Natio Flawless Foundation SPF15 Review

This review is gonna be a bit of a downer. I really wanted to love this foundation because I love Natio, but this foundation really disappointed me.

This is what Natio says about it on their website-

Instantly skin smoothing foundation combines full coverage, lightweight texture and lasting hydration with a velvety finish for a perfectly even complexion.

The only real positives I can find about this foundation is the fact that it is medium to full coverage, and that it contains an SPF.

Everything else about it is not great. The foundation itself is really thick, and any more than one light coat of this makes it cake to all-heavens. Even with one light coat, within a few hours it was settling into fine lines and was really oily looking (even though I have dryer skin).

The foundation also only comes in four shades, and the lightest shade 'light to medium' is almost too dark for my NW20 skin, so anyone with lighter skin than that is out of luck. Even so, I had to be really careful to blend it all the way down my neck as otherwise it left that awful mask-foundation look that isn't pretty.

I tried applying this with fingers, a damp sponge, and a buffing brush, and all gave pretty much the same result and ended up the same way after a few hours- oily and cakey looking.

To make matters worse, I broke out quite a bit after my first use, and while subsequent uses didn't break me out, they did clog my pores. This is very strange for me as no makeup product has ever made me break out.

The undertone of this foundation is also really strange. I noticed when I blended it onto my hand above outside in natural light it had a really strong pink undertone, however, when I applied it inside it looked almost orange undertoned when I blended it down onto my neck. Weird, right?

Natio also recently introduced another foundation that has medium coverage that my Mum bought and thinks is OK, so you might have better luck with that one. Unfortunately I really can't recommend this one :-(

Don't let this put you off trying out other Natio skin care and makeup though as they do have some quality products.

PRICE  $22.50 NZD, $17.95 AUD

AVAILABILITY  Farmers Stores in NZ, Priceline Stores in AUS

RATING  D-

Have you tried this foundation and made it work? Have you had any other disappointments with foundations recently? Let me know! :)

Sukin Rose Hip Hydrating Day Cream | Review, Swatch & Pics

Today I'm bringing you a review of a lovely organic day cream from the Australian brand Sukin. I've been really impressed with a few of their face care products recently, this being one of them.

Sukin is quite an affordable organic skin care line that is easily accessible in both Australia and New Zealand.

Here is what Sukin have to say about this cream-

An antioxidant rich blend of rose hip, pomegranate and kakadu plum to deeply moisturise for a radiant complexion.

This intensive moisturiser combines rose hip oil and pomegranate to help combat dry skin and prevent the signs of premature ageing. Kakadu plum, naturally rich in Vitamin C, will leave skin looking radiant and a generous blend of active botanicals will leave skin smooth and hydrated.

Suitable for all skin types.

This cream has a lovely emolient texture and sinks into the skin beautifully. I suffer from quite dehydrated skin, and while this was not a miracle product in terms of getting rid of all my dry patches, it leaves my skin feeling soothed, refreshed, and I do actually notice my face looks brighter and more even. Anybody with more normal/combo skin would do great with this day cream as it doesn't leave an oily residue. 

Some creams can aggravate redness around my cheeks and nose area, but this cream does none of that which I appreciate. Because this cream is a wee bit thicker than drugstore moisturisers, I have been using it as both a day and night cream and it works well as both I think.

The cream comes in a glass jar with a plastic screw-on lid, and contains 120ml of product, which should last a very long time. I've been using the cream for nearly a month and have barely dented it!

Loving those ingredients! Overall, I think this is a very nice day cream for pretty much every skin type. Those like me who have very dehydrated skin might need a little bit extra like a great skin oil underneath, but everyone else should be set with just this. I do wish this had an SPF incorporated in it though being a day cream, but you can't have everything. :-p

PRICE   $23.95 AUD, around $25 NZD

AVAILABLILITY  Farmers Stores in NZ, Priceline Stores in AUS.

RATING  A

Have you tried any Sukin products? What do you think of organic skin care?

Chi Chi Lipstick in Hot Stuff | Review, Swatch & Photo

I'm quickly growing a collection of Chi Chi lipsticks- they are just so creamy and pigmented and long-lasting!

My newest one is called Hot Stuff- a cream formula in a soft orange coral shade.

This is seriously my new favourite colour to wear- built up it's a beautiful bright orange coral, or faded out it's a very pretty light coral, very wearable during the day and brightens up my complexion which is always helpful for my poor fair skin :)

Here I am wearing it with nothing but a touch of lipbalm underneath in natural light...

Overall, I'd classify Hot Stuff as a very wearable orange shade with a nice creamy formula and great staying power. I really recommend this one for everyone who wants to venture into the world of orange ;-)

PRICE  Around $23NZD.

AVAILABILITY  Farmers Department stores in NZ.

RATING  A

What's your favourite lipstick shade of the moment? Are you a fan of the orange lip? Let me know :-)

Michael Todd True Organics Tropical Fruit Scrub | My HG Scrub for Dry Skin! | Review & Photos

Well hello there! First I've got to apologise for the brief hiatus- I've been on holiday down in Queenstown for the past week or so having the best time of my life, it is seriously gorgeous down there.

