I’m back with another review, today we will be looking at the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream that I bought from Sephora a few months ago.

If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram and my recent blog posts, you’ll know that I RATE IT…now let me tell you why!

Firstly, the brand was created back in 2009 with the goal of creating immediate and long lasting relief for all skin types, even sensitive skin. The product formulas are allergy tested, clinically proven and do not contain any irritants.

The product is described as

An all-over moisturizer that provides instant relief and long-term hydration for dry, distressed skin and eczema.

The ingredients

Colloidal Oatmeal 0.50%, Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Dimethicone, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil.

How to use it

Apply to face and/or body at least twice daily or as needed to restore and soothe dry, uncomfortable skin.

Why I rate it

No scent

I’m not a fan of overbearing scents when it comes to beauty products. In the past I’ve used moisturisers that were so heavily scented with rose, and just smells like someone has put on too much perfume.

I’m glad that this has no scent at all!

Makes skin super soft

I’ve used billions of moisturisers before and I always felt that they were doing a fine job…that was until I started using this one. One day, I just randomly brushed my face and I was amazed at how soft it felt!

As someone who has experienced cystic acne before, my skin is still repairing itself (I have texture, bumps, PIH and PIE – all totally normal). I’m quite used to having a bit of texture on my skin, but wow, when I brushed my face, it was sooo soft and smooth. I feel like I haven’t experienced my face like this in a long time.

Skin is hydrated

I have experienced “dehydrated skin” where my skin just doesn’t look or feel it’s best. It could be due to a number of reasons both personal and environmental. This also affected how my makeup looked and sat on my skin. While it wasn’t “ideal”, I didn’t mind it because that’s just how it was.

Once I started using this moisturiser, I noticed that my skin looked more hydrated. There were no dry-looking patches and my makeup sat a whole lot better on my skin. The foundation wasn’t desperately clinging onto something, it looked like “normal” skin with a natural finish.

As someone who wears makeup more often now (less WFH days and more in office days), it’s important for me to take care of my skin. Not only so it looks good with makeup on, but also just for general skin health reasons.

Not greasy

There’s nothing more annoying than using a moisturiser and finding out that it makes you look and feel greasy. Thankfully, with the Ultra Repair Cream, that is not the case.

I find that this moisturiser dries down nicely, doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight or uncomfortable either.

Clears the skin

The moisturiser claims to provide the skin with a glowing complexion and you know what – they delivered on that promise. My skin looks so much clearer overall, it just looks brighter and healthier. What more could you want a moisturiser to do?

Other things to know

While I love this moisturiser for many reasons, there are a few things to point out:

Do not apply onto “damp” skin

If you’re like me and you use serums in your routine, it would be best to wait until your serums have “dried” down a bit, before applying this moisturising. Due to the ingredients and nature of this cream, it doesn’t “mix” well when applied onto a damp face.

I use Hyaluronic Acid and I wait a few minutes for that to dry down a bit, before applying this cream. If you don’t wait and just mix the two products, it ends up becoming a milky mess. The serum hasn’t fully absorbed so the moisturiser just sits on top of the skin and gets moved around, without any absorption.

So do keep this in mind!

3 sizes

This moisturiser comes in 3 sizes, I opted to purchase the small one (56.7g / 2.0 oz) to try it out. For me, I find that moisturisers around 50ml usually lasts me one months use – that’s twice a day everyday.

They do have a medium size (170g) and a large size (226g). I imagine they will last 3.5 months and 4.5 months. As the size increases, so does the price. In the long term, I don’t think this is a very cost effective moisturiser as the 226g size costs $73! For me, I think that is a bit too much to fork out for a moisturiser, but if it works so well for you and you can justify the cost, then by all means go ahead!

Lastly, the large and small size creams are in tubes, but the medium size comes in a jar. I much prefer the tube as I can cut it open once it’s used and it’s more hygienic. However, the jar works well too because you can scoop up every single bit, though IMO it’s not as hygienic and you might have to double dip if the first scoop wasn’t enough.

So would I repurchase this?

Hmm.. I do love it and I do rate it so yes!

