Hylamide High-Efficiency Face Cleaner

Seeing as I have just spent far too much money on the Deciem Black Friday sale, I thought it was high time I reviewed something I have been using from their range before I receive my whole new bunch of goodies. Deciem was founded in 2013 in Canada and currently owns 10 brands spanning skincare, haircare, health supplements, makeup, and more. Their focus is to provide products of the highest quality whilst not being defined by price or distribution channels, which has definitely shaken up the norm in the beauty industry. Hylamide is a middle of the range brand from Deciem, falling in between NIOD and The Ordinary in terms of price, focusing on skincare and makeup enhancing products. The High-Efficiency Face Cleanser is the first product that I have tried from the Hylamide range.

The High-Efficiency Face Cleaner promises to cleanse the skin and remove makeup. It also promises to balance the skin, purify pores, and provide surface hydration.

I apply this cleanser to a dry face as a first cleanse to remove makeup. It is a liquid consistency that is very runny and much less viscous than comparable oil cleansers that I have used. It is clear and slightly oily with no discernible scent and feels very close to water on the skin. A five cent piece sized amount is more than sufficient and very easily dissolves all makeup (although I don't wear waterproof mascara so have not tested it on that). It does not leave the skin uncomfortable or dry, and although I always apply a moisturiser after cleansing this cleanser doesn't make me race to rehydrate my skin.

I have never used an oil cleanser that dissolves makeup so easily and quickly! Other balm and oil cleansers that I have used have been a bit thicker and required massage to remove makeup, whereas a quick swipe of this cleanser over the face seems to dissolve makeup instantly. I don't love the feel of this on my skin when I use it, possibly because it dissolves makeup so quickly that my face immediately feels dirty. For this reason, I use this cleanser exclusively to remove makeup and not as a second cleanse on bare skin. I always remove my cleansers with a flannel, however the beauty of this cleanser is that you can remove with water only so it would be great for travelling. I'm guessing someone who loves micellar water to remove makeup would probably enjoy this cleanser because it has a similar feel to a micellar water to me.

This is packaged in a plastic bottle with a screw top nozzle. I like the plastic packaging, mainly because I've knocked one too many cleansers off my bathroom counter with disastrous results. The screw top nozzle I can take or leave. Because this cleanser is so liquid, you have to transfer the product straight to your face otherwise you'll end up with it dripping down your arm, and so more often than not the lid is left open which is not ideal. Some sort of pump packaging would be easier.

The formula is water-, alcohol-, and silicone-free. The full ingredients list includes cetyl ethylhexanoate, peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, bisabolol, bataua palm oil, Brazil nut oil, Inca nut oil, crambe seed oil, jojoba oil, tomato fruit extract, karanja seed oil, squalane, ethylhexyl stearate, tocopherol, phenoxyethanol, and chlorphenesin.

Price: $29.95 (Deciem website) [$0.25/mL]
Rate: efficacy, no fragrance, plastic packaging
Hate: screw top nozzle packaging, feel on skin
Verdict: I've enjoyed other oil and balm cleansers more than this so probably not a repurchase for me despite how effective it is

Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream

Alpha-H is an Australian brand founded in 2000 on the Gold Coast. They are best known for their cult product Liquid Gold, a glycolic acid toner that is one of my favourite exfoliating toners to use, which sells 123 bottles every day in Australia! Alpha-H build their products around highly active ingredients to target skin conditions including acne, pigmentation, and premature ageing. I have tried a couple of sample size products from Alpha-H before and always enjoyed them, and now the lovely people at RY very kindly sent me some products to have a play with, including the Essential Hydration Cream.

The Essential Hydration Cream promises to rehydrate, soothe, and balance the skin and is suitable for all skin types, but especially dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin.

It is a thick, white cream that still retains a gel-like feel so doesn't come across too heavy on the skin and spreads very easily. It is packaged in my favourite type of packaging where you push down on the top after taking off the lid and the perfect amount is dispensed into the well-like top of the tub. You can apply day or night, and I regularly do both. It is fantastic under makeup as it absorbs really quickly and doesn't leave your skin feeling tacky yet it is still sufficiently moisturised. I love that this cream is really gentle and free from any intense actives, so it is a great moisturiser to use after you've hit your skin with a heavy duty serum or mask. I particularly like to use this after any AHAs at night time as it is really soothing and cooling, and I can see this being particularly great in a routine following Alpha-H's Liquid Gold.

This has a really calming, fresh, aromatic scent that I have completely fallen in love with. It is also rated 10/10 on the boyfriend 'you smell good' scale, so definitely one to check out if you are a fan of products that have a beautiful scent. It is mostly peppermint but has a really lovely aromatic warmth to it. For that reason, I really like using this as a night cream because I find the scent really relaxing and it helps me to wind down for bed.

My skin is really sensitive and very prone to redness. Even just cleansing my face will leave my skin hot and pink for some time afterwards, but I love using this moisturiser to help calm it down. I find that it takes a lot of the heat out of my skin and helps to calm the redness down more quickly, so I think it would be great for anyone with sensitive skin. The moisturising factor is also fantastic and despite it being light and easily absorbed, my skin is happy with just this even if I don't apply a serum or oil underneath. It is definitely one of my favourite moisturisers that I have used recently - probably one of my favourite products I have used recently full stop!

