Browsing CategoryReviews

Quick Reviews #35: Cleansers

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser You may be unfamiliar with The Inkey List as this brand isn’t available in South Africa yet, but it’s one of the new generation of super-affordable skincare ranges inspred by The Ordinary that focus on basic, hero ingredient formulations. Where I think The Inkey List has improved on The Ordinary’s concept is they have kept the product line small, focused and easy to understand, unlike DECIEM’s offering which is now completely overblown. I bought a few things from Cult Beauty the last time I was in the UK and this was one of the…

Continue Reading

Introducing sk.in

If you follow us on Instagram you will have seen me talk about the new local skincare company, sk.in (Skin Ingredients), numerous times over the past few months. This range of five skin serums was created by Dr Alek Nikolic, a world renown aesthetic medical practitioner (and my personal botox magician), to provide women (and men) with access to products which contain prescription-strength ingredients without the unpleasant side effects, or the bracing price tags. The sk.in concept was sparked when Dr Nikolic realised that there was a real need for medical grade cosmeceuticals to be available without having to visit a doctor’s office. The…

Continue Reading

SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight Review & Giveaway

SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Overnight Renew Review | All Dolled Up

It’s quite rare for Jules and I to test the same products as we have such different skin types. Whilst I am drier, blemish prone and quite sensitive, Jules’ skin is oiler, dehydrated and can tolerate potent active ingredients. With that being said, the only active ingredient that Jules has never quite gotten on with, and the ingredient I haven’t been able to use at all, is glycolic acid. We have both traditionally experienced very reactive responses to it, and for that reason, we have steered clear. Until now, that is. SkinCeuticals recently launched Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight; a new…

Continue Reading

Review: Dr Dermal Cosmeceuticals

Dr Dermal Cosmeceuticals

I don’t know about you but I had never heard of Dr Dermal before we got an email from the PR asking us if we wanted to try anything from the range. After a quick bit of research, I learned that the brand ticked two of my preferred boxes for skincare: the cosmeceutical range was developed by a team of skincare professionals (rather than a makeup or fashion brand) and it’s a proudly South African company! So, I requested three products to try and here’s how it went:

Continue Reading

Camilla’s Little Black Book of Beauty

I am often asked where I go for certain beauty treatments, so I thought it might be helpful to create a little directory for you. I have listed all of the places and people that I visit on a regular basis for the various treatments that are integral in keeping this show on the road! These are all Cape Town based, obviously, but if you’ve got recommendations for salons/therapists in other parts of SA that you’d like to share, then please let me know in the comments section below. Hair: Mooi Hair Salon “Who does your hair?” is the question…

Continue Reading

Quick Reviews #33: Concealer Showdown!

We’ve recently had a couple of new concealers land on our desks, so I thought I would take the opportunity to give you a rundown of the pros and cons of each. I tested each of these under the eyes only, so I can’t vouch for how they address redness/blemishes (my skin has been very well behaved recently, which is great for me, but not so great for the purposes of this review). Ready? Maybelline Fit Me Concealer Despite launching internationally light years ago, these have only recently landed on our shores, and I am sure I speak for all…

Continue Reading

Quick Reviews #32: Some New Mascaras

Benefit BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara This latest release from Benefit claims to build massive volume without weighing down the lashes, and it does so by including aero-particles (one of the lightest known materials) in the formulation. Riiiight. I enjoyed the slim, flexible wand and short plastic bristles – it really helps you nestle the wand into the roots of the lashes and distribute the mascara in one even coat from root to tip. However, this formulation is wetter than an otter’s pocket, so I found that even though the first coat went on smoothly, I wasn’t able to properly build volume with…

Continue Reading

Review // Dermaceutic Activ Retinol 0.5

SPONSORED POST If, like me, you’ve delayed incorporating a dedicated retinol serum into your routine because you are either terrified, or haven’t found one that works for you, then I’ve got some good news for you! I’ve found ‘The One’ for beginners: the Dermaceutic Activ Retinol 0.5. Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A and is the form most easily absorbed by the body. It acts as an antioxidant and collagen stimulator simultaneously, so not only does it protect your skin against damage by free radicals (sun, pollution etc), but it also stimulates cell turnover, thereby lessening the appearance of…

Continue Reading