I will probably get the large size when I’m out of my current moisturiser and if it’s on sale. This is one of the best moisturisers I’ve used and I’m so glad I found it and got to try it out!

Have you tried First Aid Beauty before? What products have you enjoyed?

With love,

I’ve finally got the first Meet me Mondays up for 2022. It’s been a ride, but so happy to announce that this series is back!

Today we are with Phoebe of @phoeberosemua, she resides in New Zealand with her family and shares all her favourite beauty products and tips over on her IG. Keep reading to find out more about Phoebe!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My names Phoebe I’m 21 Years old, I’m a Mum of 1 (soon to be two) and I live in New Zealand. I am originally from England, and before having my daughter, I was working in a pharmacy managing a makeup counter. 

How did you get into content creating on Instagram? 

I started off making YouTube videos back in 2012, I made them on and off until I completely stopped in October 2017. I decided to start Instagram up in May 2021 as I’m now a stay at home mum and have a wee bit more time of my hands to get back into it, I find it more manageable than YouTube. 

Where do you see yourself in five years? 

I hope to be living back in England with my partner and have 3 children! Doing Instagram full time, maybe studying something who knows! 

If you were stuck on an island for 24 hours, what 3 things would you bring with you?

Ahh this is tricky! 

Okay I’m gonna say people don’t count as things so. 

1. My phone 
2. Water 
3. Vegetarian Lasagna 

Do you have any holy grail skincare products?

Yess! 

• Ultra Violette Supreme Screen (absolute fav spf ever) 
• Jeuneora Go Nightly Night Cream (this is a very new one) 
• Summer Fridays Jet Lag ( I love how versatile it is, since becoming a mum I often get to the end of the night and can’t be bothered with a full routine so I love applying this on those nights) 

What about holy grail makeup products? 

• Laura Mercier Translucent Powder 
• Mac Honey love lipstick 
• Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara

Besides spending time on Instagram, what are some other hobbies or things do you like to do?

I spend most of my time looking after my babies, I do like to read and watch movies with my partner, and swimming at the beach in the summer. 

What are 3 things on your bucket list? 

I’d love to go sky diving, visit Australia and America, and I can’t think of a third 

Where can we find you on social media? 

My Instagram is @phoeberosemua 

I hope you enjoyed learning more about Phoebe, don’t forget to check out her page as well!

Have a great week!

With love,

I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of March already! What a month it has been, it felt like it went by so quickly but so slow at the same time haha. 

Anyways today I wanted to share my March favourites with you all! A lot of new products in this mix actually! Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hyaluronic Acid Pure 100

This is essentially a pure hyaluronic acid. It has water, HA and a preservative, so it’s as pure as you can get. I bought this from Kiko and Beauty for $27 for 200ml which is pretty cost effective IMO. 

The packaging is a bottle with a stopper in it which is great for preventing spills. The product itself is a bit thick and viscous but dries down. The formula is pretty fast absorbing too. I use this after my toner and lighter serums. I pour a few drops onto my fingers and gently apply all over my face and neck. It dries within a few seconds and then I continue with my skincare routine. 

This has made my favourites this month for so many reasons but it’s really helped add hydration into my skin. Sometimes my makeup would look kind of dry and patchy but since incorporating this one into my skincare routine, I’ve noticed a big difference in my skin. Highly recommend this one if you’re in the market for a new HA. I’ve tried other HA products from different brands but so far this has been the best in my opinion. 

DU’IT Tough Hands*

I received this as a PR sample but I have tried it previously.

I really like the formula of this one as it helps keep my hands moisturised and tough.

It’s really effective for those who are constantly working with their hands. It doesn’t feel greasy either which I love and there’s virtually no smell! 

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum 

I love a good retinol as much as the next person. I’ve found a few that I’ve liked but this retinol serum is definitely up the top there. I love almost everything I’ve tried from Paula’s Choice and this was another winner! I previously received a sample of this one and really enjoyed it so I bought the full size. 

It comes in a pump packaging and I use about 2-3 pumps for my face and neck. It dispenses a little bit, maybe like half the size of a 5c coin piece? I smooth it over my skin and have been using it 2-3 times a week. 

