PRODUCT REVIEW: OLAY REGENERIST MICRO-SCULPTING CREAM AND MIRACLE BOOST YOUTH PRE-ESSENCE

When it comes to good skincare, I admit that I am not usually one to hesitate when it comes to price. But that said, I do love it when efficient products come at budget friendly prices - such as the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream and the Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence. 

These anti-ageing products make some pretty hefty claims. Among others that they outperform one of the world's most expensive cream costing $350. Now, I haven't quite got that kind of budget available for my skincare, so I am unable to say if I feel that is true, but I can talk about what I think of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream and the Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence..

The Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence has been designed to supercharge the benefits of your other skincare products, and it is the first product you apply after cleansing the skin and before moisturising. This super-light pre-essence contains among others Niacinamide, and amino-peptides, and it absorbs quickly into the skin and helps visibly reduce fine lines, pores and firms skin to reveal naturally radiant and well hydrated skin. But it also helps jump start skin renewal, in fact, just one drop supposedly helps start the renewal of a million cells!! It also helps increase the absorption of Niacinamide, one of the key active ingredients also found in the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

The Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream also contains Hyaluronic Acid and an amino-peptide complex with super hydrating power to help visibly firm the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps restore elasticity and suppleness. Yet while the cream is so rich, it still manages to be a very light cream that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on the skin or clog up the skin’s pores. It is recommended to use the cream morning and night, in conjunction with a gentle massage focusing on three key points, the eye contour area, the jaw line, to not only relax the skin, but also stimulate circulation.

So what do I think of these products... With combination skin prone to breakouts, heavy and rich anti-ageing products do not generally agree with my skin, but I have to say that I really like the lightness of these creams, and the fact that it works well under makeup and that when I use then at night, my skin is not greasy or congested when I wake in the morning. I am not too sure if my fine lines and wrinkles have actually minimised, however, I do feel that my skin feels and looks deeply nourished and moisturised, and my skin therefore is more plumb and glowing, and the mere fact that it hasn't made my skin break out, something that is very common when I use anti-ageing products means that I wouldn’t hesitate purchasing these products again.

The cream comes in both a standard as well as a fragrance free version, which I really like -although my skin is not sensitive, I do like that there is an option for those that have. I also love the heavy duty red jar and bottles that the products comes in, which does make it look even more luxurious and expensive than they are.


Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence RRP $39.33
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream RRP $48.99

Available from Priceline, Target, K-Mart, Big W, and select pharmacies and supermarkets

* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: OLAY REGENERIST MICROSCULPTING CREAM MOISTURISER AND MIRACLE BOOST YOUTH PRE-ESSENCE

Today I’d like to share with you some anti-ageing products from Olay, the Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence and the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. These products promises to make your skin look up to 10 years younger!! Sounds pretty amazing, right!

The Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence has been designed to supercharge the benefits of your other skincare products, and it is the first product you apply after cleansing the skin and before moisturising. This super-light pre-essence contains among others Niacinamide, and amino-peptides, and it absorbs quickly into the skin and helps visibly reduce fine lines, pores and firms skin to reveal naturally radiant and well hydrated skin. But it also helps jumpstart skin renewal, in fact, just one drop supposedly helps start the renewal of a million cells!! It also helps increase the absorption of Niacinamide, one of the key active ingredients also found in the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

The Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream also contains Hyaluronic Acid and an amino-peptide complex with super hydrating power to help visibly firm the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps restore elasticity and suppleness. Yet while the cream is so rich, it still manages to be a very light cream that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on the skin or clog up the skin’s pores.

After having used these two products for well over a month and I really like the lightness of both products, and the fact that they both sit well under makeup and that when I use then at night, they don’t make me wake up feeling that my skin is greasy and congested. But I am not too sure if my fine lines and wrinkles have actually minimised or if my pores have gotten smaller - they usually always seem to increase in size as the weather heats up during summer, so the creams have fought an up-hill battle, and the results may have been different during the cooler months of the year. However, I do feel that my skin feels and looks deeply nourished and moisturised, and my skin therefore is more plumb and glowing, and the mere fact that the products have not made my skin break out, something that is very common when I use anti-ageing products means that I wouldn’t hesitate purchasing these products again. 


Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence RRP $39.33
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream RRP $48.99

The products are available from select pharmacies, supermarkets and Priceline.

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

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HOSPITAL BAG - SKINCARE & HAIRCARE

So now, as I write this, baby is due in just 8 days. Yesterday I posted about the makeup I’ll be bring to hospital, and today it is all about the skincare and haircare products that I’ll be bringing with me to the hospital. I actually started packing the a few weeks ago, slowly pulling things out as I remembered, but now time has come to get serious, to make sure everything is ready to go!

Apart from the clothing necessities such as comfy clothes, PJs, dressing gown, slippers, underwear and maternity bras, breast pads, maternity pads... these are the haircare and skincare essentials that will be going with me..

EVO Beauty Is Skin Deep Women’s Essential Kit

I’ve always loved the brand EVO for its quirky texts on its bottles, which can only bring a smile to your face. The Body Crème for instance reads, ‘if you can’t spend a week bathing in pools of dead-skin-eating fish while being served dinner by trained psychologists, then this hand and body lotion is for you!

This gorgeous travel pack makes packing a whole lot easier, as the pack contains small convenient bottles of many of the essential hair and skincare products you need – and let’s face it, my hospital stay will just be for a few days, so it is absolutely pointless dragging along full sized bottles. The kit contains cute 50ml bottles of Self Indulgence Body Crème, Soap Dodger Body Wash, Mane Prescription Hair Protein Treatment, Ritual Salvation Hair Care Conditioner and Ritual Salvation Hair Care Shampoo. The shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment are all designed for colour-treated hair, weak and brittle hair, so perfect for my hair that will need all the care it can get after giving birth. The body wash and body crème both smell divine and will quickly wash away the scent of hospital, and help add some much needed moisture to my skin which will no doubt be dried out from the chlorine bleached sheets and towels! $RRP: 29.95



bhave Riot Control Oil

As you may now, I absolutely love the haircare products from bhave, and the products have done wonders for my hair. One of the products I especially love is the Riot Control Oil, and I’m lucky to have a small travel sized bottle floating around. Just a pump or two or this oil instantly helps tame down any frizz, while giving the hair a healthy and natural shine. RRP: $48.95 (Full Size/100ml)

Lady Jayne Tangleze
While I know that I won’t feel like spending too much time styling m hair, of course I’ll also need to pack a hairbrush, and this compact Tangleze from Lady Jayne is the perfect choice, as it is simply so small and compact that it doesn’t take up much room. And it is so effective in detangling knotted tresses in both wet and dry hair, while being super gentle. And in addition, it has the most gorgeous black and white zebra design that makes it look stunning at the same time. RRP: $12.99

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Neon Lights Pomegranate & JasmineWith my long hair I never wash my hair every day, so I doubt this will be happening while I’m in hospital either, - and that’s when I rely on a good dry shampoo to refresh my tresses. And then I just cannot go past this new (and sadly limited edition) Neon Lights Dry Shampoo from Batiste with Pomegranate and Jasmine, as it simply leaves my hair smelling so good while leaving it clean and revitalised. RRP: $9.95

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion
One thing that I know I will need a little more off is body lotion, as again, my skin gets so horribly dry when in hospital, and moisturising lotion from Aveeno is perfect, as it has also helped me through the later stages of my pregnancy where my skin has become a little itchy. The thick cream has almost no scent and instantly provides instant moisture and relief to dry and irritated skin. RRP: $8.95

Uriage Eau Thermale D’UriageThis thermal water spray from Uriage is made from 100% natural thermal water, and just a fine spray across the face helps to moisture, and soothe the skin for hours, which I know it will be very quickly thanks to the constant airconditioning in the hospital. And it also instantly helps refresh the skin if it has become dry and irritated. RRP: 8.95


L’Occitane En Provence Shea Hand Cream in Zesty Lime
My hands always get horribly dry during winter, but this hand cream from L’Occitane has a high content of shea butter so it is extremely moisturising on the hands, yet absorbing quickly into the skin without any greasiness. Plus it leaves the most refreshing and zesty scent of lime lingering behind, which I just cannot resist! RRP: $13.00

