Beauty Favourites - Inspired Living SA

Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products

What’s Hot Beauty Finds

I know I have not done a Favourites post in forever, which is so frustrating because I have so many awesome products, to share with you! Doing in-depth reviews on every beauty product I receive also takes so long{don’t worry I will still do them} and the other thing is, every second blogger is doing a some type of favourites post, so I thought I would try a different approach!

Instead of a lengthy Favourites post once a month, I will be doing my What’s Hot posts, with What’s Hot Beauty Finds & Favourites, Fashion & Foodie Finds and other awesomely interesting things I need to share with you! These posts will not be monthly but rather if and when I have some fabulousness, you need to know about.

So without further ado a few of my Beauty Finds..

L’Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute Makeup ~ I have had this foundation for a while but only recently started using it and I have been very pleasantly surprised! It contains Anti-aging ingredients, as well as a SPF 17 and has Medium Coverage. The Visible Lift Serum Absolute features an age reversing serum of 5 ingredients, all packed into one makeup. I love the lightweight formula, which feels amazing on the skin and does not settle into lines and wrinkles. What makes it Hot? Besides because I say so 😉 Well the wonderful silky smooth formulation for one and the fact that it contains serums to fight signs of aging, is certainly a big plus for me! RRP R229.95
Blistex Nuture & Nourish Lip Protectant ~ I received a few Blistex goodies to try a little while ago and have completely fallen in love with this lip balm. It is super hydrating, as well as smelling good enough to eat! Nuture & Nourish contains olive & grapeseed oils, goji extract, Vitamin E and essential minerals. What makes it Hot? Well the fact that it actually does what it says “Nuture & Nourish” and it contain a SPF15, a definite must for someone like me, who exercises outdoors! RRP R55.95
L’Extraordinaire by Color Riche® ~ Created by L’Oreal to be more than a lipstick, L’Extraordinaire Lip Colours contain oils, to help create perfect lustrous lips, with magnified colour. When applied L’Extraordinaire feels like a gloss but the combination of oils and rich pigment, gives it the staying power of a lipstick. It contains a combination of four precious oils: Rosa Muscat, Lotus, Argan and Camelia. L’Extraordinaire by Color Riche® is available in 7 different shades. What makes it Hot? I love the flexible spatula applicator, which makes it super easy to apply. The texture and feel on your lips is amazing and the colour super pigmented, I cannot wait to try a few more shades! RRP 169.95
Infallible Gel Nail Lacquers ~ When I first received these, before reading the press release, I actually thought they were lip colours! They are however L’Oreal’s new 2 Step, Infallible Gel Nail Lacquers. Step 1 is your latex and silicone nail colour and Step 2 is the magnifying top coat. A rather genesis idea! The polish is said to last 12 Days but I would probably say realistically a week would until the tips of my nails began to peek through. The polish did not chip at all which I think is due to the gel finish, my only complaint is that the darker shade, Forever Burgundy, did stain my nails a bit, even with a base coat. Infallible Gel Nail Lacquers are available in 8 different shades. What makes it Hot? Definitely the convenience of having a nail colour and a top coat to enhance the colour, all in one product! The “gel-finish” looks great, much like a Gelish or Shellac Mani, without the difficult process of removing it.RRP R99.95

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Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products, Product Reviews, Reviews and Features

SkinCeuticals South Africa

One of the things many of us worry about is aging – seeing the start of fine lines and wrinkles can induce mass panic! Most woman I know, would pay good money and undergo a multitude of painful procedures, to either stop or reverse the signs of aging. [Read more…]

Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products

May Beauty Favourites 2014

Hi beauties it is Beauty Favourites time again, I know this sounds so cliche but I cannot believe yet another month has whizzed on by! Here we are halfway through the year and winter is definitely making her presence felt!

