What I think of Bio Oil 6 months down the track

When I posted my first impressions review of the infamous Bio Oil back in May 2014, I promised that I'd write another review a couple of months later once I'd given it a good chance to work its magic. As is the case with all skin products, they don't work magic overnight and require persistent and regular use to really work well.

Well, I've been using this for over six months now and I feel as though I've earned the right to give you my honest thoughts. I'm impressed.

I bought this in the hopes that it would help with my stretch marks. My stretch marks were relatively new and luckily not too deep, however they were quite dark in colour and I feared that they wouldn't fade to that silvery shade that I find easier to accept! I started applying Bio Oil each night in the hopes that it would encourage the fading and prevent them from turning into deep, dark scars.

A cynic in every sense of the word, I was prepared to write this update and give you all bad news but in all honesty, I really think it made a difference. It has done exactly what I wanted it to do: the stretchmarks on my body have faded to a light silver that is really only noticeable when you stand at the right angle under the right light! I don't know how necessary it is to continue use after they've faded (I wouldn't imagine it's importance because the way I see it, it's hardly going to stretch and change colour again) but I still lather the stuff on because it moisturises the skin.

Which brings me on to another point. Perhaps even more than its value as a means of fading stretch marks, I came to love it for the magic it did on my face. When I purchased it I knew there was no way this was ever going to go on my face because it is just so, well, oily. I have a really horrible habit of picking my skin when I'm stressed, sad, nervous, bored...basically all the time. It's no wonder that I have flaking, sore, irritated, red skin when I've literally torn it to shreds. It's a shocking habit that I'm working on. Anyway, after having practically ruined my face one particularly bad night, it was so sore that I had no choice but to slap some of my trusty Bio Oil on in the hopes that it would soothe my irritated skin and restore some of the moisture that it was lacking. I went to bed feeling like a greasy mess and woke up with the best skin I had ever experienced! It was honestly like some expensive intensive skin treatment because I felt so healed the next day! It's not something I use on my face often because it simply is too much, but I use it perhaps once or twice a month.

Since this Bio Oil seemed to be so magical I figured I would apply it to some keloid scarring (overgrown scar tissue dark in colouring) that I had. Well, I don't think it did anything at all to those scars but in all honestly I'm not surprised, keloids are nasty things.

So there it is, the magic I experienced with Bio Oil. Like I said, I was so doubtful about this product and had read both raving and condemning reviews about it before trying it and I thought mine wouldn't exactly be glowing. Obviously all skin types are different but if you are at a loss with some new (old ones unfortunately can't be helped much) stretch marks then I would 100% recommend you give it a shot. You can purchase it in a 60mL bottle for approximately $15 which lasts forever and I think it is so worth it!

Burts Bees Radiance Night Cream with Royal Jelly

I'm going to say it: this night cream is the bee's knees. Oh lord, yes I went there with that horrendous pun but in all seriousness, it truly is a wonderful night cream. 

I was recently given the opportunity to try out some of the new Burts Bees skincare products and after having looked at the press release, I was immediately hooked. Believe it or not, I'd actually only owned one Burt's Bees product myself (the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream) but had stolen a lip balm of my Mum's and used something from a friend and knew it was a brand I was be a fan of. It's one of those brands that also has cult products that everybody knows about too, so I was sure I couldn't go wrong with their skin products.

I received a moisturiser and toner and the moisturiser has made it into an absolute staple in my skincare routine. I've decided I cannot go without a night cream anymore because they have that extra bit of moisture and are just so luxurious. I love waking up to the most beautifully soft skin!

The first thing I noticed about this moisturiser is the texture. It's kind of reflective of most body butters I've tried, although perhaps the slightest bit softer. Despite this, it doesn't feel overly thick on my face and soaks in really well (however this could be because I've had stupidly dry skin lately). It is, however, a night cream and I don't think makeup would work well over the top because it would probably slide around a little bit.

The next thing I became aware of was the fragrance. I am one of those people who love scented products, particularly for the body, but when it comes to the face I steer clear. All the additives and strong scents are too much for the skin on my face and it just all ends badly. This night cream isn't completely scent free but has a lovely fresh, slightly honey based scent that seems so natural and hasn't caused any problems.

Though it claims to be a 'radiance' moisturiser, I've not personally noticed any difference in my skin but that's probably because I've been unbelievably stressed out with school work and have not been taking care of my skin, diet or anything really of late! In terms of the ingredients within it, royal jelly is obviously the big one! Apparently "Royal Jelly is one of the world's most nutrient-rich substances ...and offers many skin benefits."

I absolutely love the little glass jar the product is kept in, I think it is classy and just the loveliest thing to have on your dresser. For a retail price of $39.99 (although it's currently on sale at Priceline) it is one of the more expensive moisturisers I've tried, but I do love it. I'm not sure I'll repurchase it while I'm on a student's budget (aka. no money whatsoever) but I am really enjoying this product! Burt's Bees, I'm impressed!

