Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Inika Cosmetics Long Lash Vegan Mineral Mascara Review


I've always had a soft spot for green and clean beauty brands. Inika is one of those brands.
Inika is 100% cruelty free and registered with the UK Vegan Society and OFC certified to the Australian National Organic Standard. There are so many products I want to try from Inika, today I want to let you guys know how I went with their vegan mascara.

ABOUT INIKA VEGAN MASCARA

- Uses 100% plant derived and natural ingredients to boost length, volume and lash span.
- Voluminous brush head allows the perfect amount of mascara to be applied.
- 1 coat gives you the length and 2 coats will give you volume.
- No harsh synthetic ingredients.
- No animal derived ingredients.
- Cruelty free, certified vegan and certified halal.

RRP: $45


MY VERDICT

  • My lashes are straight, extremely straight to the point where curls are difficult to maintain... with the exception of waterproof mascaras and tubular mascaras. Most mascaras tend to weigh my lashes down, so it wasn't too much of a surprise when my lashes were unable to maintain it's curl after applying Inika's mascara as it is nor a waterproof or a tubular mascara. 
  • The mascara itself was quite wet and a lot would go onto my lashes when applied, my lashes are not very long and luscious so I found the brush to be quite big. 
  • The mascara did create some length and volume, but for my rather straight lashes, it really didn't look like much - more visible on my lower lashes though. 
  • Longevity wise, I was pleasantly surprised, I wore this on Australia Day, and boy it was a warm day! We were out from midday until about 9PM. I checked in around dinner time at 6PM there were no smudges. At 9PM, I noticed some minor movements from my lower lashes. 
  • I haven't tried many organic mascaras but I have heard horror stories. Whilst this mascara did not make my lashes look WOW, I would use it for a natural look and I like the fact that the ingredients are mostly organic.

BEFORE

Natural Lashes curled to the extreme, I must've spent a good 3 minutes curling. 



AFTER

Applied 2 coats of Inika Long Lash Vegan Mascara to top and bottom lashes




Product provided for editorial purpose

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Melissa Allen Mood Essentials - I Have Joy and I Have Focus



Melissa Allen Mood Essentials is one of the first natural fragrance brand I have used or been introduced to that infuses 100% natural essential oils into her beautiful products. More than often, I would apply essential oils to my temples to distress, so having those powerful essential oils inside a travel friendly fragrance container allows me to use Melissa Allen's Mood Essentials on the go. The best part is that her fragrances are emotionally linked and categorised. When I want confidence just before an interview or an event, I would spritz I Have Confidence.

Melissa recently came out with two new additions lately - I Have Joy and I Have Focus.
Also important to note that Melissa's products are cruelty free.


I HAVE FOCUS $15.95 for 7ml / $39.95 for 50ml

I Have Focus is ideal for concentration and assisting individuals to be more active in achieving set goals. This scent contains rosewood, rosemary, frankincense and lemon to boost clarity, productivity and decision making.

I would typically use this on a busy work day but I did use it during a long day out just to make me feel more "alive" - the scent is calm, sweet and not over-powering. Melissa's perfume are classified as "natural" fragrances, so you may notice that longevity does not stretch as far as mainstream fragrances with all sorts of ingredients where I would need clarification for.


I HAVE JOY  $15.95 for 7ml / $39.95 for 50ml

I Have Joy is a cheerful blend including grapefruit, orange, howood and bergamot. I love using this to calm myself down - which is the ultimate goal of this blend. Melissa indicated that being joyful is about delight inspiration, passion and motivation, ultimately being happy comes with tremendous benefits that money cannot buy.

Final words..

I adore Melissa Allen's range, I have previously tried some of her other natural fragrances and was blown away by the relaxing and calming properties that cannot be achieved by mainstream fragrances. The travel size cannot be handier, they are excellent for when I go away and when I want to carry a little something in my bag that is not a long tube of deodorant. 

Find out how you can get your free sample here.


Featured products were provided for editorial purpose.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tint Cream Launch @ The Island, Sydney


First Aid Beauty is on a mission to rescue your skin and turn every day into a good skin day. Founded by Lili Gordon in 2009, she set out to create a line of skincare products that is effective in creating healthy looking skin.

I was whisked away by First Aid Beauty to celebrate their the launch of their brand spanking new Ultra Repair Tint Cream at The Island - YES over looking the harbour bridge, what a view!



With BB and CC creams a thing of the past, First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Tint Cream is an SPF 30 complexion perfector that's been clinically proven to provide 12 hours of continuous hydration, giving you coverage that won't flake off.

Ultra Repair Tint Cream is available in 5 different shades (Fair, Light, Medium, Tan and Rich) that blends seamlessly to offer a medium to buildable coverage. This cream sets out to minimise the appearance of redness, pores and uneven skin tone while providing a natural and luminous finish.

The texture is like whipped mousse, it is non-comedogenic and formulated without parabens, phthalates, talc or artificial colorants.

There are fabulous ingredients within the tubes, including - Colloidal Oatmeal, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Micro Pearls

Lili Gordon - Founder of First Aid Beauty


First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Tint Cream will be available at Sephora Australia from March 2018.

RRP $44 for a 30ml bottle.

Lily not Louise attended this event as a guest of First Aid Beauty

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Scout Cosmetics Summer Skincare and Makeup


I have been working with Scout Cosmetics for a few months now. Today I've decided to give you an overview of some of their selected skincare and makeup products.

