Tried & Loved - Boscia - Luminizing Black Mask

 It looks a little odd, but stick with me - this is a fun mask with super benefits!

I originally purchased this mask when I was in America ohhhh, in 2010 it was actually (how sad, I need to get back ASAP!). I believe I had heard about this mask from other beauty bloggers in the states and was super excited to be able to get my hands on it. It's still a mask that I turn to today, 4 years later.

The mask is described by Boscia as:

"An innovative peel-off mask that helps boost skin clarity and minimize the appearance of pores. Removes dirt and impurities, absorbs excess oil and reveals a healthy, glowing complexion."

This mask works best if you place a generous enough layer that you can barely see your skin through it, avoiding the eye area of course, but not so thick that it won't dry. I used to be a little bit too skimpy with the product to start with as I never wanted it to run out, but trust me, the tube will last for ages! If you have a generous layer similar looking to what mine is in the pictures above, you will find it a lot easier to peel off too.

As the mask dries you will feel it tightening a little on your face. It's certainly not an uncomfortable tightness, and there's no tingling or burning like I've had happen with other masks. Once it's dry you will know by moving your face and feeling like your skin and the mask are moving together and that it's dry to touch. Now for the fun part... peeling it off!

Remember peeling off PVA glue from your hand and fingers in primary school? It's a little like this, but with your face. Haha. I try to test myself and see if I can peel it all off in one piece. You might be impressed to know that this time, pictured above, I got it all off in one single piece apart from 2 thin spots on the very edge of the mask. Ha. The parts that don't come off, trust me when I say it's a lot easier to rub the skin until it balls up and peels off than to wash it off with water. Wetting the mask resets the mask properties and it's a little bit messier to get off that way.

Once you peel off the mask you will literally be able to see how the mask has benefited your skin. You can see little pieces that have been pulled from your pores and skin surface. Kind of gross, but quite satisfying. Your face will feel completely smooth and fresh, and I do believe that the claims from Boscia are true, you will be left with a healthy glowing complexion free from impurities.

This mask is also apparently quite similar to the Kose Mask White - more details on that here. If you've tried that, did you find it as effective as I've described?

You can read more about the Boscia Black Face Mask here, and I am assuming this brand will be available once Sephora hits the Australian shores this December. Finally! ^_^

What's your favourite face mask to clear blackheads and brighten your skin? Would you like to try this, or is it a bit too strange? x

Tried and Loved - Little Bird 'Organic Paw Paw Balm'

This one's for all the Paw Paw lovers of the world, I know there's a lot of you out there...

Before I was sent these to review I had never heard of this cute little brand called "Little Bird", but I am so glad they have now crossed my path! These little tubes are full of organic ingredients, and free from petrochemicals or added preservatives, and they perform superbly.

There are 3 different varieties currently available, as pictured above: original (fragrance free), tangerine, and pink grapefruit.

"Little Bird Organic Paw Paw soothes and softens lips, repairs appearance, seals in moisture and provides protection from external exposure. The balm can also be used for dry and irritated skin."

I was a little hesitant when testing these out as I personally never use the more common Lucas' Papaw for my lips. I have tried it before and despite some people swearing by it, I find it overly greasy, and ultimately not beneficial to my lips. They end up worse than before I even put it on if that's even possible. This formulation is completely different, and in the best way possible. It keeps all the benefits of paw paw but in a way that does exactly as the brand describes. My lips stay hydrated for a long period of time, and it lasts so well leaving a nice sheen on my lips. There's no weird taste with these either, which was another thing I hated from the previously mentioned Lucas' papaw.

The applicator for these makes it easy to apply without getting it all over your fingers, and there's no wasted product.

These products are a great multi tasker too. I have found they're great to provide a high sheen on the face, or even to add with eye shadow for a different texture and glistening finish.

If you like the original paw paw brands, I definitely recommend you give this brand a try. I find them for me to be a perfect pick me up for my lips.

These are available to purchase from your local Coles believe it or not. You might have to check for it the next time you're doing your weekly shopping. They retail for $5.50 each on the Coles website.

Do you use paw paw for your lips or any of it's other purposes? What do you love about it? x

Tried and Loved - NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in 'Damned'

Nars products have yet to disappoint me, and this is no exception! This is the perfect alternative to the "normal" bold red lip.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in the shade 'Damned' is a magenta colour - meaning it has a purple undertone to it - and for me having green eyes this means the colour really makes my eyes pop! It definitely appears darker in the pencil than it does on the lips, so don't be put off if you don't reach for dark colours often.