The night time routine I wish I could follow...

I've been watching a lot of get ready with me and night routine videos on youtube and have been astonished to find that other people's lives appear to revolve around beauty and unrealistic glamorous routines. Honestly, these youtubers appear to spend hours on social media, making ten cups of tea and carrying out lush beauty treatments after they get home from work/school. I myself arrive home with exhausted eyes and change from my wrinkled school uniform into pyjamas and school socks, dump my ten kilo bag on the floor and collapse ungracefully onto my unmade bed in a bellyflop whereby I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

I was thinking though, if I lived in a perfect world, had nothing to do but pamper myself all day everyday, I would have an elaborate night time routine whereby I undergo a ten stop process to moisturise, soothe and freshen from head to toe. This is what I would do...

Face
- Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser
- Arbonne RE Advanced Regenerating Toner
- B liv Shrink and tighten serum
- B liv Off With Those Heads serum
- Luminesce Night Cream
- Blistex Lip Conditioner

I'm already pretty good with my skincare and never go to bed wearing makeup however it usually stops at the simple steps of a quick cleanse followed with some moisturiser. Ideally I would chuck in a few other treatments too.

Body
- Luminesce Essential Body Renewal moisturiser
- My New Skin balm
- Bio Oil

In terms of beauty, my body is easily the most neglected area because I just forget! I have some great products listed above, I just need to use them more often and consistently!

Hair
- Vitamin E formula mascara
- Salon Confidential R:04 Repair Ends Mender

Last of course is hair, another area in which I am rather careless. My hair is in desperate need for moisture and focus on the split ends. I also won this lash treatment in a giveaway and feel that I should probably put it to good use because who wouldn't want better looking lashes?

But....I just can't see all of this happening! Life is too jam packed with a million other more important things to get done before completely crashing and I just don't think I could squeeze in this elaborate routine too.

For now I guess I'll be sticking to my dodgy ways...

Luminesce Daily Moisturising Complex

Skincare products are not my area of expertise, nor have they ever really been a strong interest of mine compared to makeup, however they are probably the most essential part of my routine. There is nothing better than being able to look in the mirror and see a blemish free, relatively evenly toned face that you know won't even need foundation. Being a teenager, my skin is hardly what you would call perfect but most of the time it's pretty darn good all thanks to a ridiculously regimented skincare routine and some brilliant skincare products.

When I was first offered the opportunity to try out some products from the Luminesce range I actually declined. What makes Luminesce stand out from all the other brands is that it incorporates stem cell technology, an area of science that I was very unfamiliar with and quite hesitant to incorporate into my skincare routine. As it is a relatively controversial topic I've decided to talk a little bit about it in this post so that you can make a decision about their products for yourself. I'm no expert in this field but have done everything in my power to provide factual information regarding the science behind it all. If you are interested in this I would recommend that you do your own research further, or if you are an expert then please add some information in the comments!

Basically stem cell technology enhances a naturally occurring process that occurs within the body to help repair and regenerate cells. All cells eventually break down and their replacement is a result of stem cells.

To use this science in skincare, the best and most effective stem cells within the human body are located and extracted from fat layers with a syringe as a combination of fatty tissue and stem cells. The fat cells are then separated from the stem cells and then undergo a centrifuge process. The stem cells are grown in petri dishes with nutrients supplied. During this growth a chemical signal called a Growth Factor is released. This Growth factor is essentially the 'instructions' or the way the cell communicates and is able to repair tissues within the body.

Luminesce uses such growth factors in conjunction with an assortment of other 'supporting' ingredients that nourish and support skin cells. There are no live stem cells within the Luminesce products, however some ingredients are human derived.

This video explains it a little further. Note that the video has been produced by Luminesce and the information I obtained above was my interpretation of what was explained to me when I had queries about the range. There is an abundance of information freely available about stem cell technology supplied by alternate organisations online that you can look at.

So there is a ridiculously basic outline of the science behind the skincare and perhaps you can see why I initially had concerns. I've since concluded that I personally believe it is safe and ethical, hence why I agreed to receive and review some of their products.

Now for the review you were expecting!

First up is the packaging. You can always tell when a product is on the luxurious end of the scale because it just feels expensive! I was thrilled to find that the Luminesce Daily Moisturising Complex had a cool twist out pump, making it both compact and sleek yet still practical. The silver bottle and blue print is simple yet eye catching.

On the bottle it states that the moisturiser has sunscreen within it although nowhere was I able to identify the exact SPF. The formula is non greasy and soaks in easily. This is absolutely perfect for applying prior to your makeup as it leaves your skin feeling lovely and soft without any unpleasant residue. The hydration is gives is excellent, although I would deem it to be insufficient for those with a dry skin type but perfect for those with normal to oily skin.

