Cosmetics Archives - myfoxycorner

Posts Tagged ‘Cosmetics’

02
Dec
2013

November Favourites!

Hi All!

Merry Monday and happy 2nd day of December 😀 My Monday was a little crazy and insane but all is good because Christmas is only 22 Days away! Only getting a little bit excited…

Anyway I am two days into a new month and thought it was definitely time to share a beauty/makeup related favourites as well as a couple of randoms at the end.

1. Lush Dream Cream
Without a doubt my number one favourite product this month and new holy grail skincare product is the ever so popular Dream Cream by Lush. This stuff is like magic lotion, supposed to be for hand and body but I also find it is one of the only moisturizers that I can use on my face. It is full of good stuff and you can read more over on my post at nzgirl. Long story short if you have sensitive or irritable skin this stuff could be your lifesaver and at $6 a pot (40g) it is pretty affordable as well.

2. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Fuchsia

I picked this up on a whim for $8 from a makeup sale store that has popped up on Queen street and couldn’t resist the glossy, fuchsia pigmentation. This lipstick is stunning and lasts a good amount of the time on the lips. After sticking to red lips almost exclusively it was quite nice to branch out and pop on a pink.

3. Butter London Nail Lacquer in Slapper

Butter London are a fabulous nail polish brand and this bright teal is one of my favourite colours in the Spring/Summer period. Bright and colourful with a formula that glides on with two easy coats the slightly higher price tag reveals itself in how great this polish is. One of those colours that I pop on when I can’t decide and just want an all round favourite.

4. Imogen Rose solid perfume from Lush

I love perfume. A lot. And yet my skin and I have this funny relationship where it randomly decides it doesn’t want to wear perfume and I am limited to spraying it on my clothes for fear of sending my skin into a spiral of angry irritation. For these times I thought I would try out a solid perfume from Lush and it doesn’t disappoint. I can use this on my skin and it just feels like a moisturizing serum. Most importantly it still smells amazing, of fresh picked roses (and not the artificial “rose” scent of most perfumes) and is very affordable at only $10.90. I think I may have to pick up the vanilla one next. Bear in mind this doesn’t last ages on the skin but is easy to throw in a handbag and reapply throughout the day.

5. Yes to Carrots Lip butter in Berry

I love the new “Yes to” range that has come out into supermarkets recently and this lip butter is no exception. Creamy and moisturizing with a delicious berry scent this clear lip butter is full of coconut oil, olive oil and other natural products that make it far superior to petroleum based lip balms in my opinion. It moisturizes for longer and feels better on the lips and for only $4.99 on special was a very affordable purchase.

6. Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Green tea and Cucumber

I had to mention this briefly as it is a great deodorant for only $5 approx at supermarkets and I love the crisp, fresh scent that lasts for what seems like all day. If you are on the hunt for a new deodorant to try then pick this one up (or the white nectarine one which also smells divine).

What I’ve Been Listening to: Haim (especially Don’t Save me and If I Could Change Your Mind) and La Sera’s song Love That’s Gone

What I’ve Been Watching: After finishing both Dexter and Breaking Bad Edd and I decided to try something new and are working our way through Downton Abbey (and both rather loving it!)

What I’ve Been Drinking: Tea (obviously. This month’s pick would have to be a new organic Peppermint tea picked up at the local farmer’s market) and also cucumber and lemon water which I have never tried before but is kind of delicious.

What have you been loving this month?

27
Nov
2013

November’s Sample Bar

categories: Makeup and Beauty

Hi all!

So on this busy Wednesday I bring you a quick post sharing what I received in my November Sample Bar Glam Pack. But first:

There are only 28 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Image from here!

So this month’s Sample Bar Glam Pack was focused on the transition from Spring in to Summer and some versatile products that may be useful in this time.

What I Got

1. Organic Rosehip Oil by Essano

I liked the cleanser I received last month so was happy to receive a sample of the rosehip oil from the same brand. This is certified organic and is a gem for reducing wrinkles and uneven skin tone. At the moment I have been loving my Trilogy rosehip oil but this will make a handy handbag spare. It doesn’t have too strong of a scent and sinks into the skin relatively quickly however my favourite thing about this rosehip oil is the affordable price. These can be picked up full size (20mL) from the supermarket for a pretty reasonable $22.99.

