Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey Wood & Wood + Rose & Rose

Happy New Year! I can't believe we are in a new year and a new decade. Hoping this year will bring good vibes only. Today I wanted to talk about Issey Miyake's His & Hers perfume collection - Rose & Rose  + Wood & Wood.

This ultimate power duo was described as..

Intriguing, Powerful, Poetic, Nature keeps being surprising. A fragrance that translates the generous and polymorphic sides of nature.

L'eau D'Issey Wood & Wood EDP Intense

Cedarwood and sandalwood offset by the fresh tang of grapefruit gives a double intensity. This is the ultimate fragrance for men. It's fuelled with strength, power and assured masculinity. The intense version goes all out on woody notes. This primary note to this fragrance is cedarwood coupled with a subtle smooth and creamy sandalwood scent.

The top note is composed of spicy grapefruit, lively cardamom and sharp elemi essence. The middle notes contain the vigorous power of wood interwoven with essences of Virginia cedarwood and sandalwood alongside ambrox and apricot.

Issey Miyake L'eau D'issey Rose and Rose Intense EDP

Rose & Rose is a beautiful floral and fruity scent that will allow you to experience the wilderness of a rose. It's slightly sweet and slightly fruity, perfect for summer wear.

The top note is rose with dazzling sparkle of pink pepper, accompanied by an enticing fruity hint of raspberry and pear. The generous middle note is resolutely floral, with Bulgarian rose essence and rose infusion, completed by the fruity tones of osmanthus.

PR Samples Featured

MECCA CHRISTMAS GIFT SETS

With Christmas just around the corner, it's time to head to Mecca to spoil yourself and your friends! I have been lucky to have receive a generous box of gift sets from Mecca and would like to showcase some of the fantastic gift ideas!

These are limited edition gift sets so you need to get in quick before they fly off the shelves.

Ren Clean Skincare is a beautiful clean skincare brand that uses high quality potent ingredients. Ren pride themselves on sourcing sustainable ingredients and packaging. Ren is for all skin types, vegan, cruelty free and made in the UK - free from parabens, phthalates, paraffins, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, SLS and SLES.

Beauty Sleep Booster is the ultimate overnight kit that is tailored for your beauty sleep. This kit consists of Ren's No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm;  V-CENSE Revitalising Nigh Cream and Now to Sleep Pillow Spray. 

If you are looking for a good night's sleep especially after a long haul flight - this is your go to. This incredible set is valued at $73AUD and retailing for just $43AUD!

The second glorious Ren set is Get the Glow. It's all in the name. Glowy skin triumphs layers of foundation for me any day. This three-piece set will you have ready for a beautiful glow this summer. You will receive 3 travel friendly products - Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask; Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic and Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream. 

This set is valued at $53AUD and retails for just $40AUD

The second brand I want to talk to you about is Korres. I discovered Korres a long time ago and bought 2 pots of their lip butter - it was heavenly and the rest is history.

Here we have Korres Spread the Joy $16 mini shower gel sets - this limited edition collection includes six of the most loved shower gels - Santorini, Neroli Iris, Lavender Blossom, Ginger Lime, Cucumber Bamboo and Basil Lemon. They come in 40ml bottles - again perfect for travel!

If you are looking for some non travel sized selections, check out Korres The Cucumber Bamboo Collection $29 (Valued at $43). This collection includes Cucumber Bamboo Shower Gel (250ml) and Cucumber Bamboo Body Milk (200ml). The key ingredients to this set is Wheat Protein (to maintain moisture levels), Almond oil and Aloe (used to enhance skin's suppleness).

If there is a man in your life, The Vetiver Collection for Him $80 is your pick! This includes a stunning limited edition shower gel and fragrance for your special guy. This set contains Vetiver Root Green Tea Cedarwood EDT (50ml) and Vetiver Root Green Tea Cedarwood Shower Gel (250ml).

