MAC- Lip Glass Review

Livia’s Summary: Fantastic Lip Gloss. With so many on the market sometimes it is hard to distinguish one from the other. This MAC Lip Glass distinguishes itself. The texture and consistency is without fault and the colour range is excellent. Definitely one to treat yourself to.

Description: A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil or Lipstick, Read more

Innoxa- Algae Hand Cream with Sunscreen Review

Livia’s Summary: Over the last few months we received a lot of requests to review this particular product and I have to say I am glad we did. This hand cream with sunscreen is a must for anyone who spends any time outdoors. Research shows that we forget our hands when it comes to applying sunscreen, so by including it in our hand cream we are ensuring that this well used area of our body is protected. Well done to INNOXA for making it so affordable for everyone.

Description: Ocean Algae Extract, one of the richest anti-oxidants available, helps to enhance skin function by increasing cell turnover. Softens, hydrates and smoothes the skin. Seaweed extract, helps detoxify, and enhances skin function by increasing cell turnover and protecting skin cells from external aggressions. Allantoin, anti inflammatory, assists in improving rough and chapped skin. Sunscreen to protect the skin from the ageing effects of the sun.

Available: Myer, David Jones and selected pharmacies.

Price: $16.95 (100ml)

Overall Rating

Skin Type: Dry Combination Skin.
Value for Money: Yes, I think it is very good value for money and would buy this for myself.
Comments: What I loved most about this hand cream is the fact that it has sunscreen in it. Our hands are often forgotten when it comes to applying sunscreen so this is a great product to get in the habit of using everyday to prevent those little freckles appearing on your hands. It has a gentle fragrance and it wasn’t greasy at all which I loved. There are also a lot of natural products in this hand cream which was also a bonus.

Skin Type: Slightly Dry, Normal Combination.
Value for Money: What a bonus- a hand cream with sunscreen, a 2 in 1… This is very good value. I would buy this again.
Comments: A nice cream that goes on easily with a fresh aroma, allow a minute for it to settle as you would with a sunscreen. It is very soothing to the skin.

Skin Type: Normal, Slight Rocasea.
Value for Money: While it’s not my fave hand cream, the price is fantastic so I would probably re-purchase.
Comments: While the cream claims to exfoliate, I can’t say I saw any evidence of that and it did take quite a while to sink in. After about three days I started to notice a slight difference in my hands, but not much. It’s a nice cream with a pleasant scent, but not much more.

Skin Type: Dry Combination Skin.
Value for Money: It is a little expensive for a hand cream. I wouldn’t buy it myself.
Comments: This hand cream did leave my skin soft, however it smelt like sunscreen. Having the SPF is beneficial especially for when driving.

Skin Type:Combination Sensitive Skin.
Value for Money: Excellent value.
Comments: This has definitely softened my hands and improved hydration as it claims. I am 53 and have sun-damaged hands from years of driving as a ‘rep’ so I really appreciate the sunscreen factor. Non-greasy, non-invasive aroma and convenient packaging for keeping in the car.

Pros: Included sunscreen.

Cons: Not for very dry skins.

Tried this product? Leave your review below.

Tali Shine Body Scrub

Livia’s Summary: I am fast becoming a TALI fan. So far I have loved all the products we tried. This scrub is no exception. As described by Elizabeth it has the consistency of a sugar rub. The slightly oily feel mentioned by a few of our panellists is admittedly not for everyone however I absolutely loved it. In the Australian climate with 90% of us with dehydrated skins, it is actually a great product to use as I felt like I didn’t need to moisturise so it is time saving too.

Description: A delicious sugar scrub that will keep skin smooth, supple and smelling divine. Dream of Tahiti or Capri as you exfoliate your skin. Perfect for buffing skin pre and post fake-tan applications.
Tahiti: Inspired by the tropical flowers, black and white sand beaches and crystal clear waters of the South Pacific. A gorgeous floral scent comprising Tahitian Gardenia, Coconut, and Jasmine. Think sun drenched body, salt-sprayed hair, coconut palms and warm waters.
Directions: Apply scrub to clean, wet skin in the bath or shower and massage in an upward circular motions. For an even more vigorous exfoliation, apply to dry skin then rinse in shower. Finish with Tali body lotion.

Available: Visit www.talishine.com for more information.