Nars describe their Velvet Matte Lip Pencil as:
"The application of a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design. Lips are instantly saturated with rich pigments and a velvety matte finish. The long lasting, non-drying formula is enriched with emollients for a creamy texture, while a combination of unique silicones ensures long-lasting, seamless color for hours. Use for lining, all-over lip color, or pairing with another lip product."

The thing that really stands out with this lip pencil is that even though it's a matte finish, it definitely doesn't dry my lips at all! I would say this is owed to the vitamin E which is in the formula. 

The colour payoff is also outstanding and one swipe will give you the perfect colour which lasts for hours and hours. Being a matte it really lasts a long time, and even eating and drinking barely dents the colour (apart from oily food which will move any lip colour!). 

I find these lip pencils really easy to apply because the pencil makes for a really precise application, while the chubby pencil makes the coverage quick and easy. I have a NARS sharpener too which fits this pencil shape, and the smaller pencils perfectly meaning hardly any product is wasted when sharpening. 

I absolutely love every shade of these that I've tried. I also have the matte in Dragon Girl (an all time favourite flattering for everyone red!), and the Satin Lip Pencil in shade 'Lodhi' - to be reviewed at a later date ;)

In Australia you can purchase these from Mecca Cosmetica for the new lower price of $34! So great to see the prices coming down on so many products. 

Have you tried any of the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils? Which shade is your favourite? x

Tried & Loved - Origins GinZing Brightening Mascara

When it comes to mascara, I have tried a LOT of different types over the years. From drugstore brands, to high end brands that you would think would have to deliver exceptional results for the price they charge for their products... but quite often I am left disappointed at both ends of the spectrum. I am forever on a search for the holy grail of each product I use on a daily basis, and you know what - I think for daily mascara this might be it for me! Origins Ginzing Brightening Mascara has really impressed me.

Described on the Kit cosmetics website as:
"Thanks to a bold, new brush complete with advanced bristle technology that is exclusive to Origins, GinZing™ Brightening mascara to lengthen and lift glides on easily, coating each lash from root to tip to visibly boost and define even the sparsest lashes. Even after multiple applications, eyelashes appear long, lush and clump-free, never spider-like. GinZing™ Brightening mascara is long wearing, smudge-proof and flake-proof yet is easily removable and safe for contact lens wearers."

For me, I can say that I find all of these statements to be true!

I was suggested this mascara by a friend who works in the beauty industry as it was a new product (around 4 months ago in Australia I think) and she had really liked it herself. At first when I tried it it felt so foreign! The brush is a lot thicker than any that I had used previously so I kept poking myself with it (silly I know!). Because of that I didn't immediately fall in love. I left the product and used it from time to time and after a little while and getting used to the brush I suddenly realised one day - WOW, this mascara is sensational!

What I love about the Origins Ginzing Brightening Mascara is that it really does everything that is says it will on the packaging (lengthen and lift) and in an effortless way. I can get perfectly separated, long dark lashes within moments because the brush coats them perfectly every time. I liked the way this mascara looked so much that I stripped back my daily makeup routine for work to just be a quick coat of eyeshadow, mascara and some blush. It really opens my eyes and makes my lashes long and lush and there's no fiddling with the brush or clumps of mascara to contend with.

The mascara formula isn't too thick, it doesn't clump, it's not too runny. I find that personally I like to wipe off a little excess mascara when I take it out from the tube as the opening is quite wide, then it applies perfectly and prevents any excess on my lashes. When I opened the tube for the first time I noticed that it's super black too, and this is great for anyone that might have lighter lashes, but even mine are noticeably bolder with this.

As far as how long the product lasts I would say Kit have described it perfectly. It's long lasting (so much so that when I have been naughty and worn it overnight it still looks great when I wake up), smudge proof and flake proof (I can wear it all day for work without any flaking, and then wear it to a hectic 2 hour crossfit session and sweat the rest of my makeup off and it still won't smudge - unless I rub my eyes of course which would be silly), and even with all this it's still really easy to remove! Most of it comes off in the shower when I wash my face, and then a little normal makeup remover removes the rest. Superb!

