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Sunday 31 August 2014

The Weekend Post: Painted Paws

Well, as promised I've had a slightly more interesting and beauty related weekend this weekend. It's Sunday now and I'm sitting with a green tea editing photos and listening to Ed Sheeran with my claws tap-tapping away on the keyboard.

Essentially I finally got around to getting my nails Shellac'd (how does one Shellac? Shellac'd?) anyway - I went to my favourite, yes Newmarket again.

I visited The Nail Studio on Osborne Street and had my nails done by Lianne - who was lovely by the way. I wanted to get the pointy shape for a change seeing as I highly doubt I'd be able to shape them properly myself I thought I'd go for it yesterday. Then as I'm indecisive about colour and get bored easily I went for a classic white nail - with a little shimmer on top at Liannes recommendation which I must admit looks bloody lovely. Highly recommend these guys - the paint on my right hand bubbled a little bit when it was first applied but Lianne fixed it for me taking extra time and didn't seem bothered/didn't rush me at all.




The pictures don't do the shimmer justice really but in short I love them. The only downside is texting and typing are really quite awkward because of the points eeep. I'd say it's a worthwhile pay off though. 

Nails aside, it was pay week this week and I was in Newmarket so...you know...I did a spot of shopping. 


Can you tell I'm preparing for summer? I love this new hat - if you're in New Zealand it's free shipping if you're urban - and they ship internationally too if you're from overseas. I bought it from Pagan Marie - I always love to support Kiwi businesses if I can and the service from this site is amazing. I'm strictly speaking a "rural" address, I ordered Thursday at around 10 and received it first thing Friday morning. 

My other purchases included some Body Shop bits for my car - hand cream for my dry little mits and hand sanitiser because I hate that "grubby" feel they can get when you've been shopping or at the gym. Having dermatitis means this isn't fantastic for my skin...but that justifies the hemp hand cream right? (And I had a 10 dollar voucher so this only cost me about 12 bucks). 

I've added another lipstick to my MAC family - Brave this time. It's a lovely purpley cool toned lipstick in satin finish (my favourite) so isn't too drying and the colour payoff is great. It's my take on the Kylie Jenner lip combined with Subculture lip pencil it's perfect. 

Last thing was Eau Roma Water from Lush - I was running low and I can't live without this stuff for getting my makeup/cleanser off. 

The weather yesterday in Auckland was awful so I think I actually ended up spending less because I didn't want to hang around the shops too long. Mixed blessing? 

Now it's Sunday it's that usual laundry/gardening and now I'm drafting up some more posts for this week - tappa tappa tappa. 



Claire x


P.s. I think I've nearly got the layout of my blog how I like it...
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Thursday 28 August 2014

Monthly favourites: August

Woo hoo, the end of the first month of running this blog. Time to update my favourites - there may not be a post like this every month but this month there have been plenty of new things I've been loving and using/wearing/listening to all the time. I genuinely look forward to the end of a month/start of a new one purely for favourites videos/blog posts.

Also - I feel I need to mention the new theme. It's still being edited/I'll fiddle more in the weekend when I have time but I'm liking it a lot so far! I wanted something a bit more personal so I purchased one off Etsy.

Right - on with the favourites. 

  • Frank body scrub - this one is a no brainer, especially if you've been on my blog any other time this month. Vegan, cruelty free, perfectly scrubby. Frank smells amazing, gives you glowing skin and is gentle enough to use on your face. If you're interested in more info I have another post about it here. Frank is definitely going to be a regular part of my body/skin care routine. 
  • NARS Radiant Tinted Moisturiser - SPF is becoming more of a priority for me, especially now I've found a few products with SPF that my skin actually agrees with. This moisturiser kills two birds with one stone - good coverage and sun protection. For a low maintenance look in the summer this will be my go to..even more so than it is now.  
  • NARS creamy concealer - this plus the radiant tinted moisturiser...well, if I ever have a relationship as good as these two do I'll be a happy camper. Amazing coverage, especially under the eyes Feels weightless and non-sticky. Can't go wrong with this one. 
  • Harraw! lip balm - I use Hurraw dawn till dusk, it keeps your lips in tip top condition with a range of flavours/scents. I especially love the Moon Balm and the SPF version. 
  • Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence. I love Lana anyway but her latest CD is especially amazing. I listened to it twice all the way through whilst driving home late at night and can safely say there are several new favourites on this CD. My top picks are Cruel World, Sad Girl and Brooklyn Baby. 
  • Chrysolite Opal earrings from ChicCrystalBijoux . These stunning little earrings are made by a very talented jeweler in Sydney. I found her shop on Etsy and had been meaning to buy these for a while. They're a beautiful colour, perfect fit and add a little bit of sparkle without being over the top. I've got my eye on a few other pieces by her already. I took a closer picture too as the one above doesn't do them justice.