Apparently the moisturiser targets fine lines and wrinkles which is something I cannot really comment on as I am still just a young one! My primary concerns were hydration, fast absorbing formula and being able to wear it under my daily makeup, all of which were wonderful.

I really like the consistency of the moisturiser, the perfect in-between of not being too thick or too thin. This is in no way greasy or oily which is something very important in my skincare. My only slight issue with this is that it has an unusual fragrance. It is not a scent that I would describe as unpleasant, but it is definitely noticeable and unusual. I've easily gotten used to it after a month or so of use.

As I have only used it for just over a month, I am not really sure about the long lasting impact however I have noticed a slight but significant improvement in my skin. I have had fewer blemishes and the overall skin tone has become more even. I feel as though past marks and scarring have also been reduced.

For $54.95, this is not in any way on the cheaper end of the scale, however the differences between this and the ten dollar moisturisers you can get from Coles are easily noticed. This is a lovely luxurious product and if you are looking for the proposed benefits of stem cell technology then this is an excellent option for you.

2013's Most Loved: Part 1

I'm a little bit late on this post, but I couldn't transition from 2013 to 2014 without wrapping up the year through a favourites post (or two - my non-beauty related favourites will be posted tomorrow). I've absolutely loved reading everyone else's favourites and thought I'd do my own for those who were interested.

Skincare: Arbonne RE9 Advanced Generating Toner
It astounds me that of all my skincare, a toner was my favourite. I've never shown any interest in a toner in my life (primarily due to the fact that all past experiences with them have been bad ones) but when I was given the opportunity to try this out, I fell in love with it. It is the best.

Hair care: Batiste Dry Shampoo - Fresh
I can be lazy at the best of times, but when it comes to my hair I am lazy to the extreme. It is for this reason that my favourite hair care product was easily a dry shampoo, in particular one by Batiste. Maybe I'll have a hair product that is a little classier in 2014, say a lovely hair oil or serum or something, but for now I'm content to rely on the lazy girl's hair wash.

Fragrance: DKNY Be Delicious
I was given a tiny little bottle of DKNY's Be Delicious perfume for Christmas in 2012 and wore it non stop in 2013. Along with Marc Jacob's Daisy Eau So Fresh, I think it will be a perfume I continue to use for a long time into the future.

Body: My New Skin Multipurpose Balm
A super late addition to the family, the My New Skin Multipurpose Balm practically saved my life. Okay, perhaps not my life but certainly my horribly dry skin around my feet and elbows. I has a super heavy duty formula and works like a charm.

Brush: Real Techniques Stippling Brush
I had heard so many magical things about Real Techniques brushes and took the plunge myself, purchasing a face set and Stippling brush. Then came my obsession with cream blushes, and in turn I came to use the Stippling brush everyday thus appreciating how darn amazing it is.

Tool: Eyelash curler
It was a toss up between the humble Q-tip and eyelash curler, but in the end I realised it is the eyelash curler that has the truly magical touch.

Nails: Red Nail Polish
I have no overall favourite polish, but my most worn shade was most definitely red. Red, red, red, I acquired so many gorgeous polishes all in...red.

Shower product: Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel
Though this is the most sugary, intense flavour I have ever come across, I did use this regularly in the shower and I came to love this more than when I had first received it as a gift. Some days it is too sweet, but most of the time I am a big fan.

Base makeup: Garnier BB cream for oily skin
I rave about this all.the.time. so I'm not going to make you endure yet another ramble. Just take my word that for light, everyday coverage this is the best of its kind.

Foundation: Rimmel Wake me up foundation
For a cheap foundation (in comparison to both other 'drugstore' foundations like Revlon and higher end ones too) this is pretty impressive. It's glowy and youthful, healthy looking and easy to work with. My only complaint is its shimmer which can, at times, be a little too much, but other than that it's excellent.

Setting powder: Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
I hit pan on this in 2013 which shows you just how much I loved it. If there weren't so many cheaper options out there I would get it again, but I'm currently in the middle of three other adequate powders and (sadly) won't be purchasing this anytime soon.

Concealer: Face of Australia Stick Concealer in Neutral
I played around with a couple of concealers in 2013 but the best all rounder and the one I turned to most often was the cheap little stick concealer by Face of Australia.

Bronzer: Maybelline Bronzer in Forever Warm
I'm not really a bronzer person, nor do I have that many in my collection. Though I wouldn't purchase this bronzer if it disappeared from collection due to the fact that, well, it's just not that good, I did use it often in 2013.

Blush: Australis Creme Blush in Flirtatious Pink 
Choosing my favourite blush for the year just about killed me. Honestly, I am such a blush junkie that I have enough to use a different one everyday for two weeks...which is basically what I do. In the end I had to give the award to a cream blush, specifically Australis' Flirtatious Pink. Perfect in every way, it is the gorgeous colour that pulled it over the line and onto the winner's podium.

