Dealing With Hair Loss

So something amazing has been happening lately: I have been receiving compliments on my hair! Now this may seem like a superficial and boring thing to be excited over, and maybe I am superficial and boring. Who knows? One thing is for certain however, and I have always, as long as I can remember as a little girl, been on the crusade for perfect hair. My limp, fine, sometimes frizzy, flyaway hair has always been a source of anxiety for me, and anytime it is less than its best, my confidence drops right down. I know a lot of you right now are rolling their eyes and thinking how pathetic this mentality may seem, but we all have our issues. This is mine.

Part of the reason for my extreme elation over the hair compliments however, is because two years ago, I experienced something terrifying for many women. My hair started inexplicably falling out- at a rapid rate. Now, I understand that on a scale of 0-fatal illness, this experience is hardly cancer, however anyone who has experienced it, can vouch it to be traumatic in its own right. I have really hesitated writing this post as these experiences are so individualised that there is no one magical treatment to cure all. Some cases are stress related, some are a side effect of an illness, nutrition may be a cause, and countless other various scenarios where hair loss may occur. I am not a doctor, nor am I qualified in any way shape or form in the health, wellness realm of professions. I am merely somebody who had an experience and is sharing her story in hope that it may help someone, or make others feel like they are not alone. Lord knows how many blogs I trawled looking for answers.

After I realised my hair was actually falling out beyond the normal amount, I rushed to the doctor searching for answers. "You are probably stressed" I was told, and infuriatingly sent on my merry way. After two more weeks of hair loss bringing my tally up to 6 weeks, my hair was noticeably thin on top and my confidence was at an all time low having read countless terrifying articles on alopecia. Desperate for a solution, a colleague of mine suggested I visit a naturopath. To cut a loooooooong story short, the naturopath SAVED MY LIFE! Well perhaps that was a little dramatic. She saved my hair. For those of you who have never delved in natural medicine, the conclusions wellness practitioners draw are nothing short of amazing. Basically for my case, the naturopath explained to be that due to a severe life threatening illness I had suffered a few months earlier, my body had shut down non vital functions in order to heal itself. Non vital functions being hair, skin, nails. I was promptly prescribed an extreme cocktail of vitamins (around 20 pills a day!) and a fatty, clean diet, which I was extremely skeptical about. Low and behold within a month my hair stopped falling out. Within another month I had a fine crown on baby hair sticking up all over my head. I couldn't have been happier! Just a side note, I really wish that SOMEBODY had told me that a common side effect of the extreme case of Dengue Fever I contracted (Dengue Hemmorhagic Fever) is toxic alopecia. I find it so hard to believe that with the array of doctors visiting my room every hour, nobody thought to ever mention that "oh by the way, you might lose your hair".

Fast forward a year, and I was still unconfident with my hair. Obviously hair is slow growing at best, so while the hair was filling in at the roots, the lengths were still quite raggy and thin. I decided to experiment with hair extensions to help bulk it up. When I visited my stylist, he mentioned a product that was apparently creating quite the buzz for making hair grow. The Redken Intraforce System consists of a three step process that must be done every single day for 4-6 weeks, and then as per your normal shampoo routine after that. Is is a specially formulated shampoo, toner (but really a conditioner, come on Redken, just call a spade a spade), and a spray that is to be massaged into the roots post shower that apparently stimulates hair growth. Now, does this sound like a gimmick or what? Skeptical as I was, I handed over the staggering one hundred ish dollars for the treatment and decided to try it. I told you I am obsessive about perfection with my hair! I used this product exactly as it was intended to the letter, and low and behold, my scalp was full of baby hairs once again! Fast forward twelve months on this treatment shampoo and conditioner and my hair has never been in better shape. I couldn't recommend this treatment higher! The treatment also comes in a version 1 or 2. Be sure to pick Version 2 if you have colour treated hair.

So as you can see there was no one cure for me, but a combination of treatments and time. I highly recommend the Redken program as well as natural wellness if you are experiencing hair loss, as well as hair extensions for confidence, though I understand that these are expensive an not an option for many.

Feel free to ask me any further questions if you would like to.


Jen xox

Lush Christmas Collection- My Picks

Christmas is seriously my favourite time of year. I love the lights, the holiday gift sets, the vibe, and best of all, I love the Lush Christmas releases. Every year I eagerly await the moment when Lush unveil the cinnamony, spiced, glittery, Candy Mountain-esque scents and flavours which beckon me with the promise of many a premium, luxe scented bath/shower experience. I know, I know, I am SUCH a sucker for this stuff. Alas, the sucker I am was again tempted by an array of products this year, only one of which I have tried in the past (that Golden Wonder Ballistic gets me every time!). While I haven't tried any of these goodies yet (obviously, how many baths can one person have?), I thought I would share the scents etc of my selection in case you might want to pick up some for yourself.

Starting Left from the top

The Golden Wonder bath Ballistic
For those of you unfamiliar with Lush products (for shame!), ballistics are basically just a bath bomb, but they usually have a surprise hidden inside. In the Golden Wonder's case this is an array of stars which erupt from the effervescing gift. As this is the only one I have personally tried, I can say from experience, the stars make for the prettiest of bath waters and the water itself turns a vibrant turquoise colour. I love the citrusy scent of this ballistic, I find it very uplifting.