I thought I'd break my silence with this little gem that has come highly recommended by many different people, including the gorgeous Shaaanxo on Youtube.

Now I've been having serious troubles with dry skin around my t-zone for the past year or so, and tried a lot of different moisturisers, serums, scrubs and oils to try and combat the flaky dry patches that makeup doesn't hide. None of these products did much at all to rid me of the dryness, until I started using this tropical fruit scrub by Michael Todd True Organics. 

This is the first product I've tried from this company, and am seriously impressed by both the affordability and the results you get.

This is what Michael Todd True Organics has to say about this scrub -

Naturally fruity refreshing skin treatment that uses the power of Papaya and Pineapple Enzymes as a mild non-irritating exfoliant to remove dead skin, impurities and toxins without irritation caused by scrubbing. Exfoliates, moisturizes and firms, improves elasticity and pliability of the skin, unclogs pores allowing skin to breathe and facilitates movement of skin oils. Gently refines skin texture and encourages skin renewal.

This scrub can be used on all skin types, but is especially good on dry skin. The texture of the scrub is very creamy and instead of harsh exfoliating beads, it feels more like a fine grain which is a lot more gentle on the skin.

I find that you only need the tiniest amount of product to exfoliate the whole face, so it means the 100ml scrub will last me a long time which I like a lot.

Now on to what I think is the best feature of the scrub (apart from the fact it actually works)....the smell. Oh my gosh. The SMELL. It is absolutely incredible. Like a tropical sugary explosion on your face. I think it actually smells like skittles. 

I've been using the scrub every night after cleansing thoroughly for about a week to start off with (I'll use it less often once my dry patches are gone) and have seen a dramatic reduction in the flakier areas of my skin. My face feels baby smooth and my pores look smaller, and I find that makeup just sits better on my face and the dry patches are no where near as noticeable. And this is after only using it for a week! 

Overall I'm a very happy girl indeed!

Btw- I've found to get the best results from this scrub you should leave it to skin on the skin for a minute or so and then scrub gently into the skin and wash away.

PRICE  $18USD - so converts to around $23NZD at current rates.

AVAILABLITY  I bought mine off the Michael Todd True Organics Website. They have affordable international shipping which includes tracking.

RATING  A+

Have you tried this scrub and liked the results? Any other Michael Todd products that are worth a try? Please share in the comments!

Australis Creme Colour in Flirtatious Pink | Review, Swatch

I love using creamy products in Winter, as I think we need all the moisture our skin can get, so I was interested to try out one of the Australis Creme Colour cheek and lip tints in Flirtatious Pink.

Product Claim

Soft crème colour for cheeks and lips creates a sheer finish for a subtle, candlelit glow. The rejuvenating and refreshing formula reduces dehydration and signs of fatigue.

2 in 1 product! Ultra smooth texture, so smooth that it melts into the skin leaving a subtle glow for lips and cheeks.

A cool bonus for this blush/ lip product is that it is also vegan!

Now on to the review...

I think this is another solid offering from Australis. The colour of this creme product on the cheeks is the perfect pink-flushed glow that looks great on everybody (except darker skintones may have trouble making this show up).

The formula is sort of a waxy texture that does absorb into the skin nicely. I even quite liked this on my lips, but it does need a gloss overtop as it can be a little drying, and has a very slight taste of something mildly unpleasant, but with a gloss overtop that goes away.

Heavy Swatch of Australis Creme Colour in Flirtatious Pink

The same swatch above sheered out. This is more accurate as to what it looks like on the cheeks.

Staying power is pretty good but not amazing, but I find with a powder blush layered over top in the same light pinky tone it lasts all day.

Overall, I think this could be a nice wee addition to anyone's makeup bag. I especially think this could be great for travel when you don't want to lug around heaps of products too!

PRICE  Around $17NZD

AVAILABILITY  Farmers Stores and selected pharmacies in NZ. 

RATING  A

Chi Chi Lipstick in Fashion Police | Review, Swatch & Photo

Recently I've started to brave wearing a bolder lip colour, and spotting this lipstick in the Chi Chi stand at Farmers, thought I'd give it a shot.

Product Description

Viva La Diva … all will hail when they notice your dramatic, richly coloured, matte pout. These super saturated, ultra pigmented lipsticks glide on effortlessly leaving a velvety-smooth, long wearing, hydrated finish. Enriched with Beeswax, Calendula, Vitamin E, Evening Primrose and Jojoba Oils these lipsticks are non drying, moisturising whilst at the same time drowning your lips with super rich, fashion hues …. This is the perfect lipstick, its what made our lipsticks famous… Why would you use any other lipstick?

I do agree that these lipsticks are incredibly pigmented, the following swatch only took 1-2 swipes to build up crazy colour.

I purchased the shade 'Fashion Police' which is a bright watermelon pink, verging on a red. If you are not used to wearing bright shades, this may be a bit of a stretch as it is very bright, but you can blot it to create a very pretty toned down bright lip (which is what I have been doing).