Highlighter: Essence Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 Shimmer Powder in Bella's Secret
Despite that it has the most awful name I have ever heard of, this is stunning. It's a warm toned golden powder highlight that catches the light exactly how I want it, looks subtle enough not to make me resemble a disco ball but not too subtle that you can't even see it. Oh my, it's so frustrating that it was a limited edition product (like all of Essence's best products have been!)

Eyeshadow: Bloom Eyeshadow Duo in Waikiki
Like blush, this category was very near impossible to narrow down to a single shadow. In the end I had to recognise the incredible champagne golden shade from the Bloom duo that accompanied me on every trip and was the base shade for every eyeshadow look I wore. It really does deserve to win 2013's best shadow although it does pain me to leave out my much loved Inglot Shadows...

Eyeliner: Face of Australia Liquid Liner in Black
This liner is the best, no doubt about it. It's jet black, sticks like glue and easy to use for even the most useless eyeliner appliers. I turned to it time and time again and even wore a cat eye look for the first time in my life. Thank you FOA!

Mascara: Covergirl Lashblast length waterproof
The tube of this mascara that I own is honestly a magic mascara - there is no other explanation for the fact that I have used this every.single.day. for two years and it has still not yet run out. It lengthens like crazy, defines every lash and gives a gorgeous natural look. Sure, it's not at all suitable for you if you want a bit of drama but for me it is just perfect.

Eyebrows: Essence Clear lash and brow gel
I had many empties of this and raved about it all the time. It's super cheap and makes my brows somewhat acceptable, so who could ask for anything more?

Lipbalm: Blistex lip conditioner
I share the most complicated love/hate relationship with this product, but the bottom line is that it saves my chapped lips and works better than anything I've ever tried. I apply this every night and at the rate I'm going it will be a 2014 empty for sure.

Lipstick: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic
I deliberated about this for twenty minutes, no exaggeration. I narrowed it down to ten lip products, then five, then three, then two and final to one. Lip products are my favourite makeup products so it's no surprise that I own about ten billion of them. 2013 was the year of the lip crayon, and I wore this red beauty non stop.

Overall makeup brand: Face of Australia
Face of Australia is affordable, Australian (obviously) and comes out with some incredible products. Their lip crayons, nail polishes and face products were all favourites of mine throughout the year and it was an obvious choice to nominate Face of Australia as my overall brand winner for 2013!

Phew...that is a lot of products for one year! I'd be amazed if you actually made it to the end of this post! My makeup collection certainly expanded significantly throughout 2013 but I had a lovely time, and it was all in the name of blog reviews...right?!

What was your overall favourite makeup brand for 2013?

My New Skin Multipurpose Balm - Olive and Lemon Myrtle & Olive and Lavender

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Multipurpose Balm from the brand My New Skin. Targeting particularly dry skin (like the feet and elbows) I knew it would be of great value to me because I get terribly dry patches of skin all year round and nothing seems to help it all that much.

The packaging is quite medicinal looking in my opinion. You can tell it's natural and organic just by looking at it! According to the packaging, it's 100% natural, which is reflected in the ingredient list of olive oil, extracts of burdock, chickweed, olive leaf, oregano and sheep sorrel, ocean salt, bees wax, fresh extracts of burnett and latana, macadamia wax and either lemon myrtle oil or lavender oil. Sounds pretty good to me!

When I first attempted to apply it I found that it was just oily. This is because I failed to actually scoop out any of the product itself and just took the oily residue sitting on the top! When I actually realised my mistake I found that I liked the product much better!

When I first touched it I immediately thought it felt like scooping my hands through a tub of the softest gelati. Honestly, it is the strangest texture ever, but I really like it! This can be massaged into the skin so easily, however use it sparingly because the slightest bit too much can turn your skin from being nicely moisturised to overly oily.

This, as is to be expected, has a super strong organic smell of plants and herbs. I prefer the smell of the Lemon myrtle as opposed to the lavender, but that is purely just personal taste. Both the lavender and lemon myrtle work in the same way as one another.

This product gives immediate relief to super dry skin. I find that it lasts about twelve hours before my skin starts to feel dry again, so it worked best for me to apply it morning and night. I've only been using it for two weeks but I feel as though it has some longer lasting results in terms of overall moisture and that my skin is less dry than what it was before I started using this.

I love that this is an Australian product that is natural and chemical free. Though I haven't tried it for all these purposes, it claims to be effective for a multitude of purposes like strengthening nails and cuticles and soothing sensitive skin including eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

This retails for $24.95 which I consider to be a very reasonable price considering you only need a tiny bit for each application and therefore it will last a very long time. You can purchase it from their website here as well as read a bit more about it.

Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser.

This is a review long overdue. In fact, I took these photographs while at the beach back in January, and soon this will feature in an empties post. Yep. I have been using it religiously since January and I have failed to tell you all about it!

