April Favourites

April has been a very unhealthy month! Public holidays, long weekends, chocolate... It was all about junk food and late nights and my skin didn't appreciate it at all! To help keep breakouts at bay, I used a topical treatment which was effective but also created a few dry patches on my normally oily skin. In the end, the favourites of April were mainly guided by the changes in my skin condition. 

1. Rose-hip Vital Rosehip Oil (1.01fl.oz./30ml, $19.95 )

Rosehip oil's full of essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants and it does a lot of great things for your skin. It can help reduce the appearance of scars, burns, uneven skin tone, sun damage and more. For me, this has reduced my skin's oiliness and made it more supple. 

Last month, this was great as a dry skin saviour. I normally only use this at night (right before moisturiser) but I doubled up to really help the dryness. I dabbed a tiny bit on the dry areas in the morning and it really soothed my skin and reduced redness and any peeling. 

I've tried several brands, Trilogy, Sukin, Kosmea and now Rosehip Vital. They've all been great! The main thing you need to look for is that it is certified organic, cold pressed and deep orange in appearance.   

2.  Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer (0.85fl.oz./25ml; $15.95)

This primer is meant to hide wrinkles, pores and other imperfections and improve your skin's overall radiance. But this is my second tube and I still haven't noticed such changes upon application. 

So you may be wondering why this was a favourite in April. Well, that's because this silicone primer creates a great, smooth base. It added just enough slip to really help my make-up glide over my skin and not cling to dry patches. Just take care to avoid the eyes with this because the extra glide factor that it gives ends up translating to smudges.

L-R: Primer thickly applied; Primer blended out

In my opinion, this is a very basic, no frills primer that gives you a very smooth barrier between your skin and make-up. It makes a great base that everyone can use, unless they're allergic to silicones or very oily. I will definitely be reaching for this more over winter.

3. Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in #857 Golden Tan (1fl.oz/30ml; $19.95)

For a while I was consistently using L'oreal's True Match foundation but it's not very compatible with dry skin. It clings and definitely accentuates dry patches. 

So I switched over to Covergirl's Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation. It's a primer, foundation and concealer all in one and contains SPF 20 to boot. 

I have a lot to say about this foundation (I think it really is fabulous!) but I'm going to keep it short because I plan on doing an updated face base post for the cooler months and it will include a full review of this.

L-R: Flash; No flash

Here's a swatch. The two swatches above show what half a pump of product looks like and how it blends out. Hopefully if you look at the right side of each image you can see how flawless the finish is.  

I love this foundation and I think it's definitely worth all the hype. It's a full coverage foundation that lasts all day without looking/feeling heavy or clinging to dry areas. I still like to use a primer with this but, unless I want a really flawless look, I skip right over the concealer.  It's quick and easy to use and simply amazing. I'm already on my third bottle!

4. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in #415 Pink in the Afternoon ($7.00@ Cosmetics Fragrance Direct)

I absolutely adore this pink lippie by Revlon and I hate that it's discontinued. It's getting harder and harder to find but it's definitely still available at discount cosmetic stores and online. 

L-R: Flash; No flash

Pink in the Afternoon is very aptly named. It's the shade of pink that comes to mind when I think of an afternoon tea party. I picture a lush garden with ladies in gorgeous dresses, holding champagne glasses with lip imprints on the rim in this exact shade.

I can see it being a fantastic 'my lips but better' colour for some, but on my naturally deeper lips, it's noticeably different and comes off as a warm, rosy pink. It's a feminine, slightly peachy, pink creme lipstick that's non-drying and very easy to wear. Grab it if you can find it!

5. Australis Make-up Finishing Spritz (150ml; $14.95)

I love this mist! Not only is it hydrating and soothing with rose water and aloe vera, it also gets rid of make-up cake face and contains a fixative polymer to help your look last longer. It's also vegan friendly!

I mainly save this for summer and nights out but it got a bit of a work out last month. I used it before and after foundation in the mornings, and again in the afternoon just to refresh my make-up and keep everything moisturised. 

The only problem that I have with this is it's nozzle. It doesn't give off a fine mist and my current bottle is actually a bit clogged so it doesn't spray evenly either. However, I haven't found that to affect my make-up. I've been through several bottles of this and it has never caused any smudging or make-up runs. This is a great, budget buy!

5. VO5 Smoothly Does It Conditioner (300ml; $4.99)

In my last empties post, I briefly reviewed the 'Give me moisture' conditioner that's also part of this VO5 range. I shared how much I loved its consistency, ingredients, multi-functionality and most importantly, results. I hoped that this would be just as good but it's not. 

This is BETTER!

It's pretty much 'Give me moisture' on steroids. It leaves my hair feeling twice as soft and smooth and even less frizzy and puffy. It makes my hair effortless to manage and I actually didn't straighten or curl my hair in April because it looked so great on its own!

6. Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Light Penetrating Oil (3.3fl.oz./100ml; $24.99)

I bought this in early April and it's been a great addition to my haircare routine. Apart form this 'light' penetrating oil, there is also a standard and 'extra' penetrating formulation in this range. They're all meant to smooth and add shine to fine, brittle hair, just at different intensity levels. I went with the 'light' one to really reduce the the possibility of greasy hair. 

This is very easy to use and it absorbs quickly but I never use it on dry hair. I apply this on my towel tried hair from the mid lengths down to my ends and follow up with a blow dryer whenever I can. I find that the heat really helps to smooth everything out and make my hair feel nourished and soft.  I do still get results when I let my hair air dry but it just isn't as good. 

I get the best results when I use this after the 'Smoothly Does It' conditioner. When they're combined, my hair becomes so extremely silky and soft that I can't even feel the ends! I have layered hair and I can normally feel the different layers as I run my fingers through because the ends are naturally dryer and rougher than the lengths. But that is not the case when I use the two together! The final product is so silky that it just feels like I have long, continuous strands of hair with absolutely no layers. Amazing! 

7. FOCO 100% Pure Coconut Water (1000ml/500ml; price varies)

L-R: 1000ml carton; 500ml carton

This is what it says it it - 100% pure coconut water. There's a lot said about the health benefits of coconut water, and I do feel better when I have some before a workout, but I really just like how it tastes!

I've love fresh coconut juice and whenever I visited south east Asia, they became an integral part of my diet. This obviously doesn't taste like what you get straight out of the coconut but it comes pretty damn close! There's no added sugar and it's just naturally sweet and refreshing. I think they make a great alternative to packaged juices or soda. 

This particular brand is sold widely in Asian Grocers so it's pretty easy to find. And I really like how it comes two sizes - 1litre carton perfect for the fridge and a 500ml carton for travel. I always have several of both on hand so you can probably consider it an obsession!

xoxo
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Battle of the Blurs

Garnier Perfect Blur vs. L'oreal Miracle Blur

Blur creams are the latest beauty trend taking over the shelves. From high end to drugstore, every other brand seems to have a blurring product out there.

So what are they? They are beauty products that use new optical/light technology to 'blur' your skin and improve the appearance of pores, wrinkles and really any other imperfections you may have. Not all of them call themselves primers, but that's what they essentially are - new and improved, next generation primers.

Two extremely popular offerings that have recently hit Australian drugstore are the Garnier 5 Sec Perfect Blur and L'oreal Revitalift Magic Blur. These are sold everywhere, from local pharmacies to supermarkets, but they are so popular that they are often sold out. The natural question that follows then is, are they worth they hype? And if so, which brand is better?

I've previously done a brief review on the Miracle Blur and I think it's pretty obvious that I'm a fan of blur creams. But with this post now, I thought I'd see how the Perfect Blur stacks up against the Miracle Blur. I'll be considering three elements - price, packaging and the product performance. 

Round One - Price:

Here is a price breakdown based on the Australian standard retail price.

• Garnier Perfect Blur contains 22ml and retails for $16.99 (i.e. $0.77 per ml)
• L'oreal Magic Blur contains 30ml and retails for $24.99 (i.e. $0.83 per ml)

As you can see, Garnier's Perfect Blur is better priced on a per ml basis and offers better overall value

Winner: Garnier Perfect Blur

Round Two - Packaging:

For me, there are two things to consider when looking at a product's packaging - its aesthetics and its practicality.

Overall, I found the Perfect Blur to be more aesthetically pleasing. It looks bright and fresh and very much in line with what the Garnier brand often tries to represent. I cannot say that this is how my ideal blur primer would look like, but I definitely prefer it over the Magic Blur.

I have two issues with the Magic Blur. Firstly, while the matte tube seems fitting considering the 'blur' factor, there's just too much blank, red space on the front and the matte finish just makes it look dull and cheap. Secondly, the shape of the tube reminds me of the competition. Garnier already has two popular products (Pure A moisturiser and Oil Free BB Cream) that come in an identical tube and every time I see the Magic Blur, I just think Garnier!

I also found the Perfect Blur to be more practical and easy to use. The Magic Blur tube is simply too big. Even though it contains more product, it definitely doesn't warrant a tube this size. Not only does it mislead the consumer about how much product they get, it's also frustrating because the half empty tube makes it hard to squeeze out the product. It feels empty quickly and then you are forced to use both hands to get the product out. 

The Perfect Blur comes in a much more compact, convenient and travel friendly size. And it doesn't mislead the consumer about the amount of product they get!

Winner: Garnier Perfect Blur

Round Three: Product Performance

So first and foremost, do the products do as they claim? 

That's a resounding yes for both products. When applied, they both make a noticeable difference and imperfections definitely look blurred. 

Hopefully the photos below give you a better idea of how the products look by themselves and when applied. They both have a similar consistency and appearance but the Magic Blur feels a bit denser between your fingers. 

L-R: Magic Blur; Perfect Blur

L-R: Magic Blur; Perfect Blur (blended)

Now which product performs better?

