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3 February 2024

PRODUCT REVIEW // MEDIK8 CRYSTAL RETINAL CERAMIDE EYE 10, C-TETRA EYE SERUM AND ADVANCED DAY EYE PROTECT - FOR A PROTECTED BRIGHTENED AND MORE YOUTHFUL EYE AREA WITH REDUCED LINES AND DARK CIRCLES




You know, in my eyes Medik8 - @medik8australia can do no wrong. I have so many favourites from the brand, incl my HG - the one products I repurchased the most times, and always have in my routine, the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 and 20!! Just incredible. 

Needless to say my excitement was through the roof when the newest launch, the Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye arrived for me to try.
It’s the world’s first clinical strength retinal for under eyes. #Ad 

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PRODUCT REVIEW // PHILOSOPHY SKINCARE DOSE OF WISDOM - FOR SOFT, PLUMP AND BOUNCY SKIN



My skin has been absolutely loving the newly launched Dose of Wisdom™ Bouncy Skin Reactivating Serum from Philosophy Skincare - @philosophyskincareau - #AD 

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20 August 2021

PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINSTITUT - POTENT AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, YET SUPER AFFORDABLE COSMECEUTICAL SKINCARE PRODUCTS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES



I have previously talked about the Australian brand Skinstitut, and today I am very excited to be putting some further products from heir large range to the test…
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13 August 2019

PRODUCT REVIEW: SUPER EFFICIENT AND LUXE ANTIAGEING PRODUCT THAT ACTUALLY WORK FROM REVISION SKINCARE





Today I am excited to talk about a skincare brand that is totally new to me, Revision Skincare..

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15 July 2019

PRODUCT REVIEW: PETER THOMAS ROTH POTENT-C TARGETED SPOT BRIGHTENER FROM SEPHORA - THE ULTIMATE TREATMENT FOR POST ACNE MARKS, DARK SPOTS AND PIGMENTATION




Unfortunately, I haven’t not been blessed with great skin. It has always been prone to breakouts and acne, and sadly it, and when they eventually clear up, sadly they often leave me with dark marks that take ages and ages to fade again, if they do!


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8 June 2019

PRODUCT REVIEW: MARY KAY SKINCARE FAVOURITES



One brand that I find is totally underrated is Mary Kay. The products are only sold online or through consultants, which perhaps is a reason, but even so, the brand has so many amazing products. So today I am going to do a rundown on some of my favourite Mary Kay Skincare products..

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20 May 2017

PRODUCT REVIEW: L'UNICO LABORATORY PHYTO FRUIT PEEL, VITAMIN C SERUM, FIRMING EYE THERAPY, DAY CREAM AND NIGHT CREAM

Today I'd like to introduce you to a new luxury skincare brand that has just been launched in Australia, L'Unico Laboratory. L'Unico Laboratory is an Australian range that uses European engineered peptides and organic extracts for products that absorb instantly into the skin to help give immediate effective and visible results, protecting, rebuilding and addressing signs of ageing. 


Some other key facts about this new brand is that L'Unico is Italian and means THE ONLY ONE, and the key advantages of the products are;

  • L'Unico uses nano-sized ingredients that are handcrafted to allow for 100% skin penetration and instant absorption. 
  • All products have an aqueous base with a minimal use of 0.1% of natural oils or plant extract, which allows the formula to be instantly absorbed into the deepest layers of the skin. 
  • L'Unico uses advanced variations of peptides to act as a signal to skin cells to make new collagen, improve wrinkles and firmness and reduce pigmentation. 
  • Packaging is 100% light-resistant to guarantee stability within every drop of the formula, protecting against oxidation and deterioration by light. 
Now onto the actual products. I've put a selection to the test, and here are my thoughts..

The L'Unico Neuropeptide Firming Eye Therapy is a nourishing eye cream that promises to decrease the appearance of puffiness around the eye area and help to improve skin elasticity while restoring and correcting the delicate skin around the eyes. It also helps eliminate the appearance of dark circles.

And this eye cream seriously is incredible, as after just a few uses I could start to see that the skin around my eyes looked and felt both firmer and brighter, as well as dark circles remarkably reduced too. The cream absorbs immediately into the skin, and without any greasiness, so it is also perfect for using under makeup. The cream does take a few moments to absorb, but once it has, it leaves no residue and the eye area feels soft and smooth after application. It has a lovely fresh fruity scent and I also love that it is a hypoallergenic formula that is super gentle around my sensitive eyes.