Simple is a skincare brand that would be appealing to many due to its strong commitment to formulating products without any unnecessary perfumes and dyes. I personally, as a young and somewhat ignorant kind of kid in regards to this area quite appreciate products with strong fragrances and colouring - it's what makes products fun! I can only imagine the damage it might be doing, but for now it won't be changing much!

Anyway,when I ran out of moisturiser (an event that I never thought would ever happen as a beauty blogger) I picked up what was on sale, the Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser.

First up is the packaging. I like the simple, clean approach they take to their products. The green works well as it supports their 'natural' and organic stance on skincare, overall it looks very put together and effective. The bottle this moisturiser in is quite rigid, which I really appreciate except when you get to the end and can't squeeze the last of the product out.

The product itself is just great. It is quite lightweight and absorbs into the skin instantly. It isn't greasy or heavy, although this does make it unsuitable for people with super dry skin. I found that on an everyday basis this was ideal, but if I was having trouble with my skin and it was either too oily or too dry this moisturiser just became ineffective. This is the kind of this that is just perfect for those with normal or combination skin, but a bit useless for those with dry or oily.

It's quite hard to talk about a moisturiser because it's not like a lipstick where the results are immediately and obviously visible, but this certainly felt great on the skin and was a pleasure to use. I don't think I would rave about it, but I do really like it.

I used this both morning and night and found that my skin was adequately moisturised, and that combined with my other skincare products I had very few blemishes. I am not 100% sure whether this contributed to my clear skin, but I have a feeling it probably would have as it is so natural and lacking in harmful chemicals.

This moisturiser is really affordable and accessible and having run out of this I will most definitely be purchasing another!

I give this 7/10.

Michika Complexion Synergist Rejuvenating Anti-Fatigue Facial Mask

Facial mud masks are not something I enjoy. In fact, I dislike them so much that they made it on to my well received "Beauty things I hate" post. As much as I hate to admit it, they do work remarkably well though, hence why I continue to use them.

Cloth masks, however, are something that I have never tried, so when I received an email about the opportunity to review the Michika cloth masks I was really excited! I couldn't wait to see how a cloth mask compared to their horrid mud mask cousins.

For my first cloth mask experience, I am impressed. I do not have the same hatred for these that I do with mud masks, in fact I am willing to go as far to say that I...enjoyed using it! Incredible!

Within this lovely box of goodies can be found 5 cloth masks, sealed in little silver bags soaking in magic - or at least a whole assortment of vitamins and antioxidants that equate to magic.

According to the back of the box, "Complexion Synergist is a one step easy treatment that rejuvinates, rehydrates and refreshes even the driest and most dull skin. Complexion Synergist works as 3 in 1: a moisturiser, toner, boosting serum and protecting the skin with a powerful shield of antioxidants."

I am a huge fan of this, because it worked like an absolute charm for me.

Basically what you do is you take it out of the little packet and enjoy how beautifully cold it is as you slap it on and meld the edges to the curves of your face. Try and get every bit of your skin covered, and if you are lucky and have a spare twenty minutes to spare, lie down and just relax with it on. If you are like me and have a backlog of blog posts to write, just put the eye flaps down and carry on with your work (although I wouldn't recommend putting yourself in situations where others might see you, it could be a frightening sight!). Wait a blissful 20 minutes then peel the mask off, rubbing in the excess serum and marvelling at how amazing your skin feels. This does have a strong scent, a fresh 'plant' based kind of smell, and I liked it.

I applied this on a Saturday morning and I am glad I did because I found that it is so super duper moisturising that it feels quite heavy on the skin, even after having rubbed it in. I suggest that although it may be a little inconvenient, use this on a day where you aren't planning on wearing makeup because you can avoid washing it off and let it spend the whole day soaking in and giving your face the most intense moisture refill it will ever have. I have been struggling with dry and flaky skin, but after this it was so plump and refreshed.

A week later and my skin was in pristine condition. Though I can't give 100% of the credit to these masks, I know they contributed to my blemish free, soothed and moisturised skin.

If you are a fellow mud mask hater or just looking for a darn good face mask, then I would suggest giving this a try. Yes, you can look a little silly and it does go on for longer than most of my 10 minute masks, but it feels so good and works a charm.

For $7.90 (the current special!) there is no reason not to give these a try! If you are interested check out their website here.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here!

Arbonne RE9 Advanced Regenerating Toner

My experiences in the past with toners are not good. Think intense oil stripping, skin peeling and red blotch inducing kind of experiences. It was for that reason that I decided to do away with a toner from my skincare routine, and stick with an assortment of mismatched cleansers, moisturisers, serums and oils. It worked remarkably well.

But then I went overseas for a couple of weeks and my skincare went out of the window, and I found myself returning with clusters of pimples on each cheek, a pretty unsightly look I tell you!

