Quick Review: Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant

 

Hi guys! I hope you're enjoying my weekly blog posts. I'm trying to push myself to get something published each Monday, and it's actually forcing me to be more organised, which is definitely a good thing! Recently I was sent Dermalogica's Daily Milkfoliant to trial and review on two other websites (with no obligation to post about here on the blog), so I thought I'd tell you my thoughts in case this is a product you're keen to try!

'Calming vegan exfoliating powder polishes skin while supporting the skin's moisture barrier. Vegan milky powder exfoliant with Oat and Coconut activates upon contact with water, releasing botanical extracts to help polish away dead skin cells. This gentle exfoliating powder and a blend with fruit-based Grape Extract and Arginine rich in Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) work together with Coconut Milk for smoother, softer skin. Harvested from Papaya, Papain Extract provides exfoliating properties, helping to resurface skin.'

I'm really enjoying the new Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant. First of all the pretty blue packaging looks great on my bathroom shelf. The bottle design is highly functional and the small dispensing hole means it's quite difficult to accidentally let water into the bottle. The product itself is a powder that you add a few drops of water to, making a paste, which you then use to exfoliate your face. I love how gentle this is. It's non-abrasive and doesn't feel like a normal exfoliant. Afterwards my skin feels refreshed, clean, smooth and polished. I've noticed my skin tone is really even lately. I do have an extensive skincare routine but I feel like the Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant is definitely contributing to how fresh, smooth and even my complexion is looking. I love this product and would highly recommend it.

Retailing for $99 (74g) it is not cheap. You can get a smaller size for $24 (13ml)

My tips:

~ I'd recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin as it's super gentle, non-abrasive and calming, so is unlikely to irritate those with sensitive skin
~ Make sure you tightly seal the bottle after use especially if keeping it on the shower shelf, as you don't want any water getting in. The powder needs to be kept dry.
~ Even though it says 'daily' milkfoliant I recommend starting off using every other day. It's gentle af, but as with anything, best not to launch right in. I learned this recently with a new retinol serum. RIP my skin lol.

I got a nostalgia hit trialling this, as I used to love using Dermalogica's original Daily Microfoliant back in the day. In checking out the Dermalogica website, I've just noticed there is a special 2021 Limited Edition Daily Microfoliant going for $89 (74g) so that's slightly cheaper, if you were wanting to try the Microfoliant instead of the Daily Milkfoliant. OK, have a good day! 

April Empties: Six Little Beauties!

Emptiness so good I've already replaced four out of the six, and considering the fifth. Just feeling a bit guilty buying beauty products, given the excessive haulage of late. I know replacing staples is a completely different ballpark, but I should utilise the large stash of products I have built up instead.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This stuff is crazy good! It's like..... well, liquid gold. Bahaha, that was shocking. And so was the difference in my skin after a few uses of this much-hyped cult product from Alpha-H. It stings a bit on application, but it's supposed to. It's a skin resurfacing treatment that claims to reduce wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation and brighten your complexion. It did all of those things for me, plus my skintone was more even, and in general, just looked way better than before. I'm already on to my second bottle.

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
I've already replaced this but with the Light shade, because how hard is it to find bloody Fair Clair? IMPOSSIBLE! Same with the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. Everyone has Light, but Fair Clair is as rare as hen's teeth! Fair Clair is lighter than Light. Since Light looked quite yellow-toned I thought it was worth trying for concealing blueish dark under-eye circles and it is doing a good job. I just wish Fair Clair was more readily available!

Maybelline Masterliner
I adore this creamy, easy to use retractable black pencil liner. It can be built up to create a dramatic line, and you never have to sharpen it. I love the results, and the fact that it doesn't budge, smudge or smear, all day. It's also quite inexpensive and Priceline always have sales and discounts, so it's not uncommon for me to get two for the price of one. A definite staple in my makeup bag!

Benefit Boo Boo Zap
I really liked this, but probably won't repurchase, just because I'm psychologically not alright with spending $28 on a zit gel. It did work really well at clearing up problem spots and was fast-drying and didn't leave my skin sticky like some pimple treatments do, meaning I could wear it under makeup without it rubbing off. Aargh, maybe I should consider getting another one?

