REVIEW: Best In Beauty 2014 winner, Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner...

Well now, those generous beautyheaven folks have introduced me to some amazing products over the last six years, including a number that I wouldn't normally purchase (and which I now wouldn't dream of being without), and lo and behold, this is another - Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner...

Apart from discovering a new love, trialing this particular product has resulted in an addendum to my personal beauty dictionary - to me a toner has always been something that follows a cleanser, removing the last traces of makeup and grime from the skin, as well as (hopefully) shrinking pores, and applied to the skin using a cotton pad. This little bottle is something quite different - a delightfully refreshing spray that cools, calms and tones, and can be used either before moisturising or after applying makeup, anytime actually, and on any part of the body...

I'll admit it took a few days for me to even consider trying it out, mainly because I've been averse to spraying anything on my face for as long as I can remember. Two reasons for this - 1) I wear glasses, so anything that wets my face needs to dry before I feel comfortable enough to put them back on again (blind as a bat without them), and 2) in the past I've accidentally sprayed my face numerous times with all sorts of nastily inappropriate things - hairspray, deodorant, flyspray, air freshener etc., and my clumsiness has SO put me off using any kind of spray, in a bottle or a can. Of course this isn't an aerosol so it's hardly the same thing, but still I was hesitant...

Anyway the day came when I took a deep breath and spritzed my made-up face - well now, that wasn't so bad after all, in fact I found it a delightful experience. The toner has a very delicate rose fragrance, and it sure made me feel cooler and calmer, and it didn't take long to dry either - less than 20 seconds (probably because it's such a fine spray), so the waiting-to-put-the-glasses-back-on thingy was not an issue. Next I tried it after cleansing my face (on a hot and humid night), and I reckon that's when I succumbed to its charms - quite blissful really, cooling and revitalising, my skin felt hydrated and soft before moisturising, and almost as if it had firmed up a tad...

So now I'm hooked on this award winning bottle of goodness - it's 100% vegan (and not tested on animals), and contains no alcohol, nor any of the other usual chemical ingredients that can irritate or upset the skin's natural balance. I find it soothing, refreshing and amazingly pacifying. It's quite warm here inside my blogging HQ - I've just sprayed it on my neck and instantly enjoyed some relief from the heat, and my skin also feels like it's had a hydration boost. I reckon I'll continue to use it in the cooler  months, if for no other reason than it simply gives me a lift...

Thank you ever so beautyheaven and Sukin for the opportunity to try this lovely product - at under $10, I'll definitely be purchasing it once I've hit the last squirt ♥

This is my first ever Sukin product - I'm most definitely impressed, and certain to be heading to my nearest chemist to sample the rest of the range. So gals, please let me know what Sukin products you love - I need a hand as to what to try next!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

HAPPY  NEW  YEAR  EVERYONE!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: Sleek Acid Yellow and Blue...

My last EOTD for the year, and the final in this series using the Sleek Acid palette. It wasn't meant to be a series, but I so fell for this box of colourful hues, and couldn't bear to not keep trying all the colours, and well, that's how it turned out. There's more up my sleeve of course, but I figured I'd better save something for 2015 lol...

So this was an interesting one. It was supposed to be yellow and blue, but it kind of turned out limey and blue - the yellow in this palette isn't as potent and workable as the other shades, and despite giving it a boost with the essence white kajal underneath, it was still a bit of a fizzer, especially in the blending department...

It has reasonably good pigmentation, but as soon as I started to blend it towards the blue, it went all patchy, and I had to keep packing it on - even then I gave up trying to even it out. But hey, one pan out of 12 that's a not quite as brilliant as the others is a pretty good statistic...

I used Ink from the Sleek V2 Matte palette in the crease, and Mirenesse Superlong Wear Gel Mineral Face Colour in Blue Moon on the waterline...

Here's the full face pic - I created this look in my last week of work, and I was SO exhausted, everything was a bit of a blur, and I can't for the life of me remember what I used on my cheeks and lips sigh...

Well it's almost New Year's Eve - if you're planning a big one, keep safe, and your loved ones close by your side ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

REVIEW: Urban Rituelle "Equilibrium" Mandarin + Basil + Lime Hand Cream...

