As you all probably have already noticed, I've moved to Malaysia to handle some things, and though I have plans to move back to Melbourne, I'm not sure when that will happen just yet.

So for now I'm keeping myself occupied with Malaysia, and what comes with it. One of the things that comes with Malaysian weather is the insane humidity. My hair used to be straight enough so that it wouldn't look weird after being affected by the humidity and heat, but it's changed now. So what I get is this puffy, frizzy, half curly mess that is just depressing to look at. Especially in photos.

So I've started to blowdry my hair everytime I have an event to attend, or photos to take. I'm a pretty low-maintenance type overall, so I hate that I have to add an extra step in my morning routine. Though I would love to eliminate blow-drying completely, it seems to have become necessary, and so I have instead incorporated a product that has helped me cut down my prep time instead:


The David Babaii Blow Out Rapid Blow Dry Spray is love in a can. This spray is essentially a two-in-one (YESSSS!) heat protectant and blow dry speeder-upper. It reduces the amount of frizz I get in my hair after a blow dry, and I love that I don't need to apply heat protectant underneath it first, because this already is one. It cuts down my blow dry time by an impressive amount - it usually takes me forever to blow dry my hair because it is quite thick. My hair is sleek, glossy, and shiny by the time I'm done, and I don't need to sacrifice any volume or suffer any greasiness for it.
This retails for AUD 24.50 per can and is available at Priceline, and in selected salons and pharmacies nationwide in Australia.

I already blogged about the David Babaii Miracle Elixir in a previous post listing my haircare routine, and it is still a part of my haircare routine today. It is a very lightweight leave-in spritz that doesn't need to be combed in or messed with - simply spritz it onto your tresses and let it work its magic. What you get in the end is extra shine, and not the least bit of frizz. I use this right after blow-drying and it works a right treat. Not to worry if you have thin hair - this hardly leaves any grease behind, and doesn't weigh the hair down at all. I even spritz it onto my boyfriend's hair after he's done styling it, but he doesn't like it because it makes his hair too soft - a positive, negative review, in my eyes!
This retails for AUD 29.95 in stores.

Another product I am absolutely in love with (and I use this on days when my hair just won't behave, and when I don't blow dry it) is the muk spa Argan Oil Treatment, pictured below in the far left.


This miraculous product is the reason for the improved health of my hair ever since the damage it suffered after I had it balayaged. The genius people behind this hair serum have formulated it specifically so that the molecules responsible for incredibly smooth, glossy hair, are absorbed into the hair, instead of sitting on top of it. This helps to keep the hair grease-free and light, whilst still delivering all the beauty of argan oil directly into the shaft of the hair. I swear by this, and I haven't stopped using it since I found it.
This bottle retails at AUD 34.95, and is available at selected stockists - see www.mukhair.com.

So instead of listing my favourites each month, I thought I'd do a new kind of video, titled (rather un-originally) "Trial and Error", in which I list products that I've received and purchased each month (or every other month) and giving you my honest opinions on which products I liked and which I didn't, and telling you why. I really hope that you find these videos helpful, and thank you so much for watching!


Products mentioned:

muk spa Argan Oil Repair Shampoo & Conditioner
muk spa Argan Oil Treatment
muk Style Stick
Uriage Nourishing and Cleansing Cream
Uriage Gentle Total Exfoliant (review here)
How to Get Your Ultimate Brow Shape at Home by Lien Davies (http://ultimatebrowshape.com/)
Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream
Benefit The Porefessional
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer
Koji Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner
Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner (available at feelunique.com)

I hope you enjoy the video. Happy Friday, everyone! xx

A lot of people probably already know this, but oils are fabulous. Even when you have oily skin. They are great for balancing your sebum production, and delivering hydration to your skin. They are a great anti-ageing product, and they also do wonders for you when you take them orally.

In the summer months and especially now that it's approaching winter here in Australia, I have been really enjoying a few products that I thought I'd share with you all:


1. muk spa Argan Oil Treatment (AUD 34.95 per 100mL)
This first oil is actually a treatment for your tresses, and a really good one at that! It contains argan oil, and utilises a kind of technology that helps deliver that argan oil into your hair, instead of just having it sit on top of it, meaning your hair won't be weighed down, nor will it feel greasy. This makes it the perfect product for any kind of hair, from thin, flat hair to thick, coarse hair. It works beautifully on both non-treated and treated hair. Simply pump a few drops into the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and disperse the product all over your hair. To help disperse the oil more evenly, brush your hair through after. It has been working absolute wonders on my newly coloured hair, and I bet it will on yours, too.

2. Jojoba Company Oil (AUD 19.95 per 30mL)
Jojoba oil is special, in that the jojoba plant is the only plant that can produce wax esters similar to those found in our skin (sebum). Our skin's natural wax esters are responsible for keeping the skin hydrated, plump and most importantly, firm. Our production of these esters starts to decrease as we progress into our 20s, and that is where the Jojoba Company's oil comes in. I like it because it absorbs into my skin almost instantly, without leaving that greasy feeling behind on the skin. It has been doing a great job at hydrating my skin too, no grease but plenty of smoothness and plumpness to my skin.

3. Kosmea Radiance 24/7 Youth Boost (AUD 39.95 per 20mL)
Kosmea is well known for their rose hip oil, which is high in antioxidants, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids. This means that it helps your skin cells regenerate faster, prevents premature ageing caused by exposure to the sun, and helps to reduce the appearance of burns, scars and wrinkles, among other things. This new offering from Kosmea adds the antioxidant benefits of berry oils, and is great when applied to your skin when you're fresh out of the shower (this oil works best when applied to damp skin). Honestly, I am very tempted to start slathering this onto the skin on my arms and legs as well, and I think I just might!

3. Simplicite Sage Face Oil (AUD 41.80 per 55mL)
You all know that I am a huge fan of Simplicite products, and this Sage Face Oil is one of my favourites. It is quite heavy and does feel greasy on the skin*, but I am more than willing to leave my skin feeling a little bit greasy for all the benefits that this one face oil offers. It helps to prevent the formation of blackheads and pimples because of its antibacterial qualities, and helps the sebum on your skin 'move around' so that it doesn't clog your pores. The fantastic thing about this oil is that it is also formulated to help reduce the appearance of hyper-pigmentation, so it is absolutely fabulous for acne-prone skin.

* Robin from Simplicite has come back to me about this, and has told me that your skin is not meant to feel greasy when you apply the Simplicite Sage Face Oil. To avoid feeling greasy, apply the oil on top of Simplicite's Floral Toning Spray, or mix the spray and the oil together in your palms before applying to your skin, and it shouldn't feel greasy.

Have you tried face/hair oils? Do you have any favourites that I should keep an eye out for? :)