APRIL 2014 FAVOURITES

How time flies, and it is now that time of the month again where I share some of the products that I’ve particularly loved during the past month;

 

Arbonne It's a Long Story Mascara*

 

A little while we moved into our new house – well that is, the house we will be living in until we’ve finished building our new house. And with all the unpacking I’ve done the last month, along with looking after our little boy who has been teething with several teeth coming out at the same time and hence needed extra cuddles, I have had several days were I’ve gone more or less au naturel – wearing nothing more than mascara – as that is the one product that I would never leave the house without wearing. And I’ve been enjoying the It’s A Long Story Mascara from Arbonne.

Just one coat of this mascara instantly makes your lashes look incredibly long and glossy, nicely defining and separating the lashes and without clumping them together – and over time it also promotes the appearance of longer-looking lashes due being formulated with revolutionary polypeptides, bamboo extract and pro-vitamins to pamper, condition and nurture the lashes. While I’m yet to see the long term effects of using this mascara, the look that this mascara gives my lashes, makes it worthwhile regardless.  And the mascara is waterproof, and so gentle too, so perfect for my sensitive eyes.

RRP: 46.00 – Available from Arbonne

 

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc*

 

When I have been wearing a little makeup, and felt like spicing things up a little, I’ve been using the Illamasqua Precision Ink in Havoc which is a reddish brown waterproof liquid eyeliner.

And as the name suggests, it makes it easy to make a precise line, even for fumbly fingers like mine. And it really does stay put all day, perfect for eyes like mine, which are sensitive and easily water.

RRP: $32 – Available from Myer

 

Laura Mercier Longwear Cream Eye Pencil in Sage*

 

To contrast the reddish brown liquid liner on my upper lashline, I’ve enjoyed using the Laura Mercier Longwear Cream Eye Pencil in Sage along the lower lashes. Sage is a dark olive green colour, and I feel that it the combination of the two colours really make the green colours of my eyes stand out a little more.

The eyeliner is such a joy to use, and applies easily without the need to drag or pull, yet it stays put all day, which is very rare for a kohl eyeliner.

RRP: $30 – Available from Adore Beauty

 

Clarins Rouge Eclat in Pink Berry*

 

I absolutely adore this Rouge Eclat in Pink Berry from Clarins. This is a lip treatment and lipstick in one, as it is an Age-Defying Lipstick which contains Nutri-Youth Complex to help create younger-looking, fuller lips, all while giving the lips a gorgeous colour. The Pink Berry, is a gorgeous red toned colour, and is very pigmented so just a quick swipe will leave you will fully saturated colour with a nice satin sheen, perfect for both casual wear and a night out. It feels incredible comfortable to wear, and it has a long wear, but as it wears off, it leaves the lips feeling so soft and smooth.

And not to forget, it has the most divine scent that I just can’t get enough off! I’ve already got my eyes on a few other colours to add to my collection!

RRP: $38 – Available from Clarins counters and Adore Beauty

 

Color WOW Pop & Lock*

As a stay-at-home mum, I no longer have my hair coloured as often as I used to – finding the time to sit in the chair at the hairdressers for hours when you have a baby is a luxury that I often haven’t got. And that’s why I’ll do anything to protect my hair colour by using products specifically designed for coloured hair. This Pop & Lock from Color WOW is a clear gel containing shimmers, and it contains shellac that adds a protective layer on the hair’s surface making the hair colour pop and gives the hair an incredibly healthy shine at the same time as it smoothes down any frizz. It also contains UV filters that helps prevent the hair colour from fading. And always looking for multi-tasking products, I love that it can be used in both wet hair, as well as to freshen up dry hair.

RRP: $29.95 (55ml) – Available from Hairhouse Warehouse

 

Pacifica Skincare Frangipani & Lime Body Butter*

 

I had never before heard of Pacifica Skincare when I was asked to trial this body butter. And now I feel I have a lot of catching up to do as this body butter is nothing short of divine. The last time I was on a tropical holiday is a very long time ago, in actual fact, it was in Fiji during 9-11! But this body butter transports you to that secluded tropical island as soon as you open the cream.

It simply smells incredible, beyond words. If you love frangipani and lime – which I are two of my all time favourite scents, then this will no doubt tick your boxes too. The cream leaves your skin feeling silky soft and smooth, and the scent more or less lingers for the rest of the day, which is pretty rare for a body butter. And then how cute is the floral box the cream comes in!

RRP: $20.95 (120gms) – Available from Pacifica Skincare

 

Paco Rabanne Million Lady Collectable Key Chain*

 

It has been awhile since this fragrance was launched, but nevertheless, it is a true classic. It is fresh and floral, sweet yet it is not sickly! It contains among others bitter orange and raspberry, neroli and jasmine and gardenia. As it is so floral and fresh it is perfect for daytime wear, yet as it also has such a depth, it is just as perfect for a night out.

