WAXING MADE EASY

Hair removal is not something I experiment with - I have shave because it's easy however I was given the opportunity to trial this new product from Veet and I decided that I would bite the bullet and give a new hair removal method a decent chance. 

The feature of this product that got me interested was the self-heating device. Some may say it's a gimmick but I'm not a fan of the strips you rubs between your hands at all or the pots of wax so I was intrigued. The self heating device is REALLY easy to use. If you're a first time at-home waxer I would highly recommend buying this. It heats the wax cartridge to the exactly the right temperature so you never have to worry about the wax being too hot. It also has a roll on applicator which means that applying the wax is easy and you get an evenly distributed layer on the skin.

The pack comes with everything you need for a single use. I have used all the wax strips and wipes but the cartilage is meant to last up to four uses which I think is really cost effective. As for the waxing process I found it stings but was really easy with the roll on applicator. I found that it was effective at removing the hairs and didn't require going over and over the skin which can irritate my skin. The only compliant I have isn't with this product, it's with waxing in general, I hate the leftover wax and trying to rub it off with the wipes! 

Overall 

If you're looking to start waxing at home I think that this is hands down the way to go. It's not messy, applies evenly and generally makes life easier when waxing. I still don't think I'm sold on waxing as my hair removal method of choice. However this has made me more open to the idea and who knows perhaps I will be all about waxing with continuing using this! 

Have you used this? What did you think?

For more information click here 

RRP $39.99 from Priceline here

*product was provided for consideration - honesty as always! 

GUEST REVIEW: URBAN RITUELLE HIS TRAVEL SET

A very special person is going to be steering this post and it's my boyfriend Isaac! When I received the press release for this little pack for Father's Day I casually dropped it into a conversation if he wanted to review a product for More Than Adored and he was excited to try some new products and be apart of what I do.

This is a little pack new to Urban Rituelle's range and landed just in time for Father's Day. It comes with a travel bag and three travel size products inside. All the products are packaged as squeeze tubes which was a hit with Isaac because it meant that products were no fuss and easy to dispense.

The first product is the Shave Cream contains Shea Butter and Aloe Vera for a clean, smooth shave. It also contains Allantoin & Licorice Extract to protect and soothe. I liked the scent of this product it was clean, fresh and zesty. It lathered up well on application and didn't cause any irritation to my skin however that isn't usually a huge issue for me. This did allow for a close shave but it did clog up the razor a lot.

The All-In-One Wash can be used on hair, body or face. It claims to be non-stripping of essential oils but still provide a skin-softening cleanse. This product foams up really well which is something I look for in a body wash - it's gotta foam! This smells similar to the other products which I really liked. The actual product is a thicker gel but it still lathered well which surprised me.

Lastly is the After Shave Balm which is formulated with green tea and chamomile to soothe, hydrate and product the skin. This was probably my favourite of all three because it isn't a product I would usually use but I really liked using it. It is a light cream that isn't sticky at all and smoothed and soften my skin. Again it smelt really good and is great quality - it doesn't feel like water or yogurt like some other cheap moisturisers feel like.

Overall

I really enjoyed trying out these products for Sarah's blog. I think if you're stuck to buy your Dad or boyfriend a gift at some point then this is great. I enjoyed it because the products aren't something I would go out and buy myself but if I have them I'll enjoy using them. All the products are great quality, smell and packaging. 

RRP $39.95 available here

Enter my latest giveaway

*item provided for consideration - honesty as always 

WEDNESDAY WONDERS: CLEANSERS

If you've been following me for a long time you will know that I am in love with my Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Cleanser. However every now and then my skin gets used to it so I need to give it a break and change out my cleansers. Today's wonders are some products that I've been using instead.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel 

I mentioned that I had finished this in my latest empties and alot of you were interested in hearing more about it. This has replaced my Seaweed cleanser that I usually use in the evenings as my deep cleanse. It's a gel consistency that when you work against the skin it lathers up really well into a foam. I really love how gentle this is because it is targeted at oily sensitive skin I think it's a fantastic cleanser to try if you are struggling with reacting to cleansers. It is deep cleansing (I still don't think it's as good as The Body Shop one) and I find it feels my skin feels really clean but never stripped or 'squeaky'. 