What I find interesting about this is that while it’s a serum, it applies and dries kind of matte? Well maybe not matte, but it doesn’t have that greasy feeling, nor does it have a strong scent. It’s really helped improve my skin overall. My skin is a lot clearer and brighter since using this one.

At first I thought 30ml would be so little considering how much you pay for it, I think it’s well worth it because you only use a bit each week. 

Smashbox Studio Skin 24 Hour Hydra Foundation

If you’ve been following me on Instagram or if you’ve tuned into my previous blog posts, you’ll know that I’ve been on the hunt for a new foundation for a long time. After much trial and error, I decided to settle for this Smashbox one and well it was a hit (obviously).

At first I got a sample of this one and the matte/full coverage one, but settled on this one for its hydrating properties and skin-like finish.

Given the average cost of a foundation is around $60+ (IMO, not fact haha), I found this to be quite affordable at $57, HOWEVER, it was priced at $55 a few days before I bought it haha. Inflation sucks. Still, it’s pretty affordable compared to something like Bobbi Brown.

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I find that I use a lot of foundation? I mean, I use like 4 pumps to cover my face and neck – perhaps each pump is too little, or I am using too much? How many pumps of foundation do you normally use?

Anyways, some more about this foundation:

• Medium to full coverage – Personally, I would say this is medium coverage on my skin. It can be built a bit, but I would not consider that as full coverage (especially in comparison to their full coverage foundation).
• Doesn’t settle into fine lines and pores – This is tried and tested. Like I said above, the finish is skin-like and quite natural looking. If you’re someone who enjoys this kind of finish, I’d recommend getting a sample!
• Oil free, doesn’t cause shine nor break outs – Yep, no problems for my skin so far, however this could be a case by case basis.
• Comfortable, natural matte finish – Yep, it feels soo comfortable on the skin. That’s another factor as to why I chose this over the full coverage foundation. The full coverage foundation felt a bit cakey on my skin unfortunately. This just feels so lightweight and nice haha.
• Transfer proof – OK, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS! I wear a mask when I’m out and I also wear one when I go to the office. I wear a full face to the office, set it with the Fenty setting powder and finish with the Charlotte Tilbury spray (two great setting products btw) and there is NO TRANSFER on my mask at all. I am so impressed. I have my makeup on for 11 hours and it does not budge at all! When I previously used a Too Faced Foundation, I found it transferred onto my mask which isn’t ideal, but this Smashbox one, phew, so, so damn good!
• Doesn’t oxidise – Yep, I look the same after 11 hours of wear.

Now you understand why this has made my March favourites haha. I should’ve dedicated a whole blog post for this foundation alone hahaha.

Mecca Max Precision Lip Brush

I was never one to use lip brushes really, until one day I changed my mind haha. Boy was I wrong, lip brushes are life changing (ok maybe not totally life changing, but definitely an essential in my collection now).

I wanted a cheap lip brush to help with blending out some of my products. It’s also great for when you’ve finished a lipstick and want to scoop the rest out. I came across this one from Mecca Max, and at $7 a pop, it was a steal!

Headed to Mecca, bought it, and it is one of the best purchases I made that day. It’s pretty soft and I like the shape of the brush, it just works so well. I use it when I layer lip products or just want a dab of colour and use the brush to spend. Sure, you could use your fingers or a cotton tip, but I enjoy using the brush, it just fits the contours of my lips perfectly.

It’s been a month of buying and trying new products and these have given me some stellar results. I would love to know what you have been trying (or buying) this month, or if you have tried any of these products before?

A new Meet me Mondays blog post will be posted up next week (finally). I know it’s been a while, I did have someone lined up for March, but they just never got back to me and I didn’t have enough time to organise an alternative. Nevertheless, we finally have one for April, so stay tuned for that as well!

Have a great week and an even better end of March!

With love,

*This product was received as a PR sample. I am not obligated or compensated for posting about this product.

As we near the end of the month, it was time for another monthly wrap! This month went by so quickly, it was a busy one both at work and in my personal life. I’ve finished a lot of beauty products (head to my IG to see what I’ve finished). Anyways, without further ado, here’s my monthly wrap!

