Eucerin Redness Relief Cleansing Gel

A natural licochalcone (licorice root extract) enriched formula gently cleanses and soothes visibly red skin.

Removes makeup and impurities, maintains skin’s moisture balance. Won’t leave skin with a dry or tight feeling.

Packaging

Plastic tube 200 ml/6.8 FL. OZ.

Price

I bought this for about $10 from iherb.com

Who’s it for?

Skin prone to redness from conditions associated with inflammation. Normal to dry, Oily, Combination skin types.

Directions

Morning and night gently massage over moist face and neck. I like to use this as my shower gel as well as face wash.

Formula

Yellow gel. Water-based, Soap and fragrance-free.

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin (skin replenishing/restoring), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (cleansing agent), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (coconut derived mild cleansing agent), PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate (cleansing agent), Decyl Glucoside (sugar derived mild cleansing agent), Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract (anti-irritant), Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzophenone-4.

Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract is a soothing plant extract suited to all skin types especially sensitive reddened skin. Components of licorice root have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Positives

• Effectively removes light makeup

• Inexpensive

• Gentle formula rinses clean without leaving residue.

• fragrance free

Negatives

• Licorice root extract works best at reducing inflammation in leave on products.

Final Thoughts

This is another great budget-friendly cleanser from Eucerin. The glycerin rich formula is combined with the mildest cleansing agents so it won’t leave skin feeling stripped. This cleanser doesn’t lather as much as Eucerin’s Gentle Hydrating Foaming Cleanser but it does feel very soothing during the summer months and therefore an excellent choice for most skin types especially if you have combination skin with some dry patches.

Overall Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Foaming Cleanser

A gentle non-irritating soap-free cleanser for sensitive facial skin. It creates a moisture rich lather that leaves skin soft and clean. Rinses away easily, leaving skin refreshed and free of residue.

Packaging

Plastic bottle with pump 237 ml 8 FL. OZ.

Price

Approximately $7.75 AUD. I bought mine from iherb.com

Who’s it for ?

Normal, oily, combination, acne prone skin types.

Directions

Wet your face, lather a generous amount (I use 2 pumps) of cleanser in hands gently massage into skin. Rinse well. May be used with your Clarisonic or Foreo device.

Beauty Tip

If you’re wearing heavy makeup use this as your second cleanse after micellar water or oil.

Formula

Water-based, soap-free, foaming gel. Fragrance-free. Has a white pearlescent appearance that comes from the ingredient glycol distearate.

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (cleansing agent), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (surfactant), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate (cleansing agent), Glycol Distearate (emollient), PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate (surfactant), Cocamide MEA (cleansing agent/texture enhancer), Laureth 10 (surfactant/emulsifying agent), Citric Acid (pH adjuster), PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate (cleansing agent/emulsifier/thickening agent), Lanolin Alcohol (emollient), Imidazolidinyl Urea (preservative)

Sodium Laureth Sulfate or SLES a mild detergent cleansing agent that may be derived from coconut. Combined with several other cleansing agents and surfactants to create a gentle moisture rich lather. Not to be confused with SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) which is more irritating and problematic causing sensitivity and allergic reactions.

Lanolin Alcohol a fatty alcohol derived from lanolin. Not to be confused with other sensitising alcohols. Functions as an emollient, helps prevent moisture loss and keeps skin soft.

Positives

• Excellent Value. A bargain at under $10.

• Fragrance-Free.

• Effective at removing light makeup.

• Extremely mild soap-free formula won’t strip skin of moisture.

Negatives

• The pump packaging is a little dodgy. I wish it came in a tube.

Final Thoughts

I originally bought this because I was looking for something similar to Alpha Skincare’s Refreshing Face Wash. I was pleasantly surprised. If you’re on a budget and after a basic af cleanser that delivers on every promise I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Overall Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Olay Eyes Pro-Retinol Eye Treatment Review

Olay Eyes promises to decrease the appearance of crow’s feet and deep wrinkles to reflect visibly smooth younger looking eyes.