Around the same time I was contacted regarding Arbonne's skincare line, RE9 Advanced. I was sent a toner to try and here are my thoughts!

First up is the packaging. You can tell from the moment you set eyes on this that it is expensive (and it is!). Classy it its middle name and even though I really don't like orange much, this makes me love it. Complete with gold lettering, this is sophistication at its finest!

The product is unlike other toners I have used in that it comes in a spray bottle. Being the terribly lazy person that I can be at times, I failed to go out and buy suitable devices to apply this with (namely those cotton wipe things) and instead used a folded up tissue. It worked just fine.

I use a couple of sprays of this before bed each night following my cleanser. It is refreshing, smells quite pleasant - almost (almost) a little fruity - and most importantly, doesn't leave my skin resembling the Sahara desert. It feels fresh and as though it is really getting in there and cleaning your skin out, but doesn't strip my face bare...and for that I am an enormous fan.

Sheri from Behind the Frames also completed a review on this product and Mishelle and Sleep and Water commented saying how frustrating it was that Arbonne didn't have a list of ingredients in the toner on their website. Well ladies, you are in luck because I painstakingly typed out the ingredients just for you. You might think that being the Chemistry student that I am, it wasn't as bad as you might imagine. You were wrong, it was every bit as awful as it looks! Haha!

Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Glycerin, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 80, Laminaria, Digitata Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Thioctic Acid, Butylene Glycool, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Tryglyceride, Polyamino Sugar Condensate, Stearamine, Urea, Lecithin, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene

For those of you like me whom to which that all means nothing, I trust that it has all the magical vitamins and antioxidants that it claims to have, and that I am now one step closer to beautiful skin. I will however note that being the biology lover that I am, the ingredient 'Urea' sent some alarm bells ringing - (urea is the primary component of urine) but apparently heaps of skincare products have it in them and that it is good stuff for the skin. Hmmm!

All up, I love this toner and it has become yet another mismatched addition to my crazy looking skincare loot. Just like their makeup it is of an excellent quality and looks stunning. It isn't cheap at $53, and being a high school student I don't think that I could afford to splash out on this one, but if you are a skincare fanatic and appreciate some of the more luxurious things in life, I think this may be for you!

I give this 9/10.

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser

When I acquired this from a free Priceline beauty bag I was very keen on trying this out and proving that it would not be an effective cleanser. After all, surely a fluorescent yellow liquid full of green lumps couldn't be good for my skin.

Wrong.

I have been using this consistently for months now and it works wonders. I don't think my skin has ever been better, and though I wouldn't put it down solely to this product it is certainly contributing to it!

Clean and Clear is a brand that I am very, very familiar with. We have been good friends for years now. However the skin care that I was using just didn't seem to be working as effectively as it once was. I don't know if there is any science behind this, but I felt as though my skin had kind of become used to the products and therefore they didn't work any longer. Whatever it was, it was time for a change.

I had seen numerous advertisements for this cleanser but it didn't entice me enough to go and pick some up. When I received it as a freebie I couldn't see why I shouldn't try it out.

As I mentioned, I have been using this before bed (despite that it is called 'Morning burst') for months and I cannot rave about it enough. I love that it isn't a scrub yet it does have the little beads in it that do add a bit of texture. They certainly don't act as a scrub but do a little more than a common cleanser would. They dissolve as you rub them into your skin, it's rather strange!

I love the scent of this, a fresh citrus burst that I can imagine would be overpowering for some, but I personally love it.

I find that this takes off all my makeup with ease, however the only complaint is that when I am having a dry skin day this works a little too well and is a little harsh.

I have found that my skin has been in excellent condition after having used this for a while now. I don't think it is all down to this product - the B.liv blackhead serum and moisturiser from the brand Simple would also have something to do with it - but this certainly helps. When I get blemishes I only get a couple however they are really big and take weeks to fade away (and sometimes leave permanent marks) but with this I have found my blemishes to be of a smaller, shorter nature.

I really enjoy using this cleanser because it feels so nice, works so well and smells so good. I think to have a combination of all these things really makes this stand out from other cleansers that may work just as well but aren't as fun to use!

I give this 8/10.

Rosehip Plus Rosehip Oil Skin Boost Roll On

Rosehip oil has been the talk of the (beauty) town for a while now. Everywhere I look bloggers seem to be raving about the stuff. It sounded cool, it looked cool but did it actually work? According to basically the whole world, yes it did.

I was sent this gorgeous little 'Rosehip oil skin boost roll on' from the brand  Rosehip plus. I was honestly thrilled and couldn't think of a better product to turn up on my doorstep.

For those of you who haven't heard anything about this magic rosehip oil, I'll tell you a little about it.

According to the packaging, it is a "100% pure and natural Australian certified skincare product, cold pressed from the seeds of the Rosehip (Rosa Canina), that's pure and nourishing, helping to support healthy looking skin with maximum efficacy."