RRP $19.99 available here

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser 

My friend Candice (her blog) reviewed this recently and I loved the sound of it so much that the next week I had purchased it. I've been using this in the morning and I love how invigorating it is! It has a really fresh citrus scent and bursting beads that aren't exfoliating but burst against the skin which is really refreshing. It is a thicker gel cleanser so you only need a little bit of product each cleanse but I find with the packaging I always dispense too much. This also does contain parabens which I try to steer clear of in my skincare but my skin hasn't reacted too it so I see this as my cheeky treat for my skin because I love the refreshing feeling of it so much.

RRP $10.99 available here 

Caroline's Wash*

This was sent to me about a month ago and at first I was a little sceptical to use this on my face and I didn't love it as a facial wash because I didn't find it removed my make up as well as other products. BUT I am prone to the odd pimple or blackhead on my shoulders, neck and chest. It's nothing serious but enough for me to use a product on the area to help keep it clear. This is a fantastic milky cleanser that is extremely gentle on the skin. It is made from botanical ingredients and leaves out all the nasties. It is also fragrance free. This is recommended for a range of different skin conditions and I think if you're a little lost on what to try next this would be perfect for you. I've noticed that since using this I have had less blackheads and pimples in this area. Definietly would be perfect for sensitive skin as I find it incredibly gentle and moisturising. 

RRP $17.95 here

What are you favourite cleansers?

Enter my latest giveaway

*item provided for consideration - honesty as always 

ROUND UP: SUKIN + GIVEAWAY!

Sukin is a brand I've known about for years but never really dived into trying many products from the range. I love the Rosehip Oil they do and that's about all I've tried. So recently when asked to choose out a few products to try I was so excited to see if these products performed as well as I thought they would. I decided to choose out some newer products from Sukin so that if you're thinking of purchasing you have an idea of how they worked for me. 

Sukin Wellbeing Body Oil 

Oils in general are a type of product I'm learning to love for my hair, body and face. I thought this would be an excellent extra treat for my skin whilst it's cold and my skin is dry. It is 100% natural and contains rose hip oil, Marula seed oil, calendula flower extract and soybean oil. The scent is really lovely and relaxing! I love slathering my body before bed because the scent lingers and I find it really calming. The oil itself is a thin consitency meaning a little goes a long way! But it doesn't leave an oily resuidue and is really fast absorbing so I've been loving using this before bed once or twice a week for a bit of a pick me up. Sukin describe this as a multi-use oil ideal for things like massages, popping a few drops in the bath, a foot treatment or for the face. Personally I've only used this on my body however I can imagie this would be delightful in a bath! 

RRP $19.95 here

Sukin Self Tanning Sunless Bronzing Gel 

As some of you may know I'm working on a tanning series due to begin really soon so I thought that this would be perfect to trial prior to that series. This is infused with lemon and lime oils which does give it a really refreshing 'zingy' scent which I love! This is a gradual tan so it's just one you apply instead of your moisturiser daily until you get the desired bronzed looked. For me, I apply for three days and it gives me a lovely sunkissed tan. I've never had a problem with streaking or it drying patchy. This is a gel consitency and I find it to be a little watery so it does take a few applications to get used to that (hint: a little goes a longggg way!) but I find it's a perfect no fuss product. 

RRP $17.95 here

Sukin Rose Hip Hydrating Day Cream 

This I have mentioned before on my blog but it's such a gorgeous moisturiser to apply as a base in the cooler months. This contains rose hip, pomegranate and kakadu plum which all promote radiance. I find this is perfect if your skin is looking dull and dry because it's an intensive moisturiser that perks up the skin. I also find this sits really well under make up not making me look greasy throughout the day. The only downside to this product is the glass jar, I don't mind it now but once I've used more of the product I think it'll be hard to get at the product. I don't think it'll deter me from repurchasing this once I run out though :) 

RRP $23.95 here

Overall 

I'm really impressed by these three products from Sukin and love that they are 100% vegan and don't contain any nasties. If you're considering purchasing some of their products but are unsure where to start I would recommend any of these three products because they're all affordable and really lovely to use! 

