Bioderma Sebium Products Review

Hey Readers, it's great to have you here for my review of this range. Bioderma have been released in Australia for less then a year now but even before that there has been a plenty of buzz about them. Why? Because they're THAT good.
I was lucky enough to be sent the entire range of Bioderma's Sebium products to test out and review, which is perfect because it suits my skin to a tee. To describe my skin in all brutal honesty I would call it oily with a side of pores. The range has been specifically created for those looking to decrease and control oilyness, reduce the appearance of pores, and help diminish any acne. Cannot get much more suited then that.
The reason why I am reviewing this range is because in recent weeks they have released two key products, Sebium Global and Sebium Pore Refiner. I have been using the range in conjunction with my normal makeup removing cleanser in the evening, as you don't want to get this stuff in your eyes. A normal morning looked like this:
Cleanse for around a minute with Gel Moussant (or Gel Gommant to exfoliate for two minutes).
Apply Global if my skin was behaving well or AKN if I had any spots.
Apply Pore Refiner across my nose and cheeks to hide my pores.

Because the formulas do not contain sunscreen and are not recommended around eyes, I would then apply sunscreen and go about my makeup routine as per usual.

So how has that gone for the last month? While my skin is not particularly mattefied it feels much less congested and like it's operating how it should. Taking the extra effort to double cleanse with a makeup remover and the Gel Moussant in the evening has really helped. Straight after using the Gel Gommant scrub your face looks and feels amazing and applying the base products leaves skin feeling soft and perfect. I noticed my skin did clear up and my pores were cleaner while using the products, not shrunk but a cleaner pore is much less of a hassle to hide! The base products do make an excellent base for makeup, but the mattefying abilities didn't stand much of a fight against a Queensland never-ending Summer, but then again, what does? None the less because of the fact that my skin was much more refined and functioning better it did have less of an issue and just feels much more healthier.

Would I buy the range? I think I would, I have each of the bottle next to me as I'm typing this and the only one I wouldn't go for again in the micellar product, and that's only because I'm not a big fan of the cleansing water thing.

Something interesting to note is that while I was staying in Melbourne earlier last month is some horrid Wintery weather, my face felt tight when I used pore refiner all over, and it did feel quite mattefied. if you want a mattefying option for winter, it's a winner!

You can find these products at Terry White Chemists and Priceline Stores across Australia.
Please note that though I was gifted the range all opinions written in Bought by Birdette are my own.

Bioderma, Uriage and Nuxe coming soon to Priceline!

This is great news you guys! Priceline Australia are about to start stocking some incredible brands from France and I couldn't be happier. (Not having to use eBay to find potentially fraudulent cult status items? Defs a win!)
What am I talking about? Bioderma, Nuxe and Uriage! Three world famous brands and rightly so, their products have both stood the test of time and are coveted by those in both the beauty industry and at homes across the world. This is just a quick introduction to their star products, make sure you go and check out the ranges in store soon.

Bioderma is a cult status beauty brand. With the ubiquitous product Crealine in their arsenal they are a brand to be reckoned with. Bioderma create products with the belief that skin in distress not only needs to be treated but also encouraged to use its own resources to aid in healing itself, this has led them to create incredible non irritating formulas that will make those with sensitive skin weep with joy. What makes Crealine so special is the Micellar technology that attracts oil based cells. When applied to a cotton pad and wiped across the face it binds makeup, oils and pollutants to the pad without interrupting the skin. Quite often you'll find it's the only make up remover an artist will use because it's effective without irritating a model's overworked skin.

Chances are you have an oil product in your Beauty Stash and Nuxe may just be the brand you have to thank for this! Aliza Jabès (a Pharmacist's Daughter) created the Dry Oil product Huile Prodigieuse over two decades ago, introducing what would become one of the best selling beauty products around, a bottle of this glorious oil is sold every 6 seconds worldwide! You can use it in your hair, as well as your face and body. It absorbs super quickly and has the most heavenly scent. A great use for it is actually before you shower, Comb it through your hair and leave for 20 minutes -under a clean towel is ideal to create warmth- and them shampoo and condition your hair as normal.  Easy, gorgeous soft hair!

