NARS All Day Luminous Weightless foundation review

It's only been a million years... but I have finally created a new video for YouTube! I've been meaning to buy a new foundation for the longest time but have always put it off seeing as... well, you know... I never wear makeup as it is. But then an event comes along and I feel like shit with my undone face, amongst the glamorous cake faces of the night.

As much as I hate wearing foundation, I hate standing out even more. I'd rather blend in and be one of the girls. So it was about time I got my hands on a new foundation to try! Watch the review below, but if you don't have the 3-ish minutes to spare, I list my thoughts and key points after the video:

What I loved about it:

• It really does feel weightless
• The colour match for my skin was perfect (Barcelona)
• The finish is very natural - not too matte, not to shiny. It was just the right balance which resulted in quite a lovely velvety finish.
• Very easy to apply as it was quite a runny liquid and very much like the NARS Pure Radiance tinted moisturiser (which is my go-to product)
• It barely oxidised on me. I have the kind of skin that turns any foundation into an oompa loompa shade and this one oxidised only just a teeny tiny bit.
• I didn't get to try this out for myself as I had only a small sample container to go by, but it comes in a sleek glass bottle with a pump which I already know I will love. What's not to love about a pump?!
• It does not contain SPF so it is perfect for flash photography, which happens fairly frequently during events/night's out!

What I didn't like about it:

• It did oxidise, albeit by just a tiny bit
• I didn't use a powder with it, so maybe that would have solved this problem, but it felt like it never really set. If I rubbed my face, some would come off.
• It got a bit shiny as the day went on. Nothing that blotting or a dusting of powder wouldn't fix, but I'm the kind of person that doesn't do stuff like that throughout my day simply because I don't like carrying extra makeup and brushes in my bag.

Final verdict? I like it enough to buy. When I did the review, I wore it to work. I'm quite active and busy at work, on my feet all day and sweating and such. I really put it through its paces. However, my intended purpose for a new foundation is to wear it to events or night's out only, which means it suits my purpose just fine.

Crest 3D Whitestrips Vivid: before & after, demo + review

I purchased a pack of Crest whitestrips from this website a week ago and gave them a try (on video)! My teeth have never been white but I wanted to see if it would make any difference at all.  I think it did, what do you think?  The above photo is the before and after.  To see the demo and review, watch the video below.

Direct link to video: http://youtu.be/o3poJxiG6iw

Emjoi PediSmooth Review

If you want super smooth feet, there's only 2 things that you need to do.  The first step is to exfoliate, and the second step is to moisturise.  It sounds simple, doesn't it?  But if it's that simple, then why do we see so many men and women with dry, cracked heels?  It should be an anomaly, not a frequent occurrence!  Sadly, I see it all the time.  Even at weddings!  *shudders*

The Emjoi PediSmooth fitted with the coarse skin/maintenance roller.

The Emjoi PediSmooth (rrp $29.95 AUD) has finally been launched into the Australian market, and it is designed to make the first step (exfoliation) simple. Typically, to exfoliate the sole of the foot, one would hop in the shower or sink their feet into a foot spa and scrub away with a pumice.  But sometimes we come across situations that don't allow time for that...

The Emjoi PediSmooth takes away the need to have to wet the feet at all.  All you do is select which roller strength you need (either white for extra coarse skin, or pink for coarse skin or maintenance).  You then just turn the battery operated device on with a simple push of a button and it will start spinning 360 degrees, 30 times per second.  You lightly pass this over the dry skin on your heels for no more than 3 seconds at a time and that's pretty much it!  Ta-da, smooth heels!

The extras that come with the Emjoi PediSmooth - 2 extra coarse rollers, 1 coarse roller, a storage pouch and a cleaning brush.

It sounds scary, but it's really not.  It doesn't hurt at all!  It's safer and more effective than metal scrapers (or so I'm told) and it does the job very well. The dry skin is gently buffed away.  My only gripe with it is that while it's very convenient, it gets a little messy.  So you could take it with you and discreetly fix up your dry heels in the office, but be prepared to sweep away the... er... leftovers.  And you will need to moisturise your feet straight afterwards, to keep it from further drying out.

