PRODUCT REVIEW (x2!) - Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover and Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Today I’m reviewing a couple of beaut products: the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover (ingredient goodies include aloe and cucumber extracts to soooothe) and the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. Let’s get into it!

Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover - 112ml for $10.99

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - 25 towelettes for $7.99

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

The good?

This stuff just melts eye stuff off. Melts! I just place it on my eye, lift it off and everything is gone. It’s a bit mindblowing to see how well it works.

It doesn’t leave an oily residue. I don’t mind a residue too much (my fave eye makeup remover leaves one), but not having one is even better. My eye area felt super-clean and fresh after using this. 

It doesn’t irritate my eyes. Now, this is an individual thing but speaking for myself, this didn’t irritate or sting my eyes at all. I’ve used some so-called ‘gentle’ eye makeup removers that have stung me senseless when I got them into my eye. This didn’t do that.

The not-so-good?

Nada! Truly.

 

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

The good?

They’re massive. This is an awesome thing. Having a big ol’ wipe is hella handy for getting absolutely everything off your mug. P.S. I've posted a pic below so you can see just how big these are!

They remove makeup pretty well. I’m not going to lie and say this stuff removes 100% of my makeup, but it gets pretty damn close. I don’t think I’ve ever met a makeup wipe that removed everything 100% anyway. Oh and btw, Neutrogena claims it removes 99.3% of makeup. That’s certainly an interesting percentage…

They’re quite soft. They’re not the softest wipe I’ve ever used but they’re definitely not the harshest.

They don’t irritate. Again, this is a total personal thing – it all depends on your skin and eyes. For me, these were gentle on both my skin and eyes and didn’t break me out.

They’re moist. I cannot stand dry makeup wipes. Bloody pointless. These have a substantial amount of moisture so they’re fab to work with.

The not-so-good?

The cloth felt a tad harsh on my eyes. This isn’t really new for makeup wipes – most of them aren’t that great for le peepers. The cloths themselves are soft, but they can be a little scratchy on the eye if you’re not ultra-careful.

Here's a pic to show you how massive the cloth is. The Neutrogena one is sitting underneath a wipe from another brand. See how much bigger it is? Perfect.

All up, I’m besotted with the Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover (purchase worthy!) and the wipes are great and may be a future purchase as well.

Any thoughts?

P.S. I received these from a PR company. However, as usual, no B.S.

Top 5 Blushes

Heylo!

I’m going through a bit of a blush phase atm so I thought I’d blog about the 5 blushes in my collection that I enjoy the most. I’ve got some pics for you below. P.S. Apologies for the ridiculously small numbers. Just click the pic to see them better!

 

Natural light

More natural light

W/ flash + a tad blurry

1. Flash It – Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush

This is my newest acquisition and I wear it constantly. It’s peachy with a hint of beige and a sprinkling of terracotta. I think it’s lovely. I'm pretty sure it would suit most skintones, too. Yay! Gives a nice, natural flush to the cheeks.

2. Shoot to Thrill - Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush

I bought this on a whim because I decided I needed a pink blush as I didn’t already have one in my collection. This baby looks scary as hell/clownesque in the pan but on the cheeks, it transforms into a beautiful, soft wash of pink. Love it. I prefer wearing this when I have a little less on the eye.

3. Coral – BYS blusher

After hearing constant raves about this blush from other bloggers, I just knew I had to have it. I’m a big, big lover of peachy cheeks. This blush is not only cheap as chips ($4!), but it’s also highly pigmented and just plain stunning. As you can see, it does have a bit of a pearly finish, but it doesn’t have sparkle or shimmer. If you like your blush to stand out on your cheeks, this is a winner.

4. Peach Glow – Natio blush

When I first bought this and slapped it on, I was less than impressed. It just didn’t have the punch that I wanted. Fast forward to the present day and this is now one of my most fave blushes ever. This stuff gives a gorgeous, very natural flush and adds the perfect amount of peach to your cheeks. This one’s especially great for those of you who don’t want anything overbearing in terms of colour but still want a subtle wash of pretty.

5. Unnamed – Natio Mineral Blusher

Now, this stuff is really, really sparkly when you first apply it, but when you blend it out, about 98% of the shimmer fades and you're left with a beautiful colour and just the right amount of sheen. My pics didn’t really pick up the colour too well but it’s a soft pink with a hint of dusty rose. Really beautiful and especially lovely for the colder months. P.S. I've searched for these everywhere and can't find them. Weird.

So, there they are – my 5 fave blushes.

Have you tried any of my faves? What are your blush superstars?

Pre-event mug prep

Oh, hi! Good to see you again.

Today I’m going to be talking about a pretty cool prod – the Bioxidea Miracle 24 24 Hour Face Lift. It’s basically a cloth mask that claims to revitalize your skin and get it looking all lush and wrinkle-free for up to 24 hours (max results can be seen around 4 hours in). And apparently, regular use is said to improve crappy fine lines permanently. Nice.

I tried this baby on my mum as I have perfect skin that doesn’t need improvement whatsoever. Lies. However, she does have more wrinkles than me so I thought the results would show up better on her than they would on me.

