cookieOptions = {...}; ♡ Chronic Guru ♡: sukin
Showing posts with label sukin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sukin. Show all posts

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

♡ January Favourites 2016 ♡


 Hello my old friends,

It is time for another month favourites post - fashionably late as always!




Now we could sit and listen to my sob story about how I have been struggling with pneumonia for the past couple of months, but discussing cool things I found last month would be much more interesting, amirite?

Let’s get into it!


First, the skincare…


Introducing, Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Body Oil [x] !







Palmer’s describes this as a “deeply hydrating, fast absorbing body oil that rejuvenates and replenishes skin’s moisture and radiance”, and I have to say I agree wholeheartedly with those claims.


This is a huge step up from the body oil featured in one of my previous monthly favourites. It has a much lighter consistency, yet doesn’t skimp out on hydration as a consequence. Since this is so light and easy to apply, I find myself using it everyday rather than as a biweekly treatment, which means I can preserve my youth in oily goodness (…right?).
Most importantly it makes you smell like a human macaroon, which is simply divine!

This product retails for $9.99 RRP, which is an absolute steal for a body oil! 


Next up, Skin Super Greens Facial Recovery Serum [x] !




Skin describes his as “a daily facial serum with natural actives of kale, spirulina, parsley, and acai fruit extract to restore a healthy glow”. 

Now I didn’t head into Priceline thinking I was going to buy this hidden gem, but they were all out of my Nude by Nature serum so I figured hey, why not?

This serum makes my skin feel hydrated from within in seconds! Although the scent isn't exactly delightful, the product delivers with its hydration capabilities. If I put moisturiser or sunscreen on top of this my skin feels ever so plump and baby-bum soft, completely blurring over any dry patches on my skin! I would highly recommend this for those with combination skin who want to experience hydration without a gross, greasy residue.

This product retails for $17.99 RRP, but is regularly on sale at such stores as Priceline and Chemist Warehouse.


Onward to haircare!

First up, Roots Hair Treatment by Lush [x] !





Lush provides a lengthy description of the product as follows:
“A treatment for thin and fine hair. The route to mighty fine hair! Fine hair needs careful looking after, this treatment is packed full of ingredients to revitalise it from root to tip. There’s honey to soften along with some extra virgin olive oil to strengthen and condition the hair. It’s one of Mark Constantine’s trichology creams from the early days when he worked at a well-known West End hair salon and really needed to sort people’s hair out. Roots works on the scalp to make it beautifully healthy, which in turn makes your hair healthy, strong, shiny and voluminous. He added lots of menthol to the recipe, which stimulates the scalp and encourages hair to grow to its full length, giving the appearance of thicker hair.”

I bought this with the purpose of growing my hair to bob length, as I have heard it works brilliantly for that. Those word-of-mouth recommendations did not fail! My hair grew half an inch in just two weeks, which is half the expected monthly hair growth on average. This stuff makes hair sprout out of your head like no tomorrow, and you can feel the menthol ingredients working as you massage it into your scalp. I like to only apply this to the scalp and roots of my hair where it is going to be the most effective, yet others like to apply it all over their hair (you do you). If you have fine hair and want to see it grow into a luxurious mane, this is the product for you.

Roots retails for $20.95 RRP, but I think it is worth every penny!

Keeping the minty theme going, let’s talk about Hask’s Mint Almond Oil Root Thickening Spray [x] !




Here is the description available off of their website:
“Boost and restore lifeless locks with HASK Mint Almond Oil Root Thickening Spray. Known for its high content of omega fatty acids, vitamin E and magnesium, almond oil helps increase body and volume while adding nourishing shine to hair. With Bio3 Thickening Complex and peppermint oil to invigorate hair and scalp, this lightweight mist restores and strengthens, leaving flat, lifeless locks instantly looking thicker and fuller.” 

There I was, aimlessly browsing the beautiful store that is Kmart, when I saw this beauty stand out at me (amongst the other Hask goodies!). Because of Roots, I’m all about these root stimulating products, and it had to be mine. Thankfully, this did not disappoint whatsoever! I love how this makes my scalp tingle after washing my hair, as well as provides nourishment while it is still wet. It also has made my mane extremely thick and glorious, and I could not recommend it enough!

This treatment retails for $12.00 RRP at Kmart, making it extremely affordable for its high quality!

Lastly, we have a hair styling product.

Say hello to Creightons' Argan Smooth Heat Defence Spray [x] !




