In the Spotlight // Liquid Foundations

Welcome to my foundation station where we're looking at my foundation rotation! Gotta throw in all of the rhyming words ;) I am here with another instalment of my 'In the Spotlight' series (or rather, reviving it) where I take a look at all my makeup collection through different categories, whether it be a type of product or a brand. Over my time of wearing makeup, I've cycled through quite a few different foundations! Here are the ones that have managed to stick around, and that I actually do wear! For reference, my skintone is light-medium with yellow undertones and I have pretty oily skin. I'd say I'm around a MAC NC25 (though I've never actually been shade matched lmao), and not all of my foundations are perfect matches haha :P

Empties #12

It's empties time again, and I'm happy to say I've made it through quite a few skincare products! I'm really trying to focus on actually finishing (skincare and body) products before opening new ones, and so far it's working well. It also means I've been sticking to a consistent skincare routine which my skin is definitely thanking me for! Let's dig in, shall we?

The Daily Makeup Edit

It's been a loooong, long time since I've done any sort of "daily makeup" routine post on the blog, and seeing as I've stuck to a pretty solid routine for the past several months, I figured I should update you guys! This post will also serve somewhat as a September favourites as I haven't really been using or loving anything new, just the same old shiz! I think that will change in the coming months though as I've broken my spending ban (a pretty lax one at that) and made a Colourpop order, and I anticipate I will be buying a bunch more with the impending holiday releases! I'm pretty proud of myself though, I pretty much hadn't bought anything since the Sweet Peach Palette which was all the way back in May! Anyway, if any of y'all are OG readers, some of these products might take you waaay back into the archives! I should say, I don't necessarily wear this makeup everyday but this look is typically my go-to for work (without the eye products) or long days at uni!

Skincare // Nighttime Routine 2016

Hey guys! Today I'm finally wrapping up my skincare series with my nighttime skincare routine! I know that the past few months' posts have been pretty skincare heavy but I think this one will be the last (for a while!)! I must say though, an updated routine post was long overdue and I'm really happy with the routine I do have at the moment. In case you missed them, you can check out my posts about my morning skincare routine and current cleansers!

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!

The Best of 2015

Hallo humans! I'm finally getting around to wrapping up my favourites of 2015! I hadn't thought of what I would put in this post (was probably procrastinating lbr), but when I sat down to write up my list, there were quite a few obvious picks! I had quite a bit of trouble narrowing it down, and will probably throw in some honourable mentions too heh. I decided to go about picking the products I used and loved during 2015, not necessarily new products of 2015, though I did get quite a few of them last year. I'm also not mentioning products I got in the last couple of months, but you can catch up on those faves in my November and December favourites posts! Anyway, enough rambling, let's jump in before this post becomes 10000 years long!

The Unnecessarily Necessary Haul

It's about that time again...the time for a big ass haul. As usual with hauls of this calibre - it's very much collective, products that have accumulated over the past couple of months but mostly through July! I call it "unnecessarily necessary" as there are some items here that I've been wanting to try for ages, although there are also some that I really didn't need but YOLO'd it anyways :P It's gonna be a long one...as per the usual!

Monthly Favourites // February 2015

Farewell February, you probably won't be missed. Half of February I was extremely anxious and nervous for starting university, while the other half was O-week and actually at uni! So far it's been pretty okay, can't say I've made many friendlies (*cough* typical) but there'll be plenty of time for that...right???? So now that I'm a uni student and all, I've sort of been getting back into the groove of daily makeup, and sussing out what's "appropriate". I've noticed that not a lot of people wear much makeup to uni so I haven't exactly been pulling out the bold lips or smoky eyes...but here is what I've been wearing a lot of! Also...it's Autumn now! Thought I'd get into the spirit with a knit background lel, even though I probably won't be wearing this till Winter - it's still hot as a mofo out there!

Monthly Favourites // January 2015

The first monthly favourites of the year! Surprisingly, January actually felt like a real month, like actual, whole days have passed and it hasn't just "whizzed" past. Maybe I'm in denial that it's actually, currently 2015? Regardless, let's chat about the products I've loved! A lot of these are quite "minimal" makeup bits because I guess you could say my skin needed a bit of a detox after wearing so much makeup during December! Me chowing down on sugary foods probably didn't help either...

