Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm Peach Sheer Tint

I can never ever have enough lip balms in my bathroom, handbag and cosmetic pouch! My lips are addicted to lip balm and during the winter season, my lips are always in dire need of lip balm to condition dry and chaffed lips. I recently purchased the Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm (A$8.99/2g) in the Peach Sheer Tint variation as I was intrigued to see how moisturising and nourishing this lip balm claims to offer. Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm is also available in the Pink Sheer Tint and Clear variations. The Peach Sheer Tint provides a subtle hint of colour for a MLBB (my lips but better) finish which looks very natural and pretty.

The texture of Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm feels very silky smooth and only a thin layer of product adhered to the surface of my lips. The formula was very moisturising, just what my lips needed, and improved the texture of my lips after continual usage. The inclusion of Vitamin E and Aloe within this lip balm were very effective to improve the condition of my dry lips. However, the formula was not long-lasting, so re-application of 3-4 times per day was necessary to prolong the nourishing properties of this lip balm. The sun protection factor of 15 is a great characteristic of this lip balm as it is important to always protect your lips from the harmful rays of the sun.

Carmex Moisture Plus Hydrating Lip Balm in Peach Sheer Tint is an effective lip balm for dry, sore and chapped lips. The small tube means that you can slip it in your pocket or handbag, so you can use it whenever you need it. I find this lip balm to be quite pricey, however, the ability to provide subtle colour, SPF15, nourishment and moisturisation to the lips makes does make this product well worth the price tag.

Which products do you use to condition dry and chapped lips? 

Have you used any lip products by Carmex?

xx Rose

The Sanctuary Spa Deep Cleanse Facial Exfoliating Pore Refiner

The Sanctuary Spa Deep Cleanse Facial Exfoliating Pore Refiner (A$19.99/100ml) is a complexion-perfecting facial scrub for sensitive and congested skin. The Exfoliating Pore Refiner is housed in an elongated tube with a flip-top lid at the base. The exfoliating formula is therefore, easily dispensed with the bulk of the formula always sitting at the end of the tube. The Exfoliating Pore Refiner has the consistency of a gel cream, not too thick nor thin, and exudes an invigorating and refreshing spearmint scent! The concoction of skin-loving ingredients includes: Witch Hazel to minimise the appearance of large pores, Salicylic Acid to help clear and prevent breakouts and Seaweed extracts to balance the level of essential and natural skin oils. These ingredients combined including Jojoba and Bergamot Oils are wonderful to my skin, leaving it feeling beautifully soft, hydrated, clear and rejuvenated! The formula also contains miniscule, but visible blue exfoliating beads which help to deeply and thoroughly cleanse and remove impurities trapped inside my pores. These exfoliating beads are incredibly gentle to my sensitive skin as it effectively buffs away dead skin cells and as a result my skin feels silky smooth to touch. You only need to use a pearl sized amount of product and gently massage the cheek and nose areas first followed by the forehead, chin and jawline. I tend to reach out for this Exfoliating Pore Refiner three times a week to give my skin some TLC and ensure breakouts and blemishes are nowhere to be seen! 

The Sanctuary Spa skincare range is available at Priceline stores nationally.

Do you use a facial exfoliator in your skincare routine? 

Have you used any skincare products from The Sanctuary Spa range?

xx Rose

Product was 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.

How to remedy a cracked powder compact

The sight of a powder compact crushed to several minute pieces after accidentally dropping it or from poor handling by the postman just makes my heart sink! I recently received a powder compact in the mail and unfortunately the powder arrived to my doorstep all crushed and shattered, despite being carefully wrapped in bubble wrap! Although the powder could be used as loose powder, I prefer to have a solid powder compact for ease of application and mess-free application.

There are an abundance of 'how-to' posts in the beauty blogosphere to remedy shattered powder back to it's original compact form. Here is how I managed to salvage my powder compact (which can be also be done on crushed blush, eyeshadow etc.):

Carefully transfer the powder into a clean container.

Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and use a stick to stir the mixture into a slurry. Rubbing alcohol is typically used as a disinfectant and you can find it in the supermarket, shelved in the same aisle as Dettol and Panadol.

Once the slurry is homogenised, transfer the mixture back into the compact.

Place a layer of glad wrap over the compact.

Use the back of a spoon to flatten out the mixture.

Allow for about 1 hour for the alcohol to evaporate and voila! My powder compact ended up setting with a few cracks, but at least it is still intact and usable!

 Have you ever had a cracked compact before? Did you use the product as loose powder, dispose it or use rubbing alcohol to fix it up?

xx Rose

Jurlique Balancing Foaming Cleanser

Image source: Jurlique

Jurlique  is an Australian natural skincare brand which formulate their products using the finest organic ingredients and plant extracts grown in the fields in South Australia. Jurlique skincare products always enthralls me as their uber gentle formulations are so kind to my skin and gives my skin that extra TLC that it needs!