I’ve been listening to…

Kpop!

I fell down this rabbit hole of artists and songs and here we are. My most listened to artists of the month have definitely been Enhyphen and NCT 127 (though I have also been listening to NCT U and NCT Dream). Some of my favourite songs from this genre have been:

• Ganadara by Jay Park and IU – love when Jay sings about love, it definitely gave the vibe of some of his older songs
• ASAP by STAYC – such a fun and up beat song, what’s not to love?
• Peaches by KAI – this song just feels like I’m in a dream, I love the instrumental it’s so calming
• Polaroid Love by Enhyphen – I was hearing this song everywhere, but I had no idea what it was called. Then I found it and just played the song on repeat haha

I’ve been watching…

Pieces of Her

I love when I see Aussies on screen haha – plus Toni Collette is pretty iconic too. This is an American thriller, though some of it was filmed in Australia and Canada! The plot is about a daughter who learns that her mum is not really who she says she is, causing the daughter to go down a rabbit hole to discover all sorts of new things about her mother. I watched this the day it came out and binged it in a weekend. I quite liked it in general, it was a bit suspenseful (not a whole lot tbh) and had a decent story line. My only criticism is omg the protagonist is just so dumb haha. If you’ve seen the show, you’ll know what I mean. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but god, if the protagonist just listening to her mother, instead of acting on her own accord, it would resolve 99% of the issues she encountered. I’d give this show like a 3.5/5, it was enjoyable but did have some flaws. I don’t think there will be a season 2…to me it seems unlikely and a bit…boring to drag out the story line.

I’ve been eating…

A lot of protein

I’ve been trying to change up my diet a bit, and incorporate more protein into it. I’ve been finding it a bit difficult tbh! However, I have been snacking on nuts more, buying high protein snacks and yogurt and just making small changes to improve my intake of different nutrients that I am missing out on. That being said, I have been enjoying the Chobani protein yogurts, my favourite flavour is probably the mango one. Mango anything tastes good haha.

I’ve been drinking…

So much water

Not sure if anyone else is the same, but I find that I drink so much water when I’m at work, but when I’m at home, I’m not as thirsty? I drink at least 2L of water everyday, but I am so much thirstier when I’m in the office! I drink a litre of water by 10am, and by 12pm I am onto my 3L! At home, I drink from a cup and use that as an excuse to get up, stretch and walk around to minimise sitting for long periods of time. Previously when I was working from home, I’d use a water bottle and refill whenever it was finished, but I prefer drinking from a cup now. Though I have a bad habit of refilling my cup and leaving it in the kitchen haha. If you work from home or in the office, do you think you consume more or less water? Maybe this is just a me thing haha.

I’ve been grateful for…

My body

I have been trying to focus more on my health this year. I have definitely had my fair share of body image struggles, but who hasn’t? My mindset towards my body has really changed a lot since high school/my teen years, which is good. I used to judge myself quite harshly for how I looked and we are our own worst critic. I’m glad to have grown out of that mindset and I really appreciate my body for what it is/does and what it looks like. I mean a woman’s body is amazing, it can do so many things like birth a child and produce food for them too! We only get one body in life, so might as well appreciate it!

I’ve been looking forward to…

April!

I’ve had a few plans cancelled and rescheduled this month, so now they are all occurring in April. I am very much lookin forward to that! I’m also looking forward to the public holidays, which means there are 3 weeks of 4 day work weeks next month, very exciting! I don’t have much planned so far, but any break from work is nice!

And that was my March! A big month, a long month, but a good month. Here’s to April and whatever else it throws at me haha.

What have you been up to this month? Any stand out plans/TV shows/foods/etc? I would love to know!

With love,

Hope you’re well! If you’ve been following me on Instagram forever, you’ll know that there’s one spot treatment that I think trumps all others. I’ll give you a clue, they’re pimple patches (no, not the Cosrx ones), they come in a big packet with two sizes and they adhere so well to the face!

It’s none other than the VT Cica x Care Spot Patch! I ALWAYS pick up one of them whenever I’m shopping at Kiko and Beauty (not an ad, I just shop there way too much). Now let me tell you more about these and why they are the best.