Then there's the L'Unico High Potency 30% Vitamin C Serum, which contains a highly stable form of Vitamin C, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, or, more specifically, the tetraester of ascorbic acid and isopalmitic acid. This works as a powerful antioxidant and is a potent oil-soluble form of Vitamin C ester, which helps prevent cellular ageing by inhibiting the cross-linking of collagen, oxidation of proteins and lipid peroxidation - or in other words, it helps to boost collagen in the skin, and aids with the skin's hydration and density, help reduce the appearance of dark circles and spots as well as provide UV protection.

The serum has a gorgeous orange scent, and I did initially find it slightly oily on my combination skin, but overcame this by simply using less of this super concentrated serum. Just a few drops is sufficient, so while it may not be cheap, the bottle will last you forever, and as it can last up to 18 months without oxidising, that is not an issue. The light serum absorbs fairly quickly into the skin, and is to be used morning or night after cleansing and prior to moisturiser. And it seriously didn't take long for me to fall in love with this, as already after a few uses, I could tell how soft and glowing it made my skin feel and look. While my combination skin doesn't seem to lack moisture, it has still given it a visible boost, and I am also convinced that it is helping to reduce the appearance of some marks from recent breakouts. I could certainly get used to using this as a part of my regular skincare routine.

Then there's the L'Unico Youth Essence Day Cream and Regenerative Neuropeptide Night Formula, which both promises to help prevent the formulation of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Youth Essence Day Cream contains a mixture of vitamins, amino acids and the powerful peptides Acetyl Glutamyl Octatapeptide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, which helps reduce wrinkle depth and in reducing surface muscle tension, while also protecting the skin and boosting collagen synthesis, helping to inhibit enzymatic destruction and to minimise unscheduled collagen degradation. But that's not all, it also helps maintain the skin's moisture balance, tone, elasticity land density, and counter the damaging effects of UV exposure.

The cream has a very subtle scent and is very light, absorbing immediately into the skin without any residue, but leaving it so soft and smooth, so again perfect for use under makeup during the day.

The Regenerative Neuropeptide Night Formula contains among others a encapsulated retinol (vitamin A), which helps to reverse the chronological signs of ageing including the appearance of fine wrinkles and expression lines, while boosting keratin, protein and collagen and minimising photo damage. The cream has a thicker and richer consistency, which you'd expect for a night cream, and it does take a few moments to absorb into the skin, but like the day cream, it also uses a nano technology to ensure it absorbs quickly and into the deeper layers of the skin for improved efficiency. I was initially concerned that it would be too rich for my combination skin prone to breakouts, as it is also so hydrating, but thankfully that has not been the case.

These two moisturisers do not come cheap, but they are highly concentrated, so you seriously only need to use a little, and I have to say that these products really do live up to their claims, and I am so impressed with the results, as my skin has been looking so much nicer, brighter, and I'd almost dare say, younger, in the time I've used them, so definitely worth their high price tag if you can afford them.

Finally, there's the L'Unico Phyto Fruit AHA Micro Peel, which is the perfect solution to an at-home-pampering session. These peel pads are to be used weekly after cleansing, by simply wiping them over your face for 10 minutes avoiding the sensitive eye and lip area before washing it off. The pads are soaked in fruit acids, with a concentrated blend of five botanical extracts including sugar cane, apple, orange, lemon and camellia oleifera leaf, - which combined offer lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid, to gently exfoliate the outer layer of the skin, exposing new skin layers that appear brighter, radiant and more even. The pads are available in three different strengths for different skin types, and promise to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and leave the skin fresher and more glowing and with a more even skin tone. I tried the level 1 Peel, which is the lowest strength, recommended for fair skin tones.

These pads are so super easy to use, and I love that they are so moist that you can continue to wipe the over your face, unlike other wipes that seem to dry out more or less immediately. I did feel a slight tingle at the first use, but only ever so slightly, and to be honest I think my skin would probably be ok with a slightly higher strength, being used to more intense skincare products. That said, I am so loving the effects of these, as the leave my skin looking so much brighter and more radiant and glowing too, and as a bonus, I actually also feel that they help clear up any breakouts that I may have. I am unsure exactly how many pads the pack contains, as the actual packaging doesn’t say, but considering that you are only supposed to use these weekly, I can already tell that these are going to last a long time. Thankfully, as I am so in love with these that I never want the jar to empty out.


So overall I am seriously impressed with these L'Unico Laboratory products - no they are not cheap, but they are seriously efficient, and really do live up to their claims, so if you can afford it, I highly recommend that you splurge and try out some of the products - I know that I'll be saving to repurchase when I run out of especially those Peel pads!