Love seeing what other people put in their favourites too - I often end up trying new products based on other people's recommendations from them. That's all for this month - there's a few new things I have my eye on/am currently trying out so we'll see how they fare come the end of September! 

Claire x
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Tuesday 26 August 2014

Manual cleansers - which is better?

I thought another skincare post was in order - this time it's about "manual" cleansers. I.e. brushes/fibres that clean your skin as opposed to using a cleanser. I have two of these both of which I've been using for several months - one is the Clarisonic Mia 2, the other is the Jane Iredale Cleansing Mitt. I'll give you a breakdown of both and let you know which I find to be better. 


Clarisonic Mia 2 - 

The Clarisonic is one of those things that is definitely an investment item - it's not really something you'd buy lightly with the hopes it'll help your skin. Coming in at £120 from Feelunique it's not an inexpensive item. I got it at 10% off as I selected Clarisonic as my "brand for life" discount brand.

With the Clarisonic you get a little instruction manual, a charger, one brush head and the Clarisonic itself. Naturally I chose the pink shade for myself. The Mia 2 has two speed settings - I tend to just use it on the "normal" setting as opposed to the sensitive one.

Although it says you can get more makeup off with the Clarisonic over a regular cleanser I would be inclined to disagree - I used this as an additional step to my routine and although it did help remove extra makeup I wouldn't use it solely for makeup removaland I still needed to use a cream cleanser with it. The brush head often comes away a bit foundation coloured but if you use it consistently everyday this becomes less noticeable.

That brings me to my next point - it says that it's safe for everyday use, twice a day. I did this for three - four weeks and while initially I did "purge" a little and have more breakouts my skin did clear up significantly. However, over time I started breaking out again when using twice a day even when using it on the gentler setting.

I started only doing it every second night instead and found my skin bounced back. Personally I think this device is too harsh to use everyday. In essence it's exfoliating your skin and too much of a good thing...well, you get the idea. On top of this the brush needs to be replaced every 3 months, which is an additional cost you need to consider when purchasing.

The verdict: Yes, I like my Clarisonic, but would I recommend purchasing it? Probably not. Having found other scrubs like Frank that I prefer/get better results from I don't think the Mia 2 is worth the price tag.


Jane Iredale Cleansing Mitt - 

My mum bought this mitt for me as a surprise about a year ago now. I've had problems with my skin since I was about 18 - before that I barely ever got spots now I have hormonal breakouts on my chin almost all the time. This mitt is designed to help remove extra makeup, much like the Clarisonic, but instead of scrubbing as such it uses tiny fibres (it's a microcloth) to pick up anything left on your skin.

It's very gentle to use, I can and do use it everyday (usually just in the evening) and it doesn't need any cleanser to use it. It's a pretty simple principle, put your hand in the mitt and wipe your face as you would with a conventional facecloth.

To wash it you only need to use a gentle soap. Rub it over the mitt, work it into the fibres and rinse it clean. Let it air dry (that's what the little loop on the end is for) and it's perfect everytime. As you can see they do last the test of time - I've had mine a year and it doesn't need changing/replacing and still cleans as well as it did the day I first got it. It was about $30NZD but you can but it here with free shipping for £17.

The verdict: The mitt is long lasting, reliable, gentle and much more affordable. I'd recommend this over the Clarisonic anyday. Again, it should only be used as an additional step in your regular cleansing routine (I use mine in the shower after I've removed all my makeup) but it will remove dead skin, makeup and excess oil really well without damaging your skin.

Cleansing is so important and I think having the right tools/products really do help. Also, just because it's the "miracle" device that costs a lot doesn't always mean it'll be better.

Hope this has helped some of you!