Collective Haul // MAKIN' IT RAIN

...or at least I think I am. Now that I have a job and a wee bit of spare monies in my pocket, I seem to be spending it all up! Especially that I work at Priceline, I seem to buy something every time I work... (okay, an exaggeration but my 25% off discount is SO DANGEROUS). In my defense, this is very collective and stretches back to boxing day sales, and also, a lot of it was on sale/I only paid full price for a couple of things! There are a few things that I've bought but haven't hauled which I've featured here and here. Keep reading to see what I blew all my cash on... (it's a pretty long-ass post).

Empties #5

It's empties time y'all! I actually haven't done one of these in quite a while, but I've accumulated quite the load of rubbish. Since taking the photos for this post, I've actually finished up/am near finished quite a few others, so expect another empties soon!

T.N. Dickinson's All Natural Witch Hazel

Wow whee, talk about a throwback. This was featured in one of my early hauls and for those first few months, I really did love this. Its basic ingredients are pretty much witch hazel and alcohol which isn't that great. I didn't actually find it too drying, but it wasn't great. I feel like it did help clear my skin to some degree, though I've moved on to far better and brighter toners.

Repurchase? No.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

Dang, I loved these pads. They are essentially pads soaked in a gentle chemical exfoliant which really helped keep my skin clear, helped fade dark spots, as well as improve my skin's texture. I'm currently back using my Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening toner, but I've now decided that a chemical exfoliant is definitely a skincare product I'd rather not be without!

Repurchase? Not right now, but totally in the future!

Garnier Dark Spot Treatment Night

I found this serum really helped out with dark spots, skin texture and acne - very much similar to the FAB pads. It also acts somewhat like a chemical exfoliant with the inclusion of Glycolic acid, though in a serum form. It's quite an affordable way to get some chemical exfoliating-ness in your routine!

Repurchase? I already have!

Indeed Labs Hydraluron

Contrary to everyone else, I really did not see any difference when using this serum. I used it every morning and I honestly can't say it helped much in the way of my skin's moisture of hydration. Personally I found it very disappointing. It's probably just my skin type but it was for sure a waste of money for me.

Repurchase? No.

Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturising Cream

I did really like this at one point, but in comparison to other moisturisers I've tried (Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream), I didn't find this outstanding. It was sufficiently hydrating, but I only ever used it mixed in with a facial oil. I did also find it slightly greasier than other night creams I've used.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturiser

I got this as a plane freebie, and it was interesting to say the least. It had a very gel like, almost a bit sticky, texture which in theory sounds like it would be totally moisturising, and while on the lips it does feel that way, I don't think it really moisturised my lips very much. It's been a while since I used it, and I honestly can't remember what it was like. I guess that's a testament to how much I cared for it.

Repurchase? No.

Beauty Care Co Makeup Remover Pads

I think these have been featured in other empties posts. These are the cheapest cotton rounds I've found - they're $2 for 200 which is a bargain! That is, however, reflected in the quality. They are a bit fluffy and come apart easily, but personally I don't mind, and for something like cotton pads, I'd rather not pay a lot.

Repurchase? Yep, unless I find something cheaper!

The Body Shop Moringa Soap

This was nice while I used it. I really do like the Moringa scent, however the soap itself isn't amazing, especially for coming from a brand like The Body Shop. It leaves my skin feeling a bit taut, and not moisturised at all. I'll be sticking to my Dove Beauty Bars thanks!

Repurchase? No.

Indola Glamour Precious Oil

This was one of my first hair oils, and I must say I enjoyed it right up till the end. It did everything a hair oil should; left it looking smooth and shiny, soft to the touch and hydrated. While I did really love it, I think the L'oreal Mythic Oil has surpassed it.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Daiso Detergent for Puff and Sponge

Probably the best thing for cleaning brushes - and it's only $2.80! It cleans brushes really well with minimal effort. 

Repurchase? Definitely!

