My Favourite Face Masks

I wanted to do something a little different today and bring you a post featuring my current favourite face masks.  I love doing face masks but to be honest I don't do them as often as I should - so when I do take some time out to do them I want them to be effective.  Each one of these mask's gives results that can be seen and felt straight away.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

This is a face mask like no other.  Inside this tub is Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay.  It comes in a powder form that you mix with a couple of tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar.  Yes it smells like you've just devoured a bag of Smiths Salt & Vinegar chips (just without the chapped lips and regret) but it's worth it I promise.  This is a deep pore cleansing mask that once applied dries onto your skin and causes a tingling sensation like no other.  You can really feel this mask work and once it's washed off your skins is all refreshed and glowy.
$RRP approx $6 from iherb

Alpha H Liquid Gold Smoothing & Perfecting Mask
This is one of those face masks that works instantly.  Perfect as a pick me up before a night out or when you've got something special the next day this gives that instant glow.  Can be a bit tingly with the glycolic acid but worth it for the after-glow.  RRP $54 from Adore Beauty

Clarins Hydra-Quench Cream Mask
This is for all the dry and dehydrated ladies out there.  Pop a layer of this on for half an hour and watch your skin drink it in.  I actually sleep with mine on so I wake up with that plump hydrated skin we spend all night dreaming of... or is that just me?  RRP $48

Clarins Gentle Peeling Smooth Away Cream
This is the ultimate exfoliator.  Apply a layer of this and leave to dry (approx 5-10 mins) then use sweeping movements with a flat palm to 'peel' it off your skin.  Then rinse and voila.  Smooth as a baby's butt.  Or something.  RRP $45

There we have it people, four highly effective masks that actually do what they say.  I always like to double up and do a couple of these masks one after each other.  I feel like it makes up for all the times I forget to do any at all.  On that note I'm off to do a face mask.  It's been weeks.

Feel free to comment below and let me know your favourite face mask!

Kayte xx

5 mins with me....

I saw this tag going around the blogosphere awhile ago so I decided to do it too.  I took out heaps of it because well, time.

Making: wedding plans... slowly

Cooking: High protein, low carb meals

Drinking: Diet Coke

Wanting: A winning lotto ticket

Looking: for good workout music

Playing: with the Elf Yourself app... lols

Deciding: what to do with my life

Wishing: my Dad was still here

Enjoying: making my own soy candles

Waiting: for my fiance to move to Newcastle

Wondering: what the future holds

Loving: my family

Watching: the final season of Californication

Hoping: to be employed soon

Needing: a job

Noticing: I'm getting grey hairs

Knowing: it's all going to be okay

Thinking: positive thoughts.... mostly... I'm trying

Admiring: My Mum

Sorting: out my health

Buying: things from Kmart.  I love Kmart.
Giggling: at other people's shit on facebook.

 

Top 5: Clarins Skincare

Many moons ago I worked as a Clarins consultant at a Farmers Department Store in NZ (similar to Myer here in Aus).  As much as I loved my white smock dress and red jacket and shoes (not) I definitely loved the products more.  I was lucky to receive an allocation of products quarterly but even with that I was still buying more because I loved everything so much.  At the time I wasn't a huge fan of the makeup although I hear it has improved ten fold over the last few years.  The skincare though, oh the glorious skincare.  Okay I'm rambling.  I'm a huge fan, you get it!!

Without further ado my top 5 Clarins products.....

Gentle Peeling Smooth Away Cream

An amazing mask/exfoliator.  Apply a thin layer, wait till it's dry and then using a dry flat palm slowly rub the product it off.  It peels away taking your dead skin cells with it and leaves your skin all fresh and glowy afterwards.  So much better than a regular beady exfoliator.

Clarins Tonic Body Polisher & Body Treatment Oil

In the rare times that I get to relax in a bath I love to get these two products out.  The body polisher is absolutely divine, it really feels so luxurious.  It's a mix of sugar, salt and essential oils that exfoliate to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.  After I'm rinsed off and out of the bath I apply small amounts of the oil all over my body - a little goes a long way.  It's supposed to help smooth and tone cellulite and stretchmarks but I haven't used it regularly enough to attest to that - rather I love it for leaving my skin hydrated for days afterward.  Definitely one to use before bed, the essential oils combined with the warm bath will leave you feeling all kinds of relaxed.