As far as beautiful feet go, the Emjoi PediSmooth will certainly help you achieve them.  But more importantly, it will help you maintain them!  In my next post I'll have a detailed foot care tutorial that features this product, along with a few other products that will make sure your feet are no longer a source of embarrassment, and how to keep them soft and smooth all year round. Watch out for it!

For more information on the Emjoi PediSmooth, please visit their website: www.emjoi.com.au.  You will find it under "products".

*Please note: product was sent for consideration.

KORA Organics Rejuvenating Foot Balm

Foot creams are essential after my daily shower or before bedtime, because it keeps my feet soft and smooth.  I have used many a foot cream in my lifetime (I'm no spring chicken!) but I have never encountered one so deliciously scented that I want to lick my own foot after applying it.  Today's product review is one of my all time favourite products in the KORA Organics skincare range.

The Rejuvenating Foot Balm (90ml - $34.95 AUD) is encased in the typical KORA Organics "almost Tiffany blue" simple, matte packaging.  The foot balm smells absolutely amazing - exactly like candy canes at christmas time!  Soft and sweet, with a touch of peppermint... yum!  That alone is a win for me. However, there are many other great features of this foot cream.  The first one being that it's over 99% natural and that over 62% of the total ingredients are sourced from organic farming.  It has been certified organic according to the ECOCERT standard.

The "blurb" and instructions on how to use the foot balm

This foot balm says that it "soothes and cools" aching or tired feet.  In all honesty, I don't know if it lives up to the claim or not as I use this every day and my feet are never "achy" or "tired".  However, I do notice that after wearing heels for a few hours I'll come home and use this after a shower, and it does feel quite cooling.  I imagine it would be quite soothing for feet that were actually aching!

List of ingredients

The "balm" itself isn't really a balm.  It's nothing like those petroleum based foot creams where it's thick, clear, oily and greasy to the touch.  I use a small blob (about the size of my fingernail) and it's more than enough to coat my entire foot and ankles.  It's very easy to rub in, quite quick to be absorbed, and light.  It's not greasy at all.  I always pop cotton socks on after applying this, though. So maybe it is greasy and I just don't know it?!  Ha, doubt it though, because on the occasions that I've taken my socks off less than an hour after application, my feet feel soft and smooth and not sticky at all.

"Trust"

A unique, cute little thing to note about KORA Organics products is that each product in the line is stamped with a word that is aimed to inspire you to live a better life.  The foot balm has the word "trust" on it.

This foot cream (or balm) is the one I have enjoyed using the most, out of all the other foot creams I've used.  It's moisturising but light, smells AMAZING and is 99% natural.  The Rejuvenating Foot Balm retails for $34.95 AUD for 90ml.  The entire KORA Organics range can be found in David Jones stores, some Terry White Chemists and from their online store.

Keep your eyes peeled, because I'm going to be posting a tutorial on how to keep your feet soft and baby smooth all year round, very very soon.  If your feet are dry and cracked, this is a post you don't want to miss!

Product Empties of April

I have never done a post like this before, where I list what products I have finished in a certain month so I thought now be a good time to start.  This month, I've used up quite a few!  I am in desperate need to replace them but due to money issues (i.e.: school expenses) I've had to make do with other products that I'm either impartial to, or don't like at all.  Without further ado, here's what I've used up this month:

M.A.C. Cleanse Off Oil 150ml - $37 AUD

The Cleanse Off Oil by M.A.C. is one of the first cleansing oils I've ever used. Initially, I think it may have broken me out so I stopped using it and tried other products.  However, nothing beats the lightness and affordability of the M.A.C. oil so I went back to it when I discovered the other products were far too expensive.  Especially for something that just sits on my face for a few minutes and then gets washed down the drain! I've been using it almost daily (to wash off my BB cream) and haven't experienced any further breakouts.  I guess my skin just went through the "purge" phase, which is apparently normal when first using oil cleansers.  I definitely will be repurchasing this!  In the meantime, I've been using a baby wipe to take off my makeup and BB cream which I really hate :(

Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone Coconut Quench 118ml - $59.95 AUD 

