The Skincare || Looking After the Décolletage

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to take more care of my body skin, particularly my décolletage area. Whilst I am religious about applying sunscreen to my face, my neck and chest are often forgotten which leaves me with quite a red, sensitive and damaged neck area. I've been trying to repair this damage by firstly applying sunscreen every morning. I'm trying to use up the Olay Daily Face SPF30+ on my neck because I don't like the feel of this sunscreen on my face and I suspect it breaks me out a bit. Yet as I type this I forgot to apply it this morning. Oops.

In the evenings, I'm taking a number of steps to undo the damage done. Firstly I'm cleansing the area with the Jurlique Purifying Foaming Cleanser (please don't shoot me for using this, I'm trying to use it all up). I've been using a sample of the Trilogy Nutrient Plus Firming Serum, which is ok. I have to say I won't be repurchasing this, I find it doesn't mix well with certain moisturisers. It works perfectly with the Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream however, which I've been applying day and night. A fairly simple routine, but so far I'm happy with the results. My neck seems to be less sensitive, red, and the fine wrinkles which were appearing have seemed to lessen.

Do you take much care of your décolletage?

X Suzy 

The Makeup || The Summer Face #1

Summer is my favourite season of the year. I love the sun, the beach and swimming.  It's also the time of year which my skin is looking the best; I think it's something to do with the salty water from swimming so much leading to less foundation applied.

Following my morning skincare routine, I apply a good dollop of the Clinique Super CityBlock SPF30. This acts as both a primer and a sunscreen. Next I use the BareMinerals Original Foundation SPF15 in Fairly Light (yes, I'm talking about it again) with the Real Techniques Duo Fibre Face Brush. Recently I've been leaving my forehead bare, I don't have any blemishes there at the moment. Under the eyes and around my nose I take some more foundation on the Real Techniques Setting Brush to build up the coverage a little more. On blemishes I use the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 for a tad more coverage. Final step in the base is to powder with the Jurlique Citrus Silk Finishing Powder. Amazingly this doesn't make my face too dry, as you would expect from using two powders.

Colour wise I use MAC's Sheertone Blush in Sincere, standard. Also standard is a crimp from the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers followed by the Maybelline Full N'Soft mascara. Eyebrows are filled in with the lovely Eye Brows in Lingering from MAC and finally my lips are usually sporting the Lanolips Lip Colour in Apples.   

And that's what I usually slap on in fifteen minuets before running out the door. What has your go to make up been recently?

X Suzy 

The Skincare || Summer Skin Saviours

I am so sorry for neglecting this blog for so long. The last three weeks I had exams, and for the next week I'm on school Prac. So I won't be able to post as often as I like for the coming week!

Summer has arrived. We seemed to have missed spring altogether, which calls for a new wardrobe of lotions and potions (and clothes!) Here is my solution to all body and face skincare dramas from pale skin and dry patches.  

Firstly, the most essential lotion for summer, sunscreens. I won't go into too much detail because I've done a post on this before, and nothing's changed. HERE it is if you’re interested.

Fake tan. I have a love hate relationship with it. When done correctly, it looks amazing. But very easily, it can look like absolutely terrible. Streaky, orangey, patchy. You name it. I also hate the smell and the sticky feel of it. But never the less, I keep applying it every summer. I have found a good one though, from a favourite brand of mine, Sukin. The organic brand has a fantastic Sunless Bronzing Gel. It's not too pongy on the nose, and is not too sticky.   Also, it's not filled with chemicals like other fake tans can be. It's quite liquid-y, which makes it easy to apply and blend. Out of the tube, it looks horrifying but once massaged in, it gives the most beautiful natural looking tan.

Next up, hair removal. My preferred method is shaving. Boring right? I follow it up with a moisturiser, namely the Sukin Body Lotion. At the moment, I'm trialling a hair inhibitor serum called Inhibitif. It supposedly prevents hair regrowth in under 2 weeks. I've only been using this for about a week, so I'll keep you updated.

I've already touched on my preferred body lotion, the Sukin Body Lotion. I use this mostly on my legs, because they tend to be especially dry. On my arms and the rest of my body I like to use the Jurlique Jasmine Body Care Lotion. This is a really light yet hydrating moisturiser which is rapidly absorbed. I usually moisturise after I've given my body a good scrub with a body brush.

My face skincare is pretty much the same all year round, if I need any more moisturising, I'll slather on the Jurlique Calendula cream (I'm a bit obsessed with this product). Occasionally I might layer an oil over the top, either rose hip oil, or the one which I'm trialling at the moment: the Jurlique Balancing Oil.

By using all the lovely products above, I'm able to prep and protect my skin all summer long. What are your summer staples?

X Suzy

The Monthly Roundup || October

Another month has passed, and we are into November already! I've been a bit slow on the product buying side of things, but I've got a few pieces that I brought last month that I've being loving and trialling this month.

This Month’s Favourites:

My most loved product of the month is the Clinque Super CityBlock. It's gone from about 15 degrees to 30+ here, so SPF has been necessary most days. I've been mixing in a bit of the MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW20 for some extra coverage. This gives a really lovely finish to the skin, nothing to dewy or too matte. Add a bit of setting powder and some thicker concealer on my zits, and that's been my favourite base recently.

