Beauty Bargain: e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator

Winter is great and stuff but my skin hates it. My skin hates everything actually, but winter weather is its nemesis. Dry, oily and blergh - and it's the same for my lil lippies. They get chapped so so easily, basically rendering my matte lipsticks useless due to them sticking to the gross bits on my lips.

Enter the e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator. I haven't had a lot of luck with their products until this one. I've been wanting some lip exfoliator stuff for a while but I was wanting to avoid the loose stuff, as such - like the pots they sell at Lush. I saw this online and knew I had to have it - all the benefits of a lip exfoliator in a lipstick tube!

This stuff works like a charm at removing the winter sadness from your lips. As you can see in the photo, it's rough sugary-ness scrubs away at your lips but doesn't leave them dry or bleeding in any way. It's easy to use - just scrub away at your lips, wipe off excess sugar with a cotton pad then coat your lips liberally in lip balm. After using this every morning for about a week, my lips have improved considerably.

And it's cheap too! I got this for around $10NZD, which, in retrospect, is expensive but it's worth it out of pure convenience. I highly recommend this to combat the winter blues. Even if your face has become a wintery mess, plump, luscious lips with a coat of lipstick makes all the bad things disappear.

What is your favourite lip scrub?

xo
Bridget ♡

Review: Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait

Winter has not been kind to my lips. I prefer matte lipsticks but I realised the harsh temperatures we've been having have taken a toll on my lips so I decided to check out the Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butters. I really wanted Juicy Papaya but they apparently don't sell it here in NZ so I settled on Peach Parfait - a nude/pink shimmer that looks subtle but gorgeous.

Review: The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner + Mattifying Moisture Lotion

I've already said it, but I'll say it again - I love this stuff. The Body Shop's seaweed range has been a real life saver for my face. After using these products, my skin has improved tenfold. I highly recommend these if you have acne prone skin, scarring or just want your complexion to improve.

Review: Freeman's Facial Polishing & Purifying Masks

I popped by my local pharmacy because I was feeling down and knew I had to spend money to fill the gaping void in my soul. There, I found Freeman face masks for $8.70 on sale! I've had mixed experiences with face masks, I find they often dry out my skin far too much but my skin has changed over the years (less oily, less dry) so i thought it would be a good time to try out these cult favourites.

Review: The Body Shop 'Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion'

I have some issues with acne scarring and general redness on my face so I've been on the lookout for budget friendly blemish lotions. I love tea tree - it reminds me of when I used to take baths in my residential hall as I used to pour in the tea tree oil and feel like a princess, so I associate the delish smell with that.

Wish List #1

I'm after the essentials this month! These essentials unfortunately aren't items I can find in Arthur Barnetts but I love getting packages in the mail, so there you go.

1. The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Cleansing Polish

I got a sample of this when I last bought something at The Body Shop and I'm absolutely in love with it. The sample had enough for 4 uses and I enjoyed every one. It's like a gel, with smooth exfoliating specks in it, it wasn't rough at all which I loved, especially compared to my St Ives scrub, which can be irritating. I'm totally keen to buy this after using the sample, the smell is so delicious, it works amazingly and I love The Body Shop, so why not.

2. MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

I am probably going to buy this next week because I neeeeeed it. I love red lipstick, it's pretty much all I wear, despite this, I don't have a by MAC. I soon will. Want want want.

3. Nars Orgasm Blush

This is totally relying on whether I can get this online in NZ or not, sadly. I've only heard great things about this blush so I'm super excited to add this to my collection. I would be willing to get a similar colour but obviously Orgasm is necessary for anyway makeup collection so I must have it.

4. St. Ive's Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturiser

I've never seen this anywhere where I live but I need a new moisturiser and this seems to be the one of choice. It's affordable and amazing so I'm super keen to try it. If I can't get my hands on it, I'll probably get the Hemp Face Protector by The Body Shop.

Review: Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 'Cool Bone'

When I buy foundations, I only buy double wear/long lasting branded ones. I will never settle for a 'dewy' look, sheer finish or whatever else they advertise because long wear is where it's at. Estee Lauder has totally created what I consider to be the best long wear foundation ever, and I've used quite a few. It comes in 26 shades (from memory) all the way from the lightest light, to the darkest dark; it comes in an adorable glass bottle; and whenever I buy Estee Lauder products, I always get freebies, so there's that too.

This foundation has been my go to this winter because throughout all the nose blowing, harsh winds and rain, this has kept me looking somewhat alive and like I actually have perfect skin. This stuff works. It has amazing coverage. For those of you blessed with nice skin, I would doubt that you'd need concealer underneath because this has such awesome coverage. It isn't thick and gluggy but it covers up tiny blemishes nicely.

The colour range is like nothing I've ever seen before! I actually had the option of the two lightest shades, not just one! I opted for the lightest shade - 1C1 Cool Bone. The second lightest shade was more warm but my face is one big circle of coolness so I went for this one. It matches my skin tone perfectly, no orangeness, just perfect coverage that matches my skin. If you tan, I would recommend having one for summer and one for winter (if you are that way inclined/are that rich) because the shades match that well. Otherwise, I'd just recommend this as a winter foundation due to it being so long lasting that a BB cream or sheer foundation would be nicer on the face in the warmer months.

My only gripe with this is the packaging. Yes, it comes in a gorgeous glass bottle but there's no pump. To get out the foundation, I usually flip it upside down then back again so some accumulates in the lid, then dip my foundation brush into it. When I bought it, I was never given to option to purchase a pump separately, so I assume you can't. You could screw a new lid on but I don't have the time to go searching for Estee Lauder foundation size screw pump lids, but let me know in the comments if you do!

Overall, this foundation is amazing. The coverage is on par, along with the colour range available. I totally recommend this for people who have pigmentation issues due to the coverage, or people who need a foundation that will last a 12 hour day (this will, if you set with powder). I bought this for $80NZD which is absolutely ridiculous but the high price is so worth it because of the sheer quality.

xo Bridget

The Body Shop 'Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser' + Seaweed Mask

I. Love. This. Stuff. I've been using it for a few weeks now and it's improved my skin tenfold. It was also this product that reminded me of the awesomeness that is The Body Shop and thus I've been back far too many times (as you shall see in future posts).