I absolutely love the idea of smooth, radiant, hydrated skin. I love the idea, but I can never muster the effort it takes to slather on body lotion or hand cream before I go to bed, let alone do any extra scrubbing or polishing. So I get these horrid cracks on the skin on my legs (I have air-conditioning, 24/7, to thank for that) and even then I can't be bothered to slather on body lotion before I go to bed.

The one thing I most definitely can be bothered to do, though, is to incorporate a rich, hydrating body cleanser into my in-shower products, so that my skin is at least getting some moisture from somewhere. One such product that I've tried is the Lipikar Syndet from La Roche-Posay - a fragrance, paraben, and soap-free formulation with 10% Glycerin, to treat dry to extremely dry skin.

A little bit of background on La Roche-Posay before I begin. La Roche-Posay products are formulated with French thermal water that takes over 1,700 years to come to the Earth's surface, and is endorsed by over 25,000 dermatologists worldwide. The waters of La Roche-Posay are the only thermal waters in the world that contain a high concentration of Selenium, which has demonstrated anti-free radical, anti-irritation, soothing, and healing properties.


The Lipikar Syndet has a very slight medicinal type of fragrance. I find it rather pleasant and wish it was a little stronger, but I can gladly report to anyone with sensitive sniffers that this is not at all uncomfortable and not too noticeable. The entire La Roche-Posay skincare line is formulated for sensitive skins, so it is safe for use on almost everyone, including infants.

I replaced my regular 'Shokubutsu' with this, and walk out of the shower now to that plumped, slightly slick feeling that you get when you moisturise your skin well. It doesn't lather much and is more of a creamy cleanser than a sudsy one. I've only had the chance to use it for a little under a week, so the cracks in my skin aren't gone, but the lines have softened, thank goodness!


The Lipikar Baume AP is another one of those products I always end up forgetting to use, but when I do use it, I am surprised at how much moisture this lotion delivers to your skin! It does leave my skin feeling a little bit greasy, but if you're looking for a moisturiser that packs a punch, look no further. It is extremely rich and feels like shea butter going onto the skin (I took a quick look at the ingredient list, and it does in fact contain shea butter). It was designed to treat extremely dry skin, and helps to calm red, irritated skin and reduce the itchiness. As with almost all La Roche-Posay products, this was formulated for all skin types (and of course is paraben, soap and fragrance free), and is safe to use on babies, children and adults.


Dry, sensitive skin isn't the only skin type that La Roche-Posay caters to. They have 4 product ranges - ANTHELIOS for high sun protection, EFFACLAR for acne-prone skin, LIPIKAR for dry to very dry skin, and TOLERAINE for allergies and hypersensitivity. If you battle with any of these skin conditions, La Roche-Posay wants to hear your experiences and are ready to provide product for you to do so! Simply head over to this website and fill in the questionnaire, and if you are selected, LRP reps will be in touch to get your product sent out to you as soon as possible. All you will need to do is respond to their follow-up email sharing your views and experiences with the product. This trial opportunity giveaway is open to Australian residents only.
So if you're someone who has a skin condition that you want to treat, head on over to the website linked above, and see if La Roche-Posay might be able to help you with it!

If you know me, you'll know that even though I love beauty, I hate high-maintenance beauty routines. I don't like to apply body lotion after I take a shower or before I go to bed, I don't like having to draw my eyebrows in every single day, and I wish I had naturally curly lashes.

So naturally, when it came to adding another step in my beauty routine, I was hesitant, and a little skeptical as to whether or not I even needed to.

Exfoliating the skin on your body seems like a redundant task. Some of you may be thinking, 'My skin looks fine, why should I fix something that isn't broken?' and I'll be the first to say that I thought the exact same thing!

Here's the thing. Your body sheds dead skin cells each minute, thousands and thousands of them too! These dead skin cells don't just flake away. Instead, they stay on top of your skin, building and building up until they clog your pores and cause rough skin.

Here's what exfoliating your body can do for you:

It helps to prevent body acne.

It clears out your body's hair follicles, so that you can avoid ingrown hairs.

It can help even out your skin tone.

It helps bring your new skin to the surface, so that your skin is soft and smooth.


