Unfortunately I have always struggled with temperamental skin, ever since I was a teenager, I have suffered with bad breakouts, and while, as I've gotten older, I have learnt how to deal with it better, mainly through better more targeted skincare, ever so often it still has a bit of a 'hissy fit'. Lately I have had great success getting some bad breakouts under control again, thanks to Aspect Skincare, where I've put a whole skincare regimen to the test..
In case you are not familiar with Aspect, let me quickly tell you that it is an Australian brand that makes high-powered skincare products using pure and active ingredients based on medical science. The products are also free from pesticides, parabens and dyes, which is fantastic too!
Here's the products that I've been testing;
Aspect Purastat 5 Cleanser - used AM and PM
Aspect Exfol L 15 Exfoliating Night Serum - used PM
Aspect Extreme C 20 - used AM
Aspect Jungle Brew - used AM and PM
Aspect Stop Spot - used as required
Aspect Sheer Hydration - used AM and PM
Let's start with the cleanser, the Aspect Purastat 5 Cleanser. This is a very gentle foaming cleanser, that also has a slightly exfoliating effect on the skin due to the naturally occurring AHA's including L-lactic acid, bilberry, sugar cane, citric acid, wasabi root, olive leaf extract and white and green tea, all of which helps remove makeup and excess oil and impurities along with dead skin cells to keep the pores clean to prevent breakouts. It also contains 7 botanicals to and antioxidants to help add moisture to the skin, protect and strengthen the skin's natural defences while soothing and calming the skin.
The cleanser comes in a funky pump bottle and it is very concentrated so the tiniest amount is sufficient. It does a great job at removing my makeup (note it is not recommended for use eye makeup remover) - but that said, I do actually prefer to remove my makeup first with a basic makeup remover, and use this one as the second and more intense and in-depth cleanser to really get my skin and pores clean. And I love how it has quickly managed to balance my combination skin, clearly gently buffing away dead skin cells, yet without drying it out, leaving it feeling soft and smooth.
Then there's the Aspect Exfol L15, which is an skin resurfacing and exfoliating night serum that contains AHA's from L-Lactic Acid, Multifruit BSC, and Canadian Willowherb, to gently exfoliate and lift away any accumulation of dead and dull skin cells for a smoother, clearer, brighter and more healthy looking complexion.
This night serum is intended for especially those with impure, congested, dull and thickened skin, and thus perfect for my combination skin prone to breakouts. It is very gentle, and just a few drops before your usual night cream is all it takes for this serum to do its magic, as each morning I not only feel that my skin is a little softer and smoother, I've also found that it has also helped balance my skin out, reducing the oiliness in my skin, as well as my skin seems brighter and more even in its tone too.
The Aspect Extreme C 20 is an oil-soluble vitamin C serum that helps fight the many signs of ageing including texture, wrinkles, slackened skin and uneven skin tone, including redness and pigmentation. The serum contains a mix of vitamin C, corrective botanical extracts, and collagen amino peptides, along with energising extracts such as Canadian willowherb extract and wasabi extract
The actual serum is very light and is best applied in the morning after cleansing and before applying moisturiser, and after just a few uses I could start to se that my skin was starting to look more refined, softer and plumper, clearer and more refreshed and more brighter and glowing too - and even when I apply my makeup on top, my skin looks more dewy and radiant.
Then there's the Aspect Jungle Brew, and I must admit that when I first saw the name of the product, I did smile a little, and making me think of something like a beer brew or something. However instead this oil-free moisturisng serum designed for combination, oily or problematic skin has got its name from the trio of Amazonian extracts, which includes Acai, Andiroba and Copaiba Balsam, that help clarify the skin and regulate oil production, reduce the appearance of visible imperfections leaving the skin clearer, less shiny and simply healthier looking. It also helps detoxify, mattify and soothe the skin thanks to containing an advanced version of Vitamin C called Stay-C 50® that is shown to banish the look of imperfections with better efficiency than traditional chemical treatments, without the harsh side effects such as redness, dryness and irritation, along with botanical extracts, Canadian willow herb extract and wasabi extract that helps soothe and calm the skin.
The serum can be used AM and/or PM before moisturiser, or on its own without a moisturiser for those with particularly oily skin types, personally I've been using it with the Sheer Hydration on top . And I have to say that I am so impressed with this Jungle Brew, it truly is a magical brew, as already after a few days of using it, I could clearly see that my blemishes, including those stubborn ones I'd been fighting forever, were clearly reducing in size, looking less inflamed and healing up, leaving me with a skin that was much clearer and healthier looking, and unlike most other blemish products, without irritating or drying out my skin.
