Rescue Me Aesop!

Today's lack of a post is brought to you by the return of my cold. 

Somehow this sneaky thing has found me just when I thought I'd kicked it, and I'm back home feeling sorry for myself

In lieu of a post today, the only savouir of my sick-day, Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm from Aesop. So beautifully fragrant and luxurious, that for a minute I imagine I'm somewhere like this

(Source)

Sadly I quickly remember that I'm actually still at home, feeling sorry for myself, I suppose a complete escape is asking too much of a hand-cream. Nonetheless, lovely product for a miserable day. 

Friday Funnies- Nivea In-Shower Rich Body Lotion Review

Finally kicking that cold thanks to lots of herbal teas and some quality down time, I've found myself in some very deep corners of Youtube this week!

Onward and upward to Friday Funny, it's the much publicised Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion. I bought this initially when I was swimming a lot for exercise. Changing from normal gym to swimming, means I was constantly running late in the mornings, and I was desperate to streamline my routine.

While I was streamlining, I was also focussed on moisturising, because my poor skin was hating the regular chlorination, so Nivea's product seemed absolutely perfect. I bought the rich type, given I was applying it to cholorinated skin, I wanted as much moisture as possible. 

It's a think white lotion, with that typically 'Nivea smell'. It's a clean smell, not at all herbal or floral. 

Nice and easy to use, squeeze it out of the bottle, and apply like a moisturiser, I did arms and legs only, as I didn't think it was sensitive/gentle enough for my neck/face/chest area. 

I like that they call it a Skin Conditioner, because that's exactly the process and procedure for using it. You put it on like a conditioner, then step out of the shower so it can soak in a bit. 

When you rinse it off, it's the same kind of silky smooth feel your hair gets when you rinse off a conditioner, which is quite nice. When you step out and dry off, your skin does feel softer. 

That sensation doesn't last for long, so I wouldn't consider this  a great moisturiser. But if it's the difference between not having time to moisturise at all, and putting something on arms and legs, I think it's worthwhile.

Also I can absolutely second the warning that you need to watch for it on the ground. This product is slippery and if you drop some in the shower and don't notice, you'll be in strife. 

The ingredients are not for senstive skin, the chemicals which make it work in the shower are not particularly gentle, so I'd really recommend for arms and legs only, and only when you're in a big rush. 

Overall, it's probably worth buying if you've got dry skin and very little time, although most days (now I've stopped swimming) I will just get out of the shower and use a more high quality product. That said, it's not terribly expensive at $7.99 for 400ml and there are a few different scents/variations which have hit the market, so I'd say it's worth having on hand for frantic moments. 

Aaaaand now, the moment you've all been waiting for, today's joke! 

Q: What did the duck say when he bought a lipstick?

A: Put it on my bill!

Happy weekend! 

3 of the BEST Lipbalms! Mecca Lip De Luscious, Go to Skincare, Burts Bees

Oof. Somehow I’ve picked up a doozy of a cold in the first few days of Spring, and my mind is encased in a fuzzy grey cloud. So, a quick and fun roundup that won’t require too much thinking- my 3 favourite lip balms.

I’m a person who is prone to dry lips, which is extremely unfortunate given my love of lipstick. Since my pre-teen lipsmacker days, I’ve tried almost everything you can whack on your lips, and I’ve now got some solid favourites, and one rule of thumb when trying new things. 

My big rule is…..

Natural ingredients- I’ve learnt the hard way (those infamous red tubes) that products full of petroleum jelly will just give you a slick looking lip, then fade away to nothing.

To prevent a life with my fingers in my mouth re-applying, I’ve gotten good at looking at ingredient lists to make sure the key ingredients of my lipbalms are natural, and will do my lips some good. Basically, if I can’t recognize the ingredient names, I’m not so keen. My favourites are beeswax, lanolin (very natural- from sheep!) and the butters- shea butter, cocoa butter etc.

It’s more expensive to create a balm with proper, hydrating ingredients, so you might pay a little more, but the long term effects are worth it, when you use a product that actually hydrates your lips, instead of sliding around on top of them.

And now for my favourites!*

The high-achiever
Mecca Cosmetica Lip De- Luscious ($28 from here)

This is my holy grail of lip balms. It’s quite concentrated and a little bit sticky, which can be annoying when you’re swiping it out of the tub, but aside from that, pure perfection, not to mention they've just upgraded it to classy new packaging. 

