Monday 30 November 2009

November Empties

November has been a great month for me, I've finished so many products. The great thing about finishing things is that it inspires me to keep on finishing things and makes me not want to buy new products. I've been so good this month and haven't bought anything.


Ardell Clear Brow Gel - This is a holy grail, I buy it over and over again.
Clinique Long Last Glosswear Bamboo Pink - I liked this but didn't love it so won't repurchase.
Clinique Almost Powder Makeup sample - I loved the way this made my skin look, I'll probably buy it next time they have a gwp.
Australia 3 in 1 Wipes - These are great and so cheap, I'll definitely repurchase.
Jurlique Wrinkle Softening Cream - This was a beautiful product, I loved the way it made my skin feel so soft.
GERnetic Glyco Cleansing Milk - This was lovely to use and a product I'll definitely consider buying.
Clinique Youth Surge Age Decelerating Moisturiser - I didn't really like this. It wasn't hydrating enough and irritated my skin.



Natio Wellness Body Scrub - I love this scrub, it smells amazing.

Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator - I really liked this, the smell is beautiful but I'm not sure if I'll repurchase.

NeoStrata Bionic Face Serum - This is another product I don't know if I'll repurchase.

NeoStrata Facial Cleanser sample- I'm seriously considering buying this when my current cleanser runs out.


Estee Lauder Nutritious Vita Mineral foundation sample - I really like this foundation and have a full sized one.

Alpha-H LipoCeutical Time Release Serum sample - This was nice, not sure if I'll buy it though.

The Body Shop Coconut Lip Butter - A staple.

Goldwell Rich Repair - This was beautiful, I'll buy it again.

Shiseido Hydro Refining Softener - I'm not a fan of toner but this was quite nice.

Johnson's Make-up Pads - Another staple.


Sunday 29 November 2009

Amazing Giveaway on Viva Woman


Viva Woman is hosting the most amazing giveaway and it's available internationally! To check it out click here.

Three people will win products worth $500 US so head over there and get your entry in!

Friday 27 November 2009

Blog Giveaway Starting Soon

This is just a reminder that my blog giveaway is starting on the 1st of December. I'm so excited about it. Here's a picture of what the winner will receive.




Remember you have to be a follower to enter so sign up now.

Thursday 26 November 2009

A few more lip balms: Post and Shame Challenge

Just when you thought you'd seen all my lip balms, I rounded up the ones that I had scattered around the house, so here are a few more pictures.


Wednesday 25 November 2009

Post and Shame Challenge

If you hadn't already guessed, this is the shame part of the challenge. 

Behold all of my eyeliners: 










Music, I see your fifteen eyeliners and present to you my forty six eyeliners.

And now for the lip balms:

I really don't know what to say about the lip balms. They speak for themselves. Although I have to admit that's not all of them. I have them stashed all over the house, in my handbag and at work. I couldn't be bothered gathering them all up though. I'd say I have at least another twenty stashed around the place.

Atfer I'd written this post, this is what arrived in the mail:

And now the torture begins.

Tuesday 24 November 2009

NeoStrata Daytime Protection Cream SPF 15



I originally started using this in winter and wasn't happy with it as I found that it wasn't hydrating enough. I put it aside and got it out again when the weather warmed up. Now that the weather is warmer and my skin is oilier, this is a great moisturiser. 

NeoStrata says: Daytime use multiple antioxidant anti-aging cream. Formulated with poly-hydroxy acids, gluconolactone and lactobionic acid, plus vitamin e and broad spectrum sunscreens to hydrate and smooth the skin for a more youthful appearance. Provides protection against the harmful effects of the sun which contribute to premature aging. Repeated use may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Since I've been using this I haven't noticed any difference in the condition of my fine lines, however I'm still happy with this moisturiser. It keeps my skin feeling soft and smooth, it sinks in quickly and it's great for use in the warmer weather. The other things I really like about Daytime Protection Cream are that it's lightweight and fragrance free.

