I'm a beauty junkie. I love to try new things and I love finding new brands and ingredients. But lately I've been feeling less like a beauty junkie and more like a hoarder. 

I'm actually pretty good at finishing products (I often share my empties on my Instastories) but I have a bad habit of chopping and changing what I'm using so I have a lot of half used products in my bathroom.  

So my goal for 2020 is to buy less and use up more. Last night I went through my bathroom and counted up how many products I have that are opened and half used. Here's what I have...

Micellar water - 2

Oil Cleansers/First Cleanser - 8

Second/Morning Cleanser - 3

Toner - 7

Serums - 13

Face Oils - 5

Moisturiser - 11

Exfoliator - 8

Eye cream - 2

Face Mask - 18

Sheet Mask - 29 

Sunscreen - 3

Some of the total aren't that bad, like eye cream and sunscreen, but others are out of control... hello 29 sheet masks!!!

So this year I'm going to use products that I already have open instead of buying something shiny and new or opening a product in my stash. 

Also this year I'm going to go on a low buy. I know I should go on a no buy, but I'm realistic that it just wouldn't happen. Originally I was going allow myself 5 products a month, but after looking at my collection I will go with 3 items a month I'm allowed to buy. It could be make up, hair or skin. But it can't be anymore than 3 products. 

Because I'm a rule breaker I will exclude dry shampoo and sunscreen in my monthly "allowance," as I probably go through 2-3 dry shampoos every month. And suncreen is a way of life and an essential so I want to keep that as an exclusion. 

I learnt in 2019 that doing challenges (like the 30 days of masks or the sample challenge) is a great way of being able to use up products as well as finding new products that are already in my stash. I'll be doing more challenges on my Instagram this year to help me encourage to use up more of what I have. 

If you've done a low buy or a no buy, feel free to give me any tips on how to survive it. So wish me luck and if you follow me on Instagram, remind me I don't need to buy anything!

Best wishes for 2020,
Amy, xo

It's that time of year when Priceline have their big skincare sale where you can save up to 50% off skincare, suncare and tanning. Here are some products that I love, that you might fall in love with too. 

Cleansers

I'm turning 35 next month and a lot of cream cleansers feel too heavy for my skin. While my skin isn't oily or combination anymore, it's not quite dry. So I love the Aus Medic Co Peptide Face Cream Cleanser* as it's light but creamy and it doesn't leave any residue on my skin like other cream cleansers can. 

I love oil cleansers and now there's so many available at Priceline. One oil cleanser that I've been adoring is the Cremorlab T.E.N. Cremor Refreshing Cleansing Gel Oil. This cleansing oil would be fantastic for anyone with oily skin or for someone who hasn't tried an oil cleanser before. I love the sleek packaging and the pump applicator.

The Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil is a fantastic, affordable option. The packaging is simple and the pump is great. It's a bit more heavier and "oily" than the Cremorlab cleanser so it would be great for normal to dry skin. 

Mist & Essence

I started using skincare in the 90s and back then it was cleanse - tone - moisturise (such a simpler time), so I always love to try new toners. The latest one I've been using is the Aus Medic Co Anti Pollution Mist.* And the more I use it, the more I love it. It feels so refreshing and I love the packaging. 

I have only tried a few essences, but my favourite one is the Cremorlab Mineral Treatment Essence. What I love about this essence, is that it's easy to use and my skin really glows when I use it. I sometimes use it after a mist and before a serum, while if I'm feeling really lazy I'll use it as a toner and serum and then use a moisturiser to lock the essence onto my skin.

Serums

I go through phases where I use oils but other times I like to use serums. One serum that I instantly fell in love with was the Aus Medic Co Intensive Peptide Face Lift Serum.* This gel based serum is pricey, but worth every cent - I'd even pay more for it! I love that it sits well under my make up and it sets quickly. It's an amazing serum that my skin loves. 

If you're after a vitamin C serum then the Solal Vitamin C Serum is a fantastic serum to try. It's texture is light and works well under my make up. I like the packaging as it's opaque and has a pump. I've also heard great things about the new La Roche Posay Vitamin C10 Serum.

