skincare

Makeup Wants

January 28, 2015

Although my spending on beauty products has slowed down a bit, I’ve always got one eye peeled on certain products. How can I not be? There’s so many pretty beauty goodies out there and going on a shop always makes a girl feel better. Here’s what is currently waiting to be ‘checked out’ in my cart.

ONE // Bobbi Brown Warm Glow Eye Palette
TWO // tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation + Airbuki Brush
THREE // Revlon ColorBurst Matte balm in Elusive
FOUR // Maybelline Volum’Express The Rocket Mascara
FIVE // Essie Nail Polish in Splash Of Grenadine
SIX // Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
SEVEN // Benefit The POREfessional

Review: Liz Earle

April 23, 2014

The Liz Earle products from the U.K have been widely talked about in the beauty blogosphere. Always one to try new face products and skincare lines, I quickly ordered these online and soon enough they were on their way to me to Australia. Shipping was quick, and I got a small travel size pack plus a free Brightening Treatment Mask too.

What Is It? I got the skincare essentials Dry/Sensitive range. It’s made up of three products – a cream cleanser, a toner and a moisturiser (dry/sensitive). It also comes with a Muslin Cloth which is used to polish the skin after cleansing.

What’s In It? This trio of products all contain naturally active ingredients. The cleanser contains cocoa butter which helps softens skin, and eucalyptus oil, rosemary and chamomile which soothes and purifies skin. The toner contains aloe vera and cucumber helping your skin feel refreshed. It also has essential oils such as rose-scented geranium, lavender and sweet orange which just smells absolutely amazing. The moisturiser contains avocado oil, borage oil and echinacea which nourishes the skin, and Vitamin E which helps protect the skin.

How To Use It? Rub a coin size amount of the cleanser onto your face using both fingers. This can be applied straight onto your dry face. Massage in, collecting all the dirt, makeup and oil on your face. Wet the Muslin Cloth with warm water and gently wipe all over to get rid of cleanser. Rinse face with warm water then pat dry. Next use the toner, and wipe all over face, then follow up with the moisturizer. I do this morning and night.

How Much Is It? I paid 50 pounds (approximately $90 Aus). This is quite exy but it is for 3 full size products, a travel kit, a free brightening mask and shipping. I’ve been using this twice a day for 2 months and still have A LOT of product left. You can get them here.

Why I love it? Good daily skincare routine products are important for me. It’s hard to find a 3-step program that work, and work well together. The scent of all three products are divine. It’s so refreshing and revives the spirits. I almost feel like I’m giving myself a mini facial when I’m massaging the cleanser into my skin. It feels so smooth and gentle. It fact, all products are gentle (nothing is abrasive, and nothing stings). It may not feel like it’s doing that much (because it really is that gentle) but, trust me, it is effective. You’re skin will feel cleansed, fresher, smoother and nourished. It’s only when you stop using it that you really can tell the difference. I also like it because it takes off all my makeup. I don’t even have to use a makeup remover before this! It’s just a good daily skincare line to use. I haven’t used a 3 step program all together like this, stuck with it and loved it since I bought Pevonia a while back. I would like to revisit Pevonia just so I can refresh and compare it but for now, these Liz Earle work just fine and I highly recommend.

Review: Origins Drink Up Mask and Ginzing Eye Cream

March 2, 2014

I’ve read and heard quite a bit about Origins products. Two of the most talked about items (and also two that I’ve had my eye on for a while) would have to be their Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream. And in a nutshell, I absolutely L.O.V.E them.

Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

What Is It? Origin’s Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is an intense moisture mask that quenches your skin, prevents dehydration and reduces signs of premature aging.

What’s In It? This mask’s key ingredients for it’s amazing hydration power is Avocado and Apricot Kernel Oil. The Japanese Seaweed in it helps contain the moisture in the skin. It has a beautiful and delightful fruity slightly floral scent because it also contains mango butters, and some rose/flower water and extract. One more thing: it also has Hyaluronic Acid which is meant to be lovely to your skin as it’s a natural acid (we have it in our bodies) and it helps lubricate the skin’s connective tissue.

