Sun protection - TonyMoly, Innisfree, Biore, Bioderma

L-R: Tony Moly UV Sunset spray, Tony Moly UV Sunset balm, Innisfree eco safety aqua sun gel, Tony Moly UV Sunset smartok powder, Biore UV Aqua rich watery essence, Bioderma photoderm max

Growing up in Australia, the importance of protecting my skin from the sun has always been drilled into me ever since I was a little kid. We used to have a rule at school called 'no hate no play' meaning if we forgot to wear out hat during lunch time we had to sit in the shade.

Now I mostly focus on protecting both my skin and eyes from the harmful UV rays that we experience in Australia. I have tried many different brands of sunscreen and found that Asian brands have a lighter non greasy texture than their Western counterparts. Asian brands of sunscreen also have higher SPF ratings. My favourite sunscreen texture is the gel type which has a watery base like the Innisfree eco safety aqua sun gel SPF 30 and the Biore UV aqua rich water essence SPF 50+ PA+++. It goes on smoothly and does not leave a sticky residue or white cast. When applied, these 2 sunscreens are also very cooling and refreshing. I also enjoy using the TonyMoly UV Sunset range which consists of the sun balm, smartok powder and facial sun spray. These products are very convenient and I usually use these to top up throughout the day if I'm out and about. Although the sun balm needs to be applied on dust free skin as it tends to attract dust which then gets stuck onto the balm when you apply with the sponge applicator. The Bioderma photoderm max SPF 50+ is one that I only apply on my body. I usually take this to the beach with me as the texture is a little sticky for every day use. It comes in a spray bottle which is quite handy.

What's your favourite sunscreen?

Multi Purpose Balms and Salves

L-R: Moa the green balm, Innisfree olive real multi salve, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, Missha Bordeaux absolute protect balm

Melbourne is getting quite cold now that it is officially winter. I have been relying on these multi purpose balms to keep my skin protected.

Innisfree olive real multi salve has a nice citrus scent to it. It is quite emollient and I generally use this on my cracked heels and on my body because it is a bit too greasy to be used on the face. Moa the green balm is probably the best multi purpose balm. It helps me tame my tangled hair after I have been outside in the cold and windy conditions. I can also use it on my face where I have dry patches and on scratches or insect bites. Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is also quite useful. I like using this on my lips and cuticles. Sometimes I put this on dry patches on my face as well. But I find the Moa green balm works better for that purpose as it is less greasy and seems to absorb better. Missha Bordeaux absolute protect balm is supposedly made out of grapes. It has a floral smell and is matte. I tend to use this on my lips as it might be a bit too thick for other purposes.

Do you use any multi purpose balms?

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Review

Jurlique Herbal Recover Night Cream, Herbal Recovery Eye Cream, Herbal Recovery Gel

Jurlique is a brand that I was introduced to at quite a young age. My auntie who lived in Hong Kong loved this brand and would ask us to buy her various products whenever we went back to Hong Kong because it was much cheaper in Australia. Jurlique is a natural Australian luxury skincare brand. I heard that they have their own farm where they grow their own ingredients used to make their skincare products.

I used to think Jurlique products were too thick and intense for my skin. However I discovered the Herbal Recover Night Cream last year and it changed my view on Jurlique. This night cream has a very herbal scent and is quite thick in texture. However when applied, it blends really easily and has a semi matte finish. It works really well under makeup as well. I love how it does not sting my sensitive skin and provides it with enough moisture without being greasy. I felt my skin was in really good condition throughout the time I used this cream. I finished up the night cream quite a while ago now and ended up purchasing 2 new ones which are waiting for me after I finish using up my current moisturiser. Although I loved the night cream, I felt the Eye Cream didn't really do much for me. It was really thick and had the same herbal scent. When I applied it to my eye area it seemed to just sit on top of skin and took a long time to absorb. The Herbal Recovery Gel was also quite a nice product. Although since it is so expensive I don't think I would purchase the full size of this. I got mine as a trio set from beautybay.com when they had a sale.