Would I buy it again? Yes, it's a great summer moisturiser.

Active ingredients: octyl methoxycinnamate 7.5%, titanium dioxide 2.10%.
Preserved with: methyl hydroxybenzoate 0.08%, chlorphenesin 0.08%.
Other ingredients: water, gluconolactone, propylene glycol, capric/caprylic triglyceride, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, lactobionic acid, sorbitan stearate, glycerol, isopropyl palmitate, cyclomethicone, cetostearyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, peg-100 stearate, dimethicone, ammonium hydroxide, 1, 3-butylene glycol, alpha tocopheryl acetate, diethylene clycol monoethyl ether, polyacrylamide, polyhydroxystearic acid, aluminum stearate, aluminium oxide, c13-14 isoparaffin, hydroxyethylcellulose, xanthan gum, arginine, sodium sulfite anhydrous, sodium bisulfite, disodium edeatate, laureth-7.

Monday 23 November 2009

Post and Shame Challenge

My dear friend Music (who will be know from now on as Nasty Music, hehe) has issued a challenge which I have very reluctantly agreed to join. It's called the Post and Shame Challenge and it even has it's own logo.

Here are the rules:

1. Choose two types of products that you already have very much in excess. Be honest
2. Take a picture of them, show everyone what you already have.
3. You are not allowed to buy anything from those two categories, not even from "it's-cheaper-than-chocolates-I-can't-afford-not-to-buy-it-now" sales, until you have finished at least four products from each category.

Exceptions: products received as gifts and swaps are allowed

You can read about the challenge here.

For information on why Music started this challenge click here.

I will be starting the challenge in a few days. I was originally going to do this challenge with lip gloss and lip balm but after taking stock of my collection I decided that I really need to use up eyeliner, so I'll be doing the challenge with eyeliners and lip balms.

Friday 20 November 2009

Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash with NutriumMoisture


I was lucky enough to receive some body washes from Dove to review. This is the first of the three body washes they sent me, and I have to tell you I'm loving it! I intended to use it for a few weeks and then try one of the other ones so that I could do the reviews, but I love this body wash so much that I'm still using it and haven't tried the others yet.

This arrived at the perfect time as my skin is really dry, sensitive and itchy at the moment. Usually when it's like this I have to be really careful with shower gels, but using the sensitive skin body wash has really helped the condition of my skin.

Here's what Dove have to say about Body Wash with NutriumMoisture: Breakthrough Formula Cares for Surface Skin Ten Layers Deep.
The “Dirty Little Secret” of Body Washes: All regular body washes cause dry skin damage.
Until now, all regular body washes caused dry skin damage. Current body washes actually damage proteins and lipids in the skin’s outer layer (called the stratum corneum) during the cleansing process, which can lead to the loss of critical moisture. When skin lacks proper moisture, dryness, tightness and irritation/redness can all occur. Some existing body wash technologies are focused on minimizing protein damage and alleviating visual symptoms of moisture loss by adding heavy moisturizing ingredients (occlusives) that sit on top of skin. While these additives help mask dry skin damage, they do not address the deeper problem of lipid damage.


Groundbreaking Skin Care Advance
With its fifty-year heritage in cleansing and caring for skin, Dove discovered how to restore skin’s natural moisture while cleansing with body wash. A breakthrough in the body wash category, only the new Dove Body Wash collection contains NutriumMoisture™ technology that cares for surface skin ten layers deep. Unlike other body washes, this first-of-its-kind body wash technology takes a dual approach to healthy, nourished skin by preserving both proteins and lipids during cleansing.


Can your body wash nourish this deeply?
Other moisturizing body washes use a moisturiser that sits on top of the skin.  Only Dove contains NutriumMoisture™, a breakthrough formula of soybean oil and natural lipids that can nourish deep down.

