SPOTLIGHT: February Empties!...

Welcome to my February Empties post! Yes I know, I know, it's April already, but that's how things turned out last month with my work commitments. Still have a few critical things going on, but they should be over in the next week or two, and I can get on with my blogging...and my March Empties post lol. Feb wasn't a big month, but the sheet mask discoveries continued, and I'm ECSTATIC that I managed to finish off two of the micellar waters left over from the series. I promised myself I wouldn't try any more till I've cleared at least one more bottle, but that shouldn't take long...

Natural Secrets Goatsmilk Moisturising Hand Cream (80ml, RRP $6.99)
Already reviewed HERE, love this hand cream ♥...
Repurchase?
Yes, will always have a tube on my bedside table, or in my handbag ♥...

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (100ml, RRP $59.95)

This AMAZING stuff has featured in a couple of my empties posts already, but I figured it was worth mentioning again so that you can see that despite my general fickleness with skincare, there are some things which I absolutely keep using over and over again. I reckon this magical liquid keeps my complexion as radiant and youthful as possible via an external product application. I use it every second night, and at least once a week I leave it to work it's magic entirely unaided by anything else...

Repurchase?
This is one product I'll always have on my bench - I buy from Adore Beauty as they regularly have it on special. Back in August last year, I picked up the 200ml supersize for $69.95 ♥...

Avène Micellar Lotion (200ml, RRP $30.95)

Reviewed in Part 7 of my Micellar Magic Series (HERE). This is one of the nicest micellars around, pity it's so expensive...

Repurchase?

Yep I will (once I get through some more of the backlog) - this lotion will be perfect for those cold winter nights when I don't feel like doing the whole face flannel washing thingy. This seems to remove just about all my makeup, and yet it's SO gentle ♥...

Lacura Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Water (250ml, RRP $7.95)

This one starred in Part 6 (HERE) - excellent value, and very effective...

Repurchase?
Would if I could - it's not stocked permanently at Aldi,  but when I see it again, I'll buy several ♥...

Nature's Way Mega B Executive Stress (200 tablets, RRP $21.99) 

I credit these vitamin tabs with keeping me afloat for the last 6 months. Particularly towards the end of last year when I was trying to find a house closer to my workplace, and I needed  extra vitamin support due to accumulated lack of sleep and major job stresses...

Repurchase?

There's already another on the shelf to help me "maintain an even strain" ♥...

Hylamide SubQ Eyes Advanced Serum (15ml, RRP $49.99)

Well now, I'm going to be very cautious in my remarks here because it took me a while to get the dosage of this product right. I don't want to sound like a goose, but I swear the first 10 times (10!) I used it, I dispensed way too much liquid, and had to do the unthinkable and scoop it back into the bottle. I kept telling myself that one drop was too much, and yet that's what I ended up with each time. Doh! It has the most extraordinary amount of slip, so you really only need what's on the outside of the dropper lol. Anyways, I got it right in the end, and I think this serum is pretty darn good. Other gals have said it's their miracle product, and while I haven't seen anything that makes me want to climb up onto the roof and shout about it, it certainly has potential. I've also been massaging it into the vertical lines between my brows and above my top lip, and they are all less noticeable, crows feet are also diminished. My hoods are a little firmer too, and the fine lines on the fleshy part aren't as obvious. It doesn't do anything for my eye bags, but as I always say, nothing will except surgery ♥...

Repurchase?

Onto my second bottle, will buy another once that's done - for sure ♥...

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patches (3 pairs, 18g, RRP $9.99)

This is the third appearance of these patches in my Empties series - guess what, they're going to be in EVERY MONTH! ♥...

Repurchase?

No need to ask, it's a done deal ♥...

Skin Republic Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Face Mask Sheet (20ml, RRP $7.99)

This was by far the most fun I've had with a face mask EVER. In case you missed it, here's my very scary Instagram piccie of the event...

