Friday 26 February 2016

New IN! Sukin Hydrating Facial Masque




If you are a fan of the Australian, natural skincare brand Sukin, you will be excited to know that they are expanding their range of facial masks to include a brand new Hydrating Facial Masque.

I have long been a fan of Sukin's original, clay based Purifying Facial Masque, along with many of their other products, and have gone through around three tubs to date! I am a bit of a face mask junkie at the best of times, and I love having masks in my skincare wardrobe that cater to the different needs that my skin might have from time to time. Sometimes I feel that my skin needs a good cleansing and brightening mask, sometimes one with a kick of glycolic acid to exfoliate, and sometimes just pure hydration and plumping. The Sukin hydrating mask falls nicely into the latter.






The packaging is reminiscent of all of Sukin's face masks, presented in a 100ml tub. I like to apply my masks with an old, flat foundation brush that I use specifically for that purpose. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using clean fingers, it's just a matter of personal preference. Like all of Sukin's products, this one won't break the bank either, with a very reasonable RRP of $15.95 AUD.

The list of active ingredients in the mask are impressive. Skin softening Mango Butter, Olive oil, Avocado oil and Jojoba oil provide the skin with a good dose of fatty acids, giving the skin a cocktail of soothing hydration. Fruit extracts of Mango, Papaya and Pineapple not only provide essential vitamins A,B and C, they also contain enzymes known for their anti-inflammatory action, and naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acids to brighten, exfoliate and encourage collagen production.

The texture of this mask is soft, light, and pudding like, and it smooths easily over the skin. It has a lovely fresh fruity scent, that is quite subtle and not at all overpowering. Applied to freshly cleansed, damp skin, I have left it on for the recommended time of at least 15 minutes, and find that it sets a little on the skin, but does not dry down completely.  I like to soften the mask with a couple of splashes of warm water, and then remove with a clean, warm flannel. My skin feels and looks fresh and hydrated, and I feel that any areas of dehydration and fine lines appear smooth and plump. A little tip I like to do when using a hydrating mask, is to apply a little to the backs of my hands to give them a bit of a treat as well, an often neglected area that certainly shows signs of ageing.

On one occasion, I used the Purifying Facial Masque first, and then followed it with the Hydrating Masque... a quick and easy double duty power facial at home! My skin glowed!

Worthy of note, I have only used the mask on two occasions thus far, and have personally not noticed any irritation from the product. I will keep it in rotation for the next few weeks and months, and keep you updated on my thoughts! First impressions are very good, and I can see this mask being of benefit to all skin types. To date, I have never met a Sukin product that I didn't love, from their beautiful body washes and lotions, body and facial oils, and haircare,  I warmly support the brand as a whole.



Due for release in April, look out for it at Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, major and independent pharmacies and health food stores!




Thanks so much for stopping by!



Blessings



Lou xo









Disclaimer: I was sent this product for review purposes as part of the Beauty Directory Expert Panel for 2015/2016. This post is not sponsored.





Tuesday 23 February 2016

JetSet Gel | At-home Gel Manicure Starter Kit | Review




Good Morning Loves!


I hope you are all well?


I have a review for you today all about the JETSET GEL Nail Starter Kit. I was kindly sent this kit for review purposes and I'm ready to share my thoughts, and swatches with you today!


JETSET GEL are a new Australian company aiming to bring you a salon manicure in the comfort of your own home. Sound good to you? Whether you are a regular gel mani lover, or just like to dabble now and then like me, having your own complete kit at home is brilliant. We are all a little time poor these days, and having to fit in an appointment at the local salon can be difficult. Not only that, but the cost of regular salon gel manicures can certainly add up over time. Having everything you need at home will give you a gorgeous long lasting manicure, and you will be able to offer to do your friends and families nails too! Trust me, they will love it!



If you'd like to hear my thoughts on the JETSET GEL Nail Starter Kit, then please read on!



JETSET GEL Nail Starter Kit 

As you can see in the photograph above, the JETSET GEL Nail Starter Kit gives you everything you need to start doing your own gel manicures at home.