Reduces the appearance of fine lines by stimulating the production of collagen by deeply penetrating the skin’s surface.

Diminishes crow’s feet in just 4 weeks. (based on a wrinkle clinical study in Germany from 2008)

Who’s it For ?

All Skin Types. Deep wrinkles and crow’s feet.

Formula

Water-based, light, fragrance-free cream.

Packaging

Comes in a 15ml opaque squeezable tube with targeted applicator tip.

Price

RRP $48.99 Australian Dollars. I bought mine for 30% off from Coles.

Ingredients

• Retinyl Propionate

Pro-Retinol is a non-prescription and less irritating form of Vitamin A. An effective ingredient in skincare for anti-ageing, it has antioxidant and restorative properties helping skin to stay firm and look younger overtime. According to Olay their most potent form of retinol will help increase surface cell turnover so wrinkles appear softer and less visible.

• Dimethicone

A Silicone slip agent that gives this product its light silky texture.

• Niacinamide

Vitamin B3. Antioxidant. Third on the list after water and glycerin this anti-ageing and cell-communicating ingredient helps improve the look of wrinkles. Olay uses Niacinamide in most of its skincare.

• Panthenol

Vitamin B5. Attracts and holds onto moisture and improves skin’s natural barrier function. Supports the production of collagen.

• Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E. An antioxidant ingredient that helps reduce free-radical damage and environmental stress on skin.

Directions

AM or PM. Apply to under eye area only (about 1/2 pea size for both eyes) concentrating on crow’s feet and deep wrinkles. Avoid eye lids and lash line. Use with a broad spectrum SPF that protects against UVA and UVB rays preferably 30+.

Positives

• Fragrance-Free.

• Contains several ingredients proven to help prevent wrinkles from forming with consistent use.

• Contains some skin repairing emollients to help reduce the look of crows feet and soften the look of wrinkles.

• fast-absorbing, pleasant hydrating formula.

• Packaging protects antioxidant ingredients from exposure to light and air.

Negatives

• The price. It’s very expensive for a drugstore brand.

Final Thoughts

I really like using this eye treatment, loved that it’s not greasy or heavy, it absorbs quickly. I’ve been alternating it with my other eye treatments. It hasn’t irritated my eyes, I even used it on my eyelids without irritation so far (I don’t recommend you try this if you have super sensitive eyes). Although I don’t have a huge issue with crow’s feet or deep set wrinkles I believe this product is effectively working to help prevent them from forming. I do intend on stepping up its use to both morning and night as long as I’m able to tolerate it. I took a point off for the price. Olay, why do you charge so much for your products in Australia!?

Overall Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Find me on Instagram @rokitshopitbeauty

Cosrx Centella Blemish Ampule Review

A highly concentrated treatment that provides relief to irritated, sensitive, stressed-out skin. According to Cosrx; the combination of Centella Asiatica Water and Centella Asiatica Extract prevents further breakouts by normalising sebum production and maintaining your skin’s natural protective barrier.

Centella Asiatica Plant

Packaging

Clear glass bottle with dropper. Size: 20ml / 0.67 fl. oz

Price

I bought this from stylekorean.com can’t remember exactly how much I paid I think it may have been a little over $30.

Who’s It For ?

Sensitive, normal to oily, post blemish redness, blemish prone.

Formula and Appearance

Alcohol and fragrance-free. Lightweight pale green serum.

Directions

May be used AM and/or PM. After your toner massage 2-3 drops evenly onto face and neck until absorbed. Use more as needed. Avoid eyes and mouth.

Ingredients

80% Centella Asiatica Leaf Water replaces plain water.

Butylene Glycol : Humectant. Helps actives penetrate skin.

Glycerin : Emollient, skin-repairing ingredient helps maintain skin’s barrier function and prevent dryness.

