Her Beauty Days

The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
I was curious in trying out Antipodes Apostle Skin-Brightening & Tone-Correcting serum, to address some pigmentation I've acquired during the summer months. It was difficult to convince myself to fork out over $50 to purchase 30 mL of  serum; so when this deal rolled around, I didn't think twice.
The deal was to spend a minimum of $65 on selected skincare products and receive the goody bag for free!

This year's bag came in a reflective silver tote, presumably a Model's Prefer one.

Here's what I got when I emptied my bag:


Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (15 mL sample)

Avène Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water (50 mL)

Beauty Essentials Dry Skin Body Lotion (500 mL)

Biorè Steam Activated Cleanser (145 mL)

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (17 g)

Chapstick True Shimmer Lip Balm in Tropical (4 g)

Derma Sukin Daily Gentle Wash

Dr. LeWinn's  Firming Eye Cream (30 g)

Essenzza Fuss Free Naturals Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)

Hope's Relief Goats Milk Sopa (with shea & cocoa butter) (125 mg)

Manuka Doctor (pack of 3 samples)
- apiclear skin serum (5 mL)
- apifine targeted wrinkle filler (3 mL)
- apinourish rejuvenating face mask (7 mL)

ModelCo Face Tan Hydrating Self-Tanning Gel (50 mL)

Models Prefer Cosmetic Bag

Models Prefer Kohl Pencil in Matte Black  (1.14 g)

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser (177 mL)

Nivea Pure & Natural Hand Cream (75 mL)

No brand - Dual Mirror Compact

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Intensive Relief Concentrated Cream Hand & Body (100 g)

People For Plants Mist Toner (rose otto, burdock, kakadu plum) (125 mL)

Puretopia Gentle Exfoliating Face Scrub (75 mL)

Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub (200 mL)
Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Corrector Pen

Suvana Organic Paw Paw & Honey Balm (25 g)

Swisspers Naturals Aloe Gentle Eye Make-up Remover (100 mL)

Thursday Plantation Macademia Oil (125 mL)
Yes To Carrots Lip Butter in Berry (4.25 g)

Samples

Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Pac (Kelp & Seaweed) (6 g sample)

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Intensive Relief Moisturizing Lotion (5 mL)

Swisspers Naturals Cucumber Facial Cleansing Wipes (5 wipes)


There was also the inclusion of discount vouchers for some of the product brands included in the bag.

I ended up spending under $70 to qualify for the free bag.
The products I've purchased were also discounted; overall it was a great deal!


Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power-Cream Wash (177 mL) $11.99

Biorè Pore Unclogging Scrub (135 mL) $8.79

Antipodes Apostle Skin-Brightening & Tone-Correcting serum (30 mL) $47.19


I can't wait to start using these products. I'm definitely stocked up in the winter skincare department.

To see what's in last year's skincare bag and my previous skincare haul, click here.

So, did you cave in for the skincare goody bag this year?!

Apologies for my prolonged absence.
I've recently endured the most stressful fortnight of my life.
Assessments after assessments, accompanied with other commitments, I admit it was quite a struggle.

I know this post is long overdue, but regardless, I'd like to share it with you. I can't believe I had this in storage for quite sometime!

Hello to three months' worth of empties!


1. Avène Eau Thermale Spring Water (300 mL)
Spraying this on after a hot shower or workout - it's so refreshing! I already have backups of this mist. It's so soothing and not irritating like other facial mists. See my review here.

2. Dettol Healthy Touch Instant Hand Santitizer (200 mL)
I wouldn't consider this as a product related to beauty, but I do keep it on my vanity for those spontaneous moments. I think it's important to have clean hands when dealing with makeup products.  My friend got me this and I'm really grateful for it! Will definitely repurchase.

3. WOTNOT Facial Wipes (5 wipes sample)
Hands down the best facial wipes I've used. Love these so much. They're everything I'm looking for in a facial wipe - superior quality cloth wipes, natural and organic... I just wish they were available in the stores I regularly visit such as Priceline.

4. Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser (30 mL sample)
I thought this was a pretty mediocre cleanser. Adding on, I wasn't a fan of the herbal scent.

5. muk Spa Argan Oil Shampoo (300 mL)
I received this at my very first media launch. I really love how gentle yet effective the product was - free from sulfates, parabens and some other "nasties". However, I didn't enjoy the scent that much.

6. Barry M Intense Black Eyeliner Pen
This eyeliner was also featured in my first empties post on this blog - June 2013 Empties!
I will forever repurchase this unless I find a more superior product for lining my upper waterline.

