Review: St. Ives Timeless Skin Apricot Scrub

Happy Tuesday!! Glad Monday is over with! I've been using St. Ives Timeless Skin Apricot Scrub for about 8 months now and found it to be quite a good exfoliator to have around the bathroom. 

According to St. Ives "This Apricot Scrub with gentle alpha hydroxy, visibly tones and firms, revealing younger-looking skin."

Application: Use once or twice a week. Moisten face with water, squirt some onto your finger tips and massage onto face using circular motions. Wash off once you're done.

Additional info:

• Made in Australia
• RRP $9.95 AUD (150ml)
• Availability: Big W, Priceline, pharmacies, large retailers
• Not tested on animals

What I like:

• Exfoliating beads aren't too scratchy
• I love exfoliators where you can feel the beads, for some reason if I cant feel it, I think its not working lol
• Lovely apricot scent
• Leaves skin feeling smooth
• Formulated without parabens and phthalates
• Affordable

What I dislike:

• May not be suitable for really sensitive skin

Overall: Although the packaging says you can use this 3-4 times a week, I wouldn't. Initially, when I first bought this I used it every second day and found that it makes me skin feel really tight and it was starting to get a little flaky. I reduced it to once or twice a week and it was much better, no more flaky or tight skin. This is a pretty good exfoliator for it's price and I would buy again.

Have you tried St. Ives Apricot Scrub? What did you think?

Thanks for reading!!!

♥ kerker 
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Review: Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder

Happy Saturday!!! Today I will be reviewing Face of Australia Translucent Loose Powder*. I've always set my foundation or BB cream in powder. I like how after you apply powder your face feels smoother and less sticky which also helps your make up lasts longer too! 

According to FOA "This finely ground, translucent face powder enables you to achieve a professional finish to your make-up application. The refined textured powder controls shine and helps prevent oil breakthrough whilst adding a hint of colour for a smooth, natural looking complexion."

Sorry no swatches, kinda hard to swatch something that is suppose to be translucent lol

Application: Gently dab your brush in a few times in the powder but not too hard. Apply powder to you face by using light sweeps, concentrate on areas that get oily the quickest such as your nose, forehead, chin and cheeks.

Additional info:

• Made in Australia
• RRP $11.95 AUD
• Availability: Big W, Priceline, pharmacies
• Not tested on animals

What I like:

• Powder is very fine and lightweight
• Looks very natural
• Lasts all day
• Takes away the oily shine
• Matte finish
• Even though it looks beige in the container, it applies translucent on the skin which is great for any skin tone
• Value for money

What I dislike:

• As with any powder, if you're not careful when twisting the lid open, it might get a little messy.

Overall: The good thing with this powder is because it's beige you will rarely get the pale ghostly look when you apply too much on. I used it to set my BB cream because I don't like that dewy shiny look and it lasted all day. A very good product for its price.

What powder do you use to set your makeup?

Thanks for reading!!!

♥ kerker 
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Review: Apivita express gold with prickly pear face mask

Apivita products are inspired by 3 components: the Honey Bee, Greek Nature and Hippocrates’ Holistic Approach. I had the pleasure of trying Apivita express gold with prickly pear face mask* a few weeks a go and loved it. 

According to Apivita "Prickly pear, known as “the new aloe vera”, works to moisturize and revitalize skin while enhancing firmness. Wheat germ oil and shea butter leave the skin feeling exceptionally soft and supple. Lavender essential oil soothes irritations and its aromatic properties relax the senses. Exclusive innovation: APIVITA replaces water in the express gold line with green tea infusion to enhance the antioxidant action."

Application: Apply a thick layer on a clean face avoiding the eye area. Leave for 10 mins then rinse off with water.

Additional info:

• Made in Greece
• RRP $12.90 (2x8ml)
• Availability:  http://www.apivita.com/au/

What it feels like: It feels creamy (similar to mayonnaise) lol The mask isn't the type that dries on your face, even after 10mins it's still pretty moist.

What I like:

• 92% natural ingredients
• Light and fruity, the scent was just right and not too overpowering
• Leaves skin feeling soft and moisterised
• Packaged in single use packets, if you are conservative you can use 2x per packet. I found a packet is too much for single use.
• Free of: Parabens, Silicones and Propylene Glycol.

