Burberry Beauty Is A Beaut!

I know this is old news, but I haven’t been this excited about makeup in yonks. For some reason, no collections have caught my fancy in such a long time. But when I saw the beauty range (only from pictures, quite sadly, since it’s not launched in Australia yet. Damn!) from my all-time favourite brand, Burberry, I was in love.

Yes yes, the packaging alone won me over

Burberry Beauty is expected to hit Australian shores and counters in February/March 2011. I can’t wait!

Review: Dermalogica mediBac Clearing Overnight Clearing Gel

Description:

An overnight treatment that helps clear skin, calm inflammation and prevent future breakouts by reducing excess sebum, removing impaction plugs and eliminating bacteria. Contains no artificial fragrance or colour.

This gel contains 2% salicylic acid, which is used for treating breakouts and an effective exfoliant.

I bought this as part of the travel-sized mediBac range just to give it a go.

I originally thought this was some sort of pimple cream, until I was kindly corrected by my beauty therapist at Endota Spa. This goes onto the skin after toner and serum, but before your moisturiser. I’ve been using it almost every evening, applying it around my nose, forehead and chin, since these are the areas most prone to breakouts.

Did it control my breakouts? I believe it did. It certainly reduced the amount of sebum secreted below the sides of my nose. I normally get a lot of blocked pores around this area and these have been reduced, although not significantly.

The clearing gel is used for more of a preventative measure against breakouts than anything else. I would still prefer to use a proper pimple cream for zits than just this.

Dermalogica’s mediBac Clearing Overnight Clearing Gel retails at AU$64 and is available at professional beauty salons such as Endota Spa, Pure Indulgence, etc. It is also available on Adore Beauty and Strawberrynet.

What I like about it: Reduces sebum around my nose; helped controlled my breakouts.

What I do not like about it: Nothing

Bio Oil, You’re A Scar Saver

That time of the month comes, my skin breaks out, I very stupidly pick at my spots, and voila! I’ve just added another scar to my face. Bugger.

I admit that I didn’t read any reviews of the popular Bio Oil prior to purchase. I was sucked in by its advertisement in a beauty magazine, and in my lowest of moods, cursing my itchy fingers for picking on yet another pimple thus causing another scar, I rushed to the nearest pharmacy and got myself a bottle of Bio Oil. Fingers tightly crossed that it would, at the very least, lighten the scars.

Description:

Bio-Oil® is a specialist skincare product that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Its advanced formulation, which contains the breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil™, also makes it highly effective for numerous
other skin concerns, including aging skin and dehydrated skin.

Bio Oil’s scent reminds me of soap. It’s definitely not unpleasant.

I dipped a clean cotton swab into the oil and dabbed on the scars gently. After applying twice a day for two weeks, I was completely over the moon to discover that my scars have indeed been lightened. I knew well enough to not believe it’s a miracle product which could eliminate scars altogether. Nothing, save surgery, can eliminate scars completely. But it definitely lightened and reduced the appearance of the scars tremendously and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Sorry there are no pictures to show you, because I stupidly forgot to take before-and-after shots for this *palm smacking forehead*.

I use this everytime there’s a scar (*gulp*), and it’s a real saver come that time of the month when my skin starts to break out. I’ve never tried using it on anything other than scars though, even though its description states that it is also good for stretch marks, uneven skin tone, and aging and dehydrated skin. I’m afraid I cannot vouch for the rest. I’m not really arsed about the hoity-toity description of the ingredient PurCellin Oil (TM!), since it’s usually marketing that gives it that bombastic description.

But for lightening scars? I give it an A+. No kidding.

Bio Oil retails at AU$9.95 for 60ml, AU$19.95 for 125ml and and AU$29.95 for 200ml and is available at all leading pharmacies.

What I like about it: Lightens scars. ’nuff said.

What I do not like about it: Nothing. Bio Oil, I love you.

