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PRODUCT REVIEW: CLARINS INSTANT LIGHT NATURAL LIP PERFECTOR IN PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND JUICY MANDARIN

The other day I told you about some new limited edition Clarins hand creams, which you can read all about here - so today I thought I'd share with you the limited edition Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors.. 

These Clarins Natural Lip Perfectors promises fuller-looking, well-hydrated, simply gorgeous lips. The soft gel-cream have lovely fruity scents and a touch of shimmer and colour, and leave the lips with a lovely sheer touch of colour, that can be used either on their own or with your preferred lipstick, though I personally prefer to use them on their own.

They contain among others Shea, Olive Tree and Rice to add moisture, nourish and soften the lips, while also healing and toning them and helping the skin on the lips renew itself. I addition, they also contain orange and mandarin peel oils, which no doubt help give them their gorgeous slightly sweet citrus scents.

This particular gift set comes with two new limited edition shades, Pink Grapefruit and Juicy Mandarin, and I've been so loving both, as they are such pretty easy to wear, subtle shades.

The Pink Grapefruit has a gorgeous natural light berry pink shade that looks very natural on the lips, while the Juicy Mandarin has a reddish coral shade that is so gorgeous and perfect for spring and summer too.

My immediately reaction was that I preferred the Pink Grapefruit shade, but the Juicy Mandarin is seriously so gorgeous too. Both shades have apply with sheer colour, and with a just a touch of sheen, but without any glitter or shimmer. And they are so lovely, creamy and lightweight, and without any stickiness.

These Lip Perfectors come in a squeeze tube with a slanted sponge applicator that makes them easy to apply, and they can be used on their own, but can also be applied on top of i.e. a matte lipstick for extra sheen. Considering they are glosses, I find they last quite well on the lips, needing to be reapplied every 2-3 hours or so.

These Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors from Clarins seriously feel so lovely and comfortable on the lips, and I love that they help treat my lips and keep them hydrated, while giving them a touch of natural colour at the same time.

There are 8 shades in the range, as well these two new limited ones in the gift set, and if you want to get your hands on them, you best hurry, before they sell out.


Clarins Giftset with 2x Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors in no 13 Pink Grapefruit and no 14 Juicy Mandarin - RRP: $45 / 2 x 12ml

Available from Clarins

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.

Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

PRODUCT REVIEW: BURTS BEES GLOSS LIP CRAYON AND TINTED LIP OIL

One of those brands that I rave about again and again is Burt's Bees. They have some gorgeous skincare products, but I am also so in love with their lip products. Today I've looking into two different types from their range.. 

I've said it before, but I absolutely love lip crayons. There is just something about them that makes them so super quick and easy to apply thanks to the pointy tip, and then you simply wind it up, as more product is needed. Lots of brands have done them by now, but one of my favourites include the Burt’s Bees Gloss Lip Crayon, which made of 100% natural ingredients, which definitely give them huge bonus points. These lip sticks are made using shea butter, kendi oil, jojoba oil and community sources beeswax to nourish the lips, and feel so incredibly gorgeous on the slips. Soft and smooth, its literally like wearing a lip balm, yet they have a surprisingly good colour payoff, that you can build up to almost intense with an additional coat. There are six shades in the range, and I've put three to the test;

• Bordeaux Vines - a dark deep purple red shade 
• Pacific Coast - a deep pinky red shade 
• Tahitian Sunset - a medium pink fuschia shade 

Top-Bottom: Bordeaux Vines, Pacific Coast, Tahitian Sunset

Burt's Bees claim they have a wear of up to 8 hours, but I unfortunately can only get them to last a few hours on my lips, which is my only negative about these. However, they feel so lovely on the lips, and are clearly caring for my lips as I wear them, as when they've worn off my lips feel soft and smooth. The three shades I tried are all beautiful, and I actually cannot pick a favourite, and have found myself alternating which one I've been using. I will definitely need to check out the remaining three shades in the range too..

Then there's the Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Oil. I've only just discovered lip oils, and generally I loving them. The oil-based formula contains among others meadowfoam seed extract, known to be rich in fatty acids and antioxidants to nourish the skin; coconut oil, along with beeswax, to help strengthen the barrier of the delicate lip skin, and reduce the appearance of fine lines for healthy-looking lips. Again, I really love that they are made from 100% natural ingredients, so they contain absolutely no nasty chemicals.