Clinique Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel
From the Skin Supplies For Men range. So SO good. And it kills me not to repurchase, but it's $52 and I've been spending a lot lately. Also, it gives me a chance to work my way through all the eye creams in the cupboard and try some new products. Anyway, this eye gel is a wonder product, a multitasking little gem. It reduces puffiness, hydrates and decreases my dark circles. I've blogged about it before here.

Dermalogica Precleanse
This is a cleansing oil that kind of melts your makeup off, and at first I thought what's the point of adding another step, won't I just remove my makeup with cleanser anyway? But then I became a bit addicted. I'm using way more Dermalogica products than I used to, and I find them so effective (if not a little expensive). It feels odds rubbing an oil into oily skin, but apparently Precleanse is ideal for oily skin types. It also removes all traces of eye makeup quickly and easily. Unfortunately I knocked this bottle to the ground in the shower and it split on the bottom, so I had to store it upside down to prevent leakage until I'd finished it. I've replaced it with the 150ml bottle.

Disclaimer: Alpha-H Liquid Gold was won in a competition, all other products were bought by me.

September Favourites!

I'm loving so many products at the moment! Here are five of them .....

The Body Shop Eye Palette in Smoky Copper
This is a sturdy, well-designed flip-lid palette with a large mirror and four gorgeous shades that deliver. I'm a sucker for shimmery bronze hues, and this palette houses four highly wearable colours. The lightest can be used for highlighting, the next one for all over the lid, then the coppery shimmer for the socket and the darkest brown for the outer edges. I'm getting so much use out of this, it's really become my go-to palette. Ultra-flattering, great-wearing and gorgeous coppery bronzes and browns. LOVE!

Clinique Powder Blush in Iced Lotus
I used this every day for a long time until recently, when I graduated to a coral blush from BYS (which I'm loving). It's a highly pigmented very light pretty pink with a shimmer that I'm almost certain came in a Gift With Purchase (GWP), because I never buy individual blushes from Clinique. I think I'll start using this as an eyeshadow, just so that I don't use The Body Shop palette every single day.

Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer
This is a sample size I received from Ry as part of a bunch of review products, and you can read my initial thoughts here. The more I use this product, the more I fall in love with it. It really is one of the best Dermalogica products I've ever used (right up there with the Daily Microfoliant). It smooths the surface of my skin and provides a great base for makeup as well as mattifying and extending the wear of my foundation and/or concealer.

Innoxa Antioxidant Lip Glaze in Tangerine
This was given to me by a friend, and it has become a firm favourite of mine. This is saying a lot, because I will always prefer lipstick over lip gloss, and generally dislike the way gloss, or glaze in this case, makes my lips feel. However, the Innoxa glaze is light on the lips, non-sticky and a beautiful consistency. The tangerine colour is subtle and pretty and the fragrance reminds me of vanilla cupcakes! Also, I've been putting some on during my makeup application and by the time I'm ready for lipstick, it actually seems to have plumped my pout, leaving my lips luscious and healthy looking. Sometimes I even leave it on and forego the lippy, although this is really hard given my fondness for lipstick!

NAT Agebloc Eye Cream
I received this product to trial from Facial Co. and was expecting big things when I read that it's to be used as an alternative to Botox injections! (No, I've never tried Botox, but we all know the effects that has!). Anyway, I was very pleasantly surprised when I massaged this white cream in and saw how smooth and tightened my under-eye area was. I have a few fine lines in this area, but NAT Agebloc reduces them significantly, pretty much to the point where I can barely notice them. I haven't had this kind of success with any other wrinkle treatment cream, so will definitely be buying a tube of this once I've finished my current one. Another plus is that it absorbs quickly and can be worn under makeup. Nothing worse than finding an awesome eye cream that makes you look younger but rubs off as soon as you dab your concealer on!