7. Biorè Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser (200 mL)
Biorè and I go way back! I love how this is targeted towards combination skin (that's me!). It's a great everyday cleanser that doesn't disrupt my skin's natural moisture. I will probably repurchase.

8. Schwarzkopf Ultimate Oil Elixir Serum (80 mL)
I was first drawn to this product because it contained golden particles! Overall it was an alright finishing product but the fragrance was a bit overpowering. I wouldn't recommend this product for those with "overstressed, straw-like hair" (the target market) because of the product's high alcohol content.

9. Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream (3 g sample)
Designed to fade dark circles and brighten up the area, the product didn't yield major improvements in my under eye area. However, I did enjoy applying this on every night. The thin consistency was just right and I liked how it tingled just a bit (am I weird?). I wouldn't repurchase this.

10. Hiruscar Skincare Gel (20 g)
I have already repurchased this a while back for my scar and finished the second one last month. It did prove to be effective against my scars. However, because it was quite a bit expensive for my taste, I wouldn't be repurchasing in future.

11. Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder (0.05 g sample)
I already have the full-sized boxed powder and it has become one of my favourite bronzers!

12. Re-Gen Re-Gen Oil (125 mL)
This is supposedly a cheaper dupe/alternative to Bio-Oil from ALDI. I do think this oil is on par with Bio-Oil; it was effective in reducing the appearance of my scars. I will repurchase once I finish up on using the other oil treatments.

13. e.l.f Shimmer Lip Gloss in Red
I'm throwing this out because it smelt funky when I first opened it.

14. Face of Australia Gentle Makeup Remover (125 mL)
This is my second bottle. It's a bi-phase type of makeup remover. I really enjoyed using this - it's cheap and works well. I won't be repurchasing because I've discovered micellar water and have been loving it!

15. Matrix Biolage Advanced Keratindose Shampoo and Conditioner (7 mL samples)
Loved the smell of this. It was nice for my hair but I won't be repurchasing it because there are cheaper alternatives.

16. Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair Shampoo and Conditioner  (10 mL samples)
Wow this smelt so heavenly - a bit vanilla-like. I really enjoyed using it and would probably purchase the full sized products if there was a special going on.

And there we have it. Three months' worth of empties - February, March and April.
I hope you enjoyed this post.

I originally planned to produce an empties post at the end of each month but failed to do so with the current changes happening within my schedule.

I don't know if you've seen the recent blog posts on the free skincare goodie bags at Priceline when you spend over $60 on selected skincare brands, but, I had to make a post on my views and the haul I did to get the bag!














So initially, I was going to pass up on this tempting deal, since I have a plethora of moisturisers and cleansers filling up every nook and cranny (seriously!) But then I realised I was out of facial wipes; what a great excuse to spend $60+ on skincare! Facial wipes are such a convenience when I'm too lazy to properly remove my makeup and cleanse my face.

So off I went to my nearest Priceline and got myself a few skincare goodies to trial around with. My total ended up being around $62. Not bad, I say!

The "haulage":


(From left to right)

1. Swisspers Green Tea Calming Facial Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)

- Got these because I'm a sucker for anything associated with green tea! These claim to remove "make-up & waterproof mascara". Upon first application, it stung my face. However, I still use these because I haven't broken out yet. The stinging isn't as "painful" as the first application, but my face has that "tingling" feeling. I think this is too concentrated for my preference. It claims to have green tea, aloe extracts and vitamin E. I know I should stop using it, since the pain reaction is a bad sign but I really want to finish this off (luckily my face is still "intact" lol). These are quite good at removing my face makeup, but not so much eye makeup. I really love how soft and durable the facial towels are...But unfortunately, I won't be purchasing these in future. Oh, another thing, I did look up the reviews for this product online before  making the purchase, and so far I haven't come across anyone experiencing the stinging. How strange!

2. Swisspers Spa Facial Cleansing Wipes with Pomegranate Extract (25 wipes)

- Got sucked into buying this because of the pink packaging. Also these are "coloured wipes", which really intrigued me! The product claims to be rich in antioxidants which is a bonus! It "cleanses, tones and moisturises without drying". I haven't tried these yet, but I'm hoping it won't sting my face. It's funny because I used to buy those $1 facial wipes from Coles/Woolworths and they worked fine (though the softness and quality of the towels can be improved).

3. 2x Nivea Pure & Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)

- These are a little pricer than the Swisspers brands, but unlike the Swisspers brand (which are made in China), these are made in the Netherlands. I got attracted to claims on the packaging:
They're free from parabens, silicones, colourants, mineral oils and alcohol. The ingredients used in these; 95% of them are from natural origin (great!), they're biodegradable, they contrain bio argan oil and aloe vera. Last and not least they claim to do everything plus they are suitable for sensitive eyes/skin! I haven't tried these yet but I got 2 packets on a whim for the sister and I.