The lip oils thus aim to hydrate the lips, while giving the a sheer touch of colour and shine, but without being sticky and tacky. There lips oils are available in six different shades, and I put three to the test;

Misted Plum - a pale purple mauve shade
Crimson Breeze - a red tint
Whispering Orchid - a light pink shade 

Top to Bottom: Misted Plum, Crimson Breeze, Whispering Orchid

Again, these lip oils are not intended to add heaps of colour, and they don't though, the darker the shade, naturally the more colour pay-off on the lips - and consequently why I prefer the darker shades such as Misted Plum and Crimson Breeze. The oils literally absorb into the lips and feels so beautiful and so hydrating on the lips, without any greasiness or tackiness. If you're after a bold lip, these are not for you, but the sheer wash of colour makes them perfect if you're after a subtle look for a casual day out. I am really enjoying them, as they are such a refreshing change to sticky glosses, and I love the fact that they treat my lips as I wear them.

So not surprisingly, these lip products from Burt's Bees are really worth trying. Beautiful shades, natural ingredients and budget friendly prices too. What's not to love!


Burt’s Bees Gloss Lip Crayon - RRP: $16.95 / 2.83g
Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Oil - RRP: $16.95 / 1.18ml

Available from David Jones, Myer, Priceline, and select pharmacies

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.

Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

PRODUCT REVIEW: DR. RONALD MOY DNA INTENSIVE RENEWAL AND LIP BALM WITH DNA REPAIR ENZYMES

Today I'm excited to share with you some incredible products from Dr. Ronald Moy, the DNA Intensive Renewal and the Lip Balm with DNA Repair Enzymes.. 

I have previously talked about Dr. Ronald Moy, and in particularly the DNA Renewal Restoring Mask, but if you missed it, you can see it here.

If you haven't heard of Dr. Ronald Moy, I can tell you that he is a world-renowned dermatologist certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, specialising in cosmetic and plastic surgery, face-lifts, liposuction, laser skin resurfacing and Sclerotherapy. Along with being president for various medical boards and societies over the years, he has dedicated his life’s work to understanding the impact of photo damage on skin’s health and ageing. Dr. Moy originally developed the DNA Renewal range as a means to reverse pre-cancers in patients with severely sun damaged skin, after further research he also found the DNA repair enzymes used in alliance with growth factors revealed dramatic age-reversing results.

As the master control for all skin functions, healthy DNA is vital to beautiful skin. With ageing, the production of DNA Repair Enzymes declines. Skin cell turnover slows down dramatically, cellular repair becomes deficient, and the dermal matrix weakens. “By introducing an active DNA repair enzyme cream onto the skin you can introduce repair enzymes within the skin that will support the proliferation of new cell turnover and encourage the elimination of DNA damage,” says Dr Moy.

The Dr. Ronald Moy DNA Intensive Renewal is a super lightweight lotion that is to be used morning and night after cleaning. As it is so light, it is best for those with normal to oilier skin types, so it is absolutely perfect for my combination skin.

The lotion claims to targets the skin’s natural DNA repair processes and infuses it with optimal hydration to counter ageing effects, and by activating the recovery of youthful skin with the highest levels of DNA repair enzymes, it encourages a visible surge in skin’s moisture levels and restores skin vitality, retains moisture, soothes skin and works against age spots and sun damage.

It contains among others;

• DNA Repair Enzymes engineered from marine and botanical sources, to replenish those the skin loses due to age and sun damage, and thus activate the recovery of youthful skin. These DNA Repair Enzymes are delivered through liposomes to penetrate deeply into the skin 
• Hibiscus Peptide, an active extract works to rev up youthful cell turn over and restoring skin vitality, while achieving fuller, smoother skin, 
• Rapeseed Sterols to protects against loss of hydration in the skin. 
• Salicornia Herbacaea Extract, an ultra-hydrating extract retains and boosts the moisture level in the skin, and restores skin's natural lipid barrier 
• Alba Flower to help soothe, inflammation, hyper-pigmentation and age spots. 
• Nonapeptide-1, a skin lightening peptide that attacks UV-induced damage to help control hyper-pigmentation and inhibit age spots to restore an even skin tone. 

