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    • By now, if you're in to makeup in anyway you've most likely heard about NARS' latest controversial move.

    Recently NARS made the decision to start selling their products in China, but this has been meet with a plethora of criticism from angry consumers. Just hop over to their Instagram page and check out the comments and you'll see what I mean. Making the move to sell in China might not seem like a big deal on the surface, but when you learn that, by law, China requires animal testing for makeup and skincare products before they will be approved for sale, suddenly the story takes on a whole new persona, and not a good one.

    So does this mean NARS is a brand that now test on animals? Well pretty much. In one of their most recent posts about the move, which sparked so much heated discussion, the brand said:

    "WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU. THE GLOBAL ELIMINATION OF ANIMAL TESTING NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT PRODUCT AND INGREDIENT SAFETY CAN BE PROVEN BY NON-ANIMAL METHODS, BUT WE MUST COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL LAWS OF THE MARKETS IN WHICH WE OPERATE, INCLUDING IN CHINA. WE HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE NARS AVAILABLE IN CHINA BECAUSE WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING OUR VISION OF BEAUTY AND ARTISTRY TO FANS IN THE REGION. NARS DOES NOT TEST ON ANIMALS OR ASK OTHERS TO DO SO ON OUR BEHALF, EXCEPT WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW. NARS IS COMMITTED AND ACTIVELY WORKING TO ADVANCE ALTERNATIVE TESTING METHODS. WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE FOR IN VITRO SCIENCES (IIVS), A GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVANCING NON-ANIMAL METHODS IN CHINA AND AROUND THE WORLD. NARS IS HOPEFUL THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN WORK TOWARD A CRUELTY-FREE WORLD."

     While the cosmetic and skincare world seems to be taking great leaps and bounds in a positive direction to help our furry friends, is this a massive step backwards? Maybe.

    I've been reading a lot of the comments and discussion on this post, and I have to say I agree with a lot of what is being said and I'm extremely disappointed in the brand for choosing to make this move. I think that most of the beauty industry are making really positive moves when it comes to helping creating a world where our beauty products aren't sold as a result of suffering and innocent creatures, and it's a shame China is yet to get on board.

    In their post, NARS claim they are still completely for eliminating animal testing and are supporting the cause in other ways, yet it seems completely contradictory to then choose to sell products in a country that would mean your brand has to completely go against that cause. As many mentioned, the better way to tackle this issue would be to not sell in China; if more brands are refusing to sell in China because of these ridiculous laws, then maybe it would put the pressure on to make a change. Instead, NARS are now feeding into the system and showing the Chinese government that brands will still compromise their supposed "values" and "ethics" if it means they get to sell their stuff and make a crap ton of money, so there's absolutely no incentive for China to worrying about touching that law.

    I've been a big NARS fan for ages; I love their products and their packaging and the entire brand always really appealed to my aesthetic. While I'm sure I own many makeup and skincare products that aren't cruelty free, I feel that knowing so openly that NARS doesn't fit into the cruetly-free category, seemingly only because they want to find another market and another avenue to bring in the big bucks, I don't think I can support them any longer.

    If, and hopefully when, either China's laws change or NARS chooses to pull it's products from their market, I would happily go back to buying their products, but for now, once the few I have are used up, I don't think I'll be buying from their beauty counter anytime soon, and I would encourage you to do the same. I'm not sure that I will feature them on this blog or my Instagram until the situation is rectified. There are PLENTY of brands out there to choose from and who are doing the right thing; it's time for us to give them our support.

    While there are plenty of brands out there who aren't yet cruelty-free, I think what makes this situation so bizarre and is causing so much outrage, is that NARS, despite this move, are trying to still stand by their cruelty-free stance, when they're actions seem to so clearer say otherwise; and as they say, actions speak louder and words.

    Some of the other beauty brands which are currently selling in China, and therefore have products that are tested on animals include Loreal, Shiseido, Estee Lauder and it seems NARS is now adding their name to that list.