Something for those with problematic and sensitive skin, where even tap water can freak them out is the star product of Uriage. The product is so effective that there is even an Uriage Thermal Centre, where people can be treated for severe skin irritations using the special naturally balanced water sourced from Uriage-Les-Bains, near Grenoble, Uriage Thermal Water spray is the take home version. For every day users like myself it's great for setting make up at the start of the day with a quick spray but it also wonderful for use during the day. It won't ruin your make up if you give yourself a very light spray during the day, but will in fact refresh it. I think it's going to help me survive summer!

These brands are going to start appearing on Priceline's shelves soon and are expected to be out by mid October, so do yourselves a favour and keep an eye out for them, Bioderma is already available at Terry White Chemists if you just can't wait though!

Have you ever used these products before? What did you think of them? Be sure to tell me in the comments!

Products have been provided for consideration.

Winter Facials by Guinot

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of meeting Laura Pritchard of Guinot (pronounced Ghee-no for those new to the brand) to experience a Liftosome Facial, one of two Winter treatments (the other being the Hydralift Treatment) available from Guinot that lifts and firms the face. So off to Outshine Beauty Salon and Medi spa in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane I went to check it out.
Outshine is a chic little beauty haven nestled just off James Street where you can easily spend a day exploring some of Brisbane's best shopping. I've recently rediscovered this little nook down the hill from Fortitude Valley and love it to bits!

The Liftosome Facial from Guinot

What makes this facial so special?
Featuring a serum that includes four star ingredients (Pro Collagen, Alaria Esculenta, Vitamin C and Bio-peptides EL and CL) the treatment will take around 45 minutes. During the process they also apply a special clay mask that heats up to a gentle warmth to ensure that the applied product works its way deeper then usual into your skin for even better results. I asked to have a look at it afterwards, and it was interesting but also a little scary to see just how thick it was! It didn't feel that heavy at all.
Your beauty therapist will then massage your face, neck and decollete with the serum. This was my favorite part of the treatment, it's so relaxing to have an expert treating your skin with such care and excellent technique.
You also get some amazing results after just one treatment with firmness increased by 26.5% and wrinkles diminished by 20.4%
The end result is firmer, brighter skin with added perk. This is an ideal treatment for a special occasion as the results are quite immediate, but will get still improve even further after a short program of facials. I was really stoked with the results but felt even better about them when a friend of mine who didn't know I was going for this facial commented that my skin looked amazing two days later. She wanted to know what I had been doing differently lately!

For those who are interested in the Hydralift Treatment, while I didn't experience one firsthand I can tell you that it is an effective method to exercise the muscles in your face. Much like your body, your face benefits from working out too to give you a youthful look. By draining toxins and stimulating muscles the treatment reshapes, tones and firms, while minimizing fine lines. Products used during your Hydralift session will be tailored to your skin type with a choice of half hour, full hour or two hours for your treatment. Further sessions have the added benefits of being even more effective in banishing wrinkles and lifting the eye area.

For more information, please visit the Guinot Australia Website where you can also find your local Guinot treatment supplier.

Please note that while this service was complementary, the above opinion is purely my own and in no way swayed by any third parties.

Aveeno Skin Relief

As I've previously mentioned, my mother wasn't someone who I learnt a lick of my beauty routine or knowledge from, while my grandmother's on the other hand have occasionally given me great pearls of wisdom over the years. For instance, one of my grandmothers believed in oatmeal baths for itchy sensitive skin to calm it right down. We didn't know the science behind it but by goodness they worked a treat.

The goodies from Aveeno

Aveeno have taken the science behind this phenomenon and rolled it into their amazing Skin Relief moisturising range of skincare products.They were kind enough to send me both their Skin Relief Body Wash and Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion to try out and I couldn't wait to get my mits on them. They have been on the scene since 1945 and the world famous Mayo Clinic was their first customer! Aveeno have got to be doing something right!

I'm not great at keeping up the routine of applying moisturizer after every shower I take but I promised myself to make a good effort to try out the wash and moisturizer every time I got my body wet, and my skin is singing with joy that I did! Left to its own devices my skin can get really awful, to the point of scaly even. But normally it itches up such a storm that I have to take action before then. While using Aveeno, the wash was a very gentle clean with a light lingering softness, while the moisturiser replenishes the moisture that showers and baths can unfortunately sap. My skin after over a fortnight of use is softer, more even toned and it even has a nice glisten from being so damn happy!

One of the really good things to note about Aveeno and their ranges is that their products are also backed up with science and testing, a lot of companies out there make outrageous claims about what their products can do with barely a step into the laboratory. Like so:

"Alright folks can it moisturise?"
"Well it moisturizes until the high alcohol content content dries it up ..."
"Good enough! Lets label it quick drying and be done with it."