Claire x
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Sunday 24 August 2014

The Weekend Post

Weekends just seem to fly by this year - though this weekend seems to have brought on the start of spring. Amazingly I managed to wear my new Monki shorts on Sunday.

I clean forgot to take my camera to my boyfriend's place on Saturday but all we really did was play GTA 5 and watch the All Blacks at night.

Sunday is always my "productive" day so much like every other Sunday I did my boring adult things like laundry, vacuuming and cleaning.

Once that was over it was time to do my more relaxing bits i.e. watch youtube videos, read blogs and gardening.





 "Action shots" of my chai tea making process - if you live in New Zealand, England or Australia I highly recommend T2 chai tea. (If you are in England to my knowledge the only store is in Shoreditch) I like to add extra cinnamon (which is in the little green tin). Once I'd made this I settled in to watch some vlogs and get ideas for new posts.

After that, I had to enjoy the sun. We haven't had a day in New Zealand that's been both warm AND sunny in some time. Also my seeds from last weekend are now growing into plants so were in dire need of moving to a larger pot.



 My kale are coming along nicely and the flowers are only just starting to peek through the soil but fingers crossed once spring is properly here I'll have some plants to put in the ground.

Seeing as it is such a sunny day naturally I needed to break in my new shorts as mentioned. Shocking at taking photos of myself so I had to rope mum into it.



 Tinted moisturiser with SPF (Nars Radiant Tinted moisturiser as always *ahem*) and Gimme Brow make for my "no makeup" makeup look. Tied back hair and my standard jewellery - Michael Kors watch, Meadowlark earrings and Pandora rings. Merino jersey is from Country Road and my high waisted shorts were from ASOS.

Shorts - Monki Tailored Shorts
Earrings - Meadowlark Facet Studs

I've also finally broken out the more "summery" nail colours. The photos above didn't really do the colour justice but the colour is Hot and Spicy by OPI.


Fingers crossed I may have a more exciting post for next weekend - it is pay week next week after all!

Claire x
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Thursday 21 August 2014

The Night In

Every now and then (usually once a week...) I like to have a "night in" where I make myself feel all nice and fresh and put some extra effort into my skin and hair.

I thought I'd share some of my favourite products/methods that I use when I actually do this.


For a start, I take all my makeup off, using my usual cleansing products from my evening skincare routine. Following this, I warm up my skin with a face cloth to open my pores and remove any remaining cleanser left. Then I apply a face mask - I've really been liking the Trilogy Mineral Radiance facemask, I got a sample of it with a purchase from Healthpost and it's lasted really well. It's hydrating, cleansing but not too harsh. It's suitable regardless of what your skin is up to really. If you want to see more have a look at the description Trilogy has here. If you know me at all you know I love Trilogy (the packing alone is beautiful - something much nicer about the texture and weight of glass rather than plastic).

I leave this on for at least ten minutes - this mask takes a long time to dry which gives you more time to relax, watch youtube videos or read a magazine like I like to do.

Following this, I jump into the shower. I usually leave my face mask on for a bit after this - I like the steam to warm my skin up again before I rinse the mask and always think heat benefits any mask you're using. While Trilogy works its magic I wash my hair - I alternate between a purple shampoo to maintain my sun lightened hair over winter and this lovely SLS free one from Kevin Murphy. It smells like jasmine flowers, cleanses your hair rather than stripping it and is very gentle on your scalp (and hands if you get dermatitis like me).

I rinse off my mask and shampoo then go in for a hydrating conditioner - I use this product every time I condition but once a week I like to leave it on for extra time. I've been using the L'Oreal Absolut Repair for some time now and although I'm not really a big fan of L'Oreal I must say this is something they really got right. It makes your hair very shiny and tangle free. I slather a finger-tip full on my hair from ear-length down focusing mainly on the ends as they're most prone to damage.

Next, I turn the water down to pretty much a dribble and bring Frank to the party. I've made a few posts mentioning Frank already you can read the most recent here. I scrub my legs, bum and back to combat cellulite and dermatitis. I try and stay out of the water while Frank and my conditioner work to get the best possible results. In winter this can be a little cold but I think the end effect is worth it even if you only leave it for a minute or two.

Once I'm too cold to bear it anymore I turn the water back up and rinse off my conditioner and Frank. This is the perfect time to shave legs as Frank leaves a nice residue on your skin that means you don't need any soap or shaving lotion.