Rimmel BB Cream Matte

I got this little sample through their facebook page and I liked it enough to purchase it! It gives a really good coverage for a BB cream, a nice satin finish that lasts really well throughout the day on my combo skin. I tend to think of it more like a lightweight, light coverage foundation than a BB cream.

Repurchase? Well, I bought the full size!

Haul // One Last Hurrah

Yup, I did some more shopping - oops. I went on one final shopping/movie trip for the holidays so I had to stock up on a few things before school started, and I stumbled upon some gems I'm really excited to share. I ended up seeing How to Train Your Dragon 2 (in case anyone cares), and it was adorable and sad, though I didn't cry (shocker there, amirite). Anyways, on with the rather small haul!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

I finally picked this up! I've been wanting to try this for ages, but I was hesitant because it contains Shea Butter which is supposedly an irritant for acne prone skin. I've read my fair share of reviews though and no one seemed to have an issue, I've read only good things! This will be my first cleansing balm so I am very excited :D It was $26.95 so not the cheapest, but not crazy either.

Garnier Dark Spot Treatment Night Serum

This is a repurchase - I'm almost out of my current one. I wanted to try out another brightening serum but there actually weren't that many, and this one was on sale for $12.50 so I decided to pick it up again. I have to say I think it works, but with these kinds of products, it's always hard to tell! You can read my full review here.

Hurraw! Vanilla Bean Lip Balm

Shannon from Shaaanxo always raves about these and they actually sounded really nice. I spotted them at David Jones on clearance for $4.86 so I decided to grab one because I actually don't have any tube lip balms at the moment, and I wanted one for handbag/pencil case situation. I went for the safe choice of Vanilla Bean and it smells really lovely!

Face of Australia Contour & Highlight Kit in Leopardess

This is a limited edition kit that I normally wouldn't be drawn to (I already own the Sleek one), but what really enticed me was just how cool toned the contour shade was from swatches that I saw. It really looked like it would make an amazing contour product. Of course, it was sold out in my Priceline but I managed to nab it at Kmart. They were fully stocked, and my guess is because everything is in plastic so you can't even see the product let alone swatch it, which was probably a turnoff for most customers. Good for me though ;). The highlighter is really pretty too! It was only $9.25.

3 Concept Eyes Cream Blusher in Baby Peach

Woohooo, Asian cosmetics! My local-ish shopping centre is having major renos and heaps of new stores are opening, including a shop called W Cosmetics which basically stocks a ton of Asian brands, like a ton. The store is soooo nice too, the interiors are really nice, they have a manicure section at the back and like a sitting area, where my friends retired whilst I made my way around the store a bajillion times, swatching pretty much every product. Needless to say, the makeup geek within me was FREAKING OUT. They have brands like Etude House, Tony Moly, Shu Uemura, Jill Stuart, Dolly Wink, Clio, etc, etc. It was overwhelming to say the least. 

The 3CE section was adorable, I'd heard good things about the brand but no specifics. Their packaging is so nice, definitely reminds me of NARS but their price range is similar to L'oreal/Revlon which is exciting. The SA recommended their cream blushes which was one of the first things to catch my eye. The shade is a typical me colour but quite pastel-y and ethereal. The 20g tube only cost $16.95 which I thought was pretty good, this is legit going to last me forever! No doubt I'll be returning to this store, many, many times...

[Also, a quick happy birthday to Dan Smith from Bastille!!!  ❤]

Empties #4

Well do I have quite the empties post for you guys today! It's been long overdue, I'd actually already taken the photos weeks ago but realised I forgot to include a few things, then I finished more products so it just ended up accumulating! 

Clear Nourishing Shampoo and Daily Conditioner

As you can see, I have both the full sizes and travel minis. I'll probably keep the mini bottles to refill for travelling later. I thoroughly enjoyed this shampoo and conditioner. I definitely felt that it was nourishing, making my hair soft and smooth. It was moisturising on the scalp but didn't make me overly oily, and cleaned well. 

Repurchase? In the future, yes!