I'd use a cleanser most days and evenings. Whether it's the end of the day or the start of the day, I want to ensure my canvas is clean. When using in the evening, I would start off by removing my makeup with a makeup wipe followed by a cleanse using Scout Cosmetics Super Fruit Exfoliating Wash Off Cleanser. I automatically associate the word "exfoliating" with exfoliating grit which can be quite abrasive on my skin. I was pleasantly surprised to find the cleanser without a trace of grit and it was able to cleanse my face quite nicely (paired with Foreo's cleansing device). The scent is very fruity with a strong acai smell.

Following the cleanse I would apply 3 drops of Scout Cosmetics Vitamin C Brightening Serum this product is absolutely beautiful, comes in a little cute droplet bottle. The serum absorbs into your skin with ease following application. Scent wise, it's a subtle smell between floral and fruity. I really like this product.

Scout Cosmetics Balance and Replenish Light Moisturiser is applied as soon as the Vitamin C is absorbed into the skin. Whilst this is not a heavy moisturiser, I found it to sit on top of my skin longer than other moisturisers I have used. I feel that a full pump is too much for the face but enough for your face, neck and décolletage. I am not a big fan of the scent.... I think it might be the pumpkin properties? To be honest, while I don't mind this moisturiser, I don't particularly prefer it. However I will continue to use it and see if I can get used to the scent.




During the Christmas period, I have been using 3 simple steps from Scout Cosmetics makeup line. I use Scout Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner for a kitten flick, I liked the formula of this eyeliner, however I found the brush rather difficult to use and had some trouble drawing a straight liner on my lids. I found the best way to use this product is to draw three dots on my lids (close to my lash line) and blending it in with a flat and dense eye shadow brush to create a slightly smoky kitten flick look. The formula is non-irritating and does not smudge. I hope that Scout Cosmetics will change the brush to allow a better application as the formula is fantastic.

I would then use Scout Cosmetics Lipstick in 07 for both cheeks and lips, I have been watching a lot of YouTube Videos lately and started to match my cheeks to my lip colour. I adore Scout's lipsticks, they are super duper moisturising and not as bold or intimidating as it looks in the bullet.

Finishing off with Scout's Nail Polish in Don't Loose My Number, it's a beautiful Christmas/New Year Red. I received quite a few compliments while wearing this shade. Two coats proved to provide adequate coverage, the nail polish would last for approximately 3 days on me before any chips are noted.

*Products featured were provided for editorial purpose

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Synergie LipGlo Review with Swatches


A while back I attended an event held by Synergie, it's a brand that's been under my radar since. I am somewhat conscious of the products that I use on my face, some days I prefer green beauty and others times I feel that life is too short so I will just use it all. Synergie promotes "clean science", it really does make sense, doesn't matter how green, natural and chemical free a brand claims to be, it will always contain chemicals. As someone who is fairly clueless about chemistry, Synergie explained their motto and brand message clearly and it was right up my alley. 


ABOUT SYNERGIE LIPGLO

Synergie developed their very own range of Lip Glos, a cosmeceutical gloss range with cutting edge ingredients and antioxidant benefits from sheer to opaque coverage. 
  • No artificial colours or fragrances
  • Contains precious oils and anti-ageing stevia
  • Vegan and cruelty free
  • Available in 8 shades 
Key Ingredients:
  • Stevia - minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on skin's surface. Associated with increasing collagen production.
  • Alpha Bisabolol - A powerful anti-inflammatory derived from chamomile to help soothe and calm irritated skin. 
  • Blackcurrant Seed Oil - Reduces inflammation, regenerates damaged ageing skin and protect the skin barrier from environmental aggression. 
  • Argan Oil - Soothes, softens and protects skin. 
  • Castor Oil - Antimicrobial that boosts the immune system and assists wound healing.
  • Macadamia Oil - A stable and hydrating oil, high essential fatty acids and antioxidants to promote skin's ability to repair and heal. 
Price: $39 per gloss

For Stockists: 
https://synergieskin.com/stockist-locator/



MY VERDICT
  • My first impression when I opened the box was  - "Wow, what a beautiful range of wearable colours!!" I often receive a lot of colours I would never ever wear, so it was a lovely surprise to see a range of carefully curated colours that I would not hesitate to put on my lips.
  • The shades are as claimed from sheer to opaque as you can see from the swatches, some shades are more pigmented than others, there are 2 topper shades: Sheer and Georgie; that can also be used without a base colour. Georgie possess a pearlescent finish while sheer is similar to a colourless lip gloss.
  • The consistency of these LipGlo is smooth, velvety and non-sticky. Whilst the colour may not last as long as a liquid lipstick, but moisturisation is truly on point. I wear Sheer on more days that you would imagine. However, my all time favourites are Tea Rose and Blossom Dust.
  • All 8 shades possess a strong Peppermint scent, I think this may be a "be all or end all" for some people, especially those with a particular aversion to Peppermint. I am on the fence with Peppermint scents. It's great for mornings and times where you want to ensure your breath smells good without mints, however I am a lover of subtle or scent-less products, I would have preferred a different scent and whilst Peppermint is not my preferred scent - I don't mind it. The glosses itself are so good that I would continue to use it - Peppermint or not.
  • The finish is glossy, the only shimmery shade is Gossamer and the wands are standard doe-foot applicators. 


*Featured products provided for editorial purpose

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