Moisturiser

I prefer to use lightweight moisturisers as I normally use a serum, oil or wear make up, so having lots of light layers works best for my skin. The Cremorlab Fresh Water Gel is really light and I think you'd love it if you have oily skin. It's a lightweight gel that sinks into the skin easily and quickly. I also love to use this to lock in moisture after using a sheet mask.

The Solal Replenishing Moisturiser* is another light moisturiser that works well under make up. I love the opaque packaging and the pump applicator. 

But my all time favourite moisturiser is the Aus Medic Co Illuminating Peptide Moisturiser.* It has a soft uplifting scent that always gets me in a good mood. It's light and makes my skin glow. If you only buy one product at the sale, it NEEDS to be this!

Masks

There are so many amazing masks to pick from but lately I've been loving the L'Oreal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Mask. You can use this as a wash off mask, but I adore it as a sleep/overnight mask. I wake up with super plump skin that feels so incredibly soft. 

Two masks that bloggers rave about are the Trilogy Age-Proof Overnight Mask* and the Andalou CannaCell Glow Mask.* These masks leave you with glowing skin and they live up to the hype. 

Another amazing mask that leaves you with glowing skin is the Andalou Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask.* It does tingle for a minute or two, but it doesn't irritate my skin. 

If you're looking for hydrating and anti aging masks then the Kotia Nourishing Cream Mask* and the Aus Medic Co Phyto-Nutrient Face Mask* are wonderful. They're soft on the skin and leave your skin feeling hydrated. 

If you have break outs or oily skin, then the Alya Skin Australian Pink Clay Mask* is amazing. Even though it's a clay mask, it's not stripping on the skin. And who doesn't love a pink face mask!

Sheet masks are amazing, especially when you have dry skin. My all time favourite sheet mask is the Cremorlab Marine Hyaluronic Revital Mask. This pack of sheet masks hydrates my skin and makes it feel so soft. I look like I've had a professional facial when I use this. The Dr LeWinn's Vitamin & Mineral Nourishing Face Mask is a great sheet mask too, for hydrating the skin.

The Skin Physics Total 360 Eye Revive Mask is a much repurchased eye mask that I love to use when the skin around my eyes are looking tired. I always have one in my skincare fridge to use when i need a skin pick me up.

Sunscreen

And finally, the best and most affordable anti-aging skincare product you should use daily is sunscreen. For the longest time I didn't use sunscreen enough because too many sunscreens felt heavy and greasy, but the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF50* is a game changer, especially for oily skin. It doesn't feel like a sunscreen at all. It feels more like a moisturiser. I wish this had been around when I was a teen!

Finally, I always will recommend picking up any of the Lanolips lip balms. They're amazing and I have about 6 opened in various rooms and handbags! It's a lifesaver when you have dry or cracked lips. 

And there are my recommendations. I could list a thousand more products, but these are the ones I've been using and loving lately. 

Will you be picking up anything at the sale?Amy, XO

*I was kindly gifted this to review. All thoughts and views are completely my own, and are always 100% honest. See my disclosure policy here.

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Facebook 

Follow me on Twitter  
Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Bloglovin 

Hi, it's me again! It's been a while since I've blogged and originally I was going to have a current favourites as a first post, but I have so many thoughts about the Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50+ Lightweight Sun Serum that it really needs it's own blog post. It also needs a shorter name!

I know I've seen it blowing up my Instagram feed and I'm sure you've seen the bright blue bottle on your feed too! Bloggers are raving about it but does it really live up to the hype? Yes...... and no! Let me explain.

The product is amazing. Firstly the packaging is great. I love bright blue bottle. It has an old school glam feel to it with the dropper. The dropper is great for getting the right amount of product. They say to use 2-3 droppers worth of product to apply to your face, chest, neck and ears. I prefer to use 2 drops and focus more on my face and use a cheaper body sunscreen on my chest, shoulders and neck.   

I ordered it on Wednesday the 20th of Feb and it arrived on the 26th which was the following Tuesday. 

If you've tried the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen then you know the consistency has a watery but milky feel to it. So does the UV Queen Screen. It's really easy to apply and sinks in to the skin quite easily. 