The Essential Hydration Cream has a base of water and the second highest ingredient on the list is actually silicon, which my skin has been known to have issues with in the past. Fortunately no problems with this cream though! It also includes hydrating ingredients propylene glycol, glycerin, algae extract, jojoba oil, macadamia seed oil, evening primrose oil, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol, ethylhexyl palmitate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, isomerised linoleic acid, wheat germ oil, Solomon's Seal plant extract, and palmitic acid to help plump up the skin. It includes carbomer to give the product a gel feel, phenoxyethanol as a preservative, and potassium hydroxide to moderate the pH. Vitamin E is included in the form of tocopheryl acetate and tocopherol, vitamin B in the form of panthenol, and vitamin C in the form of ascorbyl palmitate. Comfrey extract is included to assist with soothing, aluminium/magnesium hydroxide to whiten the formula, ginseng root extract for its healing and anti-ageing properties, caprylyl glycol as a preservative, ylang ylang extract, peppermint extract, wolfsbane extract and cypress seed extract for fragrance, triolein to assist with absorption, barley extract (an antioxidant), palmitoyl tripeptide-5 to assist with skin firmness, propyl gallate as a preservative, citric acid to moderate the pH, and beta-sitosterol which acts like salicylic acid to resurface the skin.

Price: $51.95 [$1.04/mL]
Rate: scent, calming and soothing, efficacy, packaging
Hate: I don't love how silicone-heavy the formula is but, in saying that, it hasn't bothered my skin at all so far
Verdict: I would 100% repurchase this as it is so perfect for using after strong serums - that I am a big fan of - so I have used this up really quickly and I also adore the packaging

This product was received as a sample for review from ry.com.au. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

asap Super C Serum

asap is a pretty new brand in my world. Although I have seen it around plenty, it was only recently when my sister became pregnant and gifted me with the super C serum (as she was wary of using it whilst pregnant and also found it too hydrating - or something - on her oily skin) that I have actually used any products from the brand. And now I want to try everything! asap is an Australian cosmeceutical skincare range launched in 2000 that focuses on using active ingredients, such as AHAs and antioxidants, to provide great, fast-acting results. They are cruelty free and their products contain no artificial fragrances or parabens.

The super C serum promises to reduce the visible signs of premature ageing caused by the sun and other environmental damage. With daily use, it promises to promote skin radiance and clarity.

The serum is a thick yellowish cream that has a silicone feel to it when spread over the skin. The packaging is awesome, in one of those vacuum tubes that pushes the product up as you pump it so that you can use every last speck and is also super hygienic. It has a tangy, acidic scent and, because of the high vitamin C content at 20%, can tingle a little on application - especially if you have not used vitamin C before. Oh, and definitely do NOT apply this to any broken skin or open breakouts. OUCH.

Whilst it is recommended to use this during the day to assist with the efficacy of the vitamin C via exposure to sunlight, I actually prefer to use this at night. I find silicone to sometimes be quite drying on my skin, so this is better for overnight use for me when I can use a heavy duty night cream over the top. I have also noticed that this affects the longevity of makeup, in that my foundation is much more broken up by the end of the day at work when I have used this on my skin in the morning. So, this is generally a night time treatment for me, except on lazy weekend days when I am just around the house and not wearing a full face of makeup.

This serum has had pretty amazing effects on my skin. When I use this consistently, it has helped significantly with clearing up the regular breakouts along my jawline and chin. My skin is plumper and looks fresher, brighter. The silicone has not had its usual drying effect on my skin, although there has been one dry patch on my forehead, which I think was caused by overuse of a gritty exfoliating cleanser rather than this serum. I am so happy to have found a vitamin C serum that has had benefits for my skin, after having a bit of a fail with the 100% Pure Vitamin C Serum which contained too small a concentration of vitamin C to help my skin much. I would definitely recommend the asap serum to help with brightening and freshening up your skin, as it has had some great effects on my dry, breakout-prone skin.

The super C serum has a silicone base and includes isopropyl myristate (an emollient for hydration purposes), vitamin C as ascorbic acid (20%), hydroxydecyl ubiquinone i.e. CoQ10 (a powerful antioxidant), pine bark extract (antioxidant), vitamin E as tocopherol, glycerin (an humectant for hydration), soybean oil, beta-carotene, grapefruit peel oil, orange peel oil, bergamot oil, lime oil, vanilla extract, cedar bark oil, silica heliotropine (silicone), cyclopentasiloxane (more silicone), stearic acid (a fatty acid), and rapeseed (canola) oil.