So what exactly are they?

VT Spot Patch provides quick relief for wounds caused by scars or acne. This patch promotes wound recovery and absorbs any exudates released. Irritation and infection are minimised as this highly adhesive product is waterproof shielding against sweat, water and excessive touching. Being extremely thin allows it to be undetectable and conveniently used all day.

How many do I get in a packet?

You get 48, 18x 10mm size and 30x12mm size. Previously they offered 12 patches in one size. Talk about a major upgrade!

What’s so good about them?

Well, firstly they are so thin, like paper thin. If you’ve tried the Cosrx Pimple Patches in the past, you’d know that the material is a bit thick. The VT Pimple Patches are seriously paper thin and so discreet – you can barely see them on your skin!

Secondly, the sizes. I love that they come in two sizes in the one packet. I love the convenience of using a bigger patch on a bumpy pimple and a smaller patch for a tiny whitehead. That way, I’m not wasting a big patch on something so little and vice versa.

They adhere like no other. There’s nothing worse than going to sleep with a pimple patch and waking up without one (this has happened to me more times than I’d like to admit lol). Once these are on your face, they are stuck like gum in hair. No, but seriously, they adhere to the skin so well. Make sure the area is clean before application, to ensure that they work their magic. I usually dab a bit of rubbing alcohol on the spot to clean it before application.

So easy to peel off, without risking it flipping/sticking on itself. Ok, this has happened to me a lot as well. When you peel the patch off, it gets stuck on itself and I end up with a wasted patch. What’s so good about these is that there’s a dotted line down the middle which you can rip and apply the patch hygienically. Think like a band aid, how you remove one side and then the other side to apply the band aid without touching it directly with your fingers.

Did someone say waterproof? These little babies are waterproof which means they protect against sweat, water and reduce excessive touching.

They actually work! These have been so amazing at sucking all the gunk out of my skin, while also protecting my pimple from bursting and getting infected, when I am sleeping. Surely this is enough reason to persuade you that this is the only thing you’ll ever need for pimples.

How much does the VT Spot Patch cost?

They are only $6! This means they’re roughly 12.5c per patch – sounds pretty cost effective to me!

So what are you waiting for? You need to try these patches now! You can also get them from Lila Beauty, YesStyle, La Cosmetique and Cosme Hut, though prices vary across retailers.

Do you have another spot treatment that you love and recommend? Let me know below, I’m curious to see what works for others!

Have a great week!

With love,

Hope you’ve been well! I was thinking one day about what other blog posts I could write about – sometimes you get writer’s block and well, I lack inspiration. I thought of introducing a new segment and here it is! The title is a work in progress, though I might just keep it in the end haha.

So I introduce to you, My Monthly Wrap. I talk about the things I’ve been doing in the month, what I’ve been watching and listening to, what I’ve been eating and where I’ve been going. I suppose it’s more like a little get to know me better post meets monthly newsletter, but I also just want to share things that I like – simple as that!

Without further ado, here’s my February wrap!

This month has been a pretty chill one, one of my friends had a birthday, I spent most days at work and went out some weekends.

I’ve been listening to…

Dawn FM – The Weeknd

This album has been on repeat all month ever since it came out. I just love it so much! I think the format is really clever – essentially, if you listen to it in order, it’s like listening to a radio station. I love the sounds and beats as well, it has a really nice feel to it and there’s a lot of emotion and storytelling in the lyrics. It also has Jim Carrey doing the radio voiceover bits which actually match perfectly with the theme and tone of the album! I wouldn’t have guessed that it was him. Hard to find something that I don’t like about the album. If you were to listen to one song off the album, I’d recommend Here We Go…Again, though I like every song in the album haha.

I’ve been watching…

Suits

I’m very late to the bandwagon, but I finally got around to watching Suits! I always knew about the show, but I didn’t peak my interest, I thought it looked a bit stale. I started to watch it based off a recommendation from a friend and I was hooked. I really enjoyed the earlier seasons, the writing and acting was really good. However, as the series progressed, I found the plots to be a bit lacking and boring. The writing just wasn’t as good as say the first 3 seasons. I continued to watch it though, because I was committed to seeing it out until the end haha. Good series, decent lines and plot, but it’s not something I’d watch again – not exactly a comfort show in my books, but worth the watch for the earlier seasons.