You always have to look for the asterix in the claims people. Aveeno spend a lot of time making sure their products do a really top job of what they say they're going to do and because of this standard of quality they have been recommended by dermatologists for more then 60 years.

What I didn't like about the moisturiser was the smell, there is a subtle lanolin kind of smell to it, and while it is very subtle it still reminds me of the sheep on my mother's farm. Lucky there's fragrance free varieties too then!

I would definitely recommend both products to those with sensitive skin, they are incredibly gentle products that soothe and smooth skin that normally like to riot. but even if your skin isn't sensitive I would say they are a good choice for fuss free and thrifty body care products.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Highlighter

Beautiful, glowy complexions are always in fashion. I have done a comparison post on two very effective Illuminating Concealers in the past but I thought I would try something new when my last one ran out, enter L'Oreal Lumi Magqiue Highlighting Pen.

L'Oreal Paris have created the Lumi Magique range (also including a Primer and foundation collection) to help give tired and fatigued complexions a nice bit of pep to look alive and awake, and really, who wouldn't want this? Even the best of us are often tired! By using something called 'liquid light technology' and the lovely and soft brush applicator you have a very potent weapon to bring some alert to your look.

Lumi Magique Pen Swatches in Medium

The product itself does a fantastic job of concealing in a highlighting manner. Great to use for concealing under eye bags and for application around the nose and above the cupids bow to add a three dimensional effect to your complexion, and battle any shadows on your face. The formula is creamy and dries with enough time to blend properly, with the ability to layer for those really pesky blemishes..
The pen like packaging is sleek and perfect for taking on the god, taking up very little room in your makeup case, ideal for touch ups through the day and tiny enough for any overnight bag.
While using Lumi Magique I found only one real negative, the amount of clicks to get enough product to use varies greatly from use to use, and I'd find myself getting frustrated too easily and ending up with too much product. Despite this, I felt the brush really was beautifully soft and ideal for applying the product (with some patting with my ring finger afterwards to blend).
One thing I did find interesting as well was that I ended up buying the medium shade, finding it suited my light complexion more then the light shade did, so make sure you do some testing in sunlight before you buy.

Have you tried any of the Lumi Magique range? Tell me what you thought in the comments!

Have we found the best Lip Balm?

'm not one to utter the acronym HG (Holy Grail) often, in fact I don't think I ever have on this blog before. But I'm so fond of this product, it deserves a massive pedestal to be placed beneath it.
I'm  talking about Nivea's Essential Care Lip Balm.

Lip balms are a beauty product that everyone who cares about their appearance tends to use, and use often! Caring for your lips is paramount to creating a youthful look, soft full lips are universally appealing. The reason why I love Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm so much is that it feels unlike any other balm I've used. It's just so damn nourishing! You know that awful addiction your lips can get with -lets face it- most lip balms on the market? Where if you don't reapply every two hours your lips start chapping more then they were to begin with? I've never had a trace of that with Essential care, instead lips are given great moisturisation, a soft and supple feel and absolutely with no signs of balm addiction. It lasts and lasts as well,

My favourite use for it is just before bedtime, apply it liberally to wake up with gorgeous soft lips ready to go for the next day.

Do you have a HG Lip balm? What do you use?

Pure Pink Red Perfection - Maybelline Coral Crush

We're certainly onto a lip theme this week! not a bad thing in my view at all.
So I may have cheated a little on my Thrift Challenge (actually, I did quite badly for a little while there, but that's another story). But I really think it was worth it.

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Coral Crush is a lip colour that I've been dying to get my hands on. Week after week it was out of stock wherever I looked, I even went so far as to buy it from eBay, but when it arrived it was the complete wrong colour, (right tube, right name, wrong colour, WTF??) So when I spotted one lonely tube of it in a Priceline I don't normally venture into, of course I pounced on it.

Coral Crush is about as pink as you can get and still be able to call it coral, due to the low saturation of red it is quite a young shade with plenty of pop. It looked stunning on my light skin with dark features complexion. I don't think it'd work quite as well on a blonde, a little too barbie.
Also worth noting is that it takes a few coats to get a strong colour. One layer is rather sheer, so if you don't want such a punchy shade it's still quite workable. I really like that it's a versatile shade of pink, it sits on the fence for a lot of things, not a lolly shade, not a Nanna shade, not a nude shade etc etc.
If pinks are your shade of lip colour, or one that you're thinking of adding to your lipstick wardrobe, I'd certainly recommend giving this one a try.

