My Favourite Face Masks!

Face masks, I personally LOVE them, I am always walking around the house with one slathered on, scaring my parents and my brother (in fact I'm wearing one right now) . I sometimes think they're overlooked in the skincare area, not many people use them enough, and If I'm being honest, sometimes a face mask does more for my skin that my entire skin care regime! I am always reminding people to use at least one, once a week, it really brightens and refreshes your skin.
I have tried quite a couple of face masks over the years and I have found quite a few favourites that I use for different purposes! So today I thought I'd share some of them with you so that maybe you could try them out and who knows! maybe they will become a staple in your skincare products!
(Of course do a patch test before applying any of these masks all over your skin as certain ingredients can irritate the skin and you would not like to have an allergic reaction. Please also note that while these products may work amazingly for me, they may not do so for you, but that's okay! keep trying new masks until you find the one or ones that suit your skin!)

Let's talk about Hydrating masks first, I have two favourites that I find do the job excellently, at least for my skin! Hydrating your skin is very important no matter what skin type you have, (that includes you! oily skinned people) it keeps your skin looking younger for longer, and plumper and makes your make up glide on better. Sometimes however, a moisturiser isn't enough, or maybe you just really want to pamper your skin for a special event, or if you've just got the time while you're watching your favourite show (teen wolf!) and that's when I like to use these;

Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask
Out of all my face masks, this is the simplest one, it doesn't do anything else but really hydrate and moisturise my skin. I find that after I use it my skin looks brighter and feels much softer, it's the sort of mask I recommend to everyone. On the package it says to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes, I generally leave it for about 15 minutes, it feels very refreshing and cooling on the skin, it's also a nice baby pink colour. I picked it up for $10 dollars at the Chemist Warehouse, but I'm sure you could find it other places.

THIRST stop! hydrating and calming mask with MP aquaFLEX by Model Prefer
This is my favourite mask to go for when my skins having a rough day, it hydrates really well and I can leave it on for a pretty long while! it goes on white but dries clear and it doesn't set! it just feels really luxurious on the skin, sort of like a spa treatment! I definitely recommend this mask! but please do a patch test as I've heard of people saying this mask made their skin feel like it was burning, I have sensitive skin and didn't feel anything, however its always important to be cautious. It says on the package to leave it on for 15 minutes but I sometimes leave it on for longer if I'm busy.

Okay, let's talk LUSH! Their fresh face masks are my favourite things in the world! Seriously, if you want to indulge or splurge I suggest stopping by a Lush store, the sales assistants are always super nice and they're always there to lend a hand (and try the products on your hand!). I have tried 2 of the Lush Face masks but I am hoping to try them all, I don't currently have any however, as you know (or maybe not if you've never been to lush) their face masks have a shelf life of 3-4 weeks and they have to be kept in the fridge.

Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask
Relaxing, reviving, mineral-rich mask, to cleanse, soften and beautify. Fresh nutritious seaweed, cleansing kaolin, antiseptic honey, calming aloe vera and rose absoloute makes this a great mask for everyone.
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I really liked this mask, it was hydrating and was great for those days when you come home stressed and want to have a pamper evening and some time to yourself! It lived up to its claim and was just a pleasure to have on the skin, the only annoying bit was the pieces of seaweed were a tad bit big and annoying to wash off but other than that, AMAZING. Don't let the thought of seaweed put you off!
Note: Lush face masks on the whole are messy to get off and this one was no exception, I did find using a face cloth makes the whole process a bit easier and less messy.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask
Avoid disasters with the power of blueberries! Fresh blueberries are rich in beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to reduce inflammation and act as a mild antiseptic. Soothing chamomile, Irish moss and almond oil work with the gentle cleansing action of calamine to save your skin. 
I loved this face mask, I'm prone to small breakouts and this mask was just heaven, I noticed the difference as soon as I washed it off, my acne was reduced in size and less red. It didn't aggravate my skin at all and left it super soft! It's an awesome blue colour as well, with little bits of blueberries but not too big that they feel uncomfortable. This mask sets really well, so much that I can't smile, it also lightens as it dries so you know exactly when to wash it off! On the note of washing, washing this particular mask off was a pain in the butt, be aware that if you don't rinse well as soon as you dry your face you'll notice blue powdery residue left on your skin, but I mean, since this mask is amazing it's kinda worth the extra hassle. Amazing for those of you with acne prone skin.
Lush Face masks are generally $17 and I can get about 6 uses out of each pot.