Time to review another gem from Team Urban Rituelle - this tube of healing wonders was a prize from an UR Instagram competition I was lucky enough to win about five weeks ago. It's my first experience of the new Equilibrium range, and given how effective it is and how delicious it smells, I'll be exploring the other products in the collection stat...

I'm fast becoming a hand cream-a-holic (hmmm, I do seem to have these addictive tendencies hey?). I've always had a passion for what I'd call "high-end" mitt-moisturisers - by that I mean non-Supermarket creams that cost upward of $30 (e.g. Crabtree & Evelyn, L'Occitane etc.). They're all marvellous of course, come in a range of delightful fragrances, look and feel luxurious, but there's often one thing about them that bugs me - the tube is invariably made from metal, and after just one use, it looks mangled and ratty. Very disappointing, so much so that I keep them in a drawer because they look just plain awful, and nowhere near pretty enough to remain on display. But...thankfully UR have the right idea with their packaging - the picture below was taken after I'd bathed my paws in this rejuvenating and refreshing formula at least 20 times, and it still looks as perfect as the day I first took it out of the box ♥

Now that I've got that little whinge off my chest, it's time to rave about this gorgeous product. As soon as I squeeze a little out of the tube, the invigorating fragrance dances the tango right up my nose. It's a mix of mandarin, basil and lime, and my schnozz can immediately detect all three of these zesty ingredients - it's pure fruit and herbal heaven! At the end of a long and sometimes hot day, this fresh and zingy scent gives me a much needed boost. The cream has a consistency similar to whipped cream from one of those pressure pack dispensers, and it's equally light and fluffy, but boy does it hydrate parched paws. There's Chamomile Extract, Rosehip, Argan and Avocado oils in the formula, and the top three ingredients listed on the back of the box are Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil. And if that isn't enough natural goodness, there's also Cucumber Extract and Macadamia Oil - weathered hands and split cuticles don't stand a chance against this barrage of nature's healers, soothers and protectors ♥

The RRP is $20.96 for 100ml, which makes it close to half the price of my former favourite "expensive" hand cream, and after a month of nightly applications, there's not a red knuckle or dry skin cell in sight. I took a photo of the back of the box so you can see there are no less than 18 oils in this formula - whoa!

All up a fabulous hand cream that smells divine, restores and protects my hands with an arsenal of nature's gems, AND Urban Rituelle NEVER tests on animals. Love it!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. In all the excitement I forgot to mention that this beautiful cream is non-greasy - I slather on a generous quantity at night, but it still absorbs completely within a few minutes ♥

REVIEW: Calvin Kline Euphoria...

I've been an avid fan of Calvin Klein fragrances for yonks - Obsession has had a permanent place in my collection for around 15 years (it's my Winter signature scent), as has CKOne, and for my recent birthday I was gifted with a selection of miniatures (including Eternity - gee I'd forgotten how beautiful it is!). The only perfume from this kit that was new to me was Euphoria, and I'm officially besotted ♥♥♥

I'll start with the bottle - like nothing else on my shelf, it's sensuously curved, outrageously feminine, and with more than a touch of the "futurisitic" about it. Exceptionally difficult to photograph, I took over 50 shots to get these few finals, and even then I'm not sure I've been all that successful in capturing its beauty. Definitely NOT handbag friendly, you'll need to decant it's exotic contents into a Travalo or baby atomiser for re-spritzes throughout the day, although you may not need to because this a seriously potent perfume. The colour of the liquid is magnificent - probably best described as amethyst, I seem to have a thing for purple-hued fragrances, although this is far bolder than the lilacs and lavenders I already have in my kit...

As for the perfume, I'd call it sex in a bottle. Oh Euphoria, I do love thee! Predominantly an exotic oriental floral masterfully balanced with both fruit AND wood, and entwined into a base of amber - well now, I couldn't help but fall for it. The fruit notes are only evident on first contact - my nose can't pick what it is, but research has revealed pomegranate and persimmon to be the culprits. This freshness is almost immediately enveloped in an alluring and mysterious wave of Black Orchid, Lotus Blossom and Champaca, and a few minutes later, I can distinctly smell violet, spicy amber and a musky, powdery wood (mahogany)... 