Disclaimer: The Body Shop I bought; Clinique part of a GWP; Innoxa gifted by a friend; Dermalogica provided for trial/review purposes; NAT provided for trial purposes. This is not a sponsored post (no money was offered or received). All opinions are my own.

July Empties Reviewed!

'Empties' refers to the beauty products I've finished. Here are all my empties from last month, with my thoughts on each!

NORSCA CLEAR SPORT ANTI-PERSPIRANT DEODORANT
This was satisfactory while I wasn't very active, but as soon as I increased my exercise level (walking to and from school for pick-ups and drop-offs and excessive housework, LOL) I noticed the performance of this deodorant rapidly declined. To the point where I could actually SMELL my sweat! This never happens and I was completely mortified! I will not be repurchasing this product.

TRILOGY BODY CLEANSING BAR
I normally love Trilogy products, particularly their lovely Rosehip Oil, however I could only rate this as a satisfactory soap. Despite the inclusion of the aforementioned organic rosehip oil, aloe vera, carrot and chamomile, I was put off by the sharp and awkward edges of this product. It comes as a long bar with an obvious indentation line along the middle, where you are supposed to split the bar in two. However, the product was too thick to break with my hands, so I had to cut it. So I had the sharp hurty edges from the side I cut, plus the already abrupt edges/pointy corners from the other sides. This ruined my whole experience with the Trilogy body cleansing bar, and I probably would have a less harsh opinion if the edges were smooth.

DERMALOGICA SPECIAL CLEANSING GEL
I seriously love this clear cleansing gel from Dermalogica! It's gentle, yet effective, and my skin feels clean and healthy afterwards. I raved about this product in my May Faves, which you can read about here. I'm sad that its gone, and I'll be actively trying to win some more, and failing that, I will reluctantly purchase a bottle!

AVEDA INVATI EXFOLIATING SHAMPOO & THICKENING CONDITIONER
I was excited to win these through a Facebook competition, as I'm always on the lookout for volumising hair products and treatments. However, I didn't notice any difference in my hair or any real effect from using the product. This is understandable given the tiny sample size (I think I only got one use out of the shampoo and two out of the conditioner!). The aroma was interesting and somewhat masculine. To be honest, I'll probably forget about these products. Had they included a few more sample tubes or a larger size bottle so I could assess the product more effectively, things may be different.

MAYBELLINE AGE REWIND DARK CIRCLES TREATMENT CONCEALER
I really like the results I get from this under-eye concealer. The thin consistency is perfect for the delicate under-eye region. I find the formula is really great at diminishing the look of my dark circles, and because the texture is light and thin, this allows for the addition of a little Benefit Erase Paste over the top, without any caking or product build-up. In other words, it provides a lovely base if more concealer is needed under the eyes. My only qualms are that the label on the outside of the tube rubs off over time, and I also had an issue with the foam applicator falling off! I'm already using my next tube of this stuff; it's become a regular in my daily makeup routine.

Disclaimer: Aveda, Dermalogica and Trilogy are prizes I won; Norsca and Maybelline I bought. All opinions are my own.

Reviews: Dermalogica & Clarins Goodies from RY

Thanks to the generous lovelies at RY (Recreate Yourself), I've been trialling an array of skincare goodies (Clarins and Dermalogica in particular) for the last couple of weeks, for the purpose of reviewing on this here blog. This is not a sponsored post (check out the Disclaimer at the end for further clarification).

If you're unfamiliar with RY, they are an Aussie company that stock a large range of brands across a variety of categories at discounted prices. They price match, guarantee the authenticity of their products and offer free shipping on orders over $99. From skincare to haircare, makeup, electrical and perfume, RY sell popular brands such as OPI, Model Co, Benefit, Tigi, Fudge, Essie, Napoleon Perdis, Becca, Ecoya and of course Dermalogica and Clarins.

CLARINS TONING BODY BALM
I love the smell of this! It's intoxicating. On inspection of the ingredients, it seems I'm inhaling apple, rosewood and rosemary. I've been using this toning balm before bed every night. It's a thin, white cream that absorbs quickly and easily into the skin, leaving it soft, smooth and silky to the touch. For me, a stand-out product from the ones received.