2. Model Co Cheek and Lip Tint

Most likely the product I was most excited by at first glance was this cheek and lip tint by Model Co. I love the idea of tints but haven’t tried any out. This one is a berry pink colour and blends out on the cheeks relatively easy. I didn’t have much success using this on the lips and in future see it more as a quick and easy blush however I love the idea of a multipurpose product. This was a half size of their 10mL product which retails for $24.00.

3. Vital C Hyrdrating Repair Creme

This rather expensive creme ($109.70 for 60mL) is supposed to be great for sensitive skin so I was happy to receive a small sample pot to try out. Apparently its high price tag is due to the level of vitamins ACE but I don’t think I would rush out to buy it. Interested to see if it is any better than my Dream Cream by Lush which I am loving.

4. Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser

Another product suitable for sensitive skin which was great to see. Also good to see a relatively large 20mL sample (those tiny sachets drive me insane). This cleanser is soap free and has a neutral pH to thoroughly cleanse whilst also calming and avoiding irritation. Free of fragrance, perfume and parabens. Definitely happy to try this out and see how well it works. Full size (200mL) is $43.70.

5. Holistic Hair Sea Spray

Another product I was excited to see was this hair spray. For someone who avoids all hair care this was a rare moment but I like the idea of this natural spray, with lime and essential oils (and of course salt!) to add texture to curls and create beachy waves. The scent is pleasant and its another good size sample so I was pretty happy all round. Full size of 250mL comes with a pretty reasonable $22.45 price tag and can be bought online.

6. Daylong Sunscreen

The sixth and bonus product was three sachets of sunscreen. I hate sachets but at least these kind of make sense and are easy to pop into your wallet for those times we forget sunblock. This sunscreen in SPF 50 and is supposed to be light and non-greasy which is always good to hear. It also lasts 8 hours which means one application should last you most of the day. This swiss sunscreen goes for $34.99 (150mL).

The Verdict

Overall I thought the products in the box were all well chosen and none of them were ones I wouldn’t be able to or willing to use. With a lot of sensitive skin care and a couple of season specific products I am excited to try most of these out. My one main negative is that I wish there had been a full size product however the decent sample sizes weren’t as small as usual. Not my favourite box, but not a bad box either. Excited to see what Christmas brings!

What did you think this month?

18
Apr
2013

April’s SampleBar Glam Pack

categories: Makeup and Beauty

Hi all!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Here in NZ the weather has lost its marbles (don’t be alarmed, this is a frequent occurrence) and has been literally moving from beautiful sunshine to thunder and downpours in 5 minutes. Wish I was exaggerating. This led to me running in and out every few minutes to try and decide how I should dry my washing. Yay.

Anyway, here is this month’s Sample Bar Glam Pack (obviously I failed to cancel my subscription again ._.). I was very happy to see this month taking on an Eco-Chic theme in their set of products focusing on eco-friendly, natural treats. Here’s what I got this month!

1. Evolu travel tower
This skin care travel kit tower is an awesome idea from a brand I’ve never heard of before. Includes creme cleanser, facial exfoliator, firming eye cream, anti ageing day cream, rehydrating facial masque and anti ageing overnight cream. The idea is that this compact little tower can be taken when away for a night or two and your skin care routine is covered! Refillable and reusable these have me very exciting!
The full size of this includes three of these travel towers for $65 (ouch) but a $20 discount e-coupon was included to ease the pain.

2. Anitpodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream
Antipodes is a brand I love but this tiny sachet is no where near enough to decide how I feel about a night cream. I would have been much happier with a proper little pot as we have had before. Having said that, this night cream sounds amazing with avocado and calendula oil, manuka honey and vinanza grape (what?) thrown in for good measure. Would have loved a proper sample of this.
A full size of this night cream is $62.50 so a little out of my price range.

3. Sorbet Shampoo Bar
This month we were given one solid shampoo bar made with 100% biodegradable ingredients and natural extracts. I am excited to try this out as I haven’t tried out a solid shampoo yet and I am curious as to how it works. It’s also excellent because its completely cruelty free which is always good to see. I don’t think the bar we got is the free size but this isn’t indicated on the packaging (annoyingly).
Full size bars are $22 (95g) and again we have a code to get a 15% discount which is nice.

