Monthly Favourites // July 2018

So we are well and truly into the second half of the year...how that happened, I have no idea. I'm back at uni too (last semester!) so things are gettin' real and before you know it - I'll be graduating!! :O Exciting things happening at the end of the year though - I'm going on a trip to South Korea and Japan! Watch me spend ALL of the money on J and K-Beauty hahaha. Anyways, that's my news - onto this month's favourites because I actually have things to talk about this month!

The Best of 2017 // Skincare

It's basically February but apparently I'm still stuck in 2017? It is late, but I'm finally rounding out my 2017 favourites with my favourite skin care products. Check out my makeup faves here! I haven't done an updated skincare routine in a long while, so think of this post as products I've been using recently, as well as my favourites!

In the Spotlight // Lush

Lush products have been a mainstay in my collection for years now, whether it be their body or skincare products! Their products are fun - and effective - and I love the ethos behind the brand. They're all about fighting animal cruelty, their packaging uses recycled plastics (and they have a great recycling packaging program where you can get a free face mask if you bring in your empty packaging) and they are handmade and use a lot of great ingredients. Among many other reasons, they're just a really great brand altogether and their employees are helpful and energetically bubbly (which can sometimes be overbearing, but hey, it's their job!). They have such a huge range of products and while I haven't tried all of them (not even close!), I do think I've tried enough to write up a brand spotlight post! I actually mention them quite a lot on my blog - mostly in empties posts - but haven't ever really devoted whole posts to them! Sidenote - this is my 400th post! Wowheee! 

Empties #13

Hellloooo... is this thing on?! Long time no see peeps! I'm back from my longer-than-intended hiatus! The past month or so has been absolutely hectic for me and I seriously had no time to even think about blogging, let alone actually taking photos or sitting down and writing a post! I've been absolutely slammed with assessment (it's been my biggest first half of semester ever), not to mention it was my sister's wedding on the weekend! It was a very DIY wedding so the days leading up to the wedding were super busy setting up the decor and the venue (and then cleaning up after!). I did her makeup on the day - along with mine and my other sister as we were bridesmaids - which was quite stressful but still super amazing! I do plan on doing a post on the products I used because I was really happy with how it turned out - I'm just waiting until the professional photos come in! Anyway, I'm coming at you today with an overdue empties post. I was going to do this a few weeks ago but I realised I didn't actually have a lot of empties, but a lot of things were aaaalmost finished so I used those suckers up! I've got a lot of products to go through so I'll try and be as brief as possible!

New In // Face Masks

I haven't done a dedicated post on the face masks I've been using in literally years, which is a crying shame because they are seriously an integral part of my routine! Over the past month or two, I've had a bit of an influx of new masks that definitely deserved a mention! In addition to these, I've been using my old fave Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask which is my moisturising must! I got on to my second tube too so y'all know I love it. I tend to do a clay mask twice a week, and a moisturising and exfoliating mask once a week. Seems like overkill, but what can I say? I find masks to be the most effective product in giving quick, significant results! Anyway - let's dive in!

Monthly Favourites // February 2017

Another month has come to an end, and as usual, much too quickly. This week I'm back at uni and nope nope nope, I AIN'T READY. I'm unprepared (as usual) and just sooooo not enthused for the onslaught of work, assessment and stress that is to come. Just expect blog quality to go downhill from here on out ;) (just kidding...or am I?). In all seriousness, when assessment does ramp up, the blog will definitely have to take a backseat and I hope you can all understand! Today though, I'm coming at you with my February favourites. There are definitely a few new products I've been loving, as well as some products I've rediscovered in my collection.

Glycolic Glow Getters

One of the ingredients that I've really come to love in my skincare-trying adventures is glycolic acid. For me, it's an absolute must in my routine - my skin would suffer without it! If you aren't familiar with glycolic acid already, it is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that works to gently and effectively remove the outer layer of dead skin cells. It's especially great for anti-ageing, and evening out skintone by lightening pigmentation like acne scars which I am extremely prone to! It's also extremely important to wear SPF when using a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid. I thought I would dedicate a post to the glycolic acid products I'm currently using!

Empties #11

It's been a hot minute since my last empties! I try to get one of these up every quarter, but sometimes I just forget or keep putting it off until I finish a certain product because I'm sooo close. Anyway, this is the loot that I've come up with this time around!