I tested out three body exfoliators that I had in my beauty cupboard, and here's what I thought:

1. The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Body Polish
This scrub contains multi-sized scrub particles, and moisturises your body beautifully with Community Fair Trade honey. This is by far the most moisturising scrub of the three. It contains vanilla extract, and smells very strongly of vanilla. If you're a fan of vanilla-scented products, this is the perfect body scrub for you. I, on the other hand, am not a big fan of vanilla, so this isn't my favourite product.

2. Uriage Gentle Total Exfoliant
This scrub is unique in that it was formulated for both the face and body. This is perfect if you have slightly sensitive skin, as it is soap and paraben free. It utilises micro-spheres and botanical AHAs to exfoliate, and has a lovely smell similar to ocean-themed soap scents. This is what I have in my shower stall at the moment, because I absolutely love the scent, and the exfoliating spheres are quite pleasant to use on my skin.

3. L'Occitane Magical Leaves Exfoliating Shower Gel
It's no secret that L'Occitane products are some of my favourites (read about my all-time favourite lavender perfume). The Magical Leaves range was limited edition and is no longer available, but L'Occitane regularly releases new exciting fragrance ranges, with the same moisturising, beautifully-scented properties. If you love being able to select from body scrubs with a wide range of scents, all of which are equally moisturising and smoothing on the skin, then check out your nearest L'Occitane boutique or stockist.

I hope you found this post helpful! I will leave you with this last little tip: If you live in a country with a warm climate, or have oily skin, you need to exfoliate a little more! Oil and sweat helps speed up the accumulation of dead skin cells, so scrub at least 3 times a week. Do not exert too much pressure when you exfoliate - be patient and you will see amazing results!

Have you ever been too embarrassed to wear a skirt because your legs look less than attractive? Well I have, so much so that I have put together a list of things that you can do to make those legs skirt-ready for summer!

Hair Removal


First things first, you want to get rid of any unsightly hair on your legs. Less hair also means more reflection of light, which means shinier, sexier-looking legs!
I recommend the Veet EasyWax at-home hair removal system for a quick, convenient waxing experience. The wax comes with a roll-on applicator, and has easy-to-use refill cartridges that makes waxing mess and fuss-free.

Exfoliation
One way to avoid ingrown hairs and unsightly bumps on your legs is to continually exfoliate your skin. You can do this in a number of ways. My favourite ways are using an exfoliating body wash, or dry brushing my skin.


The Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is a fantastic dry oil that can be used on the face, body and hair. Apply this to your skin before your shower and brush your skin with a body brush. The skin retains the moisture from the dry oil even after your shower, and keeps your legs smooth and silky, not greasy.
The Huile Prodigieuse OR is a variation of the dry oil - containing gold shimmer that you can use on your face and legs to enhance your glow. Did you know that shimmer placed in the right places can elongate and shape your legs? More on that later.


An exfoliating shower gel that I am loving at the moment is the L'Occitane Magical Leaves shower gel, which is a lovely physical exfoliator with little beads in it that remove dead skin cells, and it smells so good!

Moisturise
Well-moisturised skin is healthy, glowing skin. You want to keep your skin hydrated at all times to make sure that your skin doesn't age prematurely, and that it has a natural glow.


Some moisturisers that hit my beauty cupboard recently are the brand new Vaseline moisturisers, which utilise a Stratys-3 technology that, basically, is able to ensure that all levels and layers of your skin are penetrated with moisture. Healthy skin WIN.
Another fabulous body moisturiser is the Weleda Citrus Hydrating Body Lotion - something I love using when I'm fresh out of the shower in the mornings. A big BIG bonus is that this moisturiser somehow manages to dry into a matte, silky finish.

Repair


We all know cuts, scrapes, and sometimes even the odd rash are unavoidable. Fixaderm was formulated to make sure you never have to suffer these unsightly flaws for any longer than necessary. This magic oil is safe to use on cuts, scratches, broken skin, and rashes, and helps the healing process so your skin stays healthy and flawless. I recently suffered a severe case of razor burn (let me tell you, it was pure TORTURE), and tried this out. It burned a little at first, but after that, it really helped, especially at night when I was trying to go to sleep and my legs felt like they were on fire!