This is a warm and rich fragrance, probably best suited to evenings and cooler weather, but I'm not letting that stop me basking in it's beauty during these Summer days. It's one of those perfumes that I can't really smell on my skin - instead it surrounds me. Longevity is one of the best I've ever experienced, a good five hours worth of compliments, and even then I still feel cradled in its seductive embrace long into the night...

Be warned though, you'll only need the tiniest of sprays to be a standout in the crowd - lol, let's just say I don't think this is for anyone who wants to blend into the background. Absolutely adore it ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: Sleek Acid Pink, Magenta and Silver...

So what would a month of Sleek Acid EOTD's be without a hot pink version hey? Just HAD to do one of these to complete the set, and these pinks are truly gorgeous...

I was pushing my luck a little with this particular look though, because of the silver component on the lower lashline, and the black on the waterline - given my age, I'm fast approaching dangerous territory where it becomes a wee bit hazardous to use such shiny shadows on my crinkly bits, and black waterlines are probably best worn by more youthful eyes, but hey, it didn't look so bad from a distance ha ha...

The usual base of essence white kajal, then the matte bright pink on the inner corner - much more older-eyes-friendly :-) Blended the slightly shimmer magenta over the rest of the top lid, and stroked the silvery grey along the lower lashline...

In the crease I added the barest smidgin of the potent matte black, and lined the waterline with ModelsPrefer Matte Black Kohl Pencil...

On the cheeks I used Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in Flushed, and added a dusting of the hottest pink from the BYS On the Brightside blush trio. For the lusciously loud lips, I slicked on a generous layer of Maybelline Colorsensational lipstick in Hot Plum, with Chi Chi Valley Doll Lip Lacquer over the top...

One more EOTD for December to go, and you can bet it will be another from the Sleek Acid palette ♥

Hope your Christmas was a particularly joyous one ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Ego QV Face Exfoliating Polish...

Another product from my morethanadored prize pack, and another winner. Regular readers will know of my passion for scrubs, in fact I start each and every day with some kind of exfoliant - at my age, keeping my complexion as bright and as smooth as possible is an essential part of my self-maintenance. I did a test not so long ago where I skipped using any kind of cell-sloughing product for a week, and the difference was obvious - my face just didn't have that extra refined and glowy appearance any more, and the surface felt patchy and scratchy. I have numerous scrubs on my bathroom shelf (at least eight at the moment - whoops!), varying from grainy deep pore-gougers to gentle surface smoothers, and I switch them around so as to not overdo or underdo the desired effect on my skin. 

Having used this Ego QV Face Exfoliating Polish exclusively for the last four weeks, I'd classify it as cleverly positioned somewhere in between the two extremes, and therefore just the ticket for my mature combination skin needs ♥

Love the packaging - the plastic is sturdy, the flip-top cap makes for easy dispensing, and I'm particularly keen on the fact that there's an expiry date on the crimped section at the top of the tube (mine says May 2017).  This is a bonus when you have a stash of products in your cupboard that you're working your way through - it's so easy to forget how long ago you bought something, so thanks Ego, great idea ♥  

In my beauty book, this white cream has the perfect consistency - it's easy to squeeze out a small amount, but firm enough to not drizzle through your fingers. It feels a bit grainy to the touch, but as soon as you start massaging it onto dampened skin, the consistency becomes smooth and kind of fluffy. There are tiny little blue granules suspended in the lotion (see pic below) - the sloughers that gently lift away the dead skin cells. The blurb on the back states that the formula contains ingredients to add moisture, reduce skin sensitivity, minimise fine lines and wrinkles (bonus), and in general, calm the skin (something called Avemide 15™) while gently polishing and refining the surface - overall I've found these statements to be true, although I have deep lines and crevasses, so I wasn't expecting much change there ♥

Delighted to report that during a month of daily use, I've not experienced one iota of irritation - no redness or drying of the skin, and my face doesn't feel tight after I use it. The recommendation is to avoid lip and eye areas - I admit I haven't been all that careful in my morning rush, but I've had no problem whatsoever. I also massage this into my neck and all the way down to my decolletage, with pleasantly smoothing results. It's as effective as my heavy duty scrubs, and as gentle as the mildest ones in my collection, and my face is looking the better for catering to both needs at the same time. Fragrance free and dermatologically tested, it's also a steal at just under $14.00... 