How To Use It? After a cleansed face at night, put this baby on. If you put serums or what not on as well, do that first. This mask goes on last. More is less with this product (I always tend to squeeze too much out). Let it sink in before going to sleep. You’re face will feel amazing in the morning. I use it twice a week, sometimes more.

How Much Is It? Oh Boy. $34 in Australia (you can get them at Mecca Cosmetica or try Amazon if you’re outside Oz).

Why I Love It? Having dry sensitive skin, this is just the absolute best for my skin. The scent is divine, I haven’t ever smelled it before! And since it’s going on overnight, you’d want something with a nice smell on your face. The scent doesn’t linger though so don’t worry if you have sensitive noses. And it’s not a ‘headachey’ sort of scent either, it’s sort of relaxing (perfect for bedtime!). The cream is thick-ish, and although contains oils, it does not make me breakout. In fact, in the morning my skin just feels clearer, hydrated, smooth, balanced, and glow-y. Seriously guys, this is probably my favourite skincare product right now, I can’t say anything bad about it. You need this. Consider this giving you your official permission to GO BUY IT NOW!

Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream

What Is It? An eye cream which reduces puffiness, dark circles and bags under the eye area. It improves signs of fatigue by improving microcirculation, and providing anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits so the balance to the skin is restored.

What’s In It? The reason why this product brightens and depuffs so well is because it actually contains Caffeine from Coffee Bean. It also has Panax Ginseng and Magnolia Extract which refreshes and puts a little radiance to tired eyes.

How To Use It? Dab a little bit with your fingertip onto the under eye area, and keep dabbing until the product has fully sunk in.

How Much Is It? $45 at Mecca Cosmetica (Australia) or about $39 at Amazon or $30 in Sephora (US).

Why I Love It? I’ve used a few eye cream products in the past- Sukin, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, just to name a few and the Bobbi Brown eye cream was my fave out of the bunch and what I used before discovering this Origins one. Within a week of using Origins Ginzing Eye Cream I could already tell a difference. I think it may be because the product itself has little bits of shimmer iridescence to it. So it really does instantly brighten the eye area and makes it more radiant. My dark under eye circles have gone down too and overall just looks more illuminated and hydrated, and less fatigued. This is an amazing product, so if you are looking out for an eye cream – give this one a go!

Things I’ve Recently Bought

February 9, 2014

You guys would’ve been so proud of me! I haven’t gone on a beauty shopping trip for aaages and this is actually pretty controlled of me! I also had a list, and only got items on the list. I mean, there were a lot of temptations, like the ENTIRE Kiehls counter – but I mentally stopped myself. (Suggestions on the best Kiehls products please comment below!)

From MAC, I picked up the Shadow Pigment in Naked. I don’t have that much experience using pigments but the colour is really pretty! It blends right into your natural skin colour but leaves this really nice shimmer on the lids.

I visited the Benefit counter and bought their Speed Brow. I’ve been really into doing my brows lately – shaping, tweezing, filling… the whole shebang! Sometimes, I can go out with just mascara and my brows done, and I’ll be a happy camper. Every day I’ve been filling them in with powder but don’t have anything to set them with.

I got the TheBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer from DJs which is a really REALLY R.E.A.L.L.Y pretty highlighter. I’ve been using it on the tops of my cheeks but also in the inner corners of my eyes. I think it would make a nice eyeshadow colour too. TheBalm is a brand I want to get to know more of… intimately! Every single time I visit that tower of cosmetics I am just SO tempted to get more. And their prices aren’t half bad either – but most of the time, they’re always really low on stock! Their Nude ‘Tude Eye Shadow Palette is on my wishlist!

From Priceline, I went to the Almay section and picked up their Intense i-color Smoky-i Kit for Brown Eyes. The Almay brand is quite clever because they section their products according to your eye colour. They say purple eye shades go well for brown eyed beauties (like myself). This trio comes with a lid colour, crease colour and a highlight colour.

Last but certainly not least, I got a couple of Origins products. Origins is a brand that’s been on my radar for a while. I’ve been desperately wanting to try their stuff but didn’t know what to start with. Their Ginzing Eye Cream and Drink Up Overnight Mask are two of the most talked about products in the online beauty community – and for good reason too! I have been absolutely loving it so far and will probably do a full review later on. I definitely have my eye out for more!