Price: $89.00 (Adore Beauty website) [$2.97/mL]
Rate: efficacy, packaging, formula, Australian company, cruelty free
Hate: price (but shop around because you can usually find it for around $20.00 off the RRP)
Verdict: this is a definite repurchase for me and, after having it on my wishlist, I actually bought the asap Platinum Collection recently, which includes this in 15mL size, to try out more of the asap range

Almost Peggy Face Honey

Almost Peggy is the brainchild of two sisters from Melbourne, Lucy and Clare, and Face Honey is currently their only product. It is a natural exfoliating daily face wash aiming to solve many common skin problems by natural means and using their hero ingredient, honey (obviously!). I was fortunate to win a packet of the gooey stuff in an Instagram giveaway by Wellness by Kels and have been giving it a good test out since.

Face Honey promises to nourish and gently exfoliate the skin. It also promises to promote clear skin and balance oils.

Face Honey is a dark golden, slightly sticky paste packaged in one of those resealable envelope packets that are all the rage for body scrubs. Not going to lie, I hate the packaging. Fortunately, Face Honey's semi-solid state allows you to easily scoop out a chunk to apply to your face. It is recommended that you wet your face before applying so that it is easier to spread the product out (trust me, do not try to apply it to a dry face) so this means that some of the water ends up in the packaging and trying to reseal it with wet hands...nightmare. Actually, trying to reseal these envelopes full stop I struggle - anyone else? I think it would be slightly better in a jar because at least you wouldn't be reaching all the way in for some product and ending up with sticky hands and wrists too. Sadly, the product is way too thick to be packaged in pump-style packaging.


I have been using Face Honey as a second cleanse after removing makeup in the evenings and occasionally as a first cleanse first thing in the morning. It is much easier than I was expecting to spread the product over your face given the stickiness of the honey and the thickness of the formula. It has a slightly gritty texture from the bicarbonate soda included to help with exfoliation. I normally do not enjoy exfoliating scrubs as I prefer acid exfoliation, however I found this gentle enough on my skin to use a couple of times a week. My skin is very soft and smooth after use and the antibiotic properties of the honey have helped to clear up and heal some of my breakouts faster than normal.

To me, Face Honey smells exactly like honeycomb and I really enjoy opening this up just because of the smell alone! Given the first two ingredients are honey and organic bicarbonate soda, this makes a lot of sense. The rest of the ingredients include grapeseed oil, organic agar agar, and essential oils of sweet orange, cedarwood, lime, bergamot, frankincense, ylang ylang, and geranium. It is a really simple, natural formula that relies on the natural preservative effects of the honey but does need to be used up within four to six weeks of opening.


Price: $26.95 (Almost Peggy website) [$0.135/g]
Rate: ingredients, scent, efficacy, Australian-made and owned, cruelty free
Hate: packaging (really)
Verdict: I wouldn't repurchase this, despite enjoying it as a change from acid exfoliation, simply because the packaging is way too fussy, messy and irritating

Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream

Antipodes is a New Zealand brand focused on natural and organic skincare with scientific backing, to provide a product based in nature with great results. I have tried several products from Antipodes before and have really enjoyed them, in particular the Anti-Ageing Minis (made even better if you can nab them on sale!). I love that they are a natural skincare brand that feels really luxurious and does provide great results on my skin. The Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream is my current day and night eye cream and has lasted me a helluva long time.

The Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream promises to help moisturise and soften fine lines as well as soothing and cooling the eye area.

Eye creams are one skincare item that I religiously apply both morning and night. Despite that they
are sometimes a thicker cream that might not sit so well under makeup - something that I wish I did not have to wear every day, but, working in an office environment demands it - the area around my eyes always seems to lap it up. The Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream is a great eye cream for the day time, as it is a light lotion texture, so will be perfect for those who do not have quite such a thirsty eye area and it absorbs really well. This tiny little jar is lasting me forever and I have probably been using this for at least a year now, so it is definitely value for money.

I was really hoping this one would smell like fruity kiwi. Does anyone else pick up a skincare item purely based on how they hope it will smell? It is actually more of an herbal, woody scent and perfectly fine, just not what I was hoping for because how good would a kiwi fruit cream smell!

In terms of efficacy, this is great at keeping the eye area hydrated and smooth. I am 25 this year so I do not have too many fine lines to worry about just yet but of course, being obsessed with skincare as I am, I do notice the few that are beginning to appear. I do not find this eye cream to quite as good as one of my favourites Adavanced Night Repair Eye from Estee Lauder in diminishing fines lines however it certainly plays its role in hydrating the area to prevent more appearing, as it promises to do. I have also found this to be a bit of a lifesaver recently, as my eyelids really dried out in a bad reaction to a concealer and this helped to bring them back on track to being smooth and flake free.

This eye cream has a water base and includes some really beautiful ingredients comprising avocado oil, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol (derived from coconut), cetearyl glycosides (derived from wheat straw), glyceryl stearate (an emulsifier which, in combination with the previous two ingredients, prevents the water and oil in the formula from separating), Vitamin E in the form of tocopherol acetate, carrot seed oil, kiwifruit seed oil (obviously), borage oil, gluconolactone (a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), basically a milder acid than an AHA that is better for sensitive skin), sodium benzoate (a salt preservative derived from fruit), and finally grapefruit seed extract (the Antipodes core brand ingredient Vinanza grape seed extract).