Value wise, I expect this will last at least a few more months - the tube actually doesn't feel any lighter than when I started, and I'm seriously considering reclaiming a whole section of my shower shelf back as I really don't need any other scrub/polish than this little beauty ♥

Hope your Christmas Eve is relaxed and peaceful, and that the joy of Christmas is with you throughout the year ahead.

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: Sleek Acid Orange and Blue...

Lol more from Sleek Acid - were these two colours made for each other or what? It's a hue combo I've always been crazy about, and without a doubt, these two particular shadows were meant to be together - neither one overpowers the other, the perfect pairing I'd say ♥

Of course I used essence white kajal for my base on the inner third to let the orange shine - it's actually nowhere near as bright on the skin as it is in the pan, but I reckon down the track I'll make it really pop using an orange cream underneath. For now I'm loving it's softness and subtlety...

Under the blue I used bhcosmetics waterproof eye crayon in Sapphire to give it something to adhere to with a boost - I haven't actually tried any of these pigments on their own to see how long they last without any support, that'll be a later experiment. In the crease is MUA Matte Midnight, and on the waterline I used essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Cool Down...

As you can see I did my usual colour-coordinating thingy with my outfit ha ha - lips are ModelsPrefer High Fashion, topped with Bloom Venezuela gloss, and cheeks are the orange from the essence "blush up" Heat Wave duo...

So gals, is this a colour combo you'd go for?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Best In Beauty 2014 winner, L'Oreal Base Magique...

Another one of the awesome products to win a beautyheaven 2014 Best In Beauty Award - L'Oreal Base Magique. This was the very first primer I ever tried, way, way back, not long after I joined bh six years ago. I have to giggle profusely when I think back to those early discovery days when I started reading about primers (on my favourite beauty website), and thought "goodness, that's one thing I sure don't need" - well I couldn't have been more wrong! I couldn't BELIEVE the difference this primer made to my skin, and the overall flawless finish it gave to my complexion. Of course since then, I haven't missed a day of using one of the plethora of primers available in the marketplace, but I have missed using this little beauty, and I'm so grateful to beautyheaven for gifting this jar of magic to me recently, and reminding me just how much I love it...

So what is it that sets this primer apart from all the others? Having tried so many, and then having used this baby every day for the last three weeks, I can emphatically declare it's the marvelously mattifying effect it has on my combo skin, and the way it instantly melts away my enlarged pores...

I have a very active oily T-zone, and regardless of the foundation I use, I'm constantly patting oil-absorbing powder onto this troublesome area throughout the day, especially around my nose. What I've noticed in these last few weeks is that I've only had to do this once (if at all), around lunchtime. Apart from this bonus to an often frantically busy working gal like me, this primer makes my complexion look smoother and heaps more refined from the get-go. At 59, I'm a bit long in the tooth to go without foundation on any day, but after spreading this pretty pink cream over my skin, I can get away with just a tinted BB cream - believe me, that's a freedom I treasure ♥

The consistency is quite thick and almost wax-like, and works best if it's warmed between your fingers before applying. Instantly my skin feels like silk - well, more like smooth satin actually. There's no longer any hint of sheen or shine, and the huge pores on my nose vanish in the blink of an un-made-up eye. My foundation just glides on over the top, and even if I use a particularly thick formula, it's easy as pie to spread it evenly, and the finish is darn near flawless...

There's no sunscreen component, but my current moisturiser is 30+, and combined with an SPF in my foundation, my face is sufficiently protected for this to not be an issue. And at the end of a long day, my font de teint is still intact, and looking almost as good as it did at 5am.

In summary, a brilliant primer - for gals dealing with a complexion that's awash with oil, this is most definitely a winner in my book, and I reckon it would work equally well for dry-skinned beauties because of it's amazing soothing and smoothing properties ♥

Have you tried L'Oreal Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer yet?