It thereby also helps to; 

• Increase moisture levels, make the skin look more glowing with a more youthful radiance. 
• Make the skin plumper, more supple and hydrated 
• Reduce fine lines & wrinkles 
• Reveal a more even-toned, younger, healthier and more flawless skin 

With combination skin, I love how light this DNA Intensive Renewal is and how quickly it absorbs into the skin, immediately leaving it feeling soft and smooth, and without any greasiness. I am at the age where I am concerned with anti-ageing with increasing lines, as well as increasing pigmentation, age spots and sun damage, and not to mention dark marks from past blemishes and acne. And after using for just a few weeks, I was very excited when I clearly started noticing that my skin was not only looking softer and smoother and clearly intensely hydrated which gave my skin a glow I haven't seen in a very long time, it also made some of my finer lines appear smaller. But what I am most impressed about is that it has made quite a difference in my skin tone, making it so much more even, with pigmentation, and those annoying acne marks so much lighter. This serum is clearly not cheap, but as you only need the smallest pump to cover your full face, the bottle will last you a long time, I estimate several months, and I can already tell that I dread the day that I run out, as my skin is clearly improving by the day using this.

Then there's the Dr. Ronald Moy DNA Lip Balm, and I don't know about you, but I am sad to admit that while I am and have been using anti-ageing products on my face for a very long time, I often use very basic products on my lips - so I am very excited about this lip balm. It is a part of the anti-ageing DNA range, and contains among others natural beeswax, cocoa seed butter, shea butter, candelila oil, plankton extract and coconut oil, combined with the DNA Repair Enzymes which are delivered through liposomes to penetrate deeply as described above, to add instant hydration and moisture to the lips, while repairing the lips and reducing the damage caused by the harsh sun. It also promises to refresh the lips, eliminate dullness and give the lips more vibrant appearance.

I have to admit that I cannot really tell any major changes or improvements in my lips since using this lip balm, but I can see that my lips look healthy with a nice sheen, without being glossy. And I actually really like this lip balm as unlike most others I've tried, it absorbs completely into the lips without any greasiness or stickiness, so within a few moments you don't even know you're wearing it - well apart from the fact that it leaves the lips feeling very soft and hydrated, so clearly the liposome technology is doing its part letting the DNA Repair Enzymes absorb completely. As it is non greasy it is seriously the perfect lip balm to use under lipsticks, though I also love using it just before bed, knowing that as it is absorbed into my skin, I won't wipe it off on my pillow, and it will continue to treat my lips throughout the night. For a lip balm the just under $20 may sound a little pricey, but once you've given it a try, you can only agree that its totally worth every cent.

So yet again more than impressed with the products from Dr. Ronald Moy, so if you haven't yet tried his products and you're concerned with anti-ageing, you really should, you won't regret it.


Dr Ronald Moy DNA Intensive Renewal - RRP: $157.50 / 30ml
Dr Ronald Moy Lip Balm with DNA Repair Enzymes - RRP: $19.90 / 4.25g

Available from Advanced Cosmeceuticals and select stockists, for further details and to enquire, contact Advanced Cosmeceuticals on 1800 242 011

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.


Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

PRODUCT REVIEW: ESSENTIALS FROM NIVEA INCL NIVEA CREME, MICELLAR AND DEODORANTS

Growing up in Denmark, one of those brands I remember we always had in the house, was Nivea.... 

This was before the time of the cheap air fares and duty free shopping, but each summer, my family and I would drive the couple of hours south to cross the German border, and shop in the large supermarkets there, on our way south on our summer holiday. And one of the products we always stocked up on, was the Nivea Creme, which came in huge blue aluminium tins. Don't get me wrong, we could purchase these in Denmark, but just not that big, and they cost a lot more. We used it on everything.

The dry hands after a day in the garden, a thick layer on to the feet before putting on socks for an intensive foot treatment, or in the 80's I used to use it to calm down frizz and give my 80's perm a new life with intense moisture between washes.

It can be used as a face moisturiser too, but it is a little too intense for my combination skin prone to breakouts, but I do like using it on my body, and in particularly knees, elbows and feet, if its extra dry, especially during winter.

This thick creme was first introduced back in 1911 and has since then become a cult classic. And no wonder, as it really is amazing. I always have a jar handy, as it is such a great multi tasker. The creme is made using the world’s first stable oil-in-water cream created by pharmacist and owner of Beiersdorf, Dr.Oscar Troplowitz, and leading dermatologist, Professor Paul Gerson Unna, following their discovery of a new kind of emulsifier, called “Eucerit”. Together with chemist Dr. Isaac Lifschutz. In addition to Eucerit, the Crème also contains glycerine and a little citric acid, fragranced with rose and lily of the valley oils, which gives it a lovely subtle floral scent. An amazing cream that should be a stable in any beauty cabinet. 