Jurlique Hydra Gloss in Neutral
This gloss also acts as an extremely hydrating lip balm containing ingredients to soften, condition and smooth the lips, all while giving the lips a nice sheer glossy finish. RRP: $22.00


Simple Micellar Cleansing Water
This newly launched Micellar Cleansing Water from Simple is very gentle on the skin, and with just a few swipes over the face and eyes, it easily removes makeup (although struggling with waterproof mascara, without leaving a greasy residue behind. The Micellar Water is light and has a fresh scent, and doesn’t dry out my skin, and best of all, it is very gentle, so it doesn’t sting in my vey sensitive eyes! RRP: $9.99

Olay Wet Cleansing Towlettes
As I think I’ve mentioned many times before, I am not a huge user of facial wipes as I prefer to wash my face with a gel cleanser and splash water in my face afterwards, so I often just use them for when I’m in on long-haul flights, or swatching makeup products for the blog. But in saying that, I always have a pack handy, and will also be bringing these Wet Towlettes from Olay with me, as in case I am too drained and tired to wash my face, at least a wet towel is better than nothing. And I love the fact that these ones are alcohol and fragrance free so won’t dry out my skin. RRP: $6.95


SKII Facial Treatment Essence
I’ve been using the SKII Facial Treatment Essence for the past few weeks as a kind of toner, after cleansing my skin, but before my serum. The Essence contains the wonder ingredient, pitera, which SKII claims helps boost the collagen production and encourage new cell turnover. And within just a few short weeks, of using this odd-smelling Essence, my skin is not only more deeply moisturised and hence looking more plumb with fine lines and wrinkles reduced, but my skin also seems to have a more healthy glow. RRP: $100 (75ml)

 MyChelle Dermaceuticals G2 Instant Firming Serum
This serum from MyChelle is pack full of super anti-oxidants, phyto-nutrients and peptides that promises to instantly help improve the firmness of the skin and minimise the depth of wrinkles instantly, while refining skin texture too. And I’m impressed to say that you really do both see and feel that this serum has an effect on the skin, instantly making my skin looking more refreshed and plum, so it helps make you look more rested too when you wake up in the morning, even after a bad night’s sleep, and you can see the lifting results too when you use it under your foundation, so it’s just as perfect for daytime wear too. RRP: $62.50


SkinInc Pure Nano Hydrating Gel
I’ve only been using this gel moisturiser for a very short time, but I am already in love. The light gel is a true multi-tasker helping to hydrate, repair, tone, protect and prime, and not to mention brighten the skin all at the same time. It is super moisturising and nourishing on the skin, yet perfect for my combination skin as it is so light and non-greasy and leaves my skin feeling velvety soft and matte. And as it is suitable for use both morning and evening, I only need to bring this one moisturiser with me. RRP: $163.00


Antipodes Kiwi Seed Eye Cream
One thing that I can never be without is a good eye cream, and this Kiwi Seed Eye Cream from Antipodes will provide my (more than likely) very tired looking eyes with some much needed cooling and soothing care, while adding moisture and softening fine lines. And I love the fact that the cream has been shown to scientifically shown to stimulate collagen production by up to 82%, so hopefully it can help keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay for a little longer! $44.99

 

 

Sisley Paris Eye Contour Mask
This amazing mask from Sisley will help refresh and soothe tired looking eyes instantly, and I love that it goes on clear so I can actually wear it during the day, and nobody would ever know. Or pop on a thin layer at night before bed, and wake up to eyes that are less puffy and looking more refreshed and younger. RRP: $150.00

 

Vanessa Megan Birth Ease Natural Labour Spray 
I was given this when I first announced my pregnancy, and since then it has been sitting in waiting to be put to the test. It is specifically designed for the hours of labour, to help assist with tensions, promote contractions and help build confidence during labour – and as the birth of our first boy was long, drawn out and a painful one too, I’m willing to give anything a try to make it faster and more comfortable too! Fingers crossed! RRP: $29.95

Weleda Nipple Care Cream

Oh dear how I vividly remember how sore and cracked my poor nipples were when I started breastfeeding our little boy when he was born almost two years ago. I had to send hubby to the nearest chemist pronto to get me something that would give me some much needed relief. This time I’ll come prepared with the Weleda Nipple Care cream that is designed to both prepare for breastfeeding, as well as soothe and care for cracked nipples. RRP: $27.95


So there you go, these are the skin and haircare products that I'll be taking with me, again, no doubt a lot more than I will actually need, but these are some of my current favourites, and in the end of the day, so much easier to simply bring it along than have hubby try to find what you want at home!!