Below you can see it on my eyes. This was just a quick day of makeup for work and it would have taken me about 5 minutes to do all of my makeup for the day, yet my lashes are still looking long and separated! Love it.

I have had my mascara for about 4 months now and it hasn't dried out or changed consistency at all. I'll definitely repurchase this one!

You can purchase this mascara from Kit Cosmetics, or Mecca Cosmetics in Australia for only $26 - SUCH a great price. That's as cheap as some of the drugstore brand mascaras! And on both websites it has a 5 star rating. :)

Have you tried this mascara or anything else from the Origins range? What's your holy grail every day mascara? x

Tried & Loved - Biotherm Holiday Pack

The festive season is upon us, and I don't know about you guys but I LOVE this time of year as it means all the amazing Holiday packs start hitting the shelves! <3 It's a great way to pick up some new products you've had your eye on in a great value pack, or of course to give as a gift (but who can stop from buying themselves presents as well when you're out shopping for others?! hehe)

Today I have a GREAT pack that I've tested out from Biotherm, and it comes in the cutest packaging ever - with an even greater cause behind it! 

As soon as I saw this box I fell in love. I'm such a sucker for cute packaging, and this fancy little under the sea theme in stand-out foils is a divine! Biotherm has collaborated with Swedish illustrator Ingela Peterson Arrhenius for the beautiful design and a minimum of 250,000€ from the sales of these limited editions will go to the global ocean charity, Mission Blue, founded by renowned oceanographer  Dr Sylvia Earle, for the protection of the Ross Sea in Antarctica. How great is that! So if you want to give a gift that gives back, this one is a beauty. 

But aside from the brilliant packaging, I must say I am super impressed with the Biotherm products within! I haven't tried much from their range prior to this, but I was aware of the brand so when I was given the chance to give it a test run I jumped on it! 

This holiday pack featured includes:

- 50 ml BIOSOURCE HYDRA-MINERAL CLEANSER NORMAL SKIN - cleansing mousse with zinc to balance normal and combination skin

- 125 ml BIOSOURCE HYDRA-MINERAL CLEANSER NORMAL SKIN - toning water with zinc to balance normal and combination skin

- 50 ml AQUASOURCE NON-STOP MOISTURISER NORMAL AND COMBINATION SKIN - 24h* deep hydration replenishing gel with thermal plankton cellular water

The cleanser is a super rich hydrating paste that you rub in your hands with water until it's creamy, then cleanse your face as normal. It has a really mild scent and what I can only describe as a "clean" smell to it. It easily removed all traces of makeup (apart from my eyes which should be avoided as with most cleansers) and it left my skin feeling soft and supple. A lot of cleansers can leave my skin feeling a bit tight and dry and I feel like I need to tone and moisturise straight away to get my skin feeling back to normal, but this was definitely not the case with this cleanser. My skin just felt great! It's really mild on the skin and I think it would be suitable for young and older skin. It contains 70 revitalising minerals, 5,000L* of thermal spring water (*reduced to the concentration of pure extract of thermal plankton) PLUS Zinc, formulated to balance normal and combination skin. No wonder my skin felt so refreshed after using it. Haha. 

The toner is just as mild as the cleanser, but with great results again. After using it my skin isn't irritated at all, but it feels like I get rid of everything that might be left lingering on my face. My skin feels smooth and soft afterwards and it takes only a few moments for it to dry and my skin to be back to it's natural state. The toner has less scent than the cleanser, but is in the same neutral scent range and just further impresses the "clean" feeling on me. I love that this isn't abrasive at all and would be great for everyday use, and again perfect for a range of skin types. 

The gel moisturiser is probably the most scented of all the products in this range, but the scent fades after it soaks into your skin. The moisturising gel feels extremely luxurious from the classic glass packaging, all the way to the intensely refreshing feeling it leaves on your skin as you apply it. I could sit and apply this stuff all day, but I really don't need to (darn, haha). The gel soaks in quite quickly, but the results are long lasting. I often only wear powder coverage to work and this balances out any dryness that can come with that perfectly. My face feels soft, supple and hydrated all day. 