The Quick Drying Faux Glow Advantage - Le Tan Tanning Gel

Tanning is something I used to do a lot of while I was in Fashion School, I had a strange perception of what was a healthy size back then as the vast (VAST!) majority of classmates were a size 10 or under. I felt huge in my then smaller size 12-14 frame. I used to give myself a little self esteem by at least having a great fake tan. It's something I haven't done in a few years, but at least I have a great array of new products to try!

Le Tan Tanning Gel in Bronze (Product does not come with mitt)

One of the first I purchased is Le Tan's Tanning Gel in Bronze, being pale skinned and a novice again I didn't want to try the deeper tone. What particularly drew me to this product is that because it's a gel, it dries fast and works better with oily skin. All the better to defeat that icky product coated feel you can get with creams.

It's a clear formula with only a hint of the colour that's to come, This is fantastic when you're trying to keep the colour off your clothes and sheets but very problematic when it comes to knowing where you have applied the Tanning Gel. This can be alleviated with the use of those great application mitts you can usually find right next to the Tan range at most stockists.

My first impression is great as this is certainly one of the better smelling Tanning products on the market, there's a subtle coconut smell that doesn't start to resemble fake tan until a few hours later. If you pop the gel on just before going to bed, you won't even notice it. The products glides on nicely and there's no need to really works with it, just make sure you have applied it evenly before it quickly dries. As you can deepen the colour by applying a second layer once they first one dries. A big positive is that it won't rub off once it has dried the way that some others can, once its set it's pretty much unstoppable.
With one layer the colour is nice and subtle and hard to pick as fake, but I have to recommend you stop there, if you want to go a little deeper you ought to apply a tanning moisturiser over the top. Two layers of the gel was just too much when I gave it a go. Of course to keep the colour looking as good as possible you need to moisturise at least once a day, twice is ideal.
So in summary:

What I liked about it - 
The quick drying formula and scent.

What I disliked about it - 
Transparent formula.

Have you tried this product? What did you think of it?

Rimmel BB 9 in 1 Cream Review

BB Cream by Rimmel

So I picked this up in store the other day, because the one thing I really need in my bathroom is another BB cream (Ha!) but for the price, I couldn't bring myself to say no.
What stood out for me most in the advertising would have to be that it has the highest SPF out of all the BB creams that I've seen on the market, at SPF 25 you get a level of protection that is usually reserved for products that are designed only to protect you from the sun, and not improve your appearance instantly.
Another point that I like about this product from Rimmel over others is the shade range. Yes it's only three but that's still more then other ranges, and the light is actually light! It works on my pale porcelain skintone and may even work in Winter when my skin goes completely void of colour.
The claims are that this product is 9 in 1 which is a very impressive number of tasks to roll into just one product. The list is that this product Primes, Moisturises, Minimises Pores, Conceals, Covers, Smooths  Mattifies, Brightens and helps Protect. for me, I could say that it does most of these, but I'd say it has more of a dewy finish then a mattifying one, but that's good for those who want that finish. Also conceal and cover are kind of the same thing to me...
Texture wise I found it a lot like zinc sunblock, it took a bit of work to spread, and you had to work quickly with the product before it began to set, but once you had waited a few minutes afterwards it was quite immovable.
My ultimate test with BB creams is whether the coverage is good enough to not need foundation afterwards, and I'm glad to say that this did the job nicely, I still put some powder on afterwards as the dewy finish doesn't work for long with my oily skin.

Of course I accidentally deleted the picture I took of the close up swatch spread on the back of my hand ...

More Revlon Lip Butters!

Lip products are becoming a weakness for me, every time I see a new colour I like on someone I have to race down to the shops and buy something like it, Gossip girl especially, (Oh that coral sheer pink Blair Waldorf was wearing in the first episode of this season, <3 <3 <3). sticks, glosses balms, I'll take them all! I'll even ask ladies on the street what they're wearing, if they have a similar hair and skin colour to you you can pretty much guarantee they will work for you too!
I've bought two new Revlon Colourburst Lip Butters this week after seeing them on co-workers, they're both shades of pink that suit my pale skintone, here are my swatches!

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

Raspberry Pie is a nice blue pink that makes a great alternative to a red lip, it's a darker shade and not a punchy bright, if you still want something strong but red just won't work for your outfit, give this shade a try.

Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop

My camera didn't even begin to show how punchy this colour is, it's  true candy pink for those who like a lipstick colour that has full on impact.

Benefit Myer Centre have moved, and you get the goodies!

Today's minor Benefit Haul

I had a mild panic today. I walked into Myer in Brisbane CBD on a mission to fix my overgrown eyebrows, (you know that moment where you look in the mirror and decide "Enough is enough! It's professional time!") So I trundled to where I'm expecting The Benefit Brow Bar to be and discovered another Beauty label has taken up residence. "Hmmm," I thought, then walked around to where the normal Benefit counter lived, only to find it was gone too! I almost wailed out loud at this point, but luckily I had the sense to have a quick scan of the floor and spotted a brand new and gorgeous dedicated set up just across from the MAC area, Hurray!

After chatting with the lovely counter ladies they informed me of a fantastic deal they have going for their grand relocation opening week, (Just at this location, sorry ladies!) You will get a free Eyebrow Tint with every Brow Arch Wax! I had this service done for the first time today, my eyebrows are rather dark as it is and thought it wouldn't be worth a go, but it has subtlety added a bit more shape to my brow. I like it, it will lessen my need to fill in my brows and will last around three weeks.

This is not the only deal they have going this week though, When you buy two products from the Benefit range they will also throw in a Cabana Glama DesTANation makeup kit in too! Of course I couldn't pass this up and grabbed a few items I've had my eye on.

Cabana Glama 

The Perk Up Artist

Speed Brow

So go on, Go give the girls in pink wigs a visit this week and leave with some perfectly shaped eyebrows. No booking required! 

Nude by Nature Natural Tinted Mineral Moisturiser Review

Phew, what a mouthful that is to say! I found this little present in a 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty goodie bag, and it's been a great score. I haven't tried any Nude by Nature products previously,the gimmick they came out with originally just came over as far too 'Danoz Direct' for me. I find that sort of thing can really out me off buying things. However I'd have to say that they are one of the most recognised Mineral make-up companies in Australia, and you don't get that famous without doing something right!

So the product I received is the Natural Tinted Mineral Moisturiser in Nude Beige, Looking on their site however I can't find this shade available, sad because it's a very close match to my skin colour! (Ed- Scratch that, they have two shades listed, Beige and Tan, I'm guessing that just add the word 'nude' in front on the packaging?) The formula is nice and thick, but is very easy to smooth onto your face. I found that you had to pat any other products you would use over the top on, as it had the potential to slide about a bit when other products were added to the mix (Primers, Foundations etc.) Powders worked really well over the top though, to set the moisturiser and add a little more oil busting oomph.

Nude Beige Swatch

The scent is a really nice botanical smell which I really enjoyed, and coverage was light but effective, the redness in my skin was reduced, and it didn't look as though I was wearing any make-up. It's an incredibly natural finish which is something I look for in Summer. I even wore it on its own with just a little bit of concealer to work yesterday, by the end of the day I didn't have that 'built up' yuck feeling I can get with make-up on my oily skin. Instantly on application it sets to a matte finish, and helped to hide pores.
Overall I would recommend this for someone who wants to disguise their oily skin, redness and has issues with more irritating products.

Have you tried Nude by Nature products before?

Rosehip Oil really is the Beauty Bomb

A little while ago I told my readers that I was trying Rosehip Oil, to see if all the claims of its fabulous abilities to create awesome skin were true. Truth be told, I'm actually really impressed and a little surprised by the results.
I used it nightly for the last three months or so, just at night time as I found it didn't help my make-up stay on, quite the opposite in fact. I've been applying three or four drops in a light circular motion over my face and neck but avoiding the eye area for obvious reasons, following with a night cream and then going to bed for the night.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil, the product I tried.

What did I notice different? My skintone is now pretty incredible, to the point where I'm much less afraid to go without make-up, (Yes, it has actually improved that much.) I have had problems with acne, oil, and redness with my face since I went through puberty, and while the Rosehip Oil didn't clear up the oiliness, it didn't make it worse. It didn't give me more acne either which was one of my bigger fears. Where it has stood out and done something incredible is for my Rosacea. The flaky skin I get around my nose has been a blip on the radar while using this product instead of hanging around for weeks on end. The ruddy redness and uneven skintone on my face, especially around my nose has been reduced and I even think my pores are clearer too. My skin feels plumper and younger, more glowy and just yum.