Jurlique Balancing Foaming Cleanser (A$45/200mL) is one of my favourite cleansers that is suitable for normal/combination skin types and effectively works to lift away impurities on the skin surface, leaving it feeling fresh and clean. This beauty is packed full of natural organic goodness such as Ginseng Root to help firm the skin, Rosehip Oil to restore the skin's radiance, and Vitamins E and C and Gingko Biloba to protect and restore the skin surface. Another interesting ingredient to the list is Marshmallows, which works to hydrate, soften and soothe the skin! 

Jurlique Balancing Foaming Cleanser is a semi-transparent liquid gel which is housed in a convenient pump bottle. I only need a small amount, about 1 pump which is equivalent to the size of a pearl, so a little goes a long way. The cleanser does not lather up to a great extent as I had anticipated, since this product is called a foaming cleaner, however, this didn't really bother me. The pleasant scent of this cleanser is quite subtle with hints of citrus and botanical extracts. This cleanser does work efficiently to thoroughly remove residues and makeup on my skin without drying or stirpping my skin of it's natural essential oils. My skin actually does feel quite balanced and I love that my skin feels smooth and refreshingly clean everytime I use this cleanser!

Jurlique skincare products are available at Myer, David Jones, Jurlique boutiques and selected pharmacies nationally.

Have you used Jurlique skincare products before? Which Jurlique products do you love?

xx Rose

Product was 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.

NEW Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother

Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother (A$90/200ml) launched recently and it is the first Clarins contouring care product to launch. Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother is a dual action treatment which helps to reduce existing stubborn cellulite/inhibit the formation of new cellulite and reinforce skin's firmness with contouring care. The Body Lift Cellulite Smoother 'destocks' the storage of fat to reduce the appearance of cellulite and also block the formation of premature cellulite. 

I have mild cellulite along my thighs which is just barely noticeable in certain angles and so, I never really thought about using creams to tighten and treat my jiggly thighs and smooth away cellulite until I was given the opportunity to trial one. Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother has actually launched at a good time so that I could treat my cellulite during winter and hope that my thighs will appear flawless by the time Spring/Summer arrives!

The gel/cream is lightweight and absorbs fairly well given that massaging the gel into the skin is conducted properly. The Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother was accompanied with a set of instructions showing how to apply the product using the Self-Massage Body Contouring Method. You need to apply pressure and massage the area in circular motions to encourage the elimination of excess lipids. The gel/cream acts like a 'tightening' veil to refine skin texture while redefine body contours, so taking a couple of minutes to massage the product is key. 

I found that the scent was quite unbearable, as there were strong notes of mint on a whole new level, though fortunately, the scent does dissipate within a few minutes. The formula consists of Aquatic Mint extract to encourage the synthesis of collagen and also Bachhairs extract to protect the breakdown of collagen. Other key ingredients include Sunflower Phospholipids, Hazelnut Oil and Glycerin to nourish and moisturise the skin. Following a pleasant cooling sensation, my skin felt nourished and well hydrated.

After about 8 weeks of using Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother, my skin appears to be smoother and not entirely obvious as it once was, however, the appearance of cellulite did not completely disappear. I sometimes get the feeling that cellulite will never ever disappear, so to notice the slightest difference before and after I began treating my cellulite using Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Smoother was a really great feeling!  It does take time to see results, so you need to ensure that you can commit to applying the product properly every night. In addition to using creams and treatments to treat cellulite, having a balanced diet is one of the most important factors to maintaining a healthy body and smooth skin!

Do you have cellulite? Which products do you use to minimise their appearance?

xx Rose

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

NEW RosehipPLUS Rosehip Oil Skin Boost Roll-on

Traveling with a light vanity bag can be easy, as there are so many multitasking products out there that could reduce the quantity of makeup/skincare products you would carry. However, in most cases, I always end up leaving my bottle of Rosehip oil at home as the fragile glass bottle is quite bulky and prone to breakage, which would end up giving me a huge headache!

Australian skincare brand RosehipPLUS has actually thankfully acknowledged my need for a travel friendly tube of rosehip oil as they have recently launched their new Rosehip Oil Skin Boost Roll-on (A$14.95/15mL)!

RosehipPLUS Rosehip Oil Skin Boost Roll-on is in fact the first 100% pure, natural and Australian Certified Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil Roll-on. The Rosehip Oil Skin Boost formula is cold pressed and extracted without the use of heat, solvents or chemicals, thereby, maintaining the potency of the organic Rosehip extract for maximum efficacy. The other core ingredients of this formula include Bioflavonoids (Vitamins A, C and E) as an antioxidant to reduce free-radical damage and essential fatty acids (Omega 3, 6 and 9) to maintain skin hydration. This Rosehip Oil Skin Boost formula is pretty much the finest quality of skincare oil in a neat roll-on applicator tube!