Price: $52.99 (Priceline website) [$1.77/mL]
Rate: easily absorbed, vegetarian, hydration benefits
Hate: packaging (I still rate the Kosmea eye cream packaging as one of the best around!)
Verdict: not a repurchase for me at this stage as I have found other eye creams that work better for me, but I would highly recommend if you are after a simple, light eye cream

What is your favourite eye cream that I should try?

Lush Bath Bombs I

In our move from Perth to Bunbury, one of the things that I was really excited to have in our new rental was a bath! I have not lived in a house with a bath since I was still living at home during school, so I have relished the opportunity to relax and have a bath after a stressful day. This has also meant that I have been able to further indulge my love of Lush and finally experience their famous bath bombs and bubble bars. This is the first wrap up (of many) of the bath bombs I have used lately and features a few bath bombs from the 2017 Valentine's Day range.

Cupid Bath Bomb

Cupid features lime oil, bergamot oil, violet leaf absolute, and fresh raspberry juice. It turns the water the palest, pastel pink colour and has a really delicate, sweet scent. The raspberry is probably the strongest scent and the combination with the lime made this feel almost summery and fruity. I can't say that this is my favourite bath bomb I have tried - it is very simple and sweet and did not feel overly indulgent. If I am going to spend half an hour plus in the bath, I personally want it to be a richer experience. No real bath art to speak of from this one either.

Lovestruck Bubble Bar

Lovestruck contains lime oil, geranium oil, and petitgrain oil. It turns the bath a rather unsettling bright yellow but does produce a lot of bubbles! I used the whole bar in my bath but probably could have only used half and had the same experience (noted for next time), even though it is on the smaller side of Lush bubble bars. This was overwhelmingly citrusy and sweet, a very bright and happy bath. The bar did give the water a slippery feel and was moisturising on the skin. Bonus points for the super cute emoji shape!

Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb

Rose Bombshell features sea salt, yellow rose petals, rose absolute, geranium oil, rose oil, and lemon oil. The bath water starts out with a neon pink tinge but ends dark pink, almost red, with dried rose petals floating on top. It has a very strong floral, jammy scent which lingers on the skin for a good time after the bath, making this bath bomb feel very indulgent. I really enjoyed relaxing with this one and it left my skin feeling nicely moisturised. Something about the rose scent made this feel really romantic, very fitting for a Valentine's Day product, although I didn't really love trying to clean up the leftover rose petals.

What is your favourite Lush bath product?

ModelCo Replenishing Rose Mist Facial Mist

Prior to purchasing this hydrating toner from ModelCo, I had never tried any products from the brand. I am not a fan of fake tan and this is primarily what I associated with ModelCo, however they actually have quite a broad range of skincare spanning from exfoliating scrubs and cleansers to serums and SPF for face and body that launched back in 2014. Being a major fan of toners, of course this is the first product that I decided to try from the range.

The Replenishing Rose Mist promises to tone, replenish and refresh the skin to eliminate shine, excess oil and minimise the appearance of pores. It is vegan and cruelty-free.

The key role for a toner like this in my skincare routine is to add moisture back to my skin after cleansing, especially, and acid toning. I am not too fussed on the idea of minimising my pores or reducing oil production and more concerned with adding another layer of hydration to prevent dry skin. I definitely don't use a toner like this in the hopes of removing any leftover makeup after cleansing - that's what the double cleanse is for! This is a relatively heavy mist and I think it does the job well of eliminating the tight skin feeling after cleansing and exfoliating. It is not the kind of fine 'setting spray' toner that I would use over the top of makeup, as it is much too heavy and wet (for want of a better word!).

I use three sprays of this to cover forehead and each cheek. Because it is not a fine mist, three sprays leaves your face feeling pretty soaked but I pat it in and it absorbs relatively quickly. Damp skin also seems to absorb the succeeding skincare layers better so I don't mind this too much. My one real issue is that inevitably some of the mist ends up on your lips and ugh, does it taste awful! I have taken to applying a lip balm before spraying this on and sucking my lips in to try to avoid any overspray. I have never experienced such an awful taste with a mist - I mean, it's not made for drinking obviously, but yuck!

In contrast to the taste, this has a lovely rose scent that is actually quite refreshing for rose. It is not a heavy 'grandmother' rose but light and not overpowering or lingering. I have to admit, the tan coloured packaging is not my favourite. I would almost decant it into a nice glass spray bottle to look better on my dressing table (but I know I am just being fussy!).

The base of this mist is water with lots of hydrating ingredients added for good measure, including polysorbate (an emulsifier for hydration), glycerin (an humectant, again for hydration), rose damascena (scent and soothing), plus açai and pomegranate extracts (antioxidant properties). Dehydroacetic acid and benzyl alcohol act as preservatives, and that is the sum total of ingredients. A nice, simple toner to refresh and rehydrate the skin.