I’ve been eating…

Chickpeas

I love chickpeas, they are amazing and so underrated. They can be roasted, fried, eaten as is, used as a meat substitute, used to elevate any meal, HUMMUS, the list goes on. I like mashing them and using them for like bean burgers with veggies and spices. I also like eating them in a salad, either an elaborate salad with the works, or as a simple snack (they are amazing with some salt, pepper, coriander and lemon juice if you have it). Seriously the best snack and meal and so healthy too! I like to buy them canned as they’re ready to eat, but you can get the big packets of dried chickpeas which are value for money but a little more work as they need to be prepared beforehand by soaking overnight.

I’ve been drinking…

Grape Soju

My workmate put me onto this flavour, I don’t think I’ve tried it before, but I am hooked. I like the Chum Churum brand as I think it tastes the best. This stuff is dangerous, it tastes like juice. Other brands I’ve tried tend to have more of an alcohol taste. You could drink bottles of this stuff just straight. Though I also like to mix it with lemonade or sparkling water. It just hits the spot on a hot summer day or a chill night in. Highly recommend if you’re into fruity alcohol.

I’ve been grateful for…

My friends and family

It’s been a long two years of the pandemic and I am just grateful to have my friends and family. Like most people, I wish the situation was more “normal”, as I’d love to go overseas again to see my extended family, but I’m still unsure of when that day might be. I just have to have hope and keep wishing and waiting.

I’ve learnt…

To not stress

After a visit to the doctors last month, she told me I have very high levels of stress. Since this visit to the doctor, I have been trying to manage my stress and just taking things easy. I try not to overthink or get angry or think about things that are out of my control. It’s crazy to think about how much stress can affect your life. You can break out, break out in hives or rashes, lose hair, and so much more. Message of the day – don’t stress, it’s not good for you!

And that just about sums up my month! I hope you enjoyed this kind of blog post, I know I enjoy learning more about others and what they’ve been getting up to, so hopefully you enjoyed my rendition!

What’s been some of the stand out food/drinks/TV shows/etc for you this month?

With love,

I’m back with another blog post, today I wanted to talk about the Strivectin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles Plus. I bought this last year at Costco where it came in a duo with a 30ml and a 7ml. I was in need of a new eye cream and this looked pretty good!

It claims to help with:

• Crow’s feet
• Vertical lines
• Under eye puffiness
• Luminosity
• Firmness
• Dark circles
• Neutralise effects of blue light

Now I don’t have a huge amount of wrinkles, but I do have some minor ones around my eyes – I can’t help but rub my eyes sometimes haha. So overtime, this had lead to some fine lines near my under eyes. I also get puffiness from time to time, but this is not something that occurs often. This eye cream claims to be different to others on the market as they target multiple concerns.

What is it and what does it do?

Our cult-favorite, #1 wrinkle-smoothing eye cream, now upgraded and clinically proven to reduce the look of all types of lines around the eyes, starting in just five days*. Expertly formulated to deliver results all around the eyes – even on stubborn eleven lines between brows – reducing the look of crow’s feet, under-eye lines, puffiness and dark circles. It’s fast-absorbing, lightweight, and layerable plus fragrance-free, ophthalmologist tested, and non-milia inducing. Ideal for hydrating and visibly transforming delicate skin around the eyes.

Typical eye creams usually only help the look of skin under the eyes. Our breakthrough innovation not only targets this area of concern – it works on multiple trouble areas where lines may appear. Time spent squinting at your computer is cause for signs of aging like crow’s feet while frequent stress and frowning can result in vertical lines – the most stubborn of wrinkles. Formulated with collagen-targeting and skin barrier-strengthening science plus blue light-inhibiting technology, this wrinkle specialist does it all.