To me the positives beyond outweigh the minor things I didn't like. I had a problem initially with the unavoidable fact it's an oil, and I myself already posess verrrry oily skin. When this is the case you can form a stigma against using products with oils, but that's a thought that is very quickly crashing down with the advent of amazing oils like rosehip and some glorious cleansing oils on the market too.
My only real gripe is that the smell isn't pleasant  I wouldn't actually mind a little fragrance so it didn't smell like salad dressing, I was hoping for a lovely rose scent when I first opened the bottle, but instead I smelt dinner. Luckily the smell doesn't stick around for long though but the gorgeous skin does!
Consider it added to my friends presents this Holiday season.

What are your thoughts on Rosehip oil? Have you thought about using it? 

Bought! Zara Plaited Shopper

Something tells me I'm going to have "It-bag elbow" immanently ...

Alright, So I completely admit that I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I have had it floating around in the back of my wardrobe planning mind for months and months, (what, you don't plan your wardrobe??) But it recently it dawned on me, "Oh wow, do you know what bag will go amazingly with all the pastels, prints and neon brights this season? And still be be big enough to carry ALL of the things?" Oh yes, Yes Yes YES! This will be my go-to handbag for this Spring/Summer for everywhere during the day except the beach.

Olivia Palermo wearing the bag

So you might also know this bag as the Olivia Palermo Tote, with her being snapped around with it on her arm, but I don't buy bags because celebrities have them. The shape is perfect, and admittedly because it is so huge it makes me look as tiny as an Olsen twin in comparison. Think about it this way, this couch that I have photographed it on, that's a massive couch, and the bag takes up almost a whole seat of it!

Fat bag likes to take up an entire couch seat!

They officially call it the 'Plaited Shopper" which is curious because none of it is plaited, the carry handles do have hand stitched features but I guess it might have been lost in translation. It is made from a thick type of Leather they have called buffalo leather, with has a nice heavy 'thunk' to it when you tap on it, Very sturdy. The inside has that lovely suede side that I love too.

The bag is constructed in a manner that I haven't owned before. The exterior can be used on its own without the inner canvas type fabric pocket, as this lining can be removed from the two hook like studs on either side of the bag. I'm assuming this is for easier care and washing. The included shoulder strap is also removable in the same manner, but when not in use it's easier to just swing it around and hide in between the lining and bag. When using the shoulder strap the base of bag can just be reached to fish around in.

A closer look at the interior

Hook Stud detail

Possibly the only things I don't like about the bag is the lack of little pockets in the lining, for you phone, little things you like to keep hidden etc. The bag will be hard to keep immaculate as the type of leather used will scuff easily due to the finish, so I've decided once it starts to look a little shabby on the bottom -where the majority of the marks will end up- I can take it to a leather specialist and get either a contrasting or matching leather panel sewn to the base to increase the bags longevity. It's such a classic shape, I'll be using it forever, Hell, it's such an awesome bag it'll probably be snagged by one of my nieces when they grow up!

I managed to pick it up from a seller on eBay as Zara do not post to Australia, Sadface. (Please fix this soon Zara!) Even so I'm not sure if it is still stocked online. Ed: Oops, I lie, here it is on the American site!

Already I've taken this bag on a jaunt about the Brisbane CBD and it is a compliment magnet! Shop assistants and even strangers love it enough to come up to me and ask when I bought it. I'm just so damn pleased with it!

What bag are you going to invest in for this season? Do you prefer classic or high fashion bags?

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream Review

As previously mentioned, I'm a fan of BB creams, they were originally created as a topical layer of protection for patients who had skin issues, but over time were snaffled by the beauty industry for use by everyday women.
I thought I would try the new product from L'Oreal, I dabble in their products from time to time but find they're usually not a range I go for, but I spotted the range on sale and thought there's no time like the present!
It comes in two shades, but as the product is quite translucent they will cover a wide range of skin-tones, I went for the lighter one and it gave me a slightly darker glow, which will be great for spring and summer! Coverage is really light, I could only tell I was wearing it because I was looking for it but my skin did appear to have more even tone after application.
One thing I found interesting was the texture, when you squeeze a little onto your fingers for application it has an almost grainy feel to it that disappears when you apply it to your face, (After some more research I found out that these are the colour capsules that tint the moisturiser upon application.) The texture is also quite runny despite this. Also I give marks for the great packaging, the tiny little nozzle makes it easy to control how much you use without exposing the unused product to air.
I like to use it on its own on the weekends, the SPF is not quite as strong as I would like it to be though, but it's the sort of product you can throw in your bag for extra applications during the day which helps to nullify the issue.