Goldwell Dual Senses Rich Repair 60sec Treatment

Initially I really enjoyed this mask, however towards the middle/end I didn't notice it doing overly much for me. It's supposed to be very moisturising on the hair and help repair damage. When I used this, I didn't notice much moisturisation - my hair didn't feel softer than usual - and my hair only felt conditioned when I followed up with a conditioner.

Repurchase? No

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

Holy grail product, and it was in my last empties (albeit, 4 months ago), so I clearly go through the stuff! I've talked about it countless times but I genuinely feel like this helps keep my skin relatively clear.

Repurchase? Yes already have, though in the future I really would like to try the+ version!

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Illuminating Moisturiser

Another product that's been previously featured in one of my empties. I do feel like this helps fade acne scars gradually, as well as giving my skin somewhat of a 'glow'. I just really like the texture and feel of this moisturiser as well.

Repurchase? Yes, though trying to use up other moisturisers at the moment. I'd also like to give others a go.

Beauty Care Co Green Tea Facial Wipes

My second pack of these and I bought them because they were cheap ($2). They're decent enough however the actual towel is a bit dry, and the last couple of wipes I had in here dried out. I've since moved on to the Smart Skin ones from Woolworths which are much more moist, for the same price.

Repurchase? No

Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser
Haven't seen this guy round these parts in a while have we? He finally bit the bullet and while I did initially love it, and still do think it is a really good, effective cleanser, I guess I got a bit bored of it towards the end? I didn't find it to be as thick or balm like as I originally thought. Now that I've tried cleansers like Lush Ultrabland, this one felt quite thin in comparison. I will always like it though because it was the first proper cleanser I used that helped my skin on the road to recovery!
Repurchase? Not at the moment or near future, but I wouldn't rule it out!

Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose hip Oil
I really adored this rose hip oil and it probably still stands as my favourite. It has so many benefits to the skin. I found it sunk in well, was extremely moisturising and helped my skin with acne and evening out its tone.
Repurchase? In the future, yes

A'kin Pure Radiance Rose hip Oil
This had the same look and feel and the Kosmea one, so I thought it would be similar, but no. I really dislike this one! I don't think I could pinpoint a specific reason, but I just found it didn't make my skin feel good. I used it for about a week or so and really just disliked it. Upon going back to the Trilogy one I am currently using, my skin went back to feeling moisturised and less congested.
Repurchase? No

Sally Hansen Acetone-Free Fast & Gentle Polish Remover

For some reason, I/my mum always purchases this one, it's just the one we've always used! I will admit, it's not the most effective because it's acetone-free, especially with glittery polishes, but it does the job and doesn't dry out my hands/nails or cause any irritation.
Repurchase? Already have, and probably will in the future - though I should probably investigate others!

Soap & Glory Hand Food

This is pretty old and actually not completely empty but the cream has turned to a runny, sour liquid - yuck. Definitely time for the bin! I did really enjoy this hand cream though! It smells divine, and it was quite a thin feeling texture that sunk in quickly and didn't leave a greasy residue. Because it is a thinner texture, I didn't find it absolutely crazy moisturising but it's not as rich so it's understandable. Great for on the go though!

Repurchase? In the future, yes

Original Source Lime Shower Gel

This was a pretty standard shower gel. It lathered well and left my skin feeling clean - not squeakily so or dry, but also not moisturised or soft. The scent smells like lemon-lime Solo soft drink which was refreshing at first, but after a while it began to remind me of some sort of citrus cleaner...

Repurchase? Not this particular scent, but possibly another scent in the future.

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub

I really liked this - it was the first lip scrub I'd tried and I found it very effective in removing dead, dry skin. The Popcorn scent was really nice, more of a sugary-salty-caramel than actual popcorn. However, it was a slight nuisance to use as the sugary bits would often fall so I always made sure to do it over a sink. It's very expensive for what it is so a luxury product for me. I get the job done with a face cloth in the shower.

Repurchase? In the future, yes but it's not an essential.

Nivea Caramel Cream Lip Butter

Probably one of my favourite lip balms. I find this super moisturising, creamy and it smells delicious! I found this really helped heal my lips when they were irritated, but not if they are severely dry or chapped.

Repurchase? Yes, but I'm trying to get through other lip balms at the moment.