4. Perfumie in Verbena Bamboo
Perhaps one of my favorite products in this month’s box is this little solid perfume stick which are convenient for shoving in one’s handbag and are full of natural ingredients. The fragrance I got (Verbena Bamboo) is really lovely, fresh and grassy (in a nice way..). I don’t think the scent lasts particularly long unfortunately but I haven’t used it much so might be wrong.
These are full size and cost $10.95

5. Pharo Microfibre Exfoliating Cloth
The other ‘full size’ product in this month’s box was this exfoliating cloth that is apparently reusable. A full size duo pack of these costs $11.95 which seems quite fair. Also, this product came with a $10 discount voucher for a sugaring treatment (I believe some form of hair removal…). Meh, I quite like this (but will never use the voucher, as usual).

Well that’s it for this week! I would have LOVED this box if the night cream was full size but as it is, it was kind of average, with no makeup products and some disappointing sizes. The theme of this I adored so I wish the box had lived up to all my (potentially unreasonable) expectations. Still, I am not dissapointed I forgot to cancel my subscription and have yet again been introduced to some interesting and eco-friendly brands. Oh and I almost forgot that Sample Bar included an Easter themed choc bunny that barely made it into this photo. Having to wait 5 minutes to consume chocolate is not one of my skills.

Let me know what you thought of this month’s box!

21
Feb
2013

SampleBar Glam Pack for February 2013!

categories: Beauty, Makeup and Beauty

Hi All!

So I received the February Sample Bar Glam Pack on the 19th (bit later than normal) and here are the things it contained! The theme of the box was valentine’s day (even though it arrived afterwards) to provide some tools for pampering and to turn a few heads.

1. Tooth Spa in Fresh Orange

So this first product is a full size organic, all natural tooth paste by a NZ company trying to provide an alternative to the more typical toothpastes full of fluoride and other chemicals (I personally have no idea whether chemicals in toothpaste are actually harmful in any significant way to our teeth). I think this is a really cool idea, especially for people who do try to cut down on the chemicals they are using. I haven’t used it long enough to test it at all in terms of how well it works but it smells lovely. The taste is a little odd, orangey but there’s a bit of an odd slightly salty taste in there too. It doesn’t foam which feels strange at first. Cool product concept but don’t think I would repurchase at $15 for 70g.

2. Heart shaped toe seperators

Pretty self explanatory, perfect for a pamper session. For some reason I haven’t already got any of these so quite happy to get some. These are $3.99 from samplebar.

3. Lash Card

Another full size product, with 10 lash cards (individual mascara shields for those pesky little smudge marks on upper eye lid when we apply our mascara). Again I think this is a really cool idea for a product but I generally don’t have a problem with mascara application, probably because my stupid eyelashes are so tiny. Regardless these will definitely be given a go.

4. Flirty Little Secret Firming cream with pheremones

So this is from a brand called Booty Parlor (never heard of them) and it’s a body lotion with some added shimmer and bronzer along with firming action and pheremones (seems a bit odd…?). This was a 5mL sample so hopefully enough to use on both my legs or something. Full size (135mL) this is $67.99 so luckily I don’t feel super desperate to repurchase.

5. ModelCo Shine Ultra Lip Gloss in StripTease

This is the other full size product and I LOVE this! I love when makeup products are included in the glam packs and this lip gloss is a great one. I haven’t tried ModelCo products before but this lip gloss makes me want to. It smells incredible (like sour fruit lollies) and has a beautiful nude shimmer. Doesn’t feel too sticky and I love the doe foot applicator (as well as the mirror on the side making application on the go super easy. Great product! To buy these on SampleBar they are $19.

6. Shiseido Skincare night moisture recharge enriched

This was a 10mL sample of the night cream and I have a feeling this will go a long way as the cream is super moisturizing! I love this feel of this, smooths into my skin without feeling greasy or heavy. Love skin care products so glad this was included in this month’s box. Unfortunately the full size is $85 so unlikely I will repurchase in my current state but maybe one day once I’m rich!