Have you tried any Jurlique products?

Tasty water - cucumber lemon

Lately I have been loving the taste of infused water. It just makes plain water taste so much better which in turn means that I end up drinking a lot more of it too. My favourite combination is cucumber and lemon/lime. I usually add a few slices of cucumber and half a slice of lemon as I don't like the bitter taste that the lemon peel adds to the water after a few refills. The cucumber makes the water taste so refreshing and makes it slightly sweet. Adding mint to this would be really tasty too!

Pampering and destressing favourites

It is currently exam period for me so naturally I get quite stressed while studying for exams. To counter the effect that stress has on my body I like to make some time for myself at least once every week to destress and wind down.

Some of my favourites include L'occitane hand cream in lavender. I usually use this while studying as it has a therapeutic lavender scent which helps me stay calm. Another favourite is my Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner. I am absolutely in love with this toner as it has a soft rose and chamomile scent. It is also hydrating and refreshing when sprayed onto the face. I think this is my 4th bottle of the toner. I have run out of backups of it and will need to restock soon. Moa's the green balm also helps when I'm stressed as I find i tend to get dry patches on my face when stressed. I apply a small amount of Moa the green balm to my face and it seems to fix the problem well. The green balm also works wonders on my hair. I use it to smooth the ends of hair and it adds shine to hair without looking oily or greasy. When my eyes get tired from staring at the computer screen and books for too long I use this lavender scented eye mask. It can be microwaved and helps relieve tired eyes. Lastly I like using the Dr. Hauschka lip balm pot while studying as it has a subtle herbal scent.

What do you do to help you destress?

Finding the perfect berry pink plum red polish

OPI miami beet, Essie bahama mama, Essie size matters, Essie raspberry, Essie bachelorette bash, Sally Hansen brick wall

I used to have an obsession with nude pink polishes. I would continuously be on the hunt for the perfect nude pink. Luckily I have found 2 which I would call my perfect nude pinks (Essie not just a pretty face, Essie made to honor).

However my obsession has moved on to finding the perfect shade of berry plum polish. OPI miami beet and Essie raspberry come very close to being the perfect shade I'm looking for. But on my nails they turn into a brighter red rather than a muted pink plum shade. Essie bahama mama is a really pretty shade of plum. However I think it is drying out ever so slightly and now applies goopy. The colour also seems to darken on my nails. Essie size matters and Essie bachelorette bash are not really shades of berry. But I have layered these under other colours to give the polish a pinker undertone. Finally there is Sally Hansen's brick wall which is a lovely dark oxblood red colour.

Do you have any suggestions for the perfect berry shade which is neither too red or too dark?

Project 20 pan

I have the worst habit of buying new skincare and cosmetic products at a much faster rate than I can finish using them. So much so that I have now filled my skincare cupboard completely (yes, I have a cupboard in the bathroom just for my skincare). I have told myself that I will not buy any new products unless I finish 20 products. But there are exceptions for products I use up and have no backup of. I'm already up to product number 9 so I might have to extend it to 30 products instead of 20.

Caudalie favourites and staples

Caudalie gentle cleanser, lip balm, beauty elixir

Caudalie is one of those luxurious but natural feeling brands. It feels like products from a spa. I first found out about this brand when a lot of bloggers were raving about the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Being curious, I tried out some of their products and ended up really liking a few.

First up is the Caudalie gentle cleanser. The one pictured is the old formula. I heard they reformulated the cleanser and now people don't like it as much as the old. I actually have a 100ml bottle of the new formula which I forgot to include in the photo above. It seems quite a bit thicker and does not have the soothing scent of the old one. This is my second bottle of this cleanser and I absolutely adore it. I cleanse my face with this cleanser after I have removed my makeup. The scent really helps me to relax. It also makes my skin feel really cleansed but soothed afterwards. I also use the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (which I find quite expensive). I mainly use this at my desk when I study and need something to help me keep awake. I know this sounds like the biggest waste of money but this really works to keep be refreshed and ready to continue studying. Lastly I have both the old and new formula of the Caudalie lip conditioner. Again like the gentle cleanser, I have read a lot of reviews saying that the old formula of the lip conditioner is much better than the new. I find that the old lip conditioner (green wording) is creamier and seems to sink into the lips more. It also has a vanilla-ish scent. The new lip conditioner (purple wording) has a more distinct and artificial scent which reminds me of gummy lollies. The balm is also flat where as the old tube had a lip stick bullet. I do find that the old formula is more nourishing and has a subtler scent. The new just seems like a regular lipbalm and does not help chapped lips.