    What are your thoughts on all of this?


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    posted by . 6/29/17 . / / / /
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    NARS Moving to Animal Testing // My Thoughts

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    posted by . 6/29/17 .


    By now, if you're in to makeup in anyway you've most likely heard about NARS' latest controversial move.

    Recently NARS made the decision to start selling their products in China, but this has been meet with a plethora of criticism from angry consumers. Just hop over to their Instagram page and check out the comments and you'll see what I mean. Making the move to sell in China might not seem like a big deal on the surface, but when you learn that, by law, China requires animal testing for makeup and skincare products before they will be approved for sale, suddenly the story takes on a whole new persona, and not a good one.

    So does this mean NARS is a brand that now test on animals? Well pretty much. In one of their most recent posts about the move, which sparked so much heated discussion, the brand said:

    "WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU. THE GLOBAL ELIMINATION OF ANIMAL TESTING NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT PRODUCT AND INGREDIENT SAFETY CAN BE PROVEN BY NON-ANIMAL METHODS, BUT WE MUST COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL LAWS OF THE MARKETS IN WHICH WE OPERATE, INCLUDING IN CHINA. WE HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE NARS AVAILABLE IN CHINA BECAUSE WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING OUR VISION OF BEAUTY AND ARTISTRY TO FANS IN THE REGION. NARS DOES NOT TEST ON ANIMALS OR ASK OTHERS TO DO SO ON OUR BEHALF, EXCEPT WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW. NARS IS COMMITTED AND ACTIVELY WORKING TO ADVANCE ALTERNATIVE TESTING METHODS. WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE FOR IN VITRO SCIENCES (IIVS), A GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVANCING NON-ANIMAL METHODS IN CHINA AND AROUND THE WORLD. NARS IS HOPEFUL THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN WORK TOWARD A CRUELTY-FREE WORLD."

     While the cosmetic and skincare world seems to be taking great leaps and bounds in a positive direction to help our furry friends, is this a massive step backwards? Maybe.

    I've been reading a lot of the comments and discussion on this post, and I have to say I agree with a lot of what is being said and I'm extremely disappointed in the brand for choosing to make this move. I think that most of the beauty industry are making really positive moves when it comes to helping creating a world where our beauty products aren't sold as a result of suffering and innocent creatures, and it's a shame China is yet to get on board.

    In their post, NARS claim they are still completely for eliminating animal testing and are supporting the cause in other ways, yet it seems completely contradictory to then choose to sell products in a country that would mean your brand has to completely go against that cause. As many mentioned, the better way to tackle this issue would be to not sell in China; if more brands are refusing to sell in China because of these ridiculous laws, then maybe it would put the pressure on to make a change. Instead, NARS are now feeding into the system and showing the Chinese government that brands will still compromise their supposed "values" and "ethics" if it means they get to sell their stuff and make a crap ton of money, so there's absolutely no incentive for China to worrying about touching that law.

    I've been a big NARS fan for ages; I love their products and their packaging and the entire brand always really appealed to my aesthetic. While I'm sure I own many makeup and skincare products that aren't cruelty free, I feel that knowing so openly that NARS doesn't fit into the cruetly-free category, seemingly only because they want to find another market and another avenue to bring in the big bucks, I don't think I can support them any longer.

    If, and hopefully when, either China's laws change or NARS chooses to pull it's products from their market, I would happily go back to buying their products, but for now, once the few I have are used up, I don't think I'll be buying from their beauty counter anytime soon, and I would encourage you to do the same. I'm not sure that I will feature them on this blog or my Instagram until the situation is rectified. There are PLENTY of brands out there to choose from and who are doing the right thing; it's time for us to give them our support.

    While there are plenty of brands out there who aren't yet cruelty-free, I think what makes this situation so bizarre and is causing so much outrage, is that NARS, despite this move, are trying to still stand by their cruelty-free stance, when they're actions seem to so clearer say otherwise; and as they say, actions speak louder and words.

