My Favourite Body Creams

There are so many moisturisers out there for your body it is sometimes scary. Do you choose a cream or a lotion. What about a fragrance? Do you want it to tan you or make you shimmer like a disco ball? There's too many choices.

Here are always ones that I go back to. The ones that sink into my skin and make it feel so soft and smooth.

St Ives Soothing Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Lotion

This is my most loved lotion of all time.It smells amazing and is so thick. Even at the end of the day my skin still feels so hydrated. No scaly legs with this bad boy! It is so good that my mum actually stole this from when when she came and visited!! So when I go and stay with her, I now use hers...or should I say mine ;) Its only $6.99. It's great for itchy skin, so its fantastic for after waxing or shaving. I use it when I get mozzie bites too, as it helps to calm down the skin.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion

Palmer's Cocoa Butter, enriched with Vitamin E, is an advanced moisturiser that softens, smoothes and relieves dry skin. This is amazing. Its great because it is so thick and really hydrates your skin. It also helps with stretchmarks. Personally I like the fragrance free one, so I can put on perfume without worrying that it will ruin the scent.

A'kin Unscented Body Moisturiser

This is another great unscented lotion that is really thick and lasts a long time. Its great for calming skin sensitive skin. I love it on my legs after shaving. I find if i put this on, and the another fragrant lotion on, my skin doesn't get an allergy afterwards. Its also an Australian made and owned company. It's paraben and sulfate free for those people that like to use natural products without chemicals. 

Jurlique Jasmine Body Care Lotion

This one smells divine. I really love Jurlique products. I also love going into their stores as the sales staff are so friendly and helpful. The only thing I don't love about this is the price. At $44.95, its expensive for a lotion. But I'm in love with the smell. It's so gorgeous and it lasts all day. So normally what I do is put on another moisturiser that has no scent (like the A'kin one) and then put a small amount of this on top to make the bottle last. It contains no parabens, mineral oils, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, synthetic emulsifiers and fragrances, or artificial colors. So you are paying for  quality with this, which doesn't come cheap. But i love the smell so much that I treat myself to one every once in a while. I just try to make it last :)

What are your favourite creams? Do you enjoy a fragrance or prefer something that doesn't smell?

XO

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Keratinology by Sunsilk

Keratinology is a new line by Sunsilk that is more of a "salon range." If you spend a lot of money on cuts and colours at the salon, then this range is for you. It helps to nourish and reconstruct hair. The best thing about this range is that it is still afforable. Yes, its more expensive than their other products, but it is a lot cheaper than Reken, Tigi, Goldwell, etc.


There are two types of shampoo/conditoners available. There is the Advanced Reconstruction Programme or the Sun Kissed Colour Therapy. There is also a mask, heat spray and overnight leave in treatment.


I used the Colour Therapy range. I shampooed my hair twice (as i put an overnight leave in treatment in the night before). What surprised me was that my hair felt soft and smooth, even after shampooing twice. Normally it feels dry and course before conditioner. Next I put on the hair mask. Its absolutely fantastic! It feels so thick and sticks to the hair. There is nothing worse than half of your mask/conditioner ending up on your shower floor, instead of on your head. I left it on for 10 minutes and then washed it out.  Once my hair was towel dried I put on the heat spray as I used it as a leave in conditioner. And I just let my hair air dry so i could see how it felt without using heat styling.


I REALLLLY liked it. My hair is in bad condition at the moment from going blonde, so i found that some of my ends still felt damaged, but overall it felt 80% better!!! It felt as good as it does when I have used Redken All Soft products. One great thing is it is really affordable for its quality. The shampoo and conditioner are $10.99 each and the heat spray, mask and overnight treatment are $13.99. Its available at supermarkets and pharmacies, so its easily accessible. Its always a pain when your favourite products are hard to get, or need to be ordered.


Has anyone else tried them? What did you think?

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Glossybox November 2011

Well its finally here! I finally got my GB today. It felt like Christmas :) Was the wait worth it?..... you decide!

My daughter couldn't wait to see whats in the box

For those that don't know, Glossybox is a service that you pay $14.95 per month and get sent 5-6 deluxe samples of skincare, hair care and make up.
The good thing about this box is that it has something for everyone. Make up, skincare, nails, body and even something to eat while you play with your new products.

