Not Bland at All

I've long since moved past the foaming gel cleansers targeted at acne that only left my skin feeling dry, and worse than before, onto thicker, creamy cleansers that moisturise and cleanse the skin deeply. I've reviewed a few hot cloth cleansers that got me started, and I'm now moving onto more of the balm variety! Today I'm here to share my thoughts on Lush's Ultrabland facial cleanser, and contrary to it's name, I don't find it bland at all.

So, I wouldn't exactly describe this as a cleansing balm, and Lush seems to have described it just right, as a "rich, soft, oily cleansing cream". It has a very thick, almost paste like consistency. It's not a balm which I would usually associate as melting into an oil. With Ultrabland, as you work it into the skin, it almost absorbs and melds leaving an oily residue/film. While that sounds really unappealing, and what I would assume is the main turnoff for most people, it's actually what I love most about it. The residue isn't uncomfortable feeling at all, or oily to the touch, it just leaves your skin feeling incredibly moisturised. It also leaves my skin with a rather radiant, healthy and moisturised glow! If you're really antsy about the residue, it pretty much comes off in the toner stage anyways. Because of it's very thick consistency, it is quite a labour-intensive product. You really get a bit of a workout massaging this into the skin! It doesn't feel bad at all though, you  aren't tugging at the skin, just more so really getting down in there, which is also why I think it's so effective at cleansing. 

I tend to use it on dry/damp skin, because I find getting it too wet seems to thin it out. I use about a pea sized amount and massage it for a minute or so - I really go to town. It doesn't sting the eyes at all. I then let it sit on my face while I do other things in the shower, then use a wash cloth to remove it. Just rinsing isn't going to cut it, you need some sort of wiping/friction action to work the product off because it is so thick and almost...adhered to the skin. There's no need to get rough though! The cream also has tiny crumbs(?) in it that I find give the most gentle exfoliation.

Personally I haven't used it with a full face of makeup because I have the smaller tub and want to preserve it for as long as possible, so I only go in with it once, after I've removed the majority of makeup with a wipe/cleansing oil. If using it alone, you would need to double cleanse. The ingredients Ultrabland contains are really lovely; the oils help moisturise, but the main selling point is the beeswax and honey. Beeswax is apparently very good for removing makeup, and I've heard that honey is quite antibacterial and helps with acne prone skin.

I have to say, my skin has been in very good condition since I started using this, and while I don't use it everyday, I can attribute some of that good-skin-ness to this product. I have combo/oily skin and don't find it too heavy at all. I definitely think this would be beneficial for all skin types. If you can't tell, I really love this cleanser! The 45g tub retails for $17.95 and the 100g for $28.95.

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!!!  ❤]

The Velvet Edition

First there were the uber pigmented liquid lipsticks, then came the oft-drying matte lip creams, and now, something in between is having a bit of a moment in the beauty spotlight. Known as the "semi-matte" lip product, they boast a matte finish that is softer, and not at all drying whilst still being incredibly long-wearing. One such product that has been all the rage of late is the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet.

L-R: Peach Club, Frambourjois

These lip products are packaged beautifully - their rectangular plastic tubes with colour coordinating lids are easy to identify, and the black band and font choice add an element of chic-ness. They have a standard doe-foot applicator that apply the product easily. One issue that I know a lot of other people had was with the outer plastic seal. I'm all for sealing products to make sure they're not used, but whoa man, this plastic seal-age was hardcore. There was no perforation, and it was basically STUCK to the tube and unripable man, un-rip-able. I've included some photographic evidence for your convenience - don't attempt it with a fresh manicure, it's sure to be ruined.

Anyways! Onto the formula, which sure is a beaut! The consistency really does seem like a lip gloss, it's rather thin and not as creamy or thick and opaque as your typical lip cream product. It isn't as pigmented as I anticipated and in most cases needs more than one layer to reach opacity, but it doesn't cake/bunch when building up. These don't seem to 'dry down' like other matte lip creams, and when swatched on my hand, they stay shiny(ish). When on the lips though, they do develop into a soft matte finish - which might be due to pressing my lips together? The upside of this is that they aren't drying at all or flake/chip off. They are supposedly "enriched with evanescent oils", seems legit, though I don't find them to be moisturising. I find these still to be incredibly long-wearing, they operate like a stain, and quite a potent one at that. Without eating, they can last from 4-6 hours, with eating you get a slight bit of wear in the center of the lip, but nothing drastic. It's easy to reapply straight over the top though. Despite this, they still do transfer pretty easily (I did manage to get a little on my chin when eating), but because it's a thin and soft matte finish, it's not extremely messy.