The kit contains an LED curing lamp, Base and Top Coats, three gorgeous shades in Cotton Clouds, Runway Red and Pink Horizons, Nail file and buffer, Metal cuticle pusher, Gel Polish remover and remover wraps, and easy to follow instructions.The kit is priced at $118.45 AUD.





JETSET GEL Cotton Clouds
Cotton Clouds is a beautiful, natural beige shade. I have applied two coats of Cotton Clouds in the photograph above. You can see that the nail line is still slightly visible, which I don't mind at all. I think a third coat would give you an opaque finish if that's what you would prefer. 
My nails were quite short, and not in the best condition at this time, so I found it difficult to wrap the tips with the top coat properly when I did this mani. Coupled with my dry, peeling nails, I still managed to get a good week of wear from this manicure before the tip wear and edges lifting got the better of me. I'm lucky to last a week without wanting to change my polish anyway, but had my nails been in better condition, and if i had wrapped the tips adequately, I think I would have definitely increased the wear time. I am very fussy with how my nails look in general, so at the first sign of wear or chipping I am compelled to do a fresh mani!



JETSET GEL Runway Red.
This gorgeous red mani belongs to my Mother-in-Law, whom I roped in to have her nails done just before Christmas last year ( it didn't take much convincing!) I ended up applying three very thin coats of polish for her mani, and she had gorgeous nails for two weeks before any signs of wear and tear. She loved it!
Runway Red is a beautiful red with cool undertones that would suit most complexions. It has a very subtle sparkle deep within, which gives it more of a glow, than obvious shimmer on the nail.



JETSET GEL Pink Horizons ( outdoor lighting ).
JETSET GEL Pink Horizons ( indoor lighting ).
 Pink Horizons is a very natural, warm pink translucent polish. It would be perfect for a French Manicure. It also has a very pretty subtle shimmer, which is just visible in direct light. It makes for a lovely fresh and natural looking manicure, with the lovely glossy shine that you get from a good gel polish. I have used three coats here.




The directions included in the starter kit are easy to follow for both application and removal. Do follow them! 

Remember that gel polishes give you plenty of play time, meaning that you can really perfect, and thin out your coats of polish without any worry of the polish drying whilst you are working with it. It is one of the great things about gel polishes!

Heed the directions and avoid leaving any polish you may have accidentally put on your skin. Again, you have plenty of time to clean up, and remove polish from the skin around your nails, and cuticles before you cure under the light.

The timer on the LED lamp that is included has three time settings, 30, 60 and 90 seconds. Do note that all of the JETSET Gel polishes, including top and base coats require a 2 minute  ( 120 second ) cure for each coat. This means you will need to reset your timer for each coat. I just do 2 x 60 seconds. 

When it comes to removal, be patient. You need to let the remover wraps sit on the nails for the recommended time. If you do, as you lift off the wrap, the gel polish will have lifted off the nail, and just be waiting for you to scoop it off. Don't dig or chip away at any areas that may be stubborn and still adhered to the nail... re-wrap and soak them, and let the acetone do it's job. If you start digging and picking, you will undoubtedly remove layers of your nail along with it. 

I also like to follow removal with a generous flood of good quality oils and balms for the next day or two, just to add some moisture back into the nail bed. Also, be gentle when you buff them prior to your polish application, you only need to do a light handed gentle buff.


Head over to the JETSET GEL website here to purchase your own kit, with free shipping Australia wide. I also have a discount code! Just use the code: 10%FORYOU to receive 10% off your order!



Are you a fan of gel manicures? Have you attempted to do your own before? If you have any tips or tricks that you find helpful please leave them in the comments below! If you have any questions, please leave them below too! 





Thanks so much for stopping by!



Blessings,



Lou xo










Disclaimer: The JETSET Gel kit was generously sent to me for review. This post is not sponsored. The links provided are not affiliate links. Cheers xo






Friday 19 February 2016

Colour THEORY Gelato Dreams Collection | Summer 2016 | Swatches, Review and Giveaway!


I have some very pretty pastel shades to share with you today, courtesy of Australian brand Colour THEORY. Colour THEORY release seasonal collections throughout the year, and Gelato Dreams is their most recent collection for Summer 2016. 