All in all, I was pretty pleased with this month’s box. The toothpaste would be great if the taste was little less odd and I don’t think the lash cards are that useful for me personally but the lip gloss and the night cream were great and there was nothing I really didn’t like. I was happy that there were 6 products in total and only two of these were little samples. At the moment I am trying to decide whether to continue my subscription or put $25 a month into a product I really want so I need to decide quick about next month but this box was one of my favorites since joining.

Click here to take a look at the Sample Bar website or Here to view my first post explaining what this subscription service is

24
Jan
2013

January’s Sample Bar Glam Pack

categories: Beauty, Makeup and Beauty

Hi All! So I hate being one of those people who apologizes for a lack of blogging, especially with such a small number of readers. This blog is a source of fun and escape for me so when I am not enjoying it or when it starts to make my life more stressful time wise I see no reason to try forcing out rushed posts. I needed a bit of a break and had zero motivation to blog due to stresses in other areas of my life so blogging has been sparse and I hope that won’t be the case much longer! Anyway, here is what I received in last week’s Sample bar glam pack! I hear there is a new subscription service being launched in NZ soon so now I am torn as to whether I should pay for both, swap over or stick to sample bar hmmm.

This months box was based around the theme of jet setting or holidaying over the summer period and I was fairly happy with what we received this month although I would love a makeup product/sample to be included.

1. Steamcream: The first full size product included this month was the multi-award winning steamcream which comes in a variety of very eye-catching and cute little tins! I have seen a couple of other designs which were very cute but have to say I was very pleased to get this English design! I think a lot of people thought this would be like a multipurpose balm product but it’s definitely a beautiful lotion/moisturiser that can be kept in the handbag and used where-ever. I love the scent of lavender (but I am sure some won’t) and find the cream to be beautiful on the skin without being too greasy. The 75g tin costs $29.95 (yay for getting our $25 money’s worth!). I’m already thinking of ways I can repurpose this tin…

2. Twistband in neon green: So this is apparently some hyped up elastic accessory from the states that can be used as a hair tie or as a wrist accessory. I think I must be missing something because this looks like it could be made in a 6 year old’s craft class… Don’t get me wrong, the snag free elastic is snag free, it holds my hair up rather well and looks cuter around my wrist than a crappy little black hair tie for sure but I’m not sure I really get the hype around it. Oh well I am always in need of more hair ties! These are $2.95 individually.

3. Air Repair eye cream: I am a sucker for eye creams! I am not sure why but I love trying new ones out so I was excited to see one included and full size too yay! This is a super hydrating eye cream with aloe, allantoin, vitamin C, green tea extract and cloudberry seed (what?) but don’t ask me what all of those do. It feels soothing on the eye but I haven’t used it long enough to get a clear idea on how it works. This is $17.50 for the 15mL tube.

4. Hil Cook Solution Buds: A two pack sample of cotton buds which can be fiddled around with in order to release make up remover solution into one end which can then be used to remove any makeup accidents or smudges. A cute and useful idea for when on the go or out away from trusty make up remover and cotton balls but at $12.99 for 20 I am not sure I would spend my money on the pack.

5. Le Tan SPF 30 Coconut Lotion: Last up is another favorite! I love the coconut smell of this sunblock/lotion so was pleased to receive a mini sized tube to take with me this weekend to the Coromandel. I’m not sure if this counts as sunblock or not but I use this happily on my body to give non-greasy SPF protection that doesn’t feel or smell like sun block. This is $5.99 for the little 35mL size that fits perfectly into my handbag.

So that’s it for this month! Overall pretty happy but hope to see some makeup next month. The only things I would maybe buy again would be the eye cream as it’s not too expensive, the coconut lotion and if I could afford more steam cream I would buy it in a flash for its divine scent but most of all the tins!! I need more!

Talk to you soon

03
Jan
2013

December Beauty Favorites

categories: Beauty, Beauty Favorites, Favorites, Uncategorized

Hi All! So in November my favorites kind of got lost in the chaos of life so although these are my December favorites these products have been ones I also used a lot in November.