CLARINS MOISTURE-RICH BODY LOTION
This lotion is also thin in consistency and a little does go a long way, however I found the product didn't absorb easily, and sat on top of my skin, leaving it a bit clammy-feeling. The fragrance is soft, gentle and barely there; you could easily layer your perfume over it without a clash. Suitable for those with dry skin (not me).

CLARINS BODY TREATMENT OIL
This firming and toning oil contains 100% pure plant extracts. To me it feels like the oil version of the Toning Body Balm, for it has the same delicious smell and toning/firming qualities. I've been smoothing this oil over my chest daily (because who doesn't want firmer bewbs?) and I've noticed my skin is more toned and supple. It's nourishing and you only need a tiny bit unless you want to resemble an oil slick. My skin felt slightly tacky until the product absorbed. I'm really enjoying this one and the results it's giving me!

CLARINS FOOT BEAUTY TREATMENT CREAM
I'm big on the whipped mousse-like consistency of this white foot treatment cream, but don't really like the aroma. I guess your feet are all the way down there, though, so it's not of paramount importance. It feels rich and luxurious going on and works well to soften the hard bits, but I'm not in love with it.

CLARINS HAND AND NAIL TREATMENT CREAM
Another favourite from the bunch! This is an off-white coloured cream and is like whipped butter! It smells delightful (like mandarins to me! - nope, ingredients say Shea Butter and sesame seed oil, lol) as you massage it into your hands, leaving them soft, moisturised and ready for the day's tasks. Or a manicure; this would be PERFECT for a pre-manicure treatment. Feels luxurious, absorbs quickly and produces a big smile on my face.

DERMALOGICA SKINPERFECT PRIMER
Such a deceiving product! This primer is a beige shade (I instantly knew it was way too dark for my pale skin, and thought 'oh no'), however, when I rubbed it in, it seemed to disappear magically and blend right into my skin. No dark patches, just a (nearly) flawless, smooth primed base, ready for makeup application. My makeup stayed put throughout the day and I developed considerably less shine because the product mattified my skin. This primer surprised and delighted me and I'm even considering purchasing it once the sample tube runs out. Did I mention it's SPF 30 as well?

DERMALOGICA DYNAMIC SKIN RECOVERY
An adequate SPF30 daily moisturiser. I wasn't overly impressed with this one. I guess it absorbed quickly and was light enough, but I've tried better moisturisers that have done more for my skin.

DERMALOGICA MULTIVITAMIN POWER FIRM
This has the look and feel of a non-tinted primer and absorbs instantly. It contains Vitamin E and targets fine lines, working to firm them. I've only just started trialling this, given all the different creams I've been using, so I need to give it a bit longer before formulating an opinion. Although, my first thoughts are positive since I wore it overnight and this morning my face is looking smooth and I can barely see any fine lines under my eyes. I'm definitely interested to see the results of this with continued use.

DERMALOGICA EXFOLIATING BODY SCRUB
Seriously love this! It has lots of grainy bits for a very satisfying scrub, with a gentle almost almond-like fragrance. My skin felt like new; clean, scrubbed and refreshed. A lovely body exfoliant that I'd definitely consider buying.

JANE IREDALE LIPDRINK
This made my lips feel soft and moisturised but somewhat muted the natural colour of my lips, leaving a slight white appearance. Best used overnight or to prep lips under a lipstick.

CARON BUMP ERAISER
This thick white cream was soothing but I have no idea if it prevented ingrown hairs because I didn't have any before using it and I don't have any after; I don't know if I *would* have got any and this prevented it happening or if I just wasn't going to get any regardless. *Brain explodes*

JUICE SMOOTH ENZ
This repair product was very conditioning and made my hair easy to brush after washing (no small feat) however it would probably be more suited to dry hair types.

I've yet to try the other samples!

In summary, my Favourite Products were......
Clarins Toning Body Balm, Clarins Body Treatment Oil, Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer and the Dermalogica Exfoliating Body Scrub.

Disclaimer: All products were provided by RY for trial and review purposes. No payment was offered/accepted. All reviews are my honest opinion.