When I started using this I had a few small breakouts and I can say that this has definitely improved the appearance of my skin and stopped any further breakouts from occurring  I get a bit worried with hydrating facial products that my skin will look oily by the end of the day, but this set has proven that completely wrong. The zinc included balanced my skin out perfectly and I love that the moisturiser is a gel; it worked wonderfully for my combination skin. This set is for normal/combination skin, but the Biotherm range with these holiday sets includes a range of products to suit every skin type. You can check out the rest of the packs and range on their website here.  

Overall I am blown away with the quality of these products and it's no wonder as the company has been creating wonderful skin care products since 1952!

You can pick up this perfect holiday treat that gives and gives back from Myer and any of the stores/sites listed on their website here for $64. 

And as a special offer right now if you'd like to try these products for free you can click the link: http://www.biotherm.com.au/club/christmasoffer/ , download the voucher and head in-store to Myer for a free sample! See if you love these products just as much as I did and grab a pack while you still can. :)

Have you tried anything from the Biotherm range before? What do you think about this cute holiday packaging? x

Tried & Loved - Facial Fresh - Vitamin C - Cloth Facial Treatment Mask

Recently I was lucky enough to test the Facial Fresh - Vitamin C - Cloth Facial Treatment Mask and I'm happy to share that it was an easy, rewarding experience! 

The cloth masks are something that I've seen appearing a little bit more frequently lately, and I have to say that I'm definitely a fan. They are super easy to use and to clean up after. The packaging is small and neat so they travel well, and because they're packed individually you never have issues with them drying out. 

Applying the mask is as easy as described in the 3 step diagram on the back of the packaging seen in the photo above. Remove the mask from the silver foil fresh packet (be careful as you're opening this as I found there is quite a lot of liquid within to keep the mask fully soaked - no skimping here!), then fit the mask to your face lining up the eye, nose and mouth holes provided. The mask is quite wet with the active liquid so it sticks really well, and there is plenty of room to breathe through the holes provided, I was even able to eat with it on (I was hungry and couldn't wait, hehe). I left the mask on for around 15 - 20 minutes as suggested and the mask stayed moist the whole time. Taking it off was simple, and I opted to rub the leftover moisture into my skin. 

The Vitamin C mask that I tested is described on the Facial Fresh website as: 

"Brighten and energise dull or lack-lustre skin, with a boost of youthful radiance. With its immediate invigorating effects, the Vitamin C Mask leaves skin looking clear, revitalised and glowing with health. One of the most favoured natural antioxidants, Vitamin C helps nourish and protect skin cells. Suitable for all skin types, including mature skin.

Each Facial Fresh face mask delivers a precise dose of fresh concentrated serum to your skin in hygienically sealed sachets."

The mask definitely felt like it delivered as the description suggests. After using the mask my skin appeared instantly brighter, felt softer, and the pleasant smell left me feeling energised. The scent is not overpowering at all, it's a refreshing somewhat citrus scent. Leaving the mask on for 15-20 minutes my skin didn't tingle or burn so I think it would be appropriate for all skin types as they suggest. It's a really gentle mask, that still delivers on results. I can imagine using this every week would really benefit my skin!

The mask is availabe from The Facial Fresh website here and there are several other versions of this mask with different benefits that would be great to check out depending on your skin requirements. The masks range in price from $8.95 currently for a single mask, or starting at $20.95 for a 3 pack. 

Have you tried a Facial Fresh Cloth Facial Treatment Mask before? What's your favourite skin care mask that you can't live without? x

Tried & Loved - Urban Decay - Naked 2 Palette

[Left to Right: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease - in natural light]

[Left to right: Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout - in natural light]

The Naked 2 palette from Urban Decay is the follow up the ever popular Naked palette which was first released in 2010 (it still sells out on Beauty Bay all the time!). Being such a fan of the original Naked palette this was something I couldn't pass up on buying too, and I'm glad that I did. 

The Urban Decay brand is something you might not have heard of before if you're from Australia as, unfortunately for us, it's not stocked in any shops here! Quite a shame really as I've loved everything I've tried from them so far. The Naked palette is definitely my most used eye shadow palette and I'll review that one soon too. :) I am a frequent beauty blog lurker though and ever since hearing the rave reviews about the Naked palette I have been trying to get my hands on more from the Urban Decay brand. Luckily for me, I came across a stockist that ships to Australia - Beauty Bay! 

The Naked 2 Palette is described on the Urban Decay website as: 

"The most anticipated sequel of the decade. Naked2 has 12 pigment-rich, taupe and greige neutral eyeshadows, including FIVE NEW shades. 