Monthly Favourites // May 2014

I cannot handle how fast this year is going! Half of 2014 is gone and I'm not ready for it to eeeend. Aaah, things are getting very real, very quickly. But of course, there will always be a favourites post to document the passing of another month. May was a good month - ma bday month as well as the birthday month of a lot of my friends, like geez there must have been much excitement in August '96...jus' sayin. So, there was much to be celebrated!

DKNY Delicious Night Eau de Parfum

Fragrance fave! My sister is moving down to Melbourne, *sad face* but that meant she was getting rid of a heap of her stuff - hair products, a couple of makeup bits and a shedload of clothes, as well as this perfume. This is probably one of the less popular out of the famous apple perfumes. I wasn't expecting to love this, but I have been spritzing it on most days! You would think from the name that it's more suited for nighttime wear, but actually since the weather has been cooling down it's not too heavy for the day. It's sweet and sexy but still has a fresh-fruity element. I might bring Smelly Sunday back to talk about it some more!

Garnier BB cream for Oily/Combo skin in Medium and Heroine Make Lasting Mineral BB cream in shade 2

A base favourite this month has been a mixture of these two. The Garnier being too dark and the Heroine Make too light, the combo of the two gives a really good shade match. The formulas are somewhat similar, the Heroine Make being superior in the coverage and lasting power departments, but together they give a really good coverage and lasting power, easily buffed on with a buffing brush.

MAC Opulash Mascara

Another sloppy seconds from my sister, and again I didn't really expect to like it because I've really heard nothing about it. Also, the brush is HELLA big, like the size of my eye. What surprised me about this mascara though is that it doesn't clump. Like the first time I used it I swear I put on 3 coats of the stuff, and didn't need to comb through with a spoolie. This is CRAZY for me because I can't stand clumps, and even comb through mascaras that aren't even badly clumpy/sticking my lashes together. Combing through is habit for me, and I didn't need to with this! It looks pretty natural, but gives good thickness, decent length and volume. It also doesn't smudge too badly by the end of the day.

Nvey Eco Natural Bronze Organic Compact Bronzer

Another product from my sister, and another that I didn't think much of to begin with. Wow, sensing a theme? Firstly, the colour didn't look too great in the pan. It's quite warm and red-toned, almost like…a dirt colour? Yeah, not so appealing and it definitely isn't appropriate for concentrated contouring. With a fluffy brush, I like the Real Techniques Blush Brush, it applies really nicely and looks very natural, especially around the hairline mimicking a sunkissed look. Also when swept lightly under the cheekbones it provides definition and shadow without coming off too ruddily.  It's completely matte, blendable and pigmented.

Essence Blush Up! in 10 Heat Wave

So obviously I love it, it's an ombre blush. Also the colour is absolutely up my street. The formula ain't too bad either, haha! It's very pigmented, but at the same time retains a translucency? I don't know how to explain it, or maybe I'm imagining things but it still lets your skin show through, with like a sheer...overlay of colour. Get me...? It's also pretty dang long lasting too!

Benefit Ultra Plush Lip gloss in Coralista

Out of the Benefit Go Tropicoral kit, this was the product I thought I'd be most 'meh' about, but turns out to be the only one I'm using on a regular basis. I haven't gotten around to reviewing that kit, I will though - once I get around to actually, properly using the products inside. This gloss though feels much like a balm, quite slippy and with a medium level of glossiness. The pigmentation is definitely on the sheer side, like the slightest wash of colour. It's also not sticky at all, even when it wears down it sort of absorbs into the lips. I like it a lot!

Bastille Bad Blood

A music favourite this month has definitely been Bastille and their debut album Bad Blood. My friend has been nagging me for ages to listen them, and sorry Yas for taking so long! I've basically been listening to the album on repeat, Dan Smith's voice is majestic, plus he's an all round cutie. Said friend plus a couple others are going to their concert in a couple of weeks which I'm so jealous about! I am going to Katy Perry at the end of the year though, so my concert quota is all filled up :( (but much excite for Katy). 

So it was a month filled with unexpected favourites, but favourites nonetheless! What have you been loving in May?

