Beauty Favourites - Inspired Living SA

February Beauty Favourites

It is Beauty Favourites time again! One of my favourite posts, where I get to share the products I have enjoyed using and I have been reaching for the most, over the past month. Some of them are new products, which I recently discovered, while others are products I continue to repurchase because they are that good!

The only product from my February Beauty Favourites, which I have not featured below are the *Dermalogica Precleanse wipes. I wrote about them last week, so if you would like to know more you can pop over here.

*Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Tint ~ This is a fairly new product, which I received after my Face Mapping at Dermalogica. It is from the Dermalogica Ultracalming range and it is a broad spectrum sunscreen, which is recommended for sensitized, reactive and recently resurfaced skin. It contains natural minerals, which help shield against photodamage and UV exposure. The Ultra Sensitive Tint is great as it protects your skin, as well as providing a bit of colour. I have pigmentation which makes a good SPF a very important part, of my daily skin care routine. I do have another SPF I have been using everyday but it is not tinted, which is why I was keen to try this one. I use the Ultra Sensitive Tint if I do not want to wear too much foundation but want the SPF protection, with a bit of coverage. The consistency is quite thick but it does not feel too heavy on my skin, which can be the case with many SPF products. Recommended Retail Price 50ml R445.00 Dermalogica

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light ~ This product also featured in my Favourite Foundations for 2013. Surprisingly when I first tried it I did not really like it, I think largely because I found the shade a bit too dark for me. I hauled it out again at the beginning of summer and I have been wearing it pretty much everyday since then! I think this is mostly because I am a bit more tanned now and the shade is a much better match. What I really love about this foundation, is its staying power and it’s wonderfully flawless finish! An added bonus is the SPF10, which is great for summer, as it adds that bit of extra protection against the sun, over and above my normal SPF. This is definitely a product I will re-purchase but perhaps in a lighter shade for winter. Recommended Retail Price R415 Estee Lauder

MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer ~ You may remember me blogging about this concealer before in my Everyday Makeup Essentials. This is truly an everyday essential for me! I use the Select Moisturecover for under-eye concealing, as I have rather dark circles under my eyes. It is more fluid and moisturising than other concealers, which I use to cover blemishes and because of it’s more liquid formulation, it does sit in the fine lines around my eyes. This really is my go-to, everyday under-eye concealer, in fact it is almost finished so I need to order another on ASAP! I love the fact that it has a wand applicator, you do not have to squeeze the concealer out, which allows you to control the amount you apply and prevents you from using too much product. You can either dot the concealer straight onto the skin and blend gently with your finger tips or place onto the back of your hand and apply with a concealer or flat foundation brush. Recommended Retail Price: R210 (5ml) MAC Cosmetics

Loreal Nude Magique BB Powder ~ This is one of those products which I bought on a whim! I have used the Loreal Lumi Magique Primer before so I thought I would give this a bash. I don’t use this product everyday but it lives in my handbag! I find it great for touch-ups on the run, especially in the summer heat, when your skin can start looking a bit too dewy. I did find that using it on its own, not over foundation, left my skin looking a bit dry and over powdered.The compact includes a mirror and a sponge applicator, both very handy for touch-ups when you are out and about. I cannot actually remember what I paid for this product, will check when next in-store and update the post.

Essence 3D Eyeshadow in irresistible vanilla latte ~ My choice for everyday eye make up is usually a nude palette and if I want to make it a bit more special, I add a bit of gold sparkle! This Essence duo eyeshadow is perfect for giving your look a bit more sparkle. The 3mm high relief design, offers an ultimate 3D look and the ultra-light eyeshadow texture, creates a cool finish with a 3D effect. The eyeshadow applies really well and has a great pigment. If you apply it moist, the 3D effect will be even more intense. There are a few other fun shade combos available and the best part is the price tag – it is super affordable at under R50! I have really enjoyed using it. I think I will definitely be trying a few of the other duos! Recommended Retail Price R44.95 Essence