Our palette proves once again, neutral is anything but boring, (and is downright sexy when worn Naked). Feast your eyes on our shades ranging from pale to deep, matte to sparkly. This collection lets you achieve lots of neutral looks, smoky dramatic eyes, and everything in between. Let's just say there's a whole new way to get Naked! 

The case has an art-school inspired look with hinged lid - taupe metal with embossed chocolate brown artwork. It's smooth, modern and cool to the touch - a real tactile experience. Plus, our palette also features a travel-size Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked, AND a double-ended, cruelty-free Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush (available only in this palette). Any self-respecting makeup lover will have to have both palettes to get their complete neutral fix!"

The colours in this palette as swatched above are: 

• Blackout - Blackest black with matte finish.
• Booty Call - Shimmering cork.
• Busted - Deep brown shimmer.
• Chopper - Copper shimmer with silver micro glitter.
• Foxy - Cream bisque with matte finish.
• Half Baked - Golden bronze shimmer.
• Pistol - Light grey/brown shimmer.
• Snakebite - Dark metallic bronze shimmer.
• Suspect - Pale golden beige shimmer.
• Tease - Creamy pale brown with a matte finish.
• Verve - Oyster shimmer.
• YDK - Cool bronze metallic shimmer.
• Travel sized Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Naked - Sheer neutral pink shimmer.
• Good Karma Shadow/Crease brush - exclusive to Naked Palette 2.

As you can see in the swatches above, there really is a nice range of colours and finishes in this palette. I feel like more of these colours are on the bright metallic side than the original Naked Palette, so this is a palette that I use more so when I am going out instead of as an every day palette, but for me that's a good thing. There's more than enough variety than I could ever really need in 2 simple palettes! 

Unfortunately for me, on my pale skin some of these colours really don't show much at all, so the colours 'Foxy' and 'Bootycall' (aren't the names sassy! haha) don't really get any use for me personally, and that also means I don't really have many light base colours to work with once they're eliminated - that's my only gripe with this palette I think. What I'm left with is perfect for smoky eye looks though or sultry shimmery peepers. 

I think the original Naked palette has a better combination of colours that easily work together. With that palette you can literally use any colour as a base, and any colour as a contrast and it will look amazing, with this one I feel like I have to think about it a bit more, but the end results are usually still great. 

The eye shadow itself is super pigmented, smooth, and a little goes a long way with blending. The swatches above were from a single swipe of colour with my finger, impressive yes? Some of the colours that have more glitter in them can be a little bit soft, so be careful and watch for a little fall out with those (Chopper, Verve and YDK especially, as you can see above). I have had my palette for at least 6 months now though and I'm not even close to using any of the colours up as the product is so pigmented that you really don't need to load your brush up to get good colour pay off. This palette will last me for years, so it's definitely a great investment. 

I find that with a primer the colour of this will stay perfectly all day long without creasing, and without primer it's almost just as good. I've often applied my eye makeup early Friday morning before work, and still had it perfect and ready to go for dinner and a night out straight from the office that night!  

The brush that comes with the palette is really good quality, and I often use the flat end to apply my base colour, then the round end to blend where required. If I needed to I think I could do a whole eye look with just this brush which makes it great for travel, but I've never had to so far as I love my normal eye brushes so much I take them with me everywhere. :P 

The packaging is really sturdy without being too heavy and the top clips into place with the base meaning it won't fall open in your bag. I've taken this travelling with me a few times now, and even dropped it once or twice (oops!) and haven't had any colours break or run over into each other.  It's a bit of a strange finish being made of a soft metal, and I'm still not sure that I love it, but it's super easy to keep clean and sturdy for travel and storage so no complaints here. It's just not really pretty which I think more of my other palette's are. 

I haven't pictured the lip gloss that comes with this palette, but I absolutely LOVE it. It has a bit of a minty feeling when you apply it and the colour is quite nice on my lips. It's quite sticky on the lips which some people may not like, but it lasts forever which is not the case with most lip glosses. I've applied this before bed and still had it on my lips in the morning! It's tiny though and I always lose it in my bag, and there's no spot to keep it in or with your palette so it gets a little lost for me. I think I might look at purchasing a full size version of the gloss so it gets a bit more use, and less left in the bottom of my bag alone. 