But as years have passed, Nivea has launched new products, which are equally amazing. This includes their deodorants, which include the Nivea Invisible for Black and White Fresh Aerosol Spray and Roll-on deodorants. These deodorants have a unique formula that helps prevent those dreaded yellow deodorant and sweat stains from developing on your white clothes, and those annoying white powdery deodorant marks on your black clothes. 

The deodorant has a new technology that works by using aluminium salts to dissolve white residue in an emulsion, masked with oil, to form a protection and barrier around the textile fibres, before staining from sweat and deodorant can stick to the fabric, to make them easier to remove in the wash. At the same time the deodorant is very gentle on the skin, and offers a 48-hour protection against both odour and perspiration,

The deodorants have a powdery fresh scent from notes of bergamot, white tea and sandalwood, which lingers on the skin throughout the day, while still being so subtle that the scent wont clash with your perfume, and it really does leave me feeling fresh smelling and protected throughout the day. The deodorant is available in both an aerosol and a roll-on version, but I prefer to use a roll-on, but that's just personal preference. But overall, I really love these deodorants as they care and protect both me and my clothes!

For the skin, I am also currently enjoying the Nivea Daily Essentials Caring Micellar Water. This gentle miceallar water has tiny surface active agent molecules or micelles that are suspended in water, and when you apply the product to a cotton pad and wipe it over your face, the micelles break and help to pull dirt, grime and oil off the surface of the skin, and thereby gently removes all makeup, dirt and excess serum.

It feels gentle and lovely on my skin, and with a cotton pad, it easily removes my makeup, through I do feel it struggles a little when I'm wearing particularly long-wearing or waterproof makeup, but generally I feel that's the case for most micellar waters.

The Nivea Daily Essentials Caring Micellar Water has been enriched with Vitamin E, and it helps care for the skin and moisturise it, leaving it feeling soft and smooth, while also helping to alleviate the signs of sensitive skin including redness, tightness and dryness. I also love that it is made free from parabens and colours and it is fragrance free too.

This is a great micellar water, and the fact that it is now available in an even bigger size, makes it even more affordable than ever!


Nivea Creme - RRP: $4.20 / 60ml, $7.99 / 150ml
Nivea Invisible for Black & White Fresh Aerosol - RRP: $6.59 / 250ml
Nivea Invisible for Black & White Fresh Roll-On - RRP: $3.79
Nivea Daily Essentials Caring Micellar Water - RRP: $11.99 / 400ml

Available nationally from supermarkets, variety stores, Priceline selected pharmacies

* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.


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PRODUCT REVIEW: AUSSIE SCRABBLE BY MATTEL

Who doesn't love a good and family game. Well today I'll show you the coolest one you'll see in a long time, a fair dinkum Aussie limited edition version of Scrabble... 

Aussies are renowned for their unique take on the English language so Mattel has given the Aussies their own signature version of the game, Aussie Scrabble. The new Aussie version lingo list includes ripper, cuppa, strewth, cozzie, biffo and bogan and is a celebration of quirky Aussie slang and localised lingo.

To create the game, Mattel took to social media with its mate Jetstar in 2016 to crowd source the best slang words from across the country for potential inclusion into the final glossary.

More than 20,000 submissions were put forward, with words such as 'arvo', 'crikey', 'biffo', 'shonky' and 'cozzie' forming the official word glossary.

The Aussie Scrabble bend to the original rules by allowing participants to use terms coined from an extensive list of popular Australian colloquialisms, while the ‘strewth cards’ introduce another layer of fun, allowing players to draw extra tiles for extended game play, and get bonus points for every slang word used.

Having more than 17 years ago, I am personally slowly getting used to all the fun words so unique to Australia, but still had a giggle when I read through the included Aussie Slang Glossary, which include words such as; 

• Arvo 
• Ambos 
• Barbie 
• Brekkie 
• Cozzie 
• Dipstick 
• Footy 
• G'day 
• Heaps 
• Journo 
• Lippy 
• Moolah 
• Ocker 
• Pash 
• Prezzy 
• Rapt 
• Salvos 
• Sickie 
• Straya 
• Tinny 
• Uey 
• Wowser 

This is seriously such a fun and unique game with a home-grown Aussie flavour that will have the whole family laughing, so make sure to get your hands on one while you can! 

