I love trying new makeup looks, experimenting with bright lipstick colours or trying different hairstyles! Time, however, is not usually on my side, especially being a full-time mom! Running a busy household, as well as managing my website often means minimal makeup and tied back hair. When I do get the opportunity to spend time on myself, I love it! Whether it is a long soak in a bubble bath or getting dolled-up for a night out, I am in my element. [Read more…]
May Beauty Favourites 2014
Hi beauties it is Beauty Favourites time again, I know this sounds so cliche but I cannot believe yet another month has whizzed on by! Here we are halfway through the year and winter is definitely making her presence felt!
I have decided to starting doing my “Beauty Favourites” videos again, truth be told I love writing but I probably love talking more! So please give it a watch for more in-depth details on my May Beauty Favourites featured in this post and please subscribe to the Inspired Living YouTube channel, so that you are kept in the loop for future posts!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z5283HK0M&list=UUCqHeDu6WN0l8K_iiR-1sog&feature=share[/youtube]
- L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Anti-Gravity Shampoo ~ I have very fine hair which has a tendency to become greasy but find that most volumising products leave my hair feeling heavy and looking dull! I recently received a voucher from the Retailbox, which I used to buy this shampoo and have been really impressed with it! Your hair is left feeling cleansed and looking volumised but not sticky or over volumised. The L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Anti-Gravity Shampoo is enriched with Salicylic Acid and Hydralight. RRP R191 for 250ml Retailbox {Disclosure Ranking:2}
- L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Anti-Gravity Conditioner ~ As with the shampoo the conditioner is L’Oréal’s perfect solution for fine hair, which is prone to oiliness. Your hair is left looking volumised but still soft and very manageable! The Anti-Gravity Effect Volume conditioner combines Intra-CyclaneTM and HydraLight and leaves roots looking lifted. RRP R191 for 150ml Retailbox {Disclosure Ranking:2}
- Garnier Pure Active BB Cream ~ I may have mentioned before I am not a BB Cream fan, very possibly because I have not found the right one yet. I do find that they tend to leave my skin feeling and looking oily after a few hours of wear but I have actually enjoyed the new Garnier Pure Active BB Cream. It is still not something, which I would use everyday but for a quick, out the door in 15 minutes, makeup look it does the job. The coverage is fairly light but again perfect if you just need to pop out to the shops or do the school run! The Garnier Pure Active BB Cream is recommended for skin which is prone to imperfections, it has a high performing formula combining 2% anti bacterial Salicylic Acid. With the concealing power of mineral pigments to instantly beautify your skin tone and help reduce the appearance of imperfections. It has a SPF15 filter, which helps protect from the harmful effects of the sun. RRP R84.95 for (50ml) Clicks Stores – available in “Light” and “Medium” {Disclosure Ranking:2}
- Oygenetix Foundation ~ Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation is a breakthrough foundation to cover, help heal and minimize – even eliminate – procedural scars. Designed for doctors, this Breathable foundation covers and treats a wide variety of skin problems: skin injuries, wounds, rashes, cracked, dry skin, acne scars, rosacea and other skin conditions. I received this foundation to try after a Dermaceutic Milk Peel, which I had recently and all I can say is amazing!!! {I said that quite a lot in the video!} It really does calm your skin instantly and covers any evidence of redness. “Ceravitae”, the super charged oxygen complex in the Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation, increases collagen cell and connective tissue growth, in aging or wounded skin. Because of the unique properties of Oxygenetix, it is also great skin care, which can be used as a daily skin friendly foundation. As well as redness is also covers pigmentation very well. It is definitely not cheap but in my opinion worth every cent! RRP R710 Conquest {Disclosure Ranking:2}
- Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry ~ There was so much hype when the new Revlon Matte and Laquer Balms came out in SA a few months back but I sadly could not find any shades that I liked! I have been looking ever since and eventually I stumbled across this one, Sultry and I am in love! I was a bit worried that the Matte Balm would be a bit drying on my lips but I have been very impressed with the formulation. I will definitely be looking for a few more shades to try! RRP R120 Clicks {Disclosure Ranking:1}
