Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

How cute is the Christmas display at the Chanel beauty counter?!

 

Hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break and post-Christmas shopping with family and friends! Wishing you all happiness, health and prosperity for the New Year!

With much love, Rose

NEW Palmer's Eventone BB Cream

Palmer's Eventone BB Cream (A$9.99/30ml) is a newly launched all-in-one Beauty Balm Cream which is a multifunctional formula that targets discolouration and spots, protects the skin with SPF15 and provides lightweight coverage to conceal redness, blemishes and imperfections. Palmer's Eventone BB Cream is available in two shades: Fair/Light and Medium/Dark. This BB cream aims to prime, perfect and protect the skin.

What I love:

• Shade/Tone: Fair/Light was most suited to my skin tone and I was happy to see that this shade appeared natural with cool undertones, unlike most BB creams which appear too brown/orange and unnatural for the skin tone.
• Composition: Synovea: an effective skin lightening agent used to lighten brown sun spots, Niacinamide: a vitamin which inhibits the production of melanosomes and dark spots, Soy: an antioxidant which soothes skin and prevents free radical damage, Liquorice extract: provides skin lightening properties, Cocoa Butter: nourish, softens and hydrates the skin, Vitamin C: an antioxidant which provides a brighter and more even skin tone, and Vitamin E: an antioxidant which reduces the appearance of  lines and scars by hydrating the skin.
• Texture: Despite the relatively thick consistency, I loved how 'smoothly' and easily the BB cream blended onto my skin. The shade Fair/Light blended really well with my skin and also dried up quickly to provide my skin with a nice and even skin tone.  
• Coverage: This BB cream provides a little bit of extra coverage to reduce the appearance of redness and small imperfections. For more coverage, I would apply some liquid foundation. 
• Protection: I always keep an eye out for products containing SPF, so I'm super happy to see that Palmer's Eventone BB Cream contains SPF15.
• Skin benefits: My skin stays well hydrated during wear and also skin appears nice and even due to the addition of a tone enhancing complex within the formula.  
• Finish: This BB cream provides me with a lovely luminous and dewy/glowy finish.
• Price: At a measly A$9.99 for a 30ml tube that will last me through the Summer season, you just can't go past this BB cream!

What I dislike:

• Shade: There are only two shades available, which may not be suited for everyone's skin tone.
• Scent: As expected, the scent is reminiscent of other products in the Palmer's Cocoa Butter formula range. The scent does not have a cocoa butter aroma, as the scent leans more towards a floral scent. It's the intensity of the scent which I find is a little overpowering for my liking.

I have swatched both the Fair/Light and Medium/Dark shades on my arm and you could see how creamy and smooth the formula appears. In the second photo, you can see that the shade Fair/Light blends in really well.
 

Palmer's Eventone BB Cream is currently only available at My Chemist and Chemist Warehouse Stores. From January 2013, this cream will be available at selected supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide.

Are you currently following the BB Cream trend? What do you think of Palmer's Eventone BB Cream?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Palmer's and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Jurlique Christmas Hand Picked Rose Collection

Jurlique Hand Picked Rose Collection (A$49, valued at A$72) is one of the wonderfully new Christmas gift sets on shelf at Jurlique. Jurlique Hand Picked Rose Collection includes the Rose Hand Cream (125ml) and Rose Love Balm (15ml), all packaged in a Jurlique Christmas box - ready for gift giving!

The beautiful rose products by Jurlique for the hands and lips make the perfect duo for soft hands and lips! Both the Rose Hand Cream and Rose Lip Balm have been formulate with natural ingredients and plant extracts to deeply hydrate the skin and leave the skin feel revitalised and soothed. The core ingredient of the Rose Hand Cream and Love Balm is Rosa Gallica which is specially grown on the Jurlique farm in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. The scent of rose is known for its balancing and calming effects and is an ideal aroma for body care products.  