Creightons describes this product as “professionally formulated to deliver nourished, healthy hair every day. Naturally enriched with Moroccan Argan Oil, hair is deeply moisturised and nourished from root to tip delivering salon quality results.”

I will say that it has been a struggle and a half to find an affordable, yet effective, cruelty free heat protectant. However, that search is over! This product not only protects my hair from my mangy old GHD, but also makes it feel very soft and shiny to boot! I can finally chuck out my Tresemme Heat Protectant and use this beauty guilt free!

This product retails for $9.99 RRP, which honestly is a bargain considering the quality.

It is finally makeup time.

(First off, do excuse the reappearance of my Mattes 2 Palette by Chi Chi. It really likes to show off how fantastic it is, but I have bragged about it enough!)

Let us begin with the ultimate babe to end all babes, the Model’s Prefer Contour Collection Ultimate Contouring and Highlighting Palette!




This palette is a pale girl’s best friend. Forget the bottom left and right shades, the middle shade puts all other contour colours to shame! You can create a perfect shadow effect that never looks chalky or streaky, and blends out like an absolute dream. I will also use the highlighter in the top right corner for a very subtle highlight on days where I don’t want to look overly celestial, as it blends perfectly into my blush. I could not possibly recommend this palette enough!

I cannot seem to find this for sale anywhere online at the moment, and I will be emailing Priceline shortly to confirm whether it has been discontinued or not (but to do so would be a beauty crime…).

Next up, Elf Studio Eyebrow Kit in ‘Dark’ [x] !




Elf describes the following description on their website:
“Create brows that are fuller, thicker, and more defined! The pigmented wax defines and shapes brows and the color complementing setting powder keeps them looking arched and perfected. The doubled sided taklon brush has one side to help arch your brows while the other side aids in filling them in. This duo provides lasting color definition for a naturally beautiful look.”

This kit is the closest I have got to achieving the perfect brows! The wax is deep enough in colour, but not so dark as to create a stark effect on my face. I also find that this wax provides a beautiful, full look to the brows without being too overbearing. It does have a reddish undertone to it, but that works well in my favour given my signature hair colour! The setting powder also doesn’t add a whole lot of colour to the finished look, which makes this a very forgiving kit for beginners. 

This kit retails for $8.00 RRP at Kmart, which is a total steal.

Speaking of Elf, let’s swoon a little over the Elf Studio Matte Lip Colours [x] !


Elf provides the following description:
“This convenient jumbo sized lip pencil creates exact color application with twist up ease so you never have to sharpen. The pigment rich color glides on effortlessly and easily to provide long lasting matte color. The enriched Vitamin A, C & E formula moisturizes and hydrates lips for beautiful healthy looking lips.”

I own the shades “Praline” and “Tea Rose” out of this collection, and I am in looove. Praline is such a beautiful browny-pink colour that gives enough drama to stand out, but is chill enough to be an everyday lip. Tea Rose, on the other hand, is a lovely muted purple that will add a unique flare to any look you’re sporting, dramatic or otherwise.

Elf Studio Matte Lip Colour in 'Praline'

Elf Studio Matte Lip Colour in 'Tea Rose'

These lip colours are extremely easy to apply, and last for an extremely long time considering the price tag! I have snacked and sipped on drinkies in these and the lip colour is still there, completely unaffected. I don't think they would last through a smoochin’, but most lipsticks that do are more on the uncomfortable side compared to these.

As for formulation, I cannot say I agree with the hydration claims of the product if you’re blessed with chronically dry lips like mine. However this is fixed very easily by applying a small layer of lip balm on top of the lip colour, which also adds a glossiness that looks gooorgeous, darling. 

I have read on some blogs that these are supposed to be gluten free, but I would double check with Elf before purchasing. I have a gluten intolerance and have experienced no issues using these, but someone with coeliac disease may like to take precautions just in case (be safe, kids!)

These retail for $8.00 RRP at Kmart, so I would definitely recommend giving them a go!
Moving on to some Makeup Revolution products!

I did go a little makeup mad when I travelled overseas, but I’m saving all the foundations and concealers for another post. For now, let’s take a look at the Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in ‘Golden Lights’ [x] !




When you are pale with extremely yellow undertones, it can be very difficult to find a highlighter that compliments your skintone. Because of this, I was extremely surprised to find a highlighter this pale in the UK on my travels, and had to get one for myself!