Price: $20.00 (ModelCo website) [$0.16/mL]
Rate: hydrating, scent
Hate: packaging, heaviness of mist, taste
Verdict: would not repurchase, simply because I can't stand the taste when there is overspray on to my lips and there are other toners that do the same job without tasting awful (Kosmea Hydrating Rosewater Mist being a fantastic example in the same price range and 100% Pure Jasmine Green Tea Tonique a great one currently part of my daily routine)

Wish List I

I have somehow managed to distil my current wish list down to just five things that I wish were in my skincare collection. Of course, there is a whole lot more than this...always. Nothing makeup related at the moment - probably because there is still way too much skincare that I would like to try.

The asap Platinum Collection contains four deluxe size products and two full size products from their range. The deluxe size products are all serums: super A+ serum, super B complex, super C serum, and the radiance serum. The two full sized products are the ultimate hydration cream and the anti-ageing night cream. I am currently using the super C serum and it is absolutely amazing! My sister gave it to me as she is currently pregnant and I have pretty much used the whole bottle in the two months since she has given it to me. It has really helped to brighten and clear up my skin so it was going to be a definite repurchase for me, but then I came across the Platinum Collection and just thought, I have to try it all! This is currently $175.50 at Adore Beauty, which is a great price considering all of the products are around the $70.00 mark full size so you essentially receive three deluxe sizes for free. I am so keen to see if I enjoy the rest of the asap range as much as the super C serum.

I keep hearing bits and pieces about how awesome the Drunk Elephant range is, so I am definitely wanting to try something from them. After my success with the asap super C serum, the C-Firma Day Serum from Drunk Elephant is number one on my list but I also wouldn't say no to the TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum which is packed with skin resurfacing AHAs and BHAs. These are pricey serums, with the C-Firma Day Serum currently $116.00 at Mecca, so it will probably end up being a 'treat yourself' moment around birthday time.

Leahlani is another brand that I've heard about but have not yet had the opportunity to try. This organic Hawaiian brand is just stunning and all of their serums are on my wish list to be honest. The Champagne Serum is described as "happy hour for your skin" (love it!) and is designed to help combat redness and clear up any scarring in the skin. It is available in Australia from Eve Organics for $46.00, which is a pretty similar price to my current favourite oil serum Face Hero from Go-To Skincare.

Speaking of Go-To Skincare, I am in love with their new silk pillowcases! Because I don't already have sufficient silk pillowcases (three and counting...), I would really love to add this one to my collection. I especially love the embroidery! The Face Case is $65.00 from Go-To Skincare - not a bad price for a silk pillowcase.

The final item(s) on my list is anything (and everything) from The Ordinary. If you have not heard of this brand before, then I'm afraid you may have been living under a rock! I have been stalking this brand for quite a while and they have just released their much hyped foundation which is something I would love to try at some point soon. Apparently there were 25,000 people on the waiting list for the foundation, so I might be waiting for this one for a little while, however I am keen in the meantime to try some of their skincare. They have products including all my favourites: retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, and are super affordable ranging between $8.80 to $24.90 per product (yes, that's AUD!). I have also heard amazing things about their customer service so don't feel nervous at all about ordering from their website rather than an Australian stockist. Definitely number one on my wish list is the Advanced Retinoid 2% which I am hoping will match up to my big love Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil.

What is currently on your wish list...and what should I add to mine that you're currently loving?

Swisse Manuka Honey Detoxifying Facial Mask

Everyone knows Swisse for their vitamin range. "Tired? Stressed? You'll feel better on Swisse!" Personally I am a big fan of their Zinc+ which really helps to keep my skin clear when I commit to taking it regularly and has really helped to keep colds at bay so far as the weather starts becoming colder (touch wood!). In terms of their relatively new skincare range though, this charcoal mask is only the second external care product I have tried from them - the first being a deluxe sample of their hydrating toner which I really enjoyed. I picked this one up at the Priceline 40% off skincare sale for an absolute bargain as it has been a while since I've used anything but hydrating masks on my skin.

The Manuka Honey Detoxifying Facial Mask is a naturally absorbent mask that promises to purify and detoxify the skin leaving it feeling smooth and hydrated.

The mask comes packaged in a squat little amber jar and is pale blue-grey in colour (I love the colour of it!), drying down to a whitish grey. The texture is typical gluggy clay and is a little grainy to the touch. It smells a bit medicinal to me (the boy "quite likes it") and not like honey as I was mistakenly hoping! It is really easy to apply and smooth over your face, with no real roughness or exfoliating properties.






























I apply this all over my face after cleansing and leave on for 10 minutes as recommended. No longer otherwise the mask really dries down and tightens on the skin. For someone with dry skin like me, this is taking it too far and leaves the skin feeling badly dehydrated. During the drying down process, the mask really sinks into your pores which makes for interesting viewing in the mirror! I find it relatively easy to remove with a warm damp flannel by rehydrating the mask and then gently wiping off.

Immediately after removing the mask, I find my skin does look brighter and plumper. Any breakouts are brought to the surface and in particular the first time I used the mask, two yucky little bumps on my chin came to a head after the mask. I make sure to rehydrate with a serum or oil and a moisturiser after use because clay really has a drying effect on the skin and I certainly disagree with Swisse's claims that this mask will leave your skin feeling hydrated. Uh, nope! I have been using this about once a week since purchasing and, whilst it has not performed any miracles, it feels great to apply when you're having a bad skin day to help clear up breakouts a bit faster.






