Betaine : Amino Acid, Anti-Irritant, Humectant. Helps retain moisture and smooth the appearance of skin.

1,2-Hexanediol : Preservative.

Allantoin : Anti-Irritant. Extracted from urea a component of urine. Has soothing properties and improves the condition of skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate : Antioxidant, Skin-Restoring and Replenishing. The salt version of hyaluronic acid. It has cell-communicating and antioxidant and anti-aging benefits. Boosts moisture content, helps reduce inflammation, redness and prevents moisture loss in skin.

Centella Asiatica Extract : Herbal Plant Extract, Antioxidant, Anti-Irritant and source of Amino Acids. Has some antibacterial and wound healing properties. Can help improve moisture content in skin. May also be known as gotu kola and asiatic acid.

Arginine : Amino Acid with Antioxidant properties. Assists with wound healing.

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil : An Emollient smooths and softens the look of skin.

Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex : Colouring Agent giving this product its green colour.

Carbomer : Thickening agent.

Hydroxyethylcellulose : Plant-derived thickening agent.

Positives

✔️Gentle on skin. Doesn’t contain irritating ingredients.

✔️Unlikely to cause breakouts.

✔️Includes several ingredients that help maintain skin’s natural protective barrier.

Negatives

✖️Light sensitive ingredients and antioxidants maybe effected by the clear packaging.

✖️Can feel slightly sticky on skin if you apply too much. Use a few drops at a time for best results.

✖️Can’t normalise sebum production.

✖️Won’t treat existing blemishes and breakouts.

Final Thoughts

Cosrx Centella Blemish Ampule contains a good mix of emollients, anti-irritants and skin conditioning ingredients that may assist in helping skin to heal and reduce inflammation associated with blemish prone skin.

I found it pretty versatile. I could use it on its own; as the final step in my routine, layered over a chemical exfoliant or cocktailed with more my more potent acne and spot treatments (retinol, azelaic acid or vitamin c). Of course Cosrx recommend using it with their own Centella Blemish Cream for maximum results.

I do however feel the name is a little misleading, calling it a Blemish Ampule may mislead customers into thinking it will effectively treat acne. While the Centella Asiatica Extract may have some antibacterial properties it certainly won’t work miraculously to treat breakouts you’re currently experiencing. But what really gets me frustrated is when brands make claims like promising to normalise sebum production. I’m quite oily in the t-zone and I didn’t experience any sort of normalisation in the amount of sebum my skin produced especially on my forehead. The regulation of sebum is determined by hormones and genetics, you can’t ‘normalise’ or regulate the amount of oil your skin produces with skincare.

I wasn’t really blown away by this product but wasn’t completely disappointed either. It been working quite well as a light moisturiser in the Summer months.

Overall Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Find me on Instagram @rokitshopitbeauty

Paula’s Choice Refreshing Moisture Mist Review

Promises to instantly hydrate skin for a renewed radiance.

Packaging

Opaque plastic bottle with spray applicator. Size: 88ml / 3 fl. oz

Price

I bought this myself it costs $36 recommended retail in Australia. It’s available from paulaschoice.com.au.

Who’s it for ?

All Skin Types.

Directions

Shake bottle, hold at arms length, close your eyes and mist 2-3 times onto face.

When To Use

Day and/or night after cleansing as a toning spritz or to refresh dehydrated skin. It shouldn’t be sprayed over sunscreen. It’ll dilute it making your SPF less effective.

Formula

Water-based, lightweight, no detectable fragrance, alcohol-free.

Ingredients

Chock-full of skin replenishing and hydrating ingredients like glycerin and butylene glycol. Some other ingredients worth noting are:

• Punica Granatum Extract

Antioxidant. Pomegranate extract improves the look of wrinkles. Prevents damage from environmental stress.

• Collagen Amino Acids

Hydration. Helps smooth skin and increase moisture levels.

• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8

Replenishing. Synthetic peptide made up of 3 amino acids. It helps restore the look of dehydrated skin and reduces irritation.