Limited edition Aussie Scrabble - RRP: $39.99
Available from Big W, Target, Toys R’ Us and Myer while stocks last.

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.

Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

PRODUCT REVIEW: BRAUN FACESPA BEAUTY EDITION FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSH AND EPILATOR 831

With troublesome skin, prone to breakouts, I rely on giving my skin a though clean daily - and needless to say, that as a girl, I am not fond of facial hairs either - so when I got the opportunity to put the new Braun FaceSpa Beauty Edition Facial Cleansing Brush and Epilator, to the test, I was naturally excited.

This Braun FaceSpa is a cool is a dual function device, which has inter-changeable facial cleansing brush and mini facial epilator head.

Let's start talking about the epilator part. I admit here that I do not really suffer with facial hair, and just not comfortable using it on my brows (they've been through enough over-plugging in their time) so apart from a small test to remove some of the fluffy fine hair on the side of my hair, I haven't thoroughly tested this one. But what I did try, it worked quickly and easily, and without any pain. 

The epilator head is quite small, which helps give you maximum control and precision when removing hairs, and it is perfect for using on the chin, upper lip, forehead, on the hair line, or the eyebrows - and like when you're using an epilator on the rest of your body (I love using one on my legs), it removes hair with the root, (and not cutting them off at the skin, shavers using blades) so you'll be hair free for up to 4 weeks. And as it has 10 micro-tweezers, it has 200 plucking motions per second, so you can shave a lot quicker, plus it can capture hairs as small as 0.02mm! And what I generally like about an epilator, is that when the hairs do eventually grow out again, they do not feel as 'stubbly' as they do when you've used a shaver with a blade. 

Then there's the Sonic Facial Brush, which is a facial brush that promises to give your skin a deep clean. The brush is waterproof and can be used in the shower, which I love as I can use it while I wait for my conditioner to work. The Facial Brush has soft brush head, and it promises to clean the skin 6x better than manual cleansing, thanks to hundreds of micro-oscilliations, which helps remove makeup and impurities from deep down every pore, while also refining and gently exfoliating the skin, all without irritating the skin.

I generally prefer to remove my makeup first, and use the brush as a second cleanse, using it with a gentle facial cleanser, for that extra deep clean, and to make sure that every last trace of makeup is gone. And Since using it, I have noticed that my skin is not only looking fresher and softer, it is also brighter and more glowing, as well as I am convinced I haven't had as many breakouts as I usually do.

The actual holder that is used for both the epilator head and the facial cleansing brush, has a simple design that is lightweight and easy to operate and hold. I would have preferred if it had been rechargeable, but being battery operated, along with its small size does make it ideal if you're travelling. It has two speeds (for both epilator and brush), though I find it slightly tricky to find out which one is slower and which is faster.

The epilator part comes with a cute rose-gold lid, and it would have been a welcome addition, especially for travelling purposes, if there had also been a lid for the brush attachment. In addition the kit also comes with a cute little lighted morrow and a gorgeous white cosmetic pouch that you can use for storage.

All in all a great and very nifty multi-tasking tool, at a very reasonable price.


Braun FaceSpa Beauty Edition 831 - RRP: $129.95

Available from The Shaver Shop

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy. 


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PRODUCT REVIEW: NATIO LUMINOUS BLUSHER PALETTE AND GLOWING BRONZER PALETTE - LIMITED EDITION

BEAUTY IN THE BAG GWP FROM CHEMIST WAREHOUSE AND MY CHEMIST

PRODUCT REVIEW: CLARINS SCENTED HAND CREAMS - MANDARIN LEAF, LIME LEAF, GRAPEFRUIT LEAF

I am addicted to hand creams. I seriously have one everywhere you look. In the car, in the powder room, in the laundry, by the kitchen sink, in my pantry, in my ensuite, on my bedside table, in various handbags.. You name it, and you'll likely find a hand cream there. And the original Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream has been a long time favourite hand cream mine, and I've lost count of how many tubes I've used through the years. But now Clarins has launched a limited edition range of Scented Hand Creams that I've fallen for immediately. 