To really get an idea of how the two blur creams compare, I went for a few days with Perfect Blur on one side of my face and Magic Blur on the other. I even alternated the sides that they were on so the results were more fair. 

After about a week, I noticed that Garnier's Perfect Blur consistently performed better. It gave a much better overall appearance and controlled oil more effectively.

If you look at the photo below, the Perfect Blur on the right has a slightly more pink tinge and when applied on the skin, it seems to do a bit of colour correction. My complexion always looked brighter and better on the Perfect Blur side. 

L-R: Magic Blur; Perfect Blur

Garnier's Perfect Blur was also much better at controlling oil throughout the day. I have quite oily skin and even after 5 hours of wear, the Garnier side only ever had a small 5 cent sized oily patch next to my nose. My make-up lasted better and I really enjoyed not having to blot/touch up my make-up. 

In contrast, the Magic Blur left both my cheeks and forehead very oily after the same amount time. However, it must be noted that the L'oreal website never actually calls it a primer and just tells you to apply after moisturiser. This suggests that it's one of those blur creams that require you to follow up with a primer. When I tried that, I got much better results. But at the end of the day, I want to be able to use my blur cream as a primer as well. The mornings are busy enough and I don't see the point of having blur cream as a separate step when there are products that do both at once!

Winner: Garnier Perfect Blur

Final Thoughts

I know this sounds like I dislike L'oreal's Magic Blur but I don't. After reading/watching reviews online, I actually preferred it and didn't by the Perfect Blur because I was waiting for the arrival of the Magic Blur. And when I finally got it, I really enjoyed it! I liked how it made my skin look and the lack of oil control on its own wasn't an issue because the need to blot/touch-up my make-up wasn't anything new. But my good experience with Magic Blur made me curious about Perfect Blur and the rest was history.

Garnier's Perfect Blur blows L'oreal's Magic Blur right out of the water and it's definitely the one I will be repurchasing!


OVERALL WINNER: Garnier 5 Sec Perfect Blur

xoxo
See you next time my lovelies!

My Go-to Face Base

So for my very first post I thought it’d be fitting to start with the basics and talk about my current face base. It wasn’t intentional but I seem to be going through a bit of a L’oreal phase!

After moisturising (plus sunscreen!) I apply L’oreal’s Revitalift Magic Blur Instant Skin Smoother with my fingers and follow up with L’oreal’s True Match liquid foundation using the Real Techniques buffing brush.

The results? Nice natural finish but with my oily skin I do have to set with powder and I’ll still have to touch up after 5/6 hours. 

Revitalift Magic Blur Instant Skin Smoother ($24.99 – currently 30% off at Priceline)

I believe this is known as Miracle Blur in the US but regardless of what it's called, it does what it says. It leaves a pinkish white cast that slightly blurs your skin’s surface. It also leaves matte finish but it doesn't really control oil or prolong the wear of your make-up. I use this when I get the odd blemish and the weather’s cooler or I know I’ll be indoors.

True Match Liquid Foundation ($29.95)

Shade W4 Golden Natural (adjusted with turmeric)

It’s my ideal, everyday foundation for two main reasons, a little goes a long way and it’s easy to blend. 

Unfortunately, I did find the shade selection a bit off. I use W4 Golden Natural and it’s the right yellow undertone but the shade is actually too light. However when I tried the shade up (W5 Golden Sand) the undertone was too pink! I ended up adding some turmeric to my bottle which intensified the yellow. It definitely makes the shade difference a little less noticeable, especially after I add bronzer.

Coverage: Good. Medium, but buildable to full. Very easy to blend.

Lasting power: Good. Sets fairly quickly and leaves only slight transfer. However it doesn’t control oil so setting powder/spray is a must for those with oily skin.

Shade selection: Average. Good shade range since there's 9 available in Australia but organisation of the shades is a bit iffy.

Packaging: Excellent! Pretty and sleek. Solid glass bottle with a pump.

Final thoughts: Definitely a foundation I’d recommend. Just be careful with shade selection! 8.5/10

Real Techniques Buffing Brush ($44.99)

Real Techniques Your Base/Flawless Core Collection (L-R: Contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush, buffing brush)

This comes part of the Core Collection and I think it’s perfect for liquid foundation. It’s dense enough that it doesn't eat up product and it also doesn't leave streaks. Really does all the hard work and makes buffing in foundation a breeze. It’s been through several washes and still hasn't shed or lost its shape.  

The set costs $44.99 at Priceline which I think is rather ridiculous. I'd recommend buying it online from iherb.com where it costs US $18.00. Even factoring in the exchange rate and shipping cost (starts from $4), it's still much cheaper! 

Coupon Code:

For first time users if you apply code JVR643 at checkout and spend $40 or more, you'll get $10 off (you get $5 off if you spend less than $40). And after your first purchase, you'll get your own code to share with others! 

Also, I believe if you spend over $60 you also get a further 5% off!

xoxo
And that's it from me! Hope this was helpful for someone!