• Sodium Hyaluronate

Multi-purpose ingredient also known as Hyaluronic Acid in salt form. Boosts skin’s moisture content, reduces irritation, helps prevent dehydration.

• Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Potent Antioxidant. Açai is a small dark purple berry and source of ferulic acid and epicatechin.

• Tripleurosepermum Maritimum Extract

Antioxidant. Sea Mayweed is a rich source of amino acids it hydrates, calms, soothes and softens skin.

• Adenosine

Anti-inflammatory and Hydration. Yeast-derived, has proven anti-wrinkle benefits. Helps skin look younger and smoother.

• Panthenol

Hydration Vitamin. Pro Vitamin B5 is a humectant that attracts and holds into moisture. Improves the look of dehydrated skin.

Positives

✔️ Non-irritating.

✔️Hydrating for all skin types including sensitive, oily/acne prone skin.

Negatives

✖️Doesn’t spray a fine mist.

✖️Expensive.

✖️Gimmicky.

✖️Doesn’t work well over daytime makeup.

Final Thoughts

Last year Paula’s Choice released a lot of new products. Every month it seemed they were launching something new. Was a facial mist entirely necessary ? Probably not.

It’s a bit pricey considering the size. It’s a handy size if you’re traveling. I would’ve loved a little more product for the money.

As always Paula’s Choice guarantee you won’t find any irritating ingredients in their products unlike facial mists from other brands (think Mario Badescu and Jurlique). You won’t find fragrant floral rosewater, lavender, witch hazel, drying alcohols or essential oils in here. Great news if you happen to have sensitive and/or reactive skin. It provides light and refreshing hydration to my combination-oily skin and is very good for relieving minor dry patches.

The only real flaw I found was with the applicator. The best advice I can give is don’t press the nozzle all the way down unless you want to saturate your face and clothing. You’ll get the most out of this mist when you spray it onto a cotton pad, and apply it like a toner to freshly cleansed skin.

Overall Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Find me on Instagram @rokitshopitbeauty

Disappointing Beauty Products 2017

1. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%.

I bought this at the height of Deciem’s popularity shortly they launched The Ordinary brand. I had never tried lactic acid on its own prior to this. However I knew this had the correct pH to facilitate effective exfoliation✔️, enough Lactic Acid to help fade PIH scars✔️, a nice amount of hyaluronic acid & glycerin to help smooth out wrinkles✔️ Sounds great right ? Well it turns out my skin doesn’t like lactic acid on its own it prefers a blend of AHAs like Drunk Elephant’s TLC Framboos or just plain old glycolic acid. Also this isn’t fragrance and alcohol-free as claimed and there aren’t enough soothing ingredients to help offset irritation, just Tasmanian Pepperberry. Even though it had a nice texture it made my face very itchy and the unpleasant lingering odour was too much.

2. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG.

This product needs to come with a warning ⚠️ It’s too potent for sensitive eyes and not suitable for the eyelids. Steer clear of your tear ducts as well. I’ve read positive reviews from those prone to under eye puffiness due to water retention. Unfortunately the skin under my eyes is particularly thin with hard to cover blue/purple circles, this serum was a really bad idea for my delicate skin. Full Review here.

3. e.l.f Cosmetics Hydrating Bubble Mask.

Note to self: Don’t follow beauty fads you’ve seen on Instagram. I had seen these masks all over social media and naturally I was curious and wanted to try one. This claims to hydrate and nourish skin, bubbles and fizzes to remove excess dirt, cleanse your pores for glowing healthy skin. I applied it over damp skin as directed. Directions recommend leaving it on for 5-10 minutes waiting until the bubbling dissipates. First mistake; I left it on for the maximum time. It was the most itchy, uncomfortable, horrible feeling I’ve ever experienced. I persisted thinking maybe it’ll stop itching in a minute or two, it didn’t stop. I persisted though. I’m hardcore. After washing the mask off I didn’t suffer any adverse effects other than a bit of redness that went away the following morning. Just to be safe I was checking my skin throughout the night. I haven’t tried this mask since. Worst. mask. ever.