I have decided to starting doing my “Beauty Favourites” videos again, truth be told I love writing but I probably love talking more! So please give it a watch for more in-depth details on my May Beauty Favourites featured in this post and please subscribe to the Inspired Living YouTube channel, so that you are kept in the loop for future posts!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z5283HK0M&list=UUCqHeDu6WN0l8K_iiR-1sog&feature=share[/youtube]

L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Anti-Gravity Shampoo ~ I have very fine hair which has a tendency to become greasy but find that most volumising products leave my hair feeling heavy and looking dull! I recently received a voucher from the Retailbox, which I used to buy this shampoo and have been really impressed with it! Your hair is left feeling cleansed and looking volumised but not sticky or over volumised. The L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Anti-Gravity Shampoo is enriched with Salicylic Acid and Hydralight. RRP R191 for 250ml Retailbox {Disclosure Ranking:2}
L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Anti-Gravity Conditioner ~ As with the shampoo the conditioner is L’Oréal’s perfect solution for fine hair, which is prone to oiliness. Your hair is left looking volumised but still soft and very manageable! The Anti-Gravity Effect Volume conditioner combines Intra-CyclaneTM and HydraLight and leaves roots looking lifted. RRP R191 for 150ml Retailbox {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Garnier Pure Active BB Cream ~ I may have mentioned before I am not a BB Cream fan, very possibly because I have not found the right one yet. I do find that they tend to leave my skin feeling and looking oily after a few hours of wear but I have actually enjoyed the new Garnier Pure Active BB Cream. It is still not something, which I would use everyday but for a quick, out the door in 15 minutes, makeup look it does the job. The coverage is fairly light but again perfect if you just need to pop out to the shops or do the school run! The Garnier Pure Active BB Cream is recommended for skin which is prone to imperfections, it has a high performing formula combining 2% anti bacterial Salicylic Acid. With the concealing power of mineral pigments to instantly beautify your skin tone and help reduce the appearance of imperfections. It has a SPF15 filter, which helps protect from the harmful effects of the sun. RRP R84.95 for (50ml) Clicks Stores – available in “Light” and “Medium” {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Oygenetix Foundation ~ Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation is a breakthrough foundation to cover, help heal and minimize – even eliminate – procedural scars. Designed for doctors, this Breathable foundation covers and treats a wide variety of skin problems: skin injuries, wounds, rashes, cracked, dry skin, acne scars, rosacea and other skin conditions. I received this foundation to try after a Dermaceutic Milk Peel, which I had recently and all I can say is amazing!!! {I said that quite a lot in the video!} It really does calm your skin instantly and covers any evidence of redness. “Ceravitae”, the super charged oxygen complex in the Oxygenetix Breathable Foundation, increases collagen cell and connective tissue growth, in aging or wounded skin. Because of the unique properties of Oxygenetix, it is also great skin care, which can be used as a daily skin friendly foundation. As well as redness is also covers pigmentation very well. It is definitely not cheap but in my opinion worth every cent! RRP R710 Conquest {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry ~ There was so much hype when the new Revlon Matte and Laquer Balms came out in SA a few months back but I sadly could not find any shades that I liked! I have been looking ever since and eventually I stumbled across this one, Sultry and I am in love! I was a bit worried that the Matte Balm would be a bit drying on my lips but I have been very impressed with the formulation. I will definitely be looking for a few more shades to try! RRP R120 Clicks {Disclosure Ranking:1}

Maybelline Clossal Go Extreme Volum’ Mascara ~ Masacara is my one, don’t leave home without it eye product! If I am wearing nothing else on my eyes I have to wear mascara – truth be told I feel naked without it! This is one of the new Maybelline Mascaras, which should be in stores from June 2014. The Clossal Go Extreme Volum’ Mascara, has a double pump wand, which gives you more volume on your lashes and 20 x more collagen. I have really enjoyed this mascara as it gives you volume, without clumping but then I have always been a fan of Maybelline mascara! RRP R124.95 Clicks or Dischem Stores {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Essie Nail Polish in Really Red ~ As you know I love Essie Nail Polish! Really Red is one of the Essie Iconic Colours and is a great basic red, which you should have in your nail polish collection! I love the pop of red on my nails, especially in winter when you tend to wear darker colours. RRP R109 available online from Zando {Disclosure Ranking:1}