After I finally turn the shower off I pat my skin dry and apply a body lotion on my legs, although Frank is pretty hydrating my skin can get quite dry in certain places so I like to use Karma Kream from Lush as a top up. The orange smell of this lotion along with the coffee and orange of Frank is a lovely combination.

Next, my face gets slathered with several drops of rosehip and my night cream. Once that's settled I put some Sebamed on any pesky spots that have popped up, this gel works wonders at getting rid of redness and also seems to prevent spots from scarring so much too.

Best time to do this is when you've got freshly washed sheets - nothing like having freshly washed hair, smooth legs and clean sheets at the end of a long week.

Claire x
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Tuesday 19 August 2014

Just in...

...Hurraw! lip balm.

Another miracle product I've discovered this month (August weather may be awful but I'm having good luck with new discoveries!) is Hurraw! lip balm.

I've been an avid fan of Burt's Bees since I was about 17 but I think I'm starting to convert. Hurraw is vegan,  packaged in post-consumer recycled plastic, cruelty free, organic AND there's an SPF option. I bought two from Oh Natural as they ship within in New Zealand (very good service by the way). Initially I just bought the mint and the night time variety.


I must say I'm particularly a fan of the "Moon Balm" it's the more moisturising of the two and smells lovely (can't go wrong with vanilla!). I've already purchased another - the SPF version which is made with zinc oxide i.e. the natural version of sunscreen which is a physical barrier rather than a chemical one. I've even managed to get my dad to use it - which is quite something.

Highly recommend these balms, as their shape is oval they fit in your pocket perfectly, don't melt and are really long lasting on the lips. Will definitely be re-purchasing.

Claire x
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Sunday 17 August 2014

The Weekend Post: A Girl Can Never Have Too Many Levis...

Had a lovely relaxing weekend this weekend with a pleasant balance of spending money and being outside. On Saturday mum and I went into Newmarket for some shopping - it's one of my favourite places in Auckland, good shops, my favourite tapas bar and a nice atmosphere.

I didn't actually intend to buy any jeans but mum needed some new ones and of course if you find a pair that fits perfectly then how can you say no? I've been wearing my current pair of Levis jeggings to death, so bought a pair of high waisted vibrant blue legging jeans and another pair of indigo low rise leggings. My ASOS order also arrived with my kimono (will do an outfit post with that sometime - doesn't do it justice otherwise) and Monki shorts.



And of course I bought the thing I actually meant to buy in Newmarket which was the NARS oil free primer. I'll give it a whirl for a few weeks and see how I like it. I've never used primer before but with summer coming on I'd quite like my makeup to be able to last the whole day at work.

Today being Sunday I had a sleep in, did some cleaning and laundry and finally got around to planting my seeds. I bought lemon bergamot, echinacea and kale (the red russian variety). The latter for putting in smoothies.


I re-used some old Lush pots I had lying around - they're little and shallow so I thought they'd be perfect for having a few little seeds on the go.


I decided those probably wouldn't be enough and planted some more in a larger container - not quite sure where I'll put all these little plants once they germinate but I have a few weeks before that becomes an issue...!


I've got three little lines growing - I bought the echinacea and bergamot mainly for the reason that the bees love them. They also have very cute little flowers and of course the bergamot is quite nicely fragranced too!



To tell them apart once they've sprouted I got some sticks from the garden and whittled the outer layer of bark off and wrote the plant varieties on them so I could label my seeds too.


Once I'd finished with all that I headed back inside - the weather is packing in again (lovely climate in August for us in New Zealand...) and took my fortnightly block of chocolate to the office to write this post up. (I buy a block every pay day...sometimes more frequently whoops).


Next weekend I'll be back out to Newmarket with mum for a makeup consultation and then to Jack's place for the rugby game. Hopefully it goes better than the match last night...

Claire x
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Thursday 14 August 2014

Oh, Frank

Having been using Frank for a few weeks now I think it's about time I do a follow up review from my first impressions post which can be found here. Sadly I don't have any new photos or before/afters as my laptop is rapidly dying and I can't easily upload to the desk top computer booo.

Put simply, Frank is about as addictive to use during your night-time shower as drinking your coffee is first thing in the morning.

Used regularly (I frank'd every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) my skin responded really well. It's tempting to do it more because it smells so amazing but for me, I think this was about right.