This particular version of the product comes with a "hygienic massage roller ball" that allows you to apply product directly on required areas.

Apparently Rosehip Oil helps to:
- Reduce the appearance of scars/stretchmarks
- Maintain skin hydration
- Improve dry skin
- Minimise appearance of wrinkles/fine lines
- Promote elasticity and texture

Of course, to a rosehip oil newbie like myself, this all sounded terribly exciting, particularly 'reducing the appearance of scars' because my face has many old blemish scars that I would be quite happy to get rid of.

So, as I received this only days before leaving for Cambodia I packed this away in my carry on luggage bag (lucky it was under 100mL!) and prepared to use it non stop while travelling.

Upon opening my bag after a couple of flights, it became apparent that along with my roll on deodorant, facial moisturiser and mini shampoo, it had exploded everywhere and coated my lip balm and toothbrush in a film of orange oil. Apparently this isn't too good with planes.

I will say though that this is still a travelling kind of product. It is so simple and easy to use, compact and little, apart from the fact that it can't handle crazy cabin pressure (along with all my other toiletries) it really is good for busy people.

Anyway, this oil is an orange kind of colour (though not when it is rubbed in) and smells completely opposite to anything I was expecting. Perhaps it was really ignorant of me to think that this would smell like roses, but it doesn't. It's not a bad smell (or a particularly strong smell) but I guess it is just earthy. Nothing wrong with that.

It is really hard to judge the product's qualities and certainly the claims that it makes, but I will tell you that I do like this stuff and believe it to have improved the condition of my skin. It certainly does have ridiculous moisturising properties, although you would kind of expect that from an oil. I was pleasantly surprised that it sunk in relatively quickly though, a trait I am very impressed by. I also think that it improved the appearance of old blemish marks. It wasn't drastic, but I feel that after weeks of use they had faded a little.

So, what do I think overall? Well you can't really go wrong with an Australian owned and run brand, a rosehip oil that is cold pressed (oils extracted without chemicals or heat) and pretty, pretty packaging too! I really liked this product and I am so thankful that I was able to try it out.

If you are interested in giving the oh-so popular rosehip oil a try, you can't really go wrong with this little roll on, a total of $14.95.

I give this 7/10,

B.liv by Cellnique Shrink and Tighten Large Pore Reducing Serum

I am a little bit (okay, a lot) late with this review but better late than never! To be honest if I didn't get around to posting this review you wouldn't really be missing out on much!

I have been using this Shrink and Tighten pore serum consistently for weeks in the hope that the large pores on my forehead, chin and cheeks would be made smaller.

This serum, like all the B.liv by Cellnique skincare products, has awesome packaging, unlike the typical skincare 'look' that many products have. I like that the products are colour coded according to their function, with the products that target blackheads orange and the pore shrinking range housed in purple. This comes with a pump that pumps out way too much product (I use about 1/8 of a pump!) but it's not too much of a problem

The serum is completely clear and the perfect consistency to rub right into the skin. It soaks in immediately and feels really lovely and silky. It doesn't alter the way that the skin looks (no shine or gloss is left from the product) and I noticed no excess oil production or anything of the likes throughout the remainder of the day. If anything, this product made my skin more matte and seemed to almost control oil!

So at first glance and after regular use, this product seems to be pretty darn good. Well, it is, except when it comes to results. After having used it for about 6 weeks now, I have noticed absolutely no change in the size of my pores whatsoever, but I continue to apply it because I like the way it makes my skin feel, all soft and silky! I do feel as though my skin looks healthier and more 'youthful' (not that such is a problem considering I am not yet even in my twenties!) but as for pores...it's pretty useless.

Still, I will admit, my pores are hardly enormous. I have the occasional giant one here and there as a result of particularly horrific persistent, immovable blemishes in the past but the majority of my pores are pretty small. Perhaps this is why I didn't notice great changes, at least not like I did with the Off with those heads blackhead gel.

For $49, this is not at all cheap and if I had paid for this I would not be impressed. Sure, it looks and feels nice on the skin but it's an expensive way to do so.

Unfortunately I have to give this 4/10, and continue raving about the Blackhead gel which worked miracles - literally!

My 'after' picture, identical to the way my skin looked before

Have you tried this and did it work for you?

B.liv by Cellnique Off With Those Heads Sebum Gel and discount code

*Just before I begin this review, I will let you know that there are some before and after photos of blackheads and my nose, so if you're not into the idea of seeing that then click out! I will say though, the results are pretty impressive...

Blackheads have been my major skin problem since the very beginning of time. Occasionally I get a pimple or two but it is blackheads that seem to be a permanent fixation on my face, and one that I've never been able to do anything about.