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?

Skincare Routine | Night

Hello all! The second part of my little skincare 'series' is up today and it is my nighttime skincare routine! I've reviewed most of the products I mention in full so hopefully the post won't be too rambly! This one is a little more involved than my morning routine so let's dive in!

First up for cleansing:

I really like using creamy cleansers at night to help remove the majority if not all of my makeup (other makeup removal products will be mentioned in my next skincare post!). These two are my most used. I remove both with a face cloth. 

Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser

I've already talked a bunch about this and done a full review so I will spare the nitty gritty! This is super nice and creamy and it melts away makeup! It leaves my skin feeling nice and soft and is a really great, basic cleanser.

Natural Instinct Cream Cleanser

I've also reviewed this here. I find this thicker and heavier than most typical cream cleansers, so I find it works very similarly to the Soap & Glory. It doesn't remove makeup as well and doesn't leave my skin as soft but it is still a really great cleanser!

Clarins Gentle Exfoliant

I do apologise that I still haven't done a review of this yet! Hopefully with a bit more testing I will do a post! I use this as a typical toner and it feels like one too. It is super gentle but I definitely feel like it has helped the overall condition of my skin - including its brightness.

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Night

I've done a review on this guy here and I'm still loving it! With the bevy of other dark spot, skintone evener outers I feel like my acne scarring is fading (slowly but surely) and the overall tone of my skin improving! This product, I think, is definitely a substantial factor!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

Again I've spoken soooo much about this product and done a review. Basically, it's one of my Holy Grail products, this is my second tube! I love this for helping clear blemishes and keeping them away.

Kosmea Skin Clinic Rose hip oil

Review here, love this rose hip oil! I find it helps hydrate my skin immensely and is in general a great all rounder skincare product.

Soap & Glory Night in shining armour Cream

Great night cream that I've reviewed here! Not too thick (great for nighttime use) but very moisturising. Nice and basic!

Trilogy Eye contour cream

This is a nice eye cream that is relatively thin in texture and sinks into the skin well. I find it mediumly moisturising and after late nights, I don't wake up with my usual puffy eyes - so that's a plus! I could see it being effective for both day and night use as it's not too rich.

Lush Grease Lightning Spot Treatment

Again, reviewed here. Not the hugest fan of this but I'm using it up. I don't find it particularly amazing at clearing acne but it's better than using nothing!

Not too many steps to my nighttime routine...but probably more than your average sixteen-year-old. 

What do you guys love using at night?

Skincare Routine | Morning

Hello all! Today's post will be the first in my skincare routine 'series'. There will be three; my morning routine, night routine and extra products I often use. In this post I'll be sharing the skincare products I use every morning!

Starting out with cleansers:

Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Daily Wash

Lately, this cleanser has been my pick for morning time cleansing. It is a nice light, creamy texture that smells divine! I find it very gentle, and if I have any eye makeup that has appeared after sleep, I can remove it with this. It doesn't dry out my skin at all and in fact feels moisturising. My skin feels clean and refreshed! I also think that is does help somewhat with acne, my skin has been quite well behaved since using this consistently. It also functions as a mask, but I don't find it too effective in that regard.

Some other cleansers I like using in the morning are:

Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs

This is a really light, liquidy milk that is very gentle and can also be used around the eyes. In the mornings I look for very light cleansers as there isn't much dirt or makeup that needs to be removed, just the previous night's skincare and any yuckies that have accumulated overnight. This work really well!

Natural Instinct Foaming Cleanser (Full review)

When I feel like my skin is a bit oilier, I use this cleanser as it is foaming. It doesn't dry out my skin at all but it helps if my skin is feeling particularly oily. Like the others, it is light, refreshing and gentle around the eyes.

Toner time! I have full reviews of both of these toners which will be linked so I won't talk too much about them.

Natural Instinct Clarifying Toner (Full review)

This is my preferred of the two, but I'm running out of it! I'll probably repurchase it once I get the chance. I find this tones and refreshes the skin well, and doesn't leave the skin feeling dry or tight at all.