Peach Club

Frambourjois (ignore that strand of hair, heh)

The shade range is a decent 8 colours, and while the shades themselves are pretty, I think they could've done better on the range. They're all rather deep, dusty colours, a lot of pink and red colours with not much significant differentiation. I picked two shades which appealed to me most; Peach Club and Frambourjois.

Peach Club is what I would describe as the perfect Autumnal peach. It's a deeper peach with dusty orange hints, almost pulling a bit burnt orange. I thought I would love this more than I do, whilst it's really pretty and different to my to my typical peachy/pink/corals there's something a tad...aging about it? It's just not as fresh, bright and youthful as shades typically like this. Regardless, it still is beautiful and definitely a nice warm shade for the cooler months.

For some odd reason, my lip swatch of Frambourjois is showing up VERY saturated, it's not at all like this in real life or on my computer, so I'm sorry for the misrepresentation! It's closer to the hand swatch, but still a little bit deeper. I would describe this shade as a raspberry red, like the colour of an actual raspberry. It's a pinky-red but with a touch of maroon. I really love this shade, and it's also perfect for the cooler months!

These are very unique products in my collection and have definitely become firm favourites with their comfortable feel, bold colour, matte finish and long wear! The one major downer is the price, AUD$24.00 which is down right ridiculous. Best pick up these babies in a sale peeps!

Home Grown Hands

I've often been told I have soft hands, which is an unexpected but much appreciated compliment, and one that I can attribute to using hand cream every night. I did however, go a while without using hand cream, mostly due to laziness and stress but have recently dug out a brand new one to get back into the habit. I have been thoroughly enjoying the Grown Alchemist Persian Rose & Argan Extract Intensive Hand Cream which has returned my hands to their baby-smooth glory.

This is actually supposed to be my mum's from my sister but shhh she has plenty of hand cream... Before this hand cream, I'd never really given Grown Alchemist much of a look, but after having a look at their website, I really love the aesthetic of the brand. They are certified organic, cruelty free and are 'healthy skincare', free of lots of nasties, with recyclable packaging. The packaging is simple and minimalistic and I love the almost laboratory-like feel of it. I like aluminium tubes as they feel quite chic, but also allow every drop of product to be used. The one downer is that the moulded packaging can sometimes cause the product to keep coming out after you've squeezed the tube.

The hand cream itself is described as being 'a rich intensive hydrating hand cream that is instantly absorbed, reviving the driest skin without leaving a greasy feel'. It contains many amazing ingredients like omegas 3, 6 and 7 as well as vitamin e and oils to help the skin's hydration levels and elasticity. The cream's texture is light yet still rather rich feeling, so that it rubs in and absorbs quickly while still feeling quite luxurious and nourishing. It really doesn't leave a greasy residue at all but leaves the skin feeling immediately soft and nourished, and giving it a 'glow'. Odd but true, it makes my hands look super healthy! I've been using it every night and even throughout the day when I'm just chilling about and my hands haven't been dry at all in the cold Winter weather. I'm not entirely sure however that it is 'intensive' as it's name suggests, it is very moisturising but not intense. Then again, I don't have extremely dry hands so I can't attest to it's degree of effectiveness. 

The scent of Persian Rose & Argan Extract sounds exotic, and it's definitely different to typical hand cream scents. I have a horrible sense of scent to begin with, so this is something I really can't describe! It's quite natural and herbal-ish, and unexpectedly, not very floral. I wasn't overly keen on it in the beginning, and while it has grown on me, it's not my favourite.

So overall, I'm really enjoying this hand cream! I think it'd be suitable for both the bedside table or the handbag. 65mL of product retails for AUD$27.95.

