SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse

After giving birth to my daughter last month my poor hormonal skin was in need of some serious attention to clear it up. I've always suffered from acne in one form or another and being in my mid 30's now it can get a little bit depressing sometimes when I think that my skin should be past all that.

I'd been waiting to use this SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse I was sent to try out as soon as I wasn't pregnant anymore and over the past four weeks I've been using it every day.

The SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse is part of the SkinB5 Acne Control Program which also consists of their Extra Strength Acne Control Tablets, an Acne Control Moisturiser, Acne Control Caplets and a Skin Purifying Mask.

The mousse contains a soothing combination of Green Tea, Vitamin B5 and Aloe Vera to refine the texture of the skin as well as Salicylic Acid to prevent further breakouts.

The SkinB5 mousse feels nice and gentle on my face and while it doesn't really lather up too much when being used, it's still easy to spread around on the skin and doesn't irritate or make my face feel tight or sensitive at all after cleansing.

The mousse has a very subtle scent to it that is in no way overpowering and two pumps is all you really need to adequately cleanse the entire face and neck area.

My skin was a mix of very itchy and sensitive acne as well as having very large pores with a lot of blackheads. After using this mousse for the past four weeks it has cleared up considerably and is starting to look a lot smoother, less red and a lot less oily. I have noticed some small dry sections where my skin was affected the worst but these areas are not sore or irritated at all and after I complete my usual moisturising routine of a night they are barely able to be seen.

SkinB5 is Australian made and owned and was started by acne sufferers.They have a very informative website that explains their entire acne control system as well as giving additional information on all of the products available.

If you have suffered from acne and haven't found that wonder product that works for you yet, I highly recommend giving this one a go. Considering the difference I have noticed with only using one part of the entire system, I can imagine that if all of the recommended products are used in harmony together then the result would be even better.

Has anyone else tried these products yet? Does anyone else get as excited to try Australian owned and made skincare products as I do??

Have a great weekend!

Michelle xx

Review - Maskd 'The Green Mask'

A while ago I was sent some samples of this mask to try and unfortunately at the time I only got to use it once before my pregnancy skin went haywire and I decided to only use very gentle products until I had my baby and my skin returned back to normal.

Since having our new bub, my skin pretty much healed within a couple of weeks and it was a very exciting time for me to dig out all of the products I had stored up and could start using again, including 'The Green Mask'.

Maskd is an Australian product developed by Beauty Therapist, Carlie Lansdown. It has been created using all natural ingredients and is suitable for all skin types. Some of the benefits of using 'The Green Mask' are as follows:

* Smooths lines and wrinkles
* Sooths damaged skin & reduces scarring
* Permits fresh, glowing skin
* Allows natural oil flow
* Moistens dry skin
* Covers blemishes
* Improves application of makeup

When I first received this product to try I was a little apprehensive when I saw the tag line was 'Can you handle the sting?' Anything that comes with a message like that sounds a little daunting to someone with sensitive skin like mine.

Fortunately, I didn't actually feel any 'sting' when I applied the mask and I was really surprised at how comfortable it was to apply and leave on the skin while it worked its magic.

As the name suggests, Maskd is a green mask and claims to be similar to experiencing a microdermabrasion treatment. I left the mask on for around 15 minutes each application and it certainly felt like my skin was much smoother and more hydrated after use and this feeling lasted for a couple of days afterwards. It was easy to apply and spread over the face and was also easily removed with a damp face cloth (I used the one in the picture above that was sent with the samples).

I would definitely recommend this mask to anyone looking for a natural product which leaves the skin feeling brand new and that doesn't irritate. Currently, Maskd can be purchased direct from their website here and it costs $49.95 for 50mls.

What's your favourite face mask to use at the moment?

Have an awesome week!

Michelle xx  

MitoQ - Review and Free Trial Offer

Over the past few weeks I have been using a new cream which is called MitoQ.

For those of you who may be like I was and not have a clue as to what MitoQ is, here is a little bit of info:

'MitoQ is a patented next generation CoQ cream that is 1000 times more active than leading CoQ topical formulations to protect your skin cells from oxidative damage. MitoQ enhances and restores your natural antioxidant defenses and is scientifically proven to enhance and rejuvenate your skin. MitoQ has a lightening and brightening effect reducing blemishes and gives you younger looking skin.'

MitoQ comes in a very luxe looking bottle with a pump dispenser. It's a very lightweight cream that is easy to smooth over the skin and absorbs super fast without leaving any sort of greasy feeling behind. I find that my skin feels extremely soft and totally moisturised after application and I have been using this cream both morning and night after cleansing my face. It has a light but pleasant scent that isn't too overpowering and isn't really noticeable after it has been on for a few minutes.

Since using this cream twice a day I've found the texture of my skin seems to have smoothed out a bit and I don't seem to suffer from as many blemishes anymore (being summer where the grease factor of the skin is amped up this is a huge bonus in itself!) I've also noticed that my skintone seems to have evened out as well and I don't seem to have as much redness in my cheek area like I used to.

For the first time in my life I've been able to get away with just using a bit of pressed powder on my face (and maybe some concealer under the eyes) on most days. For me this is great in this hot weather we have been having rather than needing to wear foundation which always feels so heavy this time of year.

I have to say that I haven't really noticed any improvement in my fine lines but maybe I'm just too critical when I look at those areas of my face.