GIVEAWAY 

Sukin have been kind enough to give my 3 lots of these products to giveaway to my readers! So 3 of you lucky people will win one of each of the products reviewed :) 

Rules are pretty basic:

-must be over 18 or have parent permission

-giveaway is open to Australian residents only 

-no giveaway blogs/accounts 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone entering! 

*products provided for consideration and giveaway purposes. 

A PERFECT MATCH

I've been trying to use up some of the masks I've accumulated over the past year and in order to do that I've been using two different masks in conjunction with each other. I haven't been blown away by any combinations apart from this one which has been perfect for my skin. 

First I start out by taking a face washer and soaking it in warm water and then laying it over my skin for a minute or two. This really opens the pores which will enhance the mask performance. The first product I apply is the Jojoba Company Skin Refining + Brightening Face Mask* which is a clay base mask that containing bearberry and is derived from daisy flowers (that's pretty cool). In terms of comfort this is really easy to apply, wear and remove for a clay based mask. I've been using this to target discolouration and scarring because it's designed to detoxify, refine and brighten your skin. I find that this definitely detoxifies your skin leaving it feel smooth however I haven't noticed a dramatic difference to my skins pigmentation - hopefully with continued use it will even out my skin. 

Next I pop on the Ocean Essence Nourishing Cherry Face Mask which I've had lying around from a Bellabox months ago. This is a sweet smelling creamy almost gel consistency which at first I was put off by. However this mask has been doing wanders for nourishing and soothing dry patches around my eyes, nose and between my eyebrows. When you apply the product it has a cooling feeling however it's nothing dramatic or overbearing, it then absorbs more into the skin where you're dry which I think is amazing. When you go to remove the product you're left with product only in places where you skin isn't dry or chapped. This has done wanders for my dry patches and I'm considering repurchasing once I've finished it up because I really don't have any other masks aimed for dry skin. 

This combination leaves my skin refined, smooth and hydrated which have been exactly what I've needed in the cooler weather lately! 

What are you favourite masks?

Do you have any secret combinations you love?

*product was provided for consideration - honesty as always! 

ARBONNE RE9 ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR CREME

You may remember recently I reviewed another Arbonne product (review) and I was really impressed. The Arbonne RE9 Advanced Night Repair Creme is the other product I mentioned I had been sent for review.

This is designed to make your skin look youthful, glowing and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Whilst I cannot speak on the fine lines and wrinkles this definitely does make your skin radiant and glowing the next morning. The active ingredients include algae extract, marine lavender and peptides but Arbonne leave out all parabens and glutens ensuring this is a vegan friendly product.

This product is a super rich and thick cream. I was surprised on how rich and moisturising it was when I first applied it. It feels really luxurious and like a little treat every night for my skin. I think in terms of hydration this is the best night cream I've used because it absorbs fast and doesn't leave me with an oily face in the morning. 

I have mentioned before I still haven't found the night cream that I'm in love with but this is definietly at the top of the list from the ones I've tried. I look for something that is going to really hydrate my skin but not leave a film that I can feel in the morning. I also think that this really does make you skin feel supple and glowing the next morning and that's something I want from a night cream - a noticeable difference each morning. I think the best thing about this product is the consistency and how luxurious it is, it feels so hydrating and just gorgeous on the skin. 

Overall

I really have enjoyed using this night cream and I will happily finish this tub. Will I repurchase? Probably not as this product retails for a whooping $121 and that's just out of my price range being a student. Would I recommend this for ageing skin? Definitely. I think that if you have ageing skin than this is a fantastic investment to make. Like I said in my previous review on the eye cream I will definitely keep this in mind for the feature when ageing is more of a skin concern. 

RRP $121 directly from Arbonne website here 

What is your favourite night cream?

*product provided for consideration - honesty as always! 