Price: $29.95

Overall Rating

Skin Type: Normal Dry Skin.
Value for Money: An inexpensive product, but I will not repurchase.
Comments: The first thing I noticed about this product was the scent. It permeates from the pretty box that it is enclosed in. And it’s not a pleasant scent. I disliked the artificial coconut and Jasmine aroma. It made the product smell and feel cheap. A big minus for me. However, the scrubbing beads were circular and dense, so it really does give your body a thorough exfoliation. It has the consistency of sugar but without the rough edges. It comes in an oil base so water alone will not wash it all off. Unless you are the type of person who likes to apply baby oil after shower, this effect isn’t for everyone.

Skin Type: Combination Sensitive Skin.
Value for Money: I would definitely purchase this product for myself.
Comments: Wow, what a beautiful product! Tahiti Body scrub smells divine, very tropical with its coconut-floral scent. The scrub is very thick; the granules are firm but not at all abrasive. I found it was excellent at exfoliating. My skin felt very soft, smooth and silky all over. It was really effective on my feet, knees and elbows. It leaves a faint fragrance behind but the best part is the silky feeling I had all over, almost as if I’d applied a body oil! I adored this scrub.

Skin Type: Normal, Slight Rosacea.
Value for Money: This is a bit on the expensive side. I would possibly buy it as a present though.
Comments: I really loved the scent of this scrub. It did a good job of exfoliating the skin (if you like the ‘rough’ feel of scrubs then this one is for you!) however when I rinsed it off I found there was like an oily residue on my skin. I needed to wash myself with soap to get rid of it. Despite this, my skin still smelt lovely like the scent of this after the shower. The box packaging is nice but the actual jar has no description whatsoever! Can possibly get confusing when you have multiple products lying around the bathroom.

Skin Type: Normal Skin.
Value for Money: I love every product of Tali Shine – the price is not an issue any more!
Comments: The jar looks luxurious; it looks so good in the bathroom! The jasmine and coconut scrubs smells divine which reminds me of a summer holiday and the granules work really well to polish rough areas! It makes me feel like a goddess.

Skin Type:Oily Skin.
Value for Money: Yes, I definitely would purchase this product. It is a gorgeous product to use.
Comments: This is quite a deep exfoliating body scrub, and great to use before applying a fake tan. Also this product leaves an oil film on the skin after exfoliating, making the skin really soft. I love the artwork on Tali Shine products.

Pros: Great fragrance.

Cons: Oily texture may not be for some.

Tried this product? Leave your review below.

Swisspers- Exfoliating Cleansing Wipes with Microbeads Review

Livia’s Summary: It’s good to see companies developing new innovative products as in the case of these wipes, combining a cleanser with an exfoliator. Unfortunately as noted by most of the panellists the exfoliating beads are not as effective as desired, however if travelling or pressed for time this is a convenient product.

Description: Swisspers Exfoliating Cleansing Wipes contain exfoliating microbeads to clean deep into pores, while gently exfoliating the skin, leaving it silky soft and radiant. Each wipe contains Chamomile and Cucumber Extract, Vitamin E, Pro Vitamin B5 and Aloe Vera for health skin.

Available: * BIG W * BILO * COLES * KMART * PRICELINE * TARGET * WOOLWORTHS / SAFEWAY * and selected pharmacies.

Price: $3.95 for 30.

Overall Rating

Skin Type: Normal Dry Skin.
Value for Money: Great value for money, I would definitely repurchase.
Comments: I found that this product took off makeup well. Although I am still not convinced that it exfoliates. The cloth is textured with small round beads on one side of the cloth but I didn’t find it abrasive enough to give an exfoliation. Skin does look clean afterwards but I found one wipe isn’t enough to remove all facial makeup. I had to use 2 or 3 wipes to completely remove all makeup. It also leaves a tiny bit of residue so I always followed with water and foaming cleanser afterwards to completely remove any residue left behind by the cleansing lotion in the wipes. I usually prefer non-fragranced product but the light scent wasn’t off putting so that is a real bonus for me as I hate the smell of fragrance or scent in any skin care unless it is essential oils.

Skin Type:  Combination Sensitive Skin.
Value for Money: I wouldn’t buy these for myself, I didn’t like them.
Comments: I found these wipes to be ineffective at removing makeup. Alternatively, when using to clean a makeup-free face, I found the wipes felt sticky and left my face with a residue. The exfoliating side didn’t feel like it exfoliated, the micro-beads were too soft to make a difference. My face felt unclean and greasy. A real disappointment for me.

