My skin is breaking out at the moment and I know exactly why it is behaving this way. It is a combination of a highly stressed lifestyle, inconsistent diet and many sleepless nights, it is a recipe for disaster to my reactive skin. At the moment, whatever I put on my face isn’t going to do much as this is more of an internal job that needs to be addressed.
While I know the breakout is inevitable, my skin do needs as much hydration as possible to rehydrate my dehydrated skin due to lack of sleep and the crazy amount of benzoyl peroxide I am piling on my skin. Here enters THE skin hydrating booster from Dermalogica.
Contains a high concentration of Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Glycolipids and Algae Extract, this skin booster is recommended for all skin types even angry, reactive skin type like what I am having right now. It does exactly what it says, hydrates intensely, smooths and soothes my skin while restoring skin’s balance. It is recommended to be used as a serum under your moisturiser.
This clear watery gel contains no fragrance or colour so it is safe to use on even the most sensitive skin. While my acne is not going away anytime soon, the healing process sure as hell is accelerator with this skin hydrating booster.
P/S: This product is also part of FITE, so why not do a good deed by helping a fellow women out while your skin gets a chance for the better.
RRP AUD$100 for 30ml
Available on Dermalogica counters now
For those of you who are unfamiliar with VICHY, it is a French brand (part of L’Oreal group) that pride themselves on high protective sunscreen products and a brand that is designed for sensitive skin (or skin that has just undergone plastic surgery). They are very popular around Europe, America and Asia; due to the SPF30 restriction in Australia we are unable to have them on counters (what a bummer!).
Previously, Tine recommended their BB cream and raved about it, so I pleaded with Tina to get it for me in her recent trip to Asia. It was definitely worth the pleading as it turn out; the BB cream is my current favourite!
Perfect if you have sensitive skin and have always wanted to try BB cream but is not too sure if your sensitive skin can try it. Personally, I don’t have sensitive skin but this one still works just as well for me.
Aera Mineral BB SPF20 combines mineral ingredients and thermal spa water (free from alcohol, colourant, paraben) to:
- allows skin to breathe
- instantly unify skin tone including redness to correct the look of blemish and wrinkles
- contains both UVA and UVB protection
- keeps skin hydrated without emphasizing my flaking dry bits or smudging by noon time
I find this BB cream appears to have a hint of white cast (not grey) upon application but after couple of hours of wear it looks perfectly fine. Most of the foundation that I wear oxidizes on my skin and makes me look tan and yellow! What I like about this is that once it oxidizes, it still gives me the fair complexion finish that I love and doesn’t make my skin white/grey looking either.
While I am not sure how many shades they are available, my gut feeling is telling me there’s only one shade, I definitely recommend this BB cream to fair skin ladies. This will definitely not go with a tan body or bronzer lovers!
For more information about Vichy, click here.
If you know me, you’ll know that I am extremely lazy when it comes to housework, cooking (bleh) and being fancy about my nails. Usually I’ll leave it to the professionals to get it sorted, I blame myself for not having the creative bone. So when I was given a few boxes of Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects (real nail polish strips); I’ll be honest with you I procrastinated to uses them.
Simply because I couldn’t be bothered, even though I was told that it was very easy t o use and the end results are amazing. So I left them in my “to try” box for months and one day I got bored trawling through my boxes and decided to give it a go.
The result speaks for itself in the picture below. I was dumbfounded at how easy it was to apply. It was as simple as peeling it out of the packaging, slap it onto the fingers and a gentle thug and buff and viola! I did all 10 fingernails in less than 10 minutes, no kidding.
#260 Glitz Blitz
Best of it all? No drying time required and all I did was just applied an additional layer of top coat over it. Look at how vibrant and perfectly fit for my nail shape, no trimming required either. Definitely my go-to party nail from now onwards. Everyone was surprised that it was peel and stick nail polish strips instead of real glittery nail polish.
Mine lasted 7 days with no peeling, no chipping, no flaking whatsoever until I had them removed by this lovely lady at Miss Fox (bless her for it took her a while to remove them, she was impressed with how long lasting these strips were) to get my moon mani – which you will soon see in my upcoming post.
Overall, I highly recommend the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips RRP AUD$14.95. Each kit comes with:
- 16 nail polish strips (for you to pick the right sizes and essentially these are one-offs),
- cuticle stick to help push and smooth the strips and
- a mini file/buffer to prep and buff off additional strips.
If you’re into makeup bag solution, I highly recommend this brand Tender Love + carry, they also do bigger makeup bag solutions like their caddy range and even a range for the guys – tough love + carry. The quality of these makeup bags are very high, they come in quirky to classy designs and most importantly they come in all sizes imaginable to fit all types of makeup and beauty products.
Adorable in #Rose
This one that I have is a nice sized makeup bag that is approximately the length of my hand. Fits mascara, eyeliners, lip glosses, lipsticks, highlighter pens effortlessly; one thing it wouldn’t fit is full sized makeup brushes, yes I’ve tried to see how much I can fit into this makeup bag.