The Coconut Quench is a toner spray/refresher/instant hydration booster that can also be used for your hair.  I first saw it on the Mecca Cosmetica website and thought it sounded perfect for me as I absolutely love coconut scented products!  I tried it in my hair first but decided I didn't like to add water to my already frizz prone hair (even though it made it smell yummy) so I started using it as a facial toner.  It smells delectable and is super hydrating, perfect for my dry-ish skin.  I use it before applying serum and moisturiser.  I have not experienced any adverse reactions from this product and I love the fine mist it comes out in, so I will be repurchasing this.  In the meantime, I've gone back to using my Comvita Hydrating Toner Mist which I quite like but notice that it feels a little heavy on my skin and dries to a slightly sticky finish.

Trilogy Rose Hip Oil 45ml - $34 AUD

This Rose Hip Oil is what I use in lieu of a fancy schmancy facial serum.  I like to be as natural as possible, and you can't get more natural than this!  I believe that since I've started using rose hip oil, my skin has dramatically improved in terms on texture, firmness and tone (as in, redness around my nose has subsided).  It is cheap considering that this is a product that actually works!  I have repurchased several of these and I've already moved onto my other 45ml bottle, which I bought as backup a few weeks ago when I realised I was low.  I do not want to be caught out, EVER!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple facial cleanser 236ml - $42 AUD

I have been using the Purity Made Simple facial cleanser for many years now. I don't use it as a daily facial cleanser, instead I save it for days that I'm wearing heavy makeup.  It works so well for that purpose (after my initial oil cleanser remover, that is!)  It used to be my daily cleanser until I switched to natural products.  Since I've now run out, I've been using the Moo Goo Milk Wash which works well enough, but I prefer the Philosophy Purity cleanser because I feel like it works perfectly.  Why have good when you can have GREAT?!

Moo Goo Milk Wash 500ml - $17.95 AUD

This Milk Wash by Moo Goo is a good, natural body wash.  I use it daily on my body in the shower and also to wash my face in the mornings and/or when I'm not wearing makeup at the end of the day.  I also use it on my kids (they have their own bottle in their bathroom).  It smells good and cleanses well and that's all that you really need in a body wash.  Of course, it has the added bonus of being natural and very affordable so I will definitely be repurchasing this until I find a better product on the market (that's as affordable as this one!)  For now, my kid's bottle has been traveling back and forth between our two bathrooms :)

Kio Kio Frangipani Body Cream Review

In case you didn't know, I used to live in New Zealand.  I lived there for about 9 years of my life.  When I hear about good things happening in NZ, I feel a sense of pride.  After all, it was my country for many years!  The latest to make me beam with joy is the brand Kio Kio, which was developed by Fiona Terry.

So, why the buzz?  Firstly, as previously mentioned, I feel a sense of patriotic pride.  Secondly, it's organic, sustainably sourced and SLS, paraben, mineral oil... let's just "nasty ingredient" free.    Thirdly, the products smell divine and lastly, look at that gorgeous packaging which also happens to be eco-friendly! Kio Kio is an "eco-chic bodycare range" which was first launched in America in 2010.  This is one of the reasons why I wish I was an American... first access to an awesome brand!

Frangipani & Puriri body cream - $49 NZD

I was sent two products for consideration, one of which I'll be reviewing today. Today's review is on the Frangipani & Puriri Body Cream.  This cream, which comes in a 200g pot, has the most amazing scent.  It smells just like frangipani!  No, seriously... it's like I've just opened up a door to a room full of fresh frangipani flowers.  It's incredible!  No artificial scents here, it appears to be the real deal.  And what's so lovely about it is that it's not overpowering at all.  It's light and fresh, but lingers on your skin for a long time.  You can only smell it if you're in very close proximity to my skin, though.  Which is a good thing, because it won't clash with anything else I wear.  And also for this reason, I like to save this body cream for special occasions, such as dates (wink wink!)

The cream itself is light, easy to rub in, quick to be absorbed yet very hydrating.  It's really weird.  Usually, if a body cream is hydrating, that also means it's thick and heavy, hard to rub in and leaves a greasy film on my skin. But not this one!  It leaves not a trace of anything on my skin except for that divine scent.  Someone can rub my skin after application and not even be aware of the fact that I have a body cream on.