Congested skin? No problem. These are a few of my favourite masks for when my face is frustrated and annoyed and covered in acne. I sometimes put them all over my face, or sometimes I just put them on the spots that need it, either way, these are my miracle workers.

Palmers Purifying Mask with Green Clay and Sweet Almond Oil
I feel like I'm saying I love all these masks and hey, this ones no exception. If it works, it works. This mask is just great at dealing with congested skin, it tightens, cools and sucks up all the oil and disgustingness that is congesting your skin. It comes in an easy to squeeze tube and goes on white, you can feel the tinglyness of the mask as it works to help your skin, this is another mask I'd say is good for all skin types. It's really gentle too so it would be great for those of you with super sensitive skin. You can pretty much get this mask everywhere and it's under $15 dollars so it's a great affordable mask.

Garnier Pure 3 in 1 Wash + Scrub + Mask
This is my go to spot treatment for those annoying pesky zits that just don't want to go away, it really helps in making them go away. I don't use this product for anything else so it lasts me quite a while, however I will occasionally apply it all over my face. Not much else to say, it works. The only thing is, if you have a really angry spot, be extra careful using this mask as it can aggravate it due to the small scrub particles, remove it gently with warm water and don't rub hard at your skin. Only use this mask if your acne prone, dry skin people beware, it has salicylic acid which can dry your skin out more.

There you have it, my top face masks, however I'd like to just mention a few others. If you can find Sheet masks, they're great! especially the hydrating ones, Olay has some great ones, or you can try Ebay or online stores. I also like heading to Priceline and picking up the packs of the Montague Jeunesse masks, they come in a huge variety and are great for pamper evenings or sleepovers with your girlfriends.

Here's a picture of myself wearing a face mask!

xoS

International Womens Day

Happy International Womens Day everyone!

This post is going to be short and sweet!

However I'd just like to remind you that everyone is special (including the male gender haha) but today is the day to celebrate women and how far we have come! 

Remember to love yourselves no matter what, because at the end of the day the one person who will always be there for you is YOU. Hating yourself will just make things difficult, so today embrace yourself, your flaws, the things you love about yourself and just accept yourself! 

And if that doesn't work remember you're a kick ass woman!

Dream, Live, Inspire!

Ps my other Tanya Burr Lip gloss came in the mail! I got 'Vampire Kiss' a gorgeous pigmented red, there's no need to even wear a red lipstick underneath! Once again, well done Tanya! 

Here's a picture of me wearing it last night before going and watching 'Vampire Academy'!

xoS

February Favs!

Hello!

It's that time of the month again! time for some favourites!

February seemed to fly past! I can't believe we're already in March! Seems like this year is going to fly by, it'll be 2015 before I even know it.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves now, lets take a look at what products I've loved this month;

(From left to right; Rimmel Salon Pro Kate Nail Varnish in 'Rock n Roll', Sally Hansen complete salon manicure in 'Plums the Word', Tanya Burr Lip gloss in 'Champagne Toast', Maybelline Master precise liquid liner, Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '107', Maybelline The Falsies mascara, Nivea lip butter in 'Caramel cream')

I've really been loving nail polish in February, I stopped getting shellac nails and started painting my own and there's been two colours I've been wearing non stop which have been getting me into the Autumn/Winter season that has begun to hit Australia. Two colours that scream winter to me are reds and plums, they are basically all I wear on my nails other than a neutral colour every now and then. 