These hand creams are made with soothing plant extracts, along with Clarins’ intensive moisture treatment that nourishes and softens rough, dry, irritated skin while also helping to reduce the appearance of age spots. Like the original, and absorbs into the skin quickly and easily, and without any greasiness, so you can get on with things immediately. And in spite of the light consistency, they are intensely moisturising, leaving the hands feeling so soft and smooth, and protected against the elements too, and with those gorgeous scents lingering on the skin for long after. There are three different limited edition scents. 

• Mandarin Leaf Scented Hand Cream 
• Lime Leaf Scented Hand Cream 
• Grapefruit Leaf Scented Hand Cream 

Each tube has a pretty fruity design with the particular fruit used. I absolutely love anything citrus scented, so needless to say that these hand creams have really hit the mark for me. The seriously smell divine with their fresh zesty fruitiness, and I and as each of the scents is so gorgeous, I am also struggling picking a favourite, though if I absolutely had to, I think I find the Lime Leaf the zestiest of the three, and thus my first pick, but the slightly sweeter Mandarin Leaf and the Grapefruit Leaf with its slight zesty bitterness, are seriously divine too. But then, as they all come in a gift set containing all three, you really don't have to pick a favourite after all, phew! The cute little tubes also have the perfect size to pop in to the handbag when you're on the go.

But again, the only thing is that these are limited edition, and they are sure to fly off the shelves, so be sure to get your hands on a set before they're gone for good - I know I'm very tempted to get a backup set.


Clarins Limited Edition Scented Hand Creams - $45 / 3 x 30ml
Available from Clarins, Myer, David Jones and select pharmacies

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.

Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

TOY REVIEW: ECO TOY BRICKS - LUCKYS NATURAL BRICKS

Nothing beats seeing your kids playing happily and being very engaged with their toys. And both our 2 year old and 4 year olds, love being creative with their Lego, it can keep them entertained for hours. But there's a new brand on the market, Eco Toy Bricks..

These Eco Toy Bricks, look in appearance very similar to the well-known Dublo bricks from Lego, but yet they are very different..

The Eco Bricks were launched by Luckys Natural Brics in 2016 in Germany, and are aimed at kids 1.5 - 5 years of age.

The Eco Toy Bricks are; 

• Made from Arboblend® - a biodegradable material that decomposes under compost conditions
• Colours are Non-toxic
• Sustainable
• BPA-free
• Free of plasticisers
• Made from renewable resources
• Environmentally friendly

There are several different sets available, including the Classic Set, which my two little boys put to the test. This  Eco Toy Bricks Classic Set is a true little treasure chest - and it literally does come in a little chest, a little sturdy and solid cardboard chest made from recycled cardboard, looking like its made from timber. Its the perfect box for storing the bricks, and which kid doesn't love a good treasure box. I know my boys do! 

The Classic set contains 61 Eco Toy Bricks including a base plate, and various bricks in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, so they can build just about anything they like. I also really like that there are a few pictures of things you can build inside the lid, to give them some inspiration.

Not surprisingly, these blocks are really great, and an absolute hit with my kids. Having heaps of Lego Dublo already, as a parent, I naturally like the fact that they are compatible to them. And of course the whole idea of these Eco Toy Bricks is just amazing, and I love knowing that they are made taking both the environment and the kids health into account. I also love that they are non-toxic so if they should end up in the mouth, at least I can rest assured my child wont suck on any chemical nasties. So if you're eco conscious and are looking for some super cool toy for your kids, do yourself a favour and check out the Eco Toy Bricks. 

Having had a child with a life-threatening illness who spent almost 5 months at the Royal Children's Hospital and still going there frequently for check-ups with our little boy - I also love the fact that Eco Toy Bricks donates part of the sales to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, which helps fund life-saving children's medical equipment in NSW. 

Eco Toy Bricks Classic Set - RRP: $89.99

Available from Eco Toy Bricks

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.

Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook,  Bloglovin or Instagram 

TOY REVIEW: VTECH SPIN AND SING ALPHABET ZOO

Knowing the alphabet is an important first step to learning to read, and with this in mind, Vtech has designed the Spin & Sing Alphabet Zoo™. 