MAC Satin Lipstick in Brave ~ This MAC lipstick was one of the first things I bought from the MAC Online Store last year. At the time I was looking for a pinky shade for everyday wear and loved the look of Brave. For me this is a “my lips but better” shade and I love the texture! I have fairly dry lips so I prefer either the Satin or Cremesheen finish from MAC, which are more moisturising and perfect for everyday wear. The colour in the image above it is not true to the shade in real life, which is why I swatched it for you to get a better idea. {See the image below}. Brave is a lovely pinky-beige, with white pearl but it does not have a frosted finish, which I don’t like. I call this my “pretty” lipstick – it is the one I reach for if, I am going for a pretty girly make up look 🙂 Recommended Retail Price R190 MAC Cosmetics

Mavala Nail Polish in Sapporo ~ As you know I love bright nail polish shades but there are times when I like to tone it down and go for a nude nail. This Mavala polish in Sapporo is my go-to nude nail colour and this is actually the second bottle I have bought. It is a wonderfully creamy beige and is the perfect nude for most skin tones. I find that it wears relatively well and does not chip easily. One of the things I love about Mavala polish, is the small applicator brush, which I find much easier to use when applying polish myself. Recommended Retail Price: R64.95 Rubybox

Essence Studio Nails Corrector Pen ~ This product is a must have for doing your nails at home! I have tried a few other brands but I keep coming back to this one! The Corrector Pen allows you to correct little mistakes, without smudging the rest of your nails in the process. The handy pen also comes with three replacement tips. Not only is it super practical but it is so affordable! I have repurchased this product so often, I have lost count. Recommended Retail Price R39.95 Essence

Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray ~ I have always heat styled my hair because although I have a bit of a natural wave in my hair, it is so super fine. To achieve any type of curl or texture in my hair, I need to use so much product! After hearing so much hype about sea salt sprays I thought I would give the Toni & Guy one a try. I was really impressed with the results from this product! Apply the spray to damp hair – either allow your hair to air-dry or if you don’t have the time for that, gently dry it with a hair dryer, before applying. It gives your hair great texture without making it feel heavy and weighed down by too much product. The bizarre thing though is the salty taste – go figure being a salt spray and all! 😉 I only know that it tastes very salty, thanks to the summer wind in Cape Town, which often blows your hair everywhere, including into your mouth. What I love most about this product is that when I either do not have time to heat style my hair or just cant be bothered, I can still achieve a great casual tousled style, with no fuss at all! Recommended Retail Price: R119.99 200ml Clicks Stores

If you would like to know more about any of the products featured above or would like to share a product, which you are loving, please leave a comment below this post.

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored product

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{ Beauty Favourite } Dermalogica Precleanse Wipes

You may remember me blogging about the new Dermalogica Let the experts love your skin campaign and my recent visit to Dermalogica on Wembley, where I had my skin professionally mapped. Along with the Dermalogica products recommended for my skin, I received a pack of the new Dermalogica Precleanse Wipes to try out.

Some of you may already know about the regular Dermalogica PreCleanse, a deep-cleansing oil, which melts away impurities and make-up from skin. Dermalogica believe that, to achieve ultra clean and healthy skin, you need a Double Cleanse regime, which begins with PreCleanse. Double cleansing is particularly beneficial if you wear a lot of make up.

Dermalogica PreCleanse gets rid of excess sebum (oil), sunscreen, waterproof make-up, environmental pollutants and residual products that build-up on skin throughout the day.To help provide on-the-go cleansing, Dermalogica have developed their handy PreCleanse wipes, which do the same job as the regular PreCleanse, just with added convenience.

The PreCleanse wipes are ideal for beauties who need to freshen up during the day and perfect for popping in your travel bag. I wish I had these on my trip to Thailand last year, there is nothing worse than the feeling of grimy airplane skin, after an over night flight!

The wipes are formulated with skin-softening Aloe and Apricot oils, conditioning Rice Bran and Vitamin E. They are gentle enough to be used around the eye area and even remove waterproof mascara. The PreCleanse wipes contain no artificial fragrances, colours or parabens.

I must admit there are evenings when I feel far too lazy to do a regular double cleanse and have been reaching for the PreCleanse wipes instead! They really do leave your skin feeling clean but not over-cleansed and dry. The PreCleanse Wipes are a definite Beauty Favourite for me and will most certainly be something I will be repurchasing!

Beauty Tip: Use tepid water for cleansing the face. Hot water can dry the skin and cause damage to it. Cold water does not effectively dissolve away dirt and grime.

To find out more about these and other products please visit the Dermalogica SA Website.

Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products

January Beauty Favourites

Over the past month I have shared some of my beauty favourites, which were some of my stand-out products for 2013. Today I am going back to posting my monthly favourites – starting with January Beauty Favourites.

January was such a busy month which has somehow, in the blink of an eye became February! I have been trying lots of new beauty, makeup and hair-care products. These are a few of the makeup, nail polish and skincare products, which have made a great impression, so far this year!

I will start of with some of my skincare favourites for January:

Bioderma Sensibio H2O ~ This is a product which I have read quite a few reviews about and eventually decided to try. The Sensibio range was developed for sensitive skin, which can be prone to redness and easily becomes dehydrated. Sensibio H2O is a soothing non-rinse cleanser and make-up remover. Its is also fragrance and alcohol free. To use simply apply to a cotton pad and wipe gently over your face, it looks and feels like water but miraculously your makeup is removed and your skin is cleansed – it even removes water-resistant makeup! Recommended Retail Price R159.95 Rubybox.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant ~ As most of you know I have been struggling with pigmentation and uneven skin tone for a while now. I have tried a host of different products to help correct these problems, with little or no results. My beauty therapist recommended that I start using this product as part of my weekly exfoliation regime. Multivitamin Thermafoliant, is a skin polisher, which combines physical and chemical exfoliants, to help refine skin texture and enhance penetration of age-fighting vitamins into the skin. The resurfacing micro-granules gently polish off dulling skin cells to reveal smoother, fresher skin. The unique thermal technology activates when it makes contact with water, to help stimulate penetration of skin-sloughing Salicylic Acid and Retinol.To use wet hands and rub a small amount between your palms to activate, then apply to your face. It also contains Prickly Pear Extract, which accelerates the skin’s natural exfoliation process. White Tea suppresses the formation of collagen-degrading MMPs while Licorice and vitamins C and E brighten skin tone. I use this product every second day and must admit my skin looks visibly brighter and feels smoother immediately after using. Recommended Retail Price R735.00 Dermalogica

Catrice Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette ~ On my quest to find a drugstore (In other words affordable) nude eyeshadow palette, I happened upon this one from Catrice. The All Nude palette, features six nude shades: subtle sand, delicate beige and brown in various facets. Some of the shadows are matt, while some have a bit of a shimmer. The shadows have a wonderful soft texture, with high pigmentation. This palette is ideal for a natural-looking eye but you can also create a smokey eye for the evening, using some of the darker shades. I have really been impressed with the Absolut Nude Eyeshadow Palette, not only because of the extremely affordable price tag but also because of the wonderful smooth application, which lasts for hours! The palette does come with a double-ended applicator but I still prefer to apply it, with my own eyeshadow brushes. Recommended Retail Price R64.95 Dis-chem Stores.

Benefit Watt’s Up Highlighter ~ I was lucky enough to receive this product as a Christmas pressie, from my awesome brother and sister in-law! there are definite advantages to having family living abroad! It is unfortunately not available in SA 🙁 but I have fallen in love with it! Watt’s Up is a soft focus highlighter for the face – the pretty champagne highlight gives your cheeks or brow bones a soft glow. Apply the highlighter, directly to the area you would like to highlight and either use the attached blender or your fingers, to create a smooth luminous glow. Watt’s Up has a gorgeous cream-to-powder finish, which I love. You can apply it on its own or over your existing makeup. Recommended Retail Price $30 Benefit

Bourjois Effet 3D 8Hr Lipgloss in Beige Elastic ~ this is the very first Bourjois product I have owned. I have heard so much about their foundations but I have quite a few foundations which I still need to finish off, before I try anything new. So I thought I would try a lipgloss for my first buy. The Effet 3D 8Hr lipgloss, has recently had a makeover, for its 10th year anniversary, with a new formula, new shades and sleek new packaging! The shade I chose is Beige Elastic, a pretty pinky gold, with a gorgeous light reflecting shimmer. It looks super pretty worn on its own or slicked over a nude lipstick. Recommended Retail Price R119.95 Clicks Stores or online at rubybox

Tip Top Nail Polish in Coral Candy ~ This product was actually part of a goodie bag I received recently – what a score! Often the nail polish colours I receive in goodie bags, are not really to my taste but this Tip Top shade, Coral Candy, is gorgeous! Truth be told I have not owned any Tip Top products, until now and I have been wearing it pretty much non stop, since I got it 🙂 One of the great things about Tip Top Nail Polishes is they are toxin free! They also contain Vitamin E for extra moisturisation. I must admit I have been very impressed with how long this polish lasted on my nails and seems to be fairly chip resistant as well. Recommended Retail Price R 39.00 Zando