L'Unico Laboratory Neuropeptide Firming Eye Therapy - RRP: $160 / 30ml
L'Unico Laboratory High Potency 30% Vitamin C Serum - RRP: $100 / 15ml
L'Unico Laboratory Youth Essence Day Cream - RRP: $240 / 50ml
L'Unico Laboratory Regenerative Neuropeptide Night Formula - RRP: $340 / 50ml
L'Unico Laboratory Phyto Fruit AHA Micro Peel - RRP: $90 / 118ml

Available from L'Unico Laboratory

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


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13 October 2016

PRODUCT REVIEW: MEDIK8 C-TETRA VITAMIN C DAY CREAM AND RETINOL 1TR VITAMIN A RENEWAL CREAM

As you may know, one of my favourite and trusted brands is Medik8, so I am always excited when new products are being launched. Today I've put the new Medik8 C-Tetra Vitamin C Day Cream and the Retinol 1TR Vitamin A Renewal Cream to the test.. 




The Medik8 C-Tetra Vitamin C Day Cream is chock full of vitamin C and vitamin E antioxidants to help restore radiance in dull skin, and hydrate and protect against everyday environmental aggressors.

The cream has a very light texture, which is perfect for my combination skin, and it has a gorgeous fresh orange scent that I adore. And how stunning is that orange jar with the silver lid!! 





The cream absorbs quickly into the skin, and leaves is so soft and smooth and clearly hydrated and nourished, and with an immediate glow. And because it leaves absolutely no greasy residue behind on skin, it is also perfect for use under makeup.

The cream is also blended with hyaluronic acid to help support the skin’s natural barrier, as well as give it an energy boost, while brightening it and evening out the skin tone. 


  



At night, I've been putting the new Medik8 Retinol 1 TR Vitamin A Renewal Cream to the test. This cream has been formulated with advanced encapsulation technology in a 0.1% dosage which is gradually released with unique ‘time-release’ technology allowing for slow delivery into the skin, to reduce irritation, something retinol is otherwise known form.

Vitamin A, or retinol as it is also known as, has been clinically proven to combat the first signs of skin ageing, helping to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pores, skin tone and texture, while also helping to stimulate cell turnover and intensely nourish the skin.

The cream also contains Hyaluronic Acid add moisture to the skin providing long-term hydration and supports the skin’s elasticity and structure, Glycerin to supports the skin’s natural barrier and boosts moisture levels and Vitamin E to help fight off free radical damage with its powerful antioxidant properties

In spite of it's gentler formulation, it is however recommended to just use twice a week for the first two weeks, every other night for the following two and then move on to use every night, to make sure that the skin gets used to the retinol without any irritation.

Although my skin is fairly used to retinol, I thought that I'd best follow instructions, and did as per above. And after just a few uses, I was so impressed with the results, that I couldn't wait to be able to use it nightly, to speed up the results, but on the other hand, also didn't want to risk any skin reactions, which luckily I didn't.

In the morning after using it, I would simply wake with soft and smooth skin that had not only enjoyed the intense moisture and hence looked more plump, and consequently fine lines appearing to be minimised. But what's more, my skin in general seems to be more even toned too, and have this radiant glow, as if I'd just had the best beauty sleep of my life! The cream is quite rich, but thankfully it hasn’t been a problem at all for my breakout prone skin.

The cream comes in a stunning red jar with a silver lid, and I love the fact that it (and the Vitamin C Cream), but come with a small spatula, so you don’t have to keep digging your fingers into the creams.

 
Overall, yet another couple of winning products from Medik8, as I really love what they do to my skin, and how dullness seems to fade by the day, and is replaced with a more youthful and glowing skin.


Medik8 Retinol 1TR Vitamin A Renewal Cream - RRP: $75 / 50ml 
Medik8 C-Tetra Cream Vitamin C Day Cream - RRP: $129 / 50ml

Available from
Medik8, RY, Active Skin and Adore Beauty

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


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1 February 2016

PRODUCT REVIEW & BRAND FOCUS: SKINSTITUT

Today I’d like to put focus on some amazing products from the brand, Skinstitut, including the L- Lactic Cleanser, Even Blend Serum, 100% Vitamin C and Moisture Defence;






What They Say:
L- Lactic Cleanser: Cleanser that deeply hydrates and nourishes, exfoliates and decongests, reduces irritation and sensitivity, and strengthens skin integrity.

