Product Review: The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner

For quite a while now, I’ve been stuck in my ways of using rosewater mist as the balancing agent between cleansing and moisturising. Recently though I decided to try out the Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner, because it seemed like it would be quite gentle and soothing on my recently troubled skin. Thankfully, it worked out to be just as gentle and calming as it sounds. I use this product by soaking a cotton bud in it and applying it to my skin straight after cleansing and it instantly settles down my skin and calms all redness. The toner has no scent to it, is alcohol free and is ideal for those of you like me with sensitive skin. It also doesn’t seem to break me out at all, which is a huge bonus. The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner retails for $17.95 AUD and can be purchased online from The Body Shop Australia’s online store.

May Favourites

My five favourite and most reached for beauty products during the month of May were: Flourish Almond Milk Perfume Oil, Face of Australia Foxy Roxy Nail Polish, Dermalogica Sheer Tint Redness Relief, Inglot #230 Lipstick & Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Body Oil.

Product Review: Dermalogica Sheer Tint Redness Relief

Those of you who know me will already know that I am an avid Dermalogica fangirl. For those of you who don’t, well now you know. As we move through the colder months of the year here in Australia (as type this it is currently 24 degrees celcius and sunny here in Perth) it’s important to work some cold-weather warriors into the skin care regime. At least for me it is, as I suffer from epic red face in the cold and wind. It’s not pretty… First up to the bat is Dermalogica’s Sheer Tint Redness Relief. I have been using this product every day for a few weeks after receiving it for review and I am loving it. “Neutralize, relieve and defend against inflammation and redness induced by skin sensitivity and rosacea with this three-in-one SPF moisturizer. Natural earth minerals provide a sheer green tint to actively counter telltale redness. Licorice, Green Tea, Sea Buckthorn and Ranunculus calm inflamed, irritated skin while promoting skin recovery from previous environmental assaults.” I use this product as a moisturiser, and as I have oily skin this is enough for me but others may wish to layer it under or over their regular moisturiser. I do find that this product has reduced the natural redness of my face and is helping me combat the extra redness that the cold weather seems to inflict on my skin. I also love the fact that it’s green, despite being initially disappointed that it blends out and doesn’t leave me looking like Elphaba from Wicked. The Dermalogica Sheer Tint Redness Relief retails for $77 and can be purchased online from Australian online beauty retailer Adore Beauty. (note: I was sent this product for consideration for review)

Product Review: The Jojoba Company Jojoba Bead & Bamboo Facial Exfoliant

I have a am developing a deep love for The Jojoba Company. Though this is only the second product I have officially reviewed so far, I am loving the entire range of products that was sent to me for review. The Jojoba Company Jojoba Bead & Bamboo Facial Exfoliant is currently my favourite exfoliant that I have on rotation. As I already use Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant quite a bit during the week I try not to overdo it with any other exfoliation products. The Jojoba Bead & Bamboo Exfoliant is a manual exfoliant, which means there are little grainy bits in the product that scrub away to remove dead skin cells. The first time I used this product I used it in the shower and for some reason my face felt like it was reacting negatively to the scrub. I was sure that when I stepped out of the shower my face was going to be beet red, but it wasn’t. It was ghost white as always and looked freshly scrubbed and clean. Ever since that first use, I have not experienced the same sensation when using the product so I’m really not sure what that little episode was about. Having said that and despite this product being recommended for sensitive skin, I would recommend those of you with sensitive skin try a sample of this product before investing in the full size tube just to be on the safe side. One of my favourite things about the Jojoba Company products I’ve tried so far is that my skin doesn’t feel “stripped” in any sort of way after using them. Apparently you can also leave the Exfoliant on for 10-15 minutes for a luxury treatment face mask. I am yet to try the product in this way, but it does sound divine. The Jojoba Company Jojoba Bead & Bamboo Facial Exfoliant retails for $34.95 AUD and you can search for a local stockist on the Jojoba Company website. (note: I was sent this product for consideration for review)

Random Beauty Haul

The Aussie dollar has been performing like a champion lately, and I know a lot of my fellow beauty bloggers have been taking advantage of the strong exchange rate and doing a bit of online shopping. I am no exception, and have placed a few orders at MAC, Bath + Body Works and Sephora (the elusive Urban Decay Naked Palette shall be mine at last!). Pictured above are my most recent beauty acquisitions: Bath + Body Works Black Raspberry Vanilla Shower Gel & Triple Moisture Body Cream, Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment, Barrier Repair and Sheer Tint Redness Relief (all sent for consideration for review), MAC Eyeshadow in Phloof, Eyeshadow in Orb, Softsparkle Eye Pencil in Iris Accents and Mineralize Blush in Buddy Up, Benefit Cha Cha Tint (sent for review), Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in Hot Pink, Co Bigelow Apple Rose Salve, Co Bigelow Blueberry Rose Salve, Liplicious Signature Vanilla Berry Tasty Lipgloss, Liplicious Pineapple Juice Tasty Lipgloss and Co Bigelow Organics Strawberries & Cream Moisturizing Lip Shine.

May Wishlist

01: I am in dire need of a replacement for my Poshe top coat. Mine has gone rather gluggy and gross and has a tendency to drag the top layer of my polish around ruining my meticulously messy manicure efforts. 02: Who could lay eyes on the Chantecaille turtle palette and not want one for their very own? Especially when you know that 5% of proceeds go to widecast to ensure the survival of sea turtles.

03: Lemming, lemming, lemming. I need this in my life after reading Lara’s review. 04: Continuing with the lemming trend, after seeing it on Stef’s blog, Illamasqua cream blush in lies must be mine. Unfortunately I think this product is discontinued, so anyone who manages to tell me where I can buy it is entitled to my firstborn child with Prince Harry.