Rimmel has really been on the ball recently and I've been obsessing over their products but I have usually over looked their nail polishes but once I saw the beautiful rich red colour from their Kate moss line I couldn't help myself. The colour is called 'Rock n Roll' which I think suits the varnish perfectly, it's the kind of colour I'd imagine Demi Lovato wearing while rocking out. I think Rimmel did an amazing job with their polish as it look like gel polish while it's on and the brush is very similar to the Sally Hansen brush, (looks like a paddle) which I love as it makes painting your nails easier. It's definitely worth adding to your collection, I'm thinking about trying out some more! 

The second polish is from the Sally Hansen complete salon manicure line, it's called 'Plums the Word' which as you can probably guess from the name is a beautiful Plum colour. I really like this colour it's a bit unusual but it just looks amazing on the nails, it's plum but more of a grey plum so it sort of just goes with anything you have on. The brush on the complete salon manicure line is just great, as I mentioned above with the Rimmel polish which is very similar, it looks like a paddle which makes getting an even coat of polish easy peasy. A really good colour to add to your winter nail polishes if you don't already own it.

I've been going pretty simple on the eyes this last month just a winged eye liner and mascara and the two products which have helped me achieve the look I wanted were; the Maybelline the Falsies mascara, which if you haven't tried I really recommend it! I can't rave about it enough, I always get compliments on my lashes when I wear it, and the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid liner which is possibly the best liquid liner I've ever used. It's a felt tip liner and has a super fine tip so that you can do thin or thick lines. It makes doing a cat eye super simple and if you want to go super crazy and do some detail work around your eyes it's great for that too!

The last three products are for your lips (mwah!) and they're what I've been using on mine. 

Nivea recently came out with their very own lip butters which come in quite a couple scents, including a non scented one for those of you who have a reaction to scents. I picked up the caramel cream scent which just smells absolutely divine! I can't really explain the scent other than it's sort of what I imagine butter beer to taste like. I usually put this on before bed as it can give of a white cast on your lips if you use a bit too much, which is really the only downside as I find this very hydrating.

The next lip product is a gloss from the Tanya Burr line (Champagne Toast), which I have a full first impression review on my blog, check it out if you haven't already. It's just a beautiful gloss with a slight colour that just looks amazing and is not sticky at all. It's been on my lips constantly this month and I've gotten loads of compliments on it, did I mention it smells like strawberries and cream? Yum.

If I wasn't wearing my Tanya Burr Lipgloss I've been wearing my Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '107'. A Beautiful deep wine red, which I think would suit many different skin tones, it's matte but not drying and just feels great on the lips. It also smells like lollies when you apply it which makes reapplying a dream. A great colour to have for this coming winter season!

So those were my Feb Favs! I hope you enjoyed reading about them.

Leave me a comment on your favourite products!

xoS

Mini Chemist Warehouse Haul

So today after work I stopped by the Chemist Warehouse just to have a browse and repurchase my favourite concealer (Rimmel Wake me up), but of course being the beauty junkie I am, I didnt leave with the thing I came for. 

(For those of you who aren't from Australia or have simply never heard of the Chemist Warehouse, it's basically a store that sells prescription medicine, make up, skincare, vitamins, protein powder, etc. at a discounted price.)

(yes I went outside and took this picture in the gloomy rainy weather)

So first up on the list of things I picked up was this 'Soin Du Visage - Byphasse - Solution Micellaire'

This brand I'm pretty sure is new to the Chemist Warehouse as I've never seen it before, It was in the isle that has all the acne treatment, Cetaphil, QV etc. Its a gentle make up remover that does not need to be washed off, it's supposed to be good for sensitive, dry or irritated skin. I think this just might be a dupe for the Bioderma, so I'm excited to try it out and see how it compares. This was $10 dollars for 500ml or 16.9 fl.oz (You can pick up Bioderma from Priceline now here in Australia but it's quite expensive.)

