November Empties

November was a HUGE empties month. I just seemed to go through products like there was no tomorrow. Anyway, here's a little about what I used up in November:

1) Pangea Organics Eye Cream & Facial Cream Samples - I took these in my toiletries case when we went to Melbourne last week as they took up no room which meant more room for other things :-) These were both lovely products and smelled absolutely gorgeous too. I would definitely repurchase these.

2) Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask sample - This was a nice mask but nothing too special.

3) Naked Tan Goddess Bronze - I actually really like this tanning product which technically isn't an 'empty' but it's gone a very intense dark brown almost black colour now so I'm not game enough to try using it anymore, hence it's getting chucked.

4) Mirenesse Eclipse Age Defence SPF15 Daily Face & Neck Mineral Balm - I really liked using this and used it as a primer before my makeup after moisturising. I saw a lot of mixed reviews about this balm but it seemed to work really well for me and made my skin feel like silk which I just loved. The tint is barely even noticeable though so if I repurchased I'd probably just get the regular one with no tint.

5)  John Frieda Frizz-Ease Curl Perfecting Spray - All this did to my curly hair was make it crunchy which is one of my pet hates with curl products. Why, oh why can't they make a curly hair product that doesn't make my hair feel crunchy??

6) Chloe Eau De Toilette sample - Not a huge fan of this perfume. It was a bit too sickly smelling for me and reminded me of something that my mother would get better wear out of then me.

7) Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara - I was very sad the day this mascara run out as it was on permanent use for a very long time once I discovered it. Oh well, I have since replaced it with another mascara that I can't get enough of which I will be reviewing very soon.

8) Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil - I loved the way this lip balm made my lips feel but was always a bit disgusted by the taste. It just wasn't for me.

9) Rich Skincare Gentle Polishing Scrub sample and Ultra Hydrating Day Cream - I absolutely love all the products I have tried from this brand and shed a little tear when the Day Cream ran out. This is something I will definitely be replacing in the future.

10) So...? Sinful Body Fragrance - Every time I put this on I felt like a teenager again. I quite like this scent and mainly wore it on my days at home when I didn't feel the need to wear a fancy scent.

11) Clinique Turnaround Concentrate sample - This sample was way too small to really notice much difference in my skin after using this product but overall it seemed nice and left my skin feeling quite soft which I like.

12) Estee Lauder Resilience Lift sample - Again, the sample was way too small to really get much out of using it but it also seemed nice.

13) Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush - I'm a bit of a latecomer when it comes to jumping on the dry shampoo bandwagon but now I'm there I'm definitely hooked. I seriously don't know how I ever lived without it.

14) The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel - A present from hubby a while back along with some other The Body Shop goodies when I was having a particularly bad skin week. I loved the smell of this body wash and love the way it didn't dry out my skin at all after use.

15) Garnier Mineral Deodorant - This is my go-to deodorant and it's always one I come back to after trying others as it never lets me down and doesn't clash with my perfume either which is a big winner.

16) You, Me & Every Body Sumptuous Skin Mousse for Dry Skin Relief - Sounds like it would be really moisturising for dry skin by the title right? Well, even though it was so much fun to use and a real novelty for my toddler, I just didn't felt moisturised enough after using this and sometimes applied it two or three times while still feeling a bit dry on my skin. A bit of a shame really....

So there you have it. My mega empties post for November.

Hope everyone has had a lovely week.

Michelle xx

Nails of the Week - Australis Nail Colour in Bombshell

I now have a new favourite polish and funnily enough it's a colour that I normally detest; Pink!!

Bombshell is one of those polishes that really make you look twice. It's such a super bright and eyecatching shade and I couldn't help but keep looking at my nails when I had it on.

This polish was virtually opaque in just one coat but I applied two just to make it that little bit stronger on the nails. Amazingly it lasted for almost a week without any chips too.

 

 

I usually have a fear of anything that is bright pink as it takes me back to my childhood where my mother literally saturated me in the colour because she just couldn't understand that I was more my father's daughter and preferred to be underneath cars and getting coated in grease rather than wearing pink ruffles and sipping tea with her.

BUT, I have to give credit where credit is due and that is with this shade because it is fricken awesome!

Has anyone else fallen in love with this shade too?

Michelle xx

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

November Lust Have It

After the utter disappointment that was last months box I had decided to unsubscribe to Lust Have It but ended up totally forgetting to and before I knew it another delivery had landed on my doorstep.

I'm thinking I might as well see out the year with them now and then make a decision as to whether to keep up with my subscrition or not.

Anyway, on with what was in the November box (or bag as the case may be again):

1) ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Mascara (Full size, RRP $28) - Apparently this mascara hasn't hit the shops yet so that is a little exciting. This has got ModelCo's signature mirror built into the side of the tube so it is great for touch-ups on the go.

2) Evodia Roll-On Fragrance (Full size, RRP $12.95) - I was so excited when I realised one of these was in the bag as I have heard such good things but then got majorly disappointed when I realised what scent I received. I got the Coconut & Lime one which I'm not even going to open as anything that is fake coconut scented is almost guaranteed to be an instant migraine trigger. I'll probably end up gifting this to a friend.

3) GKMBJ One Minute Hair Treatment (30gm sample, RRP $26.50 for 200ml) - This is definitely something that interests me; a treatment that only takes one minute! I love hair masks and treatments but hate having to put it in my hair then get out of the shower and wait for 15-20 minutes, then get all wet again to rinse it off. If I can do this while showering and it only takes 1 minute, then I'm a happy girl!

4) Aviva Inspires Skin Glow Light Tan Extender (30ml sample, RRP $30 for 232ml) - I think this is like a gradual tanner that you apply for a few days straight to build up a tan, or you can use it over the top of a normal self-tanner to prolong its life. I prefer gradual tanners as they are easier to use on my pale skin so I'm interested to see how this one works.

5) Star & Rose Hologram Tweezer (Full size, RRP $9.95) - These are really pretty and will make a nice addition to my makeup bag.

Overall, the contents this month were a big improvement on last month and if it wasn't for not being able to stand anything that is coconut scented then I would have been extremely happy with everything this month.

What does everyone else think of the contents this month?

Michelle xx

Dr Lewinn's Skin Perfect Anti-ageing Primer

I was lucky enough to receive this primer to try as part of the Beauty Heaven trial team and couldn't wait to start using it.

What the product claims:
'Dr. LeWinn’s Skin Perfect Anti-ageing Primer is for instantly silky and smooth skin. The anti-ageing primer allows make-up to glide over skin and prepares the complexion for a long lasting base. Its lightweight formula contains Evermat™ technology to visibly reduce the appearance of pores and absorb excess oils, without over-drying. Skin is left clear, glowing and hydrated.'

This primer comes in a heavy frosted glass bottle which seems kind of luxurious to me. It has a pump dispenser that gives just the right amount of primer to cover the entire face in one go.

It goes on like a nice light moisturiser and has a scent that isn't too overpowering which I think is great.

It sinks in super fast and makes my skin feel lovely and smooth prior to foundation application. Once it's sunk in my foundation applies like a dream and my skin looks almost flawless as the majority of my fine lines seem to just disappear.

This primer has become my go-to primer lately as it's just so lovely to use. I can't comment on the anti-ageing claims though as I haven't really noticed any long lasting differences in the way my skin looks in that department. It does seem to smooth out my fine lines when applied and stops my foundation from sinking into them too which is a bonus.

Has anyone else tried this primer yet?

Michelle xx