PRODUCT REVIEW: ULTRACEUTICALS B2 SERUM, BALANCING CLEANSER, RED ACTION MOISTURISER

Today I've got a long overdue post about some products I got to try following an Ultraceuticals facial I had earlier in the year.. 

If you're not familiar with Ultraceuticals, do yourself a favour and get acquainted with the Australian professional grade brand. The products are cruelty free, and also free from all the harsh chemical ingredients such as propylene glycol, parabens, synthetic dyes or synthetic fragrances.

With my combination skin prone to breakouts, it is essential for me to cleanse my skin very thoroughly, and I've been loving the Ultraceuticals Ultra Balancing Gel Cleanser, which has been designed for normal to oily skin types. This cleanser promises to cleanse the skin and remove makeup and impurities without disturbing the skin's natural moisture balance. And while I did find it efficient with removing makeup, personally I've loved it as a second cleanse (sometimes with my Clairsonic or Foreo too). That way the added ingredients of Aloe Vera, Cucumber and Oat Kernel Extracts , along with the salicylic acid helps clean my skin deep down every single pore, washing away excess oil, and helping to keep my skin softer, smoother and clearer and brighter as well, and all without leaving my skin feeling tight or dry.

Then there's the Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum, which is an oil-free serum suitable for all skin types. It contains Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) and Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) combined with high levels of Hyaluronic Acid to synergistically help restore vital moisture balance and provide long lasting hydration. It also helps support the skin's lipid barrier function and restore critical hydration levels within the skin, and thereby also helps to plump and reduce fine lines and wrinkles

While my skin again is combination, and I generally do not feel it lacks in the moisture department, it does tend to get drier in the cooler months of the year. I was initially a little scared that it would make my skin congested and cause it to breakout, but in actual fact I feel that it has somehow helped normalise the oil production, making it feel less greasy. And within days of using the Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum, my skin is left softer and smoother, and dare I say more glowing and thus youthful too. The serum comes in an a convenient pump bottle and it take just a few drops twice a day before your usual moisturiser.

The Ultraceuticals MD Ultimate Red-Action Moisturiser is a moisturiser developed to help address the major skin concerns of ageing and pigmentation, by supporting the skin’s essential lipid barrier function and Natural Moisturising Factor. The cream contains among others vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), and plankton extract which have been shown through clinical study to help reduce the appearance of facial redness associated with photo-ageing and sensitive skin. Now I don't have either sensitive skin, nor feel I am plagued with facial redness - but what I do have, is skin that is showing signs of photo-ageing, so I still happily put it to the test, but naturally cannot really speak of the true effects of this skin in regards to redness. I found the cream slightly too thick for me to use during the day, so have only been using it at night. And I have enjoyed seeing it add lots of extra moisture into my skin, leaving my skin feeling and looking soft and smooth.

These products are truly lovely, and I am so hooked on especially the cleanser and the SPF and know I'll be wanting to repurchase these again and again when they run out. And being so impressed with these products, I am also very keen to explore more of their huge product range.


Ultraceuticals Ultra Balancing Gel Cleanser - RRP: $52 / 200ml
Ultraceuticals B2 Hydrating Serum - $89 / 30ml
Ultraceuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF50+ - RRP: $72 / 100ml

Available from David Jones and Ultraceuticals and select salons and stockists

Ultraceuticals MD Ultimate Red-Action Moisturiser - Available from select salons only

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

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PRODUCT REVIEW: VTECH KIDIZOOM DUO CAMERA

Today it is time for another toy review, and let me tell you, this one is a cool one. My two little boys are like any other boys, loving copying what we do - including taking photos - but one smashed phone later, and I have to admit that I am not too fond of handing over my phone to our clumsy little toddlers. Enter the cool new Vtech Kidizoom Duo Camera. 

This camera is seriously high-tech for a camera aimed at kids aged from 3-9 years, now why weren't such 'toys' around when I was little. The camera among others has the following features;

• 4x digital zoom 
• Front camera 2.0 mega pixels 
• Rear facing camera VGA for easy selfies 
• Intelligent auto-portrait mode 
• built-in auto-flash 
• 2.2″ colour screen 
• Colour Filter effects 
• Triple photo burst mode 
• 5 motion control games 
• Dual view finders 
• Voice recording feature, with different voice changing effects 
• Editing features with over 70 fun effects such as stamps and stars 
• Animation maker 
• Internal memory to store around 200 photos (and supports microSD card for Memory expansion, card not included) 
• Ability to connect to the VTech Learning Lodge for extra downloads of photo effects, apps and games 

In addition, you can also hook it up to the Vtech Learning Lodge which allows you to download even more games, apps, and heaps of more, and as a parent, I love that I can track the progress of your child's learning. 