BELLABOX AUGUST 2013

Bellabox for August! I cannot believe it's that time already. This months theme: 'Get Active' which made me cringe because I don't love exercising at all. 

Tom Organic - Get Active Gift 16 tampons RRP $7.99

As usually Bellabox have included a bonus item in the box. These tampons are made out of organic cotton. They also contain no pesticides or genetically modified material so it'll be interesting to see how these go. 

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream RRP  $15.95 (fullsize) 

A great inclusion by Bellabox considering this is fairly new on the market. I already have this product and I really enjoy it unfortunately this is a shade too dark for me though. I'll keep it a mixing product to darken my regular foundations if I'm fake tanned. 

Banana Boat Mineral Protect Sensitive SPF RRP $15.75 (full-size) 

I think this is great considering the box theme is 'active' however I don't spend too much time in the sun so I'll be keeping this for when I go away. 

L'oreal Base Magique Primer 15ml RRP $29.95 

I already have this in the full size but I haven't used it yet. I'll use this first though because I don't like the packaging on the fullsize. It's good to see a a product from L'oreal included though. 

Aphelia Oasis Herbal Acne Solution 50ml $49.00 

I like receiving higher end products to try in these boxes because it gives you a chance to 'try before you buy' especially when the products are a bit costly. This is solution is something I'm definitely going to try out and if I like it'll be buying it. 

Ultraceuticals Ultra CC Cream Mineral Tint 50ml RRP $59.00 

Another pricier product to be included and I doubt that I would spend $60 on a CC cream but I'm interested to see how this goes. 

Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser 150ml RRP $67.00 

I recently reviewed a set from Pevonia and LOVED the products. I'm excited to see how the exfoliating cleanser goes because I was really impressed by the other products I tried.

Overall 

I'm really impressed by this box from Bellabox despite already having a of these products already. I've been unimpressed the past couple of months so it's good that they've come out with a really strong box this month. I'm hoping that it continues for next month. I really like that there was two fullsize products and also some higher end deluxe samples.

What do you think of this box? 

BEAUTY BOX SWAP: LIFE OF A HOUSEWIFE

Today I have a super exciting post to share with you all! A couple of months ago Ashley from 'Life Of A Housewife' and I decided to do a beauty box swap and ever since we've been shopping up a storm! Being an international swap I was super excited because in Australia we miss out on so many amazing brands! We set a budget of $100 and decided that 3 high-end products needed to be included but the rest could be anything beauty wise :) 

Unfortunately a few items (including a bath and body works lotion damn it!) were lost along their way to Australia but I'm still really excited about the items that did make it here!

These masks look like lots of fun! I think I'll be saving these for the hot summer days but I'm excited to try a peel-off mask as I've never tried one :)

I squealed when I seen this Too Faced Lash Injection mini floating around in the box. I'm not usually a fan of this kind of wand but I have my fingers and toes crossed that it'll be a gem! I also mentioned to Ash that L'oreal was a bit expensive her so she kindly included this mascara for me too try :D

I mentioned that EOS lip balms weren't something that were sold here in Australia and I was so excited to see not one but two included in my box! 

 This bronzer is such an unusual shade! I love bronzers in the summer so I'll be keeping this ready to break out when the warmer weather hit. Last item was this super pretty pink shade from Covergirl, I told Ash that I loved lip products so I was excited to see this shade included! I don't think this one is sold in Australia either :) yay! 

I had so much fun shopping for Ash and putting together the swap. If you'd like to see what items I bought her she's just posted about it today here. Also take a minute to read her blog because she does some really cute outfit posts and reviews of products too.

UPDATE

This week a beautiful second package arrived from Ash to replace the items that were misplaced on the way over to me. I just want to say a huge thank you to Ash for sending this parcel through, I seriously love all the goodies she has included! 

Yay! Bath and Body Works :D 

Hopefully this stuff doesn't get me addicted, although it probably will, because it's so hard to get hold of. I'll probably hold onto this pumpkin scent until the cooler months.

I actually squealed when I seen this Essie set because it has so many shades like Ballet Slippers and Wicked I've been really wanting to try! As the Bliss Fabulips smells amazing! 