On the pesky spots, I did also use the Aspect Gold Stop Spot, which is a spot treatment designed to quickly and effectively target spots as they appear it contains among others niacinamide, salicylic acid (note that this means that this is not suitable for use for those who are pregnant or lactating!), and lemon tea tee oil and with ethanol, and aims to exfoliate the skin, soothe and mattify and dry out the breakouts without irritating the skin. This bottle is seriously tiny, but while it lacks in size, it still delivers a massive punch, and really does immediately go to fight those stubborn and problematic spots, to the point that I can literally feel and see it working within hours. And while sometimes it takes weeks for large breakouts to clear from my skin, with this little miracle worker, it is dramatically reduced, and again, without making my skin feel irritated, red or make it so dry it peels, as well as I also feel that the usual dark or red mark you usually get post-breakouts, is visibly reduced too. Unlike many other blemish treatments which often have a very strong chemical scent, this one has a lovely fresh citrus scent. My only gripe about this treatment is that that the treatment is a little runny, so you do have to be careful not to waste any product as you drip it out.
Finally, there's the Aspect Sheer Hydration Oil Free Moisturiser, an ultra-light oil-free non-comedogenic moisturiser, suitable for normal through to oily skin types. It helps add intense moisture to the skin, while soothing and mattifying the skin and improving the appearance of lines and wrinkles. That is just music to my ears. At the 'anti-ageing age group' with my breakout prone combination skin, I am always struggling finding anti-ageing products, as often they are simply too rich and heavy for my skin, quickly making my skin look and feel greasy, and make it congested. But this one is nothing short of amazing.
It contains a range of active ingredients from a form of hyaluronic acid to hydrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 to improve the apperance of lines and wrinkles, Canadian willow herb to soothe, calm and mattify, oil soluble vitamin C to lighten and brighten the skin, and Tocopherol to add antioxidants.
The moisturiser comes in a cool push-down pump jar, that makes it easy and convenient to use, and I also love the gorgeous subtle citrus scent. But more importantly, I love how this light moisturiser absorbs immediately into my skin without any greasiness, leaving it not only silky soft and mattified, it also has the most gorgeous radiant glow, that immediately makes the skin look so much healthier. And after continued use, my love for this moisturiser is only strengthened, as I can see how much it is improving my skin, making it look fresher and plumper too. When I use it at night, I no longer wake in the morning with a skin that is greasy, and used during the day, it makes my makeup look so much better, and stay put so much longer without sliding off my face. I'll be sad when this moisturiser comes to an end, but luckily its quite concentrated and you only need about a pea sized amount for the whole face, so the jar will last quite a while.
Overall I am really impressed and have enjoyed using this skincare regimen from Aspect, as I can clearly both see and feel how these products are working in synergy and have made such a significant improvement to my blemish prone skin, helping clear up existing breakouts and acne, prevent breakouts from occurring in the first place and thereby make my skin look clearer, brighter and simply more glowing and healthy. Highly recommended!!
Aspect Purastat 5 Cleanser - RRP: $66 / 240ml
Aspect Exfol L 15 Exfoliating Serum - RRP: $99 / 30ml
Aspect Extreme C 20 - RRP: $129 / 30ml
Aspect Jungle Brew - RRP: $129 / 30ml
Aspect Stop Spot - RRP: $15.40 / 8ml
Aspect Sheer Hydration - RRP: $84 / 50g
Available from Adore Beauty, Alive Skin and Hair, Soho Skincare, Skin Matrix, TK Skincare, Timeout Beauty, and select other stockists, check Aspect Skin Online to enquire
* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
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One of those brands fairly new to me is Barry M, so when a selection of their best-sellers landed on my door step, I naturally squealed a little...
Lets start with the Barry M Cosmic Lights Highlighting Palette. This pretty blue and purple cardboard palette contains 6 shades, four creams and two powders, with the creams to the very left and right, and the two powders in the centre. It also comes with a large mirror inside the lid.
The top powder has a pretty pink shade in the pan, and is quite glittery, while the one below is a very pale pink in the pan, but once applied it has an iridescent blue shimmer, which is very pretty, but sadly is not quite for me. Then there's the cream shades, the top left one is a pale pink, which ha a lovely natural sheen on the skin, while the one below, an even paler pink, has an almost purple iridescent sheen, which again, I am not too fond of. Moving to the very right, the top shade is a mid-brown shade, which when applied has a gorgeous golden shimmery look, while the bottom shade, a pale peachy-beige shade has a pale shimmery look, though still with golden and silver flecks.