Key ingredients

The key ingredients are Horse Chestnut Flower Extract which targets collagen to reduce the appearance of wrinkles within the area. Arctic Marine Ferment to hydrate and smooth the wrinkles, and protect the skin from blue light damage. Micro-Algae Extract, an antioxidant to reduce the appearance of puffiness in the eye area.

Full ingredient list

Aqua/Water/Eau, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Nicotinate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propanediol, Myristyl Myristate, Isocetyl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Bisabolol, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Lecithin, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fructose, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylamide/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Resveratrol, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Poloxamer 338, Aminomethyl Propanol, Silica, Mica, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide) [ILN 20225]

How to use it?

Use in the morning and evening by applying onto clean skin.

Gently apply to the under eye area, orbital bone, crow’s feet and frown lines between the eyebrows.

So what do I think about it?

It’s not bad!

It might be the first eye cream that I’ve used that has given me visible results. I believe with long term use, I can expect to see more results. I do think this is targeted for those with mature skin, who have more visible signs of ageing. When I bought this, I got it on sale for $55 which is such a steal because it even comes with the 7ml, so essentially I paid $55 for 37ml. If you can find this at Costco, I’d recommend purchasing it in the duo because it works out to be cheaper. You can also find it on Amazon for $76 for the 30ml.

Strivectin only entered the Australian market in 2021 via Priceline so I would consider them to be some fairly new players in the game. That being said, have you tried any other Strivectin products before, anything you’d recommend? I am a bit curious about the brand but I feel like they’re more so targeted for mature skin, not to mention they are quite $$.

Have a great week and thanks for reading!

With love,

I’m back with another favourites blog post. Over the past 2-3 months I’ve had the chance to try a lot of new products which has been fun, but these five have been quite the stand out for me.

Laura Mercier Blush in Peach

I wanted to purchase a new blush and I was tossing up between Nars Orgasm and something I’ve never tried before. This came as a recommendation from the SA and I loved the colour so I got it. I would say it’s a bit similar to Orgasm, in the sense that it’s peachy pink based with golden shimmer. I love the natural flush of colour this gives me and sometimes I even double up on this as a highlighter. It also works well as an eyeshadow, to match the colours of your cheeks. Definitely recommend checking this out if you are looking for a new blush!

Bondi Sands Fragrance Free Sunscreen Lotion

I love this sunscreen, period. I first bought it when it was half price, but since then, I’ve got 2 more bottles of this stuff. It doesn’t pill, doesn’t leave a white cast, on sale every now and then, doesn’t affect other skincare, doesn’t feel greasy and what more can I say – it’s so good. I think this is one of my favourite affordable sunscreens, I also enjoy the Mecca Cosmetica one but it can be quite expensive in the long run. I also like the pink one from the Cancer Council, but I wish they came in a bigger size. There is literally no fault for this sunscreen, I just love it!

Paula’s Choice Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum

I got this sample when there was a promotion where if you purchased over X amount, you got a little bag of samples. I haven’t tried much retinol products from Paula’s Choice, so it was exciting to try this out. It is sooo good, like wow, I did not expect that. Firstly, it’s a serum, I feel it’s a little oily? but applies onto the skin just fine. A little goes a long way with this as well and the 5ml sample has lasted me maybe like 2 months with weekly use. Every time I use this, my skin just glows the following day. I find that it has also helped with my acne marks and pigmentation – what more could a girl ask for really? Will definitely be picking the full size up once I finish my other retinol products.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer

I remember trying a sample of this based on the recommendation of a SA. I bought this in a Christmas set which came with a mini setting powder. I love this primer, it is amazing! It’s silicone free, doesn’t feel greasy, nor does it pill my makeup. It layers on fine after I put on sunscreen (I wait a bit in between) and it just feels like a moisturiser on the skin. I have found that my makeup sits a lot better with this underneath as well. I do think my skin is a little dehydrated still, but this has definitely helped.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

I remember seeing this being hyped up and I knew I had to try it. Thankfully, it’s available at Mecca now and I wrote about it in my wish list. My beautiful friend got this for me for my birthday last year and I am so thankful. It has been sold out for months and I was so happy that I finally had it. This stuff is like magic, it makes my makeup last longer and it doesn’t transfer (a little bit sometimes, but I might have missed some spots). I am really impressed with this and once it’s back in stock again, you bet I’ll be purchasing another. This has seriously been a miracle worker when it comes to wearing masks. I will point out, it doesn’t make makeup waterproof, it doesn’t claim to so just beware. It does claim to be fade proof, crease proof and doesn’t melt makeup.