Even Blend Serum: Reduces the appearance of uneven tone caused by sun exposure, skin inflammation or hormone imbalance. Exfoliates and smooths for a softer & more refined skin texture. Addresses age spots, skin discolouration and brightens uneven skin tone resulting in a more luminous and radiant complexion
100% Vitamin C: Protects against free radical damage. Assists with collagen production and skin firmness. Improves skin colour, radiance and tone

Moisture Defence: Lightweight, non-pore clogging moisturiser for normal skin to hydrate, smooth and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Ideal for a combination skin condition
RRP: Each: $45.00 – Available from Adore Beauty, Skincare Store, RY, Absolute Skin, and select Stockists
 

What I Say:
While I’ve heard a lot of good things about the brand Skinstitut, I’ve never actually tried any of the products, so I was very excited when I was asked to. The brand claims to be Australia’s most effective cosmedical range using top-quality potent ingredients at reasonable prices, as they believe that high-end skincare should be accessible to everyone, and you certainly complain about the $45 price tag for all products.






Let me start with the L- Lactic Cleanser. I was very keen on trying the glycolic cleanser as I’ve always had issues with breakout, but being pregnant, and my skin consequently more sensitive, the choice fell on the the L- Lactic Cleanser. This cleanser is more gentle on the skin than the glycolic cleanser, yet promises to deliver the same results – that is clearing the skin of breakouts by exfoliating and decongesting the skin, brightening the skin and reducing dullness, all while hydrating and nourishing the skin.
I’m not sure how effective this cleanser is at removing makeup as I actually used it as my second cleaner, instead using my usual makeup remover to first remove my makeup, so that the L- Lactic Cleanser could work its magic deep down every pore.

The actual cleanser is quite concentrated and I found that I only needed to use the tiniest amount and massage it over my damp face for 30 seconds to a minute before rinsing off my face. And as soon as I’d dried my face, I can instantly feel that my skin feels so much softer and smoother, and more clarified, yet without being dried out. My skin simply looks and feels healthier. I generally have been using the cleanser both morning and night, and on occasion some nights, I’ve actually massaged some of the cleanser into my dry clean skin, and left it there for the two minutes while brushing my teeth, and hereafter followed by massing it a little further adding a little water, before rinsing it off. And let me tell you, afterwards, your skin is simply glowing, as if you’ve just had a facial!





I follow by applying the Even Blend Serum to my freshly cleansed skin, morning and evening. This serum promises to help reduce the uneven skintone and pigmentation, leaving the skin more refined and more radiant. The actual serum is quite light, and it only takes a few drops to cover my full face, making sure to concentrate on those areas where my pigmentation is darkest. The serum absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving the feeling soft and non-sticky. After using the serum for a month, I can definitely both seen and feel that my skin is looking clearer, smoother and brighter and more glowing too. Minor pigmentation seems to have fades, while larger clusters are still prominent and need a little more time. I also found that when used on top of breakouts, it not only helped clear any blemishes faster, and without drying out my skin, as well as it has helped fade the red marks you get after having a spot.



 

The Vitamin C is a fine powder that can be mixed with various other Skinstitut products such as the Hydrating Mask, Even Blend Serum, SFP50+ or the Moisture Defence to help speed up the correction of pigmentation concerns, and improve skin colour and radiance, as well as assist with collagen production and skin firmness. It can be used twice daily. I personally preferred to use it in the Even Skin Tone Serum and simply added a tiny shake of the powder to the serum, before spreading it onto my face as well as my chest where I’m also suffering from increasing pigmentation. It would obviously also be a lot easier if it was already mixed into say the Even Skin Serum, but I do understand that the Vitamin C is a very unstable ingredient, and that would not be technically possible So alternatively, I’d wish that the Vitamin C to come in a more user friendly packaging such as for instance a tall slim shaker with less holes, as I do find that it is difficult to shake out the powder without any wastage.



 

I finish off by applying the Moisture Defence for Normal skin, which is a lovely light and non-greasy moisturiser that is perfect for my combination skin. It gives my skin just the amount of moisture it needs, yet without making my skin feeling greasy or congested or clogging up my pores – and what I really like too is that it keeps my skin shine-free all day too, and helps make my makeup stay in place too. The moisturiser also contains synthetic snake venom so it is also a perfect anti-ageing cream helping to smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles. It is perfect to use both morning and evening – especially as it doesn’t contain any SPF – some may find that a huge negative, but I do find it is easy that I can use the same moisturiser twice a day, plus I do have a suspicion that SPF is often the reason my skin breaks out, so for that reason I do actually prefer to apply it separately on top of my moisturiser when I really need it.

Overall I am so enjoying using these products from Skinstitut, as promised they are of a very high quality, and really do live up to their promises. And you really cannot argue with the low price of just $45 per product, as you’d be hard pressed to get such effective products elsewhere for that price. I can definitely see myself purchasing these products again, as well as I’m pretty keen on trying a few more including the Skinstitut Glycolic Cleanser, the Peels and Scrubs, The Eye Cream, and the Retinol Serum to mention just a few…
* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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