Common for all the shades, creams or powders are that they are very pigmented, so you'll need to apply sparingly. Again, i am sadly not too keen on the blue effect, so my fave shades are the two more neutral and golden shades to the right of the palette, the darker one will be perfect on tanned skin, while the paler one, great for winter pale skin.
Anyway, these highlighting shades are great to use pretty much anywhere you like above your makeup, on the cheekbones, cupid’s bow and brow bones, or even on the decolletage or shoulders for a more luminous and radiant finish on a special night out. And considering the fairly large pans, and the high pigmentation, this palette is great value.
Then there's Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit, which is palette that contains three pressed powders for the perfect shaped and defined cheeks. The kit contains a light powder to highlight, a bronzer to warm, and a dark powder to sculpt the cheeks.
The palest shade is a slightly yellow tinged ivory shade that helps brighten and add light to the shade. The middle shade is a warm medium brown shade to add warmth to the face, and finally, to the right, a deeper and more grey-toned brown shade to shade to contour the face. All the powders are shades are matte, but with just a touch of sheen, which I quite like, and they are also pigmented, and easy to apply and blend with a large brush. For my medium beige skin tone the first two shades are ideal, while the last one is a tad too dark. Like the Highlighting Palette, this Contour Kit comes in a cardboard packaging that is convenient and easy to use and I like that inside the lid, where there would usually be a mirror, there how-to illustrations, to make it easy for everyone to use. Again, this is great value for money considering the high quality of this palette, so if you're after a budget contouring kit, this is really a great kit, worth checking out.
Next is the Barry M Ready Set Smooth Loose Setting Powder, which is a white very fine translucent powder that helps set your makeup, and give it a flawless and brightened smoother soft-focus finish. It also contains oil absorbing ingredients to stop the shine and mattify the skin and create a flawless, light-weight finish that’s suitable for all skin tones. This is intended to be applied over foundation. The powder comes in a little jar with an internal mirror and a sponge applicator, so its easy to apply on the go if you wish - though personally I do prefer to apply with a large powder brush. Having combination skin prone to shine by mid day, this is such a great powder, as it really does make my skin look shine-free for longer.
Finally, there's the Barry M Molten Metal Nail polish, which promises chrome effect shades with mirror shine foil finish that will look shiny for days. I tried in the shade Blue Glacier, which is a pale grey-blue shade with lots of tiny silver shimmer, and once applied, it really has a gorgeous shiny finish, with a colour that seems to change, depending on the light. Two coats did a good job, but for the perfect solid finish, I do feel that I need three coats. As the polish is so shiny, a top coat really isn't necessary, but obviously, it will extend the wear of the polish by a few days if you do add one. A gorgeous shade with a beautiful finish that you can only love!
Barry M Cosmic Lights Highlighter Palette - RRP: $18.95 / 4 x 2.8g cream, 2 x 3.6g powder
Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit - RRP: $16.95 / 7.5g
Barry M Ready Set Smooth - RRP: $14.95 / 5.2g
Barry M Molten Metal Nail Paint - RRP: $8.95 / 10ml
Available from BeautyNext
* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
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With two toddlers it is very rare that we actually watch 'live' TV these days. Though the kids have their set bed times, and technically it should mean that we can start watching certain programs, this just never happens, or we have just sat down and one of them will yell out for our attention so we miss the beginning of a show. Frustrating. And as I personally find it a waste of time watching something if I've missed the beginning, or part of it, we've come to rely on the likes of Netflix and watching movies on DVD or Blu-ray, as then we can simply start and stop whenever we see fit. And lately we've had so much fun and entertainment watching the newly released Films That Define A Decade, a collection of five DVDs/Blu-Rays that covers the 60s to the 00s, featuring the films that defined that particular decade.