Full to the brim with gorgeous pastel options for eyes, lips and fingertips, this very reasonably priced collection will be sure to inspire you! I think it is always important to share products and brands that offer great products at prices that don't break the bank. It gives you the opportunity to experiment, and have fun with your makeup, and that's what it's all about in my opinion!!


Colour THEORY Gelato Dreams Collection Summer 2016

Colour THEORY Tropical Summer Daze 5 colour Eyeshadow Palette RRP $10.00 AUD.

Colour THEORY Tropical Summer Daze Eye Shadow Palette swatched in natural light.

Tropical Summer Daze eye shadow palette provides some very pretty pastel shades to experiment with! The pigmentation is quite good, I have built up the shades in my swatches, and they certainly "pop" on the eyes with the help of an eye primer. Some of the shades are little powdery, but they manage to adhere to the skin all the same! The deeper grey shade has the best formula in the palette, very smooth and creamy, and not at all powdery. I would definitely use an eyeshadow primer with these, however for the price it is a great little palette to pick up and experiment with colour... makeup is all about having fun after all!!



Colour THEORY Bronzer Highlighter Duo RRP $10.00 AUD.

Colour THEORY Bronzer Highlighter Duo swatched in natural light.

I am really enjoying the Bronzer Highlighter duo, and rate it very highly! Definitely a must have out of the collection in my opinion, both the bronzer and the highlighter are smooth, creamy and have excellent pigmentation. They both apply and blend into the skin beautifully. The bronzer leans a little cool, and has a matte finish. The highlighter has a champagne tone, and is quite reflective without leaving your skin sprinkled with glitter particles! I have also used this duo as eye shadows... gotta love multi-purpose beauty products!!

For $10.00 AUD, you need to pick this up! Highly recommend!


Colour THEORY lipsticks L-R Waffle Cone, Citrus Sorbet, Cotton Candy-Licious, and Lip Gloss Frosting
RRP $6.00 AUD each.

Swatched in natural light L-R Waffle Cone, Citrus Sorbet, Cotton Candy-Licious.

These are really lovely lip products for the price! Waffle Cone is a sheer, but buildable nude shade, which I generally prefer when it comes to nude lipsticks. I find them much more flattering than very pale nudes that have an opaque finish. This one glides onto the lips and has a subtle gloss finish.
Citrus Sorbet and Cotton Candy-Vicious are both smooth, highly pigmented lipsticks that definitely make more of a statement lip! Both shades wear very well on the lips, and I don't find them to be drying at all. 


Colour THEORY "Pistachio Party".
Pistachio Party is a vibrant, mint green that falls into the bright pastel family! A gorgeous shade...everyone needs a mint green polish in their collection! Shown is two coats plus top coat.

Colour THEORY "Creme De La Creme".
Creme de la Creme is very sheer, but pretty and delicate. The undertone is a little too warm for my skintone, but it makes for an understated and polished manicure. I have used three coats, and no top coat in the above photograph.

Colour Theory "Cool Capri".
Cool Capri is a gorgeous, pale cement grey, right on trend, and certainly a shade that you could wear all year round ( I say that about most polishes! ) the formula is pretty good, a little patchy with the first coat, but comes good with the second. These polishes are generally not the best at self levelling, I have found that they benefit from a good quality top coat to help give them a nice smooth finish.

Colour THEORY "I Love Bubble Gum".


I love Bubble Gum is a gorgeous cool toned pink with a great formula! Two easy coats for this shade, and she wore very well on my nails for 4 days before showing signs of tip wear. A gorgeous shade, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!All of the Colour THEORY nail polishes retail for $4.00 AUD each, which gives you the perfect excuse to pick up a couple of shades!

You can purchase Colour THEORY products Australia wide from Amcal, Amcal Max, and Guardian Pharmacies.

If you like the look of this collection, do head over to my instagram, because I am giving away a selection of the Gelato Dreams collection!! The giveaway will be for Australian residents only... I do apologise to my international readers!! I'm sorry!!I will be posting the giveaway at 8pm ESDST tonight, so be on the look out!


Have you tried any Colour THEORY products? Do you have any favourite products or shades? Do let me know in the comments below!





Thanks so much for stopping by!



Blessings,



Lou xx









Disclaimer: These products were provided for review. This is not a sponsored post. Cheers xo









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