First up, if  you have pets or small children, then stay in your bathroom until you're done - you will be unrecognisable and may frighten those dear to you. BUT, by the time it's bubbled and tingled to the point pictured above (15 minutes), you will have crystal clear glowing skin when you remove it. The fabric is black and you rub the packet before you open it to activate the bubbles. Then apply the mask like any other, watch the foam start to emerge, and you feel a tickling sensation as it oxygenates your complexion. Awesome! ♥...

Repurchase?

Already have - not all stores stock it (I found it at Chemist Warehouse), but keep looking, it's worth it ♥...

LonVitalite Collagen Crystal Eye Mask (RRP $32 for 6 pairs)

These patches came in my third Marie Claire Ageless parcel just over 12 months ago. No eye-dea why I waited so long to give them a go, but hey it finally happened, and I love them. Unlike the Skin Republic ones, these are very very thin, like matte Glad Wrap, but because they are so thin, they stay on all night. Lots of liquid, perfect shape, super hydrating, and I do believe my under eye area looked firmer and fresher in the morning. Definitely getting more of these ♥...

Repurchase?

Yes ma'am - they come in a pack of 6, and while they work out to be a couple of bucks more each than the SR ones, but I'm keen to see how they compare over time. There's another variety with added 24k gold for the same price, so I reckon they'll be the go ♥...

March Empties post is already in the pipeline, and will be up soon - promise!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party - come join in the fun after 6:30 Monday morning ♥...

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 7...

Time for some more Micellar Magic! There seems to be an endless array of this amazing liquid available in the marketplace - while the Garnier one is a new release in their rapidly expanding range, the others have been around for a while, but I've only just discovered them. The prices of these four range from $3.99 to $30.95, and interestingly, all contain fragrance, so I reckon it pays to do some research. Just to recap, I've already reviewed 13 offerings from various companies, and there are STILL more out there, so I can't see an end to this series any time soon ♥...

Avène Micellar Lotion (for sensitive skin) - (200ml RRP $30.95)

This is quite lovely - lots of slip, foams a little, after it dries my skin feels firmer but not taut, and it has a fragrance that reminds me of baby powder. From what I've read, you can't go too far wrong with any Avène product, but it is considerably more expensive...

Compared to some of the others, the ingredients are minimal, and the main one is of course Avène Thermal Spring Water. I actually tried this without pre-cleansing and found it removed almost all make-up and grime first go, and no eye tingling. Very gentle and very effective ♥...

bioten Micellar Water 3-in-1 (for dry/sensitive skin) - (200ml RRP $4.99)

Found this bottle in Chemist Warehouse on the bottom shelf of the skin care aisle. Performance-wise, it's no better or worse than most of the other less expensive offerings I've been sampling - non-drying, doesn't foam at all, removes most traces of make-up, no tightness when it dries, and has a faint floral fragrance. Appears to be made in Europe, and the registered address is in Paris...

The list of ingredients is quite extensive, and includes glycerin, castor oil and almond oil pretty high up. The front label says "100% Natural Cotton Extract", and that it's paraben, paraffin & colorant free. As I've mentioned before, I use micellar water as a second cleanse, but as the back label says it will remove even waterproof make up, I tested it on some lightly applied eye liner - most of it came off, but I had to rub quite a bit. Still there was no stinging or any irritation of my eyes, or the area around it. For $4.99, I think it's pretty good value, but if you're after something that will take your stubborn makeup clean off, then keep reading ♥...

Byphasse Micellar Make-Up Remover (for dry/sensitive skin) - (500ml RRP $3.99)

Another non-mainstream one from Chemist Warehouse, except this brand had it's own product stand at the end of the aisle. Made in Spain, this drags a wee bit on my skin, and the cotton pad starts to break up by the time I'm finished. I do prefer my micellar water to slip more easily over my skin, and I also found my face and neck felt unusually sticky after it dried - not quite in the realm of glue, but decidedly tacky all the same...

