If there's one thing I know about, it's acne and pimples.  That's because it's something I've been battling for years. Some days I feel really confident with my skin and other days, my skin flares up and is ridiculously bumpy.
Today's post contains my absolute holy grail products that I believe truly help pimples shrink overnight.  Alpha H Liquid Gold With Glycolic Acid* is probably the most effective out of all these products, on my skin anyway. You use this product like a toner, straight after you've cleaned your skin before you sleep. If you want this formula to work really well, they suggest not to follow up with a moisturiser. This stuff is extremely strong so I wouldn't suggest using it every night unless you have invincibly tough skin that never gets sensitive. I love using this product when my skin has flared up, big time. It's usually my first port of call when my acne is inflamed in quite large batches. Liquid Gold helps almost flatten my acne so I make sure to use it the night before a big event so I don't look as bumpy underneath my makeup.
For those really annoying pimple spots, I like using two products. First I like to go in with my Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. If you'd like to see a really embarrassing demo post from me made a long, long time ago with zero blogging skills (ha), click here. But I'm sure you've heard of this product anyway! This helps get rid of those pesky yellow heads, but it is very strong. So if you have sensitive skin, this might not be for you. Some of the ingredients include sulfur, glycerin and salicylic acid.
For a less harsh spot treatment that also works wonders, you can't go passed Dream Dots Overnight treatment patches*. These are really simple to use. You clean your face, apply a patch, leave it on while you sleep, take it off and clean the area the next morning. This helps significantly shrink my larger yellow heads.
A special mention to a product that probably doesn't help acne 'shrink' but, it's really good for cystic acne if you want it to come to the surface, or if you really want to tackle it. With the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion, you shake up this formula and apply it on top of areas where you have cystic acne. This product over time actually helps cystic acne raise to the surface, which is a good thing if you're about to go for extractions etc. 
What products do you love using to help shrink your acne? What products do you use to help prevent acne?
*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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For the last month I have been using the Kosmea Certified Organic Rosehip Oil*. I am so excited to finally be able to share the results with you all.


Since entering high school I have suffered with acne. It was predominantly 'normal' acne, so the type that the 'typical' teenager would get. Later on in high school, my acne began getting more hormonal. During 2013 (my first year of university), I began getting incredibly deep, cystic acne. Unfortunately, I picked and created scars which I assume will be with me forever. This year my skin has been okay. It was definitely better at the end of last year when I was doing facials but I just don't have the finances to currently keep that up.

Before the trial 
The worst side of my face is definitely the right. Towards my chin I have clusters of cystic acne where they've decided to hold a party and get together (not fun). The texture is horrible, bumpy and quite painful. The left side of my face is okay. I have some cysts and hormonal acne, but it's nowhere near as drastic. I do however have pretty bad redness too. I was therefore really pumped to be contacted to trial the Kosmea Organic Rosehip Oil.

Two weeks into the trial 
I began trialling this Rosehip Oil on the 13th of June and just finished using it today. Application is really easy. I wash my face, dry it, use a toner and while my face is still wet I rub in around 4 drops at night time into my skin, then follow up with a moisturiser. During the day if I was wearing makeup, I'd apply maybe 1 and a half drops.

I knew I wanted to take before and after posts at the beginning and the end of this trial. What I didn't know is that it would start making such a huge difference two weeks in. Can you please just stare at the photos of my right face in awe!? The upper section of redness decreased so much. I was already feeling much more confident when I looked at myself in the mirror. A lot of the redness I had two weeks ago cleared up on my left side, but I sadly gained new spots in the meantime and they're just deciding to be red to annoy me.

One month into the trial 
I still have my cysts and I still have redness. But, there is definitely a huge improvement. I honestly think the results speak for themselves. I can't believe this has happened in one month so believe me when I say I'm excited to see what happens with continued use.


If you're interested in trying the Kosmea Certified Organic Rosehip Oil aswell, you can pick it up from the Kosmea website for $27.95 here.

Have you used any Kosmea products before?
What is your favourite Rosehip or facial oil?

**This post was Sponsored by Kosmea however all opinions are 100% honest and my own. If you have been reading my blog for a while you would know about my constant skin problems. Thank you very much for understanding how this product aligns with me and my blog. For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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Let me first apologise for my slackness when it comes to monthly favourites. I haven't posted one since March. But, I guess you could also see this as a good thing because I wanted to wait until I had products that I really loved. Thanks June!