Clarins Double Serum

This is an anti-aging serum but unlike other serums I've tried this is beautiful and lightweight.  Can be used on its own or with a moisturiser on top to boost hydration.  I've noticed a definite smoothness and evening out of my skin since using this.

Clarins Mens Eye Balm

I'm not sure if this is true but one of the older Clarins ladies told me that the Mens products were very similar to the ladies but priced lower so I'll often check out and pick up the Men's products especially when it comes to something like an eye cream.  This is by far my favourite eye cream, its light and soothing and even though I've used it every single night for most of this year the bottles not showing any signs of running out yet.

Do you have a favourite Clarins product?  Or a particular brand you love?

Kayte xx

Top Five: Spring Refreshers

Is it just me or does the change in weather just make you feel like changing up everything.  Winter left me all dry and dehydrated and I've spent most of Spring trying to rehydrate, so with Summer fast approaching I thought I'd let you in on some of my fail safe products to revive my skin.  I've covered all the bases in this post with something to cover all your bases... ha!  See what I did there.

BODY//Nivea In-Shower Rich Body Lotion

I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods but the weather has been going from hot to cold back to hot all in the space of a couple of days around here.  This moisturiser makes things so easy - just slather it all over yourself in the shower, rinse off and you're done.  Doesn't leave you feeling sticky - just soft and healthy skin.  I'm probably way too liberal with this and I go through a bottle every couple of weeks.  Goes without saying that I stock up when it's on sale.

FACE//Clarins Double Serum

This is a great serum if you're looking for something that isn't going to over-load your skin.  Serums can sometimes be a bit heavy but even though this is jam-packed full of lovely ingredients it feels lovely and light on the skin.  You can wear this on it's own at night but I like to top it up with some moisturiser.  

NAILS//Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Cream

Not only does this smell divine but it's the perfect pick me up for your sad dry cuticles.  Well mine anyways.  I gave up biting my nails years ago but swapped it for the habit of picking at the skin around my nails.  Gross I know.  This super-thick cream softens up all those dry bits and makes me less prone to picking and just generally makes them look way better

LIPS//Luk Lipbalm

One of those lovely natural products, this lipbalm is full of yummy ingredients.  Personally I reach for this on non-lipstick days.  You know those days when you're lips are a bit dry and you need a bit of colour but nothing too drastic.  Perfect for when you're going for that 'no makeup' makeup.  You can find my full review here if you're interested.

HAIR//Redken Diamond Oil

Aside from it's gorgeous packaging this silicone free oil is just divine.  A couple of drops massaged into the ends of my hair makes such a huge difference in both the appearance and feel of my hair.   You can find my full review here if you're interested.

Bring on Summer!

Kayte xx

Bellabox November 2014

November Theme: Dusk till Dawn

Yes yes I know, I'm still subscribed to this thing.  It's just really easy to justify $15 a month on a box full of surprise beauty items.  Well most of the time it's easy to justify. 

This month's box is not very exciting.  Another wash-off tan, another shitty nail polish, a few tiny samples of liquidy stuff.  The most exciting thing by far is the Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Sampler.  It's super cute and from a brand I haven't tried before so I look forward to trying it out.  I won't bore you with all the details, the photos speak for themselves.

Kayte xx

November Bellabox Contents

Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Sampler

November Bellabox Content/Info Card

An Update... I'm back

I haven't updated this little space here for a couple of months, and before that my posting was sporadic at the best of times.  On September 11 2014, I lost my precious Dad to brain cancer.  We had 11 months from diagnosis before he was gone and it was a disease that was all-consuming and hideous.  The journey was a personal one and something I won't dwell on here in this little space of beauty.  In saying that, you can't experience something like that and not be changed by it.

My blog isn't taking a new direction...  I'll still just be here posting about beauty products whenever the inspiration hits me.  I won't run on a time schedule, I won't do sponsored posts, I won't advertise weird products and I definitely won't write anything that isn't my true opinion.   So for now I'm back and I have a few different post ideas up my sleeve, feel free to comment with any questions or to ask my opinion on anything.  Always down for a chat about beauty :)

Kayte xx

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