yay! I have really been loving this primer, so much so that I can forgive the fact that it comes in a jar.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light Highlighter

I have been using this underneath my eyes as a bit of a concealer. It's the first concealer I have ever used underneath my eyes and I don't really know how to judge such a product but I like it so there you go. Let me know what you think is important in a under eye product!

Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream 

I always walk past the Antipodes products in Priceline however I saw KitschSnitch on Youtube talk about this hand cream and decided I needed to try it for myself! The scent is amazing but I'm hopeless at describing scents so I'm not really going to try. It smells warm and a bit sweet??? On the hands it absorbs really quickly and makes your hands feels really smooth.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment 

I really should sit down and write an actual review on this lip balm because I just love it so very much! This is thicker than your typical drugstore lip balm and it lasts a really long time. Whereas some lip balms can make your lips more chapped and dry, I feel like this one isn't one of those lip balms where your lips get drier and addict to.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Lipstick '54 Rock n' Roll Nude'

We will address the elephant in the room first - yes the rose gold packaging definitely contributed to me wandering across to the Rimmel London stand! This is a really nice pinky nude, however it is slightly more pale than the nudes I typically wear. Really nice for spring.

Happy Australia Day everybody!!! To celebrate Australia, Australian made products, Australian owed products and the fact that tomorrow and on the 28th Priceline (the Aussie "drugstore" will be having their 40% off all skincare sale. Yippeeeee :) ) I thought it would be a good idea to showcase some Aussie skincare brands you can find at Priceline.

Australian Skincare by citygirl907 on Polyvore

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.

October Beauty Favourites / First Impressions

Before I get into the nitty gritty details I want to make a disclaimer - yes these are "beauty favourites" but unlike most of my monthly favourite posts, these products are all quite new to me. So are these tried and tested? No. But at the moment I am loving them...stay tuned for more details review posts once I have worn them for more than 3-4 weeks. 

So let's get into it! A couple of weeks ago I left the house with zero make-up on. It was fine, it was a quick trip out of the house. Wait a second, no it wasn't! I had to go to work too. Luckily I ran into a Priceline grabbed a foundation and lipgloss. The lipgloss was over-priced and not that great. Thankfully the foundation, Rimmel London's Lasting Finish 25hr Comfort Serum, was super impressive. At this point in time I'm not 100% sure about the claim that it lasts 25 hours but the coverage is really nice, it is very easy to apply and it looks and feels amazing on the skin. It also has SPF20 which is useful. 

Moxie's lipstick in 'Get Ready' was an impulse purchase but definitely not a waste of money - especially since the tube clicks up and down - so much fun but completely besides the point! 'Get Ready' is a super juicy pink berry. The formula is creamy and quite opaque. Lasting power is pretty good too :) A perfect lipstick for the summer.

Have you smelt Nivea's Vitamin Shake in 'Cranberry & Raspberry'? If you haven't, you NEED to!!! It smells like raspberry/strawberry milkshake. The formula is creamy and sitting on the fence between thick and lightweight, and of course moisturising. I love Nivea lip balms, definitely worth trying if you haven't before.

Finally, one product that I have used consistency for over a month is Essano's Rosehip Regenerating Facial Moisturiser. This is a mini tube that I got in an Essano kit but I will most definitely be purchasing the full size tube. It is a really decent moisturiser, not too heavy but provides a good level of moisture without interfering with make-up. It sinks into the skin quickly too which is great!

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 :)

New products in Australia

Hi guys, today I wanted to tell you about some new products that have been hitting the shelves lately. A new skincare range from Skin Theory has launched in Amcal and Guardian pharmacies, Burt's Bees have released lip crayons and Nyx has increased the amount of products they stock here in Australia, we now receive their entire product line. 

Skin Theory is a range of skincare stocked in Amcal and Guardian pharmacies. With prices starting from $3 the range is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested. Below is a list of some the products in the range and how much they cost. 

• Skin Theory Cosmetics Wipes 25 Pack $3
• Skin Theory Exfoliating Polish 80ml $10

• Skin Theory Eye Cream with CoQ10 - 15ml $12

• Skin Theory Gentle Foaming Skin Cleanser 100ml $10
• Skin Theory Gentle Cream Cleanser 100ml $10
• Skin Theory Day Cream SPF15 with CoQ10 50ml $12 (Made In Australia)
• Skin Theory Night Cream with CoQ10 50ml $12

• Skin Theory Total Care Anti-Ageing Cream with CoQ10 50ml $12

• Skin Theory Daily Moisturising Lotion with CoQ10 100ml $10.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you will probably already know this, I LOVE LIP CRAYONS! So I am very excited that one of my favourite lip balm brands, Burt's Bees, has now released a range of lip crayons. With 100% natural ingredients, they contain shea butter to hydrate and moisturise your dry lips and  Kendi and Jojoba oils to leave your lips feeling soft and smooth. There is no need to sharpen these lip crayons as you can just twist them up - yay!!! The formula is creamy, matte and provides full coverage colour for your lips. They come in six different shades: Sedona Sands, Redwood Forest, Niagara Overlook, Carolina Coast, Hawaiian Smoulder and Napa Vineyard. 