To kick things off, I'll talk about Essie Island Hopping nail polish. I'm definitely a sucker for Essie nail polishes and I've been looking for a colour like this for a very long time. I own lots of red and purple nail polishes but I was looking for something where the two colours combined, a little muted and more washy. I saw this in Priceline and instantly knew it was what I needed. It's perfect for any time of the year in my opinion, so just know that you'll see me using it quite a lot.

A foundation that I fell head over heels with recently is the Avon Luxe Silken Foundation*. I don't think I can really express how much I love this foundation. It just works so damn good on my oily skin. I did an entire review on the Avon Luxe range which you can read here. I give you all of my thoughts on the foundation but I basically think it will work incredibly no matter your skin type and it feels so lightweight - ah perfection.

Now this product has been a holy grail of mine for what seems like forever. I always go back to it. It's the Maybelline Colour Elixir in Caramel. I love how it looks freshly applied, it has an amazing scent, fades nicely and just works with every outfit and every makeup look. The whole Colour Elixir range is amazing, but I definitely think you have to swatch Caramel next time you're in Priceline.

For months on end my highlighter routine consisted of Benefit Cosmetics Watts Up, which I then set with the highlighter from the Face of Australia Glamazon Duo. Both of these products are holy grails. But, I introduced the Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal (Pressed)* into my routine and haven't been able to go back. Opal is stunning. I've actually had it sitting in my drawer for a while so I have no idea why it took me so long to try it. It's a gorgeous shade that so far from what I've heard looks great on everyone. I have a whole post on Becca Cosmetics Opal as well as a comparison of the Pressed, Poured and Liquid formulas which you can read here.

Moving onto skincare, there are two products that have definitely transformed my skin. The first being the Philosophy Cream Cleanser*. I took this cleanser with me to Europe and my skin did not break out, at all. That's after 24 hours on the plane, both to Europe and home from Europe, changing climates - everything. My skin reacted so lovely with this cleanser. It foams up and lathers quite a bit and feels incredible on my skin. My skin also didn't dry out or become overly oily. It just left my skin so happy.

The second skincare product I've been obsessed with is the La Roche Posay Serozinc* Spray. It's essentially magical water in a spray bottle which you use as a toner. Not only is it insanely refreshing but it's really helped lessen the amount of oil that my skin produces. I also find it really great to help my rosehip oil sink into my skin, so in a way this product has also helped reduce my redness. I've also been trying a couple of La Roche Posay products in conjunction with Serozinc which I also love, so I'm thinking of doing an entire post on the three shortly.

Last up, I have to talk about a candle. This particular candle, oh my. It is none other than Glasshouse Fragrances Tahaa*. If you don't own this candle, then I really feel like you don't know what a real candle is. Tahaa is the perfect combination of caramel and vanilla, which is something I really appreciate during the cooler months. You can find it in David Jones so PLEASE go in store and give it a whiff. It's one of those scents which you can smell even when you put the glass lid on or after you've blown the flame out, hours later. It lingers and it's gorgeous.

What were some of your June favourites?

*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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Last year I had the privilege of trying some Natura Siberica goodies. I loved their
Oblepikha Maximum Volume Shampoo* especially and till this day I remember it's beautiful scent.

When I was contacted by Natura Siberica this month to review some of their new products, of course I said yes. Clearly I couldn't try them all, so I roamed around their website for a while and picked three to do a first impression post, which you are currently reading.

If you've never heard of Natura Siberica before, here's a little bit of background information. Their products are born in Siberia and are made in Europe. They are all about using great, highly concentrated ingredients which actually make a difference to your skin and hair. If you're someone that loves to know what they're using on their bodies, I think that Natura Siberica is the brand for you.



Natura Siberica Northern Soap For Deep Facial Cleansing* and other goodies in the Northern Collection contain an abundance of good ingredients. The ingredients really spoke to me because I deal with acne scarring and puffiness. To name a few:
- Oblepikha Oil which helps with skin elasticity
- Siberian Cedar Oil which helps moisturise and strengthen the skin as it is high in vitamin E and vitamin P
-Flax Seed Oil which is great for anti-inflammatory purposes

Although this product is called Northern Soap, I used it more as a mask. I found this product quite interesting from the moment I opened it because it came with a sponge to apply the product to the face. As instructed, I wet the sponge, dip it into the soap and apply it sort of evenly to my face. Because this is a first impressions post, I didn't have any past experience using this product so sadly my application looked a little patchy. I'm sure after using it a couple more times I'll perfect it.