The only issue I *think* I may have with this cream is that it contains essential oils, which I found out awhile ago that I *may* have sensitivities to after having a patch test performed.  I was advised to avoid it if I could. However, I've been using the body cream every day for an entire week and the only negative effect it was having on my skin was give me the tell tale itch of a could-be eczema outbreak in my neck and chest area.  As soon as I felt that tingle, I stopped using it daily.  I cut down to every second or third day, and my skin has been fine.  So for people with no sensitivity issues, this cream would be a dream to wear on a daily basis!  For those in my shoes, saving the cream for special occasions or just when you want to feel pampered is probably the most ideal way to incorporate it into your life.

Texture of the body cream.  Random milky patches are due to me not using the cream in several days.

Would I purchase this body cream with my own money?  You bet!  Once this runs out, I'm placing an order!  I'm going to try the other scents, and even the other products in the range.  It has impressed me that much!  

For more information on Kio Kio, visit their website: www.kiokio.com

Kiss Me On My Tulips

This weekend is a low key one for me, so I decided to perk it up by wearing a super bright, fun colour on my nails.  Kiss Me On My Tulips is part of the Holland Collection by OPI, designed for spring/summer 2012.  I love pink nail polish, however this colour isn't all that unique.  It's a hot pink.  There are lots of similar pinks that you can find by O.P.I. and other brands.  I think that Chanel's Rose Exuberant is quite a good match and in fact, that's why I decided to get this one instead, to save a few dollars.

Perhaps I should have gotten the Chanel instead, because I find the formula of Kiss Me On My Tulips (which is a creme) to be a little streaky.  I had to apply three applications to get an even coverage.  It's not too bad, two coats would have been sufficient but I'm quite pedantic about little things like that.

The good thing about this colour is that is doesn't seem to chip as easily as some other colours by OPI. Being a creme probably has something to do with that.  Or perhaps it was because I applied three coats, which I rarely do. Hmmm?!

A day old, in artificial light.

A day old, in natural light.

Right after application, in natural light.

I really like the other colours in the Holland collection, so I'll probably get them at a later date. I love the look of Pedal Faster Suzi, but I have enough pinks as it is so I'm trying to venture out and discover other colours. Vampsterdam and Dutch Ya Just Love seem like good contenders!

My weekend is extremely low key, I haven't left the house at all yet but tomorrow is another day.  My nails will be flaunted then, although it's not hard to miss.  Especially in this drab weather!  Kiss Me On My Tulips is definitely a great colour to perk up your day.

February Beauty Box Subscriptions

Interested in knowing what came in the February Lust Have It box and the Valentine's edition Glossybox?  I received mine last week but wasn't able to pick them up until late last week and today.  To find out more about these boxes, click the links: Lust Have It website, Glossybox website. Spoiler alert for those still waiting!

Lust Have It - February

The contents at a glance. $14.95 AUD.

Davroe Tame lemongrass detangler 50ml
RRP $21.50 for 315ml spray

Lancome Juicy Tube
RRP $46 for 14g

Lush sugar scrub
RRP $6.50 for 100ml

Sasy n Savy rose lavender hand and nail repair creme 5ml
RRP $25 for 100ml

Taut collagen infusion mask x1
RRP $44.95 for a pack of 5

A card with info on how to care for your skin, dependant on your age range.

Glossybox - Valentine's edition

The contents at a glance. $14.95 AUD

Bobbi Brown lash glamour extreme lengthening mascara
RRP $48 for 6ml

Polished London nail enamel
RRP $7.99 for 10ml

Proactiv deep cleansing wash 60ml
RRP $39.95 for 475ml

Jane Iredale Tantasia self tanner
RRP $54 for 124ml

Star and Rose Floral Wonderland emergency nail files
RRP upon request (???)

I'm quite happy with both the boxes.  I'm most excited about the mascara and hair detangler spray!  However, I don't think I'll be continuing with either of the subscriptions as I need to start seriously saving up.  If you're subscribed, are you happy with the contents this month?  If you're not subscribed, would you consider subscribing?