Have you tried any Caudalie products?

Lip balm edit

Dr Hauschka lip balm, Dior Creme de Rose, Nuxe Reve de Miel, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, Clarins Hydraquench lip balm

As you may realise, I am a lip balm hoarder. I just can't get enough of them. I find that they are one of the easiest skincare products to buy. You don't need to do much research and they are relatively less pricey than other skincare items. I have however developed a love for a few lip balms that are on the expensive side.

My absolute favourite is the Dior Creme de Rose that everyone is raving about. It leaves my lips feeling so soft and nourished and is not too glossy. It leaves a rather nice sheen to my lips and looks really pretty when applied on top of my lip tint. Dr. Hauschka lip balm was one that I did not really enjoy using at the start. It had a really herbal smell and didn't seem to keep lips moisturised for long. But as I have kept using it I have grown to like this balm. Although I would probably not repurchase it when I run out simply because my Creme de Rose works better. the Nuxe Reve de Miel is another balm that I didn't like when I first bought it. I find it a bit disappointing since it is so highly raved about. It is a nice matte waxy balm but I don't feel as though it keeps my lips moisturised for longer than 1 hour. However I will keep using this until it is finished but will not be repurchasing. It smells really pleasant though. The Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is a firm favourite of mine. I tend to use it on my lips in the morning just before I get out of bed since I wake up with really dry lips. I also use it on my cuticles and basically any dry or flakey skin. Lastly I have the Clarins Hydraquench lip balm which to be honest I bought initially because I didn't feel like splurging on the Dior Creme de Rose. This Clarins balm is quite similar to the Creme de Rose but just slightly stickier since it comes in a tube form. I really enjoy using this one too but for some reason prefer the Creme de Rose.

So these are my current most used lip balms. What are yours?

Current nails

Essie Raspberry, Essie Bachelorette Bash

Since it's getting quite cool in Melbourne, I have been feeling the berry toned polishes more than my staple nude pinks. Here I layered Essie's Raspberry on top of one layer of Essie Bachelorette Bash to get this pink toned red. I find that Essie Raspberry on its own wears slightly too blue toned red for my liking and Bachelorette Bash is a bit bright. However, when paired together it creates a pretty pink red that is perfect for Autumn.

Essie Raspberry layered on top of Essie Bachelorette Bash

Makeup bag essentials

I work part time in an office environment where there is aircon and heating all the time. This really dries out my skin so there are a few products that I must have with me at all times. Lip balm is my obsession so I always carry it around. I'm currently using the Dior Creme De Rose which I love. It smells like soft roses and has a pretty pale pink colour which goes on clear. It is one of the most moisturising lip balms I have tried (I have tried many). I heard this was being discontinued? Not too sure about that though. I also always carry a tube of hand cream with me. My hands always get really dry and uncomfortable while typing at work. The L'occitane limited edition one in passionate jasmine has the original formula but smells like jasmines. It is not too overwhelming but instead a very pleasant slightly sweet smelling jasmine. For my cuticles or any dry patches I reach for my Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (fragrance free version). To be honest I bought this initially just because it was so hyped up. I was curious about why everyone loved it so much. After trying this I can see why it is loved. However, I do have to say that for me it is not as much of a miracle worker as everyone says. It does moisturise my lips and dry patches. But I have other balms that can do that too. I carry this one for the convenience of it being in a tube.