*Some products may have been provided for consideration, but would still be reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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THREE OF A KIND: TINTED MOISTURISERS

Today I’d like to put focus on three different tinted moisturisers;
 

 

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream Tinted Moisturiser SPF15*

This cream promises to be both a BB Cream and a Tinted Moisturiser, which I guess essentially are two different things – but to be honest I would call it more of a Tinted Moisturiser, mainly because it as a very sheer tint. This means that it doesn’t give the skin much coverage, so it is perfect for those with picture-perfect skin without a blemish, scarring or pigmentation. But in saying that, it also only promises a ‘splash of sheer colour’ so you cannot fault the cream for its lack of coverage!

The formula has a lovely fresh fruity scent and has a nice rich creamy texture that absorbs quickly into the skin, and it feels very lovely on the skin, making it feel soft, hydrated and with a nice dewy and glowing finish. As it is so moisturising, it is probably also best suited for those with normal and dry skin types, as  on my combination skin, it did get a bit too shiny by the afternoon, but then again, so do most foundations during summer! It comes with SPF15, which is lovely, although a higher SPF would always be nicer!

It promises to refresh, brighten, even skin tone, hydrate and smooth, and manages to live up to four of the claims, but sadly not doing much to even out my pigmented skin!

RRP: $16.99 (50ml) – Available from Priceline, Supermarkets, Variety Stores and Select Pharmacies

 

Natio Tinted Moisturiser SPF50*

 

This tinted moisturiser from Natio promises a sheer veil of radiant colour, and as such it offers just ever so slightly better coverage than the Olay cream. The Natio Tinted Moisturiser does, as promised, thanks to containing mineral pigments, even out minor imperfections, and leaves the skin with a nice radiant demi-matte finish.

The cream contains among others Grape seed, jojoba, evening primrose, chamomile and aloe help to keep skin soft and supple, and work to protect it from free radical damage, supporting cell repair and moisture levels, so it is a true multi-tasking product with skincare meeting foundation, as this is all you need – and as it also contains broad spectrum SPF50, it even has your sun protection needs covered too.

The cream is very light – surprisingly considering the high SPF – and is so easy to blend onto the skin, absorbing quickly, and without any stickiness. Often high SPF products make my skin look shiny and feel greasy almost as if it cannot breathe, but on the contrary, this cream feels lovely on my combination skin, and stays put most of the day too!

RRP: $18.95 – Available from Priceline, Department Stores, Select Pharmacies, and Natio Online
 

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser SPF20*     

 

Finally, the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moistruriser, which is also the most expensive of the line-up today. This moisturiser also adds the most coverage, covering minor pigmentation, redness and blemishes, and it is also buildable so you can reapply to the areas that need a little more coverage, all while still leaving the face with a natural glowing dewy look, yet still without being too shimmery. All I need is a touch of concealer to cover dark circles under my eyes and a few larger areas of pigmentation.

The cream is quite moisturising so I actually feel I don’t need to use a moisturiser beforehand, at least not on my combination skin during summer (although I do use a serum first), yet it is quite lightweight, and stays put most of the day without making my face look shiny, although a light dusting of powder is required at by the afternoon. If you can afford the splurge, it is well worth it.

RRP: $59 (50ml) – Available from Adore Beauty and David Jones

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

Do you use tinted moisturiser? Have you tried any of these? Any recommendations?


