Account Page

As someone who suffers from dry itchy skin, especially during winter and spring, I was looking forward to trying the Dermaveen Calmexa bath soak. The soak is packaged in a resealable packet. I did find it really hard to tear open and had to get the scissors. My packet also doesn't reseal as there is product stuck in the sealing tracks. This will need to be stored away from moisture. I do like it comes with it's own handy little scoop, although it could have been a little bigger as you require 4-5 scoops per bath. The bath soak doesn't really have a scent, just a slight hint of oat. I enjoyed a nice bath with my 6 month old baby. I LOVE that this is suitable for infants as my baby has been prone to irritated skin and hives, which is brought on by warm water where he will get an all over body rash. After bathing in the soak there was a definite reduction in how red his rash was. For myself I noticed straight away my skin wasn't nearly as dry as it usually is after bathing. After showring or bathing I have to moisturise immediately or else my skin is tight and dry and uncomfortable. I found I didn't have to moisturise (if I didn't want to) after my bath, my skin felt hydrated enough to skip the moisturiser, which can I tell you is such a treat as the whole moisturising after bathing can be such a chore! This is something I will definitely use regularly.

I was kindly invited to trial the Nude by Nature Daily Moisturising Lotion. I haven't used Nude by Nature in quite a while so I was excited to see what was new! First impressions I am liking the packaging, fresh white with gold foiled accent wording and textured card. The product itself is in a generous 50ml matte white pump pack. I usually love a pump pack as I really dislike jars of moisturiser and having to scoop product out with my finger, but unfortunately for me the airless pump is a bit of a dud. It took me over 50 initial pumps to get any product out of the bottle and then it is hit and miss if it will dispense, however with a bit of a vigorous shake and it usually gets it working again. Hopefully mine was just faulty, but frustrating nonetheless. The lotion itself is white cream with a gel like consistency that glides across the skin and is quickly absorbed without leaving a greasy residue. You can definitely smell the slight nuttiness of the sweet almond oil, which I found quite pleasant. It is described on the packaging as a lightweight hydrating lotion, this lotion is very lightweight and is as hydrating as you'd expect a lightweight lotion to be. As I have trialled this in winter I didn't find this hydrating enough for my dry skin type, however I did really like using this before makeup application as a primer. I think I will like this lotion in the summer months when my skin doesn't need such a rich moisturiser. Pros - I love the inclusion of Australian plants and botanicals, I think the packaging looks sleek, applies beautifully and absorbs quickly. Cons - airless pump is unreliable, not hydrating enough for me (but is is marketed as a lightweight moisturiser so does what is says on the box) no SPF

I was lucky enough to be able to trial this Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Serum. Firstly it looks typically Lancome. It feels good quality, nice and heavy due to its glass bottle. The lid is a clever self loading dropper, which I really liked. The serum itself is milky in colour. The consistently it just thick enough that it doesn't drip. It doesn't have a very distinct scent, very light and non offensive. One dropper of serum is enough for my whole face. It glides over your skin before absorbing in quickly. Skin is left feeling very smooth with zero stickiness. I've been using this serum for approx 2 week and to be honest the first week and a bit I was a little underwhelmed. My skin was actually quite flaky by then end of the day (although my skin is always very dry in spring). I really wasn't feeling the results, especially as it claims that after 7 days I should be looking younger and youthfully radiant (mirror still telling me I look 40, boo) however, fast forward a few more days and I have definitely seen a difference in my skin. It's looking smoother and brighter, and I'm not noticing as much dryness at the end of the day. I found the box description to be quite vague as to what to expect from the serum and what the active ingredients were, seems to be full of pre and probiotics fractions and I'm not sure what else. I had to google what this meant and what benefits these had for my skin. My understanding is they promote healthy bacteria on the skin to create a stronger microbiome. Overall I think it's a nice serum that would be suitable for most people. I would usually choose a serum specifically aimed at hydration, so this is quite a different product to my usual skincare. I'm looking forward to finishing the bottle to decide if it's something that I would continue to use in the future. I'm hoping Ove the next couple of weeks my skin looks even better.

This could not have come at a better time to review, Melbourne winter has well and truly set in. I have very dry skin that gets very irritated during the changing seasons, but especially in the winter months. I get dry, flaky, itchy and red skin, that is also prone to cracking. I currently have 4 different body moisturisers on my dresser, all promising to deeply hydrate my skin. But every winter it's the same broken promise. Until Avene XeraCalm arrived in my mailbox a little over a week ago. And I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't expecting much, but holy moly I was wrong! First impressions, this unassuming off white bottle was HEAVY, there is some thicc cream in this baby! I like the packaging, simple but well designed for the product. Soft, squeezy bottle with a pump top. The nozzle is quite fine so you can really control how much product you pump out. And it feels good quality, however it doesn't lock but it does come with a lid for traveling. The cream doesn't have a scent at all, literally smells of nothing. Which is great for sensitive skin. The cream is thick and silky and absorbs beautifully into the skin, but keeps your skin hydrated allllll day . It's quite emollient, as to be expected from a balm. I have noticed you can feel this washing off in the shower at the end of the day, so it definitely protects for hours and hours. Using XeraCalm every day I have noticed my skin hasn't been flaky or itchy, and I don't have my usual scaly winter shins. It also calmed a eczema / dermatitis patch I have on my neck. I am super SUPER impressed with this balm. It's also great as a facial moisturiser or even as a primer. I will definitely be buying this when it runs out.