4. Obagi 360 Retinol 0.5.

I thought I’d play it safe and order half strength retinol because I’ve never tried any Obagi products before. Despite the seemingly good formula, this cream has a tendency to turn my face beet red overnight every time I use it. Just goes to show you can’t always predict how your skin will react to certain ingredients. Retinol is a tricky one, I haven’t completely given up on it yet. I’m more disappointed that I haven’t been able to make it work. In the meantime I’ve repurposed it as an anti-aging treatment for the back of my hands.

5. Maybelline BrowTattoo gel tint.

I’ve had BrowTattoo in my stash for a while and only tried it this week because I was bored one night. It works to temporarily stain the skin in your brow region giving the illusion of perfectly filled in brows. It’s quick and easy enough to apply and painless to remove. A few issues; it doesn’t last as long as claimed. Maybelline promise a 3 day tint, it barely lasted one. I must admit I was pretty impressed immediately after peeling the tint off. But it doesn’t last long. It’s recommend you don’t wet the brow area for 24 hours after you tint them. I don’t think it’s possible to wash my face or remove makeup without getting my brows wet 😐. The gel tint has a tendency to fade unevenly so you’re left with odd coloured uneven brows. More obvious is the sparsely coloured tail end that needs to be corrected with makeup.

6. Ouai Haircare Repair Kit.

I reviewed this kit recently, in short; it’s overkill for your hair. Whoever formulated this put everything but the kitchen sink in these products. Beware if you have a truly sensitive scalp or prone to dermatitis. This kit irritated my scalp and left my hair dry like straw. Unlike my skincare I usually don’t mind fragranced haircare but this shampoo and conditioner smelt awful. Link here if you want to read a full Review

7 Summer Beauty Essentials

1. Gatsby Oil Clear Sheet.

Hot mess trying to run errands in the heat ? These handy sheets of plastic film mop up oily shine and sweat fast without disturbing your makeup. They can be a little difficult to come by in Australia but you might find some reasonably priced in bulk packs on eBay and Aliexpress. Can’t find any? Daiso and Swisspers are my second and third faves for blotting large foreheads on the go.

2. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.

This cult classic comes in a tube now, very convenient since I no longer stick my claws into jars. I love dabbing this on to relieve dry, cracked, chapped skin on my lips, elbows and heels. Don’t stop there, it also works as a brow tamer, cheek highlight (you can mix it with a little shimmery eyeshadow) and cuticle balm.

3. Coola Liplux Original Formula.

I won’t be neglecting my lips this Summer. This Coola broad spectrum SPF 30 lip balm has me adequately protected from UVA/UVB rays. It contains Actives: Avobenzone 3%, Octinoxate 7.25%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 2.8%, over 70% certified organic ingredients. A combination of soothing and moisturising waxes, butters, plant oils and antioxidants. The best part; it has a screw top cap so you can toss it in your bag and not worry about the lid coming off and finding your balm covered in chip crumbs and gum wrappers.

4. Nivea Invisible for Black & White Anti-Perspirant.

I’ve been using Nivea anti-perspirants for a long time. I can remember being excited, think most of Melbourne were ecstatic (we love wearing black even in Summer) when they released roll-ons and deodorants that don’t leave white marks on your clothes. Nivea Invisible offers reliable, lightly fragranced odour protection and indeed delivers on the no white marks claim without irritation.

5. Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Body Spray.

I’ve been using this spray for several years. It contains 2% BHA (Salicylic Acid) and is formulated without fragrance or irritating ingredients. I find it most effective at treating and preventing acne anywhere on the body; arms, back, chest. I’ve seen improvements with only a month of consistent use. A pH between 3.2-3.8 ensures it exfoliates inside the pores keeping them free from built up sebum and dead skin.