Cloud Nine Micro Iron – Man, It’s Tiny

I don’t know if you know this, but I have to straighten my hair with a flat iron every morning after I’ve washed my hair. I used to have my hair digitally straightened (whatever the heck that means; that’s how hair salons put it anyway) at the salon, which would make hair maintenance a whole lot easier. However, I really don’t like the first month after the process. My hair would be incredibly flat and straight, and it looks something awful on my rather large face. So, to avoid lifeless flat hair OR incredibly wavy and poofy hair (if I don’t get it done), I hit the flat iron.

I’ve been sent the Cloud Nine Micro Iron by the good people of Cloud Nine for review. To the tell you the truth, I was really excited about this one, as it’s deemed to be the next GHD. Cloud Nine irons are developed by the founders and inventors of the original GHD iron (but it’s not part of GHD). Since I do not own a GHD flat iron (just ‘cos I’m cheap), this was a great opportunity to finally check out a Cloud Nine flat iron. I contemplated between the regular iron and micro iron, and in the end, chose the micro iron as I already have a regular-sized straightener.

Just a bit of description about the iron:

The Cloud Nine Micro Iron allows you to focus on shorter areas of hair, with added shine every time you use thaks to its unique black plates. Working at an optimum temperation of 150C, it is idea for shorter styles, fringes, men’s hair or simply the perfect handbag/travel size.

Okay, I knew I asked for a micro iron, so I should expect it to be small, but man, it’s tiny. Nothing wrong with that really, just that it’s really cute and definitely purse-friendly. It comes with a black velvet bag you can transport the iron in. The micro iron is 15cm in length and under 200g in weight.

The iron comes with a heat guard (see the blue plastic thingy in the first picture), which you can use after you’re done with the irons. Simply slip on the protective heat guard and allow the iron to cool down. There’s only one temperature setting with the micro iron, which is 150C.

An important safety feature of Cloud Nine irons is the hibernation mode. Its sleep mode kicks in when the iron is switched on but not used for 20 minutes. The iron will cool to ‘box temperature’ and reheat once it’s switched off and on again. This is a huge plus point for me as I’m often worried if I’ve switched my flat iron off or not.

Oh, and the iron also has a RFID chip which allows Cloud Nine to identify each iron with its own unique ID number. This means that the company can track your iron and monitor it throughout its working life to ensure it’s a genuine product only sold through authorised Cloud Nine stockists. There you go. At least you’ll know you’re not getting some sold-on-eBay-made-in-China lemon.

Overall, I really like this iron. While it is too small to fully iron all of my long hair (it IS possible, of course, only that it will take me yonks to complete), I use it mainly to style my fringe and to give the front bits a bit of a wave. And its size is absolutely perfect for traveling. I wouldn’t have to lug my regular-sized iron with me when traveling anymore, thank God.

The Cloud Nine Micro Iron retails at AU$90 and is only available to purchase at reputable professional salons. For Cloud Nine stockists, please call 1300 C9hair (1300 294 247).

You Have … How Many Boxes For Toiletries?!

Let me tell you this, you never know how much makeup and beauty products you actually have until you move. In my packing to move from the old apartment to our new home, hubs was absolutely shocked that I have five large boxes marked TOILETRIES alone. Five. And that does not include a large box marked MAKEUP.

The amount of makeup shown above was packed after throwing away almost half of the amount you see. Having amassed so much in the past, I didn’t realise I’ve been keeping a lot of expired lip products, mascaras and at least 6-year old eyeshadows. Yikes.

As for the five boxes of toiletries, well, my only excuse would be “err, shampoos and conditioners (and shower gels, body lotions, moisturisers, jars and bottles of lotions and potions, etc etc) are quite big in size!”

So now you know. Time to go check your makeup and beauty products. How long have you had it? If that mascara is dried out, chuck. If that eye makeup smells wonky, or if you haven’t used it in a year, either give it away or chuck. If that creamy white moisturiser has turned into a radioactive green, please throw it into the Biohazard bin. Even if it’s a La Mer.

The next time you move, don’t say I didn’t warn you if you find out you too have that many boxes marked Toiletries