The next thing I picked up was these Paris Hilton lashes which I never even knew existed. They were around $5 dollars and there weren't that many different types at my Chemist Warehouse. I picked these up as they were the most natural ones they had (the others had glitter or were different colours). Just from my first impression they seem to be those plasticy lashes which I generally don't like as they tend to be difficult to get into shape. (I usually use Ardell or Red Cherry lashes).

I of course picked up my favourite concealer! I use the shade 'Soft Beige' if anyone is wondering.

And Lastly but not least I picked up my favourite face wipes! these are the only ones I like that don't drag across the skin and are soothing and gentle, even on my contact lens wearing eyes! They are also about $1 cheaper than the other swisspers wipes for some reason, but seriously check them out if you haven't.

xoS 

Ps keep a look out for my February favourites within the next few days!

First Impression; Tanya Burr Lipgloss!

Hi Guys!

I am so unbelievably excited! My Tanya Burr Lipgloss arrived in the mail today! I ordered the lipgloss 'Champagne Toast' as soon as they were released at about 2 am AEST.

I've had this gloss for about an hour now and am currently wearing it while I write this post!

First off let me just say how proud I am of Tanya! You are amazing and inspirational and I admire you! If you don't know who Tanya is, she is a Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle blogger plus Youtube Celebrity. She creates easy to follow/recreate make up tutorials as well as vlogs with her fiance Jim Chapman (also a Youtube Celebrity) and of course she has a beauty blog. 

Tanya has teamed up with EyeCandy for the release of her products and has created 12 Lipglosses and 10 Nail polishes, all in beautiful colours. You're bound to find a colour you love, or two...!

Now that you know who Tanya is, let's get on with the Review!

First off this is my first time ordering off feelunique.com and I am pleased with their service, their shipping fees are low which is great when you live in Australia since usually you pay more for shipping than a product itself! I paid $14 dollars for the Gloss and $3 for shipping.

I really wanted a nail polish from the collection but unfortunately it said we were unable to get it shipped here, I'm not quite sure if that's due to our policies or theirs but hopefully it will be fixed soon.

I was obviously able to choose a Lip gloss, however there were so many pretty colours it was difficult to just buy one (for now) but I settled on 'Champagne Toast' as I don't have any lip product in that colour.

What Tanya says;

"I hope you love my range of glossy, chic and pretty lipglosses. I had such an amazing time designing them!"

What the product claims;

- Super Moisturising

- Incredible Shine

- Rich Beautiful Colour

What I say;

I hate sticky gloss. In fact I usually stay away from lip gloss for that particular reason, however after recently trying some W7 glosses that weren't sticky I've been wearing it a lot more often. I have also watched Tanya for a while now and have literally watched all her videos and have seen how pretty lipglosses can be; Tanya has inspired me to branch out and try some gloss.

Champagne Toast is a beautiful peachy nude colour that is sheer but still adds colour without overpowering your natural lip colour. I feel like lots of people would love this colour, and I mean c'mon it has an adorable name! The gloss is NOT STICKY! hooray! and of course beautifully glossy, it makes your lips look amazing.

Packaging wise it's very cute, it's easy to see the colour if you were to have it stored in a draw & it has Tanya's name as well as a cute heart on the top of the lid.

The applicator is great, it's a doe foot applicator but it sort of just hugs your lips and dispenses the product evenly, it has a paddle shape.

I would also like to mention the product smells amazing, like some sort of lollies, which makes it a pleasure to put on, however the smell is not overpowering, once its on your lips the smell goes away.

Over all I'm so pleased with my purchase and can't wait to try out more colours from the range.

I hope Tanya comes out with more products and I fully support her!

5/5.