    Some of the other beauty brands which are currently selling in China, and therefore have products that are tested on animals include Loreal, Shiseido, Estee Lauder and it seems NARS is now adding their name to that list.

    What are your thoughts on all of this?


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    NARS Moving to Animal Testing // My Thoughts
    posted by . 6/27/17 .


    When I have too much in my mind, I find the best thing to do is write it all down and make a to-do list of all the tasks buzzing around in my head. But if you're anything like me, it can feel like the to-do list never ends; either it never shrinks or I find it getting longer and longer, and suddenly simply looking at the to-do is just as overwhelming as it was when it was all sitting in my head. Seeing a to-do list that seems to long to tackle can burn you out before you even start. I think, especially for those of us who work from home and tackle various jobs and clients at once, not being organised and have a clear head can really roadblock you from getting anything done. So, I came across this strategy while reading around online that aims to help you actually tackle and conquer your tasks for the day.

    It's called the 1-3-5 rule. For this rule you will need to narrow your to-do list down to nine items. Pick one big task that you really want or need to accomplish for that day and put it at the top. You then choose three medium tasks which you write down next and then five smaller tasks.

    This doesn't mean you should throw away your 'master' list which contains every single thing you need to get done, certainly keep that around, but this rule is all about sitting down and prioritising. If we think we need to accomplish five major tasks in a day, our stress levels will spike, but if we can break down the most immediate tasks into more accomplishable and bearable items, you'll find that to-do list doesn't seem so daunting anymore. If you're someone with a million things to do, starting your day by putting the 1-3-5 rule into practice before you get into work will help your brain get everything in order and leave you more time to be productive rather than simply sitting and thinking about the stress of it all.
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    How To Actually Get Through Your To-Do List // The 1-3-5 Rule
    posted by . 6/24/17 .


    While having good makeup products is certainly a must when it comes to putting together the perfect look, the other essential is having the right tools for the job. Having good quality brushes and sponges helps make sure that all that beautiful makeup you've purchased is applied effortlessly, effectively and flawlessly. Today I wanted to share some of the brushes, sponges and other bits and bobs I have on hand when I'm putting together a makeup look. Apologies in advance for the state of some of my brushes and sponges. If anything it's just proof they are well loved and used, so you know they must be good




    QVS Foundation Brush / QVS Blending Brush / QVS Angled Eyeliner Brush / QVS Eyeliner Brush / QVS Crean Eyeshadow Brush / QVS Angled Blush & Powder Brush
    I will start off by saying these won't be the softest brushes you've ever touched in your life, but that doesn't mean they're not good. They all still apply the product they are made for really well, they help blend product easily, and I also love their design. For some brushes that aren't going to break your bank to buy them, they will certainly satisfy. Though actually, I have to say the Foundation Brush is pretty damn soft, and the bristles are nice and dense which makes it perfect for applying liquid foundation. I haven't yet gotten a chance to try the eyeliner brushes as I don't own any black gel liners, but I'm keen to go buy some now and test these out.

    QVS Eyelash Curler
    While this doesn't help apply foundation, concealer or powder in any way, it's still a must-have for me when it comes to making those eyelashes on fleek. I think eyelash curlers don't get much attention, because there isn't really any way to make one amazingly different from the other, except maybe how you change its overall appearance, but otherwise they all can pretty much do the job they're designed for, so we don't think or talk too much about them. But I know I'd be lost without one. They make my top lashes look ten times better when I apply mascara and help keep them that way throughout the day. I recently received this matte black one from QVS, and while also loving the matte black finish, it's something I use every single time I do my makeup.