- Maybelline Clossal Go Extreme Volum’ Mascara ~ Masacara is my one, don’t leave home without it eye product! If I am wearing nothing else on my eyes I have to wear mascara – truth be told I feel naked without it! This is one of the new Maybelline Mascaras, which should be in stores from June 2014. The Clossal Go Extreme Volum’ Mascara, has a double pump wand, which gives you more volume on your lashes and 20 x more collagen. I have really enjoyed this mascara as it gives you volume, without clumping but then I have always been a fan of Maybelline mascara! RRP R124.95 Clicks or Dischem Stores {Disclosure Ranking:2}
- Essie Nail Polish in Really Red ~ As you know I love Essie Nail Polish! Really Red is one of the Essie Iconic Colours and is a great basic red, which you should have in your nail polish collection! I love the pop of red on my nails, especially in winter when you tend to wear darker colours. RRP R109 available online from Zando {Disclosure Ranking:1}
- Rain Biologie Coconut & Shea Intense Hydration Cream ~ This cream, which in my opinion is more of a body butter is stunning! I love anything with a citrus fragrance, so the combination of Coconut, Shea Butter,Tangerine and Sesame Oil, is right up my alley. The cream is recommended for Dry Skin and also contains Aloe Ferox. It contains 100% naturally derived ingredients and 63% organic ingredients. The formulation is wonderful and simply melts into your skin leaving it deeply hydrated. The moisturising formula, tones, stimulates and restores mineral content of the skin. It is non greasy, high in Vitamin A, E, F and safe to use during for pregnancy. RRP R169.00 Rain
Those are my May Beauty Favourites, have you tried any of them? I would love to know your thoughts, so please leave a comment below or let me know what your beauty favourites have been!
February Beauty Favourites
It is Beauty Favourites time again! One of my favourite posts, where I get to share the products I have enjoyed using and I have been reaching for the most, over the past month. Some of them are new products, which I recently discovered, while others are products I continue to repurchase because they are that good!
The only product from my February Beauty Favourites, which I have not featured below are the *Dermalogica Precleanse wipes. I wrote about them last week, so if you would like to know more you can pop over here.
- *Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Tint ~ This is a fairly new product, which I received after my Face Mapping at Dermalogica. It is from the Dermalogica Ultracalming range and it is a broad spectrum sunscreen, which is recommended for sensitized, reactive and recently resurfaced skin. It contains natural minerals, which help shield against photodamage and UV exposure. The Ultra Sensitive Tint is great as it protects your skin, as well as providing a bit of colour. I have pigmentation which makes a good SPF a very important part, of my daily skin care routine. I do have another SPF I have been using everyday but it is not tinted, which is why I was keen to try this one. I use the Ultra Sensitive Tint if I do not want to wear too much foundation but want the SPF protection, with a bit of coverage. The consistency is quite thick but it does not feel too heavy on my skin, which can be the case with many SPF products. Recommended Retail Price 50ml R445.00 Dermalogica
- Estee Lauder Double Wear Light ~ This product also featured in my Favourite Foundations for 2013. Surprisingly when I first tried it I did not really like it, I think largely because I found the shade a bit too dark for me. I hauled it out again at the beginning of summer and I have been wearing it pretty much everyday since then! I think this is mostly because I am a bit more tanned now and the shade is a much better match. What I really love about this foundation, is its staying power and it’s wonderfully flawless finish! An added bonus is the SPF10, which is great for summer, as it adds that bit of extra protection against the sun, over and above my normal SPF. This is definitely a product I will re-purchase but perhaps in a lighter shade for winter. Recommended Retail Price R415 Estee Lauder
- MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer ~ You may remember me blogging about this concealer before in my Everyday Makeup Essentials. This is truly an everyday essential for me! I use the Select Moisturecover for under-eye concealing, as I have rather dark circles under my eyes. It is more fluid and moisturising than other concealers, which I use to cover blemishes and because of it’s more liquid formulation, it does sit in the fine lines around my eyes. This really is my go-to, everyday under-eye concealer, in fact it is almost finished so I need to order another on ASAP! I love the fact that it has a wand applicator, you do not have to squeeze the concealer out, which allows you to control the amount you apply and prevents you from using too much product. You can either dot the concealer straight onto the skin and blend gently with your finger tips or place onto the back of your hand and apply with a concealer or flat foundation brush. Recommended Retail Price: R210 (5ml) MAC Cosmetics