Rain Biologie Coconut & Shea Intense Hydration Cream ~ This cream, which in my opinion is more of a body butter is stunning! I love anything with a citrus fragrance, so the combination of Coconut, Shea Butter,Tangerine and Sesame Oil, is right up my alley. The cream is recommended for Dry Skin and also contains Aloe Ferox. It contains 100% naturally derived ingredients and 63% organic ingredients. The formulation is wonderful and simply melts into your skin leaving it deeply hydrated. The moisturising formula, tones, stimulates and restores mineral content of the skin. It is non greasy, high in Vitamin A, E, F and safe to use during for pregnancy. RRP R169.00 Rain

Those are my May Beauty Favourites, have you tried any of them? I would love to know your thoughts, so please leave a comment below or let me know what your beauty favourites have been!

Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products

March & April Beauty Favourites

I am afraid everything has been super hectic over past few months and some how March flew by without me getting around to doing a Beauty Favourites post! So I thought I would do a combined post of the past two months favourites! So here goes with my March & April Beauty Favourites:

After taking all the photographs, I realised that this post is focused on hand and nail care, which was not planned but I think is vital, especially going into winter.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Crème Brulee ~ These Lip Butters are perfect if you are looking for a lip balm with a bit of a tint. The Revlon Lip Butters contain mango, shea and coconut butter, which are super hydrating and leave your lips feeling really soft. This is the second Revlon Lip Butter I have bought, the other one I own is Tutti Fruitti, which is a much brighter coral colour, while Crème Brulee is a creamy nude shade. This shade is perfect for everyday, as it is subtle sheer to medium colour, with a kissable buttery shine. RRP R135 available online from Zando. {Disclosure Ranking:1}

Blend Box Soft Body Scrub ~ This product was love at first smell! I love body scrubs and have tried quite a few but this one smells amazing, it reminds me of warm orange cake just out of the oven! This sugar scrub gently exfoliates, while a blend of essential oils, soften your skin and leave it feeling amazing. RRP R100, available online from Hello Pretty. {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream ~ A very important part of hand and nail care is looking after your cuticles! Each time I give myself a manicure, I make sure than I push my cuticles back and moisturise them. The Sally Hansen Cuticle Cream is an intensive treatment for your cuticles, it is rich in apricot oil but absorbs quickly into the skin, while deeply moisturising. It also soothes painful hangnails and torn cuticles. Tip: Massaging cuticles with this cream increases circulation to the nail bed, which helps stimulate new nail growth, for smooth, healthy-looking nails and cuticles. RRP R82.95 available online from Rubybox. {Disclosure Ranking:1}

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil ~ This is the perfect remedy for brittle nails, torn and dry cuticles or hangnails! This Vitamin E-enriched cuticle oil contains added wheat germ, apricot kernel extract and safflower oils to help soften, moisturise and protect nails and cuticles. I love the brush applicator, which makes it super easy to apply. Apply a small amount to each nail and massage gently into your nails and cuticles. The oil is quickly absorbed, moisturing both the cuticles, as well as the skin around the nails. You can apply as often as you need to but I prefer to use this at night before I go to bed. RRP R79.95 available from online from Rubybox.{Disclosure Ranking:1}