 Rose Hand Cream is a divine rose scented hand cream which  is housed in a durable metal tube that I find is more convenient than a plastic tube or pump bottle. The metal tube makes it very easy to squeeze out the very last amount of the hand cream and also maintains freshness of the product by providing a tight seal with the cap. The texture of the Rose Hand Cream is quite thick, so a little goes a long way. Due to the thick texture, it does take a little while longer than with other products to massage the hand cream. Despite this, my hands feel uber soft, smooth and moisturised. Rose Hand Cream does not leave my hands feeling greasy and sticky at all and the great thing about this hand cream is that it absorbs nicely to give my skin a matte look. I love that this hand cream contains Vitamin E, Calendula Officinalis and Chamollia Recutita (Maticaria) alongside Rose Gallica to nourish my dry hands. I use Rose Hand Cream a few times a day: after washing my hands, during the day and evening before bed, because the rose scent is just wonderful,  like a bouquet of roses!

Rose Love Balm is my skin saviour which instantly moisturises, conditions and protects my dry and chapped lips - I can never go a day without Rose Love Balm!  Rose Love Balm is actually a multi-purpose balm that can be used on dry elbows, heels, cuticles or anywhere on the face and body that needs a boost in hydration. Rose Love Balm is formulated with wonderful natural-based ingredients such as Olive Oil, Safflower Seed Oil and Beeswax to leave the skin feeling soft, supple and nourished, Vitamin E and Soybean Oil to protect the skin from de-hydration, and Bisabolol to help soothe and banish redness due to irritation. The small and compact packaging of Rose Love Balm makes this a must-have in my handbag! 

Jurlique Christmas gift packs including the Hand Picked Rose Collection are on counter now at Myer, David Jones,  Jurlique boutiques and selected pharmacies nationally.

 Which hand creams do you love using?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Jurlique and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.   

TONI&GUY featured at the ELLERY Fashion Show

The TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe Collection products were used on the models at the ELLERY Fashion Show at the Paspaley Polo in the City event in Sydney to create a sleek and simple hair bun look. The main stars from the  TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe Collection were the Volume Plumping Mousse, Classic Shine Gloss and Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray.

To get the beautiful hair bun look featured at the Ellery Fashion Show, prep the hair with Volume Plumping Mousse (A$15.99/222ml) from the roots to the ends and then blow dry into the hair with a slight bend through the ends. Volume Plumping Mousse helps to add volume to the hair right from the roots to give naturally voluminous hair. 

TONI&GUY - ''Get body and bounce where it matters most; the roots. Salon inspired formula adds long-lasting body to fine, limp hair without weighing it down. Before heat styling, work product from root to tip of towel dried-hair.''

Now, work a centre parting into the hair to the top of the head and brush all the hair into a low pony tail, at the nape of the neck, and secure with an elastic hair tie.

To give a smooth and sleek finish to your pony tail, use a couple of pumps of Classic Shine Gloss Serum (A$15.99/30ml) and run through your pony tail to evenly distribute the serum. Classic Shine Gloss is an extremely lightweight serum with a thin consistency, which makes my tresses feel smoother and look shinier for a healthy look. My hair doesn't even feel the slightest bit greasy nor weighed down!

TONI&GUY - ''Lightweight formula helps control frizz and flyaways for ultra- smooth shine. Rub 2-3 pumps of serum between palms and work through lengths and ends of dry hair avoiding the roots. Use after blow-drying to seal cuticles.''

Create a bun by wrapping the end of your pony tail around and use bobby pins to secure the bun. 

To finish, spray Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray (A$15.99/250ml) to keep your hair in place all day. Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray is a fast drying finishing spray which prevents flyaways and frizz at bay. Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray provides a strong hold without making my hair appear too stiff and feel sticky.

TONI&GUY - ''Get definitive hold and control that takes you from day to night. Anti- static and anti-humidity protection. Spray evenly over dry, styled hair. It’s  firm, reliable hold without stiffness makes it ideal for up dos.'' 

TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe collection is available in Woolworths, Coles, Priceline and Big W. For more information on TONI&GUY products please see the following link: www.hairmeetwardrobe.com

  Have you used any products from the new TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe collection?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with TONI&GUY and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

NEW Taft FULL ON Hair Range

Schwarzkopf has released a new range of Taft FULL ON female hair products to get your hair in top shape for the Summer Music Festivals ahead! Taft FULL ON is the first tailor-made range for women to recreate hot hair trends and street-inspired looks so that you could stand out from the crowd! 

The new Taft FULL ON range includes the Guardian Angel Straightening Iron Spray (A$6.99), Smooth Operator Anti-Frizz Lotion (A$6.99), Booster Volume Mousse (A$5.99) and Freeze It Fixing Hairspray (A$5.99).