Catrice Ultimate Nail Lacquer in Two Million Dollar Baby ~ I have been having lots of fun with this product! After seeing so much hype about glittery nail polish effects – I had to try it for myself! There are loads of nail polish shades, which contain glitter but I wanted something which was more of a “top coat”, so that I can add a glitter effect to the nail polish colours I already have. You can see the effect, in the image above on the right – I am wearing Two Million Dollar Baby over a pretty gold shade – so pretty and sparkly! Recommended Retail Price R34.95 Dis-chem stores

Real Techniques Core Collection Brushes ~ This was another Christmas spoil – yes I was a lucky gal! After seeing this brushes mentioned, all across the blogosphere I had to have them! They are indeed all they are said to be which is AMAZING!!! Again unfortunately they are ~~not available in SA~~. correction I have found out the are indeed available from All4Women.{*see the link below} The Core Collection set includes 4 full-size brushes plus a case. the 4 brushes consist of: a detailer brush, precision cut to effortlessly conceal problem areas or use with lipstick for long-lasting shape and definition. A pointed foundation brush, to use with liquid foundation to build custom coverage. A buffing brush{my all time favourite}, which ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation – I however use it to apply liquid foundation and it gives you a beautifully smooth finish! Lastly there is a contour brush, which can be used to delicately apply highlighter or as I do, apply bronzer, to contour my face. The ultra-plush, synthetic bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free and them extended aluminum handles are light and easy to use and clean. Recommended Retail Price R349 All4Women

For more Beauty related posts and reviews pop over and check out my Beauty File.

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My Favourite Makeup Products for 2013

If you have been following my Beauty Favourites for 2013, then you will know that this is the third post and I think the last in the series. I will be going back to posting my monthly favourites.

My Favourite Makeup Products for 2013, is a round-up of all the makeup products that stood out for me last year. There are many more, which I loved but it would take way too long to blog about all of them!

MAC Prep+Prime Lip Primer ~ I cannot believe that I have never used a lip primer before! This has fast become a makeup staple and definitely a product I would not leave home without! I have very dry lips and have always used a lip balm or lip ice under my lipstick but find my lipstick wears off really quickly. The MAC Prep+Prime Lip Primer is a colour-free base to wear under your lipstick, it adds light moisture and refines the lips. This is a definite must try product if you have not tried it yet, especially if you have dry lips! Recommended Retail Price R 190.00 MAC Cosmetics
MAC Lip Pencil in Lasting Sensation ~ I have really enjoyed wearing all the gorgeous bright lip colours this summer and one of my favourite colours is bright coral. I have always been quite conservative with my lip colour but last year I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and get adventurous! I do find it vital to use a lip pencil, when wearing brighter lipsticks. It helps prevent bleeding and helps your lipstick last much longer. The MAC Lip Pencils, they are super long-lasting but gentle on sensitive lips. Recommended Retail Price R 165.00 MAC Cosmetics
MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Vegas Volt ~ This full power coral is definitely my favourite lipstick for 2013! I have loved wearing it so much – yes it is rather bright but oh so perfect for summer! The MAC Creme Amplified Lipsticks are wonderfully creamy but packed with high-res colour. Recommended Retail Price R 185.00 MAC Cosmetics
GOSH Lip Gloss in 0082 ~ This punchy coral lip gloss is great worn over lipstick, for an added bit of shine or just as effective worn on its own! I have really enjoyed the GOSH lip glosses which I have been using – they give your lips a sexy, elegant shine, with added volume. They also keep your lips wonderfully soft. Recommended Retail Price: R99 GOSH SA