Mecca Cosmetica - You Make My Heart Sing

This is just a post showcasing some very poorly swatched colours in the 6 set of mini nail polishes called "You Make My Heart Sing".  While Mecca Cosmetica really does make my heart sing, their set of mini polishes doesn't quite do it for me.  I'm not too big on the colours, but I do like that it sits very prettily on my vanity.  This was a christmas gift :)

Firstly, let's get into the general basics.  This set is available at Mecca Cosmetica stores or online (website here).  It costs $60 AUD for 6 x 9ml "classic glide on" nail polishes.  The colours are quite varied and ideal for someone who likes wearing nail polish but doesn't do much experimenting with colours.  So in other words, this set was ideal for me as I am a french manicure girl.  If I wear colour, it will almost always be red or pink and be on my toes.

Ironically, I decided to write this post because I was wearing the pinky-purple shade (Timandra) on my toes and thought it would be a good opportunity to put up some swatches.  Toe swatches are gross, but rest assured my photos are poor in quality so no harm will come to your mental health after seeing my horrific piggies.  Having said that, the colours you see are true to life.  So these swatches won't be completely useless!  I'm sorry about the poor quality of the swatches, though.  I am extremely lazy and halfway through painting my nails I got bored and wanted to do something else.  Such is life!

Anyway, while most of these so called "glide on" polishes did just that (glide on smoothly), I found that the lightest two shades of pink were quite gloppy and left a streaky finish, even after three applications.  But perhaps that was just my impatience at waiting for it to dry before putting on another coat?  All the other colours were very easy to apply and gave a streak free finish.  In fact, one coat would have been sufficient for the darker colours.

Two days old.  Two coats applied.

Freshly applied.   Perdita, Thaisa & Virgilia have two coats each.  Jessica and Rosaline have three coats each.

I love pink polish, but I am not too fond of the pink shades in this set. Timandra and Virgilia are the only two shades I like, all the others I don't think go well with my skin tone.  So I doubt that I will be getting much use out of this set.   The quality of the polishes itself are quite comparable to O.P.I. and have lasting staying power, so if there were shades I really liked I would most definitely be in love with this set.  It's just that the colours aren't my cup of tea.  I will continue to wear Virgilia and Timandra, but I think the rest are destined to remain decoration for my vanity.

MooGoo Fresh Cream Deodorant VS Harmoni's Kiss Organic Girl Roll On

Since the beginning of summer I have been trailing two different aluminium free deodorants, MooGoo and Harmoni's Kiss.  For two weeks I applied both to an underarm each and compared them in action, then later on I tested them individually, without comparison.  Read on to discover my findings!

MooGoo Fresh Cream Deodorant - 60ml - $9.95 AUD

Ingredients: Demineralized Water, Magnesium Hydroxide, Corn Starch, Xantham Gum, Witch Hazel, Organic Lemon Myrtle.

I must admit, I'm not a fan of the scent.  It smells rather bland and... damp. Or something.  I'm not sure, maybe it's the lemon myrtle?  Smell aside, it is very easy to apply.  It dries relatively fast to a powdery feel.  It does leave a slight white film on your skin which is annoying if you're wearing a singlet, but it keeps me feeling dry for a couple or hours.  By the end of a busy, active day, I'm just a teensy bit stinky.  Available online or in selected pharmacies and health stores.

Harmoni's Kiss Organic Girl Roll On - 50ml - $4.95 AUD

Ingredients: (*Organic) Lavender Hydrosol*, Witch Hazel Extract*, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Aloe Vera Powder*, Bicarb Soda, Zinc Oxide, Glycerine*, Lime Oil*, Orange Oil*, Lavender Tree Oil*, Geranium Oil*, Frankincense Oil*, Sweet Fennel Oil, Fragrance, Potassium Sorbate.

 

At first, I hated the scent of this roll on.  And while it was easy to apply, it took a while to dry on my skin.  But it was totally clear, so wearing a singlet was not a problem.  I eventually got used to the scent and now I actually quite like it!  It doesn't keep me feeling as dry as MooGoo, but by the end of a busy, active day, I'm not stinky AT ALL.  Available online or in Woolworth's supermarkets.