Product Review: Parissa Warm Wax with Strips

Lets face it, this is one of those things that no lady likes to admit to, but I have hair. Shaving just doesn't give me results for long enough to make it worthwhile, so it's only effective in a bind. Because of my European ethnicity I have dark hair, noticeable hair, and it grows rather quickly too, 3-4 weeks between waxes? Yay.
Because of this frequency I find it beyond expensive to do all of my hair removal at a salon ($120+ per month to get my legs, arms and lady parts done? And even more expensive to get a good job done??Yeesh!) So DIY is certainly the way to go.
This brand is one that I've only seen recently so I thought I'd give it a try, Parissa are a Canadian brand started 25 years ago, for that longevity, they have to be doing something right! With an emphasis on using natural ingredients and keeping as many nasties out of their formulas as possible, they have a stong social resposibility that they are proud to uphold.
Also no animal testing!

This is the variety I tried if you want to pick some up yourself.

Kit contents

The Kit I bought was the Warm Wax kit with strips which is the style that you slather on with a spatula tool, smooth a strip of cotton paper over and then zip off again. I find this technique to be quicker then the strips that come pre waxed.
The product itself come with a complete kit of everything you'll need to get the job done, the wax, strips, spatulas, instructions and Azulene oil, You need the oil to get rid of any excess wax after the job is finished but it doubles as an excellent post wax treatment to soften and protect your skin from any post waxing problems like ingrowns and rashes.

After using the wax on my legs I'd have to say I'm happy with it, the smell is not offensive, it warms up quickly in the microwave to a good consistency, is easy to work with, and it does what it's supposed to do. Afterwards, the only thing left were the odd barely-out-of-my-skin hairs and gorgeously exfoliated and smooth legs. the strips work well, and the Azulene oil was a great finisher.
There isn't a whole lot of product that comes in the kit, I used up half of it on my calves alone, but I think that's fine for the price. If you are going to be doing a big job in one go, it might be worth buying a few kits though.
The other thing worth noting is that the wax is incredible. It was sticking to everything and it doesn't wash off with water, water just makes it more sticky! lol. The oil removes it but you still want to be very careful and even lay down newspapers over your work area, even if you are quite experienced at waxing. All the better to grip your hair with! I wound up with newspaper sticking to me, but better that then the carpet.
In the end I would recommend the Parissa Warm Wax Kit to anyone who likes to work with strip wax, it's easy to spread, highly effective at gripping hair and ultimately, as I've found a problem with some others, it does what it's supposed to do!

Have you tried any of Parissa's range? Tell me what you thought!

Product review: Mascara guard

This is one of those cool little gadgets that they come up with in Asia to make your life simpler. an all in one tool that you use to stop your mascara going all over your eyelids during application (both top and bottom lashes) and then a comb to separate lashes afterwards. It might seem like a silly product, but when you can buy then for less ten $5, who is really complaining?
Here is what it looks like.

I have to admit that it did seem like a superfluous tool to me at the start, but I've come to love it, especially for lower lash application. To use it you gently nestle the tool up against the skin you're trying to 'guard' and paint away.

Also a tip for those who are new to it - don't try and use it for the first time during a busy morning where you don't have time for mistakes, I wound up stabbing myself in the eye with my mascara, and completely ruining the make up job I had already done! And I leave mascara for last ...

You can pick one of these up really easily from eBay by typing in "Mascara guard" I bought mine from the guys here (they sell a lot of bathroom and beauty stuff)

Do you guys have any quirky make up tools that you swear by? I want to hear about it!

Bought! John Freida Salon Shape Air Styler

Hands up who wants an easier way to blow dry at home? I should be seeing a lot of hands in the air! Priceline are doing a fantastic deal in the last week where if you spent $40 on products across ten or so ranges you got a goodie bag packed with almost $200 worth of product! Since I missed the beauty version of this the other month I was dying to get my paws on this one, and lucky me, the new John Freida air styler was just around $50. You can check out more details about the bag deal here!