Ash included this really cute Smashbox set which I'm excited about because I've never tried Smashbox before so I'll let you know how I like these lip products.

When I opened the box this is all I could smell! It's amazing. Unfortunately I don't have a bath in my unit so I'll have to save this for when I go away somewhere :)

As you can see from the first lots of goodies Ash had sent me EOS lip balms however one was completed melted and unusable so she sent through another - this one is strawberry and smells amazing. Oh and how amazing is that Mac nail polish?! 

Lastly some IMAN products which is a brand I've never heard of, two Revlon lip stains and a hand cream. I'm most excited about that IMAN bronzer for the summer months :)

Again thank you to Ash for doing the swap with me I really enjoyed doing it. If you'd like to see reviews or swatches of any products do let me know in the comments! 

PEVONIA BOTANICA COMBINATION SKIN

Recently I was given the opportunity to try out some Pevonia Botanica products are after hearing of the brand off Elle Fowler I was really excited to try out some of the skin care line. I was sent a little combination skin trial pack. 

Combination Skin Cleanser 50mL 

You all know I love a good gel cleanser so I was a little disheartened when I squirted some of this on my fingertips to see it was a light creamy collection. I was like sure, what is going to do but surprisingly this is a really effective cleanser. It doesn't lather as much as I usually like but it does clean the skin and doesn't strip away all the oils. This contains grapefruit oil, rosemary and lemon along with other lovely ingredients to cleanse the skin and this one is probably the best smelling of all three. I was really surprised by this product but I'm unsure if I would purchase this product again just because I like a more lathering cleanser. 

fullsize is 200mL for $66.50 here

Combination Skin Lotion 50mL

I'm in love with this product. When I first opened the pack I was like 'skin lotion' but this is a toning type product which you all know I'm a toner junkie. It's alcohol free which is super important to me with a toner. It's designed it help rebalance your oils, hydrate and brighten the skin with ingredients such as witch hazel, aloe, rosemary oil and lactic acid. I can honestly say this is the best toner I've ever used and I love my toners. This makes your skin glowing, radiant and is still refreshing. It doesn't sting or make the skin tight - it's the perfect toner. I'm almost finished this which is going to be really sad! The only thing that I don't like about this product is the smell, the rosemary oil in it is really prominent so I'm glad that I apply products after this. I will definitely be repurchasing the fullsize once I've gotten through the back log of toners in my bathroom. This is amazing, highly recommend it if you love toners.

fullsize is 200mL for $66.50 here

Balancing Combination Skin Cream 20mL

This cream is designed to control 'T' zone oils whilst being soothing and control any iriation occuring on the skin. It contains amazing ingredients like hazel nut oil, aloe, cucumber and lemongrass and it seems very fresh. I found it did really help control oils during the day, this month I haven't been wearing much make up so this helped stop make me face look shiny. The directions say that you can use this morning and night but I preferred using it in the morning because if I was wearing make up it was a great moisturiser to wear benath make up to help control oils and it's super fast absorbing into the skin. This like the other two products has a very fresh scent, it's very lemony but I guess that's because of the lemon grass in. I love the scent! 

fullsize is 50mL for $88 here

Overall

I really have enjoyed all three of the products and I'll definitely be purchasing the skin lotion in the future and possibly the skin cream. I'm also eyeing off a facial oil that is marketed towards combination/oily skin of and I definitely want to try some eye care from them. If you're interested in seeing more reviews on some of those type of products do let me know and I'll make sure I purchase some products to try out. 

I think as a trial pack the sizes are generous and you are able to try out each product for an adequate time and decide whether or not the system works for you. This pack would be perfect if you've been wanting to switch to more natural products and aren't really sure what ones to try. Also if you have combination skin that is sensitive I think these products could work really well for you because all the products are really gentle. Pevonia does a vast variety of lines and most have a little trial pack available which I think is such a great idea considering that the products aren't the cheapest! 

Pack retails for $105 on Pevonia website here

Have you tried any Pevonia Botanica products? What did you think of the brand?