What's your favourite Clarins or Dermalogica skincare product?

Where I Rave About My May Faves!

Favourite products for May. Let's go!

Tangle Teezer (Disco Purple)
I'm so glad I jumped on the Tangle Teezer bandwagon, as it's an absolute godsend. My hair gets really tangly, but this baby breezes through the knots relatively painlessly and much more efficiently and effectively than normal brushes. Its unique design allows you to detangle dry or wet, just-washed hair with ease and minimal tugging. I hardly use my old hairbrush these days; I picked up this easy to hold delight and I haven't looked back. I also use it on my 5 year old son's hair, and he loves it, because "it doesn't hurt" when I do his hair now. And might I mention the colour; I just had to get the glittery Disco Purple!

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick (No. 12)
First of all, I'm a massive fan of the Kate Moss range of Rimmel lippies, because the formula, consistency and wear is just divine. They are creamy, yet stay in place for a good amount of time and feel great on. On top of that, at $11.95 they are budget-friendly (and that's the full RRP - Priceline frequently have a 2 for 1 deal or similar offer where you can get a considerable discount). I'm loving Number 12 at the moment; it's a bright, cheerful orangey-coral shade that brings my face to life without being over-the-top. Creamy, non-drying, great-wearing inexpensive lipstick in a pretty shade that suits me and brightens my day = winner in my book! I've Instagrammed a pouty lip swatch of this shade here.

Yves Saint Laurent Paris Eau De Parfum
Basically, this is my all-time favourite perfume. I've been wearing it since I was 20, and I think I'm emotionally connected to it more than anything. That being said, I am IN LOVE with the fragrance of Paris, and no matter how many other perfumes I sample or buy, I always come back to this. Describing fragrances isn't my forte, so I googled and came up with scents of rose, violet, iris, jasmine, sandalwood and bergamot. To me, it smells of flowers, sweetness and overwhelming sentimentality.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
This cleanser is effective, gentle and gives me a satisfying clean without drying out my skin. I like the consistency, the way it lathers and the overall feel of it when I'm massaging it in. I'm experiencing lots of hits and misses with Dermalogica lately, but this Gel fits firmly into the 'hit' category.

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (Light)
My loose powder/makeup brush application combo was not really cutting it in terms of minimising the dreaded shinies my oily skin likes to present me with on a daily basis (even in winter), so I switched things up and started using this powder, and I couldn't be happier! I am only needing to touch up once or twice during the day and there's usually only a tiny amount of shine (around my nose) to fix. This ridiculously obvious epiphany has also led me to start using eyeshadow primer and face primer under makeup to mattify my skin and prolong the wear of my concealer and foundation. I also might switch to mattifying foundation, but for now, this powder has really improved the look of my makeup.

Have you tried any of these products? Feel free to link up your Beauty Faves below in the comments :)

Disclaimer: All products were bought by my except the Dermalogica Gel, which I won.

Giddyup for my May Empties!

Another month, another bunch of Empties. Most notably, Lush Happy Hippy. Goodbye, sweet lover. Oh, how I loved you. Until we meet again (which will be as soon as I can haul thy arse instore).

Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Ageing Cream
I love this moisturiser! It really seems to improve the look of my skin and address the concerns it purports to. I've reviewed it before, here.

Lush Happy Hippy Hair and Body Gel
I refer to this product as a shower gel because I've never used it in my hair, but I have to say, out of all the shower gels I've tried, this is my favourite ever. By far. I simply adore it. It produces a high lather, which is satisfying in itself. But the fragrance, oh my GOD, the fragrance. It's subtle, grapefruity aroma is one of the most uplifting things I've ever experienced. True to the name, this makes me Happy. I don't know about the Hippy part, though. I got this half price during my trip to Melbourne in January, and I'm quite upset it's finished. Already planning when I can get my next bottle. I highly recommend this gorgeous shower gel to anyone and everyone. You won't regret it.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Original
Batiste Dry Shampoo is one of my staples, however I prefer XXL Volume to Original. I can't get by without dry shampoo and don't know how I coped before it was invented. I probably would have actually had to WASH my hair with actual water! LOL. I've blogged about Batiste Dry Shampoo many times before: here are all the places.