And you know it is a quality perfume when it lasts all day, without really needing to respray (I can even smell it in my hair where it has brushed against my neck the following day) – Yet the small keychain is just so cute and gorgeous and perfect for the handbag, that I’ve found myself carrying it around regardless. I love it, and have already given my hubby subtle hints, so maybe one day I will get a full sized bottle..

RRP: $64 (Key Chain Travel Spray 10ml + 10ml refill) – Available from Selected Myer and David Jones

Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum*

 

One of the key thinks that bothers me about my skin is pigmentation, and I am forever in search of products which can help minimise it, and this serum has dramatically made a difference in the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation as well as minimised the look of pores and not to mention the amount of breakouts that I get - and just a month.

It I not a cheap serum, but it is really does deliver on its promises, so worth every cent! You can check out my full review here.

RRP: $100 (30ml) – Available from David Jones

 
BioElixia Body Shaper Stretch Mark Diminishing Cream*

I’ve never had a lot of stretchmarks, guess genes, and regular exercise has kept it at bay. But then I got pregnant, and while I didn’t get as many as I thought I would, and which I think would have been normal considering my 14kgs weight gain, I still can’t say that I loved them. The BioElixia Body Shaper Stretch Mark Diminishing Cream claims to help visibly reduce stretchmarks by smoothing out their appearance and fading discoloration, by an average of 46% after just 4 weeks of use, and 87% after 8 weeks of use. Pretty impressive stats, don’t you think! I am not sure that I can see that the few stretchmarks on in particularly my thighs and breasts have reduced by almost half in the just over a month I’ve been using this cream – but I know that I can both see and feel that there is a difference, and my skin feels super soft too, so the $39 it is well worth it if you ask me.

RRP: $39 (125ml) – Available BioElixia

 

Aphelia Master Cleanse Deep Cleanse Fluid*

 

This cleanser helps clean the skin deep down every single pore, and detoxify it, leaving it ready for any treatment care. I have had a few issues with breakout the last few months, but I believe that this cleanser has helped get my skin back to normal again, as it has cleaned it so well from any makeup and excess sebum, yet without drying it out or irritating my skin. It easily removes even longwearing makeup, but I’ve been using it as the second cleanser to give my skin the good deep clean it has obviously needed. It is extremely concentrated, so just a small pump is more than sufficient.

RRP: $29.95 (100ml) – Available from Aphelia

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

 

So there you go, these are some of my favourite products for the month of April.

Have you tried any of these products? Any that you’d like to try?

February Favourites 2014

I have not done of these posts before. But I really like reading other beauty bloggers favourites posts. And trialling a fair share of products every month, while I genuinely love by far the majority of the products I trial, there are obviously products that I for one reason or another like more than others, and that I continue to use after a trial period, or keep going back to – and so I thought that it was time that I started doing a monthly favourites post too.

And yep, I am a little late, very late actually, posting the February post, but moving house and our internet provider stuffing up so now almost three weeks after moving in, we are still without internet in our new house (plus for the almost three weeks prior to that while we were living in a holiday house), explains all of that. And as I’ve had the post ready to go live, I thought that I’d go ahead and post it, even in spite of being almost a month late!!! So without further ado, here are the products that I have continuously reached for during February..

Neutrogena Rapidly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub*

I have always struggled with my skin breaking out, but luckily have managed to get it under control. Well most of the time. Having recently moved house, twice in a month, and the stress that came with it, and add to that we also in the process of getting a new house designed, has stressed my out skin a bit. Actually probably a little more than I like, as my skin has gone bonkers this last month. But I have found some help in the Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub from Neutrogena. This scrub is so gentle that it can be used daily. The small exfoliating beads helps remove dead skin cells, while the salicylic acid, helps clean deep down every pore removing excess dirt and oil, leaving my skin feeling less greasy, and simply soft and smooth.
RRP: $13.99 (125ml) - Available from Priceline and supermarkets

Palmer's Purifying Mask*

To further help clean my skin, I have also been relying on the Palmer’s Purifying Mask a few times a week. This mask contains kaolin clay to help draw out impurities and purify the pores, and after leaving it on for just 10 minutes, my skin free from all the excess oiliness that is otherwise plaguing it at the moment, and it is left looking healthy and smooth. Yet at the same time it also contains among others cocoa and shea butters, vitamin E and sweet almond oil, to help moisturise and nourish the skin. Used regularly, it simply helps makes my makeup stay put for longer without sliding off my face. It comes in a handy tube, and has the most gorgeous scent floral scent

RRP: $9.99 (120g) - Available from Priceline and supermarkets

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer*

With all the breakouts, this past month I’ve also been relying on the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer. The concealer is a unique two-toned concealer that allows you to custom-blend your own perfect shade to match your skin. And it easily covers redness, blemishes and age spots. And as it is so pigmented you only need to use so little, which also means that the result is very natural. And my combination skin also loves that it is an oil-free formula that stays put all day. Not cheap, but worth every cent!