I normally like to leave my sunscreen for 5-10 minutes to sink into the skin before applying my primer and foundation. Their website says that it doesn't pile, but I have had it pile on 2 occasions. I just washed it off my skin, reapplied the sunscreen and then applied my make up and it was fine. The first time it happened I applied a moisturiser with sunscreen (SPF30) before and then when I tried to rub the Queen Screen it started to ball up. The second time I had applied this and went to apply a primer that had sunscreen and when I rubbed the primer in it balled up. So I try and make sure if I use this then I try and make sure my moisturiser and primer doesn't contain SPF as the other times I used this sunscreen I had no issues.

I also purchased their Peach lip balm. I like that this is not only slightly tinted but that it also contains SPF. I wouldn't bother using this when I'm inside. It will just be in my handbag or pram for when I'm outside.

I think Ultra Violette is a fantastic brand. I love that they're a brand that's dedicated to make sure women and men use sunscreen daily. They also have a mattifying and a hydrating sunscreen, so you can easily find a sunscreen that works for you and your skin.

So if I love the product, the packaging and the brand then what didn't I like?

For me it comes down to price and convenience. The sunscreen costs $47 but their free shipping doesn't start until you've spent $50 or more. You can get shipping for $7.50 or express is $10. So if you just want to buy this, then it's a minimum of $54.50.

As I said before it took a week to get to me, so I would need to order it before I run out or hope that I have a sunscreen I can use while it's being sent.

So for me I would prefer to order the Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50 Sunscreen because it's cheaper ($40) and it has 25mls more. Mecca also do free express shipping, which normally is delivered the next day for me. 

So while I love the product, the price and the convenience is the only draw back for me. I would love to be able to purchase this from a physical store like Mecca or Priceline. It would also mean I could test the scent and consistency first before buying it.

Have you ever not bought something online because you prefer to go instore and pick it up straight away?
Amy XO 

I purchased this myself. All thoughts and views are completely my own, and are always 100% honest. 

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Facebook   

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Bloglovin 

Usually when you think of a hair straightener, you think of a device that either straightens or curls. It's true that you can create amazing hair styles by curling or straightening the hair but lately I've been using the ghd Platinum Nocturne Styler* to create more than just straight or curly hair.

I've been using the ghd straightener more to prep my hair so my hair style will look more polished or to also give my hair more volume without having to use lots of stiff styling products. 

A bit about my hair ...

I have dyed blonde hair and I get foils twice a year. My hair is fine in texture, although I have a lot of it. I try and limit the use of styling products so my hair stays cleaner for longer, which means I can get away with washing my hair twice a week. 

Being a mum of 2 girls, I don't have a lot of time in the morning to do my hair so I depend on quick and easy styles. One of the easiest prep steps that I do is to keep my hair in a bun while I sleep. It keeps my hair from getting tangled while I sleep and I wake up with soft waves.

To make the waves even better I run the ghd straightener once through my hair and then put it up in a bun so the curls last longer. Then in the morning when I'm about to leave for the school drop off, I'll take my hair and either use my fingers or a wide tooth comb to gentle smooth my hair and lightly break up the curls. 

What I love about the ghd is that it heats up in 20 seconds. Having 2 young kids running in and out of the bathroom while a straightener is heating up is nerve racking, so I love that it heats up so quickly. It also automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of non use which is a lifesaver when you're rushing in the morning. No longer do you have to worry about if your straightener was left on or not! 

The heat resistant bag is also amazing as I can use it while I'm using the straightener but also to put it in the bag while it's cooling down and keep it safe from little, curious hands.

The ghd website has an amazing hairstyle section where you can get inspiration on different ways to use their straighteners and wands. They have it in categories so you can find styles for your hair length or for a particular event like a wedding or festival.

I'm currently growing out my fringe so most days I will just pin my fringe out of the way and keep the rest of my hair down. 

I really like the Rope Braid but having different lengths in my fringe made it slightly difficult to recreate. So instead I pinned back most of my fringe and the front section until the layers became difficult to keep in a plait. I find it easier to do a deep parting on one side as it helps hide the layers more than when I do a mid or off center parting. 