T.N. Dickinson's Witch hazel toner (Full review)

This one does contain alcohol so I do find my skin is left on the dry side, not tight or uncomfortable, but it is dry. It is an effective toner and I will continue to use it, but won't be repurchasing.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron

This is a hydrating serum that has gotten so much hype and good grace throughout the beauty community, particularly from Caroline Hirons ie. skincare goddess. To be completely honest, I'm not really sure I notice any difference in my skin when I use this, possibly my skin feels a little softer and slightly more hydrated, but nothing substantial. My skin is combination, oily in the t-zone and normal everywhere else. Maybe it's not really suited for my skin type, and I guess I was expecting miracles from this product.

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Daily Illuminating Moisturiser (Full review)

I love this moisturiser, and this is my second tube. I find this helps brighten my face, even out my skintone and help fade acne scars. I have been using this for a long time (since the beginning of the year) and I can't really say that it totally makes my scars disappear, but it helps a lot. It's a nice moisturiser for day time too. It's lightweight and doesn't make my skin oily.

Lush Grease Lightning (Full review)

I don't hate this product nor do I love it. I find it works decently but not amazingly. I'm using it to finish it but won't repurchase. If you have spot treatment recommendations, let me know!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Suncreen

This is my second mini sample tube. I actually got my mum to get the gift too haha so I've been scraping out every last drop. I really like this sunscreen and it's not greasy or thick like others can be. I would purchase the full size, but I'm going to Hong Kong later this month and would prefer to try out some Asian SPFs which seem awesome! This one is definitely my favourite that I've tried so far though.

I hope you guys liked my first installment of my skincare 'series'. The others will be up soon!

What are your favourite products for the morning?

Bright at Night

Hey guys! Today I have a skincare review on a product I have been loving since I first started using it! It is the Garnier Dark Spot Treatment Night which is an intensive renewal serum. Keep reading for the full spiel! 

It is packaged in a small plastic tube with a thin nozzle that dispenses the product. At first I thought it would be a leaky mess like their oily/combo BB cream, but actually the product only comes out when the tube is squeezed, and quite firmly at that. I like the packaging, it is functional and practical.

This serum is designed to help fade and diminish dark spots in the form of sun spots, age spots and acne marks. It also claims to smooth and even skintone as well as improve brightness. To do this, it contains 4% Glycolic acid and Vitamin Cg. The Glycolic acid exfoliates overnight and 'regenerates' the skin to refine and smooth its texture. I'm not sure what Vitamin Cg is, but I'm assuming it's some sort of derivative of Vitamin C. It's known for its anti-oxidant and brightening properties. 

I've been using this for over a month and can say that I have noticed a difference in my skin. Within the first few nights of using the serum, I noticed an immediate difference. My acne scars were slightly lighter and the redness was reduced. It sort of surged in the beginning (in terms of fading dark spots, etc) and has since plateaued I guess. Because, since then the changes in my skin have been more gradual. Also I definitely notice that it has helped smooth my skin, the texture feels softer and more refined. After a month of use, my dark spots have actually faded quite considerably, there is little redness around old marks and they sort of look like they've shrunk (?). Their visibility has definitely decreased, and I've needed less concealer, which is always a good indication! Overall my skin appears more even and brighter! I actually have hope that, over time, this product will help fade dark spots totally. Keep in mind that I've also been using other products that help in this area.

The texture of the product itself is like a gel. It is clear and actually has a light, pleasant, citrus-y scent. I find it quite viscous and a little sticky - slightly hard to spread over the skin, but nothing major. It doesn't feel uncomfortable on the skin at all but the texture is interesting. I think it's a bit similar to the Peter Thomas Roth Camu-Camu Serum which claims similar benefits. I use a bit more than pictured below, after toner and before moisturiser.

Overall, I am thoroughly enjoying using this product and the effects of the fading of my acne scars are better than most products I've tried so far. I'll keep you updated, probably in an empties post or something, as to whether I will repurchase, but so far it's looking very promising! It retails for AUD$18.99 for 30mL of product.

Have you tried this product, do you want to? What are your thoughts?