How do they compare?
For an everyday deodorant for days where I'm just home or not very active, I prefer to use the MooGoo Fresh Cream Deodorant because it keeps me relatively dry and smelling fresh throughout the day.  If it's a hot day and I know I'll be quite active, I use the Harmoni's Kiss Organic Girl Roll On because it keeps me from smelling like BO by the end of the day (even after a long, fast paced walk)!  If I could only choose one to use permanently, it would be Harmoni's Kiss.  For just under $5, it's great value for money and works very well.

In my opinion, the MooGoo deodorant would probably suit those who are sensitive to essential oils or just have general skin sensitivity.  It's list of ingredients is very short so would be less irritating.  However, as mentioned earlier, the MooGoo deodorant does leave a slight white film and can rub off onto dark coloured clothing.  Harmoni's Kiss does not have this problem.

That's not to say that Harmoni's Kiss is without its own problems.  I find that with continuous use (say 4 days in a row) my underarms get a bit itchy.  I do have eczema so I think my skin may be slightly sensitive to certain oils.  This is why I choose to continue using MooGoo.  It may be more expensive and harder to find than Harmoni's Kiss, but my underarms do not get irritated with continuous use.

Both deodorants do a great job.  Harmoni's Kiss does a slightly better job than MooGoo at keeping the BO at bay, but they both work very well, even with just one application in the morning.  By the end of a busy, active day, I don't feel embarrassed to raise my arms on a packed train carriage anymore!

Burt's Bees Body Butter

I was a lucky one along with nineteen others who were selected to be a part of the Burt's Bees VIP trial team several weeks ago.  The products we got to try out were the body butter and sugar scrub.  I was sent both products nearly a month ago, and today I will be reviewing the Cranberry & Pomegranate Body Butter.

First off the bat, let me let you in on a little secret... I am not just a pretty face (if a pretty face at all, ha)!  Out of the 3 yummy scents, I chose cranberry & pomegranate for two reasons.   One: I have heard all about the anti-aging properties of both fruits and liked the idea of an anti-aging body care product.  Two: as much as I loved the sound of the other scents (mango & orange, and honey & shea) I decided to pick cranberry & pomegranate because I knew that I had more of a chance of winning (because it's not as popular as the other scents, therefore it increased my chances as I wouldn't have been up against so many others.  While I'm not sure if this was the case, it certainly worked for me, did it not?  Winner winner, chicken dinner!)

Close up of the inside of my tub of the Burt's Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Body Butter.

Anyway.  Having said all that, I'm quite pleased I picked cranberry & pomegranate, because it smells rather yummy.  It has quite a light, soft fruit-ish scent.  Once rubbed in, you can't really smell it unless you put your nose to your skin and sniff.  I prefer heavily scented products, but this would be good for those who prefer a less obvious scented product, or for days you don't want to clash with your perfume.  It has been perfumed with a natural fragrance so there shouldn't be any issues for those with sensitive skin.  The first few ingredients listed for the body butter are quite pleasing to an organic & natural skincare lover such as myself: aqua, sunflower seed oil, glycerin, coconut oil... I already use coconut oil on its own as a body moisturiser, so I'm quite happy with the ingredients.  

The rest of the ingredients are as follows: cetyl alcohol, sweet almond oil, parfum (natural fragrance), sucrose stearate, cranberry seed oil, punica granatum seed oil, shea butter, jojoba butter, cocoa seed butter, tocopherol, lactic acid, magnesium aluminum silicate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, glyceryl laurate, sucrose polystearate, soybean oil, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, oakmoss extract, citral, citronellol, farnesol, geranoil, limonene, linalool.  Now I must admit, I'm no scientist and I have no idea what the last 14 ingredients are.  They don't look natural (but what do I know?)  On the website it states that it is a 99% natural product, so I suppose I will have to take their word for it.  Note to self: google is your best friend!

The rich, thick texture of the Burt's Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Body Butter.  (Don't mind my extremely dry hands!)