6. SkinCeuticals Phyical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50.

An everyday essential really. Contains Actives: Titanium Dioxide 6%, Zinc Dioxide 5% offers UVA/UVB protection. The extremely lightweight fluid is a dream to apply it’s also tinted. SkinCeuticals call it a universal tint designed to match all (most) skin tones. Once applied liberally to my face and neck it’s almost invisible and leaves my skin with a lovely healthy natural glow. I’m fairly light skinned in the NC 15 zone, it works perfectly as a light makeup on its own for when I’m having a rare good skin day.

7. Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Transforming Multi-Correction Treatment.

I hate overloading my skin with a lot of skincare in Summer. This multi-tasking treatment contains two of my favourite actives; azelaic acid and BHA. It’s my go-to for zit prevention, fading acne scars and reducing wrinkles all in one soothing-moisturising base. I often wash, tone, apply eye cream then this in a thin layer under sunscreen in the morning or on its own at night. Sadly it isn’t cheap at $63 and you can’t buy in Australia. I get mine shipped from lookfantastic.com.

Ouai Haircare Repair Kit

Ouai (pronounced “way”) is French for Yes in that casual Parisian way. Developed in the US by celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin who wanted to create a “breath of fresh hair” a luxurious, chic looking line for real life, for real women. I bought this kit myself from ASOS online for around $40 AUD. I was curious as to what all the fuss was about. All opinions are my own.

The four piece kit contains :

• Ouai Repair Shampoo 50ml

• Ouai Repair Conditioner 50ml

• Ouai Treatment Masque 30ml

• Elastic Hair Ties 6 in a pack

Which hair types can use this kit ? It’s meant for hair that is :

• Damaged

• Medium-Thick-Coarse Texture

• Brittle, Dry Ends prone to breakage

• Coloured

My hair is medium thickness, coloured with semi-permanent colour. I have dry ends and an oily scalp.

Repair Shampoo

Replenishes moisture, fortifies hair prone to breakage. Leaves hair strong and shiny, protects colour. Made with Smart Technology Complex, Smart Keratin. Contains an amino acid blend, tamarind seed extract.

Repair Conditioner

Formulated to feed damaged hair without weighing it down. It contains a lot of the same plant extracts and the same technologies as the Repair Shampoo. Plant extracts including shea butter, rice bran oil, carrot root, hibiscus, jasmine flower, sunflower, pea, artichoke, rosemary leaf, ginger root. There aren’t any instructions on the packaging or tubes, I had to check the website to find out how long the conditioner should be left on the hair. It should be left on for 3 minutes then rinsed throughly.

Treatment Masque

A restorative and healing mask for damaged hair. Helps repair damage, soften and smooth strands. It suitable for all hair types except fine. Contains artichoke leaf extract and borage oil to help seal the cuticle and protect from future damage. Apply evenly, comb through. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. May be used daily after shampooing if you have coarse hair. You’ll get around 3 treatments out of the 30ml tube.

Elastic Hair Ties

You also receive a 6 pack of white snag-less ties; the kind that rip your hair out. On the website they’re called “condom hair ties” because you know in case of emergencies 😒. They’re sold in a pack of three for $6 USD, $2 per hair tie! They are similar to any 5 pack of hair elastics found in the local supermarket or $2 store.

My Thoughts

For all the hype The Ouai receives on social media I wasn’t impressed. Firstly I couldn’t get past the heavy smell (it made me nauseous). Both the shampoo and conditioner were most disappointing. Despite being sulfate-free the shampoo made my scalp itch and the conditioner left my ends very dry. On the plus side the treatment masque wasn’t as pungent smelling. It was thick, rich and left hair feeling softer than the conditioner. Overall I wouldn’t recommend this kit. My current $2 supermarket shampoo does a better job. However you may love this if :

• You’re on the sulfate, phthalate, paraben-free bandwagon. These products are unlikely to cause build-up.

• You love very fragrant haircare products.

