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Beauty Blogger Buys // 10 Things

I am always curious about products that beauty bloggers choose to buy, aren’t you? The ones they will happily pay for time and time again, despite being sent every product under the sun – now those are the products I want to know more about. With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to give you an insight into the products that I happily pay for, and which might not usually get the praise they deserve. This post is dedicated to those products: the ones that are never mentioned in posts or in favourites videos because they’re never not…

Review: Clear + Brilliant Laser

A few months ago I went for my annual check-up with Dr Webster and he told me about the latest innovation in laser treatments: the Clear + Brilliant laser (CBL). The CBL is a non-ablative fractional laser* that is considered to be one of the most gentle fractional laser treatments on the market (*non-ablative means that there are fewer side effects and minimal/no downtime, but that more treatments may be required to achieve results. Ablative fractional laser treatments yield quicker results, but you will need a few weeks off to recover). What makes the CBL unique is that it can…

Skincare Game Changer // SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Serum Review & Giveaway!

Hyaluronic Acid (“HA”) is a natural substance found in the human connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. It is also a humectant, meaning that it draws water from the environment into the skin, helping to keep it hydrated. It plays a critical role in the maintenance of moisture levels, nourishment of the skin’s matrix and improvement in the appearance of firmness, plumpness and smoothness. In short, HA is responsible for keeping the skin looking youthful and healthy, and if you want to look your best for as long as possible, I would recommend introducing this ingredient immediately.…

Quick Reviews #27

Some (very) quick reviews on a few drugstore launches… LÓreal False Lash Superstar X Fiber Mascara This latest release from LÓreal promises both extreme length and extreme volume using not one, but two, separate brushes. The first brush, the primer, is designed to thicken the lashes and add volume. The second brush, which contains fibres, extends the length of the lashes. Apparently if you want a: Natural False Lash Look: Apply one coat of the primer, then one coat of the fibers; or Volume False Lash Look: Repeat application 3 times; or X-treme False Lash Look: Repeat application 5 times (who…

SkinCeuticals Art of Mixology

As Jules so succinctly put it: there are certain skincare brands that I feel 100% comfortable putting on my face for the first time because the brand trust is so strong, and SkinCeuticals is one of them. SkinCeuticals have spent the past forty years developing ground-breaking formulations and creating products that are unrivaled in their efficiency, firmly establishing themselves as the leaders in advanced skincare. Yes, the price points might be a little bracing, but given that all of their products are scientifically verified, you have the comfort of knowing that you are slathering your face with the best of the…

Photos & Swatches: Urban Decay Afterdark Palette

Urban Decay Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette

I vividly remember the first time I saw this eyeshadow palette. I was in Miami on holiday and had let myself loose in Sephora for one last hurrah before flying back to SA. They had a large display of new products just inside the entrance to the store, and, like a moth to the flame, I had been browsing this particular section for a few minutes. My eyes landed on the iridescent purple packaging of the Urban Decay Afterdark palette which had just been unpacked and lit up immediately. Inside were ten shimmering jewel tones in the signature UD formula…

Review // Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette in ‘Beauty Glow’

This is the third ‘Instant Look in a Palette’ instalment from Charlotte Tilbury, and I think it’s her best work yet. For the uninitiated, the premise behind these palettes is to simplify your makeup routine by offering an easy-to-follow product sequence which ensures a perfect makeup look in 5 minutes or less. The first two palettes (Natural Beauty and Seductive Beauty) piqued my interest, but I didn’t feel compelled to buy either of them. ‘Beauty Glow’, however, was different story altogether – the rose gold and bronze tones reeled me in and I purchased it as soon as I saw it launch…

Quick Reviews #26

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara* I was very skeptical about this when it arrived – the unique brush shape puzzled me and I wasn’t sure how effective it was going to be. Maybelline claims that the push-up wing brush sweeps lashes to the side, while lifting and plumping from the roots, creating a cat-eye effect. It does a good job of separating and lengthening, and although it didn’t particularly volumise my lashes, I still really like it. I would wear it on my more minimal make-up days as the effect is quite natural (for me), but I am confident you…

Quick Reviews #25:
Some New Skincare

Quick Reviews 25 | All Dolled Up

Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream Kiehl’s make some of the best skincare on the market in my opinion (Ultra Facial Cream, Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Creme de Corps to name a few of my favourites) so I’m always interested when they launch a new product. The Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream is designed to help the skin “resist hydration loss while also aiding in recovery from existing skin damage” and is formulated from 99.6% naturally-derived ingredients, minus any parabens, mineral oils or synthetic colours and fragrances. The texture is fairly thick and the first few times I used it I didn’t…