Lush Big Shampoo
This is quite fun to use, and quite unlike your everyday liquid shampoos! It contains raw salt, seaweed and lime juice and smells great. You essentially scoop out some Big, dump it on your head and massage it in, complete with chunky raw salt crystals. Make sure you listen for the 'clink, clink, clink' sound as the salt drops down and hits the shower floor! I can't say my hair was bigger after using this, but it was clean and looked good. I'm undecided on a re-purchase at this point, because I still have a Lush New solid shampoo to finish. Besides, I'm single-handedly keeping the Dry Shampoo industry afloat.

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant
This was a sample size I received. I'm a big fan of facial exfoliants, but this was way too gentle for me. I could barely feel the exfoliating particles and it basically just felt like a cream cleanser. It didn't feel like it was giving my skin a deep down clean, and was far from satisfying. It would probably suit those with sensitive skin.

Clean & Clear Advantage Fast Clearing Spot Gel
I really like this spot gel; it works effectively to clear my breakouts and the great thing about it is you can apply it then put makeup over the top and it doesn't have that annoying 'rub-off' effect. I wear makeup all day and I want a treatment that I can use throughout the day, not just at night when my makeup comes off. I received a bunch of these to trial from one of the trial/survey companies ages ago, and I'm still using them up.

REMINDER! Don't throw out your LUSH empties! Bring five empty pots instore and swap them over for a FREE Lush Fresh Face Mask!

Disclaimer: Batiste, Olay & Lush were bought by me. Dermalogica was a free sample and Clean & Clear was provided to trial and review for another company (non-blog related).

I was Sample Savvy in September!

Or 'I Was A September Sample Slut', whichever you prefer :) Samples are a great way to try a product before forking out for the full-size version. Somehow, I have built up quite a collection. I've been planning for some time to start ploughing through these sample sachets, but September is my busiest month, so I didn't finish as many as I would have liked. I still have a box full of sachets, so expect more empties in the future.

Break it dooooooooown .......

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
Lovely chocolate-smelling lotion packed with Vitamin E, Collagen, Elastin and Shea Butter.

Dermalogica Clean Start Ready, Set, Scrub!
Quite enjoyed this scrub that claims to refine pores and fight breakouts. Great for teens.

Dermalogica Clean Start Welcome Matte spf15
This moisturiser really made a noticeable difference. Contains oil controllers. Very effective at minimising the shiny face I normally get after a few hours of makeup application.

Dermalogica Clean Start Bedtime for Breakouts
Didn't like the sticky formula so just used it on my chest instead of face. Wouldn't rave about.

Nivea Visage Young Daily Deep Cleansing Wash Scrub
More wash than scrub, doesn't contain enough scrubbing beads for my liking.

Dove Beauty Cream Bar
Cutest little mini soap bar ever! Feels luxurious, cleans effectively. Love!

Franc Essential Body Melt
Lovely, nourishing, moisturising cream for the body. Quite enjoyed this.

Biore Detoxify Daily Scrub
Didn't like the consistency of this oil-free scrub. Smells bad, too.

Nivea Expert Lift Day Cream
Satisfactory day cream, nothing mind-blowing. Would not purchase.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream
Pleasant, light moisturiser. Feels great, leaves skin soft and supple.

Biore Pore Perfect Nose Strip
Fun to use. Easy to follow directions on back of sachet.

Head And Shoulders Ant-Dandruff Shampoo
Actually really impressed with the results. Hair looked good. Would buy this.

Formula 10.0.6 Down To The Pore Blackhead Banishing Pore Strips
Contains Tea Tree and Kaolin. Again, fun to use and good directions on back.


Do you have an Empties Post? Link it up in the comments below!