Above are the ingredients - nothing vastly different from other formulations, and at $3.99 for 500mls, it should be the best value around town, but that stickiness? Hmmm...no...

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water in Oil (for waterproof make-up) - (400ml RRP $13.95)

Well now I'm beginning to think that Garnier has the market all sewn up - yet another variety in their micellar range, and this one is even more specialised...

This mix of oil and water is a winner for removing long-wear foundation, 18-hour lip products, and especially waterproof eye-make-up - it's almost as effective as the remover I have sworn by and used for years (Neutrogena), and will take off four layers of cemented mascara in a flash with no irritation. You absolutely MUST shake the bottle well though until the liquid becomes cloudy throughout and foamy on the top - it will settle and separate out again eventually, but unless you do the big shake immediately before use, you'll miss out on its power. What I don't know is whether there's enough oil to last all the way to the bottom, but I'm prepared to give Garnier the benefit of the doubt. Not as much slip as I'd like, but I do love how soft my skin feels afterwards, and yet not a hint of greasy is left behind. It also has a fragrance - I'm going to say "lemon jasmine" - not my favourite scent, but not potent enough to bother me ♥...

My pick of this bunch is the Avène - yes it costs a good deal more, but the experience is such a pleasurable one ♥...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Hooking up with Ingrid's Monday Madness Link Up Party ♥ - guaranteed all sorts of interesting reads every week..

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 6 - La Roche-Posay, Natio & Lacura...

Gosh I was thinking this series had a limited life, but now I'm not so sure - even more bottles of this magical water waiting in the wings for review! I've also spotted micellar cleansing WIPES, but that's a whole other story. Meanwhile, here are the remaining three from Part 5.

NATIO Cucumber & Aloe Micellar Cleansing Water (all skin types) - (200ml RRP $14.95)

Simple and elegant presentation, however there's a screw top cap that has to be removed to get to the squirter - not a major block for me, but a wee bit annoying all the same. Very happy to see that second highest ingredient is Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, well known for its healing properties. Good slip on the skin, calming, cooling, non-drying, and I can't detect any fragrance. My skin feels baby soft after use, although the cotton pad doesn't show a whole heap of makeup leftovers so I'm a bit iffy about its effectiveness. Still a very nice product, and I'd say out of the all the ones I've tried so far, the most gentle, and probably the most suitable for gals with sensitive skin (although I'm certainly no expert). Nice one Natio ♥

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Micellar Cleansing Water (for oily sensitive skin) - (200ml RRP $25.95)

Apart from the Bioderma, this is the most expensive one I've tried to date. It's actually the first product I've tried from this brand. Made in France (of course), easy to open flip-top cap, no fragrance, doesn't make my skin feel tight, cotton pad slides easily over the skin, and non-drying. About the same amount of makeup traces on the pad as the Natio one. Not sure what to say here other than yes it's nice enough, but for $26 I was kinda expecting something special that would encourage me to hand over more than twice the $$$ for the same quantity. Probably best to say if you love the brand/range, you'll love this too...

If you're wondering what all those Zonders in the above label are all about, here's a translation - soap free, colorant free, alcohol free & paraben free ♥

Lacura Quick Fix Micellar Cleansing Water 3 in 1 - (250ml RRP $7.95)

This was the surprise of the series. Onto my third bottle over a period of at least 12 months - was suitably impressed with bottles 1 & 2, but used them all up prior to Part 1, which is why I'm only reviewing it now. Like a lot of Aldi products in general, it's been hard to find as it's a "special" and not carried permanently, and that's its only real flaw, although purists won't appreciate the inclusion of fragrance. I actually really enjoy the pretty floral scent - it's not overpowering, doesn't linger, and for me, makes the cleansing experience a little more interesting than the scent-free versions. For gals with sensitive skin, the label says dermatologically tested and alcohol free, and as per the Natio one, it contains cucumber extract... 