Another product I have been loving this month is the Maybelline Eyestudio Gel eyeliner in Blackest Black. I brought this ages ago and was instantly disappointed with it. I originally brought it to use as I would use liquid liner, but the result was so disappointing compared to liquid liner. But another use had been found, and I'm loving it for during the day on the top lid. For some reason I have issues using pencil liners on my top lids, and this is the perfect solution. The brush I use gives a super fine, soft and defined line.

The last favourite of mine this month is the Bare Minerals Original Foundation in N10. I initially brought this to go over the Super City Block and set it. But this combination is horrible, the foundation settles into all my pores and just goes really gross. However, much like the Maybelline eyeliner, this is something that I have absolutely fallen in love with. It's great for good skin days and when you can't be bothered with a full face of makeup, or when it would be a waste to put a full face of makeup on.

My favourite nail polish combination of late has been OPI’s Princesses Rule with the matte top coat. This combination is super, the matte top coat makes the polish look frosted and flat (I'm not portraying it in a positive light am I?). You will just have to take my word for it.                

Finally, the non-beauty favourite of October is The Vampire Diaries. Its back, and its back with a bang. The storyline this season is really interesting, unlike last season. I'm loving seeing Stephen without his memories and a human Katherine. Here’s a link if you’re interested. 

October in Blog Posts: 

Looking for a pillow spray? Give my DIY version a try first. 

Is the serum category of your skincare routine empty? Read my review of the Jurlique Advanced Herbal Recovery Gel here. 

My evening makeup always looks something along the lines of this and this. 

The nail combination that I was rocking for the majority of the moth looks a bit like this. 

Here and here is some more inspiration to get you into skincare.

Added to the Wish List this Month:

My chin has had a bit of a tantrum, with two cystic pimples. I've been hearing great things about the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion lately, which I might need to pick up a bottle of soon. 

Inspired by this post from Anna, I desperately want to get a MAC eyeshadow palette. I just have absolutely know idea where to start. And no, I do not want one of those big 15-pan things. When would I ever use it? 

The Skincare || Sunscreens

I am a full on beach babe. I love the sun, the sand, and the surf. Did I mention that I love the sun? And I happen to be a fair-skinned-red-haired kinda gall. Sun protection has always been a important to me, in fact, 'hat' was my first word, so that shows you how important protecting my skin was as a child. Of course, it is just as important to keep up the sun protection now, especially as I'm on holiday and my skin is all pasty after the winter months. If you read my latest post, you would know that I'm currently on holiday. I'm writing this post from a sun lounge in 35 degree heat. Once again, I'm on my iPad so there's probably a few typos here and there, and there won't be any links!

I'm not going to even bother giving a lecture on how important it is to look after your skin whilst out in the sun, because I'm sure you have heard it all before. Nor am I going to even attempt to try and explain the science behind SPF, I bearly understand it myself. If you do fancy knowing all the finer details, check out this link: http://www.carolinehirons.com/2013/04/spf-cheat-sheet.html

Starting of with my face, I'm currently slathering on the Clinique Super City Block SPF30+. This is a newie to me, I brought it especially for this trip, but I was using a sample prior to purchasing it. I like it so far but my mind hasn't been quite made up. I like how it's got a tint, but don't let that fool you. It covers hardly anything, but I don't see that as a problem. It is a tad on the greasy side, but for some reason it dosen't look shiny - don't ask how that works. Another facial sunscreen which I've tried and liked is the Olay Complete Defence Daily Moisturiser SPF30+, but this is more greasy than the Clinique. For lips, something which is easily over looked, is the Ego QV Face Lip Balm in SPF30+. This is one of the only lip products which I've found in SPF 30+. I like this, and it's a permanent fixture in my beach bag.

For my body, I usually go for which ever one my mum buys for the family. Our current favorite is the Cancer Council's Everyday Sunscreen in SPF30+. This ticks all my boxes: goes on easily, is Aussie made so it meets all our standards, waterproof, and isn't that greasy. I doubt that there's any sunscreen that isn't greasy and is long lasting. It's a bit like the long-lasting-unsticky lipgloss conundrum.  

There's only so much that creams can do. I'm also a fan of big sunnies, floppy hats and floaty kaftans for added sun protection. My hat is from last year, and I have know idea where it was from, probably a surf shop. When choosing a pair of sunnies, look at the tag, and make sure it has meet some sort of standard. The brands you find in the chemist are great for providing quality sun protection. An added bonus is to find ones which are polarised, meaning there's less glare. I litteraly just sat on my previous pair of sunnies and ducked up to the resort shop to by this new pair. The brand is called Black Ice, and I've seen this brand around in chemists. They check all my boxes: are big, look great, meet the Aussie UV blocking standards, and are polarised. And of course, don't forget a kaftan. Look for something light, breazy, loose fitting and long sleeved.

 Ta Da! My sunscreen and sun protection favorites all written down in one spot, I hope this had provided some tips for you guys!

 X Suzy