All right ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for the world's longest blog post...
Over the last couple of months I've used up quite a few of the products that I use on a regular basis. Some of them I have already repurchased, and some of them I haven't but here's a quick look at what I've been using recently. It isn't an overly exciting list of products, but for the most part, they're really really good!
1. Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo $14.29
When it comes to dry shampoo, I'm very fussy. I can't stand the smell of most of them, and I find that they can be quite overpowering, and interfere with my perfume. I particularly dislike the Batiste ones, purely because I don't really want to smell like a tropical fruit bowl or whatever their most popular scent is! I've tried my fair share, and the only one I like is the Lee Stafford one. It smells just like the other LS products (AMAZING), and it isn't overwhelming. The most important thing though, is that it works. It doesn't make my hair look powdery, and it lasts the whole day if I've chosen to be lazy and not wash my hair. I tend to wash my hair every single day, as because its so fine, it gets limp and a bit yuck if I don't. If I'm wearing my hair in a bun however, I give this a quick spray through the roots, run my fingers through it a few times to work it in, and voila! I'm ready to go.
2. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent $12.95
You probably don't need to hear another person raving about this product...but I might anyway. I was first tempted to try this powder about six or seven months ago, as YouTube regular and blogger Tanya Burr absolutely loves it. I did indeed try it, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm currently on my third container (?) of this, and I think I will buy it until the day it gets discontinued, which hopefully will be never! When I first bought it, I absolutely hated the smell - it reminds of of 'old lady make up', which has a really artificial floral scent. Despite this, it never irritated my skin, or broke me out. The funny thing with a lot of products that I use is that if I hate the smell when I buy it, it is almost guaranteed that at some point I will decide that I love it. Case in point, when I first bought Clinique Superbalanced foundation I thought it smelled like clay, and now I love it. I'm an odd person that way. Back to the powder - I do indeed now love the scent. And everything else about it. I apply this with my Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Powder Brush, which is great because it doesn't pick up too much product (although I don't imagine this powder could ever look cakey) and I'm ready to go. The blurb on the packaging states that it provides up to five hours of non-shininess, however I disagree with this. For me, it lasts all day, apart from maybe needing to touch up on my chin mid-afternoon, as I tend to get quite oily through my t-zone. All in all, its a great little product, and well worth checking out.
3. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation $17.95
I did a comprehensive review of this in a previous blog post a couple of days ago, so I shan't bore you all again, but this foundation is great, and well worth the (very little) money that is costs. I have already used up one bottle of this and have purchased another.
4. John Frieda Luxurious Volume shampoo and conditioner $15.99 each
I used this range for over a year continuously, before I felt like I needed a bit of a change. For my flat and lifeless hair, I thought this shampoo was great. I found that it didn't give me volume as such, but it did give texture, which made my hair look a bit more exciting. The only fault I have with this shampoo is that it made my hair look quite dull. I do use a different shampoo every so often to avoid residue building up in my hair, but that didn't seem to make a difference. I have recently started using a Pantene Clinicare shampoo, and it makes my hair look a few shades lighter, and not dull at all.I won't be repurchasing this one in the near future.
5. L'Occitane Fleur Cherie hand cream $12
This is the best hand cream in the world. Period. I have never found a hand cream other than this one that actually sinks into the skin within a reasonable amount of time, and doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy or sticky. This particular one has a slightly thinner consistency than the original L'Occitane Shea Butter hand cream, and once I've rubbed it into my hands, it takes about a minute to sink in, and then its literally as if I've got nothing on my hands. But oh if you only knew what this product did! It smells INCREDIBLE, and leaves my hands so unbelievably soft. I don't even know how to describe the scent, its just that good. Its floral and sweet but without being floral or sweet at all. If that makes any sense. The only way for you to know what is smells like is to go to your nearest L'Occitane shop and try it yourself!
6. Lee Stafford My Big Fat Hair shampoo $10.29
We have a strange relationship, this shampoo and me. I bought it a little while ago because it was on sale, and I thought why not? I've loved so many things from the Lee Stafford range, why not give something else a try? Well, I did, and I'm still not entirely sure. I do love the smell, as it has the same scent as the rest of the LS range, and as a shampoo its fabulous. Much like the John Frieda shampoo, it gives me texture, so my hair doesn't look quite so boring and lifeless. The only problem with it is that it makes me hair extremely knotty! I use it just like any other shampoo and conditioner combination, yet when it comes to brushing it out with my Tangle Teezer, it is almost impossible, and I have to spend a good ten minutes dragging it through my hair to remove the semi-dreadlocks which seem to form all by themselves! Aside from this slight flaw, it is a good shampoo, and I may repurchase it again in the future.
7. Clinique 7-Day Scrub Exfoliator $47
I LOVE THIS! As I mentioned in a previous blog post, my skin care and foundations need to be fragrance free - hence why I use so many products from Clinique. This exfoliator makes my skin feel great. It has quite large exfoliating beads in it, so it actually feels like it is working, but it is by no means harsh. It doesn't strip the skin, and leaves a slight residue behind, but this isn't unpleasant, it keeps my skin nice and moisturised afterwards. It is gentle enough that it can be used every day, however I use it two to three times a week. It isn't the cheapest product ever, but I have found so few fragrance free exfoliators, and this is the only one I have ever tried that actually exfoliates. I will most definitely be repurchasing this.
8. Clinique Clarifying Lotion $36
This is another product that I have a love-hate relationship with. I have used up an entire 200ml bottle, and to start with, it has lasted me ELEVEN months, which I think is amazing. However. I don't think it really has any long-lasting benefits. It is supposedly a liquid exfoliator, to be used morning and night, to remove excess dirt from pores etc. The blurb claims that it 'clears away pollution and dulling flaked for smooth, glowing skin'. I can't say that I have noticed any significant differences in my skin, but I do use this in the morning before I apply my moisturiser and make up, and it feels nice to apply. I just tip a tiny bit onto a cotton pad and take it across my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. I'm yet to decide whether I will repurchase this one.
http://www.clinique.com.au/product/1573/15501/3--step/Step-2-Exfoliate/Clarifying-Lotion-1/index.tmpl
9. Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely perfume (price varies greatly depending on where it is purchased)
I used to be a perfume snob (and still am to some extent). I discovered this perfume in the duty free section of an airport. I bought the tiny 30ml bottle, as I had forgotten to take a perfume on holiday with me. As I continued to use it, I fell more and more in love with it. I just finished my second 50ml bottle, and I have already purchased the 100ml bottle. I think it is a really nice perfume, feminine and grown up without being too grown up. I don't know how to describe the top notes and base notes or any notes for that matter, but take it from me that this is a really nice perfume, and if you're smart about where you buy it, it can be ridiculously cheap (I got the 100ml bottle for AU$29).
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