Jericho Purifying Mud Mask & Twitter

I'm going to start posting my outfit of the day on twitter, so if you're not already, start following me! I recently got an iPhone so it's so easy to upload photos to twitter. I also tweet pretty regularly. Follow me here: twitter.com/luvrin.

Now onto the review... I've had this mask since March 2008 but I stopped using it after I gave birth in June. I thought it'd have expired by now, but the expiration date says May 2010, so I've started using it agian. It is the best mud mask I have ever used, but it's pretty damn pricey. I think they were selling this for $100 AUD, which is A LOT for a mask, but I got it at a discounted price because I managed to talk the guy down.

I bought it from a Jericho stall. They don't have stores. I was hesitant to buy it but I'm glad I did. This product uses all natural ingredients, like avacado oil and honey, and dead sea mud. I got the normal to dry skin formula, as at the time I had dry skin. It's very thick and feels a little grainy when you apply it. If you apply it in a thin layer it dries pretty quickly. You leave it on for ten to fifteen minutes, then you wash it off with warm water. It washes away easily and omg, my skin is so smooth afterwards. Even if I don't moisturise straight away, my skin doesn't feel dry at all. Usually, mud masks are a little drying but this one leaves my skin soft and plump. Love it!

Organix Coconut Milk Leave In Nourishing Milk

This stuff is so good. I really just bought it make my hair smell yummy, as an alternative to perfume which is drying to your hair. Organix Coconut Milk leave in nourishing milk claims to "indulge your senses with this exclusive blend of organic coconut milk to nourish your hair, while ultra whipped egg white proteins add strength and elasticity, along with weightless coconut oils to add hydration and balance".

So does it? Well, I know for sure it does two things. One- it makes your hair super yummy smelling, and two-it leaves your hair silky and so so shiny. My hair only really gets shiny if I straighten it, but I've been using this product for over a week now and I've noticed that there is a natural shine to my hair. So it must be doing something!

I will continue to purchase this as I love the scent. I spray it into my hair after blowdrying it and also before I go out. I use it every single day and I love what it's doing to my hair. If you like your hair to smell nice but don't want to dry it out with perfume, use this! It has benefits to your hair on top of making it smell yum! A great product. I lurve it!

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin & Nutridefense

This is my current shampoo and conditioner. The nutridefense is really a treatment that you leave in for 5 mins, but if I'm rushed for time I'll use it just like a regular conditioner.

My current hair care regimen is comprised of the following: washing hair twice a week, using a mask (nutridefense) once a week (I try to anyway!) and minimal styling and products. My hair is really thick and dry. I used to wash my hair every single day until I figured out that it was probably making my hair really oily and flaky. So in 2007 I stopped washing every day and my hair is now normal and I don't get flakes anymore!

I love using the Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin because it has a really fresh, clinical smell to it. I'm sure there are people out there who hate it, but I happen to love it. It's just a clean, crisp smell. Reminds me of the hospital, actually! Lol. I don't think it's a bad smell. It's nice and fresh. The shampoo lathers up nicely and you really feel like you're giving your hair a good clean. I don't need to shampoo twice as doing it once is effective enough.

Kerastase Nutritive Nutridefense is such an awesome product. It's a treatment that really works. My hair is dry, but after using this my hair feels so soft and silky. It's amazing! What I do is wash my hair with the Nutritive Bain Satin, towel dry my hair, apply the Nutridefense, clip my hair up in a bun, pop a shower cap on and continue showering. The heat of the shower really helps your hair to absorb the product. I leave it in for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse it out. Seriously, my hair feels so amazing afterward. Like silk! I love, love, love the stuff!

If I don't have time, I just wash my hair with the Nutritive Bain Satin, then use the Nutridefense as if it were a regular conditioner: I just apply it to my hair, leave in for a few minutes then rinse out. Still makes my hair feel silky!