What makes this formula a winner is its effectiveness. Like several of the others covered in this series, it's a 3-in-1 - makeup remover, cleanser and toner. I noticed that whenever I used this water, the cotton pad seemed far more soiled than with any of the others, regardless of the cleanser I used or the makeup I was wearing. So I did a little test after cleansing my face, using one after another, and compared the cotton pads:

• Natio - minimal amount of foundation colouring
• La Roche-Posay - a wee bit of residue. Hmm, so the Natio didn't take it all off...
• Lacura - twice as much foundation colour than with the first Natio wipe, and even a wee bit of blush!

So the Lacura Quick Fix appears to cleanse away the makeup traces more effectively - how about that?

As I did at the end of Part 4 HERE, I've done a swatch swipe comparison of the five covered in the last two posts. Same Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner left to dry for a few minutes, and I've included the Bioderma Sensibio at the end as it's the benchmark...

All round the results are better than from the first set of products HERE (or maybe my swatching was a little more thorough) - not much difference between any of the above, but I reckon the Lacura one looks a smidgin cleaner...

When I get to the completion of this series (if ever lol), I'll do a full arm swatch of each of them for comparison - I really need to do them at the same time and under the same lighting conditions. Till then keep well and happy lovelies!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3...

Take care of you,
kats xxx

P.S. Linking this post to all the other beauties over at Ingrid's always entertaining Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party ♥♥♥

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 5...

Well the Micellar Water market is bigger than I thought, so time for another round. While there's one in the piccie below that's cheap as chips, I've started delving into more upmarket offerings. We all know that the creme-de-la-creme Bioderma comes with a pretty hefty price tag ($42.99 for 500ml), but I was curious to see if there was any difference in the quality of other brands as the price point increased, so watch this space. Incidentally I'm not even attempting to finish all of the bottles I've acquired so far during this adventure (I guess I could take a bath in it lol?), so I've been distributing some to my fam & friends, and delighted to report that I have totally converted my Mum to this magical invention...

So let's get started. Out of these five, I'm going to cut to the chase and start with the WORST ...

MODELCo Micellar Cleansing Water - All In 1 (240ml, RRP $15)

I so appreciate honesty from the bloggers I follow, and wouldn't DREAM of leading anyone astray with dodgy info here. Regardless of my experience, I endeavour to be fair, and even if a product sucks, will always mention any redeeming qualities, but I'm struggling to find anything positive about this baby, except maybe the packaging. While tall bottles are more likely  to topple over than squatty ones, this takes up very little space on my vanity, and the overall look is quite classy. There - I've said it. As for what's inside, well...I'm puzzled as to how this made it onto the market...

Leaving aside the fact that UREA is listed as an ingredient (eeeeewwwwww!), I haven't been able to get past first base with the application. Regardless of how much I use, this drags on my skin, and after a couple of swipes, the cotton pad scrunches up and starts to tear. I use Swisspers makeup remover pads because they never EVER break up or shred, except when I use this. At first I thought it was because of the cleanser I used, so I tried several from the assortment on my bench, but the result was the same each time. In a nutshell, there is zero slip. If I use a few pads, I can make it down to my neck, but when it dries, my skin feels tight and dehydrated. At my age, I appreciate a bit of firming, but not this much. The label says it's "...a cult-favourite among professional makeup artists and celebrities." I wonder who? One word - no. Let's move on...

essano Rosehip Gentle Facial Cleansing Micellar Water (400ml, RRP $12.99)