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PRODUCT REVIEW: OLAY REGENERIST LUMINOUS BRIGHTENING RANGE

Olay is one of those brands you can only love. Their products are always top quality, and at a reasonable price too. And when I was offered to trial the newest range which promises to brighten the skin and reduce pigmentation, I jumped at the opportunity. Here are my thoughts on the Olay Regenerist Luminous Brightening Cream Cleanser, Luminous Tone Perfecting Treatment and Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream;

 

 

What They Say:

Olay Regenerist Luminous Brightening Cream Cleanser is a face wash that removes micro-residues and dirt, leaving skin clean and hydrated. The cleanser gently exfoliates to reveal brighter, more luminous and even skin.

RRP: $15.99 (100ml) – Available from Priceline, Supermarkets, Variety Stores and Pharmacies

Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Treatment is a lightweight, fast-absorbing and non-greasy treatment that helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots and even out skin tone. It’s formulated with a powerful brightening complex that penetrates the deeper layers of skin.

RRP: $67.99 (40ml) – Available from Priceline, Supermarkets, Variety Stores and Pharmacies

Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream is a rich and luxurious moisturiser that helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots over time. It also brightens, exfoliates and smooths skin. The fast-absorbing, non-greasy formula contains a brightening complex that penetrates the deeper layers of skin.

RRP: $57.99 (50g) – Available from Priceline, Supermarkets, Variety Stores and Pharmacies

 

What I Say:

The Olay Regenerist Luminous Brightening Cream Cleanser has a creamy formula and it contains tiny exfoliating beads to not only cleanse the skin, but also exfoliate the skin, cleansing it deep down every pore and getting rid of old dead skin cells and excess sebum to reveal a clearer and brighter skin. 

As the exfoliating beads are so tiny, it is very gentle on the skin, so you can use it several times a week to keep you skin and pores clean, and you won’t find that it leaves the skin red raw after use. However, with a name like ‘cream cleanser’ you would possibly expect to be able to use it daily, but even in spite of the tiny exfoliating beads, and even though I do not have sensitive skin, I would only go as far as to using it every second day to avoid over-exfoliating and stressing out my skin. After each use of the cleanser my skin is feeling so soft and smooth, and with a nice glow.

I follow with the Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Treatment, which is a serum to be used prior to your moisturiser every morning and night. The white, slightly pearlescent serum has a very light consistency, and as it is quite concentrated to, you only need a few drops to cover your whole face, and thanks to the dropper bottle it is easy to get just the amount of serum needed without wastage.

It claims to penetrate 10 surface layers to help accelerate the skin’s surface turnover rate. It does absorb quickly into the skin, and leaves if feeling so silky soft and smooth, and without any greasiness.

The final step is the Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, which is intended to be used on top of the Tone Perfecting Treatment, both morning and night, and consequently it unfortunately does not contain any SPF.

It would have been lovely to see the addition of a night cream, so that the day cream version could have at least had some SPF! The cream comes in a stylish looking heavy plastic jar with a silver lid. The pale peach tinted cream is also slight pearlescent, and it has light formula, yet it feels very moisturising on the skin – but still without feeling too thick or heavy on my combination skin. It absorbs quickly into the skin, and again, without leaving behind a greasy residue. During day it works well under makeup, and yet it still provides sufficient moisture for night time use as well.

As always when trying new moisturisers, I worry that it will make my blemish prone skin breakout, but luckily that has not been the case with this moisturiser.

Common for all three products is the lovely fresh fruity citrusy scent, which I really like, although some may find it a little too heavily scented.

But how did the products fare after using them for about a month. I do have increasing pigmentation, which is sadly not made better by being pregnant. However, I did feel that I saw my skin was feeling smoother and looking healthy with a nice glow. It also looks a little brighter, although I am yet to see any visible difference to my pigmentation and dark spots, but again, the products are also working extra hard to combat increasing pregnancy pigmentation at the same time. However, in saying that, I think it will take a little longer than a month to see a visible difference to pigmentation, regardless of the products you are trying, and especially during summer, where you are still exposed more to the sun’s harsh and damaging rays.

However, overall I really like these products and the fact that they work so well with my skin type without making it feel greasy, congested or make it break out. And while I did not see any major difference to the evenness of my skin tone, the products certainly left my skin looking more healthy and with a nice glow!

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

Have you tried these Luminous products from Olay? Concerned with pigmentation and uneven skin tone? Which products do you reach for to combat the pigmentation?