Secret Santa Bath Ballistic
This ballistic is emulated from the first Lush store apparently and it is heavily scented to smell just like you are inside a Lush. The main scents are sandalwood, floral oils and lime zest so it is quite the eclectic mix. According to the girl at Lush, apparently there is a Santa inside the ballistic? I am very intrigued about this and may or may not be most of the reason I purchased this one **shifty eyes**.

Cinders Bath Ballistic
Cinamon leaf oil, orange oil. This warming bath ballistic also contains popping candy which goes off while the product is dissolving, apparently supposed to emulate the crackling of a fireside. Adorable no?

Bombardino Bath Ballistic
I love this little guy with the pointy hat. Bombardino is very citrusy scented, Lush claim the official scent as Lemon Cheesecake,. This guy also contains Vanilla Absolute, and Sicilian lemon Oil., as well as super moisturising cocoa butter.

Luxury Lush Pud Bath Ballistic
I can't wait to try this. Lush say that it creates polka dots on the surface of your bath (!!). Another reason I am excited for this one, is that it is Twilight scented. Calming ylang ylang and lavender make for a super calming bathing experience. Perfect for a Sunday night wind down.

Sandy Santa Body Scrub
I have already broken a piece of this to test out in the shower and I was pleased with the results. This is quite a gritty exfoliator, but the coconut oils and butters leave the skin super soft. Sandy Santa isn't overly scented but I enjoyed using this. I think I will most likely get four uses out of this. Hot tip: keep this guy out of the shower or he will melt away. Break off the piece you intend to use and take that into the shower with you. Sandy Santa will thank you for it.

Father Christmas Bath Ballistic
This bath ballistic sounds fun, apparently tuning the bath water from a festive red to green (I freaking LOVE Lush!) The essential oils it contains are very citrusy and uplifting, according to Lush they are supposed to induce a feeling of "goodwill to all".

The Melting Snowman
This guy! Look at him! Seriously, I can't handle it. Bath melts are gooey when they are in your hand, but they turn your bath water super silky and soft, which obviously turns your skins super silky and soft. I usually like to break these up to use over two to three baths but by all means use the entire melt if you feel so inclined. This melt is very spicy scented with cloves and cinnamon, which is perfect for the festive season. This also contains moisturising almond and cinnamon oils.

Star Light, Star Bright Bath Melt
This melt is an absolute mess. Its glittery and leave shimmer on all that cross it's path. But being a total glitter bug, I cannot wait to get this in my tub! Full of moisturising coconut oil, cocoa and shea butter, you can bet my skin will be as that of a baby when I am finished with this product.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel (Not pictured, LINK)
This is a Christmas cult classic, and I will admit I have not been a fan in the past. Seriously, I remember having a specific conversation with my Mum in Lush last year, discussing how is smelled like cherry cough syrup. Wellllllllll, people change OKAY? Now I finally get the hype. While I am not usually one for a sweet scent (Lush Olive Branch is my HG of shower gel scents), I am enjoying the over the top red lolly scent of this product surprisingly. Honestly, that is the only way I can describe this is pure red lolly explosion. Oh, and its pink, so it looks pretty in my shower.

So basically I have enough bath products to last me until next Christmas at this rate. Lush really does their best work at Christmas time, so I definitely recommend checking it out. I may or may not have to go back to pick up the Christmas Penguin Bubble Bar.... I know, I know, but I just loves me a bubble bath!


Jen xox

My New Brush Obsessions

 Step aside Sigma, I have a new brush obsession! Seriously why did nobody ever tell me about how freaking amazing the Mac 217 and 242 are? What? Everybody is talking about them? Duhhhhhhhh yes I was well aware of the hyped up nature of these brushes. I'm not THAT far under my rock. However with everybody raving about the wonder of Sigma, I just kind of bypassed Mac on the way to Mr Bunnyville and MISSED THE TWO MOST AMAZING BRUSHES I HAVE EVER USED! I promise you, I may have a dramatic nature but I am not dramatising about these babies! Thank god for Jaclyn Hill for finally making me realise is all I can say about that.

BM (Before Mac), I had some SERIOUS blending issues. It would be time consuming and tiresome, and I could never understand how the girls on Youtube made it look so damn effortless. While I do like my Sigma E40, it is no match for the 217! I find the 217 is slightly less fluffy and has a smaller head lending it well to a more precise blend. Every day I am amazed at how well blended my eye look is with such minimal time spent on it. (I have some SERIOUS issues getting out of my bed in the morning). I constantly found that my E40 was really blowing out my eye look, which sometimes is great but not for the most part. I will definitely be hightailing it to Mac sometime soon to pick up a spare or two of this guy. I think I could go as far as to say it is my Holy Grail Brush! Yeah I went there!

The 242 is a really flat eye shader brush which is great for packing on that colour. Once again the head of this brush is much smaller than the Sigma E60 (which I will admit is marketed as a large shader brush anyway). The small nature of the 242 means it applies the shadow precisely to the crease. It is the perfect fit for my eye at least. I would love to know what the actual "Sigma Dupe" for this brush is because clearly that E60 Large Shader isn't working for me.

242 and 217 are my ultimate eye brush power couple! A force to be reckoned with! It really makes me wonder what else I have been missing out on in Mac Land. If anyone has any hot Mac brush tips please let me know in the comments. I am well in the market to experiment!


