Almost all of us have had a night or two when we partied a little too hard, laughed a little too loud, and drank a little too much. And almost all of us have paid the price the next morning when we awoke to sore throats and angry, broken out skin.
Bioré Makeup Removing Wipes (25 pack, AUD 8.99; 10 pack, AUD 3.99)

Anyone who's stayed up late, whether to party or to cram for exams, knows the pain of having to try and conceal puffy, dark, tired eyes. A great way to reduce the appearance of tired eyes is to pat on a good eye cream before going to bed.

Uriage AquaPRECIS Moisturising Eye Contour Care (15ml, AUD 39.95)

Hi guys! I am finally announcing the winners of the Bioderma giveaway! This is up a little late because (as you probably know by now) my internet connection was down for quite some time, and that has pushed all my posts back by a week or so.

Anyway, on to the good news!

The 10 winners who will receive one bottle of Bioderma Sébium H2O (100mL) and one bottle of Bioderma Sébium AKN, totalling AUD 44.90 per prize pack each, are:

It's giveaway time! Bioderma have been so kind and helpful and offered to sponsor TEN packs of the Bioderma Sébium H2O and their now-famous Sébium AKN!

If you don't yet know about these products, I have reviewed them both and you can check the reviews out here for the Sébium H2O and here for the Sébium AKN. Both products are amazing, and the Sébium AKN has even been nominated in the ACP Beauty Awards for best anti-acne treatment! If you already know how amazing this product is, head on over to the voting website to show this baby some love :)


Anyway! On to the giveaway!




I have ten - I repeat - TEN prize packs to give away!


The winners will receive one bottle of Bioderma Sébium H2O (100mL) and one bottle of Bioderma Sébium AKN, totalling AUD 44.90 per prize pack.


Below are the rules of this giveaway:

1. You must be aged 18 and above to enter, or obtain parental consent to enter if you are under 18.
2. The prizes in this giveaway can only be sent to Australian addresses (sorry, international readers! I will have one for you very soon!)
3. This competition will run for 3 weeks, and will close on the 3rd of August at 12AM AEST.
4. In order to be eligible to enter, you must do the following:
1. 'Like' my Facebook page, subscribe to my YouTube channel, or follow me on Twitter
2. Fill in the form below, and tell me why you would like to win this prize pack
5. For extra entries, you can do the following:
1. 'Like' the Bioderma Australia Facebook page
2. Tweet the following*: I just entered @EmilyQuak's Bioderma Giveaway! Win 1 of 10 prize packs here: http://bit.ly/M3FOHR
6. The winners will be drawn via random.org, and will be notified via email. If the winners fail to respond to the email within 24 hours, they forfeit their prize, and I will draw new winners.

*To obtain the link to your tweet, simply click on the timestamp next to your tweet. Private account holders will need to provide some form of proof if chosen.

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, and here's to hoping the week goes by at lightning speed :)

I'm sure you all know of the incredibly famous Bioderma Créaline H20 makeup remover by now. Every single makeup artist recommends it, and countless more swear by it.


But did you know that the fabulous Créaline H20 has a little sister? Meet Bioderma Sébium H20.


This gorgeous thing utilises the exact same technology and is every bit as effective as its older sister, but caters to a slightly different skin type. Whilst the Créaline H20 is gentle enough to work on every skin type, it does not address the very serious issue of excess sebum and oiliness in the skin.


Oily skin types can now rejoice, because Sébium H20 is perfect for oily and acne-prone skin, and works wonders. The Sébium is a star range in Bioderma's product line - its Sébium AKN has been nominated in the ACP Beauty Awards for best anti-acne treatment. This product is an absolute favourite of mine, and you can read my review of it here. It is a fabulous little product that has kept my acne at bay and completely cleared out my blackheads!

Bioderma: For the “non-rinse product fans”, Bioderma offers Sebium H₂O, a Daily Purifying Cleansing and Make-up Remover. Derived from our bestseller Crealine H₂O, this Micellar solution also uses the power of micelles to cleanse impurities (dirt and sebum) and remove make up. Additionally, it purifies the skin and helps fluidify sebum. 
Indications: soak a cotton pad with Sebium H₂O and simply cleanse your face. Avoid the eye area.
Fluidactiv® patent, soap-free, alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic.

Packaging
Aside from the colour, the packaging on this product is identical to the Créaline H20. Both products have locked caps - which means that sellers of fake Bioderma products cannot reuse the original packaging to market their counterfeits. The bottle is pretty sturdy, and the product dispenses easily out of a pop-open cap.


Product
I love the colour of this cleansing solution! It is tinged a very slight blue, which is (and this is completely irrelevant to its performance, but I just had to mention it) mesmerizing when the bottle is placed in the light.
One difference that I should point out is that this product is very slightly fragranced (the Créaline H20 is not), but the smell is beautiful and very pleasant. I am the kind of person who gets headaches from heady, deep scents, so rest assured, this is not one of them.


