GIVEAWAY: Physicians Formula Skin Care Collection

Physicians Formula has developed for the first time the clinically-tested, cosmeceutical skin care line! The three skin care collections are aimed towards three skin concerns: Aging, Moisture Balance and Sensitivity & Redness. Each skin care collection offers solution-based regimens featuring 3 simple steps: cleanse, moisturise and treat.

Thanks to Physicians Formula, I am giving away three products from the Physicians Formula Aging collection to one of my lucky readers! The prize includes a Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Brightener, Deep Wrinkle Corrector Day & Night Cream and Firming & Lifting Booster, valued at A$90.

The products in the Physicians Formula Aging collection includes the following:

Wrinkle Corrector & Firming Cleanser (A$29.99): a rich cream which aims to remove both makeup and impurities while smoothing, firming and protecting skin’s moisture barrier. This cleans also aims to leave the skin clean, smooth and moisturised.

Wrinkle Corrector & Firming Moisturiser SPF15 (A$29.99): The moisturiser instantly enhances skin’s firmness, hydration and also radiance. The formula also contains SPF15 to protect the skin from UVA/UVB rays while decelerating the aging process. The moisturiser is lightweight and helps to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Deep Wrinkle Corrector Day & Night Cream (A$29.99): This day and night cream is rich in texture and works to encourage the skin’s cycle of repair and cell renewal. This cream also strengthen’s skin and protects collagen, which is the key protein which maintains firm skin.

Intensive Wrinkle Corrector Eye Cream (A$29.99): This eye cream targets fine lines and wrinkles to reduce their appearance on the eye area. The cream helps to boost moisture, elasticity and firmess to improve the appearance of crow’s feet and puffiness.

Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Brightener (A$29.99): This rich serum targets signs of uneven skin tone and helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots derived from sun damage, dark patches and skin stresses. The formula contains anti-oxidants to reduce the appearance of uneven skintone and pigment formation.

Firming & Lifting Booster (A$29.99): This skin firming serum helps to improve medium to deep wrinkles and fine lines. The serum delivers moisture to help plump the skin and reduce the appearance of sagging skin. 

To enter my giveaway, just wait for the Rafflecopter widget to load and follow the prompts. Giveaway is open from 13th February 2013 until 1st March 2013 11:59PM AEST. Open to Australian residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Good luck!

xx Rose

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio for Brown Eyes (L) and Blue Eyes (R).

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio (A$24.95/set) contains three waterproof and pigmented eyeliner shades to define and enhance the eyes. The range is available in three different sets to compliment Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes and Green Eyes.

These automatic eyeliner pencils are super thin and slender, so they do not take up much space in my makeup bag. Just pop off the cap, twist up the eyeliner and apply away! I also just realised that these eyeliner pencils also come with an in-built sharpener on the other end, so if you need precision, you could always sharpen the tip of the eyeliner to line the inner rim of the eyes. I typically use the sharpener on the darker eyeliner shades more often than the coloured shades.

Blue Eyes (top) and Brown Eyes (bottom) set.

Blue Eyes set:
'Dramatic' Black - a charcoal black with subtle blue shimmers
'Playful' Brown - a metallic golden bronze
'Natural' Blue - an intense midnight blue with a hint of blue shimmers

Brown Eyes set:
'Dramatic' Black - a deep black matte
'Playful' Purple - a vibrant matte purple
'Natural' Brown - a dark chocolate brown

Brown Eyes (L) and Blue Eyes (R) set.

The shades of these eyeliners are just gorgeous and the longevity is just brilliant! These eyeliners glide on so smoothly and are pigmented to the point where I didn't need to re-apply - just one stroke provided intense colour. The only exception was for the two black shades, which I found were not as pigmented as the coloured shades. The black eyeliners lean more towards charcoal or a soft black shade. Although some of the eyeliners appear to contain shimmers in them, I didn't really notice the shimmers from a short distance or while looking in the mirror. These eyeliners are long-wearing and surprisingly they did not smudge at all. I usually wear the brown and purple shades for everyday wear as these shades make my eyes pop. Through the times that I was teary, the eyeliner did not smudge. So, if you are a regular gym junkie, you wouldn't need to worry about smudging or fading after a gym session. To remove, I apply cleansing oil onto a cotton pad and gently wipe away. The quality of these eyeliners are definitely impressive and to receive three eyeliners for A$24.95, I would call this set a worthy purchase!

Have you tried Physicians Formula Eyeliners before?

xx Rose

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

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner

A few weeks ago I won a Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner (A$24.95 /7.5g) in Nude Eyes by participating in Priceline's Twitter competition (Priceline holds weekly giveaways and generous offers via twitter, so make sure you follow via @PricelineAU). I was absolutely ecstatic to be one of the lucky 20 people to win as I've been lusting over these funky palettes since they hit stores a few weeks ago. There are four different Physicians Formula Shimmer Strip palettes and they are: Nude Eyes, Smoky Eyes, Fashionista Eyes and Casual Eyes. 