Something I quite liked about the soap was the scent. This cleanser reminds me of marzipan for some reason. I think if you're looking for a good deep clean and you're sick of charcoal products that smelt like burnt hair, you'll really like this. The formula feels nice on the skin and it doesn't go tight.My skin felt really good. Smooth, clean and unclogged. I saw a clear difference in my pores, which are usually quite congested.

After around 10 minutes, I removed the soap and I was really happy about how easy it was. I didn't have stained skin and my sink didn't turn black with too much residue either.

Natura Siberica Nourishing Facial Mask* smells great. When I opened it, I thought of vitamin c orange tablets (faintly) and it was also herby, fresh and floral. One of the main ingredients is Siberian Pine Oil so maybe that's what I can smell.

The mask is really enjoyable to use because even though it applies like a thicker moisturiser, my body heat warms up the product. I find that it really sinks into the skin and feels a little warm. I liked it, so I decided to massage it into the skin for a while. After washing it off after 15 minutes, my skin looked quite refreshed and radiant. It also felt quite bouncy so I definitely feel like it soaked up a lot of the formula.

Last up and probably my favourite product of the bunch is the Natura Siberica Sophora Japonica Day Cream*. It goes on feeling quite similar to the face mask but after a while it completely sinks into the skin. The day cream leaves no white cast and the reason why I absolutely love it is because it dries matte. I also feel like it helped my pores appear smaller. Since trialling it initially for this post, I've used it a few times under makeup and I am 100% sold. Expect to be seeing more of this product in the future, because I'm hooked. As with the face mask, a main ingredient in this product is Siberian Pine oil.

If you're interested in checking out Natura Siberica or any of the products in this post, click here http://www.naturasiberica.net.au/products/ or on the name of the products in this post.

Have you ever used Natura Siberica products before?
What are some of your favourite skincare products of the moment?

**This post was Sponsored by Natura Siberica however all opinions are 100% honest and my own. If you have been reading my blog for a while you would know about my constant skin problems. Thank you very much for understanding how this product aligns with me and my blog, For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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Lush is a brand that has so many good products that it can be a little tricky to know where to begin. Some of my favourite shower products are from Lush and instead of letting you walk into a store and be happily bombarded with scents and pretty colours, I thought I would first let you know about my Three Lush Shower Must Haves.

First up my absolute holy grail shower gel of all time, The Olive Branch. Where do I begin!? It smells incredible. To describe the smell, I would say unisex, a little herby, a little sweet, with a few hints of mandarin. Although made from olive oil, the consistency is very thin. I would say just slightly thicker than water, so don't imagine this to be thick and oily. It lathers very well and you only need a small amount for your whole body, loofah or not. When it comes to its moisturising power, I would say that it leaves your body feeling nice and smooth, but it definitely isn't the sort of smoothness that will linger all day. I personally begun using this product in the beginning of 2015 and have since repurchased it quite a few times. If you're the type of person that loves using different shower washes depending on the time of year, I'd definitely say that this is a great summer or autumn scent, but I honestly use it all year round.
Moving on to two shower creams. Now, these have a thicker consistency and are definitely much more moisturising. Similarly to the shower gels, you only need a very small amount. The two that I am currently loving are The Comforter* and Yuzu and Cocoa*. I'm sure we all know what the Comforter smells like right!? It's exactly like their Comforter Bubble Bar, so imagine the smell of fairy floss and you've got it. Yuzu and Cocoa on the other hand is slightly less sweet and is quite citrusy with a hint of chocolate. Again, both of these are great all year round, but I would think particularly in winter and autumn.
All three of these lush products work very well on my problematic skin. I've suffered with bacne and chestne for most of the last 10 years, and these products haven't upset my skin at all. In fact, my skin has actually become more clear. 
Have you tried any of these Lush shower products before? What are your favourite Lush products?
*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.


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According to my absolutely overflowing empties drawer, I think it's time for another Time To Throw Dem Beauty Products Out post. There's quite a bit in this post, many products you've seen before and a couple new ones. 
For people who don't quite get the purpose of these posts, it's to show you my empties. Basically, products that I've finished because I loved or ones that I stopped using and need to part ways with. I'll let you know about my repurchasing situation with these goodies too.   