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BEST BUDGET BEAUTY BUYS - OCTOBER 2014

It has been a little while since I’ve done one of my Best Budget Beauty Buys posts, and I actually planned to do this feature monthly, and well now we already half way into the next month.... ups! Anyway, slight late, I thought it was about time to share some amazing products that I came across last month, that won’t send you broke...

anatomicals the seven deadly skins melon body scrub*

Love anatomicals. Their bright packaging and quirky texts on the bottles is such a refreshing change, and of course, then there’s the amazing scents.

And this melon body scrub doesn’t fail to impress either. It simply smells so fresh and divine. The scrub gently scrubs away any dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft, smooth and glowing, and leaving your bathroom smelling like a fruit orchard meanwhile. And as anatomicals puts it “If you're dissatisfied we'll eat our 100 hats. Sorry for our gluttony.”

RRP: $8.99 (200ml) – Available from Target and Priceline



Herbal Essences Naked Shampoo & Conditioner*

In a time where silicones, parabens and dyes are a big no-no, this shampoo and conditioner from Herbal Essences is a great choice. The shampoo contains white tea and mint extracts and leaves your hair clean without drying it out, and with a naturally silky shine, while the conditioner a stimulating herbal and mint infusion for hydrated and nourished, smooth hair that is light and not weighted down. The products are great for everyday use as they simply leaves your hair feeling and looking shiny and healthy, and with a gorgeous fresh fruity scent.
RRP: $6.99 each (300ml) – Available from Supermarkets and Priceline



Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage and Colour Repair*

When my hair and scalp need some extra TLC, a good pick is this Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage & Colour Repair Treatment Mask from Clear. It contains a rich blend of vitamins and nutrients that work to nourish the scalp and hair, leaving it look healthy and shiny and without being weighted down or feeling greasy.

And the best thing is that it is super quick to use, working in just three minutes. It comes in a cute lavender coloured tub and has a nice floral scent – and if using this every couple of days will give me glossy and healthy locks like some Miranda Kerr, than I’m all for it.

RRP: $9.99 - Available from Priceline, Supermarkets and select pharmacies



TRESemme Platinum Strength Leave-In Treatment*

This leave-in treatment claims to “visibly repairs up to 2 years of damage in just 5 uses”, and while am not so sure I can see that in my hair, the treatment instantly helps make my hair softer and more manageable. It leaves a protective layer on each hair, locking in moisture and protecting it from future damage, and consequently my otherwise dry ends look and feel so much healthier. And all without making it feel greasy or weighed down. It has a gentle floral scent that quickly fades once it has absorbed into the hair, and it comes in a convenient pump bottle.
RRP: $10.99 (125ml) – Available from Supermarkets, Priceline and select Pharmacies



essano Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser*

Even though I have combination skin prone to breakouts, it is important to use a gentle cleanser this Rosehip by essano Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser is perfect, easily removing all my makeup, although I do need an eye makeup remover to help with the waterproof mascara. I love that it is free from all chemical nasties including parabens, sulphates, phthalates, colours or petrochemicals, and it is also soap free to cleanse the face without drying out the skin or causing any irritations. It also contains active natural botanicals and certified organic rosehip oil that helps replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, repair the skin and help promote firmness.
RRP: $19.99 (140ml) – Available from Priceline and selected Woolworths


Quick Fix Facials Mask Exfoliating Scrub*

This is not just a exfoliating scrub, it is a multi-tasking mask, designed to both exfoliate the skin to help remove dead skin cells, while it also contains clay designed to draw out excess oil and impurities from the skin as well as it also contains pomegranate, goji berry, vitamin E and pink rose clay to renew and revive the skin.

You simply put a thin layer onto your skin, and leave for about 10 minutes to dry and absorb all the excess sebum, and then I like to dampen my hands gently massage and exfoliate my face, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. The mask is quite concentrated and the exfoliating beads are a little coarse, so this is not a mask to use on a daily basis, but for a weekly deep treatment it works a treat.