In no particular order

Mirenesse 3D Forever Lip Gloss in Blow (full size)
When I first saw it, I have to admit i was a bit disappointed. It's VERY dark in the packaging. It looks like a browny red. Luckily when I put it on my hand it became a beautiful plumy mulberry colour. It's very moisturising and goes on a bit sheer. All of their lip glosses I've tried previously has been quite bright or sparkly. I like that this isn't. It has just enough colour but it's perfect for an understated look.

Bio Oil (60ml)
Nearly everyone has used bio oil before. As a teen I loved it. I haven't used it lately, but am planning on using this one either in my bath, or in a foot bath to relieve dry feet and make them soft again after being neglected in winter.

Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil (15ml)
This is a great size for travelling (and you can easily refill it too!). I had already recieved one of these in the primped Look Book goodie bag. Its ok, but some people (including me) have found that it can make them break out, so i only use it if I have on heavier make up.

Essie Nail Polish in "Super Bossa Nova"
This is a beautiful hot pink from their collection that is inspired by the beauty of brazil. It is very bright and summery. Perfect for a BBQ or for the beach. Ive never used Essie polishes before so I was excited to get this. It goes on really easily and it dried very quickly. I'll have to get some more colours from them :)

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream (5ml)
I LOVE Jurlique products. Even though I'm a bit too young to need age defying products, I might use this as a night cream. This is good to use if you want firmer skin, with less wrinkles and lines. Now one thing i was a bit annoyed with was that the box came with a Jurlique card that offers you 15% off storewide. The catch is it can only be used at Jurlique stores, and is valid until 30th November, 2011. Today is the 28th November. I know that the boxes were delayed, so this is why there is barely any time to redeem it. Which is a shame, as I would have used it! :(

And lastly, pink jelly beans :)


What did you think of the box? If you didn't get one, are you tempted to sign up for the December box?
XO

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Do brights make you feel like a clown?

Have you heard brights are in? Unless you have been living under a rock you would know they are HUGE. From fashion to make up, colours are so hot you would think its the 80s again. I love how some girls can rock a bright lip. Emma Stone with her bright pink gloss, or Gwen Stefani's classic red lips. 

Gwen Stefani
L'Oreal Infalliable Le Rouge Lip Colour in Ravishing Red

Emma Stone
MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Show Orchid

I love a bright lip....I'm just not 100% sure i like it on me. Sometimes I feel like it makes me look like a clown. If you have fuller lips, sometimes it can just be a bit too much.  As i always wear glasses i already have something that draws attention to my face. Add on bright lips and it can seem like quite a lot is going on with my face. 


Here I am wearing OCC Lip Tar in Trollop

I'm on the left ;)

At the moment I am leaving the bright lips to the confines of my house. I'll slowly work up from a light to a bright lip. Then hopefully i'll feel less like a clown in no time. 

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Shampoo for Blondes

So recently i went back to blonde. This involved 2 full head of foils and soooooooooooooooo much bleach. While it is nearly where I want it, I still have to get another set to pick up remaining bits of brown.

Being a blonde can be fun but also be very expensive, and very harsh on my hair. For the 8 months that I was brunette, my hair was glorious. It shined like the sun and sparkled like a diamond. It felt so soft and luscious. And I swear due to not using bleach, my hair was growing faster.

But I'm a blonde at heart and couldn't wait to go back to blonde, just in time for summer.

Here are some of my favourite blonde shampoos

Andrew Collinge Blonde Shampoo

This shampoo is great for bringing out highlights. They have 2 shampoos for either platinum or golden tones. For 300mls its only $14.95, so its such a good bargain. They also have the matching conditioner. Its available at priceline or super markets so its easy to buy.

RPR De-Chlorinate My Hair Shampoo

A few years ago the water in my shower was turning my hair a green tinge, and I used this to get rid of it. This is FANTASTIC for getting rid of any green in blonde hair. Not only did it get rid of the green, it brought out my highlights. Now, the only thing with this is it makes your hair very dry, so I only use this on a day when I have time to use a deep conditioning mask.

Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde Shampoo

This is great for highlighted blonde hair. It helps with brassiness, conditions and smooths hair. It has a matching conditioner which is amazing. It smells like a tropical cocktail and makes your hair so soft and shiny.

Redken Blonde Glam Shampoo

Redken always do great hair care! I love their smooth down line also. Their products are so nutritious for hair.  They make it feel soft, smooth and look shiny. They are a bit expensive if you are on a budget, but they release packs (especially at Christmas) that are much more cheaper than buying the products one by one. They range from $40-$60 and you can get a duo (shampoo and conditioner) for under $40 to bigger packs that include shampoo/conditioner/hair spray/treatment for close to $60. Hairhouse Warehouse stock their packs, as do some salons such as Oz Hair. 