I was very keen to trial this Anti Aging moisturiser from Nivea as I'm always on the hunt for an amazing bargain buy, especially as I'm sailing so close to 40. But unfortunately this just didn't do it for me. The packaging comes as you'd expect from Nivea - in a jar. This time it's white with blue and yellow. Inoffensive but not exciting. I'd prefer a pump or tube as I find them more hygienic and there's less exposure to the air. The cream is thick and emollient. Very similar to their cream in the blue jar. It has the same distinct Nivea fragrance that is powdery and slightly floral. You will either enjoy it or really not. I'm in the really not camp. I find it too synthetic and overpowering. I had to wash my hands after applying it. What I did like about the product is how thick it is. And I know many won't like that but as someone with very dry skin it's how I like my moisturisers. I like the emollient texture. I like the glow it gave my face. However, that joy was short lived as I found although it was thick I didn't feel it kept my skin hydrated for long. I had to reapply to feel hydrated. I also liked that it has built in SPF 30 as I'm naughty and often forget to use sunscreen. So I reply on my beauty products to take care of that for me. This cream performed great in the sun. I'm very outdoorsy and my face didn't burn once. Does it minimises wrinkles and fine lines? Yes, no, maybe? Immediately after application skin looks hydrated and plump. After a few hours definitely back to normal. Perhaps after a few months you may get some results.

Unfortunately this moisturiser just didn't do it for me. I have very dry skin that can get sensitive. Whilst I found the DermaVeen Hydrating Facial Moisturiser non irritating it just wasn't hydrating enough. I felt like I had to reapply two or three times to feel satisfied. The packaging is a little boring but functional. I do like the flip top lid and tube as it's easy to chuck in your handbag. Like the other products in the DermaVeen range I didn't find that the facial moisturiser really smelled like anything. It's very subtle. The moisturiser itself is a gel like cream. I found it spread easily over my face and absorbed very easily, I didn't find it emollient enough though. I would possibly use this as a hydrating primer over my usual moisturiser in the dryer winter months. I feel like this moisturiser would be best suited to someone with a normal / sensitive skin type rather than someone with a dry skin type.

As someone who is nearing 40 and definitely has signs of aging I make sure a serum is part of my skin care routine. I usually opt for a serum oil as I have very dry skin, so I was quite curious to try this DermaVeen serum gel. I liked the pump dispenser as it was easy to control the amount you're pumping out. The consistency is a liquid gel that spreads surprisingly far with a little amount. I found scent was subtle and inoffensive, it doesn't really smell like anything. The serum absorbed easily and quickly but I did find it felt a little sticky until it completely sunk in. It also felt quite firming as it absorbed. While I'm not sure I'd re-purchasd this myself I (as I do prefer an oily serum) think it's a great option for someone on a budget that wants a nice simple hydrating serum that is good for sensitive skin. After using this serum for a few weeks I have noticed my skin is definitely feeling and looking more hydrated and clear.

If you're on the market for a no frills budget cleanser then the DermaVeen Foaming Cleanser is for you. I have very dry skin that can be sensitive. This cleanser is the consistency of a thin gel, clear and odourless, and a little goes a long way. I found I only needed a squeeze the size of a 10c piece. I wet my face first and then worked the cleanser around. It foams up nicely but does not leave your face feeling tight and stripped. On days I wore makeup I'd pre cleanse with a cleansing oil before using the foaming cleanser as I found it didn't completely remove my makeup. But on makeup free days it's all I needed. This cleanser is extremely gentle and didn't cause me any irritation or make my face feel dry. The packaging is pretty basic but functional. It's tube with flip top lid is perfect for leaving in the shower. I would definitely buy this again as I think it's a great value cleanser that does the job.

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how pretty the Jurlique Herbal Recovery packaging is?? Raspberry red to barely there pink ombré, with rose gold lettering and accents. The bottle is a solid little glass square that feels (and looks) high end. And to top it off, the product is just as good as the packaging! The pump action dispenser allows you to control how much product is released. A little goes a long away. I find 1 full pump is enough. The serum has a very soft and delicate herbal scent with quite a watery consistency, that is readily absorbed into the skin. Straight away my face felt smoother and softer. I’ve the past few weeks I’ve been trialing this serum I have noticed an improvement to my skin. It’s definitely less textured, and staying hydrated long into the day. I will definitely be checking out the rest of the Jurlique range

I trialled the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in number 10 Dreamer. It’s a soft cool toned pink, very pretty shade but possible a little light for me. It has a yummy vanilla scent. I was expecting this to be a more liquid consistency but it’s very opaque and thick like a liquid lipstick. I applied one layer and thought it would be patchy, but it was fine after applying a second layer. I expected this to dry down but it remains slightly tacky - which isn’t a bad thing, it’s matte but definitely doesn’t feel dry. I applied this at 8am and went to work. At work I drank my morning coffee, ate my lunch, drank water, even ate an apple, totally forgetting I was wearing lipstick. About 4 pm I looked in the mirror and was actually shocked the lipstick was still there looking like it did when I first applied it! I checked again after dinner and it had started to fade - but WOW! Comfortable to wear, doesn’t transfer and really lasts! I went to buy this in red for an event but couldn’t find any anywhere! Absolutely love these.