Jen xox

Hit or Miss: Cult Status Vol 2

Today is part two in my Cult Product series, where I review much loved items in the beauty community and share my experiences good and bad. Today's round up I have had mostly positive experiences with. Please remember these are just my opinions, and if something does not work for me, it doesn't mean it does not work. These are all best selling items I am reviewing over this series so they are all clearly working for a lot of people. 

 

Sigma Brushes
Sigma brushes were originally released with the same numbering system as Mac. This was helpful as it made it really easy to compare like brushes across the Mac and Sigma lines. Sigma have since developed their own numbering system, I suppose to try and create a distinct stand alone brand image for themselves. I originally purchased a basic eye kit from Sigma, and it did serve me well at the time, but I really was lacking a few key brushes. I ended up purchasing the Mr Bunny Kit, which has a range of face and eye brushes made with the Sigmax technology. From my research, Sigmax is an exclusive synthetic filament developed by Sigma, which is said to create a more flawless high definition finish to the makeup application. I actually can notice a big difference between my Mr Bunny brushes versus my original eye kit, which is really just a little meh in comparison. I cannot explain exactly what it is, but I just find that the Mr Bunny brushes are softer, hold their shape much more, and blend better. All Sigma brushes are synthetic so they are great to use if you are Vegan or just looking for a more affordable alternative to Mac brushes. The synthetic filaments also lend themselves well to the application of cream products. Natural fibres are hollow and tend to suck in the product so you are not receiving the most economical application.

Do I Recommend? I recommend the brushes with Sigmax technology. I would personally skip the other brushes as there are definitely better quality alternatives out there.

NYX Mega Shine Lip Glosses
At circa $5-$6 these glosses seem like a no brainer right? If you are looking for a juicy lip gloss with a sheer lip tint, at a bargain price, then look no further! I will be honest, I actually prefer these glosses to my Mac Dazzleglass and Lip Gelees which I have spoken about previously. The formula is not at all sticky and is of surprising quality for the pricepoint. The pigmentation is sheer but is lovely on top of a lipstick. There are a few glittery glosses in the range, but I prefer the non glitters. My favourites are Nude Pink and Nude Peach. The taste is the only real potential issue with this gloss. I personally do not mind it- it taste like Cherry Starburst which I love! But I have heard a lot of negative reviews on the taste so it really isn't for everyone.

Do I recommend? Yes, but do your research on the colours as they are not of equal quality. My recommendations are the Nude Pink, Nude Peach and Beige (which isn't beige at all!)

Benefit They're Real Mascara 
Did you know 1 of these mascaras is sold every 10 seconds apparently? Crazy right? I am a big fan of lengthening mascaras so I was very intrigued by Benefit's claims surrounding this product. 

According to a consumer panel survey conducted by Benefit
94% saw dramatic length and volume
90% saw base to tip curl
94% saw visible lift
100% saw long wearing results

Of course we can't all believe marketing hype and I usually quite skeptical of these kinds of claims. I mean, what mascara DOESN'T claim the above? I decided to try it for myself, being a big fan of Maybelline The Falsies at the time, I felt like they had big shoes to fill. The result? WOW! I have never had a mascara that curls, lengthens and volumises all in one, and it is the blackest of blacks. The formula is not too wet like The Falsies, and I do not find that I have any clumping issues. (I usually apply two coats). My favourite part about this product is that my lashes STAY CURLED. This is quite a feat considering my left side lashes are stubbornly straight  They're Real is hands down my H.G mascara. It is just a pity it is so pricey ($38 in Australia) If you purchase on the Benefit website, prices are in line with America, however you need to spend $120 to obtain free shipping, (not hard to do, but annoying if you only want mascara). 

Do I recommend? ummmmm duh!

Nars Blush in Orgasm 
This product needs no introduction, and I have in fact already spoken about this product in my Nars Swatch Post LINK. For a fuss free everyday cheek that suits everybody, peachy pink Orgasm is a good one to have in the collection for many looks, day, evening, summer, winter, the possibilities are endless. The pigmentation is great as is with all Nars blushes in my experience however,  there is quite a bit of shimmer to this blush, so if you are not one for goldy shimmer I would steer clear. I love this blush for low maintenance days and I find that I do not need to apply a highlighter when I use this product, as the shimmer lends itself enough glow for me with the shimmer particles, so it is also good if you want a minimalistic makeup collection. 

Do I recommend? Yes, especially if you are not a blush junkie and just want one blush to work across all looks. 

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle 
My favourite highlighter to date! This peachy pink Mac wonder has attracted a lot of attention over the years, and for good reason. Sweeping this product on the high plains of one's face will instantly lift the complexion and give a healthy glow, without being too glittery or frosty. I also love sweeping this product across the eye in the summertime, for an easy fuss free eye look, on the days I am not in the mood to create a layered and contoured eye. Yes this product is pricey, but you definitely get your money's worth. In Australia this product is $55 and the States is $30, but the container holds 10 grams of product. I have been using my Soft and Gentle religiously for the past year and a bit, and I have barely made a dent in this pretty swirled dome shaped product. 

Do I recommend? Yes! This is my HG highlighter so far in my highlighter journey! 

Please feel free to share your experiences with these products in the comments section. I love hearing other peoples reviews and experiences good and bad. 


Jen xox

Drugstore Foundation of the Moment

Rimmel have been knocking it out of the park lately with an array of new releases that I just cannot get enough of. The front runner of these is the Wake Me Up Foundation.