The rollerball applicator allows for precision application to areas of the face that is often neglected. I typically apply this directly on any scarring of the skin and small dry patches on my cheeks. The rollerball helps to form a thin veil of the light golden Rosehip Oil Skin Boost formula onto my skin and it feels featherlight while hydrating to the skin. I then use my ring finger to gently pat the Rosehip Oil Skin Boost and allow a few seconds for it to completely absorb into my skin. My skin feels smooth, soft and lovely without any greasy or oily residue layer sitting on my skin. I absolutely love this hydrating formula as Rosehip Oil Skin Boost helps to speed up the healing process of minor scars and also nourish the skin.

The roll-on packaging is small enough to store in your travel bag, handbag or even makeup bag so that it will stay with you wherever you go and whenever you need a boost in hydration and nourishment. I really love the idea of having a rollerball applicator to apply Rosehip Oil Skin Boost as it is so simple to use, mess-free and fuss-free! This great little tube of RosehipPLUS Rosehip Oil Skin Boost Roll-on is the perfect handbag companion for beauty on the go!

 

RosehipPLUS Rosehip Oil Skin Boost (A$14.95/15ml Roll-On, and A$19.95/30ml or A$29.95/50ml dropper bottle) is available at selected Pharmacies and Health Food Stores. For further information on RosehipPLUS products and stockists, please visit their website here.

Which 'beauty-on-the-go' skincare products do you always carry along with you?

xx Rose

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

NEW Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquer

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquers (A$15.95/5.5mL) are the new innovation of lip lacquers which have been the talk of the town! These beauties launched in the UK (Jan '13) followed by the US and now they have finally made their way to Australian shores and officially launch today!! 

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquers are a hybrid lip product which combines the pigmentation of lipstick and texture of lipgloss. These lip lacquers are intensely bold, pigmented and are not for the faint hearted!

The variety of shades are limited and vary from red to pink to nude. There are a total of 8 eye-catching chic shades available in Australia:  

501 Stellar - vibrant coral red

303 Apocaliptic - bright pink fuchsia

102 Nova - bold blue pink

101 Celestial - medium rose pink

201 Solstice - rich plum pink

100 Phenomenon - neutral nude peach

701 Stargazer - shimmery light gold

600 Nude Eclipse- light nude beige

The shades 201 Solstice, 100 Phenomenon and 701 Stargazer are exclusively sold in Australia. The three other shades available in the UK are Big Bang (classic bright red), Galaxy (shimmery plum) and Luna (pale peach), which can be purchased online as ASOS for A$7.87.

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquer L-R: Stellar, Apocaliptic, Nova, Celestial, Solstice, Phenomenon, Stargazer, Nude Eclipse

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Stellar

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Apocaliptic

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Nova

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Celestial

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Solsltice

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Phenomenon

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Stargazer

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip lacquer in Nude Eclipse

 The applicator is quite unique as it is a doe foot applicator with a twist! The tip of the applicator has a small reservoir which is capable of transferring additional product without having to dip the applicator back into the tube to apply more. The applicator is flexible, easy to use and allows for precise application as it is slanted and rounded at the tip. 

 The formula is non-sticky, incredibly featherlight, silky smooth, packs a punch of colour and uber pigmented to the point where one light-handed swipe will achieve a completely opaque and ultra glossy finish! They are lusciously creamy, very comfortable to wear and super hydrating at the same time. Though, I find the scent quite unpleasant and reminiscent of plastic and butterscotch combined, however, thankfully, the scent does disappear after awhile.  

The formula of these lip lacquers do not completely set, so it will easily transfer onto anything within contact and inevitably fade. However, it does leave a pretty soft and matte stain to the lips, which means that re-application is not required, unless you're after a glossy and shiny finish to the lips. Also, if you apply the lip lacquer in excess, in particular the brighter shades (Stellar, Apocaliptic and Nova), you will notice bleeding/feathering which can be unsightly. 

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquer swatches L-R: Stellar, Apocaliptic, Nova, Celestial, Solstice, Phenomenon, Stargazer, Nude Eclipse

To sum up... I LOVE these Rimmel London Apocalip Lip Lacquers!! Applying a minimal amount to the lips leaves a perfectly opaque and highly pigmented tone to the lips. Even though the ultra glossy finish is not long lasting on the lips, my lips continue to appear beautifully stained towards the end of the day, so I don't really need to check up on my lips every now and then. I personally adore the shades Stellar, Celestial and Stargazer! The latter is a great shimmery shade that could be used over a matte lip colour.

Rimmel London Apocalip Lip Lacquers are available from the 1st of July 2013 at Priceline, Target, Kmart, BigW and selected Coles, Woolworths and pharmacies nationally. 

 Which lip colours do you love: vibrant and bold OR soft and subtle?

What are your thoughts on these Apocalips Lip Lacquers?

xx Rose

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