The Nude Eyes palette is so adorable and gorgeous, I absolutely love the packaging! The palette is very lightweight and wrapped in black lace with a peach coloured bow on top. I like how the palette has a see-through window the name 'Physicians Formula' written on the bottom and that the palette opens up like a book. It comes with a convenient multi-tasking applicator with a soft sponge tip to apply the eye shadow base, eye liner and highlighter. This palette makes a great little eye makeup essential when travelling.

There are a total of 9 different shades and in the Nude Eyes palette, the shades are categorised into three groups: Trio #1 Natural, Trio #2 Playful and Trio #3 Dramatic. Each trio has a highlight, base and liner so you could create a soft and shimmery look to the eyes.  The nude shades are all complimentary and you can apply them wet or dry to achieve a dramatic or soft look respectively. The shimmers in each of the shades are all subtle and the finish is just stunning! I love the nude shades as they are suitable for all different skin types and you could play around with the various shades to create day and night time looks. 

The pigmentation is quite sheer, but buildable, however, like with most eye shadows a primer is a must to prolong the staying power. The eye shadows apply on smoothly without any fall-out and it is best to use a sponge tip applicator to create the 'soft effect'. I tend to find myself applying a lot more product than with other eye shadows as it is quite sheer and you will need to apply a few times just to get a decent amount of colour intensity.

Overall, the Nude Eyes palette reminds me of the most raved about nude palette, Urban Decay Naked Palette, however the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips palette is a petite size and the packaging is just sooo adorable! 

Have you tried any products from the Physicians Formula range yet?

xx Rose

My Quest for Soft Fluttery Lashes

My line up of mascaras

My quest to achieve soft and fluttery natural looking lashes has opened doors to a range of drugstore to high-end beauty brands. I love wearing mascara to enhance my lashes, however, one thing I dislike about mascara is the difficulty in removing them. I tend to lose my lashes every time I try to remove mascara and so I only wear mascara occasionally during the week. My ideal mascara would have the ability of effectively separate my lashes whilst providing longer and fully defined lashes. The following is a review of my experience with a range of mascaras that are either new to the market or are long-time favourites:

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir (A$55/6g): To achieve fluttery, soft and natural looking lashes with elongation and definition, Chanel Inimitable Mascara is my pick, hands down! The sleek tube with a narrow brush head applicator evenly separates and coats the lashes without any clumping what-so-ever. The mascara holds the curl and dries quickly, so I don’t end up with residual mascara below my eyes. Given that this mascara is not waterproof I am utterly amazed that it does not smudge at all. Chanel Inimitable mascara lasts all day and is very easy to remove under warm water. I highly recommend this mascara if you’re looking for naturally fluttery lashes.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara (A$52/6.5ml): Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara is the first scented mascara I have ever used. The relatively soft scent of roses is a really nice characteristic of this mascara. I was a little weary about using this mascara as I have sensitive eyes, which sometimes go watery when applying particular mascaras, however, I took the plunge to test this mascara and I am happy that my eyes did not irritate. The brush applicator is in the shape of a cone and this makes application easy and ensures every single lash is nicely coated. Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara adds a good amount of length to my lashes and provides a clump-free result with no panda eyes, however, it just doesn’t hold the curl as long as Chanel Inimitable.  Hence, I always apply as little as possible so I don’t weigh my lashes. Overall, I really like the effect of Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara as it opens up my eyes and my lashes look very natural.

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening mascara (A$48/6ml): BobbiBrown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening mascara worked very well to create great coverage to provide thicker and longer lashes. I am really mesmerised as to how well this mascara separates my lashes whilst thickening each lash nicely from root to tip without looking clumpy or uneven. It doesn’t give me extremely dramatic lashes, however, it does do a great job in providing long lasting flirty fluttery lashes.

Clinique High Lengths Mascara

Clinique High Lengths Mascara (A$38/7ml): Clinique High Lengths mascara comes in a white tube and the brush applicator is a curved bright green comb. I like the fact that the comb always picks up sufficient product for application. The comb works magnificently well to separate each lash and coat each lash to create a soft and natural effects to the lashes. My lashes do appear beautifully longer and I really love the flutteryness of my long lashes. No clumping and no smudges! Clinique High Lengths mascara is a great mascara for everyday wear and the separating ability of the comb works a charm! 

ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on False Lashes

ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on False Lashes (A$48): ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on Flase Lashes Mascara is a dual end mascara with ‘black extension mascara’ in one end and ‘lash fibres’ on the other end. The ModelCo Lash Fibre mascara in the photo is a sample-sized version that I received as a gwp from a magazine. To apply, the extension mascara is used first so that the lash fibres adhere to the lashes and then a second coat of extension mascara goes on to give lashes extreme length and definition. I really love the look of my lashes and very surprised as to how long they look. ModelCo Lash Fibre mascara provides a dramatic intense look to the lashes and it doesn’t smudge at all! I highly recommend this mascara if you want dramatic lashes.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara in shade Ultra Black Organics (A$24.95/7.5g)*: PhysiciansFormula Organic Wear mascara stands out very well among my long line of black tubed mascaras! The bright green leaf design of the mascara reflects on the fact that the formula is made using 100% natural ingredients. The mascara is formulated with OrganiSoy to moisturise and nourish the lashes and Eco-Olive to protect the lashes from the harsh environmental elements. The brush applicator of this mascara is really huge and does seem a little difficult to reach lashes in the corners of the eyes, however, the trick is to use the very tip of the brush to make application easy.  This mascara holds the curl very well and a few strokes to the lashes doesn't weight them down, however, I noticed this mascara does transfer slightly to the bottom of my eyes. Being non-waterproof, I guess this is expected anyway.

Overall, there are a few favourites of mine that I have mentioned and ultimately my ideal mascara is Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara for soft and naturally looking fluttery lashes and I have to give ModelCo Fibre Lash Brush on False Lashes as my go-to mascara for dramatic and intense looking lashes.

Which mascara is your holy grail?

xx Rose 

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

Review: Physicians Formula Happy Booster

Physicians Formula has hit Priceline stores in Australia and they have released their brand new range of blush, powder and bronzers called 'Happy Booster Glow & Mood Booster'. These powders have been formulated to stimulate inner happiness and outer beauty with an absolutely cute and colourful heart design with a number of complementing shades to provide a cheerful pop of colour to the complexion. I love the concept of these powders and just looking at them makes me feel quite excited every time I use them, not that I don't get this same feeling with all my beauty products as I do have that sort of 'love' for all my 'good' beauty products. 

There are three different varieties, namely the Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose or Natural, Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Translucent or Beige and Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Bronzer in Light Bronzer or Bronzer. These powders are hypoallergenic paraben free non-comedogenic dermatologist approved for all skin types. Each powder has a delightful scent as they are all formulated with a blend of violet floral notes to add to the 'Happy Boosting' effect. Other interesting ingredients formulated in these powders to boost your mood include the following:

Happy Skin: A derivative of Arctic Rose and imitates the effect of endorphins, which gives a sense of wellness and pleasure.

Euphoryl: Rich in Omega-3 and known as an anti-depressant to promote happiness.

Murummuru Seed Butter and Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter: Provides a silky smooth finish and leaving the skin to appear luminous. 

The packaging of these powders are innovative and so so so handy for travel. There is a compartment beneath the powder which stores a mini blush brush and an in-built mirror. In terms of the size of the blush brush, I very much prefer to use my own blush brush as the one provided isn't dense enough for my liking. Another thing to note is that the size of the Powder and Bronzer compacts are larger in size and quantity than the Blush compact. 

Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush (Rose): First of all, I really like the shade name of this blush! This blush has soft and medium pink hues with a hints of gold. The blush gives a lovely soft matte rosey finish to my cheeks which lasts from AM to PM and is very wearable for all skin tones. There is noticeable miniscule silver shimmers when looking at the blush compact, however, these shimmers disappear after a couple hours of wear. The blush gives an ethereal look to the complexion and brightens the face.

Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder (Translucent): This powder is more like a glow powder to ensure the skin looks naturally fresh and radiant. Don't be fooled by the name 'Translucent' as it has nothing to do with setting makeup like a translucent setting powder. This powder contains hearts of different hues of light beige and champagne to give an angelic pearlescent glow with slight shimmer to the cheeks. The shades complement very well and the pastel pink heart on the side makes this compact soo cute! I sometimes wear this powder over blush or just alone to add some glow that looks very natural, yet noticeably beautiful.

Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Bronzer (Bronzer): Now that summer is long gone, applying bronzer with a soft touch is the way to go to contour the face. This bronzer contains shimmery hues of brown and gold and with a light hand you could achieve a brilliant look for winter. I've always loved soft matte bronzers as it compliments my skin very well and those types of bronzers make it so easy to avoid that OTT look. Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Bronzer in the shade Bronzer is a little too dark for my light skintone, so I think the lighter shade ('Light Beige') would probably suit me better than the darker 'Bronzer' shade.

I love the whole concept of injecting ingredients which provide a happy boost to your mood, however, I didn't really feel any different in terms of my mood and happiness. I absolutely adore my makeup and love using the various beauty products I have and that's what really matters. All in all, the concept is fun and frivolous and the finish of each blush, powder and bronzer look incredibly beautiful against my skin. They are not highly pigmented, however, the blush provides a natural flush, the bronzer provides subtle contouring to the face and the translucent powder provides a beautiful natural glow and luminescence to the complexion. These powders are definitely worth looking into if you're looking for powders which brighten and provide radiance to the skins complexion.

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush (Rose/Natural, 7g) retails for A$21.95 and the Powder (Translucent/Beige, 11g) and Bronzer (Light Bronzer/Bronzer, 11g) retails for A$29.95. Physicians Formula is available at selected Priceline stores nationwide.

Which Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting powder would you love to try?

xx Rose

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