These two products together are amazing. Usually, I switch shampoos and conditioners every year but I think I'm going to stick with the Kerastase Nutritive range. The Bain Satin comes in a 250ml bottle and the Nutridefense comes in a 200ml pot. Both products have lasted me for a long time, I bought this back in March 2009 and I don't think I'm even halfway through it yet! So I think it's safe to say that Kerastase Nutritive is my HG shampoo and conditioner (treatment)!

YSL 5 Colour Harmony for Eyes Look

This is a look I did today, using a colour I don't use very often: green! I used the Yves Saint Laurent 5 Colour Harmony for Eyes in 6. I bought this really cheap from my sister who also got it for a good price off ebay.

It's just a basic smokey eye. I always seem to do smokey eyes. It's just so easy to do, plus it looks good. I didn't think I'd like the look of green on me but it turned out pretty nice. I think so, anyway! I love how the green isn't too garish.

The YSL eyeshadow itself was a dream to work with. It's so smooth and glides on easily. Very easy to blend and stays put without creasing (I did use Too Faced shadow insurance though). The only problem I have with this shadow is that the colours are a bit light... as in, if you want the true colour to show on your eyes you need to pat on more than one layer. But having said that, it does have a very good colour payoff. I just like it to be "bright".

I love how it comes with a highlight colour. It might be a bit too shimmery for some but I love the sparkle and shine. It pulls the look together. This palette is great for a night look. I also have it in the purple colour, which I use more often. But I'm loving how the colours all go together. Great shadow!

Nars Laguna Bronzer

I bought this bronzer a little while ago and I've only just started using it. I sweep it over my forehead, cheekbones, jawline and a little down my nose. How am I liking it? Well, I believe it lives up to the hype. I think it's an awesome bronzer!

Nars Laguna bronzer comes in typical Nars fashion: sleek black compact which can get dirty pretty easily. I was hesitant to buy this because I didn't think it'd show up on my skin (NC40), but so far, so good. It's pretty sheer but gives the skin a beautiful glow. It has shimmer, but it's not at all shimmery on your skin. To me, it actually looks matte with an incandescently glow.

It doesn't make me look muddy. I think it's the perfect shade for me: I didn't want to get something too dark, and although Casino looked to be a better match for me, I'm glad I got Laguna as it's very natural looking and not over the top. I purchased this from a Mecca Cosmetica store in Chadstone for $72 AUD. And so far, I'm loving it!

Free Nars Lip Gloss!

I had my eyes done at Mecca Cosmetica in Chadstone just to claim my free gift, which turned out to be these cute mini Nars lip glosses. The look was nothing special, just a basic sultry smokey eye. Let me just say, I felt so weird walking around the shopping centre with a bold smokey eye. It was a night look, not a day look! But that was what they were offerering on the day, and I wanted my goodies!

I did a swatch of the colours. My fav is sweet revenge. It's a nude gloss and give the lips a nice sheen. The Nars lip glosses are nice in texture, not too sticky and have a good colour pay off but they don't smell very good. The smell reminds me of paint, for some reason. I don't think I'll actually purchase these but if I were to buy one, I'd get misbehave (which has glitters in it but looks really subtle on the lips) or sweet revenge. I'm glad I got these for free, they're great to carry around in my handbag!

I did make a purchase while in Mecca (how could I not?) I bought Nars blush in Orgasm for $62 (AUD). I love that it has a subtle shimmer and it really does give you that naturally flushed look. This will be my regular blush from now on. Previously I was using Estee Lauder, which I love also but you really have to keep applying to get the colour you want. With the Nars I do just one swipe and that's all I need! My next Nars purchase will have to be a bronzer, which they're famous for. Not sure which one to get. The infamous Laguna or the new Irresistiblement? Any thoughts?

Mac Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15

I'm loving the new(ish) Moisture Tint by Mac. I'm using the medium/dark and it's the perfect shade for me (I'm NC40). It feels moisturising, but doesn't leave you oily at all. It's actually a lot like a lightweight foundation, which is great for summer. It covers just enough redness and is natural looking. For $48 AUD, I think it's worth it. I will be using this a lot in the coming months as it's getting hotter and I don't want to wear foundation. The only problem with this is that if you don't use enough it can get dry quickly and really tug at your skin.

