Updated night time skin care routine - Let the products do the work while you get your beauty sleep!

My nightly skin care routine has changed quite a lot in the past 3 months, realising I needed products that were quick to apply and also how to layer products to lock moisture in rather than using a single night cream and expecting miracles. Hope this helps with anyone wanting to switch up their nightly skin care routine.

STEP 1: Serum

Hydraluron Moisture Booster $34.00 Available from www.priceline.com

Serum goes first always - day and night! You want the super intense ingredients to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin. Hydraluron is packed with Hyaluronic Acid which is great for adding hydration to dry skin, which I why I have been loving it lately as my skin is going through its annual winter dry patch stage.

STEP 2: Eye Cream

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Eye Serum $58.00 Available from www.jurlique.com.au

Whilst the Hydraluron is sinking into my skin, I apply a small amount of this beautiful eye serum to the skin all around my eyes and also my eyelids in a soft patting motion...is it weird that I paranoid about getting wrinkly eyelids?!? Well I am. 

STEP 3: Clearing Gel

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo $27.99 Available from www.priceline.com

I get lots of questions about what to use for breakouts when you are in your 20's and 30's, as the teen acne products are way too harsh on slightly older skin. My answer is always 'La Roche Posay - Effaclar Duo' it is a clearing gel which is applied to only the area you are trying to clear up. For me at the moment my forehead is a breakout zone, so I apply a pea size amount and allow it to be absorbed completely before starting my next step.

STEP 4: Night Oil

Sukin Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil $32.99 Available from www.priceline.com

Applying a nightly oil at any age is a great idea, if you are in your teens and worried adding oil will make your skin oilier - it wont and I wish I started using it at a younger age. For me this is a sealing layer, it locks in the serums and adds an extra layer of super hydration.

STEP 5: Heavy Duty Lip Balm

Chap Stick Day & Night Repair duo $7.99 Available from www.priceline.com

If you sleep with your mouth open then you are going to suffer from dry and cracked lips, I love using an ultra heavy duty lip balm before I go to sleep because it is really going to sit on your lips and be absorbed.

STEP 6: Hand Hydration

L'Occitane Hand Cream $12.00 Available from www.loccitane.com.au

Don't forget your poor neglected hands, having a hand cream on your bedside table at the ready is a great idea if you forget to apply hand cream on a regular basis. I am a total hand cream hussy and never stay loyal to one brand in particular but I am liking the L'Occitane hand cream a lot.

xx Nella

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Organic Oils for Oily Skin with La Mav

La Mav Pure Argan Oil $24.95 and La Mav Ultra Hydration Intense Moisture Nightly Repair Nectar $49.95 available from www.lamav.com

There is a common misconception that if you have oily skin then you should steer clear of all makeup and skin care containing oils, this becomes even more misleading with the amount of products slapping an 'Oil Free' slogan onto their bottles and targeting them to oil skin. Yes some oils can be too heavy for skin and cause break outs but what if I told you hand on my heart as a fellow oily-skinned woman that using oils on my face my skin has actually started producing less natural oils which cause makeup to slip slide away before lunch.
I started trialling products from La Mav about 2 years ago, the brand offers a variety of facial oils which are all 100% organic and targeted to specific concerns like anti-aging and hyper pigmentation. Over that time I have tried a various oils from all the lines, the Vitamin-C line has too many active ingredients for my skin and my skin was very sensitive too it. Having a reaction like this is very common when you are trailing natural products. But try not to worry about it, your skin is just telling you to try something else and ittakes time to find the right oil match for your skin. Once you find the right oil for your skin, you will know because the signs are easy to spot : Glowing! Radiating with health! and constant compliments! Are just a few of the effects that are quickly noticed.
The La Mav Organic Pure Argan Oil for day wear under makeup and the Ultra-Hydration Nightly Nectar for night time application are my current favourite day and night oils. Using them both combined on a daily basis my skin has dramatically changed my skin, it is less oily in my t-zone and has a more even hydrated feel and look. If you have combination skin, I would recommend experimenting with using natural organic oils to try and control your oily areas, it has worked for me and my skin feels amazing for it.

xxx Nella

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** I was kindly gifted these products for blog consideration. This did not, in any way, influence my opinion on the product. Please refer to my policy and disclaimer for more information.

Sensory overload for Mother's Day at Lush....