For you Blonde Beauties, what are your favourite blonde shampoos?

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Beauty Sins

We all have them, and we all do them. Yep, I'm talking about beauty sins. 


The big ones that most people commit include not wearing sunscreen, brushing your hair when wet, never washing your beauty tools, squeezing your pimples and constantly touching your face. Even though we know these things are bad for our skin and hair, we still do them. Yes, even beauty junkies (and I'm sure even dermatologists do it sometimes too). We cant be perfect all the time.


Well, its time for me to confess..... My beauty sin is

I know, I know!!! I can feel everyone shaking their head at me....or hanging their head in shame as it's their dirty little secret too. 


Sometimes its because I'm too tired. Other times its really late. I try to justify it by saying I use mineral make up (but not always). But really, there is no excuse. Whats the point in spending a small fortune on great skin care products when I don't look after my skin after 8pm. Night time is the best time to put on your more expensive products, as you aren't wearing make up and touching your face. Your clean skin is able to soak it in and suck up all its benefits.


So my pledge to you, my dear readers is in December I WILL wash my face both morning and night every single day in December...even on New Yeas Eve.  


Who else wants to change a beauty sin? Does anyone want to join me in December to treat their skin right and stop their beauty sin? Think about it as a early New Years resolution.


Whats your beauty sin?
XO

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Cheap But Cheerful Hair Masks

There's nothing better than a rich and decadent hair mask. But sometimes its hard to justify spending $50 on something that just gets washed down the drain. That's why todays post is dedicated to hair masks that are cheap but leave our hair feeling amazing. Because even though your wallet might be nearly empty, it doesn't mean your hair needs to suffer.


Here are some of my favourites

Earth & Body Henna Wax Treatment (available at priceline for about $6)


This has been one of my favourites forever. I either use this as a pre treatment and leave it on for an hour or two before washing, or I wash my hair and leave it on for 20-30 minutes depending on how much time I have.

Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Treatment (available from supermarkets and Priceline)


Even though these are small, they are powerful. Not everyone is a fan of Pantene, but these are great if you are running low on time. My hair is past my shoulders and i can use half of one and its enough to cover my hair. So when i buy the 6 pack, it will last for 12 washes :) The great thing with these is that it works quickly.

Dove Daily Conditioner with Treatment - Intense Damage Therapy (Available at supermarkets and Priceline) $8.41


The great thing about this mask is that it is jam packed of moisture, but it works so quickly that you use it like a conditioner. So no matter how busy you are, you can always nourish your hair!

Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Split End Treatment Mask (available from supermarkets and priceline) $7.95


This is also a quick mask that you can put on even when you are rushing. Some find that the fragrance is a little bit overpowering, but i like the raspberry smell .


What are your favourite masks? Do you prefer one that you can quickly wash out, or do you enjoy wrapping your hair in a hot towel for 20 minutes to let the mask soak in?

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Almay Gift With Purchase at Priceline - Run, dont walk!!

Today I went into Priceline and saw that Almay had a GWP that was pretty awesome. When you buy a foundation, you receive a brush set. I was in need of a powder and luckily they included a pressed powder as a foundation, so I bought it. And boy, am I glad I did! Its a great brush set. 


Here it is
(Sorry for the bad quality of the pictures. For some odd reason my phone was having trouble with lighting so i had to take the pictures on my kitchen tabletop)

It comes in a case with a:
Powder brush
Blush Brush
Foundation Brush
All Over Shadow Brush
Contour Shadow Brush
Lip Brush
Pencil Sharpener


In the Priceline catalogue Almay valued the brush set for $29.95....let me tell you I thought it was more!! They feel reallllly soft, similar to Eco Tools. I haven't used them yet, but I just checked out their quality and feel.


One of the best things about this set is the bag it comes in. It has 2 zippers....one for you brushes, and the other for your products. 

This is perfect for travelling. It has enough brushes to do multiple looks (base, lips, eyes, cheeks) and can also hold your products, so you don't have to take multiple cosmetics bags. 


I was lucky enough to get the very last at my local priceline....so RUN, dont walk into your nearest priceline to get it. 