The Spin & Sing Alphabet Zoo™ helps expose little ones to the alphabet, teaching them about the sounds of the letters with each spin of the wheel, including animal names from alligator to zebra. Music, colourful lights, swirling patterns and spinning beads encourage exploration and stimulate the child' senses. And babies and toddlers spin the wheel on this interactive toy, it helps them develop fine motor skills

The Vtech Spin & Sing Alphabet Zoo™ has three different modes, alphabet, animal and music, which teaches the kids;

• The Alphabet 
• Animals 
• Gross Motor Skills 
• Fine Motor Skills 
• Music & Rhythm 

As they spin the wheel, they learn about 26 different animals and their sounds as well as the Alphabet including letter names and the sound of individual letters. In addition it also has a music mode where kids can sing and dance along to cheerful melodies of the ABC song or the Old MacDonald tune. It is simply loaded with fun sounds, words, songs and phrases, so your child (or you!), will never tire of hearing the same over and over.

This Vtech Spin & Sing Alphabet Zoo™ is suitable from 6+ months to 36 months, and our 28 month old is so loving playing with it. Due to extreme illness, he has been a bit delayed with speaking, but toys like this is such a great tool to help him along, and each time he plays with it, he picks up new words and sounds, which as a parent is amazing to see and hear.

And as the Spin & Sing Alphabet Zoo™ has so many different functions, we have also found that he has been playing with it for a longer period of time, before moving on to the next toy, simply as it continues to keep his interest and keep him entertained. 

The actual toy is made from sturdy plastic, but it is a little heavy, so to avoid it dropping down and hurting toes, I do recommend that the child sits on the floor and plays with it. I am also not sure how it would go, being dropped to the floor from table-height. It has two different volumes, which again as a parents I like, as otherwise it can be a bit monotonous for us listening to the same words and sounds over and over again.


Overall, not surprisingly, Vtech has launched another fantastic education toy at a great price. Our little boy has been enjoying playing with his, and if your little one is starting to speak, and you want to encourage learning, then I highly recommend you check it out.


Vtech Sing & Spin Alphabet Zoo Ball - RRP $34.95
Available from Big W, Target, Myer, Toys R Us and Toyworld

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.


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PRODUCT REVIEW: TREATING BLEMISH PRONE SKIN BIORE WITH ACNE SCRUB, PORE MINIMISER AND PORE STRIPS

I have all days suffered with a skin prone to breakouts, even today where I am so old I should be more focused on anti-ageing, my skin still has periods of being more temperamental than a teenager's skin. So when a batch of the newest anti-blemish products from Bioré landed on my desk, I couldn't wait to try them... 

Let's start with the Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub, which is a face scrub formulated for combination, acne prone skin. The scrub has been formulated with natural baking soda, and also contains salicylic acid to gently and effectively exfoliate the skin and remove all the dead skin cells that are clogging up the pores, including excess sebum. At the same time, it is helping treat existing acne and prevent future breakouts at the same time. The scrub has small scrubbing particles, and doesn't feel coarse on the skin, but actually rather gentle, but after each use, it leaves my skin feeling soft and sooth, and without it feeling dry or irritated, and I can definitely both see and feel it is leaving my skin clearer and more refined too. It has a slight cooling feeling on the skin, which I quite like and find rather refreshing in the mornings. As it is so gentle, it can be used twice daily if needed, otherwise 2 or three times per week. 

Then there's the Bioré Charcoal Acne Scrub, which has jumped on the bandwagon of using charcoal as an ingredient, which seems to be very popular in beauty products at the moment. It is a face scrub formulated for oily, acne prone skin. Along with the natural charcoal powder it also contains salicylic acid, and it promises to help exfoliate away any acne-causing dirt , clear away dead skin cells and absorb excess oil, to help give the skin a deep cleanse and help eliminate breakouts, all while being gentle on the skin, and not strip it from essential moisture or over dry it. It can also be used twice daily, or alternatively 2 or 3 times weekly as needed. The scrubbing particles in this seems slightly smaller than in the Baking Soda Acne Scrub, but regardless, after each use, my skin feels super clean deep down every pore.

The Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimiser is a facial exfoliator that contains natural charcoal powder along with micro crystals, and it promises to help draw out deep-down impurities, dirt and oil from the pores, to make them appear smaller, while leaving the skin feeling softer and smoother. Compared to other face exfoliators, this one has very tiny particles, so it does feel very gentle on the skin, yet it still feels like it is buffing away those dead cells clogging up the pores, as the skin is left soft afterwards, and I can clearly see that the excess oil, especially on my t-zone has been absorbed. The cleanser comes out dark grey, which is rather odd, but once you massage it into the skin with water, it does turn light grey/white. It is quite concentrated, so though it is recommended to use a full pump, I find that a little too much. It is recommended to use it 2 to three times per week, and unless you've got very oily skin, I'd stick to that, to ensure it doesn't dry out your skin. I have not really noticed that it has made any difference to the size of my pores. But that said, I quite like it as a deep clean once or twice a week, if I'm due for a face mask, or at that time of the month where my skin always feels a little greasier and tends to break out more often, as I do feel my skin is less greasy afterwards.