RRP: $49 – Available from David Jones and Adore Beauty

Wella SP Color Save Mask*

I usually get my hair coloured at the salon 3 to 4 times a year. And I hate it. Well, I love the result, that’s why I keep getting it done, but I hate actually getting it done. I have very long and thick hair, and usually have very fine strands of hair coloured throughout my hair, which makes it look quite natural, but it is a process that takes several hours, and that’s what I hate. So I’ll do anything to protect the colour and prevent it from fading too quick and that’s where the Wella SP Color Save Mask is so brilliant. It not only helps keep my hair looking healthy but this hair mask has been created to protect coloured hair providing long-lasting colour brilliance and care against fading. It also includes UV Filters to shield against sunlight damage, beeswax for increased shine and olive leaf extract for its colour-retaining benefits, and of course, not forgetting ingredients to  moisturise and protect the hair from drying out.

RRP: $34 - Available from hair salons

L'Oreal Luminosity Code BB Cream*

I love multi-tasking products and this Luminosity Code BB Cream from L'Oreal is no exception. It is not only a BB Cream that helps cover imperfections, but it also works to helps to even out the skin tone. It contains Lumi-Gen technology, which is designed to regulate the skin’s pigmentation so the skin is more even day after day. The BB Cream doubles as a moisturiser and it is oil free and extremely lightweight has well as it is non-comedogenic, so perfect for my combination skin for wear on a hot summers’ day for a casual outing. It only has a very light coverage, but it is enriched with pearlescent light reflectors, so it leaves the skin with a lovely healthy glow, without being too shimmery or making the skin look shiny. And it is perfect to be used in combination with the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer. The cream has a gorgeous gentle floral scent, and as a as an added bonus offers protection from harmful UV rays.

RRP: $29.95 –Available from Priceline, variety stores, selected pharmacies, department stores and supermarkets

Schick Quattro Papaya & Pearl*

I have to be completely honest and admit that I normally use an epilator to shave my legs, although I don’t use it under my arm pits, as I’m way too much of a chicken to do that. But moving house, I completely forgot to pack the epilator with the stuff I was taking with me to the holiday house, and that’s where this new shaver from Schick came in so handy. It has a whole four blades for a closer and smoother shave, and the tip is enriched with papaya and pearl to leave the skin feeling so incredibly soft. It comes with a handy suction cup holder for the shower and it has a cute coral colour. And I have to admit that I do love the smoothness of shaving my legs with a blade, especially now that it is still warm and I generally wear skirts or dresses, - the shave just doesn’t compare to using an epilator…. So I may just give my epilator a little holiday for a while..

RRP: $11.99 - Available from Priceline, variety stores, selected pharmacies, department stores and supermarkets

Palmer's Natural Bronze Instant*

I love summer and feeling the sun warm up my body, but having a baby means that this summer I’ve been less outside and in the sun than I normally am. That means my legs are somewhat paler than they usually are at this time of year, and that’s where the Palmer's Natural Bronze Instant is so brilliant. It is not only an instant tanner, it is also a self-tanner that gradually builds up a nice and natural looking tan, so it looks like I too have spent the summer at the beach.

RRP: $9.39 (250ml) - Available from Priceline, variety stores, selected pharmacies, department stores and supermarkets

Advanced Cosmeceuticals Magnifibres Brush-On False Lashes*

Once upon a time I had long lashes. No so anymore. These days I am so envious of my little 9 month old boy, whose lashes seems to grow longer and longer by the day. But lucky there is help to be found. These Magnifibres Brush-On False Lashes from Advanced Cosmeceuticals is brush on false lashes in the shape of a mascara wand. Simply apply a coat of your normal mascara, then follow by applying the brush with the cotton wool-like fibres onto your lashes, and finish off with a final coat of your normal mascara – and you are left with an incredible false lash effect, with lashes that are both longer and has more volume, yet looks natural. Perfect for someone like me who has not yet mastered applying false lashes! But I do have to admit that I did worry using the Magnifibres on my sensitive eyes, as they easily get irritated and water, and I feared that it would drop particles into my eyes, but I had no need to worry as that has not been the case. Combined with the casual look of the BB Cream, these Magnifibres takes my everyday makeup look to a complete new level.
RRP: $59.95 – Available from select stockists, or from Advanced Cosmeceuticals

FAB First Aid Beauty Lip Therapy*

During summer my lips always get so dry from the sun and from air conditioners too, but this summer, the Lip Therapy from FAB has come to the rescue. This little wonder product has kept my lips soft and hydrated, and after a day of sailing which resulted in chapped and dried out lips from the wind, it got my lips back to top shape in no time. It has a lovely fresh minty smell and feels cooling on the lips, and what’s even better is that it contains absolutely no chemical nasties, including no parabens or colourants.
RRP: $12.95 (14.8ml) – Available from Priceline

So there you have it – some of the products which I have particularly loved using in February. And stay tuned… I will be posting about my March favourites before you know it!!

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

Have you tried any of these products? Or any you’d love to try? Did you discover any new products in February?