• You love minimalist packaging.

• You’re against animal testing. Ouai don’t test or sell their products in countries that require animal testing.

August Favourites 

1. Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Foaming Cleanser 237ml. 

I was looking for something similar to replace Alpha Hydrox Refreshing Face Wash and came across this cleanser from Eucerin. It’s basic, it’s gentle, it does the job without leaving my skin with an uncomfortable tight feeling and it’s under $8. Only thing I don’t like is the pump it’s a little dodgy, the neck isn’t long enough so it gets stuck. Purchased from iherb. 

2. Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Toner 190ml.

I could never find a great toner to balance my oily/combo skin until I found this ! I immediately re-ordered a second bottle without hesitation. It contains lots of soothing ingredients; glycerin, chamomile extract, niacinamide, panthenol and ceramides. The lightweight formula helps prevent the signs of ageing and helps eliminate flakiness. It features regularly in my skincare routine. Purchased from paulaschoice.com.au 

3. Palmer’s Intensive Relief Hand Cream 60g. 

I’ve been loving Palmer’s hand cream this winter, especially if I’ve accidentally reached for that bar of soap to wash my hands or even worse liquid hand wash. It contains soothing ingredients and forms a protective barrier to retain moisture and absorbs quickly without leaving hands feeling greasy. Not bad for under $5. Purchased from iherb. 

4. The Ordinary “Buffet” Multi-Technology Peptide Serum 30ml.

I was seriously apprehensive about buying anymore products from The Ordinary. I’ve found more than a few haven’t lived up to the hype. I’ve actually ditched several; lactic acid 10% + HA 2%, Caffeine 5% + EGCG Solution have been binned and I sold my tube of Vitamin C Suspension 23%+HA Spheres 2%. Buffet is one of The Ordinary’s better serums it’s extremely versatile, I can layer it under my moisturiser or cocktail it with virtually any other serum or treatment without irritating my skin. It targets surface hydration, fine lines, wrinkles, dynamic lines and textural irregularities. Purchased from Asos. 

5. Drunk Elephant Lippe 3.7g. 

Another winter staple, I love to slather this on throughout the day and before bed. It contains lots of lovely soothing plant oils, waxes and peptides. In addition it works well as a moisturising balm for dry, ragged cuticles. It’s a little pricey at $26 if you tend to lose lip balms you might want to reconsider but totally worth it for the anti-ageing benefits. Purchased from Mecca Cosmetica. 

6. NailsInc London Sparkle Like a Unicorn Nail Polish Duo 2 X 14ml.

Rainbow Wishes is an iridescent polish with a lilac/blue opalescent holographic glow. I’m wearing 3 coats. You might need more as it’s quite sheer. 

Dream Dust is a rose pink/gold non-chunky glitter featuring 3D pigment. Easy to apply these glide on without much effort thanks to the wide brush. I’m wearing 2 coats. Purchased from eBay also available from stylepatisserie.com for $27 AUD which is a bargain when you consider NailsInc usually charge $25 a bottle in Australia. 


7. Eva•NYC Purse Perfect Hair Towelettes 10 X 2.7ml. 
I love the convenience of these, yes I know they look like the refresher towelettes you get at KFC😂 You can stash one in the tiniest wallet or even your pocket. Suitable to take traveling or camping. These do a fab job of refreshing a day old ‘do, smooth fly aways and tame frizz on damp or dry hair. They contain argan oil, omegas 3, 6, 7, 9 and sea buckthorn oil. Purchased from Urban Outfitters for $15 US for a box of 10. 

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Olay Eyes Illuminating Eye Cream For Dark Circles 

Earlier this year Olay released a collection of three targeted treatments for the eyes. The range was created to treat everyday eye concerns a lot of us tend to have. Pictured below are the Pro-Retinol Eye Treatment for deep wrinkles and the Illuminating Eye Cream. I bought two of the three, I didn’t bother with the one that comes in a jar. Today we’re taking an in depth look at the Illuminating Eye Cream for dark circles. 