- Loreal Nude Magique BB Powder ~ This is one of those products which I bought on a whim! I have used the Loreal Lumi Magique Primer before so I thought I would give this a bash. I don’t use this product everyday but it lives in my handbag! I find it great for touch-ups on the run, especially in the summer heat, when your skin can start looking a bit too dewy. I did find that using it on its own, not over foundation, left my skin looking a bit dry and over powdered.The compact includes a mirror and a sponge applicator, both very handy for touch-ups when you are out and about. I cannot actually remember what I paid for this product, will check when next in-store and update the post.
- Essence 3D Eyeshadow in irresistible vanilla latte ~ My choice for everyday eye make up is usually a nude palette and if I want to make it a bit more special, I add a bit of gold sparkle! This Essence duo eyeshadow is perfect for giving your look a bit more sparkle. The 3mm high relief design, offers an ultimate 3D look and the ultra-light eyeshadow texture, creates a cool finish with a 3D effect. The eyeshadow applies really well and has a great pigment. If you apply it moist, the 3D effect will be even more intense. There are a few other fun shade combos available and the best part is the price tag – it is super affordable at under R50! I have really enjoyed using it. I think I will definitely be trying a few of the other duos! Recommended Retail Price R44.95 Essence
- MAC Satin Lipstick in Brave ~ This MAC lipstick was one of the first things I bought from the MAC Online Store last year. At the time I was looking for a pinky shade for everyday wear and loved the look of Brave. For me this is a “my lips but better” shade and I love the texture! I have fairly dry lips so I prefer either the Satin or Cremesheen finish from MAC, which are more moisturising and perfect for everyday wear. The colour in the image above it is not true to the shade in real life, which is why I swatched it for you to get a better idea. {See the image below}. Brave is a lovely pinky-beige, with white pearl but it does not have a frosted finish, which I don’t like. I call this my “pretty” lipstick – it is the one I reach for if, I am going for a pretty girly make up look 🙂 Recommended Retail Price R190 MAC Cosmetics
- Mavala Nail Polish in Sapporo ~ As you know I love bright nail polish shades but there are times when I like to tone it down and go for a nude nail. This Mavala polish in Sapporo is my go-to nude nail colour and this is actually the second bottle I have bought. It is a wonderfully creamy beige and is the perfect nude for most skin tones. I find that it wears relatively well and does not chip easily. One of the things I love about Mavala polish, is the small applicator brush, which I find much easier to use when applying polish myself. Recommended Retail Price: R64.95 Rubybox
- Essence Studio Nails Corrector Pen ~ This product is a must have for doing your nails at home! I have tried a few other brands but I keep coming back to this one! The Corrector Pen allows you to correct little mistakes, without smudging the rest of your nails in the process. The handy pen also comes with three replacement tips. Not only is it super practical but it is so affordable! I have repurchased this product so often, I have lost count. Recommended Retail Price R39.95 Essence
- Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray ~ I have always heat styled my hair because although I have a bit of a natural wave in my hair, it is so super fine. To achieve any type of curl or texture in my hair, I need to use so much product! After hearing so much hype about sea salt sprays I thought I would give the Toni & Guy one a try. I was really impressed with the results from this product! Apply the spray to damp hair – either allow your hair to air-dry or if you don’t have the time for that, gently dry it with a hair dryer, before applying. It gives your hair great texture without making it feel heavy and weighed down by too much product. The bizarre thing though is the salty taste – go figure being a salt spray and all! 😉 I only know that it tastes very salty, thanks to the summer wind in Cape Town, which often blows your hair everywhere, including into your mouth. What I love most about this product is that when I either do not have time to heat style my hair or just cant be bothered, I can still achieve a great casual tousled style, with no fuss at all! Recommended Retail Price: R119.99 200ml Clicks Stores
If you would like to know more about any of the products featured above or would like to share a product, which you are loving, please leave a comment below this post.