You simply can't go festive shopping without popping in a sneaky candle. Boys Smells Cedar Stack Holdiday Candle $52 will give you an unforgettable woody scent. The candle is held in an embossed matte red glass tumbler. The scent is cedarwood chips and dried tobacco, slightly smoked with bay leaf and crushed peppercorn. The candle wax has been formulated from coconut and beeswax. Made without alcohol, sulphates, parabens, paraffin and phthalates.

Let me know your Mecca Christmas Picks!

Kindly gifted for editorial purposes

REVIEW: ELLA BACHE GREAT MOUSSE TAN DARK WITH BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTO

PRODUCT CLAIM:

• Enriched with superfood greens - Avocado oil, Aloe Vera and moisture-enhancing actives to protect against dehydration while green tea extract protects the skin's surface from free radicals. 
• Dark is one of the darkest tans on the market and Ella Bache's darkest tan yet. With 12% DHA. It applies with a violet base guide tan to provide instant colour, ensures deep flawless tanning results and long lasting colour with no fake tan smell. 
• Super light weight, easy to apply tan that dries in minutes. 
• Won't transfer onto clothes or sheets. 

Price $29 for 150ml

MY VERDICT:

•  No fake tan smell? It's true. The scent is very minute, I was only able to smell a minor scent if I put my nose onto my arm immediately post tan. It's so refreshing and pleasant not to smell like fake tan after tanning!
• It was indeed easy to apply, I used a regular tanning mitt and the mousse went on with ease. 
• The colour was instant. As soon as the mousse was rubbed in using the mitt, I was able to see where it had applied, making things a lot easier. 
• No streaking (that line on my left thigh is a massive scratch that went darker after the tan) and no orange mess. Thank goodness. I have used tanning products that streaked or left me looking extra orange. Take care when applying around the elbows, knees and ankles. 
• After one coat, I looked like I had a nice tan. I think it's buildable but I can't comment on whether this is the darkest tan I have ever used. I think there are darker tans out there but I am about 2 shades darker post application and it's a very pleasant colour after one application. 
• I didn't feel as sticky as I did with some tanner immediately after application, but I was able to feel the tanning product on my skin. I just sat on a stool for 15-20 minutes and went back on the couch shortly after. 
• After 20 or so minutes, I put my clothes back on and only noticed a tiny amount of transfer on the white waist bands of my pants. No other transfers noted. 
• The only negative thing I can pick out is that some of the residual mousse gets left in the pump and can leak if you have the tanner lying around. Make sure it's placed standing upright after use.
• Tan lasted for approximately 4-5 days
• Overall, very pleased with this self tanner. I love the colour and have received compliments on how natural it looks. I think I might use this for my wedding.  

You can purchase Great Mousse here.

PR Sample featured

JOAH BOX - SHINY NIGHTS OF SEPTEMBER BOX - KOREAN BEAUTY BOX

September Joah Box is here!!! I have been stalking Joah Box's Instagram for their sneak peak, I usually don't get this excited about subscription boxes but for the love of K-beauty, I am excited!! Joah Box is shipped directly from Korea with carefully curated products.

This month's theme is Shiny Nights of September. 

Let's unbox!

The hero product of this month's Joah Box is Atrue Origin Moisture Relief Cream $33 it is a moisturising cream with cica-recovery complex extracted from Asiatic pennywort. This cream is highly recommended for calming irritated skin or daily use on normal to sensitive skin. This product does not contain any parabens or phenoxyethanol. The cream itself is super light weight, non greasy, non tacky and absorbs almost instantly! I am very impressed with the cream and I think it's UNDER- HYPED. I did a search and could not find any review online. How can such great product be missed?!

I received Sebum Out Deep Cleansing Stick a super cool dual-stick with a charcoal cleansing stick on one end and a silicone brush on the other. The is the perfect product for a gentle exfoliation to remove blackheads, whiteheads and other surface debris. The charcoal stick itself smells minty, I experienced a cooling effect on my skin. The silicone brush also provided a bit of facial massage. If you didn't receive this item, the alternative was a W.Lab's Moist Fit Strobing Cream. I prefer what I have received!