I was given the opportunity to trial the Taft FULL ON Guardian Angel Straightening Iron Spray and Smooth Operator Anti-Frizz Lotion and I absolutely love the signature fruity scent of the Taft FULL ON hair product range. 

Taft FULL ON Guardian Angel Straightening Iron Spray offers heat protection to the hair from the use of heat styling products and also leaves the hair looking sleek and shiny. Just a few spritz of the Guardian Angel Straightening Iron Spray, concentrating on the lower ends of my hair, leaves my hair protected from heat damage and also keeps my dry ends hydrated after styling my hair. I really love the soft yummy fruity scent and it’s great that it isn’t overpowering at all. Taft FULL ON Guardian Angel Straightening Iron Spray IS my Guardian Angel for my hair after all!

Taft FULL ON Smooth Operator Anti-Frizz Lotion, which is a super hydrating and anti-frizz lotion, helps to keep my hair looking smooth and free from any frizz and fly-away hairs. The lightweight opaque white lotion spreads easily and coats my hair very well to avoid my hair from becoming frizzy. Smooth Operator it is, as it adds a nice shiny gloss to provide my hair with a lush and smooth silky look!

 Have you used Taft FULL ON hair products before? Which hair products do you use to protect your hair from heat damage?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Schwarzkopf and Taft and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel Gift Set

Dermalogica has launched an exciting array of Christmas gift sets which includes a full sized Dermalogica product and two free deluxe travel sized gifts. The Dermalogica Clean and Smooth Gift Pack (A$53) is the perfect gift for someone who would love a squeaky clean cleansing routine for super smooth and clean skin! The Clean and Smooth Gift Pack includes a full size Special Cleansing Gel (250ml) and bonus PreCleanse (30ml) and Skin Prep Scrub (22ml).  

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is suitable for all skin types and the formula is actually soap-free! Special Cleansing Gel is formulated using an ingredient called Quillaja Saponaria which is a naturally-foaming extract that helps to remove impurities, dirt and grime on the skin surface. Balm mint and Lavender are also core ingredients which cools and calms the skin. The scent of the Special Cleansing Gel is absolutely divine as it provides a refreshing and reviving feel to my skin without making my skin feel tight! 

Dermalogica PreCleanse is a lightweight cleasnsing oil which should be used prior to your usual cleanser. The purpose of using the PreCleanse is to give your skin a 'double cleanse' to ensure effective removal of impurities trapped deep into the skin. PreCleanse is suitable for all skin types (especially great for oily skin types) and contains nourishing Olive, Apricot and Kukui Nut oils, to help lift away oil-based skincare/makeup on the skin, such as sunscreen and foundation. After massaging a few drops of PreCleanse onto the skin, rinse your skin with warm water and a milky emulsion forms to aid the removal of impurities from the skin. My skin feels slightly slippery, however, this slippery feel disappears after using the Special Cleansing Gel.

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub is a skin polishing scrub which contains natural grains that are gentle on sensitive skin. The grains consist of finely granulated Corn Cob to polish the skin surface and slough away dead skin-cells while leaving the skin feel supple and smooth. The Skin Prep Scrub is not at all abrasive, so can be used 2 or 3 times per week.

Dermalogica products are dermatologically tested and do not contain artificial fragrances and colours.

What do you think of Dermalogica's range of Christmas gift sets this year?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Dermalogica and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.   

Dermalogica Christmas Gift Sets

If you are looking for a skincare system to treat someone during the festive Christmas holidays, then Dermalogica's Limited Edition Christmas gift sets will have you covered. This Christmas, Dermalogica has released three exciting Christmas gift sets which contains a  full sized skincare product and two bonus deluxe sized skincare products to trial.

Dermalogica Smooth and Renew Gift Set

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (75g) Smooth and Renew Gift Set  

(A$83.50, valued at A$106) 

with bonus Gentle Cream Exfoliant (10mL) and PreCleanse (30ml)

Dermalogica Smooth and Firm Gift Set

Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant (75ml) Smooth and Firm Gift Set 

(A$90, valued at A$135) 

with bonus Antioxidant Hydramist (30ml) and Skin Resurfacing Cleanser (30ml)

Dermalogica Clean and Smooth Gift Set

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel (250ml) Clean and Smooth Gift Set 

 (A$53, valued at A$81)  

with bonus Skin Prep Scrub (2ml) and PreCleanse (30ml)

Dermalogica Limited Edition Christmas Gift Sets are available at Dermalogica online, boutiques and salons, Adore Beauty and The Facial Company.