Lush Bath Bomb in Secret Garden $5.95 available from www.lush.com.au

This Mother's Day I decided to treat my very spunky Mum to a sensory overload of colour, smell and relaxation at Lush with  an arm and hand soak, exfoliation and massage. It was the perfect Mother's day activity which was filled with discovering amazing new Lush products and an amazing treatment.

Like mother like daughter, she definitely passed down her love of very bright and colourful fashion, don't you think?

After Mum had almost bought one of everything in the shop, we sat down for our treatments with the lovely and super gorgeous Alicia (Hi Alicia if you are reading this!) who talked us through the treatment and asked our favourite scents to make a customised hand soak. We both said : Rose and Geranium - SNAP!

This is a full list of products that went into our crazy colourful and wonderfully colourful and scented hand soak:

-1 x Secret Garden Bath Bomb

-Honey I washed the kids Shower Gel

-Turkish delight shower smoothie

-Ro's argan body conditioner

-Let the good times roll scrub

Alicia was very detailed at explaining the ingredients of all the products she used whilst giving our arms a very relaxing arm massage at the same time. Did you know that over 20,000 rose petals go into every tub of Ro's Argan Body conditioner, no wonder it smells so beautifully rosey!

After arms were soaked and scrubbed it was time for a massage with Therapy massage bar, this felt incredible! I'd hadn't used the Lush Massage bars before but after that arm massage I am a 100% devoted fan, it was so buttery smooth and left our arms completely moisturised. So as we didn't walk around all day with very slippery arms Alicia powdered us with Vanilla Puff, another new Lush product which I fell in love with, it is a vanilla scented dusting powder which takes away stickiness of moisturisers. No more wrestling my freshly moisturised legs into tight skinny jeans ever again!

This was the perfect Mother's day treat for Mum and I to do together, it was informal fun and we totally zenned-out with our treatments. 

If you like the sound of our Mother-Daughter pamper fest then you totally need to know that Lush is available for parties, how cool is that! You and your friends can book a face mask party where you learn how to make your favourite  fresh face mask together, byo a bottle of bubbles and have a blast whipping up your own batch of Cupcake, Cosmetic Warrior, Love Lettuce or Oatifix. I would highly recommend the in store Lush treatment experience, it is a whole lotta fun.

For more information on Lush or to book a Lush party go to www.lush.com.au

xxx Nella

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Testing 1 2.....3 : People for Plants Review

People for Plants : White tea, Aloe and Witch Hazel Cleanser & Makeup Remover $24.95, Rosehip, Ginkgo & Shea Day Cream $29.95, Ginkgo, Coconut & Shea Body Cream $19.95  Rose Otto, Burdock & Kakadu Plum Toning Mist $19.95 Available from www.peopleforplants.com.auhttp://www.peopleforplants.com.au/

People for Plants is new Australian certified organic, cruelty free skin care range which I have been testing out over the last couple of weeks. When buying products which are marketed as being organic, it is hard to tell if they are actually going to work. People for Plants are more than just another organic skin care brand, each product is packed with amazing ingredients which my skin has been lovingly drinking up each day. Here is a round up on my thoughts of a few products:

White Tea, Aloe and Witch Hazel Cleanser & Makeup Remover $24.95

When applying the thick creamy balm, massaging it into your face it immediately lifts makeup up, I then remove it with a dampened warm flannel. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and the best thing about the balm is that it doesn't strip your skin of its beautiful natural oils. I have been trying to find a cheaper alternative to my favourite Eve Lom Cleansing balm and this White Tea, Aloe and Witch Hazel Cleanser has answered my prayers! 

Rosehip, Ginkgo & Shea Day Cream $29.95 

This is a thicker than normal day cream, which takes a little while for my skin to absorb but once it does my skin feels plump and hydrated. The Rosehip is subtle but definitely noticeable, this would be perfect for dry skin or recovering skin which has been effected by acne or scaring.

Gingko, Coconut & Shea Body Cream $19.95

I have been travelling quite a lot over the holidays to get out of the city for a couple of days and this body cream has been in my toiletries bag on every trip. It is thick and hydrating but also non greasy. Applying this after a shower to warm skin has been keeping my skin soft after salt water has zapped the moisture out of my skin.