Where to find Tanya;

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pixi2woo

Vlog Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8q8vJ64bsD6xprc9gY29aA

Blog: http://www.tanyaburr.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TanyaBurr

xoS

January Beauty Favourites 2014

I don't know about you, but January flew past for me! One minute it was here and the next it was over! Anyway I know this post is a bit late, but hey! I've been busy :)

So let's get into it! Here are my January Beauty Favourites;

(From L - R; Australis Colour Inject Lipstick in 'Gangsta Rap', Revlon Lip butter in 'Juicy Papaya', Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in 'Soft Beige', Avene Thermal Spring Water, W7 Light Diffusing Concealer, Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof pencil '012 Bronze', Australis Velourlips Matte lip cream in 'NY-Cee' & 'TOK-I-O', Bourjois blush in 'Golden Rose/Rose d'Or', Ben Nye Blush in 'Victorian Rose', Maybelline The Falsies Mascara in 'Black Drama')

Let's Start out with the Rimmel Products!

First up is the Wake Me Up Foundation.

I love this foundation, it gives me a radiant glow and I find it lasts well and I don't need to powder it on my dry skin. It perfects my imperfections and I get a lot of compliments on my skin when I wear it. I find that I haven't worn much foundation during January as it was way too hot here in Australia but on those days when I did, particularly on work days, I found it lasted at least 5-6 hours. Now this foundation does have specks of glitter in it, but I find that like the Revlon Photo Ready foundation you cannot see the sparkles unless you are under direct sunlight and have someone staring at your face up close!

The next Rimmel product I've been loving is the Rimmel ScandaleyesWaterproof pencil in 012 Bronze.

Boy is that a mouth full! Anyway, I've been loving this on my waterline instead of black, or all over the lid for a bronze smokey look. I find that the pencil really lasts a long time and I still have it on at the end of the day.

Nothing much else to say really. 

Check out the swatch below!

Now you'll probably get tired of hearing me rave about this but the next favourite is from Avene and it's their Thermal Spring Water spray. I love this stuff, I use it on hot days when I need a pick up, before bed, after my shower, after I remove my make up. It's just a great spray. I'm not quite sure what it is about it but it really helps my skin brighten up and feel refreshed!

Australis has been releasing some really great products recently, and I've added quite a few to my collection. Good Job! But of course being the lip junky that I am, I have 3 lip products that have made it into my favourites for this month!

Let's start with the Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in 'Gangsta Rap'

I love the Australis Lipsticks, they're moisturising and have gorgeous shades (and they're cruelty free and an Aussie brand!) so when I saw this beautiful purple lipstick I just had to have it. Purple Lips are really on trend at the moment, I find anyone can wear a purple lip, as long as you have confidence and find a shade that suits you!

Gangsta Rap is a great shade in my opinion as it's purple but not too purple (like the Tok-i-o shade) so it's great for those who don't want to fully commit but still follow the trend! 

I find that it's a gorgeous summer colour that I've been rocking for most the month unless I was wearing what I'm about to talk about next.

The next two lip products from Australis are their brand new Lip Velours! These babys are AH-MAZING, they're matte,really stay on for hours , albeit they are a bit drying on my lips. There is a nice selection of colours ranging from nudes to pink, red and purple, so basically a colour for everyone, you can even mix the shades! I find they don't transfer too much so they'd be perfect for Valentines day *wink wink*.

Once again good job Australis!

The only other thing I have worn on my lips this month is from Revlon and that is their Lip butter in Juicy Papaya. A gorgeous peach shade that Tanya Burr featured in her favourites that I immediately went out and bought. (PS check our Tanya Burrs Lip and Nail collection on feelunique.com) 

Below are some swatches of all the lip products mentioned!

(From L-R; Juicy Papaya, Gangsta Rap, TOK-I-O, NY-CEE)

For Mascara I've been loving the Maybelline the Falsies. It just makes my lashes look amazing, its really great and I recommend you try if you already haven't.