Even Out Your Skin Tone
It is difficult to get self-tanning right. You either don't do it at all - which can sometimes result in pale, pallid-looking skin - or you do it too much - which then makes you look like you just stepped off a Willy Wonka movie set.
If you get it just right, though, your skin will thank you! Even pale people can tan, using just enough product so that your skin looks healthier, without actually making your skin darker.


The St Tropez Bronzing Mist is a lightweight tanning mist that is light enough so that fair-skinned people can still use it to even out their skin, without darkening the skin. It is easy to apply and doesn't streak at all. If this is something of interest to you, then head over to my St Tropez review post, which teaches you how to apply a light coating of self tan, plus how to utilise skin illuminators to elongate and slim your legs.


To upkeep your healthy, even skin, I highly suggest using a BB cream with SPF, so that you even out your skin tone and get the sun protection that you need. Affordable BB creams such as the Palmers Eventone BB Cream are perfect to use on your legs. BB creams are formulated to enhance your skin tone and disguise flaws, so this is great for hiding any flaws on your legs and to even out your skin tone even more.

Finishing Touches
If you are going out and want to enhance your legs underneath that skirt, illuminators are the perfect solution. Illuminating your legs all over will really give them a gorgeous, healthy glow that will look absolutely fantastic in flash photography, and applying them in the right places will shape your legs and make them look slimmer.


Prtty Peaushun is the go-to product when celebrities want to get glowing skin on the red carpet. This gorgeous body lotion is shimmer-infused, smells lovely, and comes in a variety of different tints to match your skin tone and to even out any patchy colours in your skin.


If you're after something more easily available, then the St Tropez Skin Illuminators are perfect. They come in 3 different colours, and uniquely enough, the Violet and Rose illuminators are perfect for paler skins.

So these are my top tips for getting your legs glow-ready for the summer! Do you use any tricks to get your legs in top condition? Tell me in the comments below! :)

Hello everyone! I have a small post on how to wax to share with you all today.

Not everyone can afford salon waxing, and let's face it, not everyone wants to go into a salon and expose themselves to a stranger, professional as she/he may be.

So here are a few tips from Kristin Fisher, Australia's most sought-after brow expert and brand new ambassador to Parissa wax. Parissa also has loads of informative videos and tips on their website.

1. When you apply the fabric strip over your wax, make sure you pull the strip back quickly. Be sure to pull the strip parallel with the body part you are waxing to avoid bruising. Bruising occurs when the strip is pulled directly 'up' and away from the skin and can be very painful!
2. You must hold your skin firmly. Think of stretching your skin back in the opposite direction that you will be pulling the strip off.
3. Spread the wax on in a paper-thin layer. This will make pulling the strip off much easier and less messy.
4. When waxing sensitive body parts make sure you don't wax over the same area twice. If you've missed a couple of hairs just tweeze them at the end.

Here are a couple of tips that I picked up doing research about waxing:

The new Schick Hydro Silk Razor goes beyond the basics to deliver women a shaving experience which gives women silky smooth, hairless skin and the confidence that comes from a great shave. This breakthrough in women’s shaving is a combination of technology delivering:

• Hydrating Water-Activated Moisturizing Serum, unique to the Women’s Shaving Category

• Completely NEW 5 Curve-Sensing Blades technology and architecture for women

• Patented Skin Guard features to reduce skin irritation

• A Cartridge designed exclusively for women’s contours

• Ergonomic handle with a soft rubber grip

 I don't have much to say by way of introduction, so let's just hop right into the review:



Packaging
This comes in a typical box, and the contents within it are sealed to prevent damage to the razor. It also comes with an extra razor head - yay :)

Product
The razor itself has an easy-grip handle, and the little strips above and below the razor blades contain a moisturising serum containing marine extracts and shea butter, that is meant to keep the skin hydrated and lessen the irritation from shaving. The strips are activated when they react with water, so they recommend that this be used in the shower. Schick claims that these strips last much longer than standard lubrication strips, but since I haven't used the razor that long, I can't confirm or deny this.
My favourite thing about this product was that it comes with a little suction holder that you can stick to the shower wall - it makes storage and shaving so much more convenient for me!