I've been stalking this kind of product since I spotted it come out around a year ago, but I couldn't justify the near $100 price tag that came with it. So I decided to wait until something more thrifty came out, and I love it. Instead of juggling a brush and a blow-dryer and still quite frankly needing another hand to assist to get a good result at home, this type of tool combines the dryer and brush in one. I have my hair styled in less then ten minutes (excluding prior drying time) and don't get so frustrated with my hair not doing what I want.
The styler comes with three settings; low temp, high temp and a cold shot to set your style. The end result was that I have shiny, bouncy, oomphy, straight hair with a nice sense of movement through the ends. Perfect.
While I don't have any real problems with the styler, I did buy it thinking that the brush head would rotate, it doesn't, but it's still very user friendly and easy to use without this feature.

Have you tried this product or something similar before? What did you think?

Product Review: Salon Express Nail stamper

You know those intricate designs you see advertised in nail bars? You know the ones, too delicate to possibly imagine doing with a brush? I've always been too scared to ask for them, and being a massive fan of DIY I was stoked when I found this kit. I picked one up from eBay the other week and now that I have had a good chance to play around with it, I thought I'd tell you guys about it. Admittedly, the ads for this product are frightening in their zeal, once you get past that though, the product is actually pretty nifty.
Salon express is a lot like the brand called Konad, from Korea I think that have the original version of this DIY style of nail stamping, I thought I'd give the cheaper one a go and see how I like it before I commit to the original.
The kit comes with five plates with a myriad of more then 40 designs, I read that you can get different designs in different kits but these are the ones I received, not the cutest unfortunately but you can buy additional plates online:

Salon Express complete kit contents

After just a few goes I was pretty happy with my results. My best piece of advice for you is to make sure you REALLY get the angle right when you are scraping off the extra nail polish. I found tilting the scraper at about 45 degrees made all the difference.
One negative I did find is that the whole nail designs that came with the kit were too small to cover my entire nails. it covered my pinky fine but there is a hope in hell it would fit my thumb!
Like all things in life it takes a bit of practise and the right tools to get it right. You can use normal nail polish with the kit, but I highly recommend to use the highly pigmented colours sold by Konad and other brands. I found that the white polish sold for use in French Manicures comes up nicely though.
If you're interested in buying more plates for your kit, I have found a store online that stocks Konad and other plates and special polishes. I have to say now that I haven't bought from them yet but I'm in the process of putting an order through now, I'll let you know how it goes! They also have an eBay store that sells stock for a little more but gives you the peace of mind that comes from eBay shopping.

Have you tried at home nail stamping? How did you go?

Maybelline Mascaras: The Falsies v. One by One

I have to say that I really can't go past Maybelline for mascaras. The formulas are impeccable, the effects are numerous and they last and last. I love discovering the new ones too!
In the last year or so the ones of note here in Australia would have to be The Falsies, and One by One, both are variations of their Volum' Express range, which is easily their most dramatic range.
I have been using The Falsies as my staple for months now, using it to build on top of a lengthening formula to give really knock out lashes, I have even had strangers come up to me on the street and ask what I use! The brush is terrific to wield, with the spoon shape helping to grip and coat each lash like no other brush I've used. I had fat, long and smooth lashes, and I love them.
So understandably when I picked up a tube of One by One my expectations were going to be incredibly high. One by One had a mission on its hands!
Firstly, the brush, it's not anything exciting but it is one of the newer technologically advanced rubber ones, with loads of tiny little rubber bristles coming off it, while The Falsies employs the traditional pipecleaner style bristles.

When putting on this mascara is where things start to get interesting, as I found it hard to apply without making a mess! The shape of the brush is a bit of a hinderance in this regard as it seems to pick up too much product at the end. I found I couldn't get a good application unless I cleaned a good amount of the product off with a tissue before applying. But my god when I did!
Beautiful! My lashes looked amazing, long, dramatic and stop-you-in-the-street good. But in the same breathe the volume just wasn't there like it is with The Falsies. This can be good or bad depending on the look you're going for. The gorgeous, doe-eyed "I wake up looking like this" effect was certainly perfect but for anyone looking for traffic stopping oomph and thick fat lashes I'd pick The Falsies.
Another point I'd like to make is that I would usually never use The Falsies without a base lengthening formula beforehand, while One by One works perfectly by itself, I wouldn't recommend a second coat of One by One as this was another time it started to get messy and the end effect didn't come off as lovely. This also makes One by One the choice to go for if you're racing the clock.

I hope I've helped you make up your mind between these two great mascaras, Let me know what you thought of them in the comments!