Rose Otto, Burdock & Kakadu Plum Toning Mist $19.95

It is the middle of Summer in Australia at the moment and I am shvitzing! Over 30 degrees most days, if I am at home there is no way I am bothering to apply any makeup because it will just melt right off my pretty little face. However I have been keeping this toning mist in the fridge and when I feel like its all too much and too hot a cooling spritz brings me back to life.

xxx Nella

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Beauté Gazette LOVES Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil

Kosema Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil $24.95 available from www.kosmea.com.au

Ever since Miranda Kerr blurted out her love for Rose Hip Oil it seems as if everyone has gone gaga over it, with women applying it overnight expecting to wake up with that Victoria Secrets glow. But with all skin care it does take time for your skin to adjust to using it and to really see the benefits of using a product. 

Kosmea Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil is my absolute favourite, the story behind the brand and the quality of the product is why I would pick it over other brands on the market. The standard way to use Rose Hip Oil is to apply 2 - 3 drops at night as a treatment and 2 - 3 drops in the morning as a moisturiser BUT I have been using it in a few new ways:

- Mixing a few drops in with my foundation, it sheers out the coverage beautifully and makes the foundation glide onto the skin with fingers. Skip the highlighter babes, you will be naturally glowing.

- Adding a few drops to my body moisturiser to help any scars or abrasions heal.

- I am pretty much certain that Rose Hip Oil cleared up ingrown hairs on my bikini line.

- It is an amazing cuticle oil!

- Adding a few drops to a face mask, to boost hydration.

- To remove your eye makeup, especially liquid liners and waterproof mascaras. A few drops on your finger tips and gently massage your eyelids and makeup will lift away so easily.

I love a multi-purpose product and Rose Hip Oil it does everything and more! 

xxx Nella

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Grown Alchemist : Vanilla & Orange Hand Cream + Hydra-Mist Desert Lime & Amino-Peptides

Grown Alchemist Vanilla & Orange Hand Cream $24.99 & Hydra-Mist + Desert Lime & Amino-Peptides $29.95

www.grownalchemist.com

Grown Alchemist is a brand which I am only new to and they certainly tick the first impressions box with their packaging - so shoot me I am a sucker for minimalist-organicy hipster packaging!

The Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream travels with me everywhere in my handbag at the moment, the consistency not too thick and not too greasy perfect for on the go hand moisturising. The scent is clean and fresh not too overpowering or lingering, it is everything you could want in a hand cream.

Peptides are a massive beauty 'buzz-word' at the moment (I am planning a post later in the week explaining everything you need to know about them!) with companies listing peptides on just about anything and everything. Grown Alchemist's Hydra-Mist+ list of ingredients reads like a hydration super cocktail for your skin containing Hydraluric Acid, Antioxidants, Vitamin C and that 'buzzy' Protein Peptide. I have been spraying my face with the Hydra-Mist+ after cleansing morning and night before applying moisturiser or night serum, and have noticed a dramatic difference in how hydrated my skin looks and feels especially since we are in the depths of winter which usually leaves me with dry patches. 

As a brand which is marketed at an organic and natural savvy customer the pricing of Grown products  is extremely reasonable compared to similar brands on the market with nothing over the $69.95 price point. Grown Alchemist is a brand which I will definitely continue to explore with their Cleansers and Masks next on my list to try.

Grown Alchemist is available on www.grownalchemist.com

& also available from www.priceline.com.au

xxx Nella

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LUSH Beauty Blogger Event

Just hanging out behind a table of soaps!

Last week Lush held a super amazing beauty blogger event at the Lush Sydney QVB store, there was lots of playing with products and we were overloaded with information but the one thing that I took away from the event was : Lush gives a shit, and I have fallen back in love with them for it.

In all area's it is a 'Full Circle' brand:

-All packaging is made from 90% recycled materials and all packaging can be recycled when you are finished with it.

-Lush sources ingredients from suppliers who are certified non animal testing companies and Lush does not test any of their products on animals.

-'Slush Fund' is an initiative Lush set up to support smaller suppliers to boost their businesses, to drive local business.

-All products are made from fresh organic fruit, vegetables, essential oils and safe synthetics.

- It is a transparent brand, the amount of money a consumer is paying for a product is for the product, not a marketing campaign or fancy packaging. It is for the high quality ethically sourced natural ingredients that Lush uses to create beautiful creams, lotions, bath bombs, massage bars and cleansers.