Performance
So I have used this razor a handful of times, and I actually really love it. I didn't know that it would feel so different because I have personally tried many different kinds of razors with many different claims and they all feel just about the same. This razor has a lot more slip when you're shaving (which I actually think is kind of dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, so I don't recommend this to "novice shavers", lol), and it actually feels really good on the skin. The skin on my legs get quite dry and irritated when I shave, and this razor lessened the post-shave irritation considerably more than some others I've tried.

As far as the 'close shave' claim goes, it does perform very well, and my legs are smooth and soft after I shave. However, I find that other razors perform just about as well as this does, so it's not a big selling point for me.

What is a selling point for me, though, is the 'water-activated moisturising serum'. Aside from the really smooth, easy shave that it gives you, it is actually quite interesting. It feels so nice on my skin (kind of like smoothing a jelly-textured moisturiser onto your skin), and also keeps the skin hydrated post-shave, and the plump, soft skin feeling lasts about three hours.

Price
I've come to expect a certain price range from Australian products, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that this retails for only AUD 14.25 at Woolworths, Coles, Priceline and selected pharmacies.

I also have some exciting news!


Schick and Emily's Anthology are looking for 5 readers to road test this razor! If you are interested, please fill in the form below and I will pick 5 of you to form a little trial team :)
I will pick the trial team on the 11th of August, and all you have to do is trial the razor until the 27th of August, and leave your own little mini review down below in the comments section. This opportunity is open to Australian readers only.


This is a sponsored post, written in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate collection launches on the 28th of August, and I am so excited about the collection that I just had to share with you the products, so maybe if you were interested, you could check it out as well.


The entire collection, from the scent to the colours, and right down to the packaging, is delicate, floral, and very feminine.

I was sent a few items from the collection, and they all have that beautiful flowery fragrance and gorgeous packaging. I'm just going to put down a quick summary of the items that I was sent:

Pivoine del EDT
You have to sniff this yourself, obviously - all I can tell you is that is smells sweet, delicate, and floral. It lasts decently long on the skin, and at the end of the day dulls down into a pretty baby-powder type smell.

Pivone del Lip Balm
This lip balm has the exact same fragrance as the rest of the line, and has a very slight tint to it. It is also very light and doesn't weigh down the lips at all.

Pivoine del Lipstick
This lipstick has the most beautiful, light texture. It's very sheer, so don't expect much to show up on your lips. It is the least fragranced of all the products but still smells lovely. The range has three different shades - I got the shade Pivoine Delicate, which is a pretty nude-pink with a slight brown undertone. Again, it is very sheer, but has a very creamy, moisturising texture.

Pivoine del Hand Cream
I love the fact that this has a screw open dispenser that doesn't require you to remove the cover - very convenient! The hand cream itself is lovely - delicately fragranced and very light so that it sinks into the skin without leaving an obvious greasy layer behind.

There are also a few other products that come with this line:

• Fresh Mist, AUD 18: a light mist spray enriched with aloe vera (50mL)
• Eau de Toilette and Gloss duo, AUD 26: a perfume/lipgloss duo - how genius is that?! (5.5mL each)
• Shimmering Powder, AUD 38: this comes in a vintage atomizer pump - the kinds you see in films from the 50s :) This contains fine particles of pink and silver shimmer to brighten and illuminate your skin (8g)
• Lip Shine, AUD 25: lip glosses in three shades, containing a subtle shimmer. Non-sticky.

Winter is a harsh season. Everything is freezing, your skin shrivels up and cracks from the dry air, and to make things worse, using heaters just sucks even more moisture out of the air and away from your skin. Dry skin means many things - susceptibility to scarring, wrinkles, flakes, and an overall lacklustre look.

Your skin needs to stay hydrated if it is going to maintain its dewy youthfulness and prevent future ageing, so I have put together a number of products that combat dry skin and promote that healthy suppleness that everyone's skin needs.


1. Ella Baché Hydra-Revitalising Créme de la Créme

You may have seen my tweets a while back about attending a St Tropez event, where we were taught how to give ourselves a masterful, beautifully finished tan.

