Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser

I am a firm believer that a cleanser is one of the most important steps in my skincare routine. I know a lot of people think that it is less important because it is washed off so quickly, and while I think the logic behind that is sound, my personal experience says otherwise. Perhaps it is just me, but I find that my skin behaves in certain ways with certain cleansers, and though I’ve found success with some serums and creams, ultimately a cleanser is the main factor in whether or not my skin is clear or spotty.

 

My skin is acne prone and fluctuates between a stack of dry patches and oily forehead, to dehydrated and flaky all over. I prefer not to use foaming cleansers as I find they strip moisture from my skin, and so favour cream, balm or gel based cleansers in general. When this Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser* hit my desk, I was intrigued at the thought of a deep pore clean in a light cream texture, as previously I’d only ever used a muslin cloth with a thicker style balm (eg. Antipodes Grapeseed Butter) Here is what Soap & Glory have to say about it:

 

A natural all-in-one cleanse, polish & skin-smoothing cream.
It cleans, it smoothes, it melts away makeup. A 3-in-1, concentrated, deep-purifying formula with a natural blend of revitalising aromatic essential oils for an all round FAB PORE complexion.
Suitable for all skin types (Especially those seeking natural alternatives for their skincare regime)
100ml for $27.95

 

The first step in my nightly routine is to remove my eye makeup with my Maybelline City Rescue Total Clean remover, and precleanse with Dermalogica Precleanse. Once I’m in the shower I apply a splodge of Fab Pore all over my face, work it into my skin and leave it on for a little, as suggested by Soap & Glory. I then either use the thin and gentle muslin cloth provided, or simply warm water to remove the light cream from my face. It doesn’t dry out my skin at all, but leaves it soft and completely free of residue, and the essential oil based scent is light and not bothersome.

 

Though in the past I have used targeted acne cleansers (some of which were too harsh and did not improve my skin!) I found the most success with this tube of glory. Hormonal break outs aside, this kept my skin spot free and feeling better than ever before, which was something that both surprised and delighted me! Being a beauty blogger, I will of course trial other cleansers in order to keep the reviews coming (I am already onto a new product as I type!) but I feel confident when I say that this is a cleanser I will repurchase in the future, and continue to use happily.

 

Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser retails for $27.95 and is available from Kit Cosmetics.

*Provided for consideration, but as always my thoughts are my own. Honesty, always.

Scrubbing with Chocolate // Palmer's Cocoa Body Scrub

Being a total body scrub snob, I initially dismissed the Palmer’s Cocoa body scrub when I bought a cheap pack which contained it alongside a body butter. The idea of a lotion-like scrub filled with sparse particles put me off, but being a fan of the brand I threw it into the shower anyway. I should know by now not to judge a book by its cover (or a product but the formula!) as this silky scrub has changed my opinion of what a body scrub can be. The chocolately scent is pure heaven (and has been helping me steer clear of Smarties…) while the texture of the scrub is really working for me. It is moisturising without leaving a noticeable film behind (pet hate right there!) because of the shea butter, cocoa butter and Palmer’s staple vitamin E, so it is almost like applying a body butter, in the shower! The scrublets in this are actually crushed up cocoa beans, which I think is pretty rad, and they do a top job of smoothing out my skin. All in all, this impressed me greatly considering I didn’t have high hopes for it at all. In fact, since it is only $10.99, I am going to repurchase when the chocolately goodness runs out, lest my skin get mad at me.

 

Are you a fan of foodie scents in the shower? Does the thought of scrubbing yourself with chocolate turn you on, or off?

 

 

*Bought this all by myself. Honesty, always.

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist // The Ultimate Refreshment

 

As well as loving the aesthetic of the Jurlique brand, I am yet to be disappointed with the products I have tried from them. My stand out product is definitely the Rosewater Balancing Mist, which comes in a beautiful frosted glass bottle. Not so great for travelling with, but a beautiful looking product to keep out on my desk without a doubt. When I first begun dating the Mister I was using this, and when he was searching for some Christmas gifts for me last month he remembered the scent, and picked it up for me once again! The mist is really fine and smells delightfully rose, but not in a very overpowering way, in my opinion. I use facial mists to set my makeup, refresh my makeup midway through the day, and to calm and soothe my face late at night. This doesn’t irritate or upset my skin at all, and is something I highly recommend as a luxurious treat.