NEW Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture™:
Repairs and maintains skin’s protective layer during cleansing.
Unlike moisturizers in other body washes, Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture™ penetrates surface skin deep down to replenish and nourish.
Clinically proven to significantly reduce dryness and improve moisturisation.

And here's what I have to say:
This is a great body wash. It's gentle and non irritating even when I have skin rashes and irritated skin. It's fragrance free and feels creamy but light at the same time. It lathers lightly and feels soothing and moisturising. I highly recommend this for people with sensitive skin.

One of the other things that I really like about Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash is the bottle and especially the lid. As you can see from the picture at the start of this post, the top is narrow. That means that it's really easy to squeeze out without getting mess everywhere. I often find with body washes with broad tops that I end up with body wash all over the place, but I don't have the problem with this one due to the narrow top.


Would I buy this? Yes, it's a great body wash for sensitive skin.

Ingredients: water, glycine soja oil or helianthus annuus seed oil, sodium lauroyl isethionate, sodium laureth sulfate, lauric acid, cocamidopropyl betaine, stearic acid, glycerin, sodium isethionate, tallow acid or palmitic acid, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, lauryl alcohol, dmdm hydantoin, tetrasodium edta, etidronic acid, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, fragrance, pentaerithrityl tetradi-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, bht.

Thursday 19 November 2009

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm for Eye and Lip Area



I had really high hopes for this eye cream but unfortunately it hasn't lived up to them. I've been using it twice daily for three months and see no difference in the condition of the skin around my eyes.  

Why I liked it: It has a lovely, soft berry scent and a thick gel texture. It sinks in quickly and is nice to apply. It's very gentle and non irritating. I used this all through hay fever season without any problems. Usually during hay fever season I can't put anything on my eyes as they are so sensitive.

Why I didn't like it: It wasn't hydrating and made no difference to the appearance of my fine lines.

Dermalogica says: Recommended for the smart management and treatment of skin aging. Combat visible lines around the eye area with this powerful firming complex. Vitamin A and antioxidant vitamins C and E improve elasticity and smoothness while scavenging free radicals. Organic silicone's shield vulnerable skin and seaweed extract helps firm skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines.


Would I buy it again? No.

Ingredients: cyclopentasiloxane, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, dimethicone crosspolymer, cetyl ethylhexanoate, polyethylene, tocopheryl acetate, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) extract, corallina officinalis extract, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, flavor, ascorbic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, boron nitride, retinyl palmitate.

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Blog Giveaway Coming Up

I'm so excited to announce that in December I'll be having a giveaway. The people at Perricone MD have generously offered to give one of my readers their Advance Eye Area Therapy which retails at $95 (US).

Unfortunately this giveaway is only open to US readers as Perricone MD can't ship internationally at this time.

The giveaway will be starting in December and is open to followers of my blog.


I'll post more information about the giveaway closer to the starting date.

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Australis Mineral Inject Range

I'm so excited about all of the amazing new products that Australis have bought out recently. Their Mineral Inject range is beautiful. Australis were kind enough to send me some of this range to try, so there will be reviews coming up soon. Meanwhile, have a look for yourself by clicking here.

The range consists of:


Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick.
This comes in 10 different colours and costs $12.95.
It contains an SPF of 15 and essential oils such as jojoba, evening primrose and avocado to create the ultimate comfort in wear.











Colour Inject Mineral Lipgloss.
This comes in 10 different shades and costs $11.95.
It has a beautiful lychee scent and provides long lasting shine without stickiness.











Mineral Inject Liquid Foundation (I'm so looking forward to trying this).
This is available in five different shades and costs $17.95.













Mineral Purity Foundation (I can't wait to get my hands on this).
This is available in five different shades and costs $17.95. I haven't seen this in stores yet but it's on their website so I'm assuming it'll be available soon if it's not already.