My three holy grails in one picture, pretty much! You've all probably seen these three products, way too much. But they're just that great. The Maxfactor Face Finity All Day Primer is a great primer to add a little bit of extra moisture. Even though I'm oily, this adds moisture, and not shininess.

The Covergirl TruBlend Foundation is my favourite foundation of all time. It's affordable (by Australian standards), provides me with a medium coverage and lasts on my oily skin all day.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer is the only under eye concealer I have used and probably ever will use. It covers everything and doesn't crease. Of course, I've already repurchased these products.

HAIRCARE 
First up, the Dove Hair Therapy Daily Moisture Shampoo* + Conditioner*. I really, really enjoyed using up this range. Luckily I didn't have coloured hair at the time though, because I think that this product isn't exactly colour safe. But, if you don't have any colour in your hair and you're looking for a great, accessible shampoo and conditioner range, I'd definitely recommend this one! It's probably one of my favourites ever and I'll definitely repurchase it once my colour is back to normal.

When it comes to the Natura Siberica Oblepikha Shampoo* + Conditioner*, I personally LOVED the shampoo but the conditioner didn't really do anything for me. This range smells like Pineapple and Passionfruit to me. The shampoo worked as a great clarifying shampoo for me which I used once a week. The conditioner on the other hand, it was too thin to be moisturising and to get that fully moisturised affect, I feel like i'd have to use half of the bottle.

Batiste Dry Shampoo Big & Bouncy XXL Volume is a really, really good dry shampoo. No idea why I picked this one up specifically. Maybe it was on sale, maybe it was from a goodie bag, I don't quite remember because it was a long, long time ago. But yes, this ones pretty good! Doesn't leave any white residue on my roots, gives me some great volume and helps my oil disappear.

SKINCARE
Innoxa Organic Gentle Cleansing Gel*was an absolute favourite of mine last year. It's probably the perfect face cleanser for my skin. It cleared my skin up and made my feel generally feel better. The packaging size is really small though so I've been using this product pretty sparingly. I will repurchase this 100%, but I'm going to wait for a Priceline Skincare sale because it isn't that affordable.

Biore Deep Pore Cleansing Gel is my favourite face cleanser for the shower. I've had quite a few bottles of this stuff and I have a new one in my shower right now.

Garnier Clean Sensitive 2-in-1 Gentle Make Up Remover is a MUST PURCHASE for all of you reading. This product is the best stubborn makeup remover you'll ever use. It's cheap and accessible. You need it, now.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is an amazing moisturiser for those of you with combo to oily skin. It's a great moisturiser that sinks in straight away. It's perfect under makeup because you can't tell its there.

THINGS THAT SMELL GREAT 
Victoria's Secret Secret Charm Body Mist is a product I've had for a really, really long time. I've been trying to use it up for what seems like forever. It's a nice scent, but I've smelt nicer, so I probably won't repurchase it.

Victoria's Secret Noir Tease Scented Body Wash smells AMAZING. I loved this body wash and I'll definitely be repurchasing it in a larger size if it's still available. It smells a lot like a Brittney Spears fragrance to me. Nice and sweet! It's probably strange that I like this because I usually like more natural, herby shower washes, but hey I love it.

YSL Parisienne Perfume was my favourite scent of last year. I used it up so quickly because it smelt so nice. It's a gorgeous sweet, warm and hearty winter scent, that I kind of stuck with all year long (oops). I'll definitely be repurchasing this one.

RANDOM 

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Here in Australia, March is the beginning of our Autumn. Or, the beginning of what is supposed to be Autumn I should say. We didn't experience cooler weather and it was down right hot. Many days the temperature was more than 30C or 86F. Until the end of the month, that's when Autumn finally kicked in.