4. Palmer's  Cocoa Butter Formula Cocoa Body Scrub (200 g)

- Also needed a body scrub, 'cause it's Winter and I wanted to give my skin a treat.
I tried this out yesterday in the shower and my, it was such a luxurious experience! For those who love chocolate, I'm sure you'll agree with me that this product smells divine! Think cocoa guys! I really love that this product is saturated with crushed Cocoa beans! However, I have to say, this feels really buttery (from the shea butter) and moisturising but it's not that great at exfoliating. I prefer a stronger exfoliant. I will repurchase this in future though! Great skincare product for Winter in my book! 



5. Yes To Carrots C the Body Carrot Rich Moisturizing Body Scrub (200 mL)

(Blended with Carrot Seed Oil, Carrot Juice, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato and Dead Sea Mud. Paraben Free). Wow, sounds like a scrumptious lunch for the skin! I couldn't resist such a scrub. I'm excited to try a variety of products to find what works best for me! (This product is not tested on animals).

6. Avène Thermal Spring Water (300 mL)

- I needed a product to make my total at least $60 to get the goodie bag.
This was on sale for $19.99 (a bit crazy) but you can get it cheaper at the Chemist Warehouse when they have a sale! See my review on this product here.

And now, the moment we've been waiting for...



That's all the products in the goodie bag!

The products were enclosed in a shiny, black, sturdy Models Prefer tote (with a pink lining inside). Great usable bag for my mum so she can carry the groceries more efficiently!

Most are full sized items! Items in the bags can vary in shades and product types.
I'll be sharing these around with family and friends.

So, did you get one of these generous goodie bags? What products did you get to get the offer? I'd love to hear what you got!
If you haven't done so, and you're interested, you can still get them online or instore!

Hope you're enjoying the lovely weekend!
I'm back with a review on one of my favourite products, Avène's 'Thermal Spring Water'.


So initially, after reading a few reviews on the blogosphere, I was a bit skeptical by the claims exhibited by this "can of water". For spring water in a can, it's a bit pricey...But after reading this post, you'll soon know why I love it so much.

I was first drawn to this product after experiencing some redness to my whole face. It was a cold day and my face, triggered by some unknown factor, became all red and hot. It took me a few hours to subdue the redness. I went home, hopped onto Google and my first hit led me to this product.
After snagging this product at a sale at the Chemist Warehouse, I began using it where applicable.

I mainly use this product, after a nice hot shower, to calm the skin and not dehydrate it (after using harsh chemicals to cleanse my face plus it's WINTER), after I remove my makeup, when my face feels heated up, when I need a "perk-me-up", after the gym,  or when I just want to feel that pleasurable feeling on my face upon application! (I'm actually getting addicted to using this!)

So basically, the Thermal Spring Water can is spring water, bottled in a sterile unit - sourced from the Avène Thermal Spring (in France). A bit of a fun fact (found on the can): the site was declared to be of "Public Interest in Dermatology" since 1874!

The product claims to have health and beauty benefits; it's suitable for all degrees of sensitivity, offers instant relief, gentle for use on face and body and soothes and calms sensitive skin! (Source: Avene Website).


How to use: Spray on your face (I prefer 30 cm distance) and wait, then pat dry.
(Do not shake!)

Pros:
- feels great on my face - refreshing and perks me up!
- soothes and calms my skin
- suitable for all skin types including sensitive
- lovely thin mist upon spraying
- available in 3 sizes (50 mL, 150 mL, 300 mL) so you can choose what suits you best for your situation! ( I chose the 300 mL (bit big) - more value for money)
- suitable for a range of applications and purposes 
- can be used to set makeup
- can be used to complete makeup removal
- can be used for after hair removal care, or treat razor burn
- can be used on both adults and infants (babies - assist with diaper irritations)
- can be used to treat facial redness, itching,  sunburns and discomfort (damaged/dehydrated skin) or after a surgical procedure
- can be used during travel, after exercise, during travel and in Summer

Cons:
- can be a bit pricey, depending on your budget

This product retails for $24.99 (for 300 mL size) at Priceline but you can get it cheaper with the smaller sizes (50 mL or 150 mL - perfect for popping into your handbag) or at the Chemist Warehouse when they have a sale.

I would definitely repurchase this product for the pros outlined above. It's become part of my skincare routine and I simply can't live without it now!

I hope you enjoyed this post!