In the picture below I've just used shades from this palette along with a liquid eye liner to create this look. I can't remember the exact shades I used as it might have been a bit of a mish mash, sorry about that. But you might be able to work the colours out from the swatches above. 

Overall I am super happy with this palette and this along with the original Naked palette is pretty much all I use for all my eye looks now. 12 shades is a lot to play with, and for a beginner it's a great way to start building your eye shadow collection with quality pigmented eye-shadows without it costing too much. Or as a bit of a collector like myself, I find it's an easy way to have quality colours that I know will work together well all in one palette.

As I said earlier, I use this more for bolder eye looks, and not as much for every day, but that's not to say you couldn't use it as every day eye shadows as well, I just prefer the original Naked palette for that purpose. If I had to pick, I'd still pick the original Naked palette as a first preference, and have even gifted it to my friends because I love it so much I want to share the love. 

I purchased this palette from Beauty Bay for $59.20 and free postage for Australia. If you think about it, that's just under $5 for each colour. The single Urban Decay eye shadows sell for around $20 each so this is a perfect way to test a large slab of their range for a quarter or the price!  The Beauty Bay site stocks most of the Urban Decay range including the original Naked palette and is the only site I've found so far that will ship it to Australia, and free! I can't wait to try more from this brand, and I've definitely got my eye on the new Smoked Palette for smoky eye looks. 

Have you tried the Naked or Naked 2 Palette? What's your favourite Urban Decay product? Have you heard of this brand before today? x

Tried and Loved - Face Of Australia - Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon

 

Having spied these little beauties being raved about by a few other Aussie bloggers like on the Crosswire Dreamer's page I knew I had to get my hands on them and try them out for myself! 

If you haven't heard of them before Face Of Australia Cosmetic's is an Australian made and owned company who is 100% against animal testing, and who are committed to bringing Australian beauty lovers up to date makeup at an affordable price without skimping on quality. That's definitely the case with these Sheer Gloss lip crayons! You can read more about the company and it's products at their website here if you're interested in learning more. 

Face Of Australia describe the Sheer Gloss lip crayons as:

"Lip colour has never been so fun and sweet with Face of Australia's NEW Sheer Gloss Lip Crayons. These wind-up lip tints are smooth, moisturizing and smell like vanilla!

Treat your lips to mouth-watering moisture and a hint of shine. In 3 super delectable shades these lip crayons are also infused with a vanilla scent."

I was a bit skeptical that these lip crayons could be moisturising at all, considering how cheap they are ($14.95 for the 3 pack!) but I was pleasantly surprised at the texture and moisture that they provided. They glide on your lips super smooth and keep your lips hydrated for a few hours I would say. I like that they're a little bit slick, not sticky at all, so they still give a nice shine on your lips without the usual tacky feeling that can come with it. As you can see in my first swatch below, it's probably a good idea to give your lips a quick treat to make sure they're free from any bumps before applying or the colour can stick a little, but if you don't have any bumps then you're good to go.

The colours are really pretty, and each colour has it's own cute name. 'Macaron' - a nice sheer red, 'Cupcake' - the lightest of all colours a sweet sheer pink, and 'Sundae' - a caramel brown that blends to a nice wearable colour on the lips. The packaging matches each colour which is nice, and each has a cute little picture and sheer cap. I haven't had any issues with the cap falling off and I leave it in my bag at times, and I haven't had any issues with the wind up mechanism yet either, but I can imagine the caps being not so tight at times so you may need to be careful. 

The scent is right up my alley - I love vanilla, and it's not too overpowering so even if vanilla isn't your favourite I don't think it would be prominent enough to turn you off buying them completely. 

I was able to wear these lip crayons alone for almost a full day, but by the end the product had built up a little bit too much on my lips gathering in places and I needed some extra moisture to sort it out. SO you can't rely on these for moisture alone, but they would be perfect to perk up an every day outfit though, or if you're heading out to dinner and want a light lip colour that won't stain your lips. :)

[Top: Macaron - Middle: Cupcake - Bottom: Sundae]

Overall I'm super impressed with the quality of these lip crayons for the price that they're selling. They're cute, fun and smell lovely. They'd be great to pick up as a gift as well I think, so I might grab another packet before they're gone forever, as unfortunately I think these are limited edition. 