Price 

rrp $48.99 AUD / $26.99 USD 

Packaging 

15ml / 0.5 fl oz. Clear plastic outer, silver cardboard insert holds the plastic bottle in place. The bottle features a pump dispenser. Have you ever noticed how Olay products always look amazing in the box and promos but when you open them they look really cheap ? 

Source Olay.Com

Appearance and Texture 

Lightweight gel/cream, dual swirl formula, it looks a bit like to a DNA helix with gold coloured light-reflecting pigments. 

Directions 

For AM and PM use. Apply to clean skin. Dispense approximately 1/2 a pump per eye. I pump 2 drops onto the back of my hand and then gently pat and smooth it around the entire eye including the eyelids, up to the brow bone and outer corners until completely absorbed. Follow with an SPF. 

Less is more


Promises and Claims 

Reduces the look of dark circles within 2 weeks. Instantly helps to de-circle tired looking eyes. The light-reflecting pigments deflect light from the eyes for a smoother more radiant skin tone. Hydrates and nourishes with a luminous glow. 

Key Ingredients 

Niacinamide : Vitamin B3. Antioxidant, cell-communicating ingredient. Research indicates it Niacinamide can help reduce the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles, improve elasticity, tone and texture. Olay love vitamin B3 so much they include it in most of their products.  

Acetyl Glucosamine : Skin identical and skin repairing. The majority of research into this ingredient was conducted by the manufacturer of Olay, Procter & Gamble and Estée Lauder which coincidentally also use this in their products. Research by P & G some of which was in vitro has demonstrated the importance of acetyl glucosamine and its ability to help lighten skin when combined with niacinamide. 

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 : Anti-aging ingredient best known by its trade name Matrixyl. Benefits include improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles. There is, however no research to indicate that it will diminish dark circles. 

Vitamins E and Vitamin B5 : Tocopherol Acetate acts as an antioxidant and Panthenol (B5) as a humectant, it attracts and holds on to moisture improving barrier function. 

Titanium Dioxide and Mica : light-reflecting mineral pigments that give this eye cream its shimmery appearance or ‘luminous glow’. You’ll find both these ingredients in lots of other cosmetics and skincare that promise a radiant glowing complexion; eyeshadows, highlighters, blush, foundation. 

What I liked 

• I found it effective at helping to soften and smooth the look of fine lines. Although you’d absolutely achieve the same results with most well formulated moisturisers on the market. 

• I loved the lightweight serum texture. It’s my preferred texture when it comes to eye cream. It’s oil-free so if you’re very dry/flakey around the eyes you won’t find this cream hydrating enough. 

• Fast Absorbing, it works great under concealer. 

• Fragrance-Free suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers should have no issues. 

What I didn’t like 

• There was no visible reduction of dark circles as claimed on the packaging just a temporary brightening effect from the mica and titanium dioxide. 

• The price is rather expensive for what essentially is a minuscule 15ml of moisturiser. I wasn’t prepared to pay full price. I waited for this to go on sale. I paid $24.50 at Coles which is half off and a few $$ less than the rrp in the US. Interestingly, I see Olay Eyes on sale frequently, almost every few weeks. I’m guessing most people aren’t buying this at full price and I don’t blame them. 

In Conclusion 

Best keep your expectations realistic and low with Olay Eyes. Dark circles happen for many reasons and unfortunately no eye cream regardless of marketing claims will erase the problem. Sun damage can be a major cause, along with genes which are sadly out of your control. Research into the topical application of Niacinamide and N-acetyl glucosamine on hyperpigmentation may be very promising but of little help if the damage is already present on the skin. Short of praying to the genetic gods to be kind, what you can do is be diligent with applying broad spectrum SPF 30+ daily, wear sunglasses and wait patiently until they invent something that actually works. 

Have you tried Olay Eyes ? Share your thoughts with me or find me on Instagram