Lush Haul

Hope everyone is having a splendid weekend :)

In my attempt to start incorporating more natural and gentler products into hair and skincare routine I have become a teeny tiny bit obsessed with Lush. Here are some of the latest goodies I have picked up...

♥  Aromaco Deodorant - Aromaco is a solid deodorant with a patchouli scent. It's not actually an anti-perspirant but masks the smell. I have to say I am a little bit sceptical about this but am more than happy to give it a whirl. 

♥  H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment - My hair has not been in great condition lately so I' m hoping this will help it out. You apply it before shampooing and conditioning and it's meant to add a ton of moisture to the hair. I have it in right now so I shall keep you posted.

♥  Dirty toothy tabs - I won't rave on too much about these now as I have a whole blog post coming about what a convert I am!

♥  BB Seaweed fresh face mask - I was after a face mask which simply cleaned and detoxified the skin and the LOVELY lush ladies suggested this. I have already used this and it left my skin feeling fresh, smooth, clean and glowing. 

♥  Buffy Body Butter - I have already blogged about this here. This is a repurchase so you know how much I love it. 

♥  Lemony Flutter Cuticle butter - My cuticles are not brilliant and I have been on the hunt for a great cuticle butter and I'm hoping this is it! It's a thick creamy product with a scent I like and I think a little will go a looooong way. You can also use it on your elbows and other areas with really dry skin which is an added bonus. Review to come on this once I have tested it out. 

This is just the beginning of new products I have been testing out. I have sensitive skin and decided that taking more natural, gentler, safer & animal friendly approach to my routine may not be such a bad thing. Post to come of my progress and all the new & wonderful products I have been using. 

Would love to know your Lush product suggestions that I need in my life

x

Product Rave: Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

Hi there lovely readers, 

I have recently started 2 new jobs so I have busy busy busy and become a bit slack with blogging lately but I am back with a long overdue rave/review. It's for Estee Lauder - Idealist Even Skintone Iluminator and I have been wanting to do this post for ages now because it's amazing!

Estee Lauder claims the product drastically reduces the look of uneven skintone; redness, acne marks, dark spots and discolouration. They describe it as an intensive yet gentle oil-free serum with Triple-Optic technology which instantly illuminates the skin for instant radiance. The serum is comprised of comprehensive, anti-spot ingredient, powerful antioxidants and soothing anti irritants to combat the signs of uneven skin tone making it appear clearer, even-toned and radiant. Sounds pretty good to me!

The illuminator is a light, pale coloured serum which has a delicious citrus scent and comes in lovely simple packaging with a convenient pump pack which is sanitary and means less waste. I have been using this product for about 6 weeks now and I have to say I am impressed. I apply the product both morning and night after cleansing. Once it has sunk it I just apply my usual moisturiser over the top and I'm done.

I am fair skinned and I do have quite of bit of redness in my skin. I found that shortly after using this product my skin tone looked great. It felt smoother, even and healthy as well as appearing brighter and luminous. I do think it also helped fade spots a bit quicker than usual too but luckily for me I have good genes and spots aren't a major concern for me.

The serum itself has a luminescent pearly sheen to it which I really loved as it makes my skin radiant and glowy without the dreaded shimmer. I am not sure if this is a long term effect of using the product rather than the product itself but either way I am happy. My skin is dry so I love the pearly glow of the serum, which I tried to capture in the photos below, but for those with oily skin I'm not sure if this would be the perfect product as it does add extra sheen which you might not want. Having said that I would suggest checking it out and making up your own mind.

I stopped using the product for about the last week to see if I noticed a difference in my skin and I did. My skin didn't look as glowy and fresh and appeared a bit duller so I'm a convert!

The serum has only been officially released in Australia for about 2 weeks now and although it is pricey I would definitely recommend checking it out. I think serums are an important part of any daily skincare routine and this has definitely ticked all my boxes. I think I have discovered my new staple! Next on my list to try is the Night Repair serum.

What are your thoughts on serums? 

Happy hump day!

Imogen 

x

Meet Rose!

Hello lovelies, 

Let me introduce you to this little gem - Trilogy's rose hip oil. If you have already heard of it then don't you already looove it?!