Monday 16 November 2009

MAC Satin Taupe Eye Shadow

I can't believe it took me so long to buy MAC's Satin Taupe eye shadow. It's a beautiful colour and one that I should have bought years ago. MAC describe this as a taupe brown with silvery bronze shimmer. It's a Frost formula.
I've been wearing this nearly every day since I bought it. I use it as an all over wash, as a crease colour and as an eye liner. 
Satin Taupe is a cool, shimmery taupe. The texture feels soft and creamy. It's lovely to apply, goes on smoothly and doesn't crease. This is one of my no fail colours, I know that it will always look good and it's easy to use.

Would I buy it again? Yes, it's a beautiful, versatile colour.

Ingredients: talc, zinc stearate, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, isostearyl neopentanoate, tocopheryl acetate, caprylyl clycol, hexylene glycol, phenoxyethanol.
May contain: silica, mica, titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxides (ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499), bismuth oxychloride (ci 77163), blue 1 lake (ci 42090), carmine (ci 75470), chromium hydroxide green (ci 77289), chromium oxide greens (ci 77288), ferric ferrocyanide (ci 77510), manganese violet (ci 77742), red 40 lake (ci 16035), ultramarines (ci 77007), yellow 5 lake (ci 19140).

Friday 13 November 2009

Avene Lip Balm with Cold Cream


I need a new lip balm like I need a hole in the head, however I recently went out and bought Avene's Lip Balm in desperation (and because I've been wanting to try it for ages and this was a good excuse). I've got a sore at the corner of my mouth that's driving me crazy. It's due to my vitamin deficiencies which I'm doing my best to remedy, but as my body doesn't absorb things very well this is proving difficult. But enough about that. In the past when I've had these sores they've gone away within a few days, but I've had this one for 5 days now and it's driving me crazy. I read a review on Beauty Heaven that said that Avene's balm had helped heal sores like mine so I went and bought it.


On the first day of using it I found that the sore stopped being painful. It'd hurt every time I opened my mouth, but after I'd been using the balm for half a day it no longer hurt to open my mouth. On the second day the sore had started to disappear and wasn't at all painful. I only applied the balm twice on the second day. By the third day the sore was gone and I was amazed.


Avene says: Eau Thermale Avene Lip Balm with its highly advanced formula provides lips with softness and protection. Contains a unique and exceptional combination of cold cream and sucralfate to help improve dry and chapped lips. Use daily for soft, smooth and beautiful lips. Enriched with soothing Avene Thermal Spring Water. Moisturises, nourishes and protects lip against cracking, chapping and dryness. Provides long lasting comfort. Formulated with the purest of ingredients for sensitive lips.

Strangely enough, as a lip balm I'm not overly impressed. It does a good jobof keeping my lips soft and hydrated but it just feels a little strange on my lips, as if it's slightly irritating.

Avene Lip Balm looks white in the tube, but goes on clear with a very slight shine. The shine is subtle enough to be barely detectable, making this balm suitable for men to use also.

Would I buy it again? Yes, it's an amazing product.


Ingredients: ricinus communis seed oil, isopropyl palmitate, hydrogenated lanolin, petrolatum, ozokerite, mineral oil, hydrogenated castor oil, squalane, beeswax, cetyl esters, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, hydrogenated polyisobutene, aluminium sucrose octasulfate, glyceryl linoleate, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, mica, avene thermal spring water, butyrospermum parkii, flavour, glyceryl linolenate, isopropyl myristate, propylparaben, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, titanium dioxide, tocopheryl acetate.

Thursday 12 November 2009

NeoStrata Bionic Face Serum




I like to thoroughly test out my skin care products before I review them to ensure that I've given them enough time to see if they really work. As I've finished a whole bottle of Bionic Face Serum I figured it was high time I wrote a review.

NeoStrata says: Intensive anti-aging treatment for stressed and sun-damaged skin. Targets stressed and sun-damaged skin assisting it to feel and look healthier, younger and more radiant. Ideal adjunctive therapy for patients undergoing selected professional skin treatments or topical retinoid treatments that can result in dry, sensitive skin. Highly moisturising and hydrating with antioxidant benefits. Ideal for reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pore size, laxity, sallowness and pigmentation.