Take care of you,

kats xxx

EOTD: Sleek Acid White and Lime...

Gosh - this is turning out to be a Sleek Acid month of EOTD's! Who'd have thought I'd be using the same palette over and over again, I mean, every day? Unheard of for me, but that's how it's shaping up. The thing is the pigments are so fabulous, they lend themselves to just about any combo, and this little effort goes to show it doesn't have to be bright...

Over my essence white kajal base, I laid down a generous layer of the white from the palette - it gives an awesomely solid finish. Other whites I've tried end up being sheer or overly sparkly, but this matte shadow is marvelously dense, and yet it doesn't turn all cakey or chalky, even when you pack it on...

Over this I added the olive from the bottom row, starting with a generous layer from the outer edge, and blended it across to the inner corner so that it merged seamlessly into the white. I also used this in the crease for some definition, and it softened the MNY Master Precise Liquid Liner along the lower lashline...

Used warm colours on the rest of my face - lips are Maybelline Caramel Kiss with essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss in Pary Connection. Cheeks are ModelCo Amaretto Sunset...

And to finish off, I added green Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Liner along the waterline - this is starting to dry out a little, but hey, it's about three years old...

There'll be three more EOTD's using this palette before the end of the month - I might even keep going into January because there's just so many combinations I want to try. Lol pretty safe to say this is my ULTIMATE palette ♥

Do you have a palette that you use almost every day? Would love to know what it is...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Ego QV Face Gentle Cleanser...

It seems this cleanser and I were destined to meet, and as it turns out, form a lasting and loving relationship. Around 13 weeks ago, I scored a lovely little selection of goodies from beautyheaven for completing a survey. Included in the pack was a baby-sized bottle of Ego QV Face Gentle Cleanser (see the little cutie in the pic below), and being the perfect size for travelling, I tucked it away in my overnight bag for my next stay whenever and wherever, and promptly forgot about it...

Fast forward to three weeks ago, when I had the unbelievable good fortune of winning the entire range of Ego QV Face products from unbelievably generous Sarah's giveaway extravaganza over at morethanadored. It was only then I remembered about the little treasure I'd put aside for a rainy weekend. With such a massive variety of products in my prize, naturally I was champing at the bit to try everything all at once, but I decided to start at the beginning and extend the pamper-fest for as long as possible, so you'll be seeing these reviews trickle through over the next few months as I slowly introduce these lovingly moisturising products into my regime...

So first up is the aforementioned Gentle Cleanser, and it couldn't be more aptly named - so kind to my mature skin, and yet extraordinarily effective. As a rule I always double-cleanse my face (just as I do with shampooing), so a teeny squirt (enough to cover a 5 cent piece) of this creamy non-foaming white liquid is massaged into my skin twice at the end of each day, and rinsed off with lukewarm water. This irritant-free formula removes even the most stubborn long-wear foundation, and leaves my face feeling as soft and supple as the skin of a new-born babe...

As you can see from the back of the bottle, this cleanser ticks a whole heap of boxes in the ideal face product department, and scent-sensitive gals will be delighted with the lack of fragrance. The pack is made from sturdy plastic with a flip-top cap, and it won't topple over either. I'd quite forgotten that I do indeed prefer a creamy cleanser over a foaming one, and even though the bottle mentions "lather" a few times, I haven't come across any bubbles so far. Being a generous 250g (250ml) size (and a bargain at $12.75), I anticipate this will last me a good three months...

A little trivia for product origin fans - ever since receiving these Ego products, I've been curious to find out what the "QV" stands for, so a quick trip to the Ego website reveals that it comes from Melbourne's "Queen Victoria Hospital", whose dermatology ward asked chemist Gerald Oppenhiem to create a gentle cleansing and moisturising bath oil.back in the 50's - you can read the rest of the story here...

To sum up my experience so far, my face and I are loving this cleanser - it is indeed gentle, and powers through both daily grime as well as my heavy duty slap, leaving my complexion freshly cleansed and cared for. I'm ever so grateful to both Sarah and Ego (and beautyheaven) for the opportunity to discover a new love ♥...

Take care of  you,

kats xxx