The lipstick is a matte finish, but glides on smoothly and doesn't feel dry at all on the lips. There is only a very slight scent to them as well which I appreciate. 

Staying power is actually pretty darn good, and even once most of it wears off it leaves a nice stain on the lips.

The only real downside to the lipstick I can find is that it tends to accentuate any dry patches on your lips, so exfoliating them beforehand is necessary!

Chi Chi Lipstick in Fashion Police

Fashion Police

Note from the picture above, the shade is even brighter in real life, hard to capture on film!

PRICE  Around $22NZD 

AVAILABILITY  Farmers Department Stores in NZ

RATING  A

NYX Round Lip Gloss in Pink & Whipped | Review, Swatch, Pics

On my last Beautyjoint order I grabbed a few glosses to try, these two being some of them. They are certainly very cheap and nice to have to chuck in your purse for during the day.

Product Description

This NYX Round Lip Gloss provides sheer coverage with robust color to accentuate a pretty pout. Made with mineral oils and Vitamin E. Comes in 36 shades!

The two colours I got were Pink & Whipped, Pink being the more pigmented of the two that goes on quite a bright pink but dulls down slightly after wearing a while. Whipped is a pretty nude beige gloss that is pretty good for toning down bright lipsticks or if you were going for a nude lip and wanted a bit of shine.

NYX Round Gloss in Whipped, Pink.

Staying power is actually quite reasonable for a gloss, except if you are eating or drinking of course. They don't really have any overpowering scent too which is good if you don't like that kind of thing. In terms of formula they feel nice on the lips and aren't sticky feeling at all. Not bad for a cheapie!

Pink, Whipped. Notice how Pink is much more opaque than Whipped.

NYX Round Gloss in Pink

NYX Round Gloss in Whipped

PRICE  Around $2-3USD 

AVAILABILITY  I purchased mine from Beautyjoint.com

RATING   B+

Everyday Minerals Multi-tasking Concealer | Review & Photos

Everyday Minerals Description:

One of our most versatile concealers, Multi-Tasking is a very wearable shade of beige—perfect for Fair to Light complexions—that covers up blemishes, corrects under-eye circles, and can be used as a highlighter to draw attention to your best features. Use a little in the corner of your eye for an instant perk up.

Suggested Use

Sprinkle the concealer powder into the lid of the jar. For best application, use a concealer brush. Dip your brush into the powder and apply directly onto the area of your skin in which you want extra coverage. Concealers perform best when applied before your foundation.

Supplement Facts

Mica (Cl 77019), Lauroyl Lysine. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Iron Oxides (Cl 77491, Cl 77492, Cl 77499), Ultramarines (Cl 77007).

Mica: Is a naturally occurring mineral noted for its transparent sparkly luster.

Lauroyl Lysine: An all-natural amino acid derived from coconut fatty acid, contributing to the products silk like creamy texture and spreadability qualities.

Titanium Dioxide: An inert white mineral that is used as a color adjuster.

Iron Oxides: Cosmetic pigments used to add depths of color.

Ultramarines: An inorganic vibrant pigment used to add color.

To start off with, I'll mention packaging. It's obviously not the highest quality packaging (but you are really paying for the product not the exterior with cheaper makeup brands aren't you). Saying that, the lid twists shut firmly and the three small dispensing wholes give off just the right amount of product onto the lid for use which is nice as you don't waste product.

As you can see from the pic above, the concealer powder is very light, definitely reserved for fair/light to maybe medium skintones. I'm NW20 and this suits me fine. The consistency is very smooth and soft. Darker skintones maybe could use this as a subtle highlighter along the cheekbones?

As for performance, they recommend you use this concealer powder pre-foundation, which I found to be next to impossible unless you are using a mineral foundation. Powder under liquid just doesn't work I'm afraid! I tried this powder on bare face (scary) to see what kind of effect it has, and it does tone down redness subtly. If you are looking for a full coverage concealer look away.

Here I have a photo of a light application of the multi-tasking concealer on my bare skin (please muffle your screams...) so you can see what is does without any other product interfering. 

I tried to make the lighting as similar as possible in each photo. As I said, this is a light application on bare skin so the results aren't going to be amazing, but you can sort of tell that my undereye area is brighter and more awake looking. I think the end result actually comes off better IRL.

Oh and also, if you have a dry undereye area, this does settle into fine lines if you don't wear it over a liquid concealer or foundation (as you can see above). 

In terms of blemish coverage, this is useless. But I did find that over top of my regular liquid concealer and foundation this set my undereye area and helped lighten up the whole area which is always helpful, especially if you suffer from dark panda eyes like moi. 

Because they have marketed this concealer as multi-tasking, I'm not going to rate this product as highly as if it were purely an undereye brightening powder (which I think it should be). I didn't find any luck with this on blemishes, but if you are looking for a simple and cheap undereye powder, this may be worth your money.

PRICE  $5.99USD

AVAILABILITY  Mine was purchased from iherb.com

RATING  B