The Films That Define A Decade Collection includes;
60's - 'There has never been a decade quite like the ‘60’s! An era of change, conflict and hope, it will be fondly remembered for its revolutionary thinking, the fight for freedom of expression and its definitive slogan to “Make Love Not War”. With the movies;
- The Birds (1963)
- Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
- To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
- Psycho (1960)
70's - 'They say the ‘60’s really happened in the ‘70’s. Bell-bottoms and disco took over, while films from the ‘70’s captured the free-spirited movement of the decade in many ways. With the movies:
- Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)
- The Sting (1973)
- Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1974)
- Smokey And the Bandit (1977)
80's - 'The excessive ‘80’s…where everyone had huge hairdos and massive shoulder pads, mobile phones were the size of bricks and the movies were larger than life. With the movies;
- An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- The Breakfast Club (1985)
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
- Ghostbusters (1984)
90's - 'The glorious ‘90’s…when grunge became chic and Spice Girls ruled pop culture. We witnessed the supersonic development of technology and welcomed the internet into our homes. With the movies;
- American Pie (1999)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- The Usual Suspects (1995)
- Casino (1995)
00's - 'The ‘noughties’ was a turbulent decade, with things seemingly changing faster than we could keep up with! Addictive social media platforms saturated our daily lives, and the innovation of technology made films more popular and accessible than ever before. With the movies;
- 8 Mile (2002)
- Gladiator (2000)
- The Bourne Identity (2002)
- Mamma Mia! (2008)
We are yet to every single one of the movies, but needless to say that several of the movies bring back lots of memories from the years they were initially released. And we've already each got a few favourites, mine including Breakfast At Tiffany's, 8 Mile and Gladiator, while hubby especially loves Ghostbusters, American Pie and The Bourne Identity!
Needless to say that there is seriously something for every movie taste here, and hours upon hours of entertainment, so make sure to check them out. They'd be the perfect gift ideas too, including for Father's Day next month!
Films That Define A Decade;
DVD - $12.48 each
Blu-Ray - RRP: $15.48 each
Available from JB Hifi and Sanity, or for more information, visit The Viewing Lounge
* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
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Today I'm going to talk about the newly formatted and designed products from the John Frieda Frizz Ease range..
The John Frieda Frizz Ease range has been designed to help combat frizz to make women create the hairstyle they desire from curly to wavy, sleek and straight. There are many different reasons why hair becomes frizzy, and causes can range from humidity, rain, heat styling and hair colouring, but the John Frieda have thought about it all, with specific products for every concern, and today I'm going to talk about some of these products..
The John Frieda Frizz Ease® Miraculous Recovery® Shampoo and Conditioner have targeted Anti-Damage Technology that helps moisture and nourish the hair while repairing split ends and surface damage, in fact, it promises to reverse 75% of the surface damage on your hair, while also building a resilience to frizz over time for hair that is 3x smoother. The products have a gorgeous subtle warm fragrance that just gorgeous. These products are perfect for coloured hair such as mine, which always send to get a little frizzier during the winter months. However, since using this duo, I have noticed that my hair is not only feeling silky soft and smooth, I have definitely also seen a definite reduction in the amount of frizz that I get.
Then there's the John Frieda Frizz Ease® Extra Strength 6 Effects™ + Serum, which is a hair treatment that has the highest concentration of frizz fighters in the Frizz Ease range. It is enriched with silk proteins to fight frizz by blocking out humidity, tame and smooth coarse unmanageable hair, as well as work as a defence to weather and thermal protectant while heat styling for all hair types. Oh, and it hydrates dry ends to!. The serum is quite light and non greasy, but also very concentrated, so you only need to use a little ( I need two pumps in my long thick hair), but go slow, as if you use too much, your hair will end up greasy. It is best used in wet hair. It comes in a convenient pump bottle with a unique inner core, which does make it quite cool, but also bigger than it really is.
John Frieda Frizz Ease® Secret Weapon Finishing Creme is intended to be applied to dry hair, and immediately transform dry and parched hair into smooth, supple and shiny hair. The treatment creme helps replace natural oils lost due to blow-drying and daily stress, tear and wear of the hair, and it helps smooth dullness and split ends too. And as it also adds moisture to the hair thanks to the added avocado oil, and it leaves the hair looking glossy, it also immediately looks so much nicer and healthier too. I love the scent of this treatment, and that I can use it on the days I don't wash my hair to freshen up my hair. It is very concentrated so you only need a little, yet it is also super light, and non-greasy too, so it won't leave your hair looking greasy or weigh it down.
Finally, there's the John Frieda Frizz Ease® Dream Curls Styling Form. And let me start by saying that I normally have fairly straight long hair, although it for some reason, after my second pregnancy, has started going a little curly in the back, while the rest of my hair remains straight. At the moment, it is still more straight than curly (or guess I should call it curvy), but I have been experimenting a little with this styling foam that promises to help enhance and create soft touchable waves that look natural, and I really like the look of what it does to my hair, just very unfortunate that the front part of my hair remains straight! To encourage some waves in that part of the hair too, I have been trying to apply the foam at night, before putting my hair into a plait (which I always do at night as it is so long), and when I wake in the morning, it really looks great, with natural waves, that look healthy and shiny! I'll continue to experiment with this styling foam in my confused hair, but if you've got wavy or curly hair, you should check this one out. It smells absolutely amazing too!