Performance
What I love about the Bioderma makeup removers is the fact that you can use them without fear of stressing your skin out. They are gentle enough so that I can use them right after I get back from work - when my face is at its most oily and when I am desperate to remove the grime and dirt of the city from my skin. It doesn't interfere with my twice-daily cleansing routine, which is what I love the most! I can, in essence, wash my face three times a day without worrying about stripping the essential oils from my skin and causing dryness or irritation. PERFECT.


This product also does one thing that the Créaline H20 cannot - it regulates the production of sebum and keeps my face oil-free without feeling too dry. After I cleanse my face, my skin dries down to a beautiful, SOFT, velvety matte texture, very similar to the effect that I get with the Sébium AKN. If you think your skin feels soft now, wait till you try both the Sébium H20 and the Sébium AKN. You won't be able to stop....touching yourself.


One important thing to note about this product is that you should not use it to remove your eye makeup! It will irritate your eyes if you do because this product was not formulated with eye makeup removal in mind. I love using an oil cleanser at night to remove my eye makeup, but if you like, you can also remove your eye makeup with a separate eye makeup remover first, and then follow up with the Sébium H20.


Sounds like something you want to get your hands on? This product comes in two sizes here in Australia - 100mL (AUD 19.95) and 250mL (AUD 29.95). For stockist information, visit the Cosmetiques de France website here.


Also: If you are interested in testing out both the Sébium H20 and Sébium AKN, you are in luck! I am giving away 10 packs of these gorgeous babies, so stay tuned for the giveaway, coming up on my blog in a couple of days!


This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Because I am obsessed with my new mic and my being able to finally film with my DSLR, I decided to film a video of some products that I though stood out in the month of February. It's a little jerky because I am SO ineloquent it's not even funny, so I had to cut my grunts and 'ummm's out, sorry! I hope you guys enjoy it despite that :)

Here is the video:



And here are the products that were mentioned in the video!

Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in Intensity One (guest review on The Plastic Diaries)
NP Set Contour and Highlight Palette
Sisley Phyto Ombre Eclat in Stardust (review and swatches here)
Lancome Blush Subtil in 30 Rose Melba
NP Set Blush Contour Brush
L'Occitane Lavender Cologne (review here)
Bioderma Créaline H20 (review here)
Bioderma Sébium AKN (review here)
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye

Hello everyone! I have an exciting product to share with you all today - the Bioderma Sébium AKN.

I'm sure you guys have heard of Bioderma - the brand that produces the amazing product that is the Bioderma makeup remover that graces the faces of famous celebrities and models alike. This is a French brand that makes some amazing skincare, and they have recently landed on Australian soil.

The Bioderma Sébium AKN is targeted at oily, acne prone skins, and is meant to reduce acne and associated imperfections in the skin. I was fortunate enough to be sent a sample of this serum to trial because of my random breakouts and oily skin, and here is my review!

Bioderma: Thanks to its patented exclusive Fluidactiv® complex, Sébium AKN preserves sebum quality, preventing deterioration and thickening, thus effectively reducing the appearance and development of imperfections. A complete treatment, Sébium AKN also treats all the factors responsible for skin imperfections. Kerato-regulating active ingredients cleanse the pores in depth. Zinc gluconate, sebo-regulating and purifying, slows down overproduction of sebum and the proliferation of micro-organisms that cause imperfections. Soothing agents ease red blotches. Sébium AKN smooths skin texture, leaving it clear and purified. It recovers its natural balance

Packaging
This product comes in a small, 30ml tube with a screw-on cap. The tube is squeezable, and the product dispenses through a small mouth. Hygienic. Big plus! It is also quite hardy, which I like because as you know, I'm not one to afford the greatest care to my skincare products. Most of the time they're just banging around in a little bag I drag around the house so I can apply my skincare and watch TV, or hang out with the sisters or my boyfriend, all at the same time.

Product
The product itself is a white, slightly thick serum. The product most similar in consistency that I can think of is Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum - basically a little lighter than maple syrup (random, I know!). It smells a little...medicinal? But it is so faint it wouldn't bother anyone. It isn't perfumed, which helps people with more sensitive skin.
Despite its being thicker than a typical serum, it spreads really easily over the skin and is absorbed into the skin really quickly. It is not at all greasy.

Performance
I have been using this for over a month now, and the results have been very, very pleasing. It has curbed the acne on my cheeks, which I am really grateful for, It has not gotten rid of the acne completely - I still get about 1 or 2 spots each week and a little more than that when my hormones are acting up.
It has also reduced my blackheads - and this is something that I have been battling with since summer started. I know this is completely irresponsible, but I don't exfoliate and cleanse my pores as much as I should, and this has led to clogged pores and really bad buildup which I have been trying hard to get rid of. This, together with a couple of good exfoliants and my Skin Food White Mud Nose Pack, have been really helping me save the skin on and around my nose.

Another thing that I adore about this product is the way my skin feels after I apply it - I get a beautiful velvety matte finish to my skin, and it feels lovely! It is soft, and smooth, and so velvety! I confess - I touch my face for a lot longer than I should because of this serum. You will get addicted to the feel of your skin, I guarantee it!