I have mentioned before, my main skin concern is dull lacklustre appearance, so the "anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow"claim really grabbed my attention there in Priceline. I am normally quite the drugstore foundation skeptic, and in my previous experience, this hesitance is well warranted. I am pleased to announce that this foundation has proved my theory wrong, and has thus become a drugstore favourite, and dare I say it, potential Holy Grail contender.

The coverage is light to medium, but absolutely buildable. I find it easy to apply with both foundation buffing brush and fingers, and the more I rub in the formula, the more amazing it becomes. This foundation finishes very natural as a radiant healthy glow which is perfect for day to day wear. There are tiny particles of shimmer throughout the formula, but honestly when I buff this into my skin, the shimmer goes away. I promise, you will not look like a disco ball!

I find this foundation has a reasonable longevity. I have an oily nose (thanks Dad), so this is really where I notice the foundation wearing off during the course of the day. I will often apply my Smashbox Photoready Primer prior to the Wake Me Up, which really gives a flawless finish paired together. I will finish off my base with my Mac Mineralise Skin Finish Natural in Medium. This combination, really helps to extend the wear of this foundation and this is my go to base look for everyday at the moment.

The scent is a fresh citrusy fragrance, which I do not mind. I think Rimmel have added this as a part of the whole "wake me up" experience, given that citrus scents are energising. The packaging isn't too bacd. I like the glass bottle and the pump applicator, but the plastic lid doesn't blow me away. Alas, this is from the drugstore, I can't have everything for a $19.95 pricepoint!

The only downside to this product, which doesn't really affect me, is the colour range. While I do not expect a super vast spectrum of colours such that you would see of a high end brand, six colours is somewhat limiting for some. Luckily for me Shade 103 True Ivory is pretty much perfection.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this product. If I was given a blind test, I could easily have said this was a higher end product. It is THAT good. Aussie girls, keep an eye out for Chemist Warehouse and My Chemist, because I have caught this product on 50% sales at these stores a couple of times now, in which case I stock up!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation offers 30ml of product and contains an SPF of 15.


Jen xox

Michael Todd True Organic Skincare- A Review

You have no doubt noticed since the beginning of the year the internet has been littered with rave reviews on Michael Todd True Organics. There are two reasons for this: 1. is that a mass promotional activity was carried out, whereby every beauty guru out there was sent a selection of products. 2: apparently they are really THAT good. 

Wellllllllllll, a few months ago, sold on all of the reviews, I made a purchase from the website and eagerly awaited my products. And I waited, and waited and waited and after a month, I queried my case with customer service and they lovely rep I emailed, straight away, resent my order no problems at all. (Customer service is seriously the best asset a company can have!). Finally after around two months these products were in my hot little hands and I could not have been more excited.

For those of you who are not aware, Michael Todd is a beauty brand, whose focus is organic skincare. They have an array of products to suit all skincare types, at very keen pricepoints. There are also dozens of 20% coupon codes floating around Google-Land so you can save money on the already low prices. Not only, when I opened the box of goodies, I was shocked at the size of these products. The only way I can think to describe them is novelty sized....in a larger sense. The serum and eye cream in particular dwarfed my other treatments in the beauty cabinet, and the toner was only just tall enough to fit my shelf space. Win win? Well, after using these products for a few weeks, I had mixed feelings...

HIT!
Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfolient Scrub
I love a good scrub, and this is no exception.The consistency is very fine like sand almost, so it is low irritant. The best part is that it totally works! This scrub, which I like to rotate with my Lush Ocean Salt makes my skin baby soft and smooth. The scent is quite fruity, but it does not really do much for me. The fact that the entire Michael Todd line is organic was a major draw card for me, as I am trying to minimise, nasties such as parabens, sulfates and mineral oil.

Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut RBD) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Wax Beads, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Emulsifying Wax, Palm Stearic Acid, Walnut Shell Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Limonum (Lemon) Essential Oil, Organic Carica Papaya (Green Papaya) Extract, Organic Ananas Comosus (Pineapple) Extract, Organic Carica Papaya (Papaya) Extract, Citrus Sinensis (Orange, Sweet) Essential Oil, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Pyrus Cydonia (Quince) Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane), Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Puree, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid.

MEH...
Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner
I have quite clear skin as it is, so I really think this product did not blow me away as I did not really need it? I am usually quite skeptical on toners with my skin, as I have never really had much of a use for them. I purchased this one, as I read reviews, where people claimed that this did wonders for their skin even though it was already clear (much like me). Alas, I am back to not using a toner as once again, there seemed to be no effect. I want to send this to my sister, as I think she would really benefit from this product.

Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Leaf Juice, Ascophyllum Nodosum (Organic Kelp) Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae (Organic Blue Green Algae) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Salix Nigra (Black Willowbark) Extract, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Sodium Chloride (Dead Sea Salt), Polysorbate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Essential Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Citric Acid, Lavendula Angustifolia (Certifed Organic) Hydrosol.

MISS!
Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment
I was really disappointed with this product as I think it was broken when I received it. When I try to dispense the product, it seems to come out of every crevice imaginable, except for the hole it is supposed to, so that was already a huge inconvenience. In terms of the quality of the product, it is not really my preference.The consistency is quite thin and I personally prefer a thicker eye cream so I am not really a fan. The scent however, is just divine! It is that botanical scent, I like to call the "spa smell". I cannot get enough! Unfortunately this product just has not worked for me. 

Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Olea Europaea (Organic Olive) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Lavendula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Distillate, Emulsifying Wax, Palm Stearic Acid, Lavandula X Intermida ‘Super’ Extract, , Aspalathus Lineans (Organic Rooibos Tea) Tincture, , Oenotheris Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Punica Granatum (Organic Pomegranate) Tincture, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Hyaluronic Acid,Eyeliss® (3%), Haloxyl® (3%), Copper peptide GHK-Cu (Copper tripeptide-1), Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Organic Calendula) Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aqua (Blue Green Algae) Tincture, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Citric Acid.

Hyraluronic Acid+C Antioxidant Moisturising Serum
I was attracted to this serum for two reasons, the first being that it contains super hydrating hyraluronic acid, and secondly, I love vitamin C enriched skincare to help brighten my sometimes lacklustre complexion. Once again I was a little underwhelmed by this product. The constancy,  like the eye cream was just a little thin for my liking and I found this product did not absorb as quickly as I would have liked. In addition, I can always tell the next morning, when I have used a serum the night before  but with this serum, the results just were not there. 

Ingredients
Rosa Damascena (Rose) Distillate, Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), Emulsifying Wax, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam Seed) Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Organic Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Organic Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharinum (Organic Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Auranium Dulcis (Organic Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Organic Lemon) Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Organic Cranberry) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Phenoxyethanol, CoQ10, Beta Carotene (Pro Vitamin A), Retinol Palmitate (Vitamin A), Alpha Lipoic Acid (DL- Thioctic Acid), Dl-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Daucus Carota (Carrot) Oil, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Absolute, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Citric Acid.

Despite my mixed success, I definitely recommend the scrub and I really like the brand's message in general in regards to the clean skincare at an affordable price. The above views as just my opinions and experiences, and everyone's skin is different. If anyone wants to try the products, the code I used was acnefree. This is not a affiliate link for myself, I found it on another blog, so it may be affiliated with somebody else.

Jen xox

A Hair Affair: Every Girl Needs One of These STAT!

So I finally did it. I bit the bullet and decided purchase some elastic ribbon hair ties that are suddenly everywhere. Upon a recent trip to Sephora a metallic pack of these bad boys caught my eye, and being the crazy magpie I am with an insatiable affinity for anything shiny,  I just couldn't pass them up.

I really do not understand how I took so long to purchase these. I am in L.O.V.E. Not only do they come in adorable colours (aren't we over the matching elastic to hair scenario anyway?), but they actually work, which surprised me somewhat. I will admit, I have the finest hair on earth, so I cannot speak for all of you beauties with lush thick locks, but these really did hold my hair to an unexpected degree. To be honest, lately I have found my standard little ring elastics have not been serving me well during gym classes or running, and I have been growing increasingly frustrated, having to constantly tie and retie my ponytail. The Ribbon Tie Elastics have a lot more elastic to make more loops around your do, so they hold up very well.

Another feature fine hair girls especially will appreciate, is that they do not break your hair! For years and years I used to train as a dancer, so my hair was constantly up in an ponytail or the likes and I found over time, especially after I went full time, I had a little halo of broken hairs when my hair was out from the harsh hair elastics, exactly in the genral area of where my ponytail would otherwise sit. Not happy! Luckily these little babies are much softer and kinder to your hair, and bonus point if you wear your hair up at night,  they will not give you that annoying ponytail bump when you wake up in the morning. Bless!

So I am sure you can gather for this spiel that I am a fan of ribbon tie elastics, and could not recomend them more. Yes they are more expensive (around $10 at Sephora), but highly highly worth it in my humble opinion. 

Jen xox

Popping My Back2Mac Cherry- Mini Reviews

Okay, so the statement that I am about to make may sound a little extreme...I am about to make my very first Back2Mac swap! Yes I know, I know this probably should have happened a long long time ago given my level of Mac addiction. What can I say, I buy all of my shadows in their pan form when I can and I just don't really use up my lipsticks at a rapid pace. I feel as though if I was an avid user of Mac foundations, I may accumulate products much more frequently but alas, I am a Back2Mac virgin. Before I take my items in for the swap, I thought I would share my thoughts on each products and whether I would repurchase etc. 

Dazzleglass in Sublime Shine
I was given a Mac Illustrated by Julie Verhoeven gift set by a colleague a year ago and one of the products inside was this Dazzleglass Shine Lipgloss. For starters, my colleague must know me better than I think because peachy corals are my kryptonite! I have more lip products in this colour family than I care to own up to. I find it to be the perfect everyday shade that matches the majority of my makeup looks. That being said, obviously I really enjoyed this product. The formula was really long lasting, and I found I was not constantly reapplying like some other lip products I own (Australis Mint Condition Lip Gloss I am looking at you). The pigment was quite sheer, so it works well over a lipstick, but the high gloss and sparkly formula lends itself well to working solo also. I really loved the packaging, it just felt...expensive! The little glass tube was well weighted and I also loved the tiny brush applicator. All in all, I loved this product, however I probably will not repurchase in a hurry. The Dazzleglasses hover around a $43 price point in Australia which is just crazy. If I pay that much for a gloss it needs to be LIFECHANGING, and for now my NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Nude Peach is serving my peach fetish just fine, 

Lip Gelee in Lou Be Lou
Would you believe this was given to me as a party favour at an engagement party? (!) Amazing right? Now THAT is one party favour I can get on board with, no poxy ceramic animals here peeps! This is actually the second Lip Gelee I have owned. The last one being back in my teenage years. I have to say, I like this product, but I am not in love and probably will not repurchase in a hurry. The formula is super smooth and glossy and the longevity is quite good. There is nothing really wrong with this gloss per say, I have just out grown it I suppose and found better glosses. I also prefer a doe foot applicator versus applying directly to my lips. I feel like I have more control, but that is just my personal preference. 

Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NW20 
Hmmm so this foundation was.....fine. Just fine. I didn't love, nor did I hate it, but with foundations I am generally looking for that wow factor where your skin glows and life all just falls into place with the wave of a foundation brush. This really fell short. I really do not have a lot to say on this product other than it was just a little meh. I wont be repurchasing,. and I am put off Mac foundations as a result. I have found much better alternatives both high end and drug store. One thing I have to say is that I really dislike the packaging. It is a little pet peeve of mine when foundation comes in a glass bottle, because you never use it all up and then you feel wasteful. At least with my Napoleon China Doll I could cut the tube in half when it became empty. I don't know if it is weird, but I have such satisfaction from scraping every last morsel of product from a container. 

Lipstick in Creme Cup 
I cannot say enough good things about this lipstick! Put it this way, I purchased this tube less than a year ago, and I have already finished. It is THAT good. I have heard mixed reviews in the beauty community regarding this colour. Some love it, some not so much. I am firmly on Team Love! In fact I would go as far as to say this is definitely in my Top 5 if not Top 3 Mac lipsticks. It is the prettiest pale nude pink colour. I find you can achieve that pale pink lip without looking washed out-at least on my skin tone (NW20). It is a great colour with a bold smokey eye especially, in fact this was one of my favourite ways to wear it. I also love it on a daily basis to wear on weekends and to work. The formula is of the Creme Sheen variety which is my favourite (together with Amplified) and I found the longevity was medium. I would repurchase this product over and over. 

Cranberry and Bronze Shadows 
I have to admit, this last one is cheating a little. I haven't used these shadows up, but Myer do not stock the pan form of the shadows and I had a gift card so I made the resolve purchase the full shadow and depot them when I was home. I do really like both of these shadows. Cranberry is unlike any shadow I own and is the most perfect shade of pinky red. I love smoking this shadow out for a smoky eye with a twist. Tanya Burr actually has a tutorial featuring this shadow blended with Club that I am just OBSESSED with. Check it out HERE. 

 Bronze is a great basic neutral metallic shade that every Mac addict needs in her collection. I find it to be a great autumnal shade and it pairs really well with Cranberry. 

So that is my rundown of used up products I am swapping out. I really like the initiative behind the Back2Mac program. It not only promotes recycling and being green, but it is not very often large companies really give back to their loyal customers (at least in my experience).

Jen xox

The June Edit

As another month draws to a close, I like to share my favourite products of the month. Some are old favourites, some are new, but the following products are all things that I have been regularly reaching for and loving over the month of June. Yes, I realise this is somewhat late given we are in week 2 July, but better late than never right??

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Hussy

 

I had a Myer gift card recently so I thought it fitting to use it to try out some new products. I have heard so many good things about Illamasqua products, and after recently harmonising their prices in Australia with the States, I figured this was the time to make a purchase. I walked over to the Illamasqua counter with the intention of purchasing "Katie", a pastel pink hue, not dissimilar to Mac Well Dressed. As I was perusing over the blush options, a pretty coral shade caught my eye. (I am a SUCKER for coral lips and cheeks!) The next thing I knew I was whisked over to a makeup chair by the salesgirl, having this coral shade applied to my cheeks. When I went to purchase this product, the sales girl explained to me that the fluorescent lighting bleaches the colour of the testers so the product may appear a little darker in the packaging. (BTW, has anyone EVER heard of this??) When I opened up my product at home I was CONVINCED this was the wrong colour. This was not the pretty coral shade I had fallen in love with, but a darker petal pink shade, albeit VERY similar to my Mac Prom Queen blush form the Archie's Girls collection. Not happy. So this blush sat in my drawer for a few weeks, completely rejected out of my disappointment that I had not purchased a coral blush. (TOLD you I am slightly obsessive about coral). I finally gave in and reluctantly tried this product out....and completely fell in love! Such.a.pretty.colour! Perfect for the winter months. These blushes are such a beautiful quality. They last ALL day and are so pigmented that I find I need to pat the product on the back of my hand before applying and build the colour from there. Nobody is cute in clown cheeks! I have plans to purchase a few more shades from their collection, they have a really great range of colours. At $28 in Australia, Illamasqua blush is much cheaper than Nars and Mac, thanks to the company fighting to reduce Australian prices. Now you can enjoy a high end blush for $10 more than a drugstore line, or cheaper even. (I am looking at YOU Boujois and Physicians Formula!)