    Platinum Eye Shadow Brush / Platinum Base Blending Brush / Platinum Blush Brush / Platinum Powder Brush / Platinum Eye Contour Brush
    I love this range of brushes. First of all, you can pick these up easily and cheaply from Woolworths, which is perfect for the everyday person who ain't got time to be worrying too much about what they're buying. Honestly, you shouldn't have to anyway, brands should just make good quality products, so no matter how rushed we are and no matter what we pick up, we can be sure we'll get something that will at least do the job it's suppose to. Well, if you're ever in need of a quick brush fix, I can recommend these babies. Not only does the style of them look super lux, they are so soft! Having a soft brush just makes the application of makeup so much more fun and makes you feel that little bit fancy.


    NARS Ita Kabuki Brush
    I love to use this little baby for applying highlighter because I'm yet to add a fan brush to my collection; I know, who am I for not owning a fan brush yet. But honestly this does the trick perfectly fine, and I've always been a sucker for NARS packaging.

    NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush
    I love how unique looking this brush is. I love using this to add bronzer, which I tend to also do in such a way that it somewhat becomes my contour because I'm way too lazy most of the time to get too technical with that stuff.

    NYX Pro Flat Detail Brush
    This little guy is perfect for getting that eyeshadow on fleek!

    OCosmedics Treatment Fusion Foundation Brush
    This is only the second time I've used a brush of this kind. It's still taking some getting use to, but I'm finding I'm really enjoying it. This one makes blending foundation super smooth and easy, and the density of the brush is such that I don't think it soaks up to much product, so you don't have to use half a handful of that real expensive foundation you brought when you're getting ready to hit the town.

    Ecotools Sheer Powder Brush
    I love how soft and fluffy this brush is. It makes applying powder or some blush easy and kind of fun.



    Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge / Real Techniques Miracle Mini Eraser Sponge / Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge / Real Techniques Miracle Diamond Sponge
    I never really used sponges until I received a bunch of different ones from Real Techniques, now I'm basically converted. I still love using brushes sometimes but nine times out of ten you'll find me reaching for a sponge.  The Miracle Complexion Sponge is great for doing your foundation, and then I love to use the Miracle Mini Eraser Sponge to blend in any concealer. Also, can we take a minute to appreciate the beauty of the Diamond Sponge. I'm yet to use it because I'm scared to ruin its beauty.


    Ecotools Perfecting Blender Duo Sponges
    These are another set of sponges that are awesome and are the ones I'm most frequently using at the moment. These ones can be used without being wet first, which is why I tend to use them so much because I'm too lazy to get up and go to a tap. With these ones, I can pick them straight up and use, and despite not being damp they still work really well.
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    Tools of the Trade // My Makeup Brushes & Sponges
    posted by . 6/22/17 .


    Today I wanted to just chat about some of the new goodies from skincare brands that have landed in my mail recently. For this post I'm featuring Bioderma and Biore, two brands which I have always loved and have never really run into any trouble with. This meant I was super excited to see some of their launches and find out more about them. If you're someone with sensitive, oily, or somewhat problematic skin, this post is probably going to be a good one for you, and might give you some tips on new skincare to try.



    All the stuff featured from Bioderma in this post comes from their brand new Sensibio Range. Basically this range was created to help calm the woes of those with sensitive skin. Most people with sensitive skin deal with things like hot and red skin, dryness, tightness and itchiness; none of which are pleasant sensations, and as someone who has combination skin, I've certainly had my moments with all of these unwanted issues. This range of products has been created with DAF (Dermatological Advanced Formulation) which aims to help improve your skin's tolerance and make it less reactive over time. So lets jump in to some of the new products they have.

    Most of us know and love Bioderma's Micellar Water; I know I certainly do. This new formation is fragrance-free and will still help to remove any dirt or makeup easily from your face, without causing you to flair up. I also love that this stuff is perfectly safe to use on your eyes, and doesn't cause any stinging, so you can easily tackle that stubborn eyeliner or mascara. I even find this stuff does a bomb job at removing any pesky waterproof mascara.