I do have one gripe regarding this cream, and that's the fact that it doesn't contain an SPF. In my opinion this is the only factor that makes using this cream a little bit painful because if I'm going anywhere I have to make sure I put a sunscreen over the top.

Free Trial Offer:
Currently, MitoQ are offering a certain number of people in Australia the ability to trial their cream for free. All you need to do is visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitoq?fref=ts, like them and let them know you're interested in trialing MitoQ and they could be in touch!

You can also find out a bit more about MitoQ on their website at http://www.mitoq.com/.

Has anyone else had the chance to try this cream yet?

Michelle


***This product was provided for review but my opinions are always honest***

November Addictions - Skin Doctors T-Zone Range

This month my skin went absolutely crazy for some reason. I'm really not sure why as I was using the same products for ages but my skin just decided to do a complete backflip from the nice and clear state it was in to being constantly covered in pimples and greasy as all hell.

So, I was so very grateful when at the beginning of the month I was asked to trial the new Skin Doctors T-Zone range by Beautyheaven as this trial definitely came at exactly the right time for me and I have been absolutely loving these products ever since receiving them.

The Skin Doctors T-Zone range consists of the Oil Control Cleanser, the No More Oil cream and the No More Pores night cream.

1) Oil Control Cleanser - This cleanser is the first step in the routine and is a paraben-free cleansing and balancing gel that deeply purifies pores and clears oily and combination skin to give you a perfect matte complexion. I really like this cleanser as it makes my skin feel super clean without any dryness or tight feeling which is something you'd expect from a product like this. It doesn't irritate my sometimes sensitive skin at all and is a very light gel which is easy to lather onto the face. This is probably my favourite product to use in the range.

(Oil Control Cleanser)

2) No More Oil cream - This is a dual action cream designed to help control oil production to reduce shine and to absorb excess oil to leave your skin flawless, matte and beautiful. I've been applying this cream every morning and night and it glides on nicely and absorbs into the skin really fast. I have actually noticed that my skin does seem to be a little less oilier than before and in this hot weather we have been having lately that is a miracle in itself. My makeup has even been lasting longer when using this too and I've found that it means I can skip the use of a primer most of the time if I don't feel like using one.

3) No More Pores Night Treatment - This cream is to help refine, unclog, shrink and tighten pores so your skin looks smooth, matte, even and flawless. The dual action formula firstly removes excess oil that causes enlarged pores and secondly helps to reduce pore size. This cream is to be applied at night after cleansing and prior to using the No More Oil cream and at first I was using it every night but then scaled it back to using it only every second night as I found that it was stinging my skin a little if used every night. Even without using the cream every night I have still noticed a definite reduction in the size of the pores on my cheeks and nose which were always quite large and I don't get anymore irritation with only using it every second night as well. On the in between nights I just use my regular night cream instead and still apply the No More Oil cream over the top of that.

(No More Pores Night Treatment)

 

Overall this is a great range to use if you have an oily t-zone and enlarged pores as there are definately noticeable effects after using it on a constant basis for a few weeks. I've always had a problem with my t-zone but then have dry areas on other parts of my face so it has been nice to feel like my skin has been a bit more even and normal for a change.

 

I would consider this a much nicer and less harsh alternative to the Proactiv range which I tried once a few years ago and honestly felt like I was immersing my face in acid every time I used it.

 

So that's what I have been loving this month.

 

What products have you been addicted to this month?

 

Michelle xx

A Little Bit Excited

This is my first ever blog and I'm a little excited about the prospect of keeping it up as often as I can.

My main interests are reading, cooking (and eating!), beauty products, scrapbooking and all things animal related so this space will comprise a mixture of all of these elements.

I am a total novice when it comes to most stuff in relation to the design and implementation of something like this so I'll most likely be learning as I go.

Right now, the following items are taking my interest:

Currently watching - Masterchef Australia. Can't wait to find out who will win this years competition. I must admit this season hasn't grabbed me as much as the others and I was VERY disappointed when Hayden was eliminated but I'm still excited to see who will win this year.

Currently Loving - All things Elizabeth Arden. A couple of weeks ago it was my birthday and I decided to treat myself as I am usually a very low maintenance gal who never spends much money on nice things for myself. I wandered into my local David Jones store and got to talking with the Elizabeth Arden representative who totally sold me on their products by giving me a lovely gift-with-purchase and several samples to take home and try as well as the opportunity to have an hour long facial. I ended up purchasing their Intervene Stress Recovery Night Cream which was a little pricey for me at $92 but I've since fallen in love. It's buttery texture and lovely smell has convinced me that you definitely get what you pay for and I've never had softer skin on my face in my entire life. I ended up taking up her offer of the facial last week and literally felt like my face opened up afterwards! My skin was glowing and my eyes lost all signs of puffiness. This could be the start of something big.......

Currently Reading - Number seven in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I've become silently obsessed with this series and am trying to get through them all in between studying my boring CPA material, work and looking after our 4 1/2 month old. Needless to say it's slow going at the moment but I'm hopeful I will be through the series by the end of the year. They are not the most intellectual read but are kind of fun if you just want to relax and chill out from the real work for a little while. I've also become totally obsessed with the True Blood series based on these books and cannot wait for the next instalment every week. Eric is hot!!!

Anyway, that might be all for my first instalment into this wonderful world of blogging. Next time I will have hopefully received my first Lust Have It delivery and can start reviewing whatever lovely products it contains.

Bye for now,
Michelle