Related Post: August Joah Box Unboxing

When I saw Joah Box's sneak peak, this was hands down the most exciting product in the box, for me anyway! I have heard so much about Etude House, the quality of the eyeshadow and pigmentation. This is their Satin Fit Eyeshadow and the shade I received is Creamy Ale, a beautiful shimmery shade. The eyeshadow itself is pigmented and beautifully creamy. Etude House is living up to it's expectations.

 Sally's Box Friendly Collagen Eyepatch was also included in this month's both. I always love under eye patches and I honestly cannot get enough of this. This would be a great set for traveling.

Last but not the least is a Whitening Comma Mask from I'm Sorry for My Skin this would be a great mask for those who likes a brighter complexion. I am always on the hunt for bronzy looking skin so I will probably pass this mask on. But I always love seeing sheet masks in boxes.

I personally liked this box, there's only 1 product I will pass on, the rest seems to be of high quality. I still prefer Joah Box to a lot of the other beauty boxes.

The total value for this box is $61.50. Joah box is $35.95 for a one off box here.

PR Sample Featured

PRODUCTS GUIDE: WEDDING PREP MUST HAVES

SKIN

I personally believe that you need to start prepping your skin at least 3-4 months prior to your wedding. This means quality products and clear/clean skin. I recommend Kate Sommerville Cold Cream to remove all traces of makeup at the end of the day, this product is excellent for sensitive skin. Following this, I always follow through with a mist or a toner, there are two excellent options here, Seed to Skin The Dew Mist is a luxury brand from Tuscany, alternatively, you can select a budget friendly option with Essano Rosehip Mist to help restore moisture back into the skin after a shower or a wash. 

What's next? Essence! I have been using Innisfree Pomegranate Essence before my serum on a nightly basis for more hydration. Serum is extra important in my skincare routine, I have selected a few; Skin Health Science REM Serum and Tatcha Violet C Brightening Serum, these are my luxury picks. My affordable yet efficient pick is Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid topped off with a 2% BHA Lotion to re-vamp the texture of your skin and rid any unwanted acne. Or if you want to go down the luxury path, I recommend Mere Prime and Protect Hydrating Moisture Cream. For your day time routine, you can't go wrong with Skin Health Science's RP Moisturiser with 21% Zinc for sun protection. 

Under eyes are super important and often shows the first signs of ageing. I don't skimp out when it comes to eye treatment. Lancôme's Genifique Yeux Light-Pearl Eye Illuminating is an under eye treatment that will make you look awake for the big day. 

Every 2-3 nights I like to mask, whether it's a sleeping mask with Mere Recharge and Repair Night Mask or an exfoliating glow mask with Andalou's Glow Mask.

BASE

Starting off with base prep, no other than Aceology Frose Infusion Gel Mask for beautiful glowy skin on the day. I have never been a primer-girl, but for my wedding you bet I will be priming! Two options; Mecca Cosmetica Illuminating Primer or... go luxe with one of my favourite brands to splurge on Hourglass Mineral Primer. 

I have two HG foundations; Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation or Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear. I often wear then to events and know they are reliable. To cover any unwanted blemishes on the day, I recommend two top performing concealers Tarte Shape Tape and Bobbi Brown's Instant Full Coverage Concealer. 

Powder is not usually within my daily routine, however there are exceptions when it comes to special occasions and really good powders - Sisley Blur Expert and Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. 

Last but not the least is Sisley Paris Stylo Lumiere this highlighter pen will give you a luminous glow. 

RELATED POST: SISLEY PARIS BLUR EXPERT WITH BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS 

CHEEKS

Cheek products are among some of my favourite beauty products, I have way too many but can never have enough!! I have 4 options for single blush; Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is a no-brainer if you want a glowy look. Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush is my top bargain pick, the blush is matte and applies well. We go back to Bobbi Brown for a cream blush, I am in love with their coral colours, it can also double up as a lip product. If you are looking for something to give you a more sun kissed glow - try Doll10 just don't use a stipling brush- try tapping using a denser brush!

I have two amazing blush palette recommendations they are both luxurious! NARS Endless Orgasm Palette consists of beautiful shimmery and glittery shades. My other recommendation is literally any Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. I own three of them and cave every time a new one comes out.. but I am currently using an older version and it's beautiful.  

