Luminesce products

The other week I was so lucky to be invited to a wellness event with cosmetics brand IT Cosmetics, which was absolutely amazing with a makeup masterclass with the brand’s National Education Manager, Josie Houlihan, followed by pilates (which I sadly couldn’t participate in due to hip injury), and followed by the most amazing brunch. If you’re unfamiliar with IT Cosmetics, the products have developed by an American TV Anchor that had issues finding makeup that would stand up to the TV cameras and harsh lights. The products have been developed in cooperation with plastic surgeons and dermatologists, to develop products that are problem-solving, and loaded with anti-ageing and skin loving ingredients. The masterclass was all about the Top 5 It Cosmetics Bestsellers you really need to try;  IT Cosmetics CC+ Colour Correcting Full Coverage Cream This CC Cream comes in three different finishes; Original, Oil-free Matte and Illuminating). It is a true multi-tasker, delivering 7 products in o

The last few years, the market has been flooded with beauty boxes, and don’t get me wrong, there are many great ones, but sometimes it is really only the beauty brands within them that makes the different ones different. The Retreat Yourself subscription box is very different... The    Retreat Yourself subscription box  is more of a health retreat delivered to your door, with a selection of seasonally selected natural and organic beauty, health and lifestyle products. And unlike many other subscription boxes, the majority of the products are full sized.  I was sent the Autumn Retreat Yourself Box, and this is what was inside; Shelby’s Healthy Hedonism Dipped & Dusted Almonds - RRP: $3.00 / 48g  Food For Health Fruit Free Bars with Almonds & Chia - RRP: $7.00 / 150g/6 bars Morlife Coconut Cacao Chia Pudding - RRP: $4.95 / 55g  Bean Pini Superfood Lupini Beans - RRP: $7.99 / 100g  Pic’s Crunchy Peanut Butter - RRP: $5.00 / 195g Matcha Maiden Organic Matcha Powder - RRP: $11.95 /

Mother’s day is upon us, and I’ve got some great gift suggestions, any mum would love - and if you read on, you can even win some of these for yourself… or your mum… Each year, Product of the Year, which is a consumer voted awards program that recognises product innovation, announces a range of winning products.  Amongst the beauty products are the incredible Skin Nutrient Mix & Mask . This pack that contains 12 botanic face masks has developed by herbalists and chemists, and made in Queensland using naturally derived ingredients and without any harmful synthetic chemicals. There are five different face masks, with different formulations designed to work on a range of skin concern and issues such as dehydration, skin spots, acne, blemishes, dark patches, skin repair and hydration, fine lines and wrinkles and brightening the skin, with each mask containing 25ml of premium treatment serum, with the sheets made from natural, biodegradable Eucalyptus fibres. The masks include; Repairin

Have you heard, OMG! Double Dare has now landed in Australia via Iglamour. The brand was founded in Los Angeles, California, and has some cool and innovative beauty masks that have been carefully formulated to effective and reveal your most beautiful skin.  The masks have also been designed to be easy to use and mess-free, whether you are at home or travelling, as they come in travel-friendly pouches taking up less room than jars and tubes. The range consists of several different masks, and I’ve was kindly send a selection to put to the test, including; OMG 2 in 1 Kit Detox Bubbling Mask* OMG 3 in 1 Kit Peel Off Mask*  OMG Platinum Green Facial Mask 3 Step* OMG Platinum Hot Pink Facial Mask Kit 3 Step* OMG Platinum Silver Facial Mask Kit* OMG Platinum Purple Facial Mask Kit*  As well as I was also sent; OMG Hair Band*  OMG Application Brush*  I’ll be honest and admit that I am yet to use all of these masks, but have only used a couple, so I’ll quickly run you through the benefits of e

Summer is over and the last bit of tan is starting to fade on the skin, making it possibly look a little dull - but nothing is more reviving than a good body scrub. I’ve but the Mancine Professional Hot Salt Scrub in Tangerine & Orange from Beautopia Hair & Beauty to the test.. The Mancine Professional Hot Salt Scrub in Tangerine & Orange * is made using Marine extracts that have been blended with Australian Sea Salts along with Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Soya Bean oil and fruit acids. This rich scrub helps stimulate the skin and the salt along with the fruit acids helps gently buff away, both mechanically and chemically, any dead skin cells, while stimulating the skin, and leaving the soft, smooth and so glowing. The added oils and botanicals also means that, unlike other salt scrubs, this one does not dry out the skin, but rather it leaves it feeling soft and deeply moisturised. It comes in a huge jar, and it is quite concentrated, so you don’t need to use

My big almost 6 year old only started prep at school at the beginning of this year, and he is so loving learning to read, recognising words, and cannot stop spelling words he sees, anywhere he goes. And as a mum, I really love that. He has such an appetite for learning and he so cannot wait till he can read full books. We were sent the M.C.D Etheridge Whitebeard book * to read - and aimed at kids aged 8-12, he is naturally a tad little to be able to read it by himself, so for the past few weeks we’ve been reading it as bedtime story, and everyone have been enjoying it. The Whitebeard book has been written my M.C.D. Etheridge, who is a journalist and TV producer for SKY News, ITN, ITV, Channel 5, and Australia’s Channel 9, and it has been beautifully illustrated by Olivia Ong. Whitebeard is a fantasy novel about a world where where Santa Claus was a pirate, and where in reality, Saint Nicholas is not only the patron saint of children, but of thieves and sailors too. In the book you join