Ahhh essano - you make such lovely products ♥ Just for the record this sweetie has earned 5-star rave reviews on beautyheaven, and I wholeheartedly concur. Love the slightly milky/pearly finish of the bottle, and for 400ml, it's terrific value for the price. It's a winner all round actually - barely any chemical sounding ingredients that I don't recognise, and lots of natural (and organic) goodies. I actually prefer this to the pink Garnier one - same price, but it has the edge as far as skin comfort and gentleness is concerned. Love that it contains Aloe Vera and Rosehip Seed Oil, but doesn't leave even the remotest hint of oily residue. My skin feels toned, soft and super clean, and not the least bit robbed of moisture. Recommended for all skin types, the formula is pH balanced and dermatologically tested. I also appreciate that the label says "200 uses", which my trusty calculator works out to be 6.5 cents each time. Bargain ♥

Part 6 will be up soon. If you missed the rest of the series, here are the links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Time for another round up of top blog articles at Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - starts 6:30am ♥...

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 4...

Well here we are at the end of the series - well it's not quite the end 'cos I'm having way too much fun, and besides, I've found a couple more micellar waters to try! So I suspect there will be a continuation of this theme ♥, but for now, I'll wrap up this particular set (let's call it "Season 1") with the last two as promised, as well as the mother of all micellar waters, Bioderma...

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water 200ml (RRP $12.95)

So this was the second one I tried after the pink Garnier, and it's a beauty - no alcohol, hypoallergenic and fragrance free. I don't know which of the ingredients listed below is the toner component, but it does offer a little something extra over the others as far as texture refining is concerned. Not the least bit drying, good slip factor, and I find this quite soothing and smoothing. I used to use the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Toning Lotion, but this does the job just as well, despite feeling gentler. I prefer this rectangular bottle shape as it takes up far less room on my bench than the fat round ones. Overall I really like this version - will repurchase once I've finished the contents, and alternate it with my #1 fave (to be revealed below) ♥...

true micellar water make up remover 125ml (RRP $4)

This is one of the new cheap-and-cheerful range from Coles - just about everything is $4, so I figured it was well worth a place in my experiment. While it is a relatively small quantity, the baby sized (yet sturdy) bottle is super handy for weekends away, and the cap unscrews so you can refill it with another brand if you prefer, or anything else for that matter. No alcohol content, not tested on animals and Australian made, so there's three bonuses already. Like some of the others, it sort of foams if you rub the cotton pad on the skin, and while it's fragrance-free, it does have a faint scent when it hits the makeup remover pad. Although non drying, it's not my fave, but I'll buy this again just to have a few of the empty containers in my drawer ♥

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Make-up removing micelle solution 250ml (RRP 100 ml - $20.99, 250ml - $31.99, 500ml - $42.99)

So here's the darling that started it all. It's made in France, and consequently, has an ooh-la-la price tag, but you get what you pay for - a 100% irritant-free, fragrance-free dermalogically and opthalmologically tested formula that whisks away makeup and grime in seconds. Ever so slight foaming characteristics (actually more slip than foam) and again, it has a faint what I call "towel left on the clothesline" scent once it comes in contact with the cotton pad. BUT it does leave my skin feeling the silkiest and softest of all the ones I've tried. I've found that all micellar waters have a cooling effect, but this one even more so - possibly the cucumber extract content, and I would go for this big time in the hot weather for an extra refreshment boost. Like the Sukin one, I really appreciate that it has an expiry date on the back of the bottle. Nice one Bioderma ♥

Ok before I reveal my numero uno, I thought I'd do one last test - as mentioned in Part 1, I use micellar water as my second cleanser, and instead of a toner. But there are many of you who might choose to use this magical elixir as your one and only cleanser. So in the (sucky - boo!) swatch piccie below, I've drawn on a stripe of Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner, and let it set for a few minutes before swatching with each of the products - one single same-pressure swipe with a soaked cotton bud paddle, so you can see how effective they all are...

So now for the big reveal - valuewise, and for my particular purposes, Garnier Sensitive gets my vote, and it's the one I'll continue to purchase over and over again, well at least until I find something better. BUT if I ever decide to ditch my traditional cleansers and use ONLY a micellar water, I would go for the original but pricey Bioderma Sensibio ♥

Till Series 2...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Added to Ingrid's BRILLIANT Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party ♥

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 3...