March Empties

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical
Adore it! Great for refreshing your hair between washes and adding volume to your locks. I've blogged about this before, most notably here


Garnier Pure Active Blackhead Clearing Scrub
I've gone off this scrub a little bit since starting with Soap & Glory's Scrub Your Nose In It, but I still enjoy it and its strong stench! You can read my previous post on this product here


Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Love this! It's just an all round great product and I'm sad I've finished it. Luckily, I also won a travel-sized version from a Facebook competition, so I'll now be starting on that. Here is my review of this gentle Microfoliant.


Nivea Invisible 48 Hour Anti-Perspirant
Honestly, I can't distinguish between all the deodorants/anti-perspirants I'm using lately. All I know is that since joining the gym, I am going through A LOT of deodorant!


Garnier Invisi Mineral 48 Hour Deodorant
See above. I think they forgot the rest of the word. Invisi??


Schwarzkopf EC Push Up Volume Shampoo
I quite liked this volume shampoo from Schwarzkopf, and as you all probably know by now, I will try anything to get some body into my hair. To be honest, though, the results were OK, but not mind-blowing. I'm actually preferring the Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly products I've moved on to.


Dove Beauty Cream Bar
This is a pampering soap, that feels luxurious and lathers really well. It's very moisturising, and leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. I think the Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Cream Bar is better, but I'm biased because of my addiction to exfoliating products.


What did you finish in March?

October Empties

I've decided to make a conscious effort to use up my sample-sized products, because they are smaller and I'll power through them quicker, meaning I can throw more empties out. I'm fast running out of storage space! Welcome to my October Empties.

TN Dickinson's WitchHazel
My all-time favourite toner, I've been using this product for years, to clean, tone and smooth my skin. I apply it liberally to a cotton ball then swipe my face. It can be used to remove face makeup, or tone skin after a shower, readying your face for moisuriser and makeup. This is especially good to use if I have broken out. I apply it before bed, and it seems to clear up my skin quicker than pimple creams do. At about $6 a bottle, this is a bargain buy.

Revlon Matte Powder Blush in Rose Rapture
This was a great every day blush, in a flattering shade. Upon opening the lid there's a black button you push which makes a mirror pop out the side. This was handy for checking my hair from different angles in the bathroom mirror. I won this product along with a bunch of other Revlon goodies, and won't purchase another, simply because I have many other blushers to use up first.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
This was a pleasant, gentle cleansing gel. So glad I've been winning Dermalogica products lately, because I'm really impressed with the brand. Hope I win more!

Payot Gentle Scrubbing Cream
I quite liked this gorgeously-fragranced exfoliant. It was gentle and felt lovely to use. I've said before, but for fancy French brands, I love Payot so much more than the more-famous Guinot.

ASAP Gentle Cleansing Gel
This was a great little cleanser, although admittedly, I didn't get much out of this tiny sample. But it was my introduction to the ASAP brand, so I was excited to try it.

ASAP Daily Exfoliating Facial Scrub
This was quite possibly the harshest scrub I have ever used. The particles were huge and dense within the formulation. It hurt and after the first go, I decided to use the rest as a body scrub, so as to not lose 10 layers of face skin. OUCH!


** TN Dickinson's WitchHazel was bought by me, all other products I won.


Feel free to link to your October Empties in the comments below so I can check yours out!

August Product Love: My Favourites!

Without further ado, here are five products that have been rocking my world this month.

Covergirl Clean Foundation in Ivory

I actually bought this as a joke when it was half price at Coles because I used it religiously when I was in my teens. I was extremely pleasantly surprised (obviously having forgotten how good it was because my teen years were SO long ago!). This is a brilliant, lightweight formula that glides on effortlessly and blends in incredibly easily. It looks really natural and is easily buildable over areas where you may need a little extra coverage. For the best results, use over a primer as this reduces the oily effect throughout the day. I'd highly recommend this product.

Botani Olive Skin Serum

This is an anti-ageing natural mousturiser in a little glass vial with a dropper for application. After getting the hang of how and where to use this, I'm really appreciating it. Basically, you apply 2-3 drops on damp skin and gently massage it in. I am using this on areas that are a little dry, like my forehead and the sides of my cheeks, and I also use it under my eyes for fine lines. I am seeing a reduction in fine lines under my eyes, but that could this or any one of the hundreds of wrinkle-reducing eye creams I use! OK, not hundreds. But I do alternate between about 8 so it's very hard to pinpoint cause and effect. Anyway, my skin feels lovely and soft, smooth and moisturised after using this serum, and I'm really loving this gentle, natural product.