Have you tried any of these Dermalogica products before?

xx Rose

Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial In-A-Box

If you don't have the time or money to head out and treat yourself to a pampering session at the day spa, then Sanctuary Spa has got you covered with their Brightening Facial In-A-Box (A$30)! Brightening Facial In-A-Box is a 30-minute step by step pampering treatment to enhance your skin for a radiant and bright glow all in the comfort of your own home.

The Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial In-A-Box contains a Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser (15ml), Muslin Cloth, Radiance Exfoliator (15ml), Moisture Boosting Mask (15ml), Brightening Eye Gel (5ml) and Illuminating Moisture Lotion SPF15 (15ml). 

For a quick and simple pick-me-up to boost your skin's radiance for a special day, start with a deep cleanse using the Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser and muslin cloth. Submerge the muslin cloth in warm water, wring out and lay the cloth over your face so that the heat from the cloth helps to open the pores. Then, use the creamy Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser which has a subtle coconut aroma to gently massage the skin. The cleanser contains Cocoa seed butter, Jojoba seed oil, Coconut oil and Chamomilla flower extract to soothe and hydrate the skin whilst you cleanse your skin. Use the muslin cloth to polish the cleanser on your skin in circular motions and then splash the skin with water. Before the exfoliation step, submerge the muslin cloth in cold water and lay it over your skin to close the pores. 

Exfoliate the skin using the Radiance Exfoliator which contains Grape seed powder, Lemon peel oil Papaya fruit extract and Pineapple fruit extract, a wonderful concoction which has a divine citrus scent! I only need to use a small pea size amount to gently massage onto the skin in circular motions for about 30 seconds - ensure you exfoliate and focus on the forehead, nose and chin. The tiny grains are combined into a transparent gel formula which helps to exfoliate the skin for a smoother and brighter surface. Rinse the skin using lukewarm water and then pat dry. 

The Moisture Boosting Mask is a once or twice a week treatment which helps to boost the skins moisture and radiance. Apply a thin layer of the mask onto dry skin and relax for 10 to 15 minutes. Use a warm damp cloth to wipe away the mask. My face feels very cooled, smooth and fresh and there were no signs of my skin feeling tight nor dry. 

The delicate skin around the eyes should be well hydrated to ensure your eyes are far from becoming dry and looking dull. The Brightening Eye Gel is a quick absorbing and hydrating gel which helps to relax and moisturise the area around my eyes. I always keep this little beauty in the fridge, so that when it comes to applying the gel to my eye area, my skin feels really great and refreshed!

The last step of the Brightening facial is to hydrate and protect the skin using the Illuminating Moisture Lotion SPF15. The lightweight opaque creamy formula hydrates my skin very well and i love how fast absorbing this cream is. It also contains SPF15 which helps to protect the skin from UVA and UVB damage from the sun rays.

Overall, Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial In-A-Box is a lovely pampering kit which boosts my skin complexion making it feel refreshed, revived and radiant! I especially love the use of the muslin cloth which made my skin feel ultra smooth as well as using both the Radiance Exfoliator and Moisture Boosting Mask which made my skin feel and look amazing! As we are heading towards Christmas, this Brightening Facial In-A-Box would be an excellent Christmas gift!

Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial In-A-Box is available now at Priceline stores nationally.

Do you prefer going to the day spa for a pampering session or prefer a quick and easy pampering session at home?

xx Rose

Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with The Sanctuary Spa and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

Nice'n Easy's Summer Hair Shape Up

When it comes to hair, the shape of your face is not the only contributing factor to your style and cut - have you ever thought about matching your hair colour to your face shape and features? Nice'n Easy Expert Colourist Belinda Jeffrey brings you her guide on how to find the most flattering hair colour shades to suit your face shape and bring out your features!

