I'm not a soap girl – liquid body washes are my preference over slippery and usually soggy cakes of the white stuff. Of course, to refer to anything in Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino Collection as just a bath soap is a gross understatement. While it is a cleansing bar, it's also the most divine and beautifully scented soap you will ever have the pleasure of washing down the bathroom sink. I had planned on going against my belief that all your best stuff should be used first and save it for a special occasion (what that could possibly be for a soap, I really don't know), but once I caught a whiff of the seaside-inspired fragrance which mixes floral, citrus and amber notes, it was out of the turquoise wrapping and washing my hands in a matter of seconds.
Named after the Italian village of Portofino, the luxury designer has created a range that that can transport you straight to the Mediterranean. And given the decidedly average summer Sydney will be experiencing this year, it is more than I can hope for. – Michelle
essence Vampire’s Love eye shadow palette
Ever since I tried the bdBLOG: Magic mirror earlier this year, I’ve been a bit more experimental with my eye shadow colours – especially purples. My new favourite palette is Vampire’s Love by essence with its six contrasting colours (and no, it hasn’t got anything to do with being Team Edward). Featuring gold, silver, grey, purple, pink and charcoal – the range of shades is great for working from day to night. And at $7.50, it’s an absolute steal! - Yelena
Pronamel®
I find over the holiday period (when the booze flows regularly and sugared treats are constantly on offer), my teeth are more prone to sensitivity. I decided this Christmas season they needed a bit of extra TLC and have made a change in my oral care routine, moving from my usual toothpaste to a more caring alternative. Pronamel® is said to protect the teeth and re-harden acid softened enamel. After two weeks of twice daily use, I must say my teeth feel less sensitive all the time - especially when drinking cold drinks. - Liz
Elnett Satin Normal Strength Hairspray
Preparing for a black-tie function on Friday night, my at-work glamover hit a snag when I realised my hair was so dirty it wasn’t going to obey the command of my curling wand. Just when I thought I was going to have to chuck a hissy fit, my colleague Olivia came to the rescue, opting to recreate the messy-yet-formal-fishtail braid made famous by Blake Lively. I don’t exactly know how she did it (you’ll have to go to beautyheaven.com.au to find that out!), but I loved the results. To secure the whole look in place, we needed a sturdy-as hairspray that would give me a matte finish in keeping with the undone” feel of the style. Enter L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin. It kept my hair in place all night long (right through to the dancefloor in the early hours of Saturday morning), and the 75mL bottle was tiny enough to put in my handbag! This baby will be accompanying me on many a night out I think. - Lucy
Revitanail Strengthen & Lengthen Christmas Collection
When a red pod full of nail products arrived on my desk, I hoped it would be the solution to my nail-biting habit. A week ago I started on the recommended 25-day program, and already my nails are feeling stronger and even have little white tips. The pod comes with a 30ml nail strengthener, hand & nail cream, nail polish remover and a nail buff. The strengthener is thick in consistency but dries quicker than the other strengtheners I have tried. The hand cream is super nourishing and quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving any annoying residue. I can’t wait to see how my nails look at the end of the program – I have a good feeling about this one! - Bree
Alba Botanica sugar cane body polish
I’ve never been a huge fan of exfoliating. While I love the feel of my skin afterwards, if I’m only after a quick rinse – I tend to just opt for the soap and cleanser. As a result, I was a little dubious when the Alba Botanica sugar cane body polish first landed on my desk. As soon as I opened the tub, my doubts quickly subsided. First off, the smell is amazing. I also loved the feel of the body polish. It felt like you were applying a silky body wash as opposed to some of the stickier substances that sometimes comes with other exfoliators. This polish includes sugar cane containing enzymes with alpha hydroxy acids that gently dissolve and exfoliate dull surface cells – perfect for someone who spends as much time in the outdoors as I do. My skin was left feeling soft and smooth. I’m already looking forward to my next shower time! - Yelena