*products provided for consideration - honesty as always!

WHAT I'M LUSTING AFTER #2

1. Mac Pro Palette $30 here + 15 Pan Insert $15 available here 

I've been wanting a big Mac palette for a while and they're now available on the Australian Mac website. It is so much more expensive so I'm considering ordering from the US but still has made me want one again. If you have any favourite Mac shadows do let me know :) 

2. Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil $41.16 available here 

I love a good facial oil but I'm drawn to this newer release because it's formulated for combination/oily skin. It's been getting amazing reviews online so I'm keen to get my hands on it and see what all the fuss is about. 

3.  Erin Bigg Cosmetics Pore Perfecting Face Primer $47 available here 

Lipstick Republic has recently started stocking Erin Bigg Cosmetics which is an Australian make up brand. I love the look of the whole range but this facial primer is water-based and contains Salicylic acid so I think it'd work really well for me. 

4. The Body Sop Camomile Cleansing Butter $26.95 available here

It's not a secret I love their face product and this whole new Camomile range sounds amazing but I'm particularly interested in the cleansing butter because I'm yet to try a balm/butter cleanser yet. 

5. Honey by Marc Jacobs $120 available here

I was sent a sample of this and I've feel head over heels in love with the scent. If you can go have a sniff because I find it unique from the other Marc Jacobs scents. 

6. Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon $15 each available here 

These have been hyped up in the blogging community so much the past few weeks so of course I'm wanting to try them out! My local Priceline is horrible so I'm yet to get my hands on any but I'm eyeing up 'Peach on a Beach' in particular. 

7. Redken All Soft Oil $24.95 available here 

This is by far the best hair oil I've used. It's light and doesn't weigh down my hair. Unfortunately I meant to buy this but accidentally bought the 'Diamond Oil' so now I have that and I'm current oil to get through before I go buy this but I'm so tempted to just get it! 

8. NARS And God Created Woman Set $59 available here

Yes I'm still majorly lusting after this set! I don't know what it is about it but I'm just so in love with the shades! Not to mention it comes with my favourite eyeshadow primer. 

So that's all the things I'm currently wanting to try! 

If you have any Mac eyeshadow or product suggestions do leave them below because I'm looking at doing a Mac order from the US soon :) 

What are you lusting after?

THE SKINCARE TAG

 I was tagged by the lovely Molly from 'What Molly Loves' and if you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know I'm a skincare addict so there was no hesitation in doing this tag! 

Describe your skincare routine in five words... 

Thorough, consistent, tailored, nourishing, fun!  

What's your skin type? 

I don't distinguish my skin as a certain type because my skin forever changes dependent on the season, time of month, diet and a whole array of factors. I do however always have an oily T-zone although I wouldn't label my skin 'oily'. 

What's your favourite skincare product?

 I could never choose just one but one product I always come back too is The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash. It's incredible at removing make up and ensuring your skin is super clean but not stripped or tight after use. In the past 12 months I've discovered Rosehip Oil and find that that's incredible for helping decreasing the amount of oil your skin produces and for hydrating dry patches. 

Top Blemish Zapper?

I don't think I have a holy grail one yet :( I've tried a lot of them - mainly from the drugstore and none have done wonders. I do have a few that I'm using that do make a difference but none that I'll continue to repurchase. 

Face Wipes yay or nay?

Up till recently I was using facial wipes to remove my make up. I found I was having a slight reaction so now I don't use them at all on my face. I've seen my skin improve since using quality products like Bioderma or a cleansing oil to remove my make up - plus I find these two ways are just as easy and effective for me. 

Toner yay or nay?

YAY! I am a toner junkie! I love the refreshment and clean feeling toners can give your skin. I also think if you have oily/combination skin they're important to help rebalance the skin after cleansing. Honestly, a good toner really adds a little something extra to your routine. 

High end skincare or high end makeup?

I'd rather spend my money on quality skincare any day! I think that having a great skincare routine is much more important than make up because if your skin looks great than your make up is going to sit better. 