The base of the mask is actually aloe vera gel rather than water, which is probably a good thing given that the mask contains two types of clay, kaolin and white, as well as tapioca starch and charcoal powder as absorbents to help clear oily skin. Glycerin is included to bring some hydration back into the formula. There are plenty of antioxidants in this mask: oat bran extract, manuka honey, and seaweed extract are the main three. Salicylic acid, citric acid and eucalyptus oil are included to aid in clearing the skin. Basalm of Peru oil is included as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, as well as adding a fragrance factor. Xanthan gum and Irish moss are in the formula to help thicken the mask. Dehydroacetic acid and benzyl alcohol are included as preservatives.

Not being a huge clay mask fan, I was happy to see that this one helped with purging my skin of some yuckiness and I am glad to make the effort to use it every once in a while. Hydrating masks are still my one true love though.

Price: $17.99 (Priceline) [$0.26/g]
Rate: texture, efficacy on breakouts
Hate: scent, messy, drying if left for too long (though I haven't met a clay mask that isn't!)
Verdict: probably not a repurchase for me, just because I hardly use clay masks so I'd like to try something new if/when I ever run out of this one

Have you tried this clay mask from Swisse? Are there any masks you would recommend I try next?

Daily Skincare Routine I

My current daily skincare routine has been really pared back lately, for a couple of reasons. Firstly,
we have just moved from the city to the country in the past two months and for the vast majority of those two months, I have not been bothered to unpack all of my beauty bits and pieces. So I learnt to make do with what was I'd thrown in my toiletries bag before moving, which wasn't very much! Secondly, the hormonal acne on my jaw and chin has been absolutely horrendous so I have been trying to keep things simple with adding in a product here and there to see if it is successful in controlling it at all (spoiler: I actually have found something that has worked wonders, but that's part of my nightly routine and a story for another post).



First up (always) is an hydrating toner and my current baby is the 100% Pure Jasmine Green Tea
Tonique for normal to dry skin. This one is all natural and vegan and smells amazing. I love anything jasmine (probably one of my first purchases when I eventually own a house will be a jasmine vine...) and this has such a beautiful, refreshing scent. It is a pretty heavy mist so probably not a great one for misting over makeup to refresh it, which doesn't bother me because I use this purely as skincare and an extra hydrating layer. It is packaged in a beautiful white glass spray bottle and (touch wood) I haven't dropped it yet so I love the packaging. Heads up, this is currently on sale from Nourished Life and a really good price, so get on to it if it sounds good to you!



Next is eye cream. I am currently using the Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream from Antipodes. Look, I don't particularly love this one. It is hydrating, sure, but really doesn't do a lot for me in terms of plumping or smoothing the eye area. I was also mega disappointed when I first opened it to use it that it didn't smell like kiwi fruit! It is actually more of an herbal, woody scent and perfectly fine, just not what I was hoping for because how good would that smell! This tiny little jar is lasting me forever and I have probably been using this for at least a year now, so it is definitely value for money. Not my favourite eye cream in terms of what it does for my eye area and I am looking forward to moving on to something else soon.



Serum follows eye cream and, whilst I would usually be switching between a few depending on what my skin needs, I have been almost exclusively using Hydraluron from Indeed Labs because it was in my toiletries bag. This is an always repurchase for me because it is such a saviour for dry skin and also a great all rounder serum that suits my skin no matter what. No such thing as too much hydration, right? It's also great on sunburn, FYI. It's light, easy to use, doesn't affect any makeup, and plumps up skin beautifully. My only problem with it is the packaging. Because the serum is so runny, it runs straight out of the opening in the tube and you always end up with way more than you need everywhere! I can forgive the packaging woes though, because this is just so good and so simple. It is basically my go-to serum when I'm not really sure what my skin wants that day.



Moisturiser is the next layer and I have currently been using a new purchase, the Boost Balancing Moisturiser from Botáni. This is beautifully light and absorbs super quickly, so it has been awesome to use under makeup on work mornings because it sets really nicely so it won't disturb your following layer of foundation. It has a woodsy smell when first pumped out of the bottle but once applied, it actually smells quite sweet! It gives off strawberry jam vibes to me. I really enjoy using this and love how the scent develops. The packaging is also a big win - so quick, easy and hygienic. I can see myself repurchasing this as a work morning moisturiser and it is most definitely the winner of the two moisturisers I purchased in the Priceline 40% off skincare sale.

What does your current morning skincare routine look like - and have you used any of my current routine before?

Go-To Skincare Exfoliating Swipeys

Personally, I am not a fan of physical exfoliation and will always choose chemical exfoliation in the
form of an acid toner over traditional exfoliating scrubs. I feel that chemical exfoliation is a better way of exfoliating as it is easier to thoroughly spread the product over your skin to ensure even exfoliation rather than trying to push scrub particles here, there, and everywhere. I am also a huge fan of Zoë Foster-Blake's peachy cruelty-free skincare range Go-To Skincare, so when you combine the two together, myself and my skin are sure to enjoy! I have previously tried the Face Hero from the Go-To Skincare range and my skin loved it, so I was keen to see how it fared with the Exfoliating Swipeys.