1. Palmer’s Olive Butter Formula Body Lotion
So this has been my hands down favorite body moisturizer for two months now. For only $12 (if memory serves correctly) this giant sized product is a great moisturizer, has a lovely fresh scent (not sure if it smells particularly like olives or not…) and doesn’t irritate my sensitive pain in the ass skin. Great product that I see becoming a central part of my moisturizing routine year round as it isn’t too heavy and greasy.

2. Elizabeth Arden: Green Tree Tropical Perfume
I picked this up a while ago as it was on a great special for like $30 and had a nice fresh and fruity scent which I thought would be useful in Summer. Well I was right and I have worn it almost every day this month. Not a super strong scent which I quite like at this time of year. Smells a little floral to me but more so tropical in the fruity sense of the word. Still pining after the Green Tea with Cherry Blossom scent that has been on my wishlist for ages

3. Maybelline MegaPlush Volume Express Mascara
My lovely Mum bought me a bunch of beauty related products a while ago and this is my favorite of the bunch! When I first started using it I was a little underwhelmed but after using it more regularly it has grown on me a lot. First off, the volume is there but not incredibly so. I have pathetic lashes so it isn’t an easy job I should add. Instead of volume I notice more so the definition it brings to my lashes as it never clumps for me. The thing I love most about this mascara is the formula. It’s a bit wet but I have no issues with application and the best thing is that it feels like I’m not wearing any product on my lashes. This makes it so much easier to apply any extra coats without clumping or incredibly caked on lashes.

4. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
I talked previously about another favorite in this line (Bold Gold) and this is another favorite that I reach for a lot! This neutral bronze colour is an easy eyelid fix when I can’t be bothered putting much makeup on and also provides the perfect base to a neutral smokey eye. Lasts for ages on my eyes (for example it’s still there in the morning if I forget to remove makeup before bed *bad lizzy*!) and helps my other eyeshadows last longer without moving around or creasing.

5. MUA Lipstick in Shade 01
I posted an intial review/haul of my MUA products and this lipstick is probably one of my favorites of the bunch. A beautiful wine red colour that feels moisturizing and lasts a decent amount of time. Best thing about it is that it cost 1 pound.

6. MOA Green Balm
I received this in my first SampleBar box back in November and was also very kindly scent a second one from my lovely friend Karen from BalmainBeauty. The product is a balm with oils like tea tree oil and melaleuca which I use on the lips, cuticles, hands, any sores or scratches and where ever needs a little moisture.

7. OPI The Spy Who Loved Me
Edd very kindly bought this for me at Christmas so technically I have only had it a little while but it was such a great christmas red that I had to include it! A stunning bright red (perfect for the NZ summer) that is full of golden shimmer. The gold isn’t as incredible as it looks in the bottle but still creates a lit from within red that I will reach for again and again.

So there are my favorites for this month and last! I hope everyone had a great end to 2012!

18
Dec
2012

December Sample Bar Glam Pack

categories: Beauty, Makeup and Beauty

Another month, another Sample Bar Glam Box. After the improvements in last month’s box I was excited to see what this month’s would include and I wasn’t disappointed! I was also pleasantly surprised to receive my box before a lot of other New Zealander’s as the other times I have always got mine at the last moment. Here’s what was included this month in a box themed towards a night out with products that are supposed to help with a day full of work and then night life.

1. Ulta3 Nail Polish in the shade Honolulu (Full Size 13.5mL): I was excited to see a nail polish included being a self-confessed nail polish addict (as well as being happy to see a brand I haven’t come across here in NZ) however was a little dubious as I don’t think I have worn yellow nail polish very much, if ever. This shade is a bright sunny yellow that is sheer on the first coat but two would suffice for even coverage. I was happy with the quick drying formula and surprised with how much I like the colour. Also, this colour is PERFECTION for summer! There were a variety of shades in everyone’s boxes so I am excited to see what everyone else got! Price: $4.99 (these are all the prices to buy on samplebar)

2. Instant Le Tan in Le Can (Full Size 45mL): This was one product that I thought although a nice one to try was a little repetitive after the bronzer gel that was in last months box. For someone who doesn’t really use fake tans very often I’ll have to work hard to make sure I use up both of these products. Otherwise this product seems like an easy to apply quick tanning option that may come in handy and has a lovely smell of vanilla (I LOVE vanilla scents!). Price: $11.00

3. Show Stoppers Fashion Tape (2 nude strips): I didn’t really get what these were, being a little dim at times, but these are two double sided tapes that can be used with slightly daring or dangerous clothing to keep certain bits and bobs contained haha. Although this is a problem I don’t come across very often being a stay at home 21 yr old nanna and not having much “up there” to keep contained this does sound like it could come in handy on a rare night out. Price: $19.95 for a 24 strip pack (nude and black available).