Skin Type: Normal, Slight Rocasea.
Value for Money: Yes, quite cheap compared to other similar products.
Comments: The wipes were quite gentle on my skin and very effective in removing makeup/dirt. I sometimes wear heavy eye makeup which is hard to get off, but these took it off very easily. The scent of the wipes is quite pleasant too. The exfoliating beads are a nice addition too, as it adds that extra bonus of exfoliating when you just need to quickly remove your makeup with a wipe.

Skin Type: Normal Skin.
Value for Money: Very affordable – can buy it continuously!
Comments: What a clever product! I am a huge fan of cleansing wipes and it is so convenient to clean and exfoliate at the same time! I use one side where the beads are to exfoliate my skin, especially the nose area where it needs more polishing; and the other smooth side to cleanse my eye make up. I need two wipes to remove full make up but there is no fuss as it is so affordable.

Skin Type:Oily Skin.
Value for Money: I would not purchase this product, as it is not as effective as the current facial wipes I am using.
Comments: There are two sides to these facial wipes. One is to clean and exfoliate the face and the other is to cleanse the eye area. I found the wipes were not moist enough to clean the eye area, and it also took too long to remove eye makeup. The exfoliating side worked well though, my skin felt clean and fresh after using the wipes.

Pros: Handy makeup wipes.

Cons: Not exfoliating enough.

Tried this product? Leave your review below.

Natio- Spa Heavenly Hand Cream Review

Livia’s Summary: A very light hand cream that would be suitable for those that don’t like a heavy greasy feel on their skin. The fragrance could be an issue if you are sensitive to smells however if you like the herbal scent it is very pleasant to use.

Description: Features & Benefits: Divinely scented with natural lavender and lemon. Provides around-the-clock protection from the elements. Leaves you with soft hands and strong nails.
Key Ingredients: Aloe Vera to moisturise.Ginseng to help slow the ageing process. Sweet Almond to promote cell renewal. Sesame to nourish skin. Lavender to soften. Carrot to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

How To: Lightly massage cream into hands from wrists to fingertips. .

Available: Myer, David Jones and selected pharmacies.

Price: $8.95

Overall Rating

Skin Type: Normal Dry Skin.
Value for Money: This is a good value for money but I would not repurchase.
Comments: This hand cream is a light, smooth and elegant hand cream. I loved the subtle scent of sandalwood and liked the way that it didn’t leave my hands greasy. However, I am a chronic hand washer and this has left my hands parched and flaky. This hand cream only hydrates temporarily and I found that after an hour or so I had to reapply. It would be more suitable for people with no visible dryness. Also it does not contain sunscreen and I prefer hand creams with sunscreen.

Skin Type: Combination Sensitive Skin.
Value for Money: I probably wouldn’t purchase this product for myself.
Comments: This is a nice, if unremarkable, hand cream. On the good side it’s creamy, softens my hands immediately, and leaves them feeling silky. On the bad side it has an overpowering perfumed scent that I didn’t care for. I also found that I needed to reapply very often. This is an OK product, but I generally prefer a more concentrated hand cream.

Skin Type: Normal, Slight Rocasea.
Value for Money: Yes. Very cheap and a generous amount of product makes it worth repurchasing.
Comments: This has a very strong lavender smell, so if you like this kind of scent you would like this! As soon as I applied it my hands felt immediately silky smooth. I also found that it possibly helped strengthen my nails, as they are at the stage where they are quite long (think fake nail long), and I usually cut them as they are prone to breakage when they get this long. However I have managed to keep them at this length without any breaks in my nails (and I spend all day on the computer typing)

Skin Type: Normal Skin.
Value for Money: Fantastic product with a fantastic price tag.
Comments: I fell in love with this aromatherapy hand cream as soon as I applied it. It calms your senses instantly and glides on smoothly. The tube is lightweight and so I can pop it into my handbag everyday – a very convenient way to beautify your hands.

Skin Type:Oily Skin.
Value for Money: I probably would purchase this product again. It is good quality product for the price.
Comments: I found this hand cream to be light weight in texture and absorbs into the skin easily. My hands feel soft after using the product with no stickiness at all. If your hands are very dry, you may need a thicker textured hand cream than this product.

Pros: Lightly scented.

Cons: Very light formulation.

Tried this product? Leave your review below.