This highlighter has a very dramatic, golden undertone, which isn’t for those who prefer a more natural glow. This is essentially celestial goddess in powder form, and will give your skin a gorgeous glow that shimmers as everyone turns to look at how gorgeous your sparkly cheekbones are. This also lasts me the entire day if I don’t take any naps, so that’s always a plus! 

I bought this for 4 pounds at Boots, but  it is available for purchase from the Makeup Revolution website and potentially sold on eBay (have a browse around!).

And FINALLY, let’s finish up with Makeup Revolution Pro Base Fixing Mist!





I’m a sucker for setting sprays, so I couldn’t walk past this one. For a drugstore product it has wonderfully functioning packaging, with a spray nozzle that delivers a light, evenly dispersed amount of product to the face. I find that this does a great job at dialling down the powdery look on my face, and helps my makeup to stay those extra few hours when needed. I’ll definitely be heading to the Makeup Revolution website to stock up on more of these!



Aaaaaaaand, that’s all folks! If you would like to see more in-depth reviews of any of these products, or have a product you’d like me to review, please let me know below. 



♡ Until next time ♡




Sunday, 2 August 2015

♡ July Favourites 2015 ♡

Hello-hello everyone,

It’s time for a sort-of-on-schedule-July-favourites!




I only have a small amount of products today because I’m simply a poor university student but, as they say, quality over quantity, amirite? (Yeah, okay, I’m just poor..)

We’re going to spice things up a lil bit and start with skincare this time, as I couldn’t resist buying a few goodies in the 40% off skincare sale at Priceline!

Let us begin!




The Sukin Super Greens Detoxifying Facial Scrub [x] has made a comeback this month, as it simply is (as the kids say) my bae. I’ve been using Benzac 2.5% to deal with long-term acne, and this beautiful scrub has been perfect for removing the dry patches and peeling skin that have been an unfortunate side effect of achieving a clearer complexion. It is still gentle enough for me to use daily without consequences, and I can’t see myself not repurchasing the shit out of this gorgeous product. We’re now partners for life ♡.

 

 .




Now, as I have previously mentioned, I have had some dry skin issues from my acne treatment. As someone with skin so oily you could fry an egg on it, I have never had to deal with dryness on such a pervasive scale. I had heard about the magic of serums for returning intense moisture to the skin, and I knew I just had to pick one up in the Priceline sale. I chose the Nude By Nature Nude Miracle Serum [x], which claims:

“Oil free. Moisturising. Deep Hydration for 72 hours. Improve skin softness and smoothness. Contains Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Quandong, Australian Desert Lime & Kakadu Plum. Helps to reduce visible signs of fatigue. Assist to rebalance melatonin production. Visible reduction in dark circle, under eye bags and dull complexion from fatigue. Increase skin luminosity. Reduce Skin redness. Stimulates skin detoxification to restore glow.”

I must say is one of the most pricey skin care products I have ever bought. In saying that, the quality is just top notch! My skin feels baby bum smooth using this, and I have seen a reduction in redness over the past week I’ve been using it. Be warned, if you put moisturizer on top of this serum, your face is 100x more baby soft and you may never stop stroking it. However, my dark circles haven’t disappeared, but I didn’t expect this as chronic fatigue dark circles are for life.
In terms of morning use, I never thought I could use a moisturizing serum under my makeup until I used this, and I have not seen any signs of wear on the longevity on my foundation throughout the day! If you have the money to splurge on thie beauty, I seriously recommend giving this a go. I have heard that the Sukin Super Greens serum is also very good but I chose this instead as the Sukin one only lasts for a few weeks, whilst my Nude by Nature serum is said to last for a very long time.

Here’s the ingredients list, for those that are curious:

Aqua, Glycerin, Ethanol, Sodium PCA, Albizia Julibrissin (Persian Silk Tree) Bark Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Globularia Cordifolia (Globe Daisy) Callus Culture Extract, Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, XanthanGum, Saccharide Isomerate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) Fruit Extract, SantalumAcuminatum (Quandong) Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca (Australian Desert Lime) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate.

Now that my face is a godly level of soft, I thought it would be nice to get my body to mirror that silky goodness. I have visions of attaining MILF status by preserving my body in oils for the next twenty years. Hey, it could happen! Let a girl dream!
I had previously tried to DIY my own body oil, and ended up with dark red burns all over my arms. It turns out that my skin doesn’t appreciate pure essential oils, and I think I’ll leave it to the professionals from now on. 