Australia always seem to be the last country to get new products and brands, and finally, just before Christmas 2018, the cult haircare brand Kristin Ess finally arrived on our shores, available in Priceline.  The premium, yet affordable products were launched into Target stores in the US in 2017, and in less than two weeks, every single product on shelves across 1,800 the stores was apparently sold out. Talk about being popular and successful. I’ve been lucky to put a few of the products to the test.. Kristin Ess The One Signature Shampoo*  Kristin Ess The One Signature Conditioner* Kristin Ess Style Reviving Dry Shampoo* The Kristin Ess One Shampoo and Conditioner is designed for most hair types, designed to leave the hair clean, moisturised and shiny. The shampoo is sulphate free, which means that it is also great for coloured hair, as it doesn’t make it fade. The products are also made using the unique Zip-Up complex, which combines Kerabead microcapsules and conditioning ingredie

Can you believe it, Easter is just around the corner. A quarter of the year gone already. Feels we’ve barely gotten rid of the last leftovers of Chrissy snacks, and we’re loading up again! And as all kids, my two boys couldn’t be any more excited.  That said, believe it or now, I only two weeks ago threw away a handful of Easter eggs from last year. My boys never actually get that many, for the pure reason, that they don’t really eat that much. A small piece and they’re satisfied, and they don’t ask for more. A standard sized bunny would last them two weeks! But if we’ve got blue berries or strawberries in the fridge, they’ll constantly ask for more. As a mum, I couldn’t be prouder. They’ve got a taste for the healthy, and know what is ‘a sometimes’ food.  But that said, they will naturally get a few Easter eggs, and do a hunt for them around the house or garden, kids still gotta be allowed to be kids, right, but in stead of ‘loading them up too much’, I do love to spoil with a few no

I’m relatively new to Pixi Beauty, but have absolutely loved the few products I’ve tried so far (you can read more about Pixi Glow Tonic, Glow Mud Cleanser and Glow Peel Pads here ).  So when I was offered to try the Pixi  Skintreats  Rose Besties from Beautopia Hair & Beauty , I couldn’t be more excited.  The Pixi Skintreats Rose Besties, is a gift set containing; Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser, 135ml Pixi Rose Tonic, 250ml These products are intended for all skin types and intended to give a dose of soothing, nutrient rich hydration for thirsty skin, for the ultimate hydrated glow. The Pixi Skintreats Rose Cream Cleanser is made using mineral rich mud to help cleanse the skin, rose and avocado to condition, as well as chamomile and aloe vera to soothe. It is a very gentle cleansers, so it is also suitable for sensitive skin. The cleanser doesn’t foam up, and while it can remove most makeup (I do find I need a specific eye makeup remover for my long-wearing mascara), I prefer to use it

My two little boys are very blonde and fair, and have sadly both inherited their father’s dry and sensitive skin. But worst is our 3 year old. At one point he was admitted to the Children’s Hospital as he developed a bad rash all over his body. But thankfully it disappeared as quickly as it came, with no real explanation. We have however been told that his slightly rough and dry skin can be a result of his medical treatment, including all the chemo and steroids that he received in the lead up to his bone marrow transplant three years ago. And therefore, finding the correct skincare for both of them, but especially for the 3 year old is so important. We have tried a lot of different brands, and always make sure to select gentle, products, but what made a tremendous difference, was the day we started using the Mustela range for very sensitive skin.  Mustela is a French brand who continually over the past 60 years has been conducting dermatological research into caring for the sensitive

I am always excited to come across new brands, and even more so when they are cruelty free and made locally in my hometown of Melbourne. I am of course talking about Bali Body... Bali Body has been designed with natural nourishing ingredients, so you can nourish your body and enjoy a summer vibe all year round.  I've put a selection of products to the test, including;  Bali Body BB Cream SPF 15, medium* Bali Body  Luxe Moisturising Lotion* Bali Body  Shimmering Body Oil* Let’s start with the Bali Body BB Cream SPF 15 , which I tried in the shade natural, which worked perfectly with my medium beige skin tone, but it is also available in three other shades. The cream claims to be a multitasking beauty cream that combines hydrating skincare benefits to protect, correct and perfect the skin, and thereby being both an anti-ageing moisturiser, SPF, primer and foundation in one. The BB Cream has been enriched with among others green tea and ginseng to rejuvenate, along with hyaluronic aci

I admit that I am such a coffee drinker, and while I do enjoy the occasional tea, especially during winter of if I have a cold, I am just not fond of Matcha. Just something about the flavour that I am just not sure about. But then this gorgeous tub of Matcha Face Gel from Ottoman3 landed on my desk.. I’ve always known Ottoman3 for their fantastic range of brow products, which I’ve previously talked about and you can read more about here - so it did come as a bit of a surprise that the brand now also has skincare. According to Ottoman3, this Matcha Face Gel is the world’s first skin care made with Matcha Powder!! Matcha Face Gel  is made using, naturally, microfine Matcha powder from green tea leaves which is a powerful antioxidant-rich elixir that helps combat ageing and damage, while also reduces inflammation, protects against free radicals, and treats all skin types. It also contains Vitamin E and aloe vera leaf juice which helps add intense hydration while giving it a lovely refres