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored product
My Top Beauty Must Haves for Aging Skin
As you begin to age it is most apparent that your skin needs a bit more TLC! Turning the corner and leaving my 30’s behind, has been quite an interesting journey emotionally and I am trying my hardest to embrace this new stage in my life!
The down side of aging is that it does begin to show on your skin! If you were good and started using a Serum and Eye Cream in your 20’s you will definitely be smiling!(sans the wrinkles and fine lines) For those of you who did not, well there is no time like the present to start!
I have put together a list of My Top Beauty Must Haves for Aging Skin, this is by no means all you should do to take care of your skin but these are my priority products. Brands are a personal choice and I am simply sharing what I am using at the moment for illustration purposes but you can choose a brand that suits your budget and skin type.
- Eye Cream ~ I am using the Payot Soothing Eye Contour Care at the moment and it really does help relieve puffiness around the eye and I do find it very soothing and cooling on my skin. It is perfect if you have had a late night, apply before bed and again after you have cleansed in the morning. I am one of those lucky people who does not have many fine-lines or wrinkles around my eyes but I am not taking any chances! Other recommended Eye Creams: Loreal Revitalift, Estèe Lauder Advanced Night Eye Repair, Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream and Simple Soothing Eye Balm.
Face Mask ~ Using a face mask has always been part of my beauty routine but would love to have the time, to apply them more often! I find that I always remember to apply a face mask when I am in a hurry and most of them need between 10-20 minutes to activate, which does not work if you are short of time. This is why I love the Obey Your Body(OYB) Thermal Mask so much! It takes a maximum of 5 minutes to activate, which is perfect for someone with a busy life. What I have started doing is alternating the masks I use because although I enjoy the OYB Thermal Mask, I also love using a clay or cream mask. I usually save those for the evenings, when I have more time to pamper myself and soak in the tub with a mask on for 20 minutes plus! One of my other favourite face masks is the Sisley Facial Mask with Linden Blossom! Other recommended Face Masks:Elizabeth Arden Peel and Reveal Revitalising Treatment, Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask and Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque.
Night Cream ~ This is a product which I wish I had started using sooner but because I have a combination skin, which tends to become oily if over moisturised, I always thought I did not need a night cream. I now realise that I simply needed to find one to suit my skin type! I am loving the OYB Night Cream I am reviewing and also found the Payot Nutricia Crème great for night-time use. Other recommended Night Creams: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Loreal Collagen Moisture Filler Day/Night Cream, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex and Clinque Youth Surge Night Age Decelarating Night Moisturiser.
Serum ~ Last but certainly not least and a top priority in my beauty routine is a Serum! As I mentioned in my review I am loving the OYB Radiance Serum and I can really feel the difference if I do not use it for a day. I have been using a serum twice a day for a while now and do find my skin firmer and more radiant! I cleanse and tone my skin and then apply the serum to dry skin, waiting a few minutes before I apply my moisturiser. Other recommended Serums: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Face Advanced Anti-aging Serun, Estee Lauder Repair Serum Fruition Extra Multi-Action Complex, Clarins Double Serum and Gosh All Day Moisture Serum.
What are your must have products? I would love you to share your beauty tips and secrets in the comment section below!
For more interesting posts in My Top 4 Series click here