I know what you fair-skinned beauties are thinking - 'F*** this sh**, I'm unsubscribing!' But hear me out! St Tropez have furnished a skin finishing menu that includes two special tans - called the Vintage Tan and the Pastel Tan - which cater to (and have actually been used at the Oscars on!) pastel beauties like Emma Stone and Gwyneth Paltrow.

I am trying out the Pastel Tan on my sister's legs in the pictures below, to show you the effect that it gives. Bear in mind that the tan develops gradually over 4 hours or so, so the tan would look very much deeper and more golden than the photos below.


I started off with the St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mist.

St Tropez:
This salon inspired, super light mist, delivers an even all over tan you’ve always wanted. Infused with conditioning aloe vera and long lasting colour, you’ll have a perfectly natural looking tan. Our innovative fragrance technology helps to take away the tell-tale aroma, to make way for a subtle, yet refreshing fragrance.

This is a very light tan, so it can be layered on lightly just to even out the skintone and define the legs (which is what I would use it for, considering the fact that I love fair skin), or more heavily to give the legs a beautiful golden tan.

I love the fact that this tan mimic's the skin's natural colour when it tans, instead of that horrid 'oompa loompa' tan that I so dread.



As you can see in the pictures above, the tan does wonderfully to even out the skintone and make the legs look smoother and flawless. Of course, I am doing it this way because I love fair skin (so does my sister) but you can easily spritz another layer on to deepen the colour. Here, I spritzed each leg about 6-8 times to achieve a smooth, even finish.


Next, we tried the Skin Illuminators to give definition and elongate the legs.

St Tropez:
The rose illuminator gives the illusion of effortlessly polished skin whilst giving a gently flushed appearance when applied to the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and on the cupid’s bow of the lips. As seen at Erdem’s outdoor show. Perfect for skin with blue, pink and violet undertones. 

The original illuminator was used backstage at Marios Schwab for S/S 2010 and has since proved to be an essential beauty must-have for its unique violet tone and luminous results. Now repackaged to bring it in line with the new collection, Violet still remains our best-selling skin finisher. Perfect for all skintones.

So I have a couple of friends who want to undergo liposuction. They are very young, and I believe that they are nowhere near that point. I am in the process of very delicately telling them that their current eating and exercising habits are not conducive to weight-loss, and that if they would just commit to working a little harder, that they wouldn't have to subject their body to that kind of trauma just yet.

I am not opposed to plastic surgery. In fact, I see myself getting something done at various points in my life. However, I do believe that when you are considering going under the knife, you need to do thorough research and only use it as a last resort. Think about your alternatives and don't settle on plastic surgery just because it's a quick fix.

One area where I think the above sentiment applies strongly is fat. Any procedure undertaken to remove or curb fat is generally dangerous, and may affect your health post-surgery. I remember watching a documentary on liposuction when plastic surgery was just starting to become popular - it was graphic and terrifying - and I wondered what would possess someone to put their body through such stress.

That said, please bear in mind that all I am saying, is that one should always consider less drastic options first, and, when push finally comes to shove, extensive research should be done to ensure that the treatment, whether it be liposuction or something else, is safe, performed by an accredited surgeon, and all risks involved fully and completely understood.

I believe that you have to be ready for hard work either way. If you want to exercise and diet, then do your very best. I myself am trying to get lean, and it is so much harder than I thought it would be! I am trying to eat healthy, and curb my sweet tooth, and summon the motivation to work out. I don't know which is harder, to be honest. I am constantly having to suppress my cravings and push myself, and though I am admittedly aeons away from considering liposuction as a solution, I can at least begin to understand the desperate thinking behind considering it as an alternative.

And then there is the cost of liposuction. Again, I am the kind of person who believes that you should be able to buy something at least twice before you should consider buying it once. Take into consideration the cost of going to a safer, more highly accredited surgeon, and compare it to your current financial situation. Are you just starting work? Do you have anything saved in the bank for a rainy day? What else will you have to pay for besides your surgery?

I don't claim to be an expert, or understand the situation that each and every person out there is in, or to have all the answers, but I believe that these are just a few things to consider before taking that leap.