Related Post: UNDER RATED BRONZER THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

EYES

My personal preference is to keep my eyes fairly neutral for a wedding. My budget eyeshadow pick is Bourjois Smokey Stories Palette. For a more luxurious feel, I recommend Charlotte Tilbury's Palettes and Sisley Paris Phyto 4 Ombre, they are both beautiful and long lasting - they never let me down.

If you prefer to use an eyeliner, I think liquid is the way to go, Tarte's Tarteist Double Take will give you the best of both worlds. Mascara is a must on your big day, Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara and Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash. 

LIPS

Before you apply lipstick, lip balm is a must, Mecca Lip De Luscious is your go to! Whether you want a natural or a bold lip, the options are endless. My budget lipstick pick is again Bourjois Lip Velvet Lipstick. A more mid-weight range is Bobbi Brown, they are beautiful, smooth and pigmented. Moving up the ladder is Lancôme L'Abolu followed by a slick beauty from Givenchy and stunners from Guerlain's KissKiss Shaping Lip Creamm range.

If you are into lip pencils - Bourjois Leveres Contour Lipliner is my pick!

LASHES

A few eyelash options to make you look super glam! Some budget full set lashes or single lashes from 1000hr, or some out there vegan lashes from Tarte Tarteist Pro!

TOOLS

If you are like me, who likes to apply some make up with fingers and some with brushes. I highly recommend Real Techniques, I have been using their brushes for the last year. It gets washed at least twice per week. I have noticed minimal fall out and excellent density.

I have been incorporating Nudie Glow's Amethyst Gua Sha and Roller to massage my face most nights. This is one of the most beautiful tools I've seen so far!

BODY

Who doesn't want hair free-baby smooth skin for their wedding? Let me introduce you to HappySkinCo!! I had an IPL device and the clicker never worked smoothly. I am so happy to have Happy Skin Co in my life because the click works flawlessly. 

If you are looking for a natural looking tan for your wedding, Essano Coconut Gradual Tan will make you look like a natural bronzed goddess. 

PERFUME

Three fragrances for your big day, budget friendly recommendation is Vera Wang's Embrace with notes of Marigold and Gardenia. Next up is Carven Dans Ma Bulle, a beautiful powdery oriental floral fragrance, or if you want to go true floral and feminine try Elie Saab Girl of Now!

MENS

If your guy likes to groom, check out Seba Man to tame his facial hair! My partner gets a lot of dry skin under his beard, he had learned the importance of washing and treating his beardy skin!

JOAH BOX - AUGUST 2ND ANNIVERSARY 2019 - K-BEAUTY BOX

Korean beauty just keeps getting bigger and bigger in Australia.
Aussie bloggers are featuring more k-beauty products than ever, why? Because they are effective and of high quality. Now you can get the best of K-beauty in a box for $33 per month directly from Korea. In each curated box, you will receive 5-7 full sized items, valued up to $100!

A full breakdown of the products within their 2nd Anniversary box below!

I was very impressed with the content of the 2nd Anniversary box, I found this box to be better than some of the previous subscription boxes I have received. 

The first product I saw was AMINOW Body Scrub (valued at $2.50), this scrub is one of a kind, made from the salt and sands of the Mediterranean Sea deserts paired with amino acid oil. The second skincare product is Celabrity Aqua Mask by Get It Beauty (valued at $4), this is a cellulose mask with triple hyaluronic acid so you will receive a solid boost of moisture! The hero product of this box is Commleaf Surely Green 100 Face Oil (valued at $35) Commleaf is taking Instagram by storm, I have seen posts left right and centre. It's a vegan-friendly face oil formulated with 10 types of oils such as sunflower, jojoba, meadowfoam, sweet almond, avocado, olive, camellia and bitter orange. 

I was super excited to see another Commleaf product Green Tea Oil Blotting Paper (valued at $4) is perfect for our upcoming summer!  There were two makeup items in this box, W.LAB Selfie Velvet Lip Tin (valued at $15) and Kicho Pack Brush (valued at $18) that can be used for foundation or to apply face/mud masks. 