One of my favourites for March was road trips. My family and I are lucky enough to be able to go overseas once or twice a year but the thing about that is that we don't even know what is in our own backyard! At the end of last month I went to Warrnambool with my boyfriend Rey and this month, the Barossa valley with my family. I'm so happy that I was able to spend some time exploring Victoria and South Australia! 
Because I was moving about this month, quite a few of my favourites are to do with convenience and are hot climate friendly.
The lip product I decided to take with me was of course my ever so trusty, Maybelline Color Elixir in Caramel. Everyone loves the Caramel Elixir right? It provides the perfect amount of coverage, with a teeny bit of shine and it also helps to slightly stain your lips as well. 
An eye makeup product that I seem to always bring with me when I leave my house is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. This should really be no surprise because I'm also going on about how great this is. It's just the perfect base, every single time.
A couple products that were absolute lifesavers during the heat were the Benefit Porefessional Matte and Benefit Porefessional Blot Powder. I did an entire post on how amazing these two products are which you can read here. But if you'd like a long story short, they're incredible and probably make the largest difference to my oil production out of everything I've tried before. 
The face base I loved using when I wanted to put a teeny bit of effort in was the Philosophy Tinted Moisturiser in Medium. It gives my skin a nice small to medium coverage. Just enough to help cover any redness and a few pimples, but still looks really natural. It's one of those great products if you think you're going to sweat because sweat doesn't make it run off, it just magically stays there. I'm planning on doing an everyday, quick and 'natural' looking blog post soon so keep an eye out for that. 
Although I didn't take this product on my road trip (out of the fear of melting), I've been using the Chi Chi Brow Pomade in Black Brown I honestly cannot get enough of this stuff. I personally haven't tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills one so I can't compare, but I have heard many people preferring Chi Chi's because it doesn't dry up as quickly. You only need the absolute smallest amount. I just dab a bit in the lid, move it around and apply with the slightest hand you've ever seen. It's perfect for really nicely defined nighttime brows. 
Fragrance wise, I can't get enough of the CK2 fragrance. It's a unisex perfume which I think is probably the perfect scent if you're a lover of fresh scents. It has all of these amazing and unique notes such as wood, citrus, wasabi (yep that's right, wasabi), rose and pebbles (yep, I know). For some strange reason, I feel like hats never work for me. They're either too big and drown my head or too small that it refuses to fit. A couple months ago I picked up this trusty Hat from Glassons and I kid you not, the absolute perfect fit. It looks great, fits well and also provides my face with the right amount of shade. 
Last but not least, a product that has well and truly made itself into my night time routine.The Scholl Velvet Smooth Night Mask is incredible. It's basically a thicker moisturiser for your feet. I know this might be a strange item for some of you, but honestly, do you ever think about your feet and how much they do for you!? I never really did anything for them, but since applying this everynight before I go to bed, when I wake up my feet feel smooth, hydrated and ready to go.
What are some of your favourites for the month of March? Are there some products that you're already falling in love with this early into April?
*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
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It seems that all of January and February of this year, the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque* is only mask I've seen in the blogosphere. Everyone seems to be using it. So of course, I started using it too. 
I've been using this mask for the last month now, probably once or twice a week. Every time I used this mask, I really enjoyed it. There's quite a few reasons why, but here are the main ones.

IT'S QUICK  Many masks take a while to work their magic, anywhere between 10-20 minutes sometimes. This one has a recommended time to leave on at 7-10 minutes. After 7 minutes, I'm done! For me this is great because when I'm told to leave these sorts of masks on any longer, I feel like it can become really uncomfortable and nerve wracking trying to wash off.
IT'S FEELS NICE  As soon as you put the mask on, it feels very fresh and slightly tingly. Compared to my Glam Glow Cleansing Mud, the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque is much friendlier and less stiff.   IT'S GREAT FOR RESULTS  I'd say that as soon as I take off this mask, I notice an improvement, and I don't usually say that! I feel like it helps a lot with my redness and acne. Especially areas that are raised.
IT'S DIFFERENT  Unlike many masks that you just wash off, the packaging suggests that you exfoliate with it, as you wash it off. I feel like the texture of this mask makes this really easy and this step itself is probably one of its biggest benefits for me. 

A COUPLE QUICK TIPS  #1 Wash it off, thoroughly. It stinks. A fair bit. Even after you clean your face, if you haven't done it well enough, give it another quick clean.
#2 Squeeze out a lot rather in one go rather than two or three small goes. Because this product comes in a tube, if you only squeeze out a little bit, apply it to the face and then realise you need more... Well, your hands are covered and it'll go all over the tube! 
Aside from me raving about this product, there's also a load of other reviews out there. If you don't have oily skin like me and you aren't convinced that this is for your dry, normal or combo, definitely have a look around and try find a review for your skin too. But, trust me, you'll love it!
Have you tried this mask before? & What's your favourite mask?
*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.