RRP: $8.95 (100ml) – Available from Woolworths



Dove Invisible Dry Anti-Perspirant Deodorant*

Don’t you just hate it when your deodorant leaves white marks on your clothes. It looks so horrible too, when you pull a top over your head and end up with the white marks on the outside of the top. The good news is that the new Dove Invisible Dry Anti White Marks Roll-on really keeps its promise and doesn’t leave these dreaded white marks. And add to that, it is free from alcohol and contains a quarter moisturising cream, so it keeps your underarms soft and hydrated, all while offering you anti-perspirant protection all day. And it has a gentle scent that won’t clash with your perfume either.

RRP: $5.47 (100g) – Available from Supermarkets, Priceline, variety stores and pharmacies



People for Plants Eye Cream*

When I am in a hurry, I admit to skipping using certain products, but one thing I never ever forget, it an eye cream. I simply couldn’t live without it. My eyes are very sensitive, and easily water, so I love that this eye cream from People for Plants is fragrance-free eye, and I love too that it is made in Australia using no parabens, sulphates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, silicones or phthalates – but rather it has been made using 91.4% certified organic ingredients. It contains Kakadu plum, calendula, and chamomile to brighten and revitalise the eye area, while hyaluronic acid locks in moisture and aloe vera hydrates the eye area. It comes in a small tube with a nozzle, making it easy to use without contamination, and it thick and creamy, although it absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving it feeling greasy. And while I don’t think it has done much to the bags under my eyes, I love that it is so gentle and has a cooling effect, and that it works so perfectly under makeup too.

RRP: $19.95 (15ml) – Available from Priceline, David Jones and Select Pharmacies



Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid Powered Contour Cleansing System*

I have to admit to owning a couple of the more expensive electrical cleansing brushes, but when I am going away, they are just to big and bulky, and that’s where I love this the Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid Powered Contour Cleansing System from Olay. Long term it naturally doesn’t offer the same results, or longevity for that matter, but for the low price, it is worth it, also if you don’t want to or cannot afford to splurge on an expensive brush.

The soft plastic bristles vibrate to help deep cleanse your skin, getting rid of any dirt, excess oil and sebum and makeup that’s clogging up your pores. Used with either the included Olay Shine, ShineGo Away Cleanser, it quickly leaves your skin feeling clean deep down every single pore, leaving it soft, glowing and healthy looking.
RRP: $16.99 – Available from Priceline and select pharmacies*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

So there you go, a selection of great budget beauty buys that will cost you less than $20!

Tried any of these? Keen to? What’s your go to budget buys?

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Product Review: Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System

When I got pregnant I knew that I had to stop using a lot of my current skincare products as they simply contained ingredients known to cause birth defects. Shock horror!! Obviously I couldn’t not continue to use these products, yet having always struggled with breakouts as long as I can remember, these products containing among others salicylic acid where what I believed kept my skin relatively clean and free from breakouts. And so I forked out the big money for a Clairsonic in the hope that it would help keep my skin clear now that I had to use more ‘basic’ skincare. And from day one of using it, I really noticed a difference in my skin, I can’t remember it ever being that clear. Now it could be a combination of pregnancy hormones and the Clairsonic, but I definitely believe that the more thorough in-depth cleanse has made a significant difference. But a Clairsonic is expensive, and not everyone can afford the high price tag, but the good news is that Olay has now brought out a cheaper alternative – so here’s my thoughts on the *Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System;

 

 

 

What They Say:

"Olay Regenerist unveils a new skincare revolution from its newly-upgraded, advanced anti-ageing line-up. The Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System is Olay’s first-ever state-of-the-art, electronic cleansing device designed to effectively loosen, lift and swirl dirt away to to cleanse, exfoliate and reveal brighter, smoother skin with each use."

 

RRP: Cleansing System: $32.99, Replacement brush heads: RRP $9.99 (2pc per pack) – Available from Woolworths, Coles, Priceline, Target, K-mart, BIG W, National Pharmacies and Chemist Warehouse

 

What I Say:

Olay claims that there was one Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System sold every three minutes in the United States from August 2011 to June 2012, which is pretty impressive numbers, so I was naturally excited to be trialing this Olay device.

 

 

The Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System comes in a box which includes the Cleansing device, a brush head, a 20ml tube of Skin Renewal Cleanser, and two AA batteries.