XO

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KIT at Myer Sydney: Christmas Shopping Night

Last night KIT cosmetics held their Christmas Shopping Night at Myer in the city. I've never been to their special nights before, as its such a pain for me to get into the city...especially since I had to take my daughter with me. Shopping in the city with a pram is a nightmare!! Since I knew I would get in everyones way with the pram, i arrived half an hour earlier. Luckily my daughter decided to sleep, so i could look around and shop in silence...BLISS :)


Other than the products being amazing, the staff were INCREDIBLE!! Now whenever I've gone into KIT previously, the staff have always been friendly, but last night they took it to another level. I've never felt so welcome to play with products and ask questions. The staff were so helpful and even when they had run out of a foundation I was interested in, the lovely girl wrote it down for me so I can ring up and ask for it in the future. They also had cupcakes, and drinks for people to nibble on. The cupcakes were AMAZING!! 


I forgot to take photos of the store, but you can look on KITs facebook page. The way it was presented was so helpful. They have them grouped into price points, so if you have a budget, then it made it easy to find products to meet that amount. They also had the prices displayed under the product so you knew exactly how much things were. I love this as there's nothing more annoying than having to continuously ask staff how much something is. 


So onto what i bought....

Their cute bags for Christmas

On the left, what i bought wrapped in red tissue paper.
On the right, their goodie bag that you received when buying something on the night.

KIT Nail-Arama Kit


For $29.95 you get 4 x 9ml nail polishes. 
The colours are (left to right) 
Go Getter (pinky and slightly coral)
Get Going (bright purple)
Move Up (a gorgeous metallic colour)
Let Go (bright pink)

TOO FACED "Glamour To Go" Dream Edition $32.95


I have fallen in love with this! The packaging is just too cute. The packaging has a very cute vintage feel to it. This is perfect to pop in your handbag for touch ups or if you are travelling as it contains 8 eye shadows, a lip gloss, bronzer and blush. Its a very simple palette for anyone who doesn't like to wear a lot of colour. The brightest colour is the purple eye shadow. 


In this collection they also had a pack called "Beautiful Dreamer Set" which i NEED now! Hopefully Santa will bring me one ;) Heres the link it it
http://www.kitcosmetics.com.au/products/toofaced/ltdedbeautifuldreamerset/
Isn't it to die for!!!! I really wanted it, but had a budget and couldnt get both TOO FACED sets. So i decided on the small palette and nail polishes instead. 


I was also lucky enough to get the goodie bag. 

In it I had a full size KIT lipgloss in "Maybe Just Once," KIT nail polish in "Shop Loves Sunset," MARIO BADESCU "Enzyme Cleansing Gel" and ORIGINS "GinZing" refreshing eye cream.


Im really excited to try out the MB cleansing gel as I've never tried their stuff before. 


Has anyone else been in to one of their shopping nights? Whats on your wishlist at KIT?


The amazing girls at "Everyone loves Beauty" also did a blog on it....check it out
http://everyonelovesbeauty.blogspot.com/2011/11/hello-lovelies-just-quick-little-note-i.html
While you're there, check out their other posts. They are too cute :)


Have a great day ox

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Clarisonic Mia... just like a toothbrush for your face!

Well I've had my Mia for about a year now. I bought mine from eBay as they were much cheaper online at the time than instore. Also I wanted a pink one :) 


I did a LOT of research on the Mia, since it was approx $120 including shipping from the US. Its a lot to pay for a beauty tool, especially if it doesn't work for you. 


The great thing about the Mia is it is quite compact so its great for travelling. I was thinking about getting the PLUS model so I could use it on my body, but the more I thought about it the more I knew I probably wouldn't use the body attachment. I don't really use tanner (I like to embrace my paleness) and I love my exfoliating gloves. 


You can buy different head brushes according to your skin type. There is delicate, sensitive, delicate, normal and deep pore. I think its important to have 2 different brush heads, as sometimes your skin is more sensitive.


A few of the reviews I read said for the first week they broke out. In my first week I found I only had maybe an extra blemish or two. The best thing to do is try it once a day and then work up to two, instead of overloading your skin straight away - especially if your skin is sensitive.


I've found whenever I don't use the Mia, my skin texture feels rougher and my face seems "bumpier." I normally only use it once a day at night to help get off the grime from the day (after using a cleansing oil). The great thing about the Mia is you can use it with most cleansers, so you don't need to buy a special type. I do stay away from a cleaner that has beads though, mostly for cleaning convenience.


I would recommend this for anyone who wears a lot of make up, as it cleans your skin up to 6 times better than normal cleaning. If you don't really wear make up and have great skin, you might find you don't really see any difference.    


If you have any questions, leave a comment, and I'll get back to you :) 
Have a great day ox

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