Besides the lovely, natural fruit scent, I quite enjoyed the richness of the butter.  It is a butter, after all, so you would expect that it would be thick and extremely moisturising.  It is very smooth and easy to apply, but it takes a bit of work to rub in because it looks white until it starts to absorb into the skin.  So don't overdo it with this moisturiser!  A little goes a long way (as I learnt the hard way, haha).  It's been nearly a month and I have used this product every single day after a shower (sometimes twice a day), and my tub is still about half full.  A 185g/6.5oz tub retails for $29.95 here in Australia, so it's not too bad considering it is a natural product that will last you quite a while.

My only gripe with the Burt's Bees body butter is that it is thick... too thick for me!  Which is not a bad thing for dry skin, as I do have, but it's so thick that it doesn't seem to absorb quickly enough.  I like my moisturisers to leave no residue whatsoever.  The butter kind of leaves a sticky feeling on your skin, which annoys me because during hot days, who wants sticky skin?  I don't think I would mind so much if this were winter.   However, it doesn't last for long, just for a couple of minutes after I've applied it so I usually will just wander around the house naked before I get dressed (sorry, neighbours)!  The fact that it does that, though, tells me that it will keep my skin nice and hydrated.  Which, after using for nearly a month, I have seen that my skin no longer looks dry and scaly, even after I've shaved my legs (I usually look like a lizard afterwards).  So being rich and thick is a good thing!  It lasts all day, too.

Overall, I have enjoyed using the Burt's Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Body Butter.  It has kept my skin soft and hydrated and I've had no adverse reactions from using it.  I do have keratosis pilaris, but it hasn't aggravated my skin condition at all.  It hasn't made it go away, but hey, nothing will!  Daily moisturising is key in maintaining kp, and this body butter has done it's job well.  I will most likely purchase this myself, but would want to try the other scents (available at Myer, David Jones, Priceline).

If you want to find out more about the product, or about any other Burt's Bees product, do have a peek at their website: burtsbees.com.au.  Thank you Burt's Bees for giving me the opportunity to give this a try!  It is honestly a product I would have overlooked, in favour of using just plain old coconut oil.  But I'm glad I've tried it, as now I know there is another product out there that will help keep my skin soft and smooth :)

Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose Shampoo & Conditioner

Looking for a natural shampoo that actually cleanses?  What about a natural conditioner that will work hard at conditioning your hair?  Or are you just after a sweet smelling shampoo & conditioner that will leave your mane attracting honey bees for days?

Look no further. I have found it for you!  This is my review of the Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose shampoo and conditioner.  I've been using it for several months now, since the start of this year.  I discovered this product browsing the Aubrey Organics Australian website and was planning on ordering just soap, but succumbed to the free shipping offer if $75 or more was spent.  So I hastily added the Honey Suckle Rose conditioner (as I had plenty of shampoo at home) along with a few other items and patiently awaited my order.

One sniff basically sold me.  I didn't even try it on my hair before I decided that I was in love with it, the conditioner just smelt so wonderful!  So soft, sweet and feminine.  Once my regular shampoo ran out, I went back online to order the Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose Shampoo but the website was undergoing maintenance.  I waited.  And waited.  I managed to snag free samples of shampoo during my wait, but several weeks later the website was still apparently getting maintenance done.  So, frustrated, I finally found another website that stocks this product, along with basically the whole Aubrey Organics range.  This is where I found it: www.innerglow.com.au.

Honey Suckle Rose Shampoo

Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose Shampoo

If you're not familiar with natural shampoos, then you'll probably really hate them until you get used to them.  Because they don't contain any chemical foaming agents, they are quite runny in consistency and don't produce much lather at all.  It's no different for this shampoo.  However, I like to double wash because the second time I use it, it produces quite a nice lather!  I feel that it cleanses better when it foams up and because the first wash barely produces anything, the second wash more than makes up for it.  I'm not sure why a lather is formed the second time around, but I'm glad it does as it makes my hair feel like it's cleaner.  It does not dry out my hair at all, in fact, I believe that this has helped my hair become more softer and moisturised.  The scent is very soft and floral, but not grandma floral.  It's very delicate and sweet.  Smells very much like herbs mixed with honey suckle!