-          Terrific pink colour, soft and natural looking, but with a gentle shine

-          SPF 25- important! Lips need sunscreen too!

-          Long lasting- this is the trade off for stickiness, I’d rather have a thicker, stickier balm             than one which disappears instantly. This balm does not budge, and I love that.

-          Yummy vanilla/marshmallow scent.

The pretty one with surprising substance
Go-To Skincare- Lips ($15 from here.)

A newcomer to my stash, but fast becoming a favourite, it’s thinner than the others, and doesn’t have quite the same staying power, but is extremely nourishing. This has the look of a gloss (which I really like) but actually hydrates and cares for your lips. A win-win!

-          Clear glossy consistency

-          Delicious fruity scent

-          Easy to apply (straight on your lips! No digging your grubby fingers in a pot)

-          Over time will actually improve your lips, instead of just sliding over them- unusual for such a slippery glossy product.

The go-everywhere-gal
Burts Bees Beeswax Balm   (around $7 at most chemists, supermarkets or online)

There are a lot of different Bees, I'm a fan of their tinted lip shimmers or balms, and they do some great treatments, but my go to is the classic Beeswax Balm.

I love this one for it’s tingly aromatheraputic feeling, there’s a great little peppermint oil buzz I get when I pop it on my lips, which feels quite medicinal, great for when my lips are in need of a bit of repair.

-          Beeswax base means it stays on for a long time, without getting sticky

-          Comes in two convenient packages-  I like the original vintage little pot by my bedside,             and a stick for on the go, in my car, pockets or handbag. 

-          No animal testing, and very natural ingredients

-          Will soften and improve the look and feeling of your lips, almost instantly.

To conclude, because it's been a long day, and I'm typing the last sniffly lines of this in bed, I can heartily endorse all three products, and I promise your lips will thank you (and me) 

Bon nuit xoxo

* All images from the linked sites. 

Review- Lush, Angels On Bare Skin Facial Cleanser (plus how to use it without making an utter mess)

Ok so we played around a bit with make-up and nail polish towards the end of this week, but it's Monday now, back to business, back to skincare. 

If you're like me, you might like to use something every now and then that feels like it's physically cleaning your skin. You might also like to eat just guacamole for dinner, but that's another story. 

Once I realised what a microbead was, and why I shouldn't be scrubbing my face with balls of plastic, I was on the look-out for a reasonably priced scrubby cleanser, I heard such good things about the Lush facial scrubs, that I ventured back into their store, for the first time in about ten years, a very good decision. 

Blog, meet Angels on Bare Skin. 

In a nutshell

Pros: Feels scrubby, lovely aromatic ingredients, gently on skin. 

Cons: A bit of a process to use 

Price:  $42.37 for 250 grams

Purpose: Scrubby cleaner, use once a day, or once every couple of days. 

Packaging: Like the lush pot, easy to open and use. 

Re- Purchase? Yes. The gorgeous scent and skin feel is worth the extra effort.

This cleanser uses ground almonds to scrub your skin, so you'll get that lovely feeling of exfolliating, without damaging the environment, or stripping too much skin off your face. The almonds are in good company with kaolin clay, which will draw impurities out of your skin and soak up excess oils.

But my personal favourite part? The aromatics. There's a (gentle, soothing) party going on in that pot, with lavender, rose and blue chamomile, mmmmmmm. 

There is a drawback though, this isn't the easiest product you'll ever use. For me, the hassle is exceeded by the therapeutic scent and the softness of my skin after use, but it isn't a cleanser to use when you're in a rush. If this product was a boyfriend, it would be a handsome funny one, who is terribly messy. You love him anyway, but that doesn't mean you don't wish he was a little easier to live with! 

Luckily, after a few uses, I've managed to fine tune my technique a bit, and I'm much less likely to end up with almond meal in my hair. So, if you're going to buy this product, let me save you the mess. 

Firstly, Lush suggests you take a pinch off, I take a bit more than that, because I live large. 

The idea is to add a bit of water to make a cleansing milky substance, this is where I deviate a bit more from the Lush directions. I find if I get things too liquidy, it's hard to transfer the scrub from hands to face, and feel like you're getting product in the right areas. 

Instead, I make a very thick paste, like the one you can see below, using only a few drops of water. 

I can then smear that thicker paste over my cheeks, nose and forehead to make sure I'm getting product right around the areas that need to be clean (and avoiding my eyes as much as possible - because those little almond granules love to stick in my lashes!) 