New In // Skincare

Before I get into the post, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope y'all have a joyous Christmas break filled with fun, family and FOOD. I also hope you guys are having a better Christmas Eve than me...I'm working all day today unfortunately (hella unexcited as I type this up the night before). Working retail during Christmastime is the WORST. I'm kinda sad I didn't do any festive posts this year, I usually do a NOTD post or something but I just haven't had time, nor have I really felt that festive! Oh wells, everyone and their dog has gift guides and holiday tutorials up anyways! Today's post is just a roundup of some new skincare I've been trying lately. Sort of a haul but with mini reviews!

In The Spotlight // Antipodes

On the scene of green beauty brands, Antipodes is well at the forefront. They're a brand I constantly want to try more from and from trying a few of their products over the past couple of years, I definitely have some favourites! More recently though, I was sent a few of their hero products, as well as a new serum. My skincare routine for the past month or so has been Antipodes-heavy, but I have to say, my skin is looking pretty good! Keep reading for a round-up of mini reviews on the Antipodes products I have.

Skincare Routine | The Extras

Today I have the final installment of my little skincare 'series'. I have also posted my Morning routine and Nighttime routine. In this post I will be talking about all the little extra products that I don't necessarily use daily, but are vital in my skincare routine!

First up is makeup removal!

I don't wear makeup everyday and depending on how heavy my makeup is will determine what product I use. Sometimes my cleanser is enough if I'm wearing light makeup.

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution

Here is everyone's favourite makeup remover! While I really like this product - it removes makeup whilst feeling just like water - it's very expensive. Also, it doesn't remove waterproof mascara or eyeliner well. I find it most effective for face makeup as it doesn't leave my face feeling dry. I have a full review here.

Beauty Care Co Green Tea Facial Wipes

Facial wipes are not wholly recommended in the beauty community which I agree with, to a point. I don't recommend using solely these to 'wash' your face, but I use them to remove my makeup before going in with a proper cleanser. These are very cheap ($2 for 30) but I also find them quite effective. Bearing in mind I haven't tried any of the more upmarket kinds (let's be real, I would never pay $7 for wipes), I find these wipes to be rather soft but a little on the dry side. They still remove makeup as well as the bioderma (not waterproof mascara).

I actually forgot to photograph what I use for waterproof eye makeup but in my last favourites I mentioned olive oil which has been surprisingly effective. It does leave an oily residue but this can be somewhat decreased by diluting it with water.

I've also been trying out the Hada Labo Cleansing Oil, so far so good! I'll have a full review up soon.

Garnier Pure 3in1 Wash + Scrub + Mask

I use a manual scrub for my face about twice a week. I find that this is a really nice consistency. It is still rather gentle and has sort of a paste consistency. It's like a cream filled with granules that aren't too small or too large but really feel like they are polishing away dead skin cells. My skin does look and feel better after use, and with the inclusion of salicylic acid I find it helps with acne. It's also effective as a mask.

I've already done a post of the clarifying masks I like to use which is here so I won't bore you with the nitty gritty. I like to use a clarifying mask twice a week to really cleanse my face and get rid of a week's worth of yucky. I also like to use them the night before any special ish event as they help my skin look much better! While my favourite is the Origins Clear Improvement (review here), I have grown more fond of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque.

Origins Drink Up Intensive

I don't use this mask on any sort of regular basis but I use it whenever my skin is feeling particularly dry or needing a bit of a pamper or boost. It's essentially and uber moisturising cream which they call an overnight mask. I wake up with my skin looking plump and hydrated! I don't own the full size (this little tub is courtesy to Cherie - thank you!) but one day definitely do intend to purchase!

So that's pretty much everything you need to know about my skincare routine! I'm very happy with it currently but my new found obsession with skincare has resulted in an extremely long wishlist.

What are your favourite skincare products?

Masquerade Parade

Hello! Today I have a post to showcase all of my purifying masks. They are all clay-based and I have one higher end, and a couple cheaper ones. I thought I would compare them and share my thoughts on each of them individually!

The three clarifying face masks in my collection are Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, Origins Clear Improvement and Garnier Pure 3in1. All three are mainly clay-based, kaolin clay to be exact, which is well known for its ability to draw impurities like dirt, dead skin cells, residue and other toxins from the skin without stripping the skin of its moisture. I find these sorts of masks are absolutely amazing for detoxifying the skin. I use a purifying mask at least twice a week to help rid my skin of any makeup buildup as well as other nasties that may have taken up residence. All three also help with reducing oil as well! I believe all skin types can benefit from using these sorts of face masks as thoroughly clean skin leads to clear skin!

I have a full review on the Origins Clear Improvement mask here so I won't dwell on it for too long. This is definitely my favourite of the three, whilst also being the most expensive. I find that it cleans the skin extremely well and does indeed draw out all impurities. Not only am I left with much cleaner and fresher feeling skin, but it also looks calmed with reduced redness and a brighter look in general. 