Honey Suckle Rose Conditioner

Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose Conditioner

My favourite hair conditioner OF ALL TIME.  This stuff has stolen my heart and become a holy grail!  Not only does it smell absolutely amazing (very similar to the shampoo, but much more sweeter), it actually does a fantastic job and keeping my tresses moisturised and manageable.  Some reviews have said that it is way too "oily" and makes the hair really slippery, and to some extent that is true.  But if you have extremely dry, frizzy hair like myself, it's actually a good thing.  Once you've rinsed it out thoroughly, it feels so wonderfully soft and light.  My hair just drinks it up.  The honey suckle rose range IS designed for very dry, brittle hair so if you have normal or oily hair, it may not work for you.  

Let me tell you a little secret: I used this range on both my boys and they have normal hair.  It does not leave their hair oily at all.  They both have gorgeous, easily maintained hair.  So will it work for everybody?  Maybe, if you can get used to how it feels the first few times.  But I'll leave that up to you to decide.  Most conditioners say to only apply to the lengths of the hair, but with this conditioner, I have no problems rubbing it all over, even letting it sit on my scalp.  As "slippery" as it feels, it really does not leave my hair oily whatsoever.  Just light, soft and moisturised.  For me, it is not greasy... I cannot stress that enough!

For myself and my family, it works wonders.  Both the shampoo and conditioner last a long time (a little goes a long way) and at roughly $20 AUD per bottle (for 325ml), it works out to be a reasonably priced natural product.  As long as they keep making these, I'll keep buying them and using them religiously because it is a fantastic range!

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow - Illusoire & Epatant

Epatant & Illusoire

These eye shadows are amazing.  First of all, they're Chanel, so you know they're not going to disappoint.  Secondly, they have a very unique texture - a bit like a mousse: gel like & cushy.  It applies quite easily and is buildable.  It can be used as either an eye shadow or an eye liner.  They have an intensive shimmer (the grown-up kind) that look amazing in all lights.  Chanel claim that this is a crease free eyeshadow, and from my 8 hours of wear (with primer underneath) it has delivered this claim without a problem.  In Australia, these babies retail for $48 for a 4g/0.14oz pot (ouch)!  But they come with a mini angled brush, which is good quality but I have yet to try them out.

Mini angled brush that comes with each eye shadow pot

The mini brush, lid off and put on the end as an extension.  Very convenient!

I have only two: Illusoire 83 and Epatant 84.  I purchased them from Myer.  Epatant I got about a month ago with two Myer gift cards (thanks, myerone!) and some loose change. Illusoire I got just recently, after putting aside $12 per week after I had purchased my first one and fell in love.  I hope to get at least two more colours - Ebloui 86 and Emerveille 82... anyone want to be my secret santa?  Haha.  I'm glad christmas is just around the corner!

Onto the swatches.  First up, Epatant, which was my first one.  It is intensely shimmery and you can see a FOTD that I posted awhile ago using this colour by clicking here.  I would describe the colour as a muted green-silver.  I imagine that this colour would suit anybody as it is just so universal.  Personally, I'm not big on green eye shadows but the silver is what drew me to buy it.

Obviously I've used this a few times already!

Now onto Illusoire.  This colour is very popular, almost everyone goes for this one as their first Chanel Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadow.  I would describe it at a soft metallic purple-mauve-taupe (sorry, I'm not good at describing colours)!  It's shimmery (as they all are) but it's not quite as shimmery as Epatant.  I love purple eye shadows so this one was a must have.  It looks gorgeous as a wash of colour on the lid all on it's own.  I haven't yet used this with any other shadows to create a look, but I do plan on playing around with it once my eyes become less red and irritated.

My Illusoire when it was still a virgin, hehe!

Illusoire worn alone as a light wash on my lids.

Now here are the swatches of it on my arm.  The first photo was taken in natural lighting, no flash.  The second photo was taken in natural lighting with camera flash.  You can see that even in natural lighting, it's supremely shimmery.

Botton/left: Epatant.  Top/right: Illusoire.
Natural lighting, NO flash.

Bottom/left: Epatant.  Top/right: Illusoire.
Natural lighting, WITH flash.

Gorgeous, no?!  I'm itching to get the other colours, as I love the consistency and ease of application.  When you find something great that you really love, I believe you should get it in all colours available!  So... as I asked earlier, who's going to be my secret santa this year?!  Hehe!