ANGELS ON BARE SKIN $16.95

Lush's #1 worldwide cleanser, containing ground almonds, clay and lavender. Mix paste with water and massage into the skin for a soft exfoliation to the face. 

RO'S ARGAN BODY CONDITIONER $32.50

Lush's #1 Australian selling product, contains 6 conditioning butters including Morrocan Argan Oil. Used like a hair conditioner but on your body, when rinsed off the soft rose scent lingers on your skin.

ULTRA BLAND FACIAL CLEANSER

An oil emulsion cleanser, fantastic at removing makeup. Massage into your face gently loosening makeup and then wipe off with a flannel cloth that has been soaked in warm water. Oils will remain penetrating the skin leaving it plump and softened.

BUBBLE GUM LIP SCRUB

For all you Snow Fairy Lovers, the Bubble Gum Lip Scrub has the same scent. The sugar scrub exfoliates flakey skin off your lips leaving them sweet and kissable.

DREAM CREAM

Another world wide best seller, Dream Cream containing Oat Milk, Chamomile, Rose, Tea Tree and Lavender is incredibly soothing and calming. A-OK for those of us who suffer from skin irritations like exhzma and dermatitis.

HONEY I WASHED THE KIDS SOAP

Topped with a layer of solid bees wax made by some incredibly happy bees, this iconic soap packed with creamy honey soothes dry skin.

Have you ever fallen back in love with a brand? 

What's your favourite Lush product, that I should try next? 

Let me know in the comments or on Twitter or on the Beauté Gazette Facebook page all links are down below.

xxx Nella

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Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

The nostalgic packaging of Dr.Bronner's magic soaps are a fixture in my shower and is often reached for. I suffer from occasionally eczema which is brought on by stress and also dermatitis leaving my skin irritable and very itchy! It needs to be nurtured back to health with healing and soothing oils not scrubbed and stripped with topical anti-biotics. Containing Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Hemp Oil and Jojoba Oils, it leaves skin feeling clean but also softened and hydrated. 

If you are addicted to extremely scented body washes this isn't for you, low in fragrance....it's hippy stuff ok, most have a slightly natural scent. There is a Baby Mild line of products which are unscented if you can't stand a little natural spice.

Another great use for Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is for brush cleaning! It is amazing, pop a little into a glass with some water then swirl your dirty makeup brushes in the mixture squeezing excess water out and rinse. My brushes have never been so clean and for some reason it makes them dry really quickly.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps available from www.lateralfood.com and most health food stores

59ml - $3.75      944ml - $19.95       1.89L - $37.20        3.78L - $76.20

xxx Nella

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Weleda Wild Rose Body Lotions

Wild Rose Body Lotion $33.90/100ml and Wild Rose Pampering Body Lotion $36.90/200ml

www.weleda.com.au

Rose is a very polarizing scent you either love it or hate it (just like 50 Cent) I fortunately LOVE IT! My idea of a fun time is browsing the isles of my local health food store - I know, I am totally sad and should probably get some new hobbies. Weleda is one of my favourite organic skin care brands, and I have been recently loving the Wild Rose range paticuarly. During the heat of summer I find wearing perfume can really annoy me, it is just too over powering and distracting so I tend to wear a scented body lotion and thats it. The body lotion is amazing for lathering up your legs after shaving, it contains lots of oils and is more of a gel consistancy and rubs in like a dream perfect for quick leggy lubrication

as you are running out the door. The Pampering Body Lotion is a thick cream, and more suited for before bed application all over, letting it absorb into your skin over night so you wake up super soft and the rosey sweetly scent sends you off into dreamland. The most annoying thing with some body lotions  is when you rub them in they make these little white almost pilling crusty things on your skin - dont know what those gross things are but the Weleda body lotions don't do that.

Please let me know what your favorite rose scented products are in the comments below.

xxx Nella

Last Chance to WIN The La Mav Organic Skin Science Pack

The La Mav competition is closing this Friday 30th November at 9am EST! If you haven't already entered it is your last chance to win this amazing prize pack valued at $170.00 containing :

Hyaluronan Daily Moisture Créme 50ml

Intense Moisture Nightly Repair Nectar 30ml

Bio-A7 Firming Eye Lotion 15ml

All you have to do to win this gorgeous La Mav certified organic pack is:

1. 'LIKE' La Mav on Facebook HERE

2. 'LIKE' Beaute Gazette on Facebook HERE

3. Email Beauté Gazette with your details (Name & Shipping Address): beautegazette@gmail.com

I will ship to anywhere in the world - so if you are in a very cold far away country and would like a chance to try some beautiful Australian skin care products now is your chance.