It didn't stop there! Joah Box included two samples Correct Control Cream and Ultra Moisturising Sunscreen from Kicho. 

Total Value of this box: $78.50

Click here to get your own Joah Box!

Fathers Day with Grampians Olive Co Honey and Olives

GRAMPIANS OLIVE GROVE HONEY $10

Treat your dad with some premium honey! Grampian's Olive Grove Honey is cold extracted from hives within their grove and seasonally from the surrounding Grampians. Their honey is on a different level, full flavoured and 100% pure and raw (unpasteurized and unprocessed to preserve the natural vitamins, enzymes etc). Due to the fact that the honey is cold extracted and raw - it means that the honey will naturally crystallise. Their top tip is to place the honey jar in hot/warm water for clear smooth flowing honey.

Another important point to raise is that Olive Grove honey is sustainable and comes from passion and love! My favourite way to use honey at the moment is to drizzle it over toast with peanut butter, strawberries, blueberries and sesame. If your dad have a sweet tooth, this may be the perfect present!


RELATED POST:

HEARTY HEALTH VEGETARIAN RECIPE USING GRAMPIANS OLIVE OIL 
STEP BY STEP MOTHER'S DAY DUMPLINGS WITH GRAMPIANS OLIVE CO

GRAMPIANS VERDALE ORGANIC OLIVES $25

While we were in Europe we were spoiled with delicious Mediterranean treats, top grade cheese and olives. I was not a big fan of olives prior to my travels, but I was converted upon my return. There was one issue, the olives we purchased from Coles and Woolies just did not satisfy our palate. I have actually stopped my parents from buying cheap and sub-par olives too.. because life is too short!!


RELATED POST:
TURN YOUR FATHER'S DAY GOURMET WITH GRAMPIANS OLIVE CO +

Verdale Organic Olives is high quality, fresh and tasty. This is the type of olives I'd feed myself and my family. Mum gave her nod of approval and Dad's been eating them like chips. I personally think the best way to eat these olives is straight from jar or anti-pasti style.


If you are interested in Grampian Olive Grove Honey or Olives, shop here. 


*kindly gifted

SISLEY PARIS BLUR EXPERT WITH BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS

Photo taken in natural light, away from sunlight

Get excited ladies and gents. Sisley Paris launched the ultimate Insta-filter in a compact powder. Blur Expert was sold out on Sisley's website in less than one week after it's launch. LA Makeup Artist, Jillian Dempsey works with celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, Emilia Clarke and Kristen Stewart provided her testimony, "I'm obsessed. Blur Expert creates a very even look on my face overall without all of the heavy coverage". Emma stone wore the innovative powder for her 80s look at the Met Gala 2019. 

Photo taken in sunlight

STATE OF THE ART INGREDIENTS

• New generation coated mica to allow 360 light dispersion. It's super smooth surface leaves the skin wrapped in a subtle, perfectly even veil
• High-tech smoothing powder formed of resin and gum to provide a soft-focus effect
• Spherical polymers reflect light in all directions so your skin looks silky smooth
• Emollient agent to ensure an optimum hold so your Blur Expert is long wearing 
• Ultra-pure Hydrophilic Pigments to even out the complexion and stabilise it's colour for the perfect coverage

WHAT TO EXPECT

As transparent and lightweight as a veil, as smoothing and perfecting as a blurring product, Blur Expert's incredibly fine texture melts into the skin.

One single shade that is suitable for all skin tones.

Photo taken in sun light

MY VERDICT 

The first time I swatched Blur Expert was for the photo above. The texture was velvety smooth and almost creamy, the powder is EXTREMELY finely milled - much more so than Hourglass (which is my most finely milled powder). I did not notice any fall out after the swatch which is unusual for a facial powder! 

The swatch above took about 3 dips, The first time I went in for a swatch the powder was fairly translucent, the second layer produced small amounts of colour, the third layer produced the colour in the photo below.