    Cleansers are one major area, I think, that can cause a real problem for those with sensitive skin. The formulas of some products, which try to be the best at getting rid of all traces of dirt and makeup, can have terrible reactions on skin and can run the risk of leaving you feeling dry and tight after use. Especially as we tend to rub such products so much into our skin, it's so important to make sure you have a cleanser that will work for you. This Foaming Gel from Bioderma's new range could be your new go-to. Not only is the packaging pretty, it feels great on the skin thanks to it's active ingredients (Coco Glucoside/Glyceryl Oleate) which mimic your skin structure and are lipid-restoring and moisturising.

    I think face wipes are the underdog of the skincare routine. I would say most of us have a pack or two sitting under our bathroom sinks, and we probably reach for them multiple times a week (especially when you come home from a night out and you ain't got time to get through your entire skincare routine). However I think we can sometimes not put to much thought into which ones we're picking up, and this can have negative consequences for your skin. The wrong wipe can leave your skin irritated and dry, and you can find yourself having to pack on the moisturiser to repair the damage. These wipes however, I would say, are a great choice. The soothing ingredients mean your skin won't flair up, but all the dirt and makeup will still be effortlessly removed. Your skin will be left feeling soft and smooth and you don't have to rinse your face at all after use.





    I am a huge Biore fan, and have been way before I started this blog. I've tried quite a number of their products over the years, particularly  their cleansers, and they have yet to put a foot wrong for my skin. I've always reacted will to their products, so seeing these two new babies arrive made my eyes light up.

    Biore Charcoal Acne Scrub
    I've used some of their charcoal products in the past and have always been pleased with them, and I'm glad that streaked hasn't stopped here. Charcoal is really becoming all the rage in skincare and beauty at the moment (just think about all the ads you've seen for those charcoal toothpastes; I'm yet to try one), so maybe that's why I always feel an extra sense of "yes, this will work", when I see charcoal mentioned in the name of a product. So far for me, all charcoal products have seemed to be a success. While I wouldn't say they are overly life changing and you should restocked all you current skincare items with anything containing charcoal, they certainly still help get my skin nice and clean.

    Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub
    I have actually already gone through a whole tub of this stuff after receiving some pre-released at the last Priceline Beauty Prescription event. At that time I wasn't able to photograph the product and therefore didn't get around to talking about it, but now that it's out for all the world to see, I have to sing it's praises. This is one of those cleansers that I really can feel doing my skin good as I use it. It foams up really well, and yes, it does actually contain baking soda, which helps to really dig deep and remove all that dirt and makeup from clogged pores.




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    New In (ft Bioderma & Biore)
    posted by . 6/20/17 .


    Today I wanted to review some skincare products I received from a brand called Odacite. To give you a quick run down, the brand has a range of skincare items, all of which contain certified organic ingredients and are vegan and cruelty free; basically all the good stuff. The story behind the creation of the brand is also a strong and beautiful one. The founder was living in Los Angeles when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In order to heal and give herself the best fighting chance, she decided to change all aspects of her life. She quit her job, went back to school and became a health and wellness coach. There she began making custom-made skincare for her clients, and as demand and word spread, it evolved to the brand we see today. I was sent a few different goodies to try out, so here's my thoughts on them.


    Synergie[4] Immediate Skin Perfecting Beauty Masque
    I love all face masks, but for some reason getting to try out clay or powder ones makes me even more excited; I'm so lame/weird.  First off, this jar is quite large, so I think it's going to last you a long while. Something I found when mixing the powder with the water however was that the instructions on the back didn't seem to quite work out for me. I feel like it asked for a lot more water than was needed. Maybe it is suppose to be that running, but for me, considering this is a clay mask, I tend to prefer them a little on the thicker side. I would say add about half the amount of water they recommend, maybe even more, depending on how you like your masks. Compared to other clay powder masks I have, this powder seems really lightweight and seemingly disappeared as it touched the water. When I did finally get a good mixture, I found it was much lighter on my face than expected. My other masks tend to get really tight and leave me quite red for a while afterwards, this one however didn't dry as tight or leave me red. Yet my skin still felt nice and cleansed and smooth afterwards, so once you get the right mixture for this mask I think it works great.