4. So Susan Fairy Lash Mascara (Full Size): This was my absolute favorite this month as I love to try new mascaras and was glad for a full size. This month there were 4 potential So Susan products so I am looking forward to seeing what other people got and their opinions on them. I tried this mascara straight away and loved it! Firstly I think the packaging and the name is cute which always helps haha. This mascara gave my pathetic lashes volume AND length which made me very happy as I have difficulty finding a mascara that does this for me. I was very impressed The one downside was that during application I got mascara on my top lid which I don’t normally do. This might just be me finding the brush a little hard to use or maybe the formula was a little wet to start off with but after a little practice I got the hang of it. Price: Ranges from $15.99-$38.50 for the various makeup products but I don’t know how much the mascara specifically is

5. Scarlett and Greene’s Skincare Range (3 sample sachet’s): So this is a little booklet with three small sample sachets of their skincare products (probably only enough for one use). I don’t know if everyone got the same samples but I got the Come Clean cleanser and makeup remover, the Bare All breakout control wash and the Under Cover natural moisturizer with SPF15. I haven’t tried any of these yet but I like that the cleanser is soap free as I have sensitive skin, I like the natural oils and extracts that are in each product and I like the SPF in the moisturizer. All are made for young skin and are New Zealand made. I’ve never heard of this range but would be interested in purchasing the full size moisturizer and cleanser (I don’t get breakouts so the Bare All product isn’t really useful for me). Overall I like the little booklet with a few samples but sachet samples do annoy me a little as one use is never really enough to judge a product. Price: Full size products are between $28.95 and $30.99 which seems pretty expensive compared to my usual skin care products.

(thought I would include a picture of the booklet because I thought it was a cute idea)

So there are the products in this month box. I keep trying to decide whether I think it is better than last month’s and I think I would have to say it’s better for me personally but it isn’t a big difference at all. I’m excited to see what comes next month!

Let me know what you thought if you received a box this month

Click here for my original post on the Sample Bar Glam Packs

Also, these boxes were paid for in full by me and all opinions are my own and not sponsored or influenced in any way.

13
Dec
2012

Looking after my skin! (Skin Care Routine)

categories: Beauty

Hi All! I have had these photos for a little while and I am finally putting up my skin care routine! I love reading other people’s posts on how they take care of their skin so it made sense to do my current one. My skin is super sensitive and very dry so I am pretty careful about what I use and tend to stick to what I know most of the time to avoid reactions. The other point I should make is that this is my skin care on a pretty tight budget, with products that I know I can afford to repurchase (not always the case however). If I had more to spend I would love to use better skin care products but at the moment it’s not really feasible and I am pretty satisfied with how all of these work.

First up here are what I use to take off my makeup. The Garnier Clean Sensitive Facial Wipes are my best friend most of the time as I am notoriously lazy when it comes to makeup removal but the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover is what I use for stubborn eye makeup.

I like to do face masks at least once a week and these are the two ones I often use. The Goji Berry Facial Hydration Mask is one I buy in single packs for around $3.50 each (I should really just get a full size) however I often spread the pack over two treatments as I find there is more than enough gel product. I think this mask is great for dry skin as my face feels soft and hydrated for ages after I use it. I also was happy that I had no negative reactions to it which I have had to other face masks. The Meaningful Beauty Clay Mask is one I got ages ago from my Mum and only started using a wee while ago. This is less of a moisturizing mask but does a great job at clearing out my skin and giving it a very clean and clear look. I also find it helps with my redness which I get a lot of on my face. I feel like this product is pretty expensive so not sure if I will repurchase or just find a similar alternative.