Finally, there's the Bioré Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, which are long time favourites for both my husband and I. This box contains two types of pore strips, one type for the nose and one for the forehead. And they have been designed to unclog dirt and oil that can lead to blackheads, while helping to minimise the appearance of pores. The Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips for the face are designed to work like a magnet, and help lift out any dirt deep down the pores that can cause blackheads. The two types of strips in the box are slightly different, not only in shape, but also in the ingredients used. The Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips for the nose are shaped so they fit perfectly around the nose, and designed especially for the skin on the nose which tends to be greasier. And so they contain tea tree oil and witch hazel to remove twice the amount of dirt for fewer clogged pores and pores that will reduce in size.

The Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, on the other hand, are designed for the rest of the face, including the forehead, and help lift out the dirt in the pores that can cause blackheads and breakouts. I don't really have that many blackheads on my forehead, but have struggled with a few on my cheeks, which I've tried to use the strips.

The strips are so easy to use, you simply wet your face and apply, and leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes before gently peeling it off. And you can immediately see their effectiveness, - a little bit gross, but also somewhat exciting that if you look at the used strip, you can actually see the dirt the strips have pulled out of your skin! Afterwards I like to wipe over my skin with a toner to close the pores. Using these on a regular basis definitely makes a difference to the amount of blackheads and breakouts on my nose, so we like to always keep a box handy, just in case.


So there you go, a selection of budget friendly products from Bioré for those who like me struggle with breakouts. Apart from the Pore Strips, favourite of the bunch would have to be the Charcoal Acne Scrub, as its super quick and easy to use a few times a week in the shower, and really makes a difference to the amount of breakouts on my skin.


Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub - RRP: $9.99 / 127g
Bioré Charcoal Acne Scrub - RRP: $9.99 / 127g
Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimiser - RRP: $10.99 / 92ml
Bioré Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips - RRP: $11.01 / 7+7 strips

Available from Coles, Woolworths, Variety Stores, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and selected pharmacies 

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.


Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

PRODUCT REVIEW: SO...? BODY FRAGRANCE

I rarely ever leave the house without wearing some kind of fragrance, so needless so say that I was excited when a couple of So...? Body Fragrances landed on my doorstep... 

Let's start with the So…? Body Fragrance, which is the original fragrance from the brand. It features a blend of vanilla, patchouli, and sandalwood, with top notes including a mix of orange flowers, amber and tangerine, revealing a light, tangy fragrance. 

This is a very floral scent, which has a slight heavy woodiness to it, thanks to the added sandalwood. Personally I prefer lighter fruitier scents, and I find it a little to heavy for casual everyday wear, but it is a great scent for night time. It has a great wear, actually lasting throughout the day, even through it is technically just a body spray, which is pretty great.

The other one is the So…? Sinful Body Fragrance. This one opens with fresh, fruity notes, including fresh strawberries combined with pineapple and hints of bergamot and mint add a lift to the fragrance. In the middle notes it has violet, mimosa, water lily, and jasmine, creating a floral fusion, while cedar and wood complete the base notes. And of the two, this scent is definitely my favourite, as it is both lighter, and has a fresher and fruitier floral scent, and while I am usually not fond of cedar and wood notes, I think that they in this case helps 'ground' the fragrance and stop it from being too sweet. I find it a much better fragrance to wear throughout the day, and again, the wear is surprisingly good, lasting well into the day.

Overall these are really great body spays, and they come at an amazingly low prices of just $4.95 each, which is just incredible. No, they are no high quality luxurious scents, but for that low price you really cannot fault the quality, and if you're on a tight budget, or simply wanting a fragrance for every day use then they're really great. And there are heaps of other varieties in the range, so even if these are not for you, go check out the rest of the range, you may just find your perfect scent.


So...? Body Fragrance - RRP: $4.95 / 150ml
So...? Sinful Body Fragrance - RRP: $4.95 / 150ml

Available from Priceline, variety stores, and selected pharmacies 

* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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