So those are my January favourites, what products have you enjoyed this month?

With love,

I’m back with another haul blog post, with purchases from a few months back. It’s another Kiko and Beauty haul – if you’d like to see my previous one, just click here. I’ll skip the intros since we’ve been over this many times before, and get straight into the haul!

Everything here is a new to me product and replaced something I was either running out of, or I already finished.

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner 500ml

I love trying new skincare whether it’s a different brand or a different product. I wasn’t too familiar with this brand, but this toner really stood out to me. It’s available in a 200ml and a 500ml bottle – I opted for the latter because it was truly value for money and it will last me ages (88c per 10ml/$8.80 per 100ml).

The toner is focused on exfoliating and moisturising the skin. It provides gentle exfoliation through a patented ingredient called Hatching Ex-07, while also hydrating the skin. It has pretty minimal ingredients and is also suitable for sensitive skin.

I have not opened this just yet, as my brother just passed a toner onto me that he didn’t use yet so I have been using that up in the mean time. It is the A’pieu Madecassoside Fluid.

Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil

I love Pyunkang Yul as a brand, I think their products are fantastic. I saw this cleansing oil on the website and I knew I had to try it. It was a bit more expensive than what I normally pay for cleansing oils, but it is a larger size. It’s $25.50 for 290ml (87c per 10ml) so I think it’s pretty worth it.

The formula is plant-based and claims to keep skin hydrated and minimise skin tightness. It has ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, centella extract and jojoba oil. It’s also suitable for all skin types!

I have been using this one for a few weeks now and I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. I find that it’s a lot heavier than other cleansing oils that I’ve tried. It does remove my makeup and sunscreen, and doesn’t leave a weird taste on my mouth, but it leaves my skin feeling some type of way. I suppose it’s not a problem because I double cleanse anyways and my cleanser washes away this feeling on my skin – but just wanted to point it out. It makes my skin feel like an oiled surface after using it, I’m not sure how else to describe it. That post-cleanse feeling and the feel/weight of the oil are two things that threw me a bit off. I don’t think I would repurchase in the future, but I know they have a cleansing balm so maybe that’s something I’d try in the future!

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Hyaluronic Acid Pure 100

This is part of the Milky Piggy range from Elizavecca. I remember they were pretty big a few years back but I don’t see much of their brand mentioned or featured online these days. I got this as a hyaluronic acid product in my routine. It’s essentially “pure” hyaluronic acid, it has water, HA and a preservative.

This serum is made without mineral oils, artificial fragrances, essential oils and alcohol. It has a slightly viscous texture and claims to not leave a sticky residue feeling. It is also recommended for dry skin types.

I haven’t opened this one yet, as I’m using up a hydrating emulsion my brother passed onto me. I will be opening this one up as soon as the emulsion is finished!

Axis-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum

Every person and their dog knows of this serum. I bought this because it has niacinamide in it, which we all know has great benefits for the skin such as minimising the appearance of dark spots and brightening your overall complexion. I’ve also seen a lot of positive reviews about this from my fellow IG friends so naturally, I had to try it out for myself.

This serum targets uneven skin tone and pigmentation, while also soothing and hydrating the skin. With ingredients like niacinamide, papaya, rice bran and squalane, this serum keeps your skin glowing and moisturised. It is a lightweight texture and quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving a sticky feeling behind. It’s actually also vegan and doesn’t include mineral oils, artificial fragrances and parabens.

I am yet to open this as well, I’ve been trying to finish up a Paula’s Choice Spot Treatment that I’m currently using. It’s Benzoyl Peroxide based, so it’s not entirely the same as this serum, but it’s been decent.

Lastly, I received a bunch of samples – the best part of any haul really.

That marks the end of my Kiko and Beauty haul, have you tried any of these products before?

With love,