What I like about this style is that the waves don't have to be perfect. I can miss bits of hair and it doesn't matter. The gentle waves help add body and give more volume without having to use any spray at all.  

I was also inspired by their Double Braid but made it a bit more time friendly (as well as fringe friendly) and only did a plait with the top half of my hair. To keep it from falling out as I often walk the girls to school, I instead used to clear hair tie to make sure that any pins wouldn't fall out especially on windy days. 

I also joined the plaits together and continued the plait to give it more of a bond and to stop it from coming apart. A quick use of the ghd can help rid flyaways. 

I can't recommend the ghd line enough. It was the very first big beauty purchase I made 11 years ago and their straighteners have just gotten better and better. 

I also have their hair dryer which is about 4 years old now and it's amazing. I use it a couple of times a week and I also use it on the girls hair. It works quickly and it's amazing how much less damage a quality hair device does to your hair!

Do you use hair tools often? If so, do you prefer a straightener or a wand?
Amy, XO

*I was kindly gifted this to review. All thoughts and views are completely my own, and are always 100% honest. See my disclosure policy here.

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Facebook 

Follow me on Twitter  
Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Bloglovin 

Over the last year, microfibre cleansing cloths and pads have become a huge beauty trend. The Make Up Eraser was one of the first brands to really target beauty lovers and put the focus on removing make up not just using it to cleanse the skin.

Last year Face Halo released their own version. Instead of a towel, they created a small pad that not only is travel friendly but also a lot prettier. I had heard a lot of good hype about these but I ended up purchasing the Sante By Enjo after seeing Tried And Tested rave about them on Instagram.

I ended up buying the Flawless Skin Lilac set which comes with 7 make up removers, 2 exfoliating pads, a set of 3 make up bags and 2 mini laundry bags. This set costs $99 but they do have some smaller and larger sets depending on your budget. The also have a few different colours available.

The laundry bags are great as I can use them to put the dirty make up and exfoliating pads in the bag and wash them in the washing machine without damaging them. 

I like that the set has 7 of the make up pads so I have one for every day of the week. I normally will wash the dirty ones once there is 5 there so I always have clean ones available. 

All you need to do to remove your make up is to wet the pad and then wipe it (along with your make up) off your face. Because it's double sided, I normally use one side for the left side of my face and then the other side for the right side of my face. If you don't wear a lot of make up then you will only need one side to clean your face.

It gets almost all of my make up off but you may need something extra if you're wearing waterproof liner or mascara. Even though they do remove make up, I still normally will use a normal cleanser afterwards. I think this comes down to habit more than necessity as the last few years I've always done a double cleanse. Just now instead of using a cleansing balm or oil, I use the Sante make up removing pad. I also like to use these to help remove a face mask. 

I was really impressed with the exoliating pads. They help to remove dead skin without being abrasive or uncomfortable. I love to use these to help remove an exfoliator, especially one that's gentle and doesn't give me enough exfoliation alone. 

I absolutely love these and really want to buy another set as they're just fantastic!

I also ordered the Colour Change Brush Cleanser after seeing a video of it on Instagram. I own one of the brush cleansing sprays that you spray onto your brush to remove pigment quickly but I find a lot of the time that they don't dry quick enough and they can still feel damp, especially if you use natural brushes. The great thing about the Sante brush cleanser is there's no liquid so I don't need to wait until the brush dries to use it again. 

The cleansing pad that removes eyeshadow pigment looks like a microfiber pad but it feels prickly. This helps to break up the shadow and catch it in the pad. I love the brush cleanser as it's quick and easy to use. It helps to take out shadow pigment so you can go in and use another shade in less than 10 seconds. 

Even though your brush still looks like there's some eyeshadow on it, none will mix with your next shadow so you'll get a clean colour. I also love to use this to remove pigment from my crease brush so I can go back and blend more. I keep this in my bathroom so I don't have to go finding a new clean eye brush.

Sante also sell body gloves and towels to cleanse and exfoliate as well as a coconut cleanser to remover waterproof make up. 

Have you used a microfibre cloth to remove your make up? Did it live up to the hype?
Amy, XO