    As I've mentioned previously, my skin doesn't do well with the continuous use of facial oils. So while, unfortunately, I couldn't test these out for extended periods of time without the risk of my face becoming breakout central, I did use these a couple of times to give them a little test run.

    For the Lavender serum, as the name suggests, it smells exactly like lavender, so you need to be a lover of that scent to use this, or at least not have a downright hatred for it. I used this all over my face, and you only need the smallest drop for a full coverage. It seemed to sink in quite well and helped leave my skin hydrated. I found that I didn't really need to use a moisturiser afterwards, though considering my more oiler/combination skin, this could differ for everyone. It felt nice on my skin, and as far as oils go it certainly seems to be a good egg, but unfortunately I couldn't extensively test this to see the effect it would have on my complexion over time.

    The Black Cumin and Cajeput mentioned it was good for pimples, so this I just placed directly on any spots I had. While it won't completely disintegrate your blemishes overnight, I noticed it certainly reduced them and helped take away some of the redness. The scent of this one, as with all the products, is quite natural, but has a more woody tone to it.


    The smell of this stuff reminded me so strongly of my favourite Peppermint Tea from T2; if you're a mint/peppermint scent fan then I promise you will love this. The scent makes it the perfect treatment to use in the morning to wake yourself up and feel refreshed; or if you need to kick on during the night. I use this as my toner, either spraying it all over my afce and wiping it in with a cotton pad or putting some on a cotton pad and then applying to my face if I want to be a bit more precise. Not only does this wake me up, it helps make sure I get my face nice and clean.

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    Brand Review: Odacite
    posted by . 6/17/17 .




    While I certainly love getting to test out new skincare and have fun with face masks, I do get a little extra excited when new makeup lands on my doorstep. Some of the latest stuff to make its way to me in the mail was a bunch of products from O Cosmedics.

    In the package they sent me their Lotus Skin Primer, the full shade range of the 1Skin Treatment Foundations and their Treatment Fusion Foundation Brush. I've put all this stuff to the test, so lets see what I thought.


    This stuff is quite lightweight, and a little goes a long way, which I discovered after pumping out way to much the first time. It sinks nicely into the skin and I noticed the foundation applied smoothly on top of it. I get shiny quite easily, so it's not often I come across a bad primer, because any help is going to benefit me when it comes to taming the oils, and I can confidently say that this primer isn't ending that streak. This primer also contains lotus flower water, a plant-based ingredient that helps regenerate and calm the skin. It also contains organic fruit extract which will help protect your skin against the elements.


    First off, I love the various shades that they have. While it may not be as extensive as some other brands and may not go as dark as some brands do, I think for their first go round they've developed some good shades that will suit a lot of people. I was actually quite impressed with how light the Ivory shade was. I usually just pick up the lightest shade I can find when I'm trying a new foundation, and even then I tend to find, when I'm not fake tanned, that it can be a little too dark or a bit too orange. However, I found even the Ivory was be a tad too light for me and I could get away with putting on the second lightest shade, Nude. In terms of application, it buffed in nicely to the skin, and I felt I was left with quite flawless complextion. This foundation is certainly buildable, and I think for nights out or special occasions I would opt for applying two coats. There are no silicones, alcohol or parabens in this product, just a great range of natural ingredients including green tea polypeptide which has anti-aging properties, helps keep the skin firm and elastic, and supports collagen synthesis.


    This is only the second time I've used a brush like this, and while it takes some getting use to after using a beauty blender for so long, I do love the finish using this brush gives. With super dense bristles, this brush really allows you to buff in the foundation. It doesn't suck up much product and applies the foundation smoothly with no streaks. Pretty much a 10/10 from me.
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    O Cosmedics Makeup Review
    posted by . 6/15/17 .


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