John Frieda Frizz Ease® Miraculous Recovery® Shampoo - RRP: $15.99 / 250ml
John Frieda Frizz Ease® Miraculous Recovery® Conditioner - RRP: $15.99 / 250ml
John Frieda Frizz Ease® Extra Strength 6 Effects™ + Serum - RRP: $16.99 / 50ml
John Frieda Frizz Ease® Secret Weapon Finishing Creme - RRP: $16.99 / 113ml
John Frieda Frizz Ease® Dream Curls Styling Foam - RRP: $16.99 / 147ml
Available from Priceline, Woolworths, Coles, Target, 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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Can you believe it, another month has passed, but thankfully it is now the last month of winter, so hopefully we'll soon start to seem some warmer and sunnier weather again. That said, it is time for the August Bella Box, which this month has the theme Bright and Beautiful..
Let's see what was in this month's box..
Sand & Sky Brilliant Skin Purifying Pink Clay Mask - Sample, 13g - RRP: $69.90 / 58ml
My skin has been a little hormonal and temperamental lately so I'm very excited to try this mask. It contains among others Australian pink clay to brighten and detoxify the skin, leave the pores refined and the complexion glowing, which sounds pretty amazing to me. Need to find the time for that much needed pamper sesh!
Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Oils - Full Size - RRP: $17.95 / 1.18ml
I love Burt's Bees, and I absolutely love these lip oils. I already have a few of them, including the shade I got in the Bella Box called Misted Plum, which is a beautiful red-pummy shade -I would naturally have loved a shade I haven't already got, but as its one of my fave shades, I definitely don't mind having a backup. I love that it is 100% natural and adds hydration to my lips, while giving them just a touch of tint.
GOSH Mono Eye Shadow - Full Size
The Danish makeup brand GOSH was one of the first makeup brands I used when I was growing up in Denmark, but unfortunately it is not available in Australia as far as I am aware. Apart from the sentimental values, I find their products fantastic and great value, so certainly happy with the inclusion of this eye shadow, which I know from using in the past is will be very pigmented with a good wear. I got the shade Aubergine, which as the name suggests, is a dark plum shade, which is beautiful, though it is not a shade I'd probably purchase myself, but may just have to push my comfort zone a little and put it to the test.
The Body Shop Nigritella Eau de Parfum - Sample, 1.2ml - RRP: $60 / 50ml
I have not used the Body Shop for the longest time, and don't remember ever using any of their fragrances, so happy to be putting this one to the test. The oriental orchid scent is a warm oriental scent which is quite lovely, though I tend to prefer lighter and fresher scent, but that said, it is perfect for winter use, plus the small sample vial is always great for popping into the handbag for touch ups during the day.
Garnier Skin Active Micellar Water - Sample, 125ml - RRP: $13.95 / 400ml
I already know and love this micellar water by Garnier, and actually currently using it, and have a backup bottle. It quickly and easily removes my makeup at night, without irritating my sensitive eyes, or drying out my skin. It is also fantastic value. The small bottle is cute, and great for travelling.
Bonus - Garnier BB Cream Original - Sachet Sample, 1.5ml
Another fantastic Garnier product, which I already know and use, and have repurchased countless times, though sometimes in other skin varieties, but simply as I believe it is one of the better drugstore BB creams on the market
So there you go, this months Bella Box. From a novelty aspect, there was really only the Sand & Sky that was completely new to me, which is probably also why it is the product I am most excited to try - of course also because I've already tried, and also currently already using the Burt's Bees Lip Oil, Garnier Micellar and BB Cream. That said, I am excited about those products, as I would have repurchased all of them sooner rather than later, so they're great backups. Also love the inclusion of the GOSH eye shadow, but do wish the shade had been a more neutral one. But all in all this is really a fantastic box full of amazing products, so and if you haven't already tried these stable products you should do yourself the favour and get your hands on them. The full sized GOSH eye shadow, Burt's Bees Lip Oil and deluxe size Garnier Micellar, also makes this box exceptional value for money - really it is just the cost of the Burt's Bees Lip Oil, and the rest of the products can be seen as bonus products! Well done Bella Box.
Bella Box - RRP: $17.95 ($15.00+ $2.95 P&H) on a subscription plan, billed monthly, but you can cancel anytime
Available from Bella Box
* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