I chose to buy the Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil [x], which claims:

“Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil is a light oil specially formulated with pure Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E tohelp soften and sooth rough, dry skin.
This rich formula absorbs quickly, allowing you to put on even the most delicate of fabrics immediately.”

To the point, just how I like it.

 My skin hasn’t reacted while using this, even if I apply it straight after shaving (kudos, Palmers). As for the quick absorption claims, it can take about ten minutes to fully sink in. This is pretty easily forgiven, as it is made entirely of oils, so I just choose to apply it at night instead of during the day. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the smell directly after application, as you will smell strongly of Easter Sunday from all the chocolate-y scents going on. For that reason, it makes it difficult to apply on nights where I’m having a bad nausea day, which is a darn shame.
This product is only $10.80 RRP, so it was a ripe steal during the 40% off sale! I do recommend you give this a try if you’re a budget queen like me!




Finally, my lips needed a little TLC during these winter months. Usually I would reach straight for my Lucas Paw Paw Ointment, until I realized its just fancy pants Vasoline. I decided to give Redwin’s Coconut Balm [x] a whirl, as I’m a massive fan of anything natural and coconut-scented. This product claims:

“With 100% Certified Organic Coconut Oil and an infusion of the naturally moisturising Papaya Extract and Jojoba Oil, Redwin Coconut Balm naturally hydrates your lips. It not only relieves dry, chapped lips but helps to heal them. Can also be used as an intensive moisture boost on skin that’s very dry and cracked, as well as on burns, cuts, and insect bites. Petroleum-jelly free.”

Let me just say I was not let down in the slightest! This stuff is buttery soft on the lips, and heals all the yucky dry patches I get on a daily basis. It also works wonders on the cracked skin on my knuckles (I’m just a dry mess..). If you feel betrayed by your Paw Paw ointment as I did, give this baby a go. You won’t be disappointed!
This product retails for $5.99 RRP, and is 20% off at Priceline until the 10th of August.

Now let us move on to the tiny makeup favourites!

Enter, the beautiful MOMMA Semi Matte Mineral Base in Ivory [x], and the glorious Powder Colour Corrector in Green [x]!

I talked about these babies in one of my previous posts, and I’m still saving up to buy the full sizes. When applied, these products literally look like your skin, but a million times better. Imagine looking photoshopped in the best possible way and you’ll understand the effect that they give. I’ve worn the mineral base around the house as a test and it didn’t oxidise, even under the warmth of the heater, and it also didn’t come off even when I got soy sauce all over my face like a hot ass mess during dinner time. In terms of foundation longevity, that ticks all the boxes for me! The green colour corrector is also fantastic, as it neutralizes the redness on your skin prior to the foundation application. I can’t wait to do a full demo of these products once I can finally afford them!
The Semi-Matte Mineral base retails for $16.00 RRP, while the colour corrector retails for $15.00 RRP.

Let’s talk about hair, ba-by!




I know I have already raved and raved about how fantastic Cedel’s Firm Hairspray is…but it’s coconut scented and that is really important, okay?
I initially intended to buy the teeny tiny travel size hairspray to put in my purse, as there’s always that one strand of hair that droops into my eyes after a couple of hours. However, the smallest I could find in the time of crisis was this coconut scented version [x], and I thought this would be a better time than ever to give it a try.
It doesn’t smell like gross hairspray, at ALL. It smells like a wonderful coconut body spray! I’ve been able to spray this around my mother, who coughs at the slightest chemical or perfume-y smell, and she actually enjoys the fragrance it gives off! I’ll admit, I have used this to fix my hair after trying on clothes in changerooms (no shame…), and it just smells like I’m spraying myself with an Impulse can. It seems to have the same amount of hold as my original hairspray, but I’ll need to trial it on a full day out to be able to tell you if there is any significant difference…
This product retails for $4.99 RRP, which is really decent for the quality!

Finally, a bonus product rave!



(…yeah okay not really, I forgot to put it in the original photo)

This is my super cheapie synthetic teasing brush [x] that I bought off of Ebay!

My fringe has been rustling my jimmies lately when it starts to grow out, so I thought now would be a good time to learn to tease the frick out of it. I’ve found that giving my fringe that grip really helps get rid of those nasty “fringe gaps” that happen to me throughout the day, and for only $2.30 it’s been quite the handy tool!


Aaaaaand that’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed this July edition of my favourite things!

                                                                                                    ♡ Until next time ♡

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

♡ Products That I've Been Loving ♡

Hello buds,

Long time no blog…Safe to say that I got swept up in the stress of exams, and I am now recovering from my wisdom teeth removal. So much fun!