What's the most unusual skincare product you've tried?

Nothing really stands out to me as 'unusual' I think the Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask was a different product at first because it's sticky, smells strange and when you remove it your skin doesn't even look or feel different but the next day it looks incredible! 

You're in a French pharmacy and can only pick one item - what is it?

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and the Foaming Cleanser. Both are fantastic products that have done wonders for my skin when I'm breaking out. I couldn't live without my Effacar duo! 

Tell us your top skincare tip?

I have three key tips I think are really important. 

Be strict with doing your routine. 

I used to do it for a week than have a few days off or just remove my make up.... Just not consistent with removing my make up and cleansing, my skin hated me for it! If you're consistent it'll be become second nature to do it regularly. 

Enjoy it! 

Don't see doing your skincare routine as a drag or a nuisance. If you see it in a negative light then you won't enjoy it and chances are you won't keep at it. I have taught myself to look at it as a relaxing part of my day and I enjoy taking five minutes to apply the products. 

Listen to your skin.

Just because you or someone else has labelled your skin a certain type doesn't mean you are never going to see some bouts of different skin concerns. If your skin is usually oily and your skin is feeling dry - it probably is! Just ensure you're listening to what your skin needs. 

If you've done the skincare tag then please leave the link below so I can read your answers!

I tag:

Sophie from 'Born To Buy' 

Jasmine from 'Sweetaholic Beauty' 

Nat from 'Salt and Sail'

Jen from 'The Shopping Queen' 

WEDNESDAY WONDERS: BLUSHES

I realised this series had not had a make up feature yet which is strange because I feel as though I've been finding some gems make up wise. Today I'll be sharing four blushes with you that I've been sweeping over my cheeks quite frequently. 

MAC Blush in 'Tenderling'

I'm almost certain I have spoken about this before, I think that this tone of blush is a staple that everyone should have in their make up collection. It's from the sheertone line which means it isn't a punch of pigmentation however I think for this shade that is perfect. I reach for when I have alot going on eye-wise but still want to add definition to my face. It's completely matte and just adds dimension to the face without being like 'hey I'm wearing blush'. It does look and swatch like a bit of a nothing shade but it seriously is beautiful on the face. 

RRP $41 here 

Red Earth Velvet Radiance Blush in 02 Sun Dance* 

This is perfect for that rosy flushed cheek that I love in the winter months. At first I thought it would have shimmer running through it but it's actually a matte finish and it's really pretty for everyday. The quality of this blush is beautiful too, very pigmented and easy to blend out. I like teaming this with a berry lip and some mascara during the winter months however I think this type of shade is great all year round. 

RRP $18 here

E.L.F Blush in 'Peachy Keen' 

I bought this because of Mel from 'misstango2' she used to rave about this blush and the highlighter from ELF as well. I bought both and love the combination but both products got lost in my collection until recently. This is a shimmery peach that is gorgeous when you have a fake tan. I love the quality of the E.L.F blushes especially considering how affordable they are. 

RRP $3.99 here 

BYS Blush Trio in 'Coral Me In'* 

I have never been super excited about BYS products until they recently released these blush trios. They remind me alot of the trios from Sleek but I haven't tried any of those so I can't compare quality. This contains one shimmer and two matte coral shades. Despite it being winter I've been busting out the first lighter coral shade and the middle shimmery shade pretty much everyday for the past week. The blushes are highly pigmented, you literally need to touch your blush brush into it, and are very easy to blend. They are a tad chalky however for the price you can't go wrong! 

RRP $7.95 here 

What are you favourite blushes of the moment?

*products provided for consideration - honesty as always 

HOURGLASS OPAQUE ROUGE: RIVIERA

It's well known that I love a bold lip whether it be red or pink but orange is a tone I've stayed away from thinking it'd make my teeth look yellow or not suit my blonde locks... I don't know why I just had a presumption that it would not work for me. Recently I seen Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup wearing and raving about this bad boy and afterwards I started noticing more orange shades drawing me in. This is described as a 'tangerine' colour by Hourglass but it does have alot of red in the mix so it was a perfect way to test out the orange trend. You can definitely get a true orange by firstly covering your lips with a light layer of foundation however I haven't braved it outside the house yet! 