What I dislike: Nothing

Overall: I like this mask and would definitely use it again. I love waking up to a smooth face.

Have you tried the Apivita face mask?

Thanks for reading!!!

♥ kerker 
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Review: Kuu Konjac Sponge

Happy Tuesday!!! So you might be thinking what is Kuu Konjac?? Konjac is a traditional Japanese jelly-like health food made from a type of potato called "Konnyaku potato". In Japan the Konjac (Konnyaku) sponge has been used for its medicinal properties for over 1500 years. For over a century the Japanese have been using the Konjac vegetable as a beauty treatment for their delicate skin. 

How does these sponges work? 

"The KUU Konjac Sponge gently cleanses and soothes the skin by removing dirt and oil, naturally restoring the pH level of the skin. Cleansing helps to stimulate blood flow and encourage new skin cells, revitalising the complexion without damaging the skin.

The KUU Konjac sponge is highly absorbent in both water and oils and is excellent for thorough cleansing of impurities. The pH level of the sponge is an alkaline and has the function to break down dirt and neautralise acidic and oily areas."

Kuu Konjac with added French Green Clay* / Kuu Konjac Pure*

How to use: Rinse the sponge before use. Use sponge in circular motion on face. When finish rinse sponge and hang to dry. I used it on its own without cleanser. You can use this with a cleanser or on its own.

Additional info:

• Made in Korea
• RRP $8.95
• Available  http://www.kuukonjac.com.au
• Life cycle 2-3 months

What I like:

• The sponges feel very smooth on your face, so you won't get the scratchy feel
• 100% handmade
• No chemicals or additives
• Stimulates blood circulation
• Sustainable & Biodegradable - at the end of the life cycle just throw the sponge into your compost
• Leaves skin feeling soft & smooth (you don't see it right away, need to use it for a few days before you see any results)

What I dislike: 

• Probably not widely available.

Overall: I would definitely buy this sponge when my current ones are done.

Have out tried these sponges before? What did you think?

Thanks for reading!!!

♥ kerker 
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Birthday weekend!

Happy Sunday!!! I took Friday off work to celebrate my birthday. YEP I turned 18 again! haha I spent the whole day indulging in naughty foods. I got myself a pearl milk tea, haven't had one this since high school. Can you believe this one drink is 400ish calories?? Pretty insane I tell ya. After lunch, I had a cookies and cream cupcake from Melbourne Central. This cake was delicious, I could have eaten another 4 of them lol!!

For dinner, we went to Meat & Wine Co. I got the fillet and had a berry sour cocktail to go with it. Dessert we had a chocolate and pistachio fondant. After dinner, we went to karoake. I actually did pretty well singing the whole night with a cold lol Saturday was spent recovering.

Saturday night celebrated with the family. My sis and her bf's bday is a few days after mine so we usually have a joint dinner together. This year we decided to get a chinese-viet cake from Springvale. The O Clock watch is one of my presents.

Another year has gone by, how quick has it been?

Hope you have a lovely weekend!!!

♥ kerker 
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Review: Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush

If you follow me on twitter, you will probably notice I love to enter competitions held on twitter. I was lucky enough to win an Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush Screen Siren from Australis a few weeks ago.

According to Australis "Perfectly blended multi-coloured blush that allows for customised shades to suit any complexion. Formulated with light reflecting and balancing photochromatic pigments that assist to create instant camera ready photos. Pigment is high in Mica content providing intense colour payoff. The blush is enriched with Jojoba and Grape seed oil to lock in skin moisture and soothe the skin."

You guys can enjoy my hairy arms lol I found it really hard swatching blush on my wrist.

This is with all 4 colours are mixed in together

Additional info:

• Made in Taiwan
• RRP $12.95
• Availability Priceline, Big W and other leading retailers
• Comes in 4 shades

 Pros:

• Great pigmentation
• Blends easily
• Long lasting
• Jojoba and Grape seed oil 
• Good packaging, comes with a mirror!

Cons:

• I couldn't find any!

Overall: Great blush. It's my first drugstore blush, I was surprised at how pigmented and long lasting it is. I love how they have a large around mirror. I will definitely buy it again but probably try out a different shade.

Have you tried these blushes? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading!!!

♥ kerker 
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Disclaimer: This product is a prize from a twitter comp, all opinions expressed on this post are my own.