Carolina Coast, Hawaiian Smoulder, Napa Vineyard

Niagara Overlook, Redwood Forest, Sedona Sands

You can find these at selected Myer stores for $16.95. 

Target is now stocking the complete Nyx product line. This means that not only do we get some of the classic Nyx products that our friends over in America adore but we also get some of the new products. I am particularly excited about the Butter Lipsticks! 

What are you the most excited to see? 

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? 

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 :)

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 :)

Products to keep pesky pimples away

Pimples are pesky things. They love turning up on your face a day or two before an important event and can really shoot your self-esteem down. Luckily I have found some products that work really well at keeping my pimples away.

First up, my holy grail cleanser -The Enzyme Cleansing Gel from Mario Badescu. I started using this in high school when I had heaps of pimples all the time and not only did it drastically improve my teenage face of pimples but eight years later I am still using it daily and it still keep those pesky pimples away :)

Second, I use the St Ives Green Tea Scrub every couple of days instead of the cleanser from Mario Badescu to exfoliate my dry skin in winter and to prevent pimples from coming or help clear a break out away. It's not too rough and it's not too gentle and contains salycyclic, my holy grail scrub!

Finally, make-up that actually works to prevent pimples rather than cover them up like most make-up. The Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream with SPF 15 is my favourite bb cream because it lasts a reasonable amount of time, gives really good coverage for a bb cream and because it contains salicyclic acid it is great at clearing up your skin and preventing pesky pimples.

 Thanks for reading, cheers :)

Wednesday Inspiration: Natural Cleansers

Hi guys, I just wanted to fill you in on one of a couple of things that are / will be happening around the blog in the upcoming weeks. This blog is one of my "hobbies" and therefore I am always wanting to make it better. So I thought I would introduce a couple of new things.

 One of those "new things" will be a new collection of posts, posted on a Wednesday, ergo the name "Wednesday Inspiration".To make the week go a little quicker and to help us get to the weekend quicker every "hump" day I will post an "inspiratio" post. A little bit of a daydream can be inspiring and learning about new products on the shelves, hearing about great bargains and looking at beautifully swatched products will hopefully make Wednesdays more pleasant.

So I'm going to kick off the first ever "Wednesday Inspiration" with a bunch of natural cleansers. For over six years I have been using the same cleanser and I think it would be safe to say it is my "holy grail" cleanser but it contains parabens :( Why is there always a but? So I have made the decision that once the bottle is all used up I will stop re-purchasing it (which will be any week now). In preparation I have been researching cleansers.

Here is a collection of different cleansers that have friendly ingredient's lists.

From the far left (top): Korres White Tea Cleanser / Neutrogena Naturals Facial Wash / Yes To Carrots Nourishing Daily Cream Facial Cleanser / Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream / Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash.
Bottom Row: Sukin Cream Cleanser  St Ives Green Tea Scrub

I made that collage thing thanks to polyvore.com. I had never used Polyvore before but found it really fun and easy.

I love hearing from you guys so please feel free to leave a comment below. If you have used any of these cleansers please let me know what you thought. At the moment I'm thinking about trying out the Sukin Cream Cleanser and maybe the Korres or Origins.

Thanks for reading,
cheers

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream Review

For as long as I can remember the skin around my nails has been dry, cracked, red and generally yucky! But all that changes when I purchased Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - I simply adore this cuticle cream......and not just because of the amazing smell!

Packaging 
This cuticle cream comes in a solid metal tin with a good lid that won't fall off but isn't impossible to get off either! The tin holds 17g of product and is identical to the size of Nivea's Lip Butter tins.

The Product 
I'm going to begin with with the scent of this product because I just really LOVE it!!!! It is a scrumptious lemon scent that reminds me of a sweet lemon tart. It's not an overpowering scent though so I don't think it would put you off if you don't like scents.

To be honest I'm not sure if I would call this a "cream" as I think it more leaning more towards a "balm" but anyway......this "cream" isn't super soft but not hard either despite first impressions. You have to dig a little to get it out the first time but after that its smooth sailing. I like the consistency of this product most definitely and don't have any issues with it.