For Cleansing I have a couple cleansers I like to use regularly but this one is always in my bathroom because it’s gentle on the skin and a creamy consistency that doesn’t leave my skin feeling dried out at all. A great gentle cleanser for the skin but not the best for removing heavy duty makeup which I tend to do with makeup wipes or remover beforehand. The price is around $10 at the supermarket so very affordable as well which is important on my current budget. Another one I love to use is the Nivea Essentials cream cleansing wash.

Following cleanser I apply toner over my face and neck area with a cotton pad and this one is a definite favorite. I love this range from Nivea but this is the only one I have been using long enough to really consider a core part of my skin routine. I love the fresh, cucumber scent and find it doesn’t irritate or dry out my skin very much. Again, I think this product is around $10 at the supermarket (on sale maybe) and so one that I can repurchase without freaking out.

Next step is the most important for my poor dry skin…Moisturize! These are my two main moisturizers. The Olay Moisturizing cream (for sensitive skin) is my favorite (also by chance the cheapest which is probably a good thing) as it is thick and very moisturizing however this also means it can be a little annoying on a hot day. During summer it tends to be relegated to night time moisturizer whilst the Daily Face Cream by First Aid Beauty is a little better for day as it’s thinner on the skin. Neither have a sun protection factor which is annoying but although not mentioned here I do wear sun protection most of the time. Both of these are good for sensitive skin (the whole range at F.A.B. is made with sensitive skin in mind which I LOVE) however I do get a little bit of an uncomfortable tingling sensation on my skin sometimes which doesn’t happen with the Olay. Anyway, both are moisturizers I would highly recommend for people with similar skin. Price wise the Olay is around $11 and the F.A.B. is quite a bit more, in the $25 range maybe?

Last up I have my two eye creams. I never used to bother with eye creams but a while a go I was given the Loreal Collagen Eye Filler and started to use it daily. I like this product because it has a slight brightness which really helps reduce my under eye circles and darkness. For me it is quite moisturizing but I wouldn’t know much about wrinkle disappearance just because I am terrible at keeping track of my eye wrinkles haha. The Dr Lewinn’s is the main expensive product on here (around $30 I think from the Supermarket) however I do think it is a very good eye cream in terms of moisturizing but less great at short term disappearance of under eye circles and what not. I also think it does a better job at helping reduce wrinkles as even I noticed a small difference when I started using it. Although it is more expensive than the L’oreal I think it is a better eye product however I do love them both for slightly different reasons.

So those are my key steps and products involved in keeping my rather iffy skin under control. I’d love to hear what any of you guys use on a day to day basis for skin care and any reccomendations you might have so please feel free to leave a comment or tweet me @liz_lock

22
Nov
2012

November Sample Bar Glam Pack

categories: Beauty, Makeup and Beauty

Hi all!

Middle of the month means the new Sample Bar Box (okay actually it’s a bit after the middle of the month but mine was one of the last to arrive, luckily its contents were worth the wait). This month had a them around Glow seeing as it is pretty much summer. I was pleasantly surprised with this month’s box as the previous launch box was okay but not mind=blowing yet I was much happier with this month’s products.

If you are in NZ and want the details of Sample Bar Box just click on over to my previous post

The first product and the only full size one is this Trilogy Self Tanning Instant Bronzing Gel. I have never used Trilogy products but have heard good things. Normally Bronzers/self-tanners terrify me a little so I’m looking forward to see how easy this is to work with. I also like the fact it uses natural additives as the active ingredients and includes aloe vera for moisture and hydration as well as Vitamin E.

This full size product costs $35.90

Possibly my favorite thing in the box is this 45g sample of Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner by Lush. I have never really bought Lush products despite loving them from afar yet lately I have been picking up/been given a few things so I was so happy to see something else to try! This is supposed to be used in the shower but to be honest so far I have just used it like a moisturizer and it is amazing! Smells delicious (cocoa butter with a little rose) and feels amazing on the skin. I will find it hard to resist purchasing this once the sample runs out.