 

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist retails for $35 for 50ml or $48.99 for 100ml and is available at Myer, David Jones and Adore Beauty. They have a large range of other toning sprays if rose isn’t your thing, so you should still be able to find a winner. For your reference:

-Purely Age Defying

-Lavender (Hydrating)

-Citrus (Purifying)

-Chamomile (Soothing)

-Purely White (Skin Brightening)

-Herbal Recovery (Night Mist)

 

Are you a fan of facial mists? Which of the sprays from the Jurlique range would suit your skin?

*This was a gift from Mister, and the first bottle I bought was purchased by me. Honesty, always.

An Absolute Angel

Sometimes a fragrance comes along that smacks you in the face, and you fall in love.

 Not being obsessed with perfumes until recently, I hadn't the chance to sniff the originial Thierry Mugler classic on which this EDT is based. Launching in 1992, when I was barely walking and my mother still fed me with a melamine spoon, Mugler released a gourmand fragrance that was unlike what was available at the time, and named it Angel. The scent has been reincarnated into limited editions over the years,  but none have been so popular as the original, the Angel that literally smacks you in the face.

The most recent reincarnation of this world renowned scent that you either love or hate, is the lighter, more wearable version- Angel EDT. Mugler says that the basis of this scent is comprised of three waves- the first being the celestial wave, where bergamot meets red berries and has a twinge of pink pepper. The delicious wave in the center comes from dabs of praline and berries, which only add to the gourmand touch the new Angel takes from the original. The third and final wave is the voluptuous wave, introducing the infamous patchouli-vanilla aspect to the scent, and mixing with cedar which is a new addition to Mugler's mix. White musk tops off the third wave, and completes what Mugler believes to be the softer, more subtle fragrance stemming from his beloved.

But what do the waves mean for me? Without understanding perfume or how notes are comprised, I know that this scent is amazing. It is warm and creamy, with this risky edge to it that drives me wild. I'm attached nose to wrist whenever I wear it, and it sits on my skin much better than most other fragrances in my collection. It's dangerous in this really wearable way for me, and I've enjoyed it during the day and out at night without a second thought. It's like nothing I've personally smelt before, and having now smelt the original Angel, I can understand why they describe it as the more subtle version. You can see that they are related, but this is like the sophisticated sister to the the original Angel's fierce hot mama persona.


Angel EDT is available from selected Myer and David Jones department stores nationally, with selected products online at adore beauty.
40ml RRP $79 AUD
80ml RRP $115 AUD
40ml refill RRP $40 AUD

What fragrance knocks you for a six? Have you smelt the new comet-shaped Angel EDT? I urge you to go and have a sniff!

This product sample was sent by PR for consideration for review which in no way affects how awesome it smells. Honesty, always.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

I'm normally one to fall in love with sweet or sugary scented lotions, so when this Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion fell into my lap I didn't think it would steal my heart. It is fragrance-free and says it will moisturise for 24 hours. Here is what Aveeno says about it:

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion is a naturally nourishing, non-greasy lotion with natural colloidal oatmeal and rich emollients to actively soothe and protect dry skin. Proven to moisturise the skin for 24 hours, increasing the skin's moisture level by three times within four hours. Fragrance free.

Here is what I have to say about it: it rocks!

Since trying this out, I have come to appreciate it's lack of scent. It works beautifully with any perfume and does not compete, and most importantly sinks in so quickly it's unbelieveable. The one thing that can turn me off a lotion is the waiting period, when you're standing around impatiently waiting for it to sink in so that you can get dressed,so this moisturiser is perfect for me. It's sort of silky when you rub it in, but still doesn't cling to clothes at all so you can pop it on and dress straight away.

This is now my HG body lotion, and I will definitely be repurchasing when this bottle runs out. I'll also be grabbing the handbag size for my upcoming trip to Thailand.

PROS:

pump bottle means easy/lazy access (354ml size)

sinks in immediately

super affordable so you can use it all over your body

dermatologist tested

gets rid of my scaly winter legs, ready for bikini days!

non-comedogenic, so won't clog pores

CONS:

can't think of a thing

DETAILS:

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion is available at Priceline, Supermarkets and Pharmacies Australia wide, and is also popular in the US. It comes in 3 convenient sizes:

71ml for $3.95 AUD (perfect for travel!)

225ml tube for $9.95 AUD

354ml for $12.95 AUD (pump bottle)

This product was provided for consideration for review which in no way affects my opinion- honesty, always.