This intensive treatment product is formulated with lactobionic acid, a polyhydroxy acid, in addition to Vitamins A, C and E to help provide intense moisturisation and reduce uneven pigmentation. Repeated use may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

After the great results that I had from NeoStrata's Bionic Eye Cream I had high hopes for the Bionic Face Serum. I don't find the results as amazing as the eye cream but it's still a great product.

I didn't notice any difference in my pigmentation but I did notice that my pores looked smaller and the smile lines around my mouth aren't as noticeable as they used to be. I used this daily before moisturiser and found that it helped to keep my skin hydrated and soft. It's very light and sinks in within seconds of being applied. It only takes a few drops to cover my whole face and with once daily use the bottle lasted me around six months.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

Ingredients: aqua, butylene glycol, lactobionic acid, glycerin, polysorbate 80, arginine, retinyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, polyquaternium-10, disodium edetate, chlorphenesin, methyl hydroxybenzoate.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Clarins Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturiser SPF 6


I bought this a while ago, took it home and then forgot about it because I was loving my Blemish Balm from The Face Shop. When that ran out and I wasn't able to get anymore I sifted through my stash and found my Clarins Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturiser. I didn't have high hopes for it as I've never really loved tinted moisturisers and I figured there was no way it could compete with my beloved Blemish Balm.


I've been pleasantly surprised by Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturiser. Unlike a lot of other tinted moisturisers I've tried it's not greasy or oily. In fact it's more like a sheer foundation than a tinted moisturiser. I find it to be quite mattifying. It absorbs quickly and seems to take away oiliness. I can quite easily use a moisturiser under this without any problems. On days when my skin is oily this is moisturising enough to wear alone, but when my skin is dry I'll use a light layer of moisturiser underneath.  


 
Clarins says: Sheer colour and care all in one. This tinted day time moisturiser combines hydrating phyto-marine extracts and skin smoothing colour pigments to ensure a beautiful, natural looking complexion. Ensures day long comfort for all skin types. Continually moisturises to promote smoother looking skin. Evens the complexion with translucent, natural looking colour. Delivers a radiant, satin finish. Optically minimises the appearance of visible lines and imperfections. Protects against damaging UV rays and pollution.

I use number ten - Bisque, which is the perfect match for my NW20 skin. The pictures above show it on the back of my hand, the first picture is before I've rubbed it in and the second picture is after I've rubbed it in. As you can see, it evens out my skin tone. I've been wearing this to work with a light dusting of loose powder over the top and the coverage is enough to give me a polished yet natural look.

Would I buy it again? Yes, it's a great product!

Ingredients: titanium dioxide, purified water, cyclomethicone, glycerin, isohexadecane, nylon-12, propylene glycol myristyl ether acetate, glyceryl polymethacrylate, sorbitan isostearate, peg-7 hydrogenated castor oil, ozokerite, beeswas, hydrogenated castor oil, magnesium stearate, phenoxyethanol, magnesium sulfate, silica, barium sulfate, fragrance, polyperfluoro, methylisopropyl ether, propylene glycol, sorbic acid, methylparben, echinacea purpurea extract, equistetum arvense extract, malva sylvestris (mallow) extract, phospholipids, stearic acid, disodium edta, oryzanol, mannitol, glycyrrhetinic acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, crithmum maritimum extract, butylparaben, ethylparaben, hydrolyzed wheat protein, bht, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, pvm/ma copolymer, sucrose, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, yeast extract, panax ginseng root extract, tilia cordata wood extract, aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) seed extract, calcium pantothenate, biotin.

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Natio Wellness Body Scrub


Natio says: Invigorating sugar polish. Apricot seed powder and antioxidant pomegranate to purify and energise. Buff away dead skin cells and reveal a fresh, vibrant glow. Apricot seed powder gently buffs away dead skin cells, while the pure pomegranate helps repair and promote new skin cell production.

