Products the bd team tested (and loved) this week.
Although this skincare range is aimed at a younger target age group than me, I was keen to try it because it has a fresh scent and actually feels cool when you scoop it out of the jar. While I usually opt for more anti-ageing ingredients, this cream does have the antioxidant power of angelica water, angelica essential oil and plant oil and has a silky, almost gel-like feel as it easily smooths into skin. The promise of 24-hour hydration was appealing because I naturally have quite dry skin. So I put L’Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream to the test when I knew I was going to be particularly busy and office-bound. After a longer than usual day at the office with meetings in air-conditioned rooms, I am very happy to confirm that my skin still felt fresh, soft and hydrated at the end of the day. - Janet
I’m already a massive fan of their Gentle Daily Exfoliant and Balancing Cleanser with Aloe Vera, so when Alpha-H’s newest skincare innovation – the Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear – landed on my desk, it was being slathered on the very next morning. Said to bridge the boundary between high performance skincare and mineral make-up, this product helps give skin a radiant glow as well as working to plump out fine lines and wrinkles. I’ve been using mine similarly to a primer every morning, and not only does it make my skin radiate and look hydrated – but it is also the perfect base for my make-up, making it slide on perfectly and stay put all day. Anti-ageing serum and primer in one. Got to love a multi-functional product! – Yelena
Mirabella Blush Colour Duo and Mirabella Blush Contour brush
This palette embodies the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover". Upon seeing this palette (Radiant) for the first time, I have to say I was a little scared of the pigmented powders it contained. While I never would have chosen it myself, Mirabella's Australian distributor Jai Harvey-Yin changed my mind. At the Mirabella stand at this year's Hair Expo, Jai insisted she apply some of the blush to my cheeks and I was quietly blown away by the effect she created – it just shows you need a professional to show you how to get the most out of your products. Jai applied the darker maroon shade to the "hollow" beneath my cheekbone, blending it upwards towards my temples. She then used the Blush Contour brush to apply the bright pop of orange onto the apples of my cheeks and voila! I was a new woman. I've since tried the look myself (see exhibit A, below) and am very pleased with the results! – Lucy
O Cosmedics Gentle Antioxidant Cleanser
To be honest, I've never been too fussed with quality facial cleansers. I didn't see the point in using one that had anti-ageing or tone-correcting properties because I figured that they're only on the skin for a short period of time before being washed off. Then I started using this O Cosmedics cleanser and I'm a changed person – literally! My skin is the clearest it has ever been, my pores have all but disappeared and despite cleansing twice both morning and night to get my make-up off, my skin never feels tight, dry or irritated. Now I must confess that I'm still using my Clarisonic and I loved the results I get from this device alone; but the Clarisonic gives me better skin texture whereas I find the Gentle Antioxidant Cleanser gives me a clearer and more hydrated complexion. The active ingredient is a patented peptide called V and it has antioxidants and anti-pollutant boosters in the formula and can be used by all skin types. I will definitely be keeping this as part of my regular skincare routine. - Michelle
The great thing about this 2-in-1 product is it combines two of my all time favourite beauty essentials - black liquid eyeliner and lash boosting serum. I wear black liquid eyeliner everyday, however, often I forget to apply my lash boosting serum (I started using lash boosting serums about a year ago in an attempt to give some oomph to my sparse lashes). Combining the two into one simple step ensures my lashes don’t miss out on any of the nourishment. The black tip is fine and long and allows me to create a perfect neat line and flick. - Bree
Animal print nail art - Broadway Press & Go, and
It's no secret I'm an animal-print lover, and while I usually prefer to rock the pattern of a leopard, cheetah, snake or tiger on my shoes or clothes, I've recently had a crack at giving my nails a bit of roar factor. My nails were called everything from amazing to crazy to full-on to ghetto, but in any case they've been quite fun to play around with. My products of choice? Broadway Press & Go stick on nails – these are pre-cut and coloured soft plastic nails that have an adhesive sticker on the bottom. Just peel it off, press onto your nail and you're done! You can file the nails to your preferred shape and I was surprised at their staying power of almost a week. As I've never had acrylic tips before, I wasn't used to having such a thick layer on my nails so they took some getting used to, but of all the nails I tried, I like this black, glittered giraffe pattern best.
I also got an animal-print fix from the Kiss Nail Dress nail stickers. This brand has a few animal print interpretations but I went for the black tiger print with jewelled strips. To make these stand out a bit more, I applied a lime green nail polish (Rimmel 60 Seconds in Limealicious) on my bare nails before sticking these over the top. The pattern is wider on these stickers so the colour underneath could show through, and brightened up my nails. These come with a sturdy nail file so it was easy to trim off the excess sticker. You can also cut these stickers up to create smaller designs rather use them for complete coverage.
The next ones I tried were the Fing'rs Flirt Nail Bling stickers. These decals were quite delicate in pattern and you simply press them onto your nails and use a file to shave off the excess length where your natural nail ends. As the tiger pattern has raised elements on a clear background, I applied a topcoat over them. These were the subtlest – and cheapest - of the animal print nails I tried, and I'd put these on again for a bit of fun. - Michelle
Pic caption (L-R): Broadway Press & Go, Kiss Nail Dress, Fing'rs Flirt Nail Bling
La Biosthetique Volume Power FINE
La Biosthetique Volume Powder FINE adds instant volume and texture to the hair. I used this product after blow-drying, adding the powder to the roots underneath the top layer of hair to make my locks look bigger. I have also used Volume Powder FINE when creating a large bun by applying it to the hair before teasing it. The powder helps add texture and hold the hair in place, allowing you to work the hair more and ensures that the teasing won’t just fall out. The powder is not messy, it adds great volume and texture to clean and dirty hair and washes out easily. - Liz