For makeup, I like using neutral pinks like the Dior Addict lipstick in 564 Model. This is the perfect daytime pink that just brightens up my complexion. I also carry around a bold coloured lipstick for days I go out after work. I'm currently loving the Mamonde creamy tint in the colour matte pop rose. I wore this the whole night and only touch up once. It does not transfer and fades evenly and gradually. But it still leaves a vivid tint on your lips.

Lastly, I also carry around a hair tie just incase.

Skincare favourites May 2014

As Melbourne is becoming cooler, my skin has been needing a bit more moisture to keep it from being flakey.

I love the brand Innisfree as they have really simple and minimalistic designs. Their products are also marketed as being from natural origins. A while back I bought their green tea seed line to try out and fell in love with the green tea seed serum and the face cream. They both smell lovely and help to keep my skin hydrated without making it greasy.

The price is also quite reasonable too. They can both be purchased for around $20 AUD. I bought mine from roseroseshop.com

Comparison: Etude House Sweet Recipe Dear My Jelly Lips JPK004 vs Revlon lip butter in Juicy Papaya

I've been meaning to talk about these 2 lipsticks for a while now.

I bought the Revlon Juicy Papaya lip butter a while back and loved it. Then I bought the Etude House Jelly Lips in JPK004. When I opened it I was surprised at how similar the colour was to the revlon lip butter. They were basically an exact dupe for each other. This was fine with me since I love the colour so much.

The Revlon lip butter is slightly creamier than the Etude House. But both have a very similar texture and sheerness.

My Etude House jelly lips did not last through summer though (as you can probably tell from the photo).

Revlon lip butter - juicy papaya

Etude House Sweet Recipe Dear My Jelly Lips - JPK004

Top to bottom: Etude house jelly lips, Revlon lip butter juicy papaya

Recent Purchases

When I heard that Urban Decay were releasing the Naked 3 palette I went and preordered mine on lookfantastic.com while they were having a sale. Best decision as I absolutely love the Naked 3. Also picked up the Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey cologne. I have been wearing it everyday since getting it.

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey

Urban Decay Naked 3

Urban Decay Naked 3

Getting organised!

Kikki k was having a sale and I also recently signed up to their newsletter and got a $10 voucher to use so I got a few goodies.

I love using diaries and planners. Kikki k has quite a few cute ones at a decent price when on sale.

Kikki k diary, leather note book, to do list, weekly planner

Korean lipstick review 2: Innisfree, Etude House

I have been accumulating a lot of new lipsticks over the past few months and wanted to share them with you here.

Innisfree vivid tint rouge, lipstick and Etude House

A couple of months ago Innisfree released the vivid tint lipstick and vivid tint rouge range. They were really popular in Korea because they were very pigmented and long lasting. I think Innisfree came out with a couple of new shades for Spring.

The shades I got were 06, 07, 09, 10.

Innisfree vivid tint lipstick shades 07, 10, 09 from top.

Innisfree vivid tint rouge in shade 06

The Innisfree vivid tint rouge is meant to be similar to the YSL lip stains. I'm not a fan of this one because I don't like the glossy sticky feeling. Also it doesn't really tint my lips and transfer like crazy. The Innisfree vivid tint lipsticks are pretty good though. I love shade 10 which is a raspberry pink/maroon colour. It glides on really smoothly and is matte but moisturising. It still transfers but does last quite a few hours.

Etude House Jelly Lips JPK004 and Dear My Blooming Lips RD306

Next up are these Etude House lipsticks. These have a really moisturising formula. The Etude House Jelly Lips is a really pretty colour. Nearly identical to the Revlon lip butter in the shade Juicy Papaya. But the Revlon lip butter has a smoother and creamier texture. The Jelly Lips is also thinner in consistency and has a sheer glossy finish. It smells like jelly beans too! The Blooming Lips is a deep red and tends to stain your lips. It has a slight glossy finish as well. It is a really pretty colour but is quite high maintenance since it transfers very easily.

L -R: Innisfree vivid tint rouge 06, Innisfree vivid tint lipstick 07, 10, 09, Etude House Jelly Lips JPK004, Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips RD306