The "frankeffect" is somewhat miraculous. I am a convert to say the least. My skin looks glowy after - which for me is wonderful when I'm mid-winter with zero percent tan whatsoever. It's like the glow you get after you've been on holiday minus the expensive air flights and accomodation. The redness on my face is reduced, my skin is smooth, moisturised, buffed but not oily or "overdone."

On top of this the best thing was it helped get rid of blemishes and dermatitis simultaneously. Anyone with dermatitis will know finding something that helps diminish it's effects is worth it's weight in gold. My hands were less red, less dry and didn't crack as much.

All in all, Frank is addictive, and as soon as my original Frank gets low I will most definitely be buying the coconut and cacao varieties too. I love getting things in the post and even the packing Frank comes in is beautiful. He ticks all the right boxes, cruelty free, vegan and preservative free.

Again, to order you can get Frank shipped to a shower near you from here and if you're interested you can see some amazing before and afters of the #frankeffect here.

On an unrelated note my blog may be undergoing a bit of a transformation in the next week or so with a new theme. Very excited.

Claire x
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Tuesday 12 August 2014

Trilogy Rosehip Antioxidant+

I thought it was about time for a post about one of my most loved products. That on top of the fact that so many people still seem unaware of how amazing it is for all skin types made me think this would be the best product to start with.



Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + is like the younger brother of the regular rosehip oil with the added bonus of extra antioxidants. It's hydrating, balancing and of course helps counteract daily damage your skin encounters from pollutants and (in my case more so) sun damage.

The Trilogy website claims rosehip will improve brightness, reduce fine lines and increase elasticity and firmness. On top of all this it's also great at balancing sebum production in your skin and reducing redness from acne or eczema.

I use this little beauty year round. I know some people find fault with the price, but ultimately the amount you need means a 30ml bottle will last a long time. I use 3 - 4 drops on my face and neck and the bottle I have has been going strong for 4 months now already and that's with everyday use.

I'd recommend this for any skin type - dry will benefit from the moisture it gives, out-doorsy types will get antioxidants to help with sun exposure, city goers will benefit for the same reason from the everyday pollution that damages skin. Oily skin is balanced by rosehip as adding oil to your skin means it doesn't feel the need to produce so much. Sensitive skin including those with dermatitis and eczema can use this and know it won't upset or inflame their skin too.

Definitely a holy grail and something I'll never be without. At a pinch it can even be used in place of a night cream (as I often did in my university days when a night cream was too big for my budget). For best results I'd recommend applying it after your shower while your skin is still warm and damp - don't dry your face with a towel, just let it dry in the air for a minute then apply your rosehip oil.

If you try one new thing, make it this one. You can buy it from Healthpost if you're in New Zealand, or Feelunique if you're from further afield.

Claire x
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Sunday 10 August 2014

An Unexpected Guest

I thought each Sunday/Monday I'd make a more "lifestlye/personal" post about what I get up to on the weekends - a lot of the time it'll probably be more in the city (I live near Auckland but not actually on the shore or the city itself) but sometimes I like to stay at home in the country.

I live in a farmland area and we own a small flock of sheep and some cows. As it's lambing season there are a lot of wee lambs running around the fields. Sadly this year we've had an unusually high number of lambs not making past their first few days due to their mums leaving them or the cold weather damaging their chances.

I had just had a shower and was getting changed when I heard a "maaa" from the kitchen, at first I though nahh can't be a sheep. Then I heard it again, "OK definitely sheep."

Sure enough, in the kitchen there was this little sweetie.

Being a sooky animal person I was the one who fed him, we had a teat left over from previous lamb rearing but we couldn't find the bottle to go with it anywhere, so we sterilised a ginger beer bottle and gave him dilute cows milk until we could get lamb formula in the morning. 



Thankfully he took to it superbly and drank a full two bottles that night. We think his mum had barely fed him at all, so he was very skinny and very hungry. 

I put him to bed in his box with fresh newspaper, a towel I'd warmed up in front of the fire and a hot water bottle between his cardboard box and the wall to keep him warm. Even when you take every care of them lambs often still have little chance of surviving if they've been left in the cold and without food for too long. This little boy was only 24 hours old, dad said it was possible he may already have pneumonia and we wouldn't realise. 