When I first pulled out the applicator I was greeted with a thick gloss like consistency and I was a little hesitate - I wasn't sure if it would apply evenly. Surprisingly it applies so smooth and thin! All you need is one swipe, no double-dipping and you're left with a vivid pigmented punch of colour. No building up required.

These dry to a matte finish and it literally feels like you haven't got any product on your lips! I've never tried anything quite like it, especially for a stain. It stays really comfortable, the only time I notice it is when it starts to feel a tad drying throughout the day. I've worn this for 8 hours and it has lasted with no bleeding, smearing and wearing away from the edges. I ate, drank and wasn't cautious about what I did at all. When I got home the colour was still vivid and pigmented. I have to remove it with Bioderma and it does require some tugging at the lips which is the only compliant I have. 

If you haven't been impressed by other stains then I'd highly recommend trying out these. I'm a big lip stain fan so although these are at the top of my list in terms of wear and comfort there are others I still enjoy. These are expensive but I believe you get what you pay for with this product, it's smooth, pigmented, comfortable and long-lasting. I'm currently eyeing the shades Muse and Icon.. One day!

Available from Mecca Cosmetica RRP $42 here

ROUND UP: NATURAL INSTINCT SKINCARE

When a lovely package arrived containing a bunch of 'Natural Instinct' products I was so excited to try out the brand because it's super affordable, contains amazing ingredients AND it's an Australian brand. You all know I love supporting local brands. Today I'll be reviewing three of the products I've been using from the facial range, I did receive another two not included in this review however I have not adequately trialled the products yet but I'll be sure to let you know how those two go in future favourites. 

All Natural Instinct products are contain plant derived ingredients and leave out all the nasties like SLS and SLES, petrochemicals, propylene glycol, parabens, artificial colours or fragrances, silicones, preservatives, mineral oils or PEGs. It's also vegan friendly and not tested on animals. 

Facial Scrub 

When I read that this contained lavender I was concerned - I'm not a huge fan of lavender and it does give my headaches however with the inclusion of the other ingredients it's a light scent (lucky!). This contains amazing ingredients such as chamomile, rose hip, jojoba and red grape. None of those sound very exfoliating? That's because it also has walnut shell powder throughout for the exfoliating component - how cool is that? I was pretty impressed! This is more on the gritty side of scrubs which is how I prefer mine but it still feels really gentle and I've never had a problem with it irritating my skin. I prefer using this in the shower as the steam aids the emulsification of the product and I feel it works better that way. It leaves my skin feeling super smooth and fresh! 

Clarifying Toner 

You all know I'm a toner junkie! But I am fussy with them. As expected from a natural line this contains no alcohol which ticked a box with me. I find that toners that do contain alcohol dry out my skin. Instead this contains witch hazel, rosewater and orange flower water which is extra soothing on the skin. I'm not too fussed on the smell as it leans more on the witch hazel side and if you've smelt it you know it's not the most pleasant of scents but in terms of the product performance it works fantastic at purifying the skin and leaving it smooth and refreshed! 

Foaming Cleanser 

Easily my favourite of the bunch which surprised me! Being a more natural product I was unsure as to whether it would lather well. It contains rose hip, lavender, chamomile and red grape and has a similar scent to the exfoliator. It dispenses as a gel and as soon as you start working it into your face it lathers up amazingly! It leaves my skin feels so clean however not stripped at all and surprisingly it's a little more hydrating than other cleansers. This also works really well in conjunction with my Clarsonic. 

All mentioned products are available from Priceline for $10.49  here

Overall

I've been super impressed by the Natural Instinct line! I think that for such natural product they're super effective. If you're looking for a natural skincare routine these products are super affordable and they DO work. I think I'll be repurchasing the toner and foaming cleanser in the future. I'd also like to try out some of their haircare and body-care products. If you've tried anything from those two lines do leave me some product recommendations in the comments! 

*product was provided for consideration - honesty as always