Illamasqua Gleam Cream Blush in Aurora 

This was an impulse buy when I purchased the above blush. The sales girl used this product to finish off my look/upsell and I loved the finish. Having never used a cream highlighting product I was excited to try this for the winter months, when my skin is, how can I put this,...completely dull and lifeless! I know everyone experiences this problem to varying degrees, however I would actually file this complaint under my biggest skin concern. I have made it my life mission finding products to increase my "face glow". This in turn has led to an obsession with highlighters, luminising foundations, glycolic acid treatments and the list goes on. So now you can understand y vast intrigue with this product. I obviously like this product as it has made it onto my June Edit. Its easy to apply with fingers, lasts all day and adds a pretty sheen to the tops of my cheekbones. Is has in fact swapped out my Mac Soft and Gentle (GASP!) this last month. This product was only $28 also, and can be purchased from Illamasqua counters as selected Myer stores. 

Nars Creamy Concealer 

This is hands down my new favourite concealer. Like many people I always seem to find my concealer getting cosy in the fine lines around my eyes, which I really don't appreciate to tell the truth. I have been searching for the perfect eye area concealer for the longest time and decided to try this Nars new release. At $35, I was surprised at how inexpensive this concealer was, in relation to everything else in the Nars range. I have heard whispers that Nars are looking at price alignment just like Illamasqua, so perhaps this product is testing the waters a little before they go ahead and slash prices. So I purchase this product in the colour Chantilly, which I will admit is way too light for my skin, however I did this with the intention of using this as an undereye highlight also. Hello two in one, goodbye cakey undereye area! I am loving this product so far. As I mentioned above, I am not experiencing any creasing and the doe foot applicator make this product super easy to apply. No more concealer nails, from digging out product from a tiny container. Oh and I forgot to mention, although I thought giving my rave review, this was obvious, this concealer has great coverage also. 

 Schwartzkopf Hair Powder 

Have I been living under a rock or what?? Somebody please explain to me how it has taken fine,limp haired me soooo long to cotton on to hair powder? This little bottle is my new miracle product. Being the fan of a voluminous bed head style on most days, this product is my saviour for creating textured, pumped up roots, especially on second and third day hair. I do find that i really need to work the product in, otherwise it makes my roots a little light. Can somebody please hurry up and invent a brunette version of these products? I find that hair powders and dry shampoos are always marketed to blondes more so, as brunettes always experience the product affecting their hair colour. I know Batiste has a brunette dry shampoo, but I have heard this product actually deposits colour into your hair, which I am also not a fan of.

NYX Nude Peach 

The perfect peach gloss. I have ditched my beloved lipstick collection this month in favour of this super easy and ridiculously pretty gloss. It is stupidly cheap (think less than $10) and I find it deposits a good amount of sheer colour to the lips, even without a lipstick underneath. The staying power is quite good for the price and if you love cherry Starburst like moi, you are going to LOVE this scent! I have received so many compliments this month on this gloss, and several girls in the office have gone ahead and ordered one for themselves. NYX should start paying me commissions!

Nars Blush in Orgasm 

It seems this post is all about me being super late to the party on every other product. However, its better late than never right?? This product is a prime example of this. Easily, Nars best selling blush colour, this gorgeous peachy pink product is much revered among the beauty community and has fast become a staple for a fuss free everyday look. This blush contains gold flecks throughout, which makes is great for winter as it will lift your complexion and make you glow. No need for a highlight here! I find this blush can be worn subtle but it also build really well if you are looking for more of a statement cheek. I also feel like this is one of those few blushes that actually would work quite well on any skintone. It really is the prettiest, most wearable blush I own.

Nars Laguna Bronzer 

Yet another product where I am completely L.T.T.P (late to the party). I have really struggled to find a bronzer I love. After a couple of purchases I wasn't completely blown away by, I was hesitant to make another purchase without full research (nerd alert!). Enter the much hyped Laguna Bronzer. I don't feel like there is much I can say about this product that has not already been said. Its a slightly shimmery bronzer, but not in a disco ball way and I find it blends really easily. I love this bronzer for contouring (although it would REALLY help if I had the Nars Contouring Brush...le sigh...), and I find that it is not too dark for my vampire skin. You do get a large amount of product, which I think helps to justify the price. It is about twice the size of a Nars blush. (See my swatch post to see them side by side)

Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Palette 

Okay, first off, lets all just stand back and admire the packaging of this product for a moment. Adorable right? It is so small and portable, so perfect for the makeup bag!  I receive this little palette as a gift from my sister in May, and have found myself reaching for it constantly ever since. I have never used any Too Faced eye shadows before, and now I am scratching my head trying to figure out why. There are the creamiest, most pigmented shadows I have ever used! They are just beautiful to work with and blend so, so easily. The idea behind this palette is to create sultry "bedroom eyes" looks, using the nine colours in the palette which range from soft pinks, greys and neutrals, moody purples and a striking black with gold specks. The palette comes with three little cards on how to create three different looks with the palette. Of course you can mix and match as well, no use always playing by the rules is there? That's not fun. I find myself creating smoky neutral looks for day really easily with this palette despite the fact that the "Boudoir Eyes" name but lead you to believe this is a night time palette. I am eager to try more of these palettes. I have my eye on Summer Eyes and Smoky Eyes in particular, and cannot wait to play with my Boudoir Eyes palette further and discover more and more looks.

So they are my most coveted products for the month of June. Let me know yours, because I LOVE trying new things. 