These single use exfoliating face pads are soaked in an AHA solution that promises to remove dead skin cells and refine the skin's texture. The inclusion of essential oils also promises to hydrate and moisturise.

I really enjoy using single use pads like these at it makes life so much simpler as opposed to mucking around with a bottle of liquid and a fluffy cotton pad. These pads are nicely soaked in the lactic acid solution and are sufficiently moist to cover all of your face and down your neck too. I am down to the last couple of pads in my tub now and they are still as soaked as the first few started out. I did not find them to sting at all, however I have been using acid toners for quite a few years now so it takes a particularly strong one for my skin to say ouch!

The aloe vera included in the formula certainly does its job of ensuring your skin is not dried out from the lactic acid and after use, my skin is plump and bright. From pure habit, I'll follow these up a minute after use with my usual skincare routine of an hydrating toner, serum and moisturiser, however they do not leave the skin feeling tight and in need of moisture in any way. They haven't had much impact on my hormonal chin and jaw acne but have definitely kept the rest of my skin texture smooth and clear.

I like to use these mainly at night time and usually every second night, so the 50 pads will last around a third of the year for me. They also come delivered with a really cute zip-lock bag so that you can take some away with you when travelling. I don't love the actual texture of the pads - they almost feel a bit plasticky compared to the usual cotton pad and they are certainly rougher - but this isn't really noticeable until you have used most of the product on the pad and it is dried out some. The plastic peach tub packaging is great and I have never noticed it to leak.

The main ingredient in the solution is water, followed by lactic acid for exfoliation and aloe vera for hydration and soothing properties. The fourth ingredient is alcohol in the form of ethanol which could be a concern in drying out the skin and increasing sensitivity, however I consider myself to have dry skin and it has not bothered me in this formula. Making up the rest of the formula are propanediol (hydrating and can increase skin absorption of other ingredients), polysorbate 20 (surfactant and emulsifier for cleansing), dehydroacetic acid (synthetic preservative), benzyl alcohol (organic alcohol that acts as a preservative too), sodium citrate (controls pH as well as acting as an antioxidant and preservative), and potassium sorbate (another preservative). Finally, the formula does contain fragrance from mandarin and lemon extract.

I thoroughly enjoy these pads as a way of exfoliating chemically and they are so easy and quick to use! I personally have seen better improvement in my skin using a glycolic acid exfoliator but I love the idea of these as a brightening treatment for my skin.

Price: $46.00 (Go-To Skincare) [$0.92/pad]
Rate: brightening effects, packaging, ease of use, Australian-made and owned
Hate: nothing, really!
Verdict: I'd definitely repurchase as a brightening treatment for my skin but not as a skin clearing treatment.

3 Weleda products currently in my bathroom

Standing in the shower the other morning, I noticed that three of the items I used were all from the same brand - Weleda - so I thought I would show them a bit of love. Weleda is a German/Swiss company which has been around since 1921 (although somehow I have only recently come across it in the past 12 months or so!) that focuses on creating natural and organic products in ethically, socially, and environmentally responsible ways. They source their key ingredients from biodynamic, organic and wild-crafted suppliers. I had never heard of "wild-crafted" before, but it means that plants are cultivated without chemicals in their natural wild environment and harvested sustainably to conserve their numbers, which is pretty cool!

The three products that I currently have from Weleda are the Wheat Balancing Shampoo, Lavender Creamy Body Wash (kindly gifted at the most recent Bloggers United Australia Perth event), and the Salt Toothpaste.

The Wheat Balancing Shampoo is for hair and scalp care. It promises to remove loose flakes, moisturise dry scalp, and gently cleanse the hair. The shampoo is free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances and colours as well as containing no mineral oil or silicone. My hair is generally pretty flaky and I usually employ Head & Shoulders to get rid of the flakes when they appear once every other month. I wanted to try a more natural shampoo to see if I could have any luck controlling the flakes on a more ongoing basis.

The shampoo is a golden-coloured gel that smells very herbal with a definite hit of tea tree and hints of rosemary. I always shampoo twice - once to remove any products from my hair and again to properly cleanse and massage the scalp. When I first started using the shampoo, I found that it left my hair feeling really heavy, especially at the back, almost as if I had washed it with an oil or put too much product in my hair and it looked oily too. I promptly gave up (bad blogger) and did not touch it for a couple of months, thinking that natural shampoos were not for me.

In our recent move from Perth to Bunbury, I picked it up again and thought I would give it another go whilst I wasn't working and it didn't matter how my hair looked. After consistent use over a week or two, the heavy feeling after washing with this shampoo disappeared and the flakes on my scalp had completely cleared up. Apparently it is pretty normal for your hair to "detox" when you switch from one shampoo to another (regardless of whether transitioning to a natural shampoo or not) so I just needed to persist with it whilst my scalp adjusted. It is probably worth noting that I kept using a non-natural conditioner, although I am going to look into buying a natural one now too!