This is quite an interesting scrub, it's like a scrub suspended in a soft gel. The texture makes it an effective yet gentle scrub. The scent is a beautiful mix of fruit, apricots and coconut that makes me smile every time I open the jar.

After using the whole jar I can say that I'm really happy with this scrub and will repurchase it. It's great for a regular use scrub as it's quite gentle. It doesn't give as strong a scrub as sugar and salt scrubs do, but as I exfoliate every week that's not a problem for me. If you are wanting a really heavy duty scrub then this isn't for you, but if you want a gentle scrub that can be used on sensitive skin then this is perfect.   

Would I buy it again? Yes, it smells amazing and does a good job. 

Ingredients: water, polyethylene, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, apricot seed powder, carbomer, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, triethanolamine, sucrose, coconut oil, soybean oil, fragrance, pomegranate extract, aloe barbadensis extract, matricaria extract, grapefruit seed extract, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, potassium sorbate, salicylic acid, disodium edta, alcohol, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, methylisothiazolinone methylchloroisothiazolinone.

Monday 9 November 2009

Lush Angels on Bare Skin



I've been struggling with breakouts lately and I finding them really annoying. After reading a post on Meg's Make-up about Lush's Coal Face I headed into the store to buy some. Instead of walking out with Coal Face I walked out with a sample pot of Angels on Bare Skin. I was given this when I explained to the staff that I have combination skin (at the moment) that can be a little sensitive. 


The sample I had lasted a week and during that week the pimples that I had cleared up and I didn't get any new ones. I wasn't sure if that was just timing so when the sample ran out I didn't bother buying more. After a few days of not using Angels on Bare skin my pimples started coming back and after a week I decided I'd had enough of them so went to Lush and stocked up.


Angels on Bare Skin is one of their fresh products so has to be used within three months of it being made. If you're buying some it's worth finding out how long it's been in the store for, because the one that I bought had been sitting in the store for a month, which means it has to be used up within two months. I'll keep that in mind for next time and be sure to buy a fresh batch.


Angels on Bare Skin's purpose is to cleanse and exfoliate your face with ground almonds, rose absolute and lavender oil. To use, mix a small amount with water into a paste, rub gently onto face and rinse off. 


Lush says: Picture a cleanser called Angels on Bare Skin and you probably wouldn't imagine a lump of stuff resembling grainy, grey putty. We could try to make it more attractive to look at but that would be at the expense of its true beauty: its ability to cleanse and exfoliate your facial skin. We based it on a medieval recipe that would have been excruciatingly expensive at the time. To make you face 'faire and smoothe' take a small, pea-sized piece in your hands, smooth it all over damp skin and wash it off. The ground almonds exfoliate, lavender oil helps to balance oil production, kaolin (china clay) absorbs oils, rose softens your skin and glycerine helps it to absorb and retain moisture. 

Since I've been using this my pimples have cleared up and my skin feels soft and smooth. I've been using Angels on Bare Skin daily with no problems, it doesn't irritate my skin. The exfoliation is very gentle. I find the results of this very similar to using Dermalogica's Microfoliant. 


Would I buy it again? Yes.

Ingredients: ground almonds, glycerine, kaolin, water, lavender oil, lavender flowers, turkish rose absolute.

Friday 6 November 2009

Ellis Faas Glazed Lips




The texture of Ellis Fass Glazed Lips is gorgeous. It feels lovely on my lips and is long lasting. It feels creamy and moisturising and lasts a few hours before I need to reapply. There's no stickiness at all, it feels more like I'm wearing a lip balm than a gloss. I got this in L309 which is a clear gloss.