It is simply the coolest toy, hours and hours of fun for the little ones, and it is so easy for them use too - it will keep them entertained when you're about and about as they'll be busy taking photos and videos of everything they see, and later, they can sit down and have just as much fun editing all their photos.

This camera is not the cheapest toy around, at $99.95, but as you can see above, it is a digital camera loaded with features making it basically like an 'adult camera', with the bonus that it is easy for little hands to hold, plus it comes in a child proof case that is solid and sturdy and can actually handle the occasional drop to the floor. 

It is seriously so loaded with features that I feel we keep coming across new ones - and I feel not a moment goes by where our big 4 year old doesn’t say, look mummy, as he finds new things it can do.

This is seriously the coolest interactive toy, and I love that it my boys are actively learning through their play.


Vtech Kidizoom Duo Camera (3 - 9 Years) - RRP: $99.95

Available from Independent toy retailers, Big W, Target, Myer, Toys R Us Toyworld, Kogan and Harvey Norman

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

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PRODUCT REVIEW: NATIO BROW KIT AND HIGHLIGHTER DUO

Today I'm excited to be talking about Natio again… the other day I told you about the Natio limited edition release of the Naturally You Eye Shadow Palettes, which you can read more about here - and today I am excited to be telling you more about another of their recent new releases, the Natio Brow Kit and the Highlighter Duo. 

The Natio Brow Kit is a little kit that contains everything you need for perfectly groomed and shaped brows, including Brow Powders, a Brow Wax, an Angled Brow Brush, Tweezers, Round Grooming Brush, and even a small mirror.

There's a light and a dark brow powder so there is one to fit most brow colours, and they are both quite pigmented and easy to build to the depth of shade you want. I only need to use the tiniest amount as I prefer a more subtle look, and I've been using the darker shade, which is a great fit for my dark brows. And the angled brush makes this super easy as you can create fine small lines to fill in your brows for a very natural look. And actually, you can also use these brow powders as both eye shadows and even eyeliner too, and who doesn’t look a good multi-tasking product.

Once filled in, the final step is to brush the colour through, style and tame the brows with the spoolie brush, and set everything in place with the clear wax.

This is such a great kit that really does contain everything you need. I love that it comes with all the tools, and that there's a small mirror in the compact too, but personally I'd never apply brow product on the go, so I won't really use the mirror. The tools are very useful, but also very small, - and as I do have longer-shafted brow tools myself, I do prefer to use those as I simply find it easier, but at least they are included so you're covered in you haven't got any yourself.

Then there's the Natio Highlighter Duo is a double-ended highlighter pencil, which can be used to add luminous glow. The pencil has a golden shimmery shade in one end and a pink shimmery shade in the other, and it is so soft and smooth to apply and easy to blend too. It can be used for so many things, including

In the inner corners of the eye, under the brows, on the bridge of the nose, top of the cheekbones or on the cupid’s bow for a healthy glow, or even as a subtle eye shadow, which I admit to also have done with both shades individually -and it stays put all day without fading or settling into creases.

As I expected, these product are really lovely, and of the usual high quality I've come to expect from Natio, so I definitely recommend that you check them out. For me, the highlight was probably the Highlighter Duo, simply because I love the fact that I can use it as an eyeshadow stick as well, but note that it is limited edition, so you best hurry if you want to get your hands on one.


Natio Brow Kit - RRP: $19.95
Natio Highlighter Duo - RRP: $17.95

Available from Myer, David Jones and select pharmacies

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


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EVENT: THE BIG FREEZE WINTER FESTIVAL 2017

Do you want to build a snowman…? I have grown up in Denmark where snow is a regular occurrence during winter, and while I am not particularly missing it, I do also have very fond memories of playing in the snow when I was younger - something that I would love for my little boys to experience too. And well, for those of us living in Melbourne, where it never snows - there's now a fun way for the whole family to experience the snow, thanks to The Big Freeze Winter Festival, which has returned these July school holidays. 