I was contacted by a skincare brand I had never heard of called B.liv. B.liv is a brand that focuses on skincare, particularly problems like blackheads, large pores, dryness and acne. They don't test their products on animals

I was asked to provide some information regarding the nature of my skin. This is what I responded with:

"I went to your facebook page where I saw a description of combination skin - In some areas of your face it can feel tight after washing; it can be flaky, look dull or feel rough. And in other areas, typically the T-zone, your skin looks shiny, feel greasy and is prone to pimples and blackheads. This is what I feel my skin is like. I have blackheads, particularly on my nose, though I wouldn't describe my pores as terribly large. My skin isn't sensitive though it goes dry and can flake when the products are too harsh and drying. I get small blemishes from time to time, though never at all like acne. My skin does scar and I do have marks from past blemishes."

I was matched up to three products that would either help get rid of or manage my skin problems or prevent further problems in the future. It sounded amazing but I must admit, so many brands these days claim to have miracle skin products that I really didn't have much faith that they were going to be life changing.

I used the three products for a month and then compared before and after photos, and my goodness am I amazed.

"Off with those heads" is a clear sebum gel that extracts blackheads without having to painfully squeeze them out. Apparently it softens whatever is clogging your pores thus clearing them out. It is made of ingredients that keep oil under control.  It also claims to stop blackheads from ever appearing again once having gotten rid of them the first time! On the packaging it said that it would only take 14 days to work but I found that I needed to use it for a solid month to notice results.

Basically I just applied the smallest amount of gel, probably smaller than a pea size, on my nose morning and night. It felt lovely on the skin, soaked in straight away and caused no problems under my makeup. I thought that perhaps it would result in my makeup fading or sliding off more quickly but there was no noticeable difference whatsoever.

I maintained my usual skincare routine, cleansing at night and applying moisturiser twice daily. Over the four weeks that I trialled the product I didn't notice any real difference but then when I came to write this post and compared the before and after photos I realised how wrong I was. This product is incredible.

As you can see from the photos, the results are very impressive - almost all of my blackheads have been cleared completely. Of course I do still have a couple that won't budge, but the majority of them are completely gone. I will mention that I found the product to certainly soften the blackheads making them easier to extract physically, so I did help the product out with a bit of squeezing here and there.

I stopped using the product once having seen the results and unfortunately, unlike it says on the packaging, you do need to keep using this product otherwise they will come back.

Not only is the product itself simply awesome, but I love the packaging and general style of all the B.liv products. The packaging is classy looking but still fun, the products are practical (I love that they have pumps) and the names of all the products are so creative.

I am actually quite astounded at how well this product really did work for me because rarely do I come across a product that matches what it claims to do!

I would purchase this without any hesitation because it worked so effectively and was so easy to use, comfortable to wear and simple to slip into my current skincare routine.

It can be purchased from the B.liv website here, for $49. Shipping world wide is free and you receive a sample product for each product that you buy. Admittedly, it is quite an expensive product, especially as you only get 15mL of product, but after 4 weeks of use I am not even close to having used it all up.

For all who are interested, I have a code that you can type in that gives you 30% off products from their website, valid until June 30 2013. That code is BLG30A

I am so impressed with this skincare brand and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to test out some of their products. I give this product 10/10.

Keep an eye out for some more reviews on their products!

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

My skin can never make up its mind. Some days it wants to be super oily, other days painfully dry, though the majority of the time I would classify it as combination.

Recently I went through a dry patch, and by that I mean flaking, painful to touch, I will never be able to put enough moisturiser on my face kind of dry.

The worst spot was my eyelids, so much so that I was convinced it had to be an allergic reaction to something though that is not possible because I have been using the same products for months.

Anyhow, when my regular moisturiser wasn't at all enough I turned to this little sample tub of the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream in the hopes that it would be better.

Though this is marketed as a 24 hour light moisturising cream, I personally found it to be a lot thicker than other ones I have tried, and certainly a lot more moisturising. When I tried it months ago during a 'combination skin' phase, it made my skin way too greasy and was horrible to work with. Trying it with dry skin was a different story and was exactly what I needed to put back some moisture but also prevent moisture loss further.

I found that this didn't soak into the skin, which in this case was a good thing but certainly not a property I would usually find appealing. It felt thick and heavy and if I ran my hands over my skin it could easily be felt.

If I was to use this consistently for a long time I think it would be too much for my skin and would lead to breakouts. The only people I would recommend this to is those who are struggling with super dry skin, but even then I think there would be more effective moisturisers out there.

I am not going to lie, this isn't cheap. For a 50ml tub it costs you $34, more than I personally would fork out considering there are so many cheap moisturisers around the place these days. However, if my skin was permanently in such a horrible dry state then I think I would buy this as it was all that I could find that helped even in the slightest. It wasn't perfect but it did help.

For the first time in ages I have been able to get some use out of all the sample products that I seem to have building up in my drawer. I give this 6/10.