Thanksfully, the next morning I woke up to another little "baaa" in the kitchen and went and fed him first thing in the morning. He seemed much brighter than the night before and has got himself out of his box and was trying to such on a whiskey bottle (I expect because it looked so much like his gingerbeer bottle...) thankfully the lid was very securely on! We got him some formula and fed him up properly and took him outside for some fresh air and a walk to stretch his little legs on the grass. 



He was a bit tottery on his legs but seemed to be enjoying the sun. I fed him again and put him back on the grass but he didn't want to get down from my arms, so in the end I had him sitting on my lap for about an hour while I read a book.



He fell asleep and eventually I put him back in his box in the sun. He got a bit restless there so we put him on the grass, he teetered over to the garden and found a little place to nest in. Lambs often cuddle up to trees while their mums are feeding.


I went out for a little while with my boyfriend Jack to get some lunch and go for a walk on the beach. The weather was beautiful but it was bloody freezing! Onshore wind and very clear skies always mean very cold weather in New Zealand.


When we got back poor lamb was very droopy and I couldn't get him to feed. Unfortunately it turns out he had pneumonia after all. Dad gave him a penecillan shot in case there was still a chance we could save him ut he died in his sleep about three hours later. I buried him under the grapefruit tree in our garden, was horribly upset.

Bit of a sad end to a Saturday but unfortunately that's the reality of farming - don't think I'm cut out for it!

Anyway, back to regular posts on Wednesday if not sooner. Next weekend will almost certainly end on a more positive note!

Claire x
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Friday 8 August 2014

Evening Skincare Routine

My night-time skin care routine is naturally very important to me as in my mind it's what maintains the integrity of my skin (when it's behaving itself...). I always love reading about new products from people with similar skin types to me so for the record: I have normal/combination skin i.e. slightly oily t-zone and normal cheeks. I'm a quite prone to annoying hormonal breakouts on my chin and sometimes forehead too. 

OK, so from left to right (the order in which I would use these...) we have: 



Ultrabland from Lush, it's an oil based cleanser. It's VERY waxy and thick and is quite intimidating at first, I'd never have touched it for the life of me before I worked at Lush but after my manager shows me how to use it/how amazing it is for the skin I've been a convert. I think this is about my...6th tub? It lasts about 6 months daily use for me which, for the price, I think is really good value. I use about a pea and a half sized amount (pea and a half, is that a thing? I think it should be a standard unit of measurement) all over my face/down my neck where I've blended any makeup. You can use this one on your eye area too - I've yet to find any makeup that can withstand the power of this cleanser. The best part is it's amazingly gentle and very balancing for all skin types. 

The next product in the line up I use in tandem with my Ultrabland is Eau Roma Water toner. To remove Ultrabland you either need a nice hot face cloth or, what I prefer a couple of cotton pads and this lovely toner. I spritz it all over my face, everywhere the cleanser is (including the eye area...) and wipe it off. The oils in the cleanser break down makeup, the toner lifts the cleanser and in turns you get all that makeup off ya doll face. 

As I'm pedantic about cleansing I "double cleanse" I always remove my makeup before the shower, then use my next cleanser (yes it's another Lush one...) 9 to 5. This one again is an oil based cleanser and helps remove the absolutely last traces of makeup/leave you with clean fresh skin. I put a blob on my fingertips then massage into my face. Once in the shower after the steam has warmed your skin up a bit, wipe it all off with a hot face cloth.

Post-shower I get out but don't dry my face entirely. I sort of let it "air dry" a bit then apply my holy grail Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ urgggh what would I do without this stuff. It absorbs best when your skin is a little damp (how I don't know as oil and water don't mix but trust me on this one...). I use 3 - 4 drops on my face and neck every night. This product counteracts sun damage with its antioxidants and reduces redness (read: acne scarring) beautifully. It also hydrates without being "heavy" and my skin seems to slurp it all up come the morning so I'm left with perfectly "normal" feeling skin that's very hydrated, smooth and NOT RED.

The final step is this beautifully scented moisturiser, the Trilogy Replenishing Night Cream. Like all Trilogy products, it smells lovely without being "fragranced" if you know what I mean? It's not too much - it's just right. That aside, this night cream is from the same range as the Line Smoothing Day Cream from my day time routine. Like the day cream, it has hyaluronic acid in it which means your skin can take on up to 10 times the amount of moisture it normally would. It's not too heavy but leaves your skin smooth, firm and sort of "new" feeling somehow.