That being said, don’t squeeze your makeup brushes into makeup bags you silly! Always fit them in makeup brush rolls to ensure you don’t damage your brushes.
Tender Love + Carry is now available in David Jones Stores nationwide.
Cute dress, time for some dress shopping I reckon
DuWop Ice Tea Lipsticks
 
The Constance!
Picture Source: Popbee, Dustjacket Attic, This is Glamorous, Bags are Bags
We all know Lancome is the best selling luxury mascara brand, simply because they are so good at what they do! This month, Lancome launched the new Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara. The mascara comes in Lancome’s signature mascara packaging – sturdy, hand friendly with a click-lock cap.
This mascara promises to boost volume, extend the length of lashes and to create the doll eye/wide eye effect. Excited?
 The pointed application wand thickens lashes immediately with just one coat and defines hard-to-reach corners effortlessly without making a mess all over the eye area. The formula of the mascara isn’t as thick and gooey as Hypnose Drama which is a bonus because it leaves lashes really defined and volumised while separating lashes at the same time.
I love how easy this mascara is to apply and how long lasting it is. No flaking, smudging and it comes off with my usual oil cleanser removal routine. No additional fuss or tugging of the lashes required! As with all Lancome mascara, this one has fragrances and smells like roses!
TIP: If you are cursed with downward lashes, you will still need to curl your lashes prior to mascara application, don’t expect miracles!
Right now, Lancome is also a running a promotion on Facebook, enter for a chance to win this mascara!
RRP AUD$52
Available on Lancome counters now
Before I start this post, I have to say you have been warned. I am beyond obsessed with Elemis’ Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing range and you have probably heard me rave about them one too many times on Twitter. Let’s start shall we?
So what is Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing technology all about you ask?
It is designed for dull, ageing skin by exfoliating, moisturising, soothing and protecting skin against environmental damage. Now this sounds pretty stock standard to what most skincare promises in the market. What makes Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing unique is that they utilises expensive and research proven to be effective ingredients and the technique of layering enzymes (wash, serum, cream) helps to boost the effectiveness of the ingredients for a visible quicker result.
Some of the star ingredients used for this range includes Galactoarabinan, a Polysaccharide to exfoliate, Brazilian Babussu Oil, Moringa, White Truffle, Poria Cocos, AHAs, Vitamins and lipids.
Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash – 200ml RRP AUD$
This pump bottle facial wash is creamy and smells devine. I prefer to use this on dry skin and massage it thoroughly all over my face and neck and rinse it off after. The result in instantly ‘cleaner and clearer’ skin without leaving skin tight and dry. I love how my skin feels smoother to touch and visibly refined. You know it’s love at first sight when you feel that the cleanser has worked hard and your skin glows after. May I say, this is my holy grail cleanser (not makeup remover) at the moment and if you must splurge on a cleanser please make this be it!
Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Serum – 30ml RRP AUD$
I go through this bottle much like how baby goes through milk! I guess my skin is loving this so much it is just soaking it all up. I am a big believer in serum, I firmly believe that this is the most important step in all skincare routine right up there next to sunscreen of course! Crazy fact: I judge a skincare range by it’s serum and how amazing it performs. This serum of course won me over at hello and boy am I a mini experts in judging serums as I’ve tried quite a few of them available in the market.
What this serum does is to stimulate skin’s natural cell renewal cycle by naturally peeling, smooth and tone the skin without irritation, redness or actual skin peeling off your skin. Sold yet? Again, it is one of those beauty products that once you’ve tried it, you’ll fall in love immediately like how I did. I love how it delivers the brighter, luminous skin like for real and the serum prevents my skin from flaking all through winter!
I am perhaps 80% through this serum already at point of typing this post and I’m already starting to freak out when it runs out.
Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Night Cream – 50ml RRP AUD$
This night cream smells just as divine like the rest of the range and comes with a plastic scooper that keep things hygienic and portion controlled. This gel like cream looks really thick but once applied on the skin it absorbs immediately and leaves a smooth matte finish.
I love how this night cream promotes skin repairing at night and to boost lipid complex combined with strengthening skin’s daily defense. Who wouldn’t like a hardworking cream that works while you sleep and wake up to glowy skin? My skin also instantly brightens up each time using this night cream. After couple of weeks using this night cream combined with the serum day and night, I feel my skin more hydrated and overall skin looks brighter (double win!).
Did you know that for each Elemis product you buy, you’ll also get free surprise little samples in each product.
To find out more about the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing range, check it out here.
Each September, OPI releases a mini collection of gorgeous, soft feminine shades. This year, OPI releases Femme de Cirqu is a range of 4 soft shade pinks and delicate nudes, perfect for brides!
# Step Right Up! – My personal favourite shade that is a soft, pale pink. I don’t usually do lighter shades for my nails and this has proven to me to try more lighter shades for my nail. Love it!