When I opened this I had the same problem as I did with the concealer. The gloss had leaked and I thought it'd been used. I realised that it hadn't been used when I had to click the bottom for ages before any gloss came out. After having the same problem with the concealer I've realised that it's a problem with the pen, plus I could tell from the look of the brush that it hadn't been used. Don't let that deter you though, this is a gorgeous product. Thankfully I haven't had any further problems with leakage. I got Ellis Faas Glazed Lips L309 which is clear.
 
Ellis Faas says: Glazed Lips gives your lips an ultra-wet, yet long-lasting look. L309 is a clear, transparant glaze with no colour, so it will enhance the natural colour of your lips. A selection of plant seed oils hydrate the lips – thanks to the presence of Tocotrienol (a powerful antioxidant and component of Vitamin E) and Vitamin C, plus Omega 3 and 6.
The applicator is a brush and is most suitable for this texture, for ease of applying and creating the best effect.
All ELLIS LIPS products are lightweight, long-lasting and extremely easy to apply. They all contain Vitamin E and are paraben-free. All the textures in the ELLIS LIPS collection are liquid, so they immediately blend into the skin on application – making them non-sticky!

I normally don't like glosses with a brush applicator but this brush is the exception. It's soft but quite stiff so is very easy to use for easy, precise application.

Would I buy Glazed Lips again? Yes, it's a lovely gloss and I'm planning on buying more colours. 

All of the photo's shown are from the Ellis Faas website.

Ingredients: hydrogenated polydecene, polybutene, cera microcristallina, bis-diglyceryl polyacylapidate-2, diethylhexyl adipate, hydrogenated styrene/isoprene copolymer, caprylic/capric triglyceride, stearalkonium bentonite, prunus domestica seed extract, propylene carbonate, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, hexylene glycol, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl, hydroxyhydrocinnnamate, dicalcium phosphate.
May contain: mica, ci77891, ci77491/77492/77499, ci75470, red 7, ci15850, ci73360, ci45410, ci45380, ci42090, ci19140, ci15985.   

Thursday 5 November 2009

Stila Lip Glaze




I'm amazed to say that I've never tried a Stila Lip Glaze before. When I realised this I quickly headed down to Mecca to rectify the problem. I got Passionfruit which on me is a pretty, sheer pink. I don't normally like brush applicator glosses but Stila's Lip Glaze is the exception as the brush is quite firm and makes applying the gloss very easy.




I'm really happy with my Lip Glaze. Passionfruit is a beautiful colour that smells and tastes great (which is very important to me, I hate glosses that smell and taste bad). It provides a sheer wash of shiny colour that looks great alone or layered over lipstick or lip liner. The texture is lovely, it's not sticky or tacky and feels quite moisturising.
 
Stila says: Want lips that get all the attention they deserve? Turn on the shine and you'll be turning heads with stila's most popular lip gloss. Choose from an array of delectable shades that add a splash of color and fabulously matching flavors and scents in one easy click of the famous pen. Cosmetics experts agree-this top seller is an essential addition to any beauty bag.

Would I buy this again? Yes, it's a lovely gloss and I like the pen style container.

All of the pictures shown in this post are from the Mecca website.

Ingredients: polybutene, octyldodecanol, helianthus annus oil, lanolin oil, euphorbia cerifera wax, cocopheryl acetate, ricinus communis seed oil, ethylhexylglycerin, flavour, phenoxyethanol, benzyl benzoate, limonene, farnesol, citral, benzyl salicylate, eugenol, cinnamal, benzyl alcohol.
May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, blue 1 lake, bismuth oxychloride, carmine, red 6, red 7 lake, red 22 lake, red 28 lake, red 30, red 33 lake, yellow 5 lake, yellow 6 lake.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

ECO Minerals

I've decided to start doing a few feature posts on Australian companies that I find. I've recently discovered ECO Minerals and thought I'd make them my first feature. I've ordered some samples from them so I'll post about them once they arrive. Here's what Luci from ECO Minerals told me about their company.


ECO Minerals is Australian made and owned – based in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast.