Once I've done that, I massage and scrub a bit more with wet hands, which makes things more milky, but I think spreading the product as a paste first helps me have more control. 

Finally, I place a very hot cloth over my face, and inhale the lavender loveliness, before cleaning all the scrub off.

Low maintenance it is not, but for me, totally worth it, and your skin will feel lovely and baby-soft while you drift into gently scented dreams.

Spackle-Stuff- Tom Ford Lipstick

Hello hello and happy weekend,

A special hello to the people who've left lovely comments, emailed, connected with me on twitter or chased me down the street holding pitchforks. The last one might have been a dream, but the rest has been lovely- it's nice to get to know you all and be able to check out your blogs as well! (Plus I've got lots of new things to try now, so thanks, I think)

Given that I've got a few new-er readers I thought I should write a little more about myself, as that's what I'm always curious about when I read other people's blogs. But then I got extremely self conscious! 

So, instead of just throwing facts about myself at you, I'm going to start 'Spackle-Stuff' a series where I talk about one of my most favourite products/beauty items, and in doing so elaborate a bit more about who I am. 

It's not a review, or an 'about me' so to speak, but should be a bit of fun. And, if nothing else, you'll be able to see my face when it's not covered in facemask. 

Couldn't start with anything but the creme de la creme- Tom Ford Lipstick

These are so expensive I almost feel a bit guilty about the size of my collection, almost, but not really, because I truly love them. (L to R Casablanca, Flamingo, Cherry Lush, True Coral, Wild Ginger) 

Let me begin by saying, you will never use a better lipstick. Nothing is as pigmented and creamy, has the staying power but also the perfect finish. I painstakingly use a brush on these babies to preserve them, and, as you can see, a little has gone a very long way. 

My love affair with red lipstick actually began a while before I even met Mr Tom Ford, when I rocked a hardcore Anna Wintour bob, and liked posing on slides. 

I was a ballet dancer for most of my childhood/early teen life, until I was about 17. Starting at 3 meant I had some verrryyy early exposure to drag-queen levels of makeup, and developed a very steady hand with eyeliner, and a life long love affair with false eyelashes.

The first time I wore a red lipstick, I was five years old, and I wore it for my ballet concert. I clearly remember being absolutely enchanted with the way it looked, and the way my face looked. I used to beg my mum to let me wear it casually (looking back, so glad she said no) and idolise other people who did. 

Track forward 15 years, I was a 20 year old uni student, who spent most of my money on fake tan (urgh), ridiculous on-trend clothing and vinyl records. 

So, it was a miracle that I made my way to the Tom Ford counter, much less managed to purchase a quality, timeless classic, like the Cherry Lush lipstick. But I did, and my red-lipstick love rekindled. I had never used such a perfect lipstick, which completely changed my look and made me feel incredibly special and luxurious. 

I wore that lipstick everywhere, and it features in some of my most favourite moments.  This photo particularly is very close to my heart, as it was taken about a week after I started dating my boyfriend. Looking at this I can clearly remember getting ready, and thinking about him, and what he'd think of me all dolled up. Ah, youth. 

Over the years I've added to my collection, and moved away from my safety ned of reds to darker shades (Casablanca is just the most perfect flirty adult lipstick you'll ever have) and fun pinks (a present from a beloved friend) but I've never been disappointed, and always, always had a soft spot for Mr Tom Ford. 

Friday Funny- Revlon Nail Art in Moon Candy

Today’s Friday Funny is brought to you by both Revlon, Cosmetic Fragrance Direct and the influence of an 8 year old friend.

Over the weekend, my young friend gave me a pre-birthday manicure, which made for some very festive celebration photos, and helped me cling to a bit of immaturity!

Although that polish didn’t have a lot of staying power, I had sparkles on the brain, so was pleasantly surprised to find the Revlon Nail Art bottles seriously reduced at CFDirect. At 4 for $10, I couldn’t resist picking up two, along with two more standard polishes (I’ll admit I was tempted to go hog-wild and buy four bottles of Nail Art). 

After much internal negotiation, I settled on the Moon Candy range, and picked a dark red and pink (230 Supernova) , along with a grey and paler pink (250 Satellite). I quite liked the dark colours, as they seemed to add a sophisticated edge compared to the glitter nail-polish of my youth.

Let’s be honest, this is purely a novelty product. For this reason, I wasn’t expecting a highly developed apparatus,  and found that my suspicions were mainly true: the bottles are smaller, and the brushes are smaller. 