A little goes far with this cream and it also sinks in quickly too. It softens my cuticles and any rough skin or dry skin around my nails and soothes sore bits. As this is the first ever cuticle cream I have used I don't have much to go by but I don't find this particularly greasy or oily which is good because I wasn't sure what to expect! As I said it sinks in quickly and feels very moisturising without leaving behind any greasy or oily residue and to be honest it is pretty much perfect.

Since buying this in January I have used it on-and-off whenever I notice my cuticles are not looking great and I can honestly say this repairs, moisturises and soothes my skin within one or two uses and continual use gives me the best cuticles I've ever had!

Where to Buy 
You can find this at Priceline for $14.99 or anywhere else that stocks Burt's Bees.

Summary

• Amazing Scent 
• Moisturises, soothes, softens
• Sinks in quickly 
• Packaging is brilliant 

Okay so that is pretty much a list of advantages. You might be thinking that there must be at least one disadvantage of this cuticle cream? Well I was very tempted to say it was too expensive but I did some research and found: 

• Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream $14.99 for 17g ($1.13/g)
• Lush's Lemony Flutter $15.50 for 50g ($3.22/g)
• Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream $14.95 for 11.3g ($1.32/g)

Okay so these are just three cuticle creams that are easily accessible here in Australia and as you can see the Burt's Bees cuticle cream is the cheapest. So I guess I can't use "too expensive" as a  disadvantage because it is invalid. I must just be a poor uni student :/ hahaha

Apologies about the mashed up pictures. I swear I took photos of it before I used it BUT they seem to have disappeared! 

Overall Score: 9/10

Thanks for reading,
Cheers :)

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!

Review: Garnier BB Cream

Today I am going to review Garnier's BB Cream. 
I have been wearing this daily for around a week but have wanted to buy it for ages. The idea of a cream that does everything is my dream!!! I love my sleep and always hit the snooze button one too many times so a cream that does everything allowing me to still get out of the house in the morning on time is pure bliss. I was actually at the shops looking for the primer I have re-purchased many many times. Rimmel's Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer. Unfortunately it was all sold out so I grabbed the BB cream.
So here is my experience with Garnier's BB Cream. 
First thing you notice when you walk into the shop and buy it is the price. This retails for around $13.95 which is great. I don't like spending a lot of money on products I haven't used before so there was no way I was going to fork out $60 for a BB cream having never used one. 
Second impression; packaging. I really like upside down tubes because when you are on the last dregs you don't have to fight gravity. It is a nice plastic tube, nothing extraordinary but that's fine by me. However something I do like is the fact you can hold the tube up to a light and see how much you have left :)
Third point would be the actual cream. Ok so on application it smells great and feels quite nice too. You don't need to use a ton to get nice coverage however if you are planning on only wearing this without anything else it requires more product. Common sense I guess. It goes on smoothly and is easy to apply. In terms of hydration it isn't as moisturising as my normal moisturiser however having used it for a whole week  I am now use to it and I am happy enough with it not to use moisturiser before I apply it. Huh??? Confused about that last bit? yeah same here! Ok, to clarify my incoherent thoughts: It is moisturising as the box claims and when wearing it your skin does not feel dry at all. 


Fourth point is how do I actually use this product? If I don't have any special plans I wear this product on its own. I apply about two coats although this is a subjective measurement since we all use different sized blobs of product :) If I am going out somewhere I use it as a primer and put my foundation over the top. I am equally pleased with this product on it's own and as a primer and to be honest it has definitely lived up to my expectations. Should you buy this product? Yes!!!



Score: 8.5/10

Review: Kit Cosmetic - hand and body lotion

You know those beauty staples that you cannot live without? Well this is one of mine so I have decided to share it with you:)

It is a beautiful light lotion with a faint smell of lemon grass that doesn't leave you feeling sticky and is absorbed into your skin really quickly. I feel like I'm not quite articulating my love for this enough so I'm going to resort to a 'old-school' pros and cons list. 

Pros 

• Makes your hands feel amazing!
• Sinks in quickly.
• Smell is not overpowering but is really lovely and relaxing. 
• Packaging is really attractive. 
• Made in Australia
• No sticky feeling or nasty film.
• You don't need a lot, it goes far.

Cons

•  $29.95 for 200ml.
• It's so good you can't live without it :) 

Kit cosmetics are not only sold in 'Kit' stores but also at some Myer stores. Or if you are not in Australia you can buy online http://www.kitcosmetics.com.au/products/kitcosmetics/essentialkithandandbodylotion/