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Happy end of February everyone! The reason I say happy, is because out of all of the months, February is the one that I always incorrectly spell. So, no more of that for another year makes me feel extremely glad.
This month was a great month when it came to new releases and discovering old favourites. Here are lots of the things that I was loving.


For starters, you're probably wondering, huh, what's this bed doing here. Well, that's my bed! And the reason for the picture is those two gorgeous black marble pillowcases that you see. Those aren't just any pillow cases. They're made from silk. Shhh Silk to be exact. The Shhh Silk Twin Black Marble Silk Pillowcases* have been so good to me. My skin was breaking out a lot in Jan and aside from mixing up my skincare, I think these pillowcases have really helped out! They're hypoallergenic and really let my skin breathe. I wash them once a week and my skin has been saying thank you. Plus, aren't they just so beautiful!? 
Continuing off with benefits for the face, let's move onto skincare! The Jojoba Co Jojoba Oil* is a product that I've really loved for quite sometime. I was reading up a lot online and apparently for my skin (Acne prone and Oily), Jojoba oil is supposed to be perfect. I dug it out from under my sink, started using it every night again, and yes, my skin is ever so happy. I'll definitely be repurchasing this product because it sinks in straight away and I feel like it really helps with reducing some of my acne scaring and pigmentation. 
The last skincare item is the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Mask*. I'm sure you've seen this floating around the past month in the Australian beauty community, and that's because it's really that good. I will be doing an entire post on this product early next month, so keep your eyes peeled! But for the mean time, just know that this is probably the best charcoal product / mask that I've ever used. One thing that's really unique about this product too is that your imperfections actually turn white, instead of black. It leaves my skin feeling amazing and I think its helped reduce a lot of congestion. Okay, okay, enough! Wait for the next in depth post. 
Fragrance or body splash wise, I've been really enjoying The Body Shop's Japanese Cherry Blossom Fragrance Mist*. Fun fact, Japan is on my travel list for this year (well I really want to go, so lets cross our fingers). Anyway, this fragrance is really subtle and refreshing. I love how calming and unintrusive it is. 
Did you see my latest nail care routine? If you did, you might not be surprised to see this in this months favourites. Sally Hansen's Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment* is by far the best nail treatment I've tried. I can tell it works its magic and its extended the life of my nail polish. If you'd like to find out more about this product and read up on my nailcare routine, click here. 
My favourite lip products for this month, are the colours 200 It's A Keeper and 120 You're All Mine from the Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick Range*. These lipsticks are incredible creamy and these two particular shades are the most natural out of the bunch. I can't stop wearing them! If you'd like to see my full review and swatch post, click here. 
Last, but definitely not least the Sigma All Over Blend E37 Brush*. I own a lot of eye brushes. Probably too many if I'm being honest! But, this particular brush stands out. This brush is perfect for defining the crease. It's the best size to just fit in the crease and the bristles are more dense than your regular eye brush. I find that it really helps for precise application which I can then blend out afterwards. Sometimes when I use a brush that isn't as dense, colour flies everywhere, and that just isn't cute! This really helps and I highly recommend it. You can purchase this brush here.**
What were some of your favourites for February?
*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
**An affiliate link has been used (Sigma)

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I have recently found a skincare pattern that works for me. One night, I go towards a chemical or acne fighting regime and the other, I opt for more natural, healing or TLC skincare goodies. The Body Shop is definitely all over the second.
Todays post will consist of me praising The Body Shop's Oils of Life Range. In particularly, their Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil* and Intensely Revitalising Cream*. 

Here's some information of the Oils of Life Range

• Every time you purchase an Oils of Life product, seeds are planted in association with World Land Trust
• The products include Black Cumin Oil from Egypt, Rosehip Oil from Chile and Camellia Oil from China
• The seed oils are pressed to their pure form

Breaking this post down into specifics, let's begin with The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil*. Wow, the packaging. The bottle itself is so gorgeous. The oil is thick and luxurious, smells incredible, sinks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling ultra hydrated and happy. What more could you ask for? Since using this product I have noticed that my skin texture feels a lot smoother and it has also helped with reducing some redness. Now, whenever I feel like using something mega hydrating and repairing, I don't use a normal rosehip oil like I used to, I reach for this.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Cream* has become my ride or die for when I don't want to use chemicals on my face, so every second night. This cream is honestly one of the nicest creams I have ever used. I can definitely say that this cream would be incredible on all skin types and this is my favourite product of the two here in today's post. 