Monthly Favourites | October 2013

Happy Halloween! The inevitable end of the month favourites are upon us again! We truly are nearing the end of the year which is both shocking and fear-inducing for me! I have my end of year exams soon, and then a very nice eight week holiday. But then, I will begin my final year of high school! I'm more scared than excited haha, I am not ready to face the real world! In terms of favourites this month, I actually struggled a little to gather items as I've been using much the same products as featured in previous monthly favourites. There have been a few standouts this month though!

My skincare favourite of the month has been the Garnier Anti-Dark Spot Renovator Night serum treatment. I've been using this for over a month now and a full review will be up soon! This serum contains 4% glycolic acid along with vitamin c to help exfoliate and brighten the skin. I haven't noticed any drastic improvement in my acne scars, but I do feel that my skin's texture is smoother and my scars slightly lighter.

A tool I've been loving again particularly is my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers. These get their fair share of rave reviews and I gotta say they deserve them! They curl my short, asian-straight lashes super well and makes them look quite nice (considering how meagre they are)! 

I haven't been wearing eyeshadow a ton, but if I want to slap on a little bit of product, I've been reaching for the Maybelline Colour Tattoo metal in the shade Inked in Pink. It's a gorgeous sort of icy, silvery but also warm pink, that complements my skintone well and is a great no fuss eye shade!

Another product I featured way back in January is the Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder which I have in the shade Darkest Brown (really not a very dark brown at all...). Since I've been going the BB cream route pretty much daily this month, throwing this on to set everything adds a bit more coverage. It's a super soft powder that applies really well to the skin. It doesn't leave a cakey residue and keeps me matte-ish for a decent part of the day.

My favourite product out of the bunch this month has definitely been the The Balm Instain Blush in the shade Toile. I'll have a full review up on this one soon too but WOW! I had pretty high expectations for this product and it has certainly lived up to them! The shade is utterly gorgeous, a deeper peachy-pink with a hint of rose that actually looks extremely natural on me and has an amazing staying power to boot.

I have been using the Nivea In-shower Body Lotion quite a bit this month and I really like it. However, I was unsure about purchasing it (but did to qualify for a voucher) because I don't really need it. It's not that I'm too lazy to apply moisturiser, more that I just forget to. This is nice to have and use, and leaves my skin feeling quite soft, but it doesn't actually penetrate the skin to provide any intense moisture. It's sort of a superfluous product which I enjoy using but probably wouldn't repurchase.

I have been really enjoying the Clear Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner. These are the minis but I did purchase the full sizes. I find these clean my hair really well but don't leave it feeling dry or stripped. The conditioner is so nice - my hair feels amazingly soft and silky after using it! They also smell nice too, nothing to crazy, just nice hair product-y smell.

I've been using the Daiso Detergent for Puff and Sponge to wash my brushes all month and it has been doing a stellar job. It cleans them AMAZINGLY, getting out all of the stains that foundation and concealer would usually leave, making them looks good as new. Awesome for the price!

Oh my gosh, you guys - this book. This book. I think I may have discovered my favourite book of all time!!! It is Divergent by Veronica Roth. It is absolutely amazing and captivating, so well written, awesome characters and romance and just ughhh amazingness crammed into 500 pages. This had me hooked from the first line and I probably would have read it in one sitting if I hadn't had a Chemistry EEI due. If you haven't read this yet, DO IT. It's sort of (ish) similar to the Hunger Games - set in a futuristic, dystopian messed up world and written similarly (first person, present tense). So, if you liked that, you'll probably like this. I'm almost finished Insurgent (the sequel) and Allegiant (the final book) came out last week! There's also a movie coming out next year which I am SO excited for. Let's hope it's a better book-to-movie project that The Mortal Instruments (PLEASE). 

The blurb, to titillate your senses...

So those were my monthly favourites. I'm also going to see Thor: The Dark World tomorrow which I am unbelievably excited for! I've been waiting for so long and cannot even contain myself! My expectations are pretty high so I hope it doesn't disappoint! I'm a huge Marvel fan and an even huger Hiddlestoner (Tom Hiddleston fan) haha.

What have you guys been loving this month, any plans for Halloween?