MAC Powder Blush in Peaches ~ My blush of choice in the past has been rather safe and most often a pinkish brown but last year I decided to try something a bit different! I also needed to find a blush, which would compliment my bright coral lipstick and gloss – everyone I spoke to said MAC Peaches was the way to go. I have been really happy with this blush and it has become part of my everyday makeup routine. At first I thought it would be a bit too orange for me but I was pleasantly surprised. The key I think with any blush is to not over do the amount you apply! Recommended Retail Price R 220.00 MAC Cosmetics
Stila Convertible Colour Lip & Cheek Cream in Lillium ~ This ingenious product by Stila is a lipstick and blush-in-one. It is a makeup bag must have, especially if you are going out in the evening and do not feel like lugging too many products with you! The mini-mirrored compact makes it perfect for touch ups on the go. This versatile favorite brightens cheeks and lips with creamy, translucent color. My colour choice, Lillium, is a pretty peachy pink, which gives your cheeks a perfect natural sun-kissed glow and your lips a kissable pinky shine. Recommended Retail Price R255 Woolworths

Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner in Black ~ This is by far the best liquid eyeliner I have ever used! It is just like a regular felt tip pen but for your eyes! It makes getting a straight and defined line much easier than with a kohl liner. The ultra-thin, 0.4mm brush, gives you smooth, even lines. Ink technology keeps pigments super-saturated. It is safe for sensitive eyes and for contact lens users. Approximate Retail Price R110 Clicks or Dischem {sorry guys I cannot remember exactly what I paid for it!}
GOSH Amazing length Mascara in Black ~ This is a more recent addition to my makeup regime but definitely my best Mascara for 2013! It is a smooth, rich and long-lasting mascara. It is waterproof which make removing it a bit more difficult but it gives you great length and intense colour, which makes the extra effort, of removing it, worthwhile! The well-defined brush separates the lashes while applying a fine layer of mascara, which makes the lashes look longer. I find the result with this mascara, which although lengthening, looks very natural and does not make your eyelashes clump together. Recommended Retail Price R89 GOSH SA

Essie Nail Polish in Watermelon ~ This reddish pink nail polish by Essie, is by far my favourite nail polish for 2013! It is a flirty and fun shade perfect for summer. It is a deliciously refreshing juicy red polish, much like the beautiful, sweet, ripe flesh of watermelon. Recommended Retail Price R100 Dischem

For more Beauty related posts and reviews pop over and check out my Beauty File.

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My Favourite Foundations for 2013

This is the third post in my favourites for 2013 series and today I am featuring My Favourite Foundations for 2013. I am without doubt a liquid foundation girl! I have tried compact and mineral foundations but find I always come back to liquid, which I think is because I prefer the application. I also feel that you can get better and more even coverage with liquid foundation.

MAC Face and Body Foundation ~ You may remember that I featured this foundation before in my Everyday Makeup Essentials. I love the feeling of this foundation on my skin, it feels so light but if I require more coverage, I can build it up from medium to full coverage. I apply this foundation with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush {which is awesome}, which I find helps give me a wonderful flawless finish. A useful tip when applying liquid foundation is to pour a bit, onto the back of your hand, this allows the heat of your hand to make the foundation more fluid and you tend to use less product this way. Face and Body provides medium build-able coverage and a flawless, natural satin-shine finish. Recommended Retail Price: R310 (50ml) MAC

Smashbox Liquid halo Foundation Spf 15 Oil-free ~ This foundation is a more recent addition to my beauty regime but it has quickly become my favourite everyday foundation! I think this is mostly because it is oil-free, which is a definite must for me during the hot summer months. In fact I have almost finished it and I think it is definitely a product I will re-purchase. Liquid Halo is the first-ever foundation with 100% Liquid Light Technology, which completely evens out skin for a totally natural, luminous finish. It also contains a broad spectrum SPF 15, which is an added bonus! Recommended Retail Price R370 Woolworths.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light ~ Last year I attended an event hosted by Estee Lauder, which featured the launch of their Modern Muse fragrance. We were also treated to beauty and makeup tips by the amazing Estee Lauder makeup artists! This is where I was first introduced, to the Double Wear Light Foundation and we each received one in our goodie bag to take home. Unfortunately when I initially tried my foundation, I found the shade I received, to be too dark for me, so it has been tucked away in my Beauty Box, until a few weeks ago, when I decided to give it another try! I think because I am a bit more tanned it is a slightly better match now. One of the things I love about this foundation, is its staying power! Once you have applied it literally will not budge! I would really like to try the Double Wear Light in a lighter shade because I still find that there is a slight orangey tinge to my skin, when I wear it. It is also the most pricey out of the three but definitely worth it, for the amazing coverage and staying power. Recommended Retail Price R415 Estee Lauder