I have been using this on & off over the last few months and am impressed. It's an oil which as first I was not sure about but after giving it a whirl I am hooked. 

It contains antioxidants and 80% essential fatty acids to promote the repair and rejuvenation of skin cells and lots of other good stuff. It is also proven to approve the appearance of ;

• scars by up to 41%
• stretch marks by up to 43%
• wrinkles by up to 23%

I generally apply it at night before I go to bed, sometimes I whack my moisturiser over the top depending on how lazy I'm feeling. Occasionally I add some to my moisturiser in the morning but generally don't bother because I don't really want any greasyness during the day.  

It hydrates like nothing else! I have really dry skin, especially in winter but I have found that this stuff really helps out. I have only had this during the cold months so I'm sure if I will use it much in summer, I guess time will tell.

As you can see it's a yellow oil. I put about 5-6 drops on the back of my hand and massage all over my face. It applies really smoothly and sinks in relatively well.  Where I apply the drops on the back of my hand actually feels softer! 

My only gripe is the smell. I'm not a fan which is one of the reasons why I apply it at night so I don't really have to smell it much.

Trilogy products are naturally produced as well as being both ethically and environmentally responsible - bonus!

I totally recommend it especially for those of you who are heading into the colder months, it makes my skin feel so soft and glowy! 

Aspirin mask

I first stumbled across the idea of an aspirin mask ages ago on makeupalley. So many people were raving about how it gives you gorgeous, clear and smooth skin and i have to say it's pretty good! Aspirin is salicyclic acid which is the main ingredient in heaps of face and body products currently on the market. It is an anti inflammatory which is great for breakouts and healing blemishes and red spots. It's  also good at removing blackheads and making pores appear smaller. Overall it gives my skin a great glow.

I do it about once a week sometimes as a mask or sometimes just in the shower as more of an exfoliator. One of the best things is the price. I get the cheapest aspirin and it costs me less than $1 for 24, it's so cheap!

So here is how i do it. Firstly i get the cheapest aspirin i can find. Make sure its uncoated aspirin as if they are coated it will takes ages to dissolve  

I ususally use about 3 or 4 for my entire face, but you can use as many a you like really

I break them along the groove just because i find they dissolve much quicker which is good as i'm impatient (my mum calls me 'im' and she always jokes around that she should have given me the middle name patient so then she could call me im patient, haha)

 

I then cup them in my hand as i find it easier and less messy than using a bowl or container. I then add a few drops of warm water and mix them around so it dissolves. It only takes a few seconds and becomes a grainy sort of texture. I then mix in some of my facial cleanser but i have read a lot of other ways to do it on MUA. Some people suggest honey, aloe vera or yogurt. I am yet to experiment but i'll get around to it sooner or later

 

I apply it to my whole face and leave it for about 10 minutes or if i use it in the shower i just rub it all over my face like i would an exfoliator then simply rinse off and just like that i have clearer, cleaner and smoother skin. My verdict is that this stuff is brilliant!

If you have already tried it or are going to let me know what you think

x

The Body Shop Facial Buffer

I am such a sucker. As soon as I saw the review for The Body Shop Facial Buffer Holly did over at The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog I knew I had to get in on the action. So I went to The Body Shop and bought my own. For $3.95 there was nothing to lose.

So here it is

Holly said that since using the buffer her skin has been transformed and people have been commented on how clean and clear her skin looks. Sounds great to me.

The website says it is a gentle exfoliating sponge that polishes your skin, whilst cleansing it to leave it looking refreshed and radiant. It removes dead skin cells and unclogs the pores leaving the skin soft and smooth.

 Up close and personal so you can see the texture

I have only used the facial buffer once but so far it seems good. After using it my skin felt softer and smoother and I can see a slight difference in the texture of my skin. The nylon which it is made out of is quite textured and i barely needed to use any pressure. Despite the website saying it could be used daily I don't think I would want to. I think if i were to overdo it my skin would become red and irritated.

If my first use is anything to go by this product gets the tick of approval and I don't have to think about repurchasing for a long time, brilliant!