Using the small brush made it trickier to get even coverage, particularly with the glitter. On the other hand, the double-ended screw top is easy to carry and throw in your bag, and you’re getting two polishes in the one cute package.

I chose Satellite which is the grey and pinkish combo for my mini-mani.  You'll notice all the following photos are taken on my very exciting desk, to show just how well these polishes brighten up an otherwise boring office day. 

grey was deep and a bit darker than I expected, although I did have to apply a bit thickly as the small brush was a bit tricky to manoeuvre. 

After the grey undercoat came glitter, which was not lots of tiny sparkles, but rather bigger flake-style glitter pieces. Again there were a few teething issues while applying this. 

I originally struggled to get the glitter flakes off the brush and on my nails. 

By pushing and brushing a bit too vigorously, I actually smudged the undercoat, as you can see in the centre of my thumb here (the faded stripe) 

I eventually mastered a more successful technique, where I gently placed the brush and the sparkles on my nails, instead of vigorously brushing. 

The results were pretty good! Exciting glittery nails, that didn't require a whole swag of products to achieve. 

Sure they're not the most well designed bottles, or the most expertly applied polish (I was being quick to avoid any fume complaints from my neighbours in the open plan) but for a hump-day-treat, a bit of glitter is a winner for me, and, two days on, they're staying put.

Big tick, Revlon Nail Art. 

To finish a nail polish themed joke! 

Where did the nail polish store his wallet?

...... In his laquer! 

These get worse by the week, Happy FRIDAY :)

What's in my basket? Springtime Skincare Favourites

Happy Monday! Hopefully someone is out enjoying the sunshine, even if I'm not. You might remember way-way back when, I posted my solution to organised skincare- a basket. 

The other day while I was reorganising things/playing a game of 'product tetris' I decided to lay everything out, and elaborate a bit more on what is currently in my skincare basket. 

These are things I use daily, or at least regularly enough to warrant promotion out of the cabinet to the basket.  I like to think each serves a different (and justifiable) purpose to warrant their spot in the basket, which I'll detail down below. I'll link where I've done reviews- but doing this has reminded me I need to do a lot more! (REN serums and acid exfoliants to come soon!) 

Just realised- my headbands made the first photo (top left) they're for....uh... keeping the hair off your face. Extremely high-tech. 

First little group is things for getting my face nice and clean. I've got....

The Gentle, Softening One- The Body Shop- Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter 

The Scrubby One- Lush- Angels on Bare Skin Facial Cleanser 

Hardcore Acid Exfoliant (once weekly at most)- Dr Dennis Gross- Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel

More Gentle Acids (twice weekly)- Go To Skincare- Exfoliating Swipeys

Heavy Eye Makeup/Lipstick Remover- Bioderma 

(I've also got a big pump-pack of Sukin Sensitive Cleanser which is my all purpose cleanser)

On to the serums. I possibly have a few too many of these, but they all do something a bit different! Plus, as the most active, concentrated element of my routine, I figure they're worth splurging on. 

The Super Luxe Serum- REN Rose Synergy O12 Restoring Facial Serum

Economical Night Serum- Sukin Purely Ageless Intensive Firming Serum 

Anti-Aging Serum- Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir

Splurge-ish Daily Serum- REN Radiance Perfecting Serum

Economical Daily Serum-  Rosehip Plus Rosehip Oil- this is the one I meant to take to Port Douglas, as replacement for my A'Kin one. 

I'm still on the search for a perfect moisturiser, but here's what I'm working with at the moment

All Purpose Gentle Night Time- Swisse - Sensitive Vitamin E Face Moisturiser 

Day Time, with some SPF- Aveeno - Positively Radiant Daily Moisturiser

Anti-Aging Night Time-  First Aid Beauty- 5 in 1 Restore Cream Age Delay

General light weight moisturiser for daytime? Still searching! I've just picked up two Lush moisturiser samples, to consider (Imperialis and Celestial)

Finally, things that can't really be categorised and stand by themselves. 

Mask-  Puretopia - Purify and Renew Deep Cleansing Clay Mask

Refreshing Face Spritz- Lemongrass House-  Green Tea Toner

Eye Cream-  Kiehl's- Avocado Eye Treatment- 

And here they all are! More detailed reviews to come, but for now, that's a snapshot of the kind of things I'm loving this Spring, that warrant a prized basket-position.