Full size (225g) is $39.90

Okay so when I saw a Marvis toothpaste sample in the box I was a little disappointed I mean I just grab the cheapest at the supermarket and that is the extent of my toothpaste market research. However! This is actually another favorite along with the body conditioner which was a total surprise to me haha. I am ecstatic with the scent (Cinnamon Mint) which smells exactly like the Cinnamon mints from Eclipse. I am in love with this and the fact it’s from a fancy Italian brand makes it even better haha.

The full size (75mL) is from $14.50-17.50 and I am seriously tempted to buy full size but in the end it is jut toothpaste and I may have some difficulty convincing Edd this is worth it…

Next up is a very cute mini Lipstick from the brand Savoir Faire which I haven’t heard of before (ah the joy of beauty boxes!). The shade is perfect for summer as its a nude brown colour that is quite flattering for me. The size is perfect for shoving in my over stuffed makeup bag.

The full size price for these lipsticks is only $9.95 which seems quite cheap!

So last up is a sachet sample of Bump Eraiser which apparently removes ingrown hairs (as well as preventing them) and will also moisturize and exfoliate, perfect just prior to using the bronzing gel. Sounds like a good product but I don’t think one small sample will be quite enough to judge it’s effectiveness. We shall see!

The full size price is $27.50 for a 30mL tube.

All these products can be purchased on the Sample Bar website in case you missed out on the box or want to grab any of the featured products.

All in all I was really happy with this months box. All were from brands I don’t normally buy from and I thought value for money was very pleasing to the wallet or the boyfriend haha. Let me know what you thought If you are subscribed!

08
Nov
2012

October Empties

categories: Beauty, Makeup and Beauty

Hi All!

So I don’t normally do empties posts and to be honest am still second guessing this but I enjoy reading other peoples and what is a blog good for if I can’t try things out? I don’t use heaps of makeup and beauty items so this is less of a monthly empties and more a every couple of months or so but we’ll see how it goes

1. Health Basics Nourish Nail Polish Remover: This is my go to nail polish remover because it is cheap (around $3) but works well. Contains acetone which is a must for me as I don’t want to spend forever trying to scrub off my polish but I don’t find it super drying and just make sure I moisturize my hands and cuticles after. Repurchase? Yup!

2. OPI Top Coat: So I liked this for a while but as you can see there is a bit left that is almost impossible to use and bubbles like crazy once I get it out anyway. Before it went bad I found it did a fine job but considering its $25 price tag I think their are better alternatives. Repurchase? Nope.

3. Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream with Colloidal Oatmeal: I was so sad when I finished this! I thought this handcream was perfection. Extremely hydrating and not at all too greasy. One of the few handcreams that would last me through all sorts of handwashing and dishes and still leave my hands feeling hydrated. No fragrance but that means it was perfect for my sensitive skin. At around $8 it’s reasonably priced so I will definitely repurchase.

4. Lucas PawPaw Ointment: Everyone and their Great Aunt knows about this miracle product. Although I go through phases with this pawpaw ointment I always have one on hand and lately it has become another handbag essential. Although there are other brands I personally love this one and don’t care particularly about its criticisms so long as I feel it works for me. Repurchase? Already had a spare one lined up!

5. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner: This was okay but not my favorite eye liner. I find others a bit easier to use like the Maybelline Liquid precise (or something) so a repurchase is probably not on the cards.

6. Garnier SOS Repairing Hand Cream: So in case you haven’t gathered I love hand cream. I get eczema especially when I’m stressed and my hands often get very dry and red. So a good handcream that won’t cause further irritation is an essential. This one was fine, cheap at around $4 but the moisture wasn’t super long lasting and with a few out there I like better (see above) I probably won’t bother repurchasing.

7. Pantene Pro-V Night Miracle Leave On Cream Serum: I don’t use many hair products if any at all other than shampoo and conditioner but this is something I bought on a whim, as you do, and it was pretty good. Using it as an overnight leave in serum, especially on my dry ends, made them a bit more manageable in the morning but it was nothing mind blowing. Repurchase? Maybe if I see it on special but will probably try something different instead.

Well that’s it! Let me know what you think of these posts and whether they are worth doing? I know some people will have no time for beauty blogs but I enjoy tuning out from life to indulge in some shallow beauty posts 😉

Hope you are all having a lovely week

xxx

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