For undereye concealer I've been loving the W7 light diffusing concealer. It has a peach undertone that cancels out any darkness and really highlights under my eyes! Not to mention the packaging reminds me of the YSL Touche Eclat, however this concealer only comes in one shade, so if your dark skinned this will look ashy.

And Finally the last two favourites are blushes!

I've been loving pairing these two together for a beautiful glow this month. The first blush is from Bourjois and its one of their little round pot blushers. I've had this blush for ages and I love wearing it out, it just gives the prettiest glow on the cheeks. It's a light rosey pink with gold running through it, fitting as it's name is 'Golden Rose'. It's a gorgeous colour that would suit anyone with a fair to medium complexion.

The other blush is from Ben Nye and from my professional kit. The shade is 'Victorian Rose' (Can you tell I've been loving rose blushes this month? ha!) It's just the perfect, just flushed colour for my cheeks and I just wear it a lot to be quite honest. Ben Nye blushes are highly pigmented though so if you do decide to check them out, remember to apply with a light hand!

(Top - Bottom; Golden Rose, Victorian Rose)

So there you have it, my January beauty favourites!

I hope you enjoyed, let me know what you're favourites were!

xoS

Current Skincare Routine

Hi Guys!

I thought I'd go on and tell you about my Current Skin care routine!
I've been using this routine for over 6 months and it works for me (I cannot guarantee it will work for you)

Before I get into it let me tell you about my skin;
I have really dry skin and a slightly oily T-zone, and my skin is super sensitive. I also suffer from acne and breakouts which have only now starting to calm down.

In the morning when I wake up, I go and wash my face with my Avene Clearance Gel and warm water.
I then go on and apply Sukin Facial Moisturiser (I usually use the sensitive formula but I ran out and they only had the normal one left) before continuing with my make up routine!

Avene is a French brand, I'm not sure where else you can get it around the world, but here in Australia you can purchase it at the Chemist Warehouse or at Priceline. I love their water spray and constantly use it, their stuff is pretty amazing but pricey.
Sukin is an Australian brand, their products range from $7 - $20 dollars and it's all natural. I use their products in my professional kit and my clients love how their skin feels after! I love it!
You can also get Sukin Products from the Chemist Warehouse or Priceline as well as other Chemists.


When I get home after work or going out I first use a Swisspers Naturals Aloe Skin Perfecting Wipe to remove my face make up (I use the Models Prefer Waterproof Eye and Lip remover on Eye and Lip make up). Then I'll go about doing what I need to, til it's time to prepare and complete my night time routine!

Before bed, after brushing my teeth I will use my Lush Herbalism Cleanser twice, once to remove any left over make up and then again to really cleanse my skin. I then put some of my Simple Kind to Skin Toner on a cotton pad and gently wipe across my skin. I find that if I don't use toner my skin isn't as bright the next morning.
I will then apply my Benzac Ac 10% gel all over my skin to help prevent and treat acne. After this I apply my High Potency Vitamin E from Invite cream to help with acne scars and pigmentation, and finally I will apply my QV cream to seal it all in and keep my skin hydrated. Now I do apply a lot of products due to my skin type and my skin being so dry. I had to add the QV cream recently as I started getting eczema in winter around my eyes and on my neck so my doctor told me to use it at night to help combat that and I have kept using it.

On special occasions when I want to use a mask I will use my Clarisonic Mia on my skin, I used to use it every day but since I was using Herbalism which is pretty exfoliating I stopped with my Clarisonic as it would be to drying.
Once a week I will also use my Avene Clearance K cream-gel and skip the Benzac and the high potency vitamin e cream.

Finally, I carry around with my the Avene Thermal Water spray to refresh my skin after the gym, or a hot day or just in general when I need a pick up, it doesn't effect my make up if I am wearing any and makes my skin feel nice.

And that is everything I do to keep my skin feeling nice and looking great! :)
Let me know if you've tried any products or what you love to use on your skin!

xoS