If your face is wide and you have large facial features, Belinda suggests that you opt for lighter shades with tonal highlights in order to slim the face. Single flat hair colour can widen the face and give unwanted attention to certain facial features. If you have a creamy skin tone, golden, honey and biscuit blonde hair colours would suit best and can even be incorporated as highlights for brunettes without looking too light. Belinda suggests you try Nice’n Easy 98 Extra Natural Light Blonde for those with naturally blonde hair and Nice’n Easy ColourBlend Foam in 6.5G Lightest Golden Brown for brunettes.

If you face is long, soften the look of your face shape by weaving different shades of colour though the hair to create roundness. Belinda suggests balancing the face by creating layers in the hair to reduce the elongated look.  

Belinda - “One long length of hair will draw the face down, further elongating features. For blondes, a mixture of creamy blonde, caramel and golden brown will counter this, brightening the face and skin tone and allowing features to shine. For those with darker skin tones and hair, try adding dimension with some natural lighter brown highlights.” 

Belinda recommends that for a multidimensional blonde, try Nice’n Easy ColourBlend Foam in 9 Light Blonde, and Nice’n Easy 117 Natural Medium Golden Brown for darker shades.

If your face is more square in shape with small features, you can get away with wearing one solid, glossy colour, more so than wider or longer face shapes. Try a rich shade of black, a dark chestnut or even platinum blonde. 

Belinda - “Smaller features can also wear hair that is all one length, and when paired with a colour such as Nice’n Easy 113 Natural Burgundy, the current geometric trends in hair shapes can look particularly sleek.”

Have you ever thought about your hair colour to suit your face shape? 

Which hair colour shades are you going for this Summer?

xx Rose

This is a sponsored post. I am not affiliated with Clairol Nice'n Easy and did not receive remuneration to publish this post.

October/November Empties

Sukin Sensitive Cleansing Gel (reviewed here) - Sukin's new Sensitive skincare range launched recently and I adore the calming and soothing properties of this cleansing gel due to the concoction of Chamomile, Cucumber and Aloe Vera within the formula.

Sukin Facial Moisturiser (reviewed here) - I love organic-based skincare products as they are so gentle to my skin. Sukin Facial Moisturiser is a lightweight cream moisturier, however, my combination/oily skin type actually prefers gel-like moisturisers. So, I've been using this moisturiser to hydrate my neck and decolletage as the moisturiser contains nourishing ingredients such as Rosehip, Jojoba and Avocado oils.

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist - I love how the nozzle of this bottle provides a large mist to coat most of my hair in one spritz, however, the formula had a very strong chemical-like scent which I did not really enjoy.

L'Occitane's Ultra Rich Body Cream in Hibiscus Flower (reviewed here) - I LOVE how nourishing, moisturising and rich L'Occitane Shea Butter creams are! Ultra Rich Body Cream contains 25% of Shea Butter and the scent Hibiscus Flower was a limited edition scent from the Shea Africa Collection.

Savoir Faire Concealer Pack in Light (reviewed here) - I received this concealer in my December Bella Box (2011) and it was the first time I have used products from Savoir Faire. I loved the creamy concealer formula, however, the mattifying  powder in the bottom compartment of this nifty concealer kit did not set well after applying liquid foundation.

Burt's Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry - Burt's Bees lip products always enthralls me! The Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry had a very pleasant and sweet scent and kept my lips hydrated during the day.

Bloom Mango Tango Natural Flavour Lip Balm (reviewed here) - I've been in a lip balm crazy these last few months and that's probably due to the dryness I've suffered during the winter season. Mango Tango, the Bloom lip balm, smells lovely just like the Boost Juice Mango Tango flavour smoothie!

Alpha-H Clear Skin Blemish Control Gel with Wild Oregano and Tea Tree (reviewed here) -  This blemish gel has lasted me for ages! I love the fresh Tea Tree scent of this blemish balm and especially love how effective this gel helped to heal and sooth minor pimples and blemishes popping up on my skin.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (reviewed here) - Facial Treatment Essence is one of my favourite SK-II products! It is a lovely addition to my daily skincare regime where I apply a few drops onto my skin my gentle patting motions. My skin seems to appear clear and healthy after using this for a couple of weeks. This trial sized sample lasted my about 4 weeks!

Have you finished any holy grail beauty products last month?

xx Rose