This was meant to be a June favourites blog post, but I think we’re a little too far into July for me to get away with that. Therefore, this is a post about some stuff I think is pretty great.

DISCLAIMER: I bought all of these nice things with my own money. I’m not being sponsored by any of these companies and my glowing opinions are my own <3.

Let’s get started!

First off, let me just ogle over a life changing make up product for dark circles. I should point out that I have very, VERY dark circles that require four layers of makeup to cover, which is neither fun nor economical to endure.



The Savvy CC Powder [x] in the shade Brightening has literally changed my life.  It brightens my dark circles with or without makeup, which for me increases my comfort level so much for when I want to go outside but can’t be arsed putting my face on. It has teeny-weeny shimmer particles through it, which are barely noticeable unless you’re swinging your head back and forth. Even then you would be a sparkly goddess, so is that really a con? 
Unfortunately, I think this powder is only available in Australia (sorry international friends!). However, by Australian standards, it is extremely affordable at $9.99 RRP. 

Next, let’s talk about hair products. 


Do you have red hair? 
Does it fade like a bitch?
Then you need John Frieda's Colour Refreshing Gloss [x] in your life. 
(For reference, I use the shade Warm Reds)
I have been using this product for two months now and oh my god is it wonderful. Let me start by saying I dye my hair with Schwarzkopf Live Hair Dye ( [x] and [x] ), which is only supposed to last 8 washes. Over a month later, my hair is just as bright as when I dyed it! 
Because I’m so committed, I did a timeline of how my hair looked throughout a month of using this product.

This is the day I dyed it:


This is me halfway through the month:

And here we have me a month later:
Dat study glam tho.
Now, THAT, is magic.
John Frieda’s Colour Refreshing Gloss retails for $16.99 RRP, but is regularly on sale at Chemist Warehouse and Priceline. 


Let’s talk about hair-styling products. Anyone with a pixie cut will know the struggle of finding the right products to do your hair justice. I feel that I have now found a winning combination that equates to hair badassery.

Behold, Fudge Matt Hed Extra [x]:






And Cedel Extra Firm Hairspray for Hard to Hold Hair! [x]





Fudge Matt Hed Extra is literally glue for your hair. I like to use this to stick my hair in its standard punky position and then spray it like crazy with the Cedel Extra Firm Hairspray. If the right amount of product is used, your hair will not move for no man.
 I’m not even exaggerating. Forget the days where the wind is your worst enemy, you now can take on the damn world!
Now, Fudge Matt Hed Extra is quite pricey in Australia, retailing at $19.99 RRP. However, both Priceline and Chemist Warehouse regularly have Fudge sales, so I would take advantage of those wherever possible.
Cedel Extra Firm Hairspray is the high price of $3.99 RRP. I know, I know, you may feel like you’re breaking the bank, but it is definitely worth it. 


Moving on to skincare!





I have no idea why, but deodorants have never lived up to expectations. I have always ended up a sweaty, yucky mess at the end of the day, whether it is scorching hot or freezing cold outside. I decided to try Mitchum Women Clinical Odour Control Powder Fresh deodorant [x] (say that ten times fast…). I have to say that, without a doubt, this is the best deodorant ever. My armpits smell like lemons all day long, and I barely produce a drop of sweat. What more could you ask for?
Mitchum-long-ass-name-deodorant retails for $12.95 RRP. This is a little pricier than your bog standard deodorants such as Dove and Nivea, but this product is regularly on sale at stores like Priceline and Coles for under $10.00. 
I’m frugal, can you tell?
Someone forgot to take a picture~
Finally, the award for best exfoliating scrub on this earth goes to Sukin Super Greens Detoxifying Facial Scrub [x]. I started using this a week ago when my skin had a massive acne breakout in all the worst places. I’m talking mountains on my cheeks that no concealer could cover, which were also majorly owchy. This scrub has literally faded any signs that I ever had bad skin. I have not had skin this acne free since before my Lyme Disease treatment. Furthermore, it reduces my oil production, meaning my makeup doesn’t break up on my face for over 10 hours! I recommend every person give this one a go, it is so gentle and keeps your skin baby smooth! On top of that, it smells like lollies. Need I say more?
This scrub retails for $12.99 RRP, and is worth every single penny.

We have reached the end of my list of amazing products. I hope that these recommendations have helped you if you had been iffy about trying any of them!
                                                                                                                  ♡ Until next time ♡