I pair this with the Studio Fix powder by Mac (C5) and I swear, it's a match made in heaven. With concealer in the right spots, I look like I have flawless skin and the best bit is that it's so lightweight and natural looking! This will be my foundation routine for summer. Who wants to cake their face only to have it melt off? I've worn the Moisture Tint, Studio Finish concealer and Studio Fix powder and it's lasted all day. I don't get oily at all. Usually I have to blot throughout the day, but I didn't have to do it at all with the Moisture Tint!

So all in all, a great product. I think I have found my holy grail. This has replaced the need for foundation. I wear it even for nights out, it's that good. I feel so comfortable with it on my skin and love the way it looks. Five stars for the Mac Studio Moisture Tint!

Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation

I've been needing a decent foundation for a long time and I finally went out and got myself the Mac Studio Sculpt foundation. I've heard great things about the Mac Studio Fix Fluid but I didn't want something matte, I wanted a glow to my skin so I decided on the Sculpt. I'm not sure how much it cost because I also bought some brush cleanser, concealer and powder. All together is was about $155 (AUD).

So far I've only tried it with one brush, the Mac 109. I want to try it with a 190 next, but I don't have that brush. But anyway. The foundation went on fine and it wasn't hard to blend, it gave me a medium coverage and actually looked really natural, like real skin. It wasn't overly shiny, it gave me a nice dewy natural look. Kinda like I had a natural glow about me. I used Mac Studio Fix powder over it which looked ok, but I think it made me look too made up. So I want to try the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural next.

I really like the Stuid Sculpt, it is a lot better than the Revlon that I was using. I wouldn't wear it for everyday, though. Just special occasions. I might wear just the Studio Fix powder as a daily go to look. So all in all, I'm very happy with my purchase and I would recommend the Studio Sculpt for anyone who wants a natural, dewy look.

Oh btw, excuse my hair in this photo, it was a spur of the moment shot and I didn't think to fix my hair. Yes I walk around with frazzled looking mum hair because that's what I am, a frazzled mum! In the photo I'm wearing Mac Studio Sculpt, Mac Studio Fix powder, Dior blush/illuminiser and YSL eyeshadow, as well as false lashes. Nothing on my lips!

Bio-Oil Works!

I've been AWOL recently... well not really, I've just been glued to the tv because we recently got foxtel installed. But anyway, for the past month I've been using bio-oil for my acne scarring. I really should have taken a before and after, but I didn't think of it back then. I had a whole heap of scarring on both my cheeks and a bit of my chin. And when I say a lot, I really do mean A LOT!! It was the focal point of my face. It was the first thing you saw. It was the ONLY thing you saw, come to think of it. And it was dark in colour, like a brownish red.

So the past month, I've been using bio-oil as religiously as I can. I forgot a few times, but for the majority of the time I was good. I have really noticed the difference! The scarring has faded, it's now no longer the focal point of my face, nor is that garrish brownish red colour, and my skin is smoother too. So does it work? For me, YES! I would definately recommend it. It says to use for three months, I have seen improvements in just one month! A great product, I'm so glad I have used it as it's improved my appearance and confidence heaps!

Revlon Beyond Natural Cream to Powder Eyeshadow

I love neutral tones, I've always been a fan of the "no makeup" look. When I came across the Revlon Beyond Natural cream to powder eyeshadow in Plumberry Prune I fell in love with the shades and couldn't wait to try it out.

This is a very lightly pigmented product so you need to use a bit if you want to see some colour. I suppose it's because it starts out as a "cream" product, which supposedly should turn to powder upon application. For me, I don't think it truly becomes a powder but the result is smooth and it's easly blended. It tends to crease though, so a primer is a must!

I like it enough. I wouldn't use it for night time though. It's strictly a day product for me. You get nice, good natural eyes with this, and the colour blends seemlessly into each other as well as compliment one another. In the photos it doesn't look like much and you can't really tell I'm wearing eyeshadow but I'm going to post them anyway! The last photo was taken with light.