Ok so we're off and running with Part 3 of my Micellar Water adventure! This week I'm reviewing the Garnier for Combination to Oily Skin, and the offering from Simple. Both are excellent quality, but once again they are quite different, so read on...

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Combination to Oily Skin 125ml/400ml (RRP $7.95/$12.95)

I have an oily T-zone and fairly normal cheeks, so I was particularly keen to try this formulation, and to compare it with the Sensitive Skin version, reviewed here. Love the pink one, but not so keen on this green labelled bottle. Given the target skin type, I expected it to be a wee bit drying, but it's a little too drying for my mature complexion. Identical ingredients, except for one extra inclusion - Alcohol Denat. Boo! I know some gals have a problem with this stuff, and although I didn't experience any reaction, I won't be buying this again. Doesn't make my skin feel tight, but it definitely feels like there is less moisture content after using it. I switched to Micellar Water from toner long ago mainly because of the harshness of the (often) alcohol content, so no, I'll stick with the original formulation... 

Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Water 200ml (RRP $9.99)

This is nice enough, no acohol content and it's supposed to contain multi-vitamins, but in my beauty book, it's nothing special. I've already gone through half a bottle as it's half the size of the Garnier one. Doesn't sting, and my skin feels clean, cool and refreshed after use, and super silky soft. It has a faint chemical-ish fragrance when it first hits the cotton pad, and after the skin dries, the scent is a bit like garden soil after a shower of rain - earthy but natural. Not unpleasant, and it dissipates very quickly, but a bit odd all the same - might be something to do with the chamomile content, although it doesn't smell like chamomile to me. It also doesn't seem to work as well at removing the last traces of makeup as some of the others, but I would buy it again if any of my other preferences weren't available ♥

I'm planning on uploading Part 4 next week, and to complete this little bit of research, I'll be declaring my personal favourite, as well as reviewing the Bioderma one. Till then why not join me in popping on over to Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party ♥

Take care of  you,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 2, Swisse & Sukin...

From Part 1, there seemed to be quite a bit of interest in the Swisse version of this magical face cleansing elixir, and I decided to pair it with Sukin, the other brand that uses non see-through packaging. For me, part of the pleasure of using micellar makeup remover is that I can see that it's colourless, and looks for all the world like water. But, I included these in my experiment as they are both excellent brands, so without further ado...

Swisse Micellar Makeup Remover - Micellar Water + Cucumber 300ml (RRP $10.95)

First up I'm quite impressed with Swisse products in general - their pricepoint is excellent, you can buy the range in supermarkets, they exclude the usual plethora of yucko chemicals, and they don't test on animals. Secondly, I made a major goof in my closing words of Part 1, saying that one particular "natural skincare" version contained peroxide and petrolatum. Sincere apologies if I scared anyone, but I TOTALLY misread the label on this bottle - those nasties are what Swisse leave out! Anyhoo, I quite like this interpretation. Cucumber extract is the first ingredient listed, and that usually means the highest content, but the fragrance is ever so faint. It does have an odd effect when using it though - once it hits the cotton pad, the scent intensifies and reminds me of a beach towel that's been left on the clothesline for a couple of days lol! Not unpleasant, but if you like your micellar water fragrance-free, then this might not be for you...

It's not colourless either - no doubt that's the cucumber content, although it doesn't bother me. Interestingly, when swiping the pad across my face, the product kind of foams up - nothing major, and at first I thought it was because I had some cleanser left on my skin, but it happens on bare skin too. Once again, not an issue for me, and it sure is super cooling and refreshing. Despite containing Benzyl Alcohol, it's not the least bit drying on my mature skin...

While I did find it effective for removing makeup, and certainly excellent as a second cleanse, I'm intrigued by the instructions on the bottle, recommending to "...follow with your recommended Swisse cleanser". I'm obviously using it the wrong way round!...

Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water - with Cucumber & Chamomile 250ml (RRP $9.95)

Very fond of Sukin products too - just adore their Hydrating Mist Toner. This micellar water smells almost identical to the Swisse one, but the fragrance is quite a bit stronger. Same level of effectiveness too - I haven't tried using any of these cleansers to remove waterproof eye makeup, but this one works really well on longwear foundation...

Same yellowish colour that's a bit more obvious on the pad, and it also foams up a little on the skin. To be honest, I can't detect much of a difference between this and the Swisse version, apart from the intensity of the fragrance (which incidentally hangs around for a while), although the ingredients are worlds apart. Go figure! Primary content is water followed by Aloe - I do find this a little drying though (it seems to contain two types of alcohol), but it doesn't make my face feel tight in any way. Again the recommendation is to follow with a regular cleanser!...

To their credit, the Sukin formula is free from lots of harsh chemicals, it's 100% vegan, they don't test on animals, and their manufacturing is 100% carbon neutral...

In summary, of the two I prefer the Swisse variety, although if we're talking true micellar waters, I don't believe either of them qualify, even though they seem to work very well. I might consider restocking the Swisse, but because of the intensity of the fragrance, I definitely wouldn't repurchase the Sukin one again...

So enjoying this discovery journey, hope you are too - Part 3 will be up soon!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party is on again tomorrow - your weekly blog fix begins at 6:30am ♥... 

SPOTLIGHT: Micellar Magic Part 1...

I'm always excited when Science meets Skincare, and I've been a huge Micellar Water fan for quite some time. While I will be forever grateful to Bioderma for (I believe) coming up with this awesome invention originally, I'm also thankful to all the other brands that have picked up on it, and are releasing their own versions at considerably lower prices. But are they all the same? A quick squiz at the ingredients on any of the bottles reveals they can't POSSIBLY be, so I set about trying eight of the "drugstore" ones on the market to find the best one for my particular needs. I don't use it as a primary cleanser as such, but ditched toner years ago in favour of this magical liquid for my second cleanse, and overall refreshment. Below are the ones I chose for my experiment, with prices ranging from $4 to $12.99, all available at supermarkets, Priceline and most chemists...

I've been using the majority of these in rotation for almost three months, and they sure do vary, so let's get on with the deets. I'm planning on doing a couple of reviews every few weeks or so, and I'll start with the ones that have been on my bench for the longest period...

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 125ml/400ml (RRP $7.95/$12.95)

Hard to go past this one for value and performance - with regular specials, I doubt you'll pay more than $12 for the giant 400ml bottle. Garnier was the first to release a micellar water into the mainstream, and they've since expanded their range to include variations for different skin types (will review the one for oily skin down the track). It's colourless and fragrance-free, has plenty of slip, and doesn't leave my skin feeling either dry or with an oily residue - very refreshing, and I love that it comes in different sizes, this 125ml one is perfect for travelling. There's been a bottle (usually a BIG one) of this on my vanity for years ♥...

Nivea Sensitive 3 In 1 Micellar Cleansing Water 200ml (RRP $9.99)

Had reasonably high expectations for this offering from Nivea, but I was a tad disappointed. While it contains no dye or perfume, I found it to be quite drying even though I have normal to oily skin - the cotton pad drags and tends to ball up, and the liquid leaves my face feeling a bit tight, which is surprising given it contains Grape Seed oil. The drying effect isn't severe enough for me to toss it out, but I was expecting it to be more moisturising. Will not repurchase...

Already you can see that the ingredients vary from one brand to another, and believe me, it gets even more interesting, especially with one pictured at the top that's touted as "natural skincare", and yet it contains petrolatum and peroxide - eek! More soon lovelies ♥

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. If you're a blogger, why not join in Ingrid's Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - if you're a blog reader, then there's a beaut selection to choose from ♥...