The Garnier Pure 3in1 is actually, as the name suggests, a three in one product. It can be used as a face wash, scrub and mask. I personally only use it as a scrub and a mask. I feel that the texture is too gritty and abrasive to be used as a regular wash, but works really well as a scrub. Often, while in the shower, I scrub my face with this and leave it on for a little bit then wash it off. Afterwards my skin feels clean and softer after use as a scrub, and I feel it helps with acne with the inclusion of salicylic acid. Like I said, this has a grit to it, but isn't too harsh (assuming that your aren't physically scrubbing the heck out of your face). There are a lot of beads (they pretty much make up the whole paste) in a creamy base. The benefit of this as a mask is that it only needs to be left on for 3-5 minutes, perfect for if you need a quick fix or mid-week pick me up. I feel that the results produced are similar to the Origins but to a lesser scale as it's used for a shorter amount of time. But I feel it gives clean skin, reduced redness and a brighter complexion.

The Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque is very popular in the beauty community. It is praised for being very helpful with acne and the fact that it is so incredibly cheap, the cheapest I own but coming with the most product. It strongly smells, looks and tastes (I kid, I haven't eaten it) like toothpaste. It has almost a heavy mousse like texture, that is really easy to spread over the skin. I think though, that I may have had much too high expectations for this product as it left me a little disappointed. That and I only started using this after becoming well acquainted with the Origins, which blew me away. I feel that if this were the first mask I tried, I would have loved it. However, it is nowhere as near as good as the Origins, or even the Garnier, in my opinion. After use, my skin does feel clean and my acne feels slightly better, but I didn't see anything drastic from it. It doesn't give me the multiple benefits I get from the others. It's by no means a bad product, it works perfectly average for me, and considering I only paid about $4 for it, I think it's a really good budget buy.

Garnier, Origins, Queen Helene

So in my particular experience, you get what you pay for. The Origins comes in at $34 as my favourite, the Garnier is around $12 (though constantly on sale) as my second fave - also because I really like it as a scrub, and the Queen Helene, my least favourite at only $4 from iHerb.com. I do use the Queen Helene very regularly though, about once a week on Mondays, and the Origins on Fridays. I think this little treatment routine has vastly helped with the state of my skin!

I think next on my list is the Aesop Parsley seed mask! 

What is your favourite clarifying mask? Any recommendations?

A Clear Improvement

Hello! Today I have a review of the Origins Clear Improvement face mask. Recently my skin has been freaking out from the stress and late nights due to assignments and exams - which still aren't over yet! Holidays, come quick! This mask has really been helping out my skin and it's about time I did a post on it.

This clay-based clarifying mask has a number of ingredients to help clear out those pores! "Activated Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers, White China Clay absorbs environmental toxins, Lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that 'stuff' down there, skin 'breathes a sigh of relief'"

My skin certainly does 'breathe a sigh of relief' after using this mask!

This mask has quite a thick, almost sticky, consistency but is relatively easy to spread over the face. Lately I have been using this once a week and it sure does clear out any trace of dirt, oil and makeup that may have accumulated. I use it quite sparingly, taking it over the face in a relatively thin layer but building it up a bit in specific problem areas. I then leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off with a warm washcloth. It is quite an interesting sensation once the clay has dried - any facial movement will cause cracks to appear, haha. I also look very much like I've been working in the coal mines all day.

After using this mask, I notice immediate results! My skin feels squeaky clean - without the squeak.  This mask is best suited to oilier skin types (I have combo) as it does leave the skin on the dry side, but not tight or uncomfortable. I find following up with a good moisturiser sets me up pretty well. After use, the skin appears brighter and the texture is smoother and softer. Where I feel this mask helps the most is if I have any breakouts. The redness is reduced and they are less irritated and any pain is reduced. I find the morning after, my skin looks a whole lot better in regards to any large, under-the-skin pimples. Their size is reduced and the mask helps them get on their way out. For whiteheads, I find the mask helps bring them to the surface (so yes they will be more noticeable) but once they come up they recede rather quickly, as opposed to lingering for longer than they should. As it helps clean out the pores, it will aid in preventing any future pimples. Granted, whilst I have been super stressed (the chocolate I've been eating hasn't helped either...) pimples are popping up like crazy, but I find this mask really helps calm the skin.

While this mask is not cheap at $34 for 100mL, I really have been enjoying it and it's definitely worth the money. It's the best clarifying mask I've tried that also delivers other benefits. I also don't see myself running out of this anytime soon either!

Have you tried the Origins Clear Improvement mask? What is your favourite clarifying mask?