The Lavender Creamy Body Wash promises to gently cleanse the skin whilst soothing and calming with pure lavender essential oil. I have previously used the pomegranate version of this body wash and loved it, so I asked the Weleda representative at the Bloggers United Australia event what she recommended, which is how I ended up with the lavender version.

This is a really beautiful rich creamy body wash that is super moisturising for the skin. It does not lather up a whole lot, which doesn't bother me, but for those who like a bubble bath in the shower may be a problem! My issue with this body wash is the scent. It is so intense! The lavender oil is really strong and too much for me. I find it overpowering rather than relaxing, so unfortunately I just don't enjoy this body wash as much as its pomegranate sister.

The Salt Toothpaste promises to prevent tooth discolouration and reduce the build up of tartar with regular brushing. This toothpaste is definitely out of the ordinary compared to a regular toothpaste! I have been using natural toothpastes for a long time now - Grant's mild mint toothpaste is my favourite given it's Australian (and available from Coles) - and I am always happy to try something a bit different. I had seen great reviews for this one by Weleda so thought I would give it a go.

It is a gritty brown paste that does not look super appealing but smells minty like a regular toothpaste. I swear I read a review somewhere that said this tastes like salted caramel, so I was super keen to try! The taste is pretty overwhelming. Really salty with hints of mint. It takes a while to become used to it but I have pushed through and don't notice it so much anymore. Luckily too, because this has a really whitening effect on my teeth, more so than any other natural toothpaste I've tried (including two activated charcoal ones which are all the rage at the moment). So, positives and negatives for this one.

There you have it. A quick review on three Weleda products I'm currently using in my bathroom. I think the likely only repurchase for me would be the shampoo. Whilst I like the Salt Toothpaste, the saltiness is just too much sometimes (especially right after breakfast!) and the body wash is not my jam.

100% Pure Vitamin C Serum

100% Pure is a Californian brand that I have slowly become more acquainted with, via a few too many orders from online store for everything organic Nourished Life. This particular serum was purchased on a bit of a spree to qualify for a gift with purchase (shhh!). The brand is cruelty free and all products contain no artificial colours, fragrances or synthetic chemical preservatives. Personally, I waver back and forth between choosing natural skincare versus everything else but this is definitely a brand to check out if you like to live an organic/cruelty free/vegan/natural lifestyle. My personal favourite product is their coffee bean caffeine eye cream which is absolute joy (review will follow one day, promise).

The 100% Pure Vitamin C Serum claims to boost collagen, brighten skin tone, and stimulate skin cell renewal. It can be used both morning (under SPF) and night at the serum stage.

I have used up the entire bottle of this serum at this stage, applying primarily in the morning, due to the tightening effect that it has on the skin after application (I prefer to use something heavier and more nourishing at night like a face oil). It is a clear thick, gel - pretty similar texture to its main ingredient, aloe vera gel - that spreads easily on the skin and absorbs really fast. It is great under makeup in this respect, as there is no chance of it breaking through. There is no real scent that I can detect, perhaps faintly of aloe vera. It comes packaged in an opaque amber glass (essential for preventing the degradation of vitamin C due to exposure to light) pump bottle



I cannot say that I noticed any real effect of this serum on my skin. It kept my skin sufficiently hydrated but there were no skin brightening or clearing effects that I noticed. My hormonal (and otherwise) acne kept popping up regularly and didn't fade away any faster than usual. I did not notice any anti-ageing effects to report back either. My suspicion is that either:

a) the vitamin C had broken down ruining its efficacy, due to vulnerability to air and light (the bottle does not have an expiry date so there is no real way to know, however I used the bottle with the 6 month use by indicated on the bottle after opening and there was no change to the colour of the serum to indicate oxidation had occurred), or
b) the concentration of vitamin C was not high enough to have any noticeable effect on my skin (the concentration of vitamin C in this serum is around 2% but you can purchase serums with anywhere up to 25% vitamin C).

As mentioned, the base of this serum is organic aloe vera, giving it a thick, gel texture. The vitamin C is in the form of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, one of the two forms of vitamin C that are stable in water solutions. Other ingredients include vegetable cellulose, vitamin E in the form of tocopherol, xanthum gum, green apple extract, grape extract, vitamin B5 in the form of panthanol, superoxide dismutase (a potent antioxidant), alpha lipoic acid (another antioxidant), broccoli seed oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, willow bark extract, witch hazel, and glycerin.

This would not be a repurchase for me as I did not notice any great skincare benefits despite using up the entire bottle. I would love to try a more potent vitamin C serum, as it has such excellent skincare benefits. This serum would be suited for those looking to try vitamin C for the first time, and definitely for those with sensitive skin due to all of the soothing ingredients included in the formula.

Price: $49.95 (Nourished Life) [$1.67/mL]
Rate: organic ingredients, packaging, great for sensitive skin, good under makeup
Hate: efficacy
Verdict: would not repurchase, but I am not giving up on vitamin C just yet!