So, does this stuff work? Well, yes and no.

Firstly, mum loooved the feeling of it. She said it smelt good (I concur) and felt super-lush on her skin. Very pampering, she said. The actual mask had plenty of product on it so it was nice and moist. Plus, the cloth was a great size. I’ve tried some other cloth masks that I had to tear in certain places so it could sit properly – very annoying.

Mum kept it on for 30 mins (it says to leave it on for 15-30) and when she took it off, her skin was super-soft. She also felt that her mug looked plumper, a tad more even and a bit glowy.

As for helping out with her fine lines, we didn’t really see any diff. I took some pics at various intervals (she wasn’t too enthused about that) but no changes really showed up on film (hence why I haven’t got any pics in this post). Still, mum said she was quite impressed despite the lack of improvement with regards to her fine lines.

All up, this stuff is great if you want to give your mug a bit of a pep-up and make it feel softer before a big event, but if you want to help with the fine line sitch, one mask might not cut it.

If you’d like to try this stuff for yourself, a pack of 3 costs $49.95 and can be found in selected Myer stores, selected Priceline stores and a few pharmacies. You can also buy on the official website at www.bioxidea.com.au if you like a spot of online shopping (who doesn’t?!).

P.S. I received this from a PR company but there’s absolutely no BS in this post. Okay? Okay.

Anyone tried this stuff or another prod from the range? How do you prep your mug before a big event?

Hairy Maclary...no more!

De-fuzzing. It’s not something we tend to talk about with reckless abandon but it’s something every girl deals with. Personally, I’m a shaver. I can’t be arsed heading out to get waxed and laser is a little too exxy atm. Still, I’m okay with shaving. Doesn’t really bother me.

During the ABBW, we had the pleasure of listening to a talk by Larisa Alexander, CEO of TriShave. I really enjoyed her speech. She was incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about her brand and it really spoke to me. Now, I’m not gonna lie – I’ve never heard of the brand before. Pretty unfortunate considering I’m now in love with the 2 women’s prodz I received. Here they are:

Pink and purple! Weeee!

Let’s talk about the Shave Crème first. This is a 3in1 prod as it cleanses, conditions and moisturises. It’s got goodies like rose and tea tree oils so it prevents irritation and keeps skin looking good. This prod is a major standout. I usually use soap lather to shave (naughty) and while it works fine, this works so much better. The crème really grabs onto the fuzz so it gives you a much smoother and better shave. When I used just plain soap, my legs and underarms would be hair-free, but they weren’t that soft or that great to look at. I’ve been using this stuff since I got it (a few weekends ago) and my skin looks loads better (not as irritated and red) and feels much, much softer. More supple. Just lovely, really. Once I finish my tube, I’ll definitely be buying another. This is now a shower staple. P.S. You can really smell the tea tree oil. It’s not overpowering, but you can definitely smell it. May be an issue if you're not a fan. 

How to use it: Moisten skin with some good ol’ H20 and slap this stuff on. You don’t need much! Oh, and it doesn’t foam as it doesn’t have soap or soap substitutes. Nice one.

Next, the UV Body Defense Post Shave Moisturiser. This stuff is fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic and even has SPF 30+ (both UVA and UVB filters)! LOVE THIS. Such a good and handy prod, especially since summer is coming up. This stuff has goodies like Evening Primrose oil, Vitamins A and E, as well as Shea Butter. It’s pretty concentrated (but not thick) so a little goes a looong way. I even use this on my arms (which I don’t shave) as well as my legs and other bits. Another good thing? It doesn't leave any sort of icky residue. It just sinks in and dissapears! Perfect. However, don't be fooled - it moisturises really well. Again, this is another prod totes worthy of purchase.

How to use it: Slather it on!

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure:

3in1 Shave Creme in blob-form

Rubbed in

Post shave moisturiser in blob-form

Rubbed in

The UV Body Defense Post Shave Moisturiser is $14.69.

The 3in1 Shave Crème is $8.50.

For stockist info etc., head to www.trishave.com.au.

Anyone love these goodies as much as I do? How do you de-fuzz?

Stuff I'm loving atm!

I made a vid about it. Check it out! P.S. Great preview shot, no?

And here are the Inglot swatches I promised. The fourth pretty much matched my skin colour.

Adios!

Videos? Yay or Nay?

Oh, hello!

I made a pretty shitty video the other night (was my first shot!) and it got me thinking... should I do more? Sometimes I think people are a little sick of reading a big wall of text and want something a little different.

Now, let me make it clear that the quality of my videos will suck. I use my webcam because my digi cam has horrendous sound/major volume issues. I won't be doing tutorials though. Just random stuff likes monthly faves etc.

Anyway, let me know what you think!

And if anyone's up for a good laugh, I've posted my shithouse video below. It's bad. I'm aware of that. Also, if you've read about my IMATS haul, expect repetition.

Cheerio!

Not a fan...

I’m back with some things that I’m not a fan of. Things that were disappointing. Things I wouldn’t buy again. Things that were shithouse.

Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier

Bought this for my super-oily skin. Claims to work on oil reduction, keep makeup intact and clear up zits. Didn’t live up to any of those promises. I don’t hate the stuff but I’m definitely not buying it again or recommending it to anyone. That sounds a tad unfair but it just didn’t do anything for me. It may work if you have only a slight issue with oil, or get oily just in the T-zone.

Lancome Hypnose Drama

Didn’t buy this stuff with my own cashola, I got it at a PR event. Now, this is my first high-end mascara and most likely my last, given its performance. I expected a WOW!!!!11 factor and it just didn’t give it to me. Don’t get me wrong, it works just fine. It separated and lengthened and all that jazz, but it definitely isn’t worth the hefty price tag. There are far cheaper mascaras that absolutely kick this ones arse (WUT UP, COVERGIRL LASHBLAST VOLUME!).

OLAY Body Wash w/ Spa Exfoliating Ribbons

Lame name aside, I was excited to give this stuff a whirl. Only used it a few times (hence the nearly-full bottle) but I can safely say that it sucks and I will never repurchase it. It didn’t have nearly enough ‘micro beads’ to give me a decent exfoliation. I didn’t expect scrub-like results, but I did expect softer skin. Nah. It’s fine as a body wash alone but that’s beside the point – it didn’t do what it said it would. Boo for you, Olay.

Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller

Not only did this stuff irritate the shit out of my eyes, but it also made no diff to the fine lines. And if you’re thinking I put it too close to my eye, I didn’t. No matter how far down I slapped this stuff on, it always managed to creep into my eye and cause havoc. Bastard. This may work for someone else and not irritate them, but it certainly didn’t work for me. The only plus? The balls felt nice*. Cooling. Lush. Lovely.

Have any of you tried these prodz? What did you think? What’s disappointed you lately?

* Uh, lol.

Budge-proof eyes. Well, eyeshadow. You know what I mean!

Once upon a time, there was a girl called Angela who didn’t believe in eye primers. She just thought they were another useless gimmick. Total BS. Crap! Etc.

One day, Angela got her hands on Two Faced’s Shadow Insurance and everything changed. Whenever she used the stuff, her eyeshadow didn’t budge. It was pretty epic.

A couple of weeks ago, Angela attended a wonderful weekend called the ABBW. During the course of the weekend, she bagged an insane amount of goodies. One of the goodies? The Australis Eyeshadow Primer. “Pah!”, she said. “Sif this is gonna work.” See, Angela was always a big fan of Australis but she didn’t really think their shadow primer would work. Not sure why, really. She just didn't. How wrong she was…

I hope you enjoyed my story. I know, I know – I’m a literary genius.

Anyway, this stuff is awesome. I cannot even believe how well it works. I’m pretty sure it works just as well as the Shadow Insurance. But of course, it’s loads cheaper. WHY OH WHY DID I BUY SHADOW INSURANCE BEFORE I TRIED THIS. I blame bloggers. Yes, you. Naughty minxes.

To show you how well it works, I took a few freakish-looking pics of my eyes. No making fun of my sub par shadow technique! The first pic was taken in the morn’ and the second was taken in the evening. I’d say we’re talking about 6 hours of wear. P.S. You may need to wear some sunnies before checking out the ‘after’ pic. Major oil-slick/sexy pore action. 

Photography skillz

Before

After

After

Crappy photography skillz aside, my shadow is the same. I hope my pics show that.

Now, I’m pretty sure this baby works just as well as the Two Faced version but I’m tempted to do a proper comparison. Would anyone be interested? Lemme know!

Anyone tried this? Did you love it as much as I did? Hate it? Discuss.

Mmm, sweet stuff...

Pic taken from official website as my bottle looks pitiful.

My obsession for Haus of Gloi’s Twice is Nice warrants a post. Yeah, it does.

Every time I smell it, it makes me crazy. In a good way. It is probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever smelt in my entire life. True story.

Here’s how Haus of Gloi describe it: Sweetest offerings of opulence! Buttery sugar cookie, with shavings of creamy coconut and topped with toasted almond slivers!

How I describe it: OHHHH, GOD, YES. Also: sweet! Soooo very sweet. The key scent I get whacked with first is almond cookies. Amazing almond cookies. The best in town. I can kinda smell coconut but mostly sweet, almondy goodness. If you’ve smelt sweet almond oil before, it’s kinda like that but about 2000x better. God, it’s good.

As for lasting power, it’s got it. I was in Glassons a few weeks ago and one of the girls who worked there stopped me and demanded I tell her what perfume I was wearing. I couldn’t even smell it on me but apparently it was still working its magic after about 3 hours of slapping it on. Bless you, Twice is Nice.

If you’re down for sweet scents, you need to try this stuff out. It’s imperative. Do it. Do it now. NOW, BITCH! I didn’t mean to call you bitch. I love you all.

In conclusion, while I wait for another 3 bottles of this sweet, sweet goodness to arrive at my front door, I bid you a good day.

P.S. It's $12, people! Goooo! Go now!