I purchased these for $14.95 from Kmart, but if you're in Australia you can pick this 3 pack up for from Priceline, Big W, or you can check their website for the nearest stockist in your state on their website here. They are also sold online on the wesbite www.fashionaddict.com.au - I had never heard of this site before today but it seems quite good for Aussie brands! 

Have you tried these lip crayons? What's your favourite cheap or luxury lip product? What's your favourite Face Of Australia product? x

Tried and Loved - Peter Thomas Roth - Gentle Complexion Correction Pads

 

 

My skin has been really clear lately, and I think I can mostly attribute it to these to be honest! If you're looking for a quick, neat and easy way to get your skin really squeaky clean, then this might be a good option for you too.

The Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads are described on the PTR website as:
"Exclusively formulated to cleanse skin, clear blackheads, refine pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

• Pads contain potent Alpha Hydroxy Acid (Glycolic Acid Complex 10%) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid 1/2%) in an advanced botanical formulation creating a unique, clarifying, synergistic action to help cleanse the skin, clear up active acne blemishes, minimize pore size, and prevent the formation of new blackheads and blemishes
• Helps regulate healthy cell turnover and delivers proven anti-aging benefits that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Double-sided pads deliver gentle cleansing action on one side and superior pore-refining exfoliation on the textured side
• Provides a veil of fresh, peach bellini scent that offer a nice option to replace traditional antiseptic pads "

Personally I don't have horrible skin to start with which makes it a little easier to control breakouts, but it hasn't always been that way. I would say I have normal/combination skin now, it's not very oily, it's not too dry, and I get the occasional breakout. Your skin type isn't necessarily always going to be a certain way. I used to have terrible skin, with breakouts all the time. I think the only way to really control it is to trial products catered to your skin troubles, find the best skin care that works for you for your specific issues, and then to stick to a good routine with it.

For many years now I have used the Clinique 3 step program, and I really feel that this was able to balance my skin again and has left me quite clear since using it. I think adding these Peter Thomas Roth Complexion Correction Pads to the equation has been the final step in finding a nice balance for my skin though.

I use these at night every second or third night after cleansing, toning and removing all my makeup (you can use them every night if you feel you need to, but as with most skin products, you have to work to your own skins needs). I then use 1 pad on the 'bumpy' side to gently work my entire face in circular motions until my whole face is clean and gently exfoliated. They don't look these little bumps would do much, but I think it's the perfect way to get a little exfoliation without going overboard and without having to use harsh scrubs. Once you're done you don't need to rinse, you just wait for your skin to dry (it takes only moments) and then continue with your normal night routine (serum, eye cream and moisturiser for me!).

It's amazing that you think you clean your face so well, then use these and realise that there is always a little extra residue from the day still there. They really do eliminate any nasties and leave your skin feeling fresh and soft, without being drying at all (in fact I'm sometimes naughty and don't moisturise at night and don't feel like my skin is dry in the morning!). I feel that my skin looks instantly brighter after using these, and my serum and moisturiser soaks in even quicker aiding in the absorption of all the good vitamins my skin needs to stay fresh, soft and spot free.

They smell of a soft peach scent which is such a refreshing change to most toner/peel type products. I really love the smell and it's not over powering and quickly fades. They don't sting my eyes to the point of watering when I use the pads around my cheek bones which is also a pleasant change to what I've gotten used to with some skin care I've used over the years.

I would say these would be a suitable way to gently exfoliate your skin if you're too sensitive to use a scrub, or if you simply prefer a deep cleanse at the end of the night this will be a great option too. They have absolutely brightened and refined my skin and reduced the amount of breakouts that I get. I can't stress how much I love this product!

I purchased these from Kit Cosmetics for $44.95 and there are 60 pads in each container (this will last me ages as I really don't need to use them every night!). You can also purchase these from Mecca in Australia instore or online (they have a 4.7/5 rating on the Mecca website!).

Please note: I find it's always good to ask instore about skin care products so they can best address your skin care needs, so as always I would recommend popping into your local Kit or Mecca store so one of their friendly skin care experts can help you cater to your needs! Skin care really is such a personal thing and something that might work a treat for me, might not be so great for some one else.

Have you tried these Peter Thomas Roth pads? Are you a fan of the Peter Thomas Roth brand? What's your nightly skin care routine like? x