Hi guys! I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so I thought I would pamper myself a little. Just a little something to make me feel better, and boy did I come out feeling like a million bucks!

Here are a few tips and products that you could use to get your TLC on :)


Urban Rituelle Beachcomber Natural Soy Candle in Mango Milk


I was recently sent this beautiful candle to test out and I must say, it is so lovely! When I first opened the package, I was a little overwhelmed by the smell of the candle. I immediately thought I wouldn't like the scent when the candle was burning. There are some candles out there that, when burned, give off this sickeningly sweet odour, that overpowers the entire room and just gives you a headache.

 
I am very glad to report that after a long hour of *cough* serious, *cough, cough* professional testing and reviewing, I can safely report that it is not in the least bit overpowering. In fact, it smells absolutely heavenly! This candle can do no wrong! My bath was so incredibly relaxing with this gorgeous scent dancing about the room. Even the smell of the smoke after I blow out the candle adds to the scent of the candle overall. It is lovely!

This candle is an extension of Urban Rituelle's Beachcomber range which comes in four different scents - Frangipani, Mango Milk, Island Citrus and Coconut & Honey - and you can check them all out on the Urban Rituelle website. Alternatively, you can check your local MYER store for this range.

The Urban Rituelle Beachcomber Natural Soy Candles retail for AUD 25.95 each.


Kiehl's Foaming Relaxing Bath with Sea Salts and Aloe Vera

It's winter, it's freezing, and I am feeling ill. I could think of nothing better to calm and relax me than a nice, steaming hot tub topped off with a mountain of bubbles!

For as long as I can remember, I have been looking for a good, foaming bubble bath. All the other bubble baths I've tried have produced a lacklustre amount of bubbles, or none at all. With this one it's bubble mania,  and my skin feels soft and moisturised after! Not to mention the lavender smells so amazingly good, and helps me feel soooo relaxed!

LOVE it!


Simplicité Rosehip & Lavender Complexion Refiner

So the winners have been chosen via Random.org!

And the winners are:

1. MissAUSSIEirene
2. Janet Tiong
3. elle
4. Narelle Rock
5. zoeeangelaa

Hello beautiful people! I am reviewing L'Occitane's latest release today - their Cherry Princess range. I mentioned this range in the Mother's Day video that I posted last week, and promised to have more information and a proper review posted, so here it is! This was just released last week, and if you haven't already seen and smelt them in store, you have to go now!

The entire range of products is available at L'Occitane stores. This includes the products I was sent above - the body gel, hand cream, and solid perfume - and a pearlescent (how exciting is this?!) shower cream, as well as, of course, the EDT.

What I love about this range is how unexpectedly beautiful it smells. I expected it to have a very sweet, candy-like smell. It does smell exactly like that when you first apply it (the smell is almost exactly the same throughout the range, no matter what product), but then it does almost a complete 180 and changes into this beautifully dusty, slighty woodsy scent, whilst still maintaining its fruity notes. I love it!

The body gel is a particular favourite of mine - once I apply it, the smell seeps into my clothes and creates this little cloud of perfume heaven. I am addicted to this smell!

As mentioned previously, these are already in store, and they have a fantastic Mother's Day gift pack for this range, so if you haven't already bought your Mom something, this is definitely one range you should check out!


Another range a little less recently released (but still every bit as incredible) is the Shea Limited Edition range - a collection of the Ultra Rich Body Cream, the Hand Cream, and the Lip Balm - which comes in three different scents inspired by three beautiful flowers. They are the Desert Rose from Morocco, the Egyptian Hibiscus, and the Cocoa Flower from the Ivory Coast.

All have the signature shea butter scented undertone. The beautiful designs you see on the packaging are inspired by traditional Bogolan fabric, patterned according to the different villages and dyed using mud.

These are extremely rich, moisturising products, which you probably already knew if you know anything about shea butter. My skin always feels beautifully moisturised after using these products. The lip balm is a total heaven send for my extremely chapped lips!

The lipbalm retails for AUD 14, the body cream for AUD 32, and the hand cream for AUD 39.

L'Occitane have many more gift sets available for purchase that would make the perfect Mother's Day gift, so definitely check them out in store or online.

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