The Lip Product Addict Tag

A few weeks ago I was tagged by the lovely Sheri to do the Lip Product Addict tag. If there's one thing that I know I am, it's a lip product addict! This tag was also created by two of my favourite youtubers - Estee and Amelia - so I really wanted to do it! Keep reading for my answers...

1. Favourite balm/treatment?

My favourite lip balm at the moment is probably the Nivea Lip Butter, this one is in the scent Vanilla & Macadamia which smells delicious. I really like this lip balm, for no particular reason other than I think it's pretty moisturising for every day and it helped out when I had itchy lips. It's not super intense though, so don't expect it to heal extremely chapped lips!

2. Best eye-catching red?

In all honesty, I really don't wear red lipstick often so I don't have many to choose from. One red that I do have that is pretty bright, relatively cool-toned as well is the Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturising Balm Stain in the shade Rock n Rouge. It's very pigmented for one of these balm stain types, it has a slight sheen to it and it does stain. Not much more I can say really!

3. Best luxury and best drugstore?

I actually didn't have a clear cut answer for this one, I don't have any crazy, ultimate, absolute favourites from either category, so I just chose two lipsticks that I really like. For drugstore, I chose the L'oreal Nutri-shine lipstick in the shade Pink Nude. The formula is similar to the Revlon Lip Butters, only better in my opinion. The colour is a really pretty nuded peachy-pink. For luxury, I chose the Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in the shade Soft Amethyst. The formula of this lipstick is really nice - it's super pigmented, but quite moisturising and sits very comfortably on the lips. The colour is also beautiful - a super wearable purple. 

4. Best MAC lipstick?

I only have four to choose from, but I'd have to say the definite winner is MAC Morange. It's a beautiful striking red-toned orange, that is super wearable. It's bold and bright, with an amplified formula, so it is very pigmented yet not drying at all.

5. The most disappointing?

I'm going to steal Sheri's answer here, but hands down, Face of Australia Lip Quench lipstick in the shade Lychee Crush. Firstly, the colour is horrendous on my skintone. This shade was getting RAVES, and it swatched as a really pretty pale peachy-pink nude but on the lips, it made me look dead and washed out. Also, the formula is terrible. It's too creamy that it slips and slides and settles into lines and it smells terrible. The reason it looks like I've used my whole tube is because I tried to redeem it as a cream blush. It worked for a while, but it didn't last well on my cheeks. My second disappointing product is actually the Rimmel Apocalips. My review of these was probably a bit lenient but I had a bad burger-eating experience with the shade Stellar. Whilst eating it somehow got all over my face, like chin, teeth, burger - it was a mess. This was a good few hours after application too. These don't set down and stay sitting on top of the lips - easily transferable.

6. Liner - yes or no?

I'm gonna go with a straight no on this one. I just can't be bothered! I'd only ever use liner if I had a special occasion - wanted my lip to last extra long, etc, etc you know the gist. But I've really only used a liner once or twice! I do have a few of the Essence Lip Liners which I do really like - they're creamy and you could even use them on their own.

7. Best gloss?

I could have answered this with a few different products, but chose to stick to the NYX Butter Gloss of which I have in the shade Peaches and Cream. This gloss is so lovely! It feels balmy on the lips - a slight thickness but nothing sticky. Amazing pigmentation, smoothing gloss and delicious scent. What more could you ask for?

8. And something extra!

I decided to chuck in the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets, I acquired these recently and have been loving them. They are matte lip creams but don't dry like paint on the lips. They're matte but not at all drying, with a soft feel and staining effect, making them extremely long wearing. They do still transfer a little though. I have them in the shades Peach Club and Frambourjois.

L-R: Rock n Rouge, Soft Amethyst, Pink Nude, Morange, Lychee Crush, Celestial, Stellar

L-R: Peaches and Cream, Satin Mauve, Cute Pink, In the Nude, Frambourjois, Peach Club

I hope you guys enjoyed reading my answers! I tag: Vanessa (though I don't peg you as a lip product addict, yolo imma tag you anyways), Cherie, Jen, Miss Louise, Yige, Candice, Monica & Linny and anyone else who would like to do it!