The Revitalising Cream's consistency feels heavy duty when you first touch it. Once you lather it onto the face, it doesn't feel as thick but it feels exactly as moisturising and calming as you would imagine. The smell is lovely, a combination of sweet and fresh. It sinks into my skin and feels very soft, yet my face does not stick to my pillow (yay). The next morning when I wake up, I feel hydrated and moisturised, so I can tell that it has worked its magic. 

Even though I have oily skin, it works wonders and it is probably a product that is supposed to be more suited towards Normal / Dry. So if it works for me and I am on the oiliest of oily side of skin, then yep - definitely a cream for everyone!

You can purchase both the Revitalising Oil and Revitalising Cream here. 

What skincare pattern or routine works for you?

Are you also a lover of The Body Shop's skincare?

*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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Carrying on with all things available on www.sephora.com.au, todays post features AlphaH Liquid Gold*, which I have heard is quite possibly one of the best products for acne scarring. 

If you haven't heard of AlphaH or this product in particular before here a few quick bits of information:

• AlphaH is 100% Australian owned and manufactured 
• AlphaH focuses on innovative, highly potent skincare
• Liquid gold uses a low pH delivery system which is claimed to help reduce pigmentation, wrinkles and sun damage
• Liquid gold is ideal for mature, sun damaged, prematurely ageing and acne-scarred skin 
• Major ingredients for liquid gold include 5% cosmetic grade glycolic acid, licorice extract and silk proteins 

I know with skin products you're supposed to wait around 4 to 6 weeks to see clear results, but sometimes there is those one or two products that we know immediately just works well with our skin. This is one of them.

The first couple of nights after using this product I already noticed my skin looked less red and inflamed the next morning. At the moment, that is probably the only visible benefit I can vouch for. But I did take a sneaky before photo so in around a months time I'll take an after photo and post an update. 

If you're a sucker for all in one products, you'll love this. It is the ultimate 'I'm feeling really lazy' skincare product because it is an all in one toner, exfoliator, serum and moisturiser. All I need to do is wash my face, apply some of Liquid Gold to a cotton pad and wipe it on. I like a thicker moisturiser at night though so I do apply some of course.

This product does have a light stinging sensation, especially on any of my active breakouts. I don't mind the sting because after about a minute it isn't there anymore.

The only negative of this product would be that it does have quite a strong smell. If you don't like a stinging product then this probably isn't for you either!

AlphaH liquid gold can be purchased from www.sephora.com.au.

Have you heard of AlphaH before? What's one of your favourite skincare goodies at the moment?  *Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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For years I have battled with congested and acne prone skin. As many of you would know, I have recently been on a mission to change this and really improve my skin. I have had extraction facials which work a treat and you can read about here. One product that was used on me at these treatments was an Enzyme Exfoliator. I found it a bit difficult to find an exfoliator but my eyes then became drawn to Babor's Enzyme Cleanser*. After doing a bit of research, I decided, yep I am going to try this product. 

If you're like me and are super bad with understanding lots of skincare terminology, here's a little run down of what Enzyme's are in Katina terminology. Enzymes are pretty much everywhere and they're apparently awesome. When it comes to skincare, instead of scrubbing the heck out of your face with chemicals and little beads, enzymes help melt away your dead skin cells gently, leaving behind a smooth surface. 
Babor's Enzyme Cleanser is also packed with vitamin C and is suitable for all skin types. The way you use this product is that you mix a tiny little bit with water, rub it into a lather, put it on your face and wash it away. In other words, yes the word Enzyme sounds a bit daunting but the process of using them is super easy.
I was expecting this cleanser to be water based so I was definitely surprised when I saw that it was a powder. I really like this because if you tip out too much it is super easy to put back in and you can see through the packaging exactly how much product you have left.
I've used this cleanser quite a few bit now and I love how it leaves my skin feeling clean but not harshly, squeaky clean. It just removes the dead skin cells, oil and dirt really, so it is incredibly gentle. 
I haven't noticed much of a change in my overall skin yet, but I do like that I can now clean my skin in another way that doesn't really need harshness or pressure. 
Have you ever used any Babor or Enzyme products before? What's your current favourite cleanser? 
*Products marked with an asterisk have been provided for editorial consideration. For more information, please read my disclaimer.



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