What this hasn't done is reduce my acne scars - my small pimples tend to go away after only a couple of days, but even without any scratching or picking, they leave scars that tend to stay for at least a couple of months. It doesn't claim to reduce acne scarring, but I am just putting this here as a warning for people so they don't expect some kind of miracle product. I am still working on finding a product that will help with my acne scarring, so if you hear or know of something, please let me know!

Overall, I think this is a good staple product to have in your skincare if you have oily or congested skin. Bioderma can be found in selected pharmacies and Pricelines. The Sébium AKN is sold for AUD 24.95 for a 30ml tube.

This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Hello everyone! Happy Chinese New Year! I am doing a simple review of an equally simple but amazingly effective product - the Bioderma Créaline H20.

I first heard about this product when I was watching Lisa Eldridge's YouTube video, where she mentioned that this was her favourite makeup remover.

Bioderma: At the cutting edge of innovation, BIODERMA has pioneered micellar solutions. Specially formulated for sensitive, normal to dry skins, the Créaline H2O micelle solution gently cleanses face and eyes. It removes water-resistant make-up.The micelles contained in its formula effectively micro-emulsify impurities while maintaining the skin’s balance (soap-free, physiological pH).

I have been trialling this product for over a month now, and I love it!

Packaging
From the product descriptions and from meeting with the lovely Emilie, PR for Bioderma, I have noticed that the brand prides itself on its simple, no-fuss packaging, preferring instead to focus on the product itself. This product comes in a 250ml bottle with a pop on and off cap. What's special about this product is that the cover is not removable - this is to prevent refilling by dishonest resellers online. The product dispenses easily through the hole on top, and I've thrown this around in my makeup bag for travel a couple of times without experiencing any leaking or cracking.

Product
The product is a perfume-less, odourless liquid, not at all dissimilar to water. It works a treat when it comes to cleansing makeup. I do find that you need quite a bit of product to remove the kind of eye makeup that I wear, though, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I always feel like I need to get the best (and most) possible use out of my product, and when a particular product is being used up too quickly, I can get a little nervous. But that is just me being paranoid - I've been using this almost everyday for about 6 weeks now and I have only really used up 1/5th of the product.

Performance
Bioderma delivers everything it promises with this product. It removes makeup (you need to go in twice with heavier eye makeup), cleanses the face, and is so gentle on the skin!

One reason why I love this product so much is this - if you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed me voicing my concern over the fact that I need to wash my face in the afternoons after I get back from work, but I also want to be able to wash my face at night before I go to bed, and this is unhealthy for the skin because cleansing 3 times a day is too harsh for the skin. This makes for the perfect solution! It is extremely gentle, and doesn't strip the skin at all! I have been using this together with my Ella Baché products, and they have worked extremely well for me so far!

I have also been using this as a cleanser for my brushes. I add a little bit of rubbing alcohol, and a little bit of hair conditioner, and I mix them all together in a little spray bottle. It's been working a treat on my brushes - I'm so glad I've found a quick solution to cleansing my brushes in between makeup tutorials!

I really love this product. I have also been trialling another Bioderma product that I might just review, because I am beginning to see really good results with it! Stay tuned :)

If the Bioderma Créaline H20 sounds like something that you might be interested in checking out, look out for at your local Priceline, and at selected pharmacies. You won't regret it!

This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Christmas is over, and with New Year's Eve approaching, I have compiled a few products that will help you achieve fabulous, glowing skin and a gorgeous makeup look for your New Year's Eve countdown party!


1. Siberian Red

You know the saying "Good skin comes from within"? Well, Siberian Red knows it for sure! This is an oral supplement, containing powerful antioxidants that help indirectly with cell regeneration and protection of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun. As with any dietary supplement, be sure to do your research and check with your doctor if you are unsure about anything! Here is a great 'fact-sheet' about antioxidants and what they can do for your skin and body.

2. Sukin Purifying Facial Masque

Sukin: "A purifying base of gentle Kaolin clay combined with soothing aloe vera and antioxidant rich rosehip oil will leave skin feeling refreshed, nurtured and completely clean."

This paraben-free facial masque is perfect for those suffering from slightly oily skin, as the clay base absorbs oil and helps unclog pores. This is also good for anyone who has sensitive skin.


3. Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask

Alpha-H: "A creamy, fast acting, dual performance mask designed to exfoliate, clarify, freshen and brighten the skin. Leaves skin looking more youthful, firm, plump and radiant."

If you're a beauty lover, then you'll definitely have heard of Alpha-H's miracle product - Liquid Gold. This mask acts quickly and effectively, revealing bright, clear skin.

4. Ella Baché Masque Fruits

Ella Baché: "A purifying, skin refining mask with fruit extracts that helps refine pores to leave skin feeling wonderfully clean, refreshed and strengthened. Recommended for normal to oily and oily skin."