Nimue Active Hand Repair ~ I have always been quite religious with using hand cream regularly and make sure I have a tube in my handbag at all times! The colder weather can really make your hands extremely dry, so I think it is important to beef up your hand-care during autumn and winter. I am also very aware that as you age, your hands can become dry and lined and no one wants old looking hands! The Nimue Active Hand Repair contains AHA’s{Alpha Hydroxy Acids}, which improve skin texture, appearance of age spots and exfoliate dead, damaged skin. This product contain Kigelia Africana plant extracts, which assist in several skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, solar keratosis, skin rashes and restores the skin.The only thing I dislike about this product is the smell, I cannot pin-point exactly what I don’t like but it smells slightly spicy, which may be from the Kigelia Africana plant extract – odd I know but I guess I can put up with the smell, if it means younger looking hands! 🙂 RRP Please consult a salon near you. {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Essie Over The Top ~ When I googled this nail polish shade, Essie dot.com comes up with Over The Edge. The colours seem the same, so not sure why the different name but I absolutely love this dramatic metallic midnight silver. You will definitely see it on my nails often during winter, black nail polish is a bit harsh for me, so this is the next nest thing. Over The Top is an awesome colour and have received so many compliments when I wear it! It paints really well and as long as you apply a top coat, it does not chip and lasts very well. RRP R109 available online from Zando {Disclosure Ranking:1}

Essie Good To Go Top Coat ~ For me a top coat is a must and I tend to only use Essie products when it comes to top and base coats! I have tried other products but nothing comes close to the drying or staying power of Essie. Their products may be more expensive than most other drugstore brands but in my opinion, they are worth the money. Good To Go, sets your nail polish in seconds and creates an almost gel-like finish. RRP R175 available from Dischem. {Disclosure Ranking:1}

SKNLogic Renew Foot Balm ~ As important as keeping your hands hydrated, your feet also need some pampering! I try to remember to use a heel balm every night but every second night is also fine. This ultra-rich hydrating foot balm, deeply helps to repair, soothe, revitalize and protect dry, tired feet. It also smells amazing and absorbs quickly into your skin. I am on my feet quite a bit during the day and I also run a few times a week, so my feet tend to become quite dry even in winter. I find rubbing a soothing balm into my feet, after a long day, not only moisturises the skin but helps my fatigued feet relax! The SKNLogic Renew Foot Balm combines hydrating Sunflower oil, Wheat germ oil, Fig & Cucumber extract, orange oil and Shea Butter to help soothe sore joints, hydrate and protect extremely dry, cracked skin. RRP R85.00 Visit the SKNLogic website to locate a stockist near you. {Disclosure Ranking:2}

Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Hair

Inoar Argan Oil

I am one of those people who has extremely fine, fly-away hair and heat styling my hair everyday definitely does not do me any favours! About a year ago someone suggested I try an oil treatment on my hair before styling. I must admit I was rather skeptical, as my hair tends to become very greasy very easily.

After trying quite a few different treatment oils available on the market, I managed to find one which did not weigh my hair down but rather left it feeling silky smooth and looking great. Sadly that bottle is now finished and I have not yet had a chance to repurchased it.

Luckily for me I received the little bottle of magic above, at an Inoar launch, which I attended recently – perfect timing or what!

Extracted from the nut of the Argan tree in Morocco, Argan Oil contains active ingredients known worldwide for its beneficial abilities to create extraordinary shine, condition and protect the hair from harsh elements.

The Inoar Argan Oil eliminates frizz and provides thermal protection for the hair, delivering silky, smooth and luxurious tresses. This hydrating Oil can also be utilized in hair coloring processes and deep conditioning treatments.

I apply the Argan Oil to clean damp hair but be warned you only need to use the tiniest amount. Gently rub through the hair and comb out, then style as you usually would. The first time I used the oil I used far too much and rubbed it into the ends of my hair, which left my hair looking rather greasy. So the smallest amount goes a long way and remember do not rub it vigorously into your hair.

This Argan Oil really is the business! It is great to untangle knots and smooths down any flyaway bits, leaving your hair smooth and beautifully shiny! RRP: Inoar Argan Home Care Oil 60ml R 434.00

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If you would like to find out prices or more about this an other Inoar products you can visit the Inoar Website.

Disclosure Ranking: 2