Our products are 100% natural – PURE Minerals and free from cost saving fillers.  Our bestselling sheer foundation is free of bismuth oxychloride, kaolin and talc. It is also free from nano-particles and unlike some natural products – we do not use cheap and potentially irritating corn or rice starch in our formulations.

We sell exclusively from www.ecominerals.com.au and this is how we keep our salon/spa quality products so inexpensive!

Our ECO name comes from our commitment to supporting the planet by donating $1 from each product sold to charity…AND we also offer ECO friendly refills.  These are in 100% bio packaging and customers can then fill up their sifter jars – saving on packaging and saving around 20% of the price!


Your readers may also like to use our FREE SAMPLE / COLOR MATCH FORM – they can even upload a photo so we can recommend their best ECO Minerals match and send it for free! http://www.ecominerals.com.au/samplescolormatch.htm
 
We offer FREE delivery/postage within Australia.

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Mirenesse Velvet Lip Lift Moisture Shine

Every now and again I find some reviews difficult to write. Not because I don't like the product, just because I don't know what to say about it. This is one of those products. I've been trying to write this review for weeks now and it's just not happening. 


Mirenesse says: Rich glamorous glossy shine and lips drenched with moisture.
Lasts & Lasts; self-renewing colour pigments adhere to the lips to last and last. Apply directly to lips, purse lips together during wear to renew the shine.
The first anti ageing treatment liquid lip shine completely non sticky and soft textured.
Fills In Fine Lines; Micro collagen lip filling spheres draw in moisture to fill in fine lines and keep lips full, soft and smiling all day.

Overall I like this gloss. It smells nice, feels good and the colour I got is beautiful. Unfortunately I don't know what the colour is because I got the mini version and it's not written on the tube.


I don't have fine lines on my lips so can't say if this fills in fine lines or not. I do find it moisturising though and like the way it makes my lips look and feel. 


At the moment you can buy these for $10.95, which in my opinion is a bargain.

Monday 2 November 2009

MAC Studio Fix




Since I used up my beloved (discontinued) Dior powder I've been on the hunt for a powder to replace it. I don't think any powder will come close to matching the brilliance of my Dior powder, but so far Studio Fix is coming pretty close. MAC call it a powder plus foundation.




The colour that I use is NW20. If it helps anyone, on the left hand side of my blog I've got a list of all the colours that I use in foundation, concealer and powder.

I've tried using this as a foundation and as a powder. I prefer it as a powder due to my dry skin, however I'm thinking that in summer it'll be perfect to use alone. I use this over the top of tinted moisturiser to make me look more polished. I find that it makes my skin look smooth and naturally flawless.

As it can also be used as a foundation I find that it can look a little cakey if I apply too much, especially if I use a sponge, so I use a powder brush and that gives the right amount of coverage.



When I tried using this on its own as a foundation I found that it accentuated my dry spots. However for people with oily skin it'd make a great foundation. One of my friends with oily skin uses this as a foundation and she always looks flawless.

Here's what MAC has to say: Studio Fix is a powder and foundation in one that combines good coverage with ease of application. Designed to be used dry, the powder and pigments create a matte, velvety texture. It contains Silica, which helps to maintain a matte finish by absorbing oils on the skin, as well as Talc to provide a smoother, less reflective, matte finish. The talc has been milled to a microscopic size to provide a beautiful texture while allowing the skin to breathe. It is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a brush, sponge, or a powder puff. 




I've heard some people say using Studio Fix causes pimples, however as I'm not acne prone I don't have this problem. If you do have acne prone skin then this probably wouldn't work for you.  

Would I buy it again? Yes.

Ingredients: talc, silica, isostearyl palmitate, methicone, caprylyl glycol, hexylene glycol, phenoxyethanol.
May contain: titanium dioxide (ci77891), iron oxides (ci77491, ci 77492, ci77499), chromium oxide greens (ci77288), ultramarines (ci 77007).