My skincare changes seasonally but only slightly - I'll probably re-do these come summer to see what I'm using then!

Where to purchase these products:

Lush is worldwide, and can be ordered online, to find your online store here.
Trilogy can be bought from several websites, I buy mine from Healthpost but you can also get it directly from the Trilogy website or if you're further afield than New Zealand you can get it from Feelunique.
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Wednesday 6 August 2014

Morning Skin Care Routine

My morning routine is pretty simple but it includes a few products not a lot of people seem to be using. I'm trying not to incorporate more "natural" products when I can whilst also making sure I have some SPF too. I think this is especially important in the New Zealand sun!

To start with, I use a cream based cleanser - Lush 9 to 5 is my go to as it removes anything your skin has purged in your sleep but doesn't leave a greasy finish. I use a ten cent coin sized amount and smooth it all over my face and then wipe off with a hot face cloth. It's a very reasonably priced product - around the $20 dollar mark in New Zealand and lasts such a long time. It's also vegan for those of you so inclined! 

The next step is my moisturiser. I use Trilogy Line Smoothing Day cream - yes it's sort of anti-aging but the main thing in it to make it such is hyaluronic acid which helps your skin absorb up to ten times the amount of water it normally would - filling in the fine lines around your mouth/forehead etc. Aside from this it's not sticky, smells beautiful and  goes on a dream. I smooth it all over my face and neck.

After this I usually go have breakfast, then come back and start my makeup. Strictly the final product in my morning routine is my tinted moisturiser but I listed it because it has an SPF in it, which is important year round but particularly in summer. Again, this get mushed all over my face and neck to protect it. Less sun damage means less wrinkles and discolouration in the long run so a well worth it step!

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Sunday 3 August 2014

NARS must haves

It's only been this year that I have fallen in love with the all amazing NARS (mostly because this is the first year I've had the income for it...) so I thought I'd make a master list of all the products I feel are absolute makeup wonders.



Nars Sheer Glow Foundation
This is the first foundation I've honestly been truly satisfied with, now I can't imagine using anything else. The consistency is smooth, and goes on like a moisturiser more than anything else. I blend it on with my fingers then buff in with a flat top foundation brush like the xobeauty flat top for a super flawless finish. It dries in no time to a semi-matte finish, I'd say it's not terribly "glowy" but looks and feels like skin, which is more than can be said for a lot of foundations that often leave me feeling a bit sticky and cake-faced. It's a medium coverage which I like - in my mind if I'm wearing a foundation I like it to be medium - full, if I wanted light I'd use a tinted moisturiser. Which brings me to my next NARS love.

Nars Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
This is the first tinted moisturiser/SPF I've ever actually liked, well, loved. It's got the finish you'd expect from the sheer glow foundation. It's not quite light coverage, but not heavy enough to me as full as the foundation counterpart. For everyday wear, it's just right. It feels light, lasts all day and doesn't feel greasy or thick which a lot of SPF creams tend to feel.
Disclaimer: although it's SPF 30 in Europe/the US it's not rated high enough for Aus/NZ ladies. However, for me, it's better than the SPF I was wearing before - which was nothing eeek.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
This baby is the perfect partner to the tinted moisturiser for those days you need just that little extra coverage. It's amazingly long lasting, covers blemishes and dark circles beautifully and most importantly, it doesn't crease. The only wear I see from my makeup is after it's been on for 9+ hours and been through a tough session at the gym. I use colour medium1 in custard.

Nars - The Multiple
This little wonder will be my best friend when I'm travelling next year. I have it in the shade Anguilla which is a lovely shade for both cheeks and lips. It's a matte finish and blends like a dream. Getting two products/uses from one = enough said.

Nars Lip Pencils
I found my dream pink lip colour in Nars satin lip pencils. Her name is Stourhead and she's a beautiful lilac/pale pink colour. She's also limited edition (wahh, considering stocking up...). I love the satin finish as sometimes matte can be a little drying. This is creamy, long wearing (especially for a creamy consistency) and has great colour payoff.

I'm sure more will be added to my Nars collection in the coming months - I have my eye on the illuminator and primer already...

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