 

 

 

The batteries are inserted into the bottom of handle, which you rock side to side to remove the battery cover. I assumed this would be easy to do, but I have to say that I was struggling a little with this.

The brush head on the other hand is easy to lock into position.

 

The handle of the device has two buttons; the larger one top turns the device on and off and is also the slower and therefore gentler speed, while the smaller button is the quicker speed, and hence less gentle setting.

 

I normally always remove my makeup before using my Clairsonic, so that is also what I’ve done when using the Olay Cleansing System, which of course also means that the brush head lasts longer, although Olay does recommend replacing it every three months. But at $9.95 for two brush heads, that is also doesn’t cost a lot to do, while in comparison Clairsonic brush head cost around $30 for just one head!!

 

 

As recommended I dampened both the brush head and my face, and massaged some of the Skin Renewal Cleanser over my face, before turning on the brush and moving it around the face to activate the cleanser.

 

The actual Olay Skin Renewal Cleanser is a fine cleanser with extremely fine scrubbing grains in it, in fact, using it with the brush, you barely notice that it is an exfoliator, it is only when you massage it into your face that you realise.

 

Not having particularly sensitive skin, I used the fast setting, although I have been trying the slow setting on my cheeks as well, and after rinsing my face, it feels soft and glowing, and in no way is it irritated or red. Following with my serum and day cream, they absorb into the skin instantly.

 

So how does it compare to the more expensive Clairsonic. For one, the device doesn’t have a timer, but it is recommended to use it for approx. 60 seconds. I have to admit that I do like my Clairsonic Classic which has different timer settings, and like a tooth brush, gives me a little buzz when it is time to move on to the next area of my face, and the fact that it is also timed so that the area needing more attention such as the T-Zone gets more time while more sensitive areas such as the cheeks gets less time. However, in saying that, at a fraction of the price, it is certainly something that I can live without.

 

The actual handle and the brush head are also smaller than the Clairsonic, and keep in mind that I have the Classic version, which is a fair bit bigger than the Clairsonic Mia version.

 

I do like, actually I prefer the smaller size of the Olay handle, finding it a lot easier to hold in the hand, and move around the face. As for the brush head, I guess that I have gotten used to the larger Clairsonic brush head, so it will take a little getting used to the smaller brush head. But all in all I actually prefer the smaller size, and it is certainly also a lot easier (and lighter) take it with you when you are travelling – when I was recently in hospital giving birth to our little boy, (missed my pictures of our little boy, you can see them here!), the Clairsonic took up most of the space in my toilet bag!!

 

But I guess the main thing really is how the Olay Cleansing System cleanses in comparison to the Clairsonic…

 

Olay claims that the device which revolves at 350 times per minute, reaches skin contours where the fingers cannot and is tested and proven to remove layers of the toughest makeup faster and more efficiently than a standard cleansing routine - even without the use of a makeup remover. The device cleanses four times better than basic cleansing, resulting in better active anti-ageing ingredient penetration. The on the other hand Clairsonic claims to cleanse six times better than with your hands alone in just 60 seconds.

 

And to be quite honest, I am not sure that you can tell the difference, although, of course with the larger Clairsonic brush head you could argue that it cleanses a larger part of the face, and hence used for the same amount of time, it would cleanse the face slightly better. But on the other hand, I’ve found that I have been using the Olay for slightly longer than the 60 seconds (which would make up for that).

 

Having already used my Clairsonic for the past year, it is difficult to say if there has been any difference to the feel and look of my skin. On the other hand, I have now been using the Olay Cleansing System for two weeks, and just the fact that my skin hasn’t started to feel more oily or congested or has started to break out, only indicates one thing, that it is doing a very good a keeping my pores clean!!

 

All in all, I think that this is an amazing cleansing device which comes at a fantastic price too (and you can even be lucky to find it on special too, Priceline for instance just had 40% off for a few days!), so if you do not already have a cleaning system, I would not hesitate recommending it to you, you would not be disappointed. I wish the Olay Cleansing System had been available a year ago when I purchased my Clairsonic, then I would at least have had the option of saving some money!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

 What do you think of the Olay Cleansing System? Will you be getting one?