Sebastian Thickefy Foam

I have tried so many thickening products and more often than not, it's the same result. Crunchy hair. This foam is light and easy to use, not sticky and gives me great results. My hair still goes a bit crunchy, but after brushing it out, I am left with fuller hair, and to me, the results are better than those I get from other brands. I will be sad when this runs out as I won it, and I suspect it's dear to purchase.

BYS Metallics Browns Eye Palette

Well this is just a palette of fun. Sparkly, shimmery disco-ball fun. I love using it! You can use it subtly, but I prefer to whack this shit on 'til I'm glimmery as fuck. Get this, people. It's only $4.95 from Gloss or $3.95 from The Reject Shop. And you'd think it would be crappy quality because it's so cheap, but it's actually buttery smooth and well pigmented. There are lighter and darker shades, bronzes and different hues of brown so you can create blended, graduated looks, too. It doesn't wear for terribly long (creases) but using an eyeshadow primer (I'm yet to try this) underneath would surely extend the life of the colour. I am so glad I bought this!

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

I'd heard so much about this, and I had won a bottle a while ago, but was waiting for my Alpha-H exfoliant to run out. I actually didn't know how this would compare because I had fallen in love with the Alpha-H, but this is better! I'm a massive fan of exfoliants and have tried quite a few. This is a rice-based powder that you mix with water to make a paste. It takes a while to accomplish the perfect consisitency, but once you do, it's easy to recreate every time. It feels fantastic, like I'm getting a really good, deep clean and it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth and fabulous. It also contains a Skin Brightening Complex and ingredients to balance uneven skin tone and calm the skin. I'm hoping to see a brighter complexion with continued use, but I'm loving the results I'm getting from this microfoliant so far.


** Covergirl & BYS bought with my own money, Sebastian & Dermalogica I won and Botani was provided for review on another site. **



What are you loving this month?

Luscious Lip Love!

I wanted to share my current favourite lip products. Here we have a Lip Balm, Lip Shine, Lip Gloss and a Lipstick. Something for everyone! So here are some photos, including swatches, with a little explanation as to why I'm loving my selections.

The Body Shop Born Lippy Passionberry Lip Balm

I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to buy something I used in my school years. The first thing that came to mind was The Body Shop Lip Balm. My all girls college banned makeup, but my friends and I used to wear this everyday, I'm pretty sure in Strawberry (it was red). This stuff is just as good as I remember! Gorgeous fragrance and unbeatable formula. This is my ideal consistency for a lip balm. Slightly sticky, good amount of colour and completely wearable. I'm loving this long time.

Dermalogica Clean Start Smart Mouth Lip Shine

I won this as part of a Clean Start pack from Dermalogica a few months ago. I love the squeezy tube and the cocoa seed butter fragrance of this product is intense. My lips feel soft and moisturised after application and this really provides a great shine to my lips. This is also fabulous to use over a matte lipstick.

Bloom Lip Gloss in Melon

I love the subtle melony sheen this imparts on my lips. I also love the price I got it for. SCORE! Rummaging around the Reduced section of Myer is SO much fun. This is such a flattering shade and I just love the gorgeous Bloom packaging. How can I not smile?

Australis Moisture Intense Lipstick in Mystery

I was after a few nude type lipsticks and I scored big time at Big W as the Australis lipsticks were half price ($4.88 each from memory). After trying  them all out on my hand, I decided on Mystery (sheer light brown crème) and Sugar Plum (sheer beige plum shimmer, according to Australis). Mystery is just what I was after! I hadn't actually tried Australis lipsticks before, but I'm immediately converted! The formula is so creamy and luscious, and the shade is perfect. I will definitely be purchasing more Australis lipsticks in the future!


What lip products are you loving at the moment?