Jen xox

Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash Review

I have a confession- I am a total skincare nerd! Being someone who was thankfully blessed with quite good skin (it doesn't mean I do not have my share of complexion concerns), I will admit I am somewhat obsessive about trying out new products in hope of finding total perfection. I know, I know, I sound a little cray, what are you going to do! My latest skincare hunt was for a new cleanser. Despite liking the products I have tried from the Yes To line, I will admit  was bitterly disappointed with the Yes To Blueberry Smoothing Cleanser. My skin always felt like it had a film on it ( "smoothing effect" perhaps?) and I am extremely sceptical as to whether is cleansed my skin at all. When my tube was FINALLY empty (or near enough so I did not feel wasteful), I sounded out a little whoop of joy and hightailed it to Mecca Cosmetica. I already has an idea of what I wanted, after all, the skincare nerd always undertakes extensive research on these things. Enter Kate Somerville. I cannot say enough good things about the Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash. Let's start from the very top... 

I love that the packaging on this product is so simple and fuss free. The plain white tube with single colour text...it just looks so chic sitting there in my shower. The product dispenses through a hole in the cap which appears when the cap is twisted, which I thought was kind of cool. (Maybe I am sad??). 

Anywaaaaay...I was really surprised at the size of the product for the pricepoint. 120ml or 4 Fl.oz for $35.95. Pretty good in my opinion for a higher end product. I think Kate Somerville has harmonised their prices globally, as there is minimal price difference between Mecca Cosmetica and Sephora USA, which pleases me greatly! Did I mention this product smells amazing? It isn't too heavy on fragrance, but it does have a botanical-spa type scent, which is my favourite kind. I won't lie, my mission is life is to transform my bathroom in to a day spa... 

I am also loving the consistency of this product. It is a gel formula so it works really well with my beloved Clarisonic Mia , but I find it is great all on its own too. (Especially since SOMEBODY hasn't charged her Clarisonic in a week...oops!). I find it makes my skin feel really clean, with the teensiest touch of squeakiness, which I like as it really makes you feel the job has been done. I was also surprised how well it cleansed, for a gentle product. I was tossing up between the Detox Cleanser and Gentle Cleanser in the store, and the salesgirl ended up convincing me to try the Gentle formula as the Detox formula is apparently quite drying if you are not an oily/acne prone type. In my previous experiences with gentle formulas, I find they are so gentle they do not appear to do anything? Has anybody else found this? 

I am loving how Kate Somerville have eliminated a lot of common nasties found in a lot of skincare products. There are no parabens or sulfates, which I love. I am not overly pedantic about the whole "natural ingredients only" thing, but I do like to switch out products where I can find an equal or better natural substitute. Did you know that your skin is a living breathing organ? There has to be SOME merit in treating it nicely right? I mean, product you put on your skin is immediately absorbed into your system, so if these products are full of chemicals, that really can't be healthy... See below for a full list of ingredients for this product. 

In conclusion I am really enjoying this product and will definitely be repurchasing. It is relatively affordable (especially if you live in Australia), and it is a more natural alternative to some of the other cleansers on the market. Not only, for a "gentle cleanser", this product has by far exceeded my expectations. Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Cleanser has earned itself a very secure little home in my shower caddy. 


INGREDIENTS
-Lavender Essence and Natural Sage: To soothe the skin

Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG/PPG-8/3 Diisostearate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Silicone Quaternium-8, Saponins, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Zinc PCA, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool.


Jen xox

Nars Swatches

So I recently made a sneaky purchase on Kiss and Makeup NY, which included my first Nars purchase ever (I know right, I am very late to that party!). I hauled the items on my Youtube channel, which you can check out HERE. For those of you who are unaware, Kiss and Makeup is an online store, which sells all of the aforementioned brands and MORE! Not only, you can purchase these products at US prices. (and we all know how much I just LOVE doing that!).This site also offers flat rate shipping at $9.95 to Australia. As promised on my haul video, here are the swatches for some of the swatchable products I bought.

I finally purchased the Nars Laguna Bronzer and hallowed Orgasm blush and predictably, I am in love. I also purchased another Nars blush in Amour, which I have since realised is very similar to my Illamasqua blush in Hussie.

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Left to right: Nars Blushes in Amour and Orgasm

Left to right: Amour, Orgasm, Laguna

Upon recommendation, and a captivating how-to by Tiffany of Makeup by Tiffany D, I just had to try out some cream blushes for myself. I justified this by resolving that it is Winter here in Australia, and my #1 skin concern is lack lustre-ness. I thought cream blush and bronzer would be an easy quick complexion pick me up. In saying this, despite the in depth tutorial Tiffany demonstrated, I find myself struggling with these a little. I think I need a more purposeful brush than the ones I am currently attempting application with.

Left to Right: Nars Multiples: South Beach and Orgasm

Left to Right: Nars Multiples in Orgasm, South Beach

I also purchased a Nars eye shadow as part of this haul in the colour Lhasa which is a really pretty grey purple. A great purple neautral. At first glance when I opened the packaging, my immediate thought was that is was similar to Shale and Satin Taupe by Mac, both of which I own. The swatch pictures down below prove me wrong, but only slightly. I definitely could have selected a more unique colour, as Lhasa, while not a dupe, is definitely interchangeable with the Mac colours below. (Apologies for this swatch pic, my lighting has made shadows look brown, rendering the exercise somewhat useless)

Nars Eyeshadow: Lhasa

Left to Right: Mac Satin Taupe, Mac Shale, Nars Lhasa (colours did not pick up well on camera)

 I am really loving the Nars blushes in particular, so if you have any recommendations for me to try, I would love to hear about it. I am really loving peachy shades right now.



Jen xox