In terms of application, I used a powder brush with some level of density (An overly soft, fluffy brush may not be able to provide you with the most optimal result). I dipped the brush into the pan and gave it a little twist to pick up the product. Very fine and minimal fall out noticed. 

I applied the powder all over my face and I was shocked....why? Because I rarely find these blurring products to work as well as they claim to. The application took about 15 sections, I applied the Blur Expert over my concealer and foundation and my face had that instant soft focus effect, my pores were minimised (not gone but minimised by at least folds), my uneven skintone evened out. My skin looked fantastic. This is not a product that will act as a concealer, it will not fix discolouration, scarring etc - so use your base products. I have taken some before and after photos and zoomed in... these were very confronting photos!!! My skin hasn't been the best for the past month - mainly due to stress. I've had lots of break outs and my texture is worse than ever but I am surprised by how well Blur Expert worked on me, you can actually see the soft focus/blurring effect on camera!!!

The photos were taken in natural light with absolute no editing or filters of any sort.

The bottom line? This works, It's going in my HG stash. I know it will cost you a pretty penny but I would not hesitate to replace Blur Expert after I run out. 

Made in Italy

Sisley Paris Blur Expert is available for $115, you can shop for it here.

NEW IN: LIMITED EDITION FLAVOUR FROM BURT'S BEES - CHAI TEA

One year at Sydney Tea Festival, we spent a solid $60 on a giant bag of sticky chai and it was well worth the money. Needless to say, I was over the moon when Burt's Bees released their new limited edition Chai Tea flavoured moisturising lip balm. I can't take out a pot and make a cup of freshly boiled chai tea at work, but at least now I can have some moisturising my lips!

This rich and indulgent chai tea formula consists of cinnamon, tea and nutmeg with pepper and cloves. A beautifully sweet yet spicy formulation to make your winter bearable.



KEY INGREDIENTS AND BENEFITS

No Parabens, Phthalates, Petrolatum or SLS
Made with beeswax, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, pepper and tea extract

- Expect a sheer supple balm with no greasy feeling
- Moisturises and glides on effortlessly
- Revitalise your lips with a formula that is rich in antioxidant and Vitamin E.
- A beautiful flavour that is not overwhelming or over powering.

Please see below for a full list of ingredients



Made in USA
Burt's Bees Limited Edition Chair Tea Lip Balm is available for $5.49 here.

LONG LASHES EYELASH ENHANCER REVIEW + BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTO

Short stumpy lashes? This post is for you. 

I have lashes, but they are not as long as I would like them to be. My lower lashes are not as full as I'd like them to be either. I have tried a couple of lash enhancers, but the brushes were always too thick and I end up with styes - ew. 

Long Lashes Eye Lash Enhancer contains vitamins, peptides and antioxidant to help stimulate, strengthen and condition your eyelashes. Their ingredients are vegan, hormone free, gluten free and cruelty free. 

I actually had no idea that a lot of the lash enhancers on the market are pumped with hormones.... that's a bit disturbing. 

Long Lashes is suitable for those with eyelash extensions, if you have brittle damaged lashes, pale thin lashes, sparse lashes or menopausal.

You won't find the following nasties in Long Lashes: Hormones, Petrochemicals, Parabens, Sulphates, Phthalates, Sodium Chloride, Palm Oil, Ethanolamine Compounds, Gluten or Artificial Colours.

If you want to support a great Aussie owned and made brand and a product that actually works - try Long Lashes.

I noticed a difference in my lashes just after a week of using, I noticed my lashes to be stronger and fuller. I would always get fall outs when I remove my eye makeup - serious casualties. I've noticed my fall out to have decreased dramatically after using Long Lashes. I've always had lashes, but they weren't as defined, after approximately 11-12 weeks of use my lashes looked more defined, thicker and longer than usual. With age.. my lashes became quite thin. My lashes looks more luscious now and plentiful. I have one eye with great lashes and the other with very mediocre lashes, I below is my mediocre eye lashes transformed. 

I will definitely continue to use longer lashes as I have a wedding coming up, I need longgggg lashes!

You can find Long Lashes here for $89AUD