Picture from outside The Icebar, Fizroy Melbourne
from the pre-launch of the festival

The Big Freeze Winter Festival is located under the Big Top at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, just only a stone’s throw from the Monash Freeway, the festival easily accessible for everyone. 

This year The Big Freeze Winter Festival is divided into two areas – the ticketed winter precinct featuring

• Snow play 
• Snowball toss 
• Snowfall forest 
• Winter village 
• Snow globe photo booth 
• Polar bear slide 
• Kids’ active challenge 
• Circus skills workshop, construction play 
• Art’n’craft activities 
• Snow slides (at two different heights to allow more children to enjoy the thrill of the ride). 

The Community Precinct will be free for the general public to visit and hosts daily;

• Stage shows 
• Activity zone with Phillip Island Nature Parks 
• Sports with Milo 
• Food vendors and more

The Big Freeze Winter Festival is running for 9 days from July 1-9 2017

You can find more information and purchase your tickets here


When: Saturday, July 1 – Sunday, July 9
Where: under the Big Top (and protected from the weather) at Fountain Gate Shopping (cnr Princes Hwy & Brechin Drive)

Time:
Winter Festival sessions run three times each day.
Community Precinct open from 9am – 5:30pm daily

Cost: Free entry into Community Precinct.

Winter Festival has a number of ticketing options available including a Child Super pass $29.50 (that includes a 4 Park Pass to Phillip Island Nature Parks valued at $28.50)

Adults $19, Family $92 and extra savings for some afternoon sessions.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: WOTNOT BABY LOTION, WIPES AND BIODEGRADABLE BAGS

My two little boys are very fair, and both suffer with very sensitive skin, so I find that using the gentle products on them is essential. And one of those brands I've always loved, is wotnot. 

If you're not familiar with wotnot, you really should check them out. The Australian brand is making eco-friendly natural skin and baby care products, containing nothing but natural and certified organic ingredients, and without all the chemical nasties such as sulphates, alcohol, chlorine, petrochemicals, PEGs, parabens, artificial fragrances - with the slogan "100% wot's good, 0% wot's not". Gotta love that!

We've been using the Wotnot Biodegradable Wipes for the longest time, as I simply love that they are so super gentle that they are suitable even on newborns. My youngest one had so sensitive skin when he was first born, that within days, he got a bad rash on his bum, but within days of switching to these from wotnot, it cleared yo, and we’ve been using then since. The wipes contain certified organic aloe vera to help soothe the delicate skin, as well as vitamin E to help heal and protect - and they simply gently cleanses the baby skin without any irritation, and without drying it out. The wipes are slightly larger then most, and I also love that they are perfect for sticky little fingers and faces when you're out and about, feeling safe knowing that the wipes do not contain any harmful ingredients, should you boys lick their fingers afterwards. And the fact that hey are biodegradable and compostable makes then even better, so you can care about the environment at the same time.

Then there's the wotnot Baby Lotion, which is a lotion that again is so gentle that it can be used on newborns. The lotion contains among others certified organic flaxseed for its natural source of omega-3 and omega-6, along with certified organic aloe vera leaf juice and chamomile oil to help nourish, moisturise and soothe the skin, while also having antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties.. The lotion is light in consistency, and I love that it absorbs into my boys's skin immediately and without any greasiness, leaving them feeling so soft and smooth. I also love the gentle floral scent which no doubt comes from the chamomile along with the added sweet orange oil.

Finally, there's the wotnot Biodegradable Nappy Bags, and trust me, with a teething toddler, we use these by the bucket loads for dirty nappies at the moment. I love that these bags are environmentally friendly, made from 100 per cent biodegradable and compostable ingredients, including natural GM-free cornstarch, so again, you can make sure to care for the environment at the same time. Having two big dogs too, these are also perfect to bring, should your dogs decide they need to go while you're out.


These products really are fantastic, whether you have  baby, suffer with sensitive skin and looking for something super gentle, or even a doggie, these products are well worth checking out. I know they're a stable in our household, so very highly recommended.


Wotnot Biodegradeable wipes - RRP: $7.99 / 80 wipes
Wotnot Baby Lotion - RRP: $16.99 / 150ml
Wotnot Biodegradeable Bags - RRP: $7.95 / 50 bags

Available from wotnot, Priceline, and select health food stores and pharmacies

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


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