The very lucky winner will be notified via email shortly after 9am on Friday.

Good Luck Ladies.

Also I would like to say THANK-YOU for all the lovely emails and support.

Your feedback means so much to me.

Nella xx

La Mav Bloggers Brunch and GIVEAWAY!

 I was late to the La Mav Organic Organic Skin Science bloggers brunch last Thursday, which meant I missed the main presentation by La Mav's founder Tarj Mavi but she kindly gave me a one-on-one initiation to the brand at the end of the brunch. Freaking out I was late also made me only have a few bites of the delicious pancakes at the Wharf Resturant - which was maybe a good thing for my every growing hips and bum.
La Mav was started by Tarj (a veterinarian pharmacologist) when she was suffering from server pigmentation on her face after pregnancy. Not satisfied with the harsh topical ointments that doctors and dermatologists were prescribing for her skin she decided to try a natural organic route developing La Mav along the way. Having the founder of a brand talk you through their products using there own personal experience as guidance was terrific - Tarj was a wealth of knowledge on natural ingredients and all things skin.
For the past week I have been trying out the Skin-Brightening Christmas pack, using the Rumex Advanced Lightening Day Créme under my makeup, the Vit-C Advanced Nightly Repair Nectar - a beautiful oil which hydrates and softens skin overnight and the Anti-dark Circle Ultra-Firm Eye Gel - which is a lifesaver for dark circle applying morning and night. When I am given products to try out I do feel kind of guilty because it feels a little like cheating when reviewing - BUT I LOVE THESE PRODUCTS. The whitening and lightening did sound daunting and weird at first because I am so pale but it has really helped even out my skin tone with sun spots and redness which I just had accepted as normal.

OK here is the exciting part!

La Mav have kindly given me a beautiful Ultra Hydration pack valued at $170.00 to giveaway to one lucky reader of Beauté Gazette, the pack contains:

Hyaluronan Daily Moisture Créme 50ml

Intense Moisture Nightly Repair Nectar 30ml

Bio-A7 Firming Eye Lotion 15ml

All you have to do to win this gorgeous La Mav certified organic pack is:

1. 'LIKE' La Mav on Facebook HERE

2. 'LIKE' Beaute Gazette on Facebook HERE

3. Email Beauté Gazette with your details: beautegazette@gmail.com

I will ship to anywhere in the world - so if you are in a very cold far away country and would like a chance to try some beautiful Australian skin care products now is your chance.

GOOD LUCK

xxx  Nella

Product and stockist information available at www.lamav.com

Natural Wonders : La Clinica For Skin & Body

 www.laclinica.com

For a while now I have been trying to find a line of NATURAL products which are effective on my skin and feel like they are doing something good rather than just sitting on the surface and smelling nice. Most natural products available in health stores and department stores although containing plenty of great natural oils they also have a high alcohol content and are more marketed as being natural rather than actually containing natural ingredients.

I was sent a a few products from La Clinica, an Australian Organic skin care range, on first inspection I didn't think I would like them then I read through the ingredients.......they had little to NO ALCOHOL in them and seemed to be all good on paper at least. 

La Clinica Anti-Aging Rose Water Facial Mist $23.00

Firstly I tested out the Anti-Aging Rose Water Facial Mist, after I had cleansed my face ready for bed I swiped a cotton pad soaked in the Anti-Aging Rose Water Mist all over my face and it felt lovely and smelled like a Turkish delight. It says it contains Stem Cell Complex-3 which is meant to regenerate skin at a derma level (HUH?!?), look I don't know what that means at all but it felt really cooling and with the amount of other super ingredients in it like Chamomile Flower water, Pinus Pinaster Bark extract, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract and the list goes to more things that I have no idea what they are....but they are all organic. And trust me its very important that you only use organic Pinus Pinaster Bark. This product is a great alternative to the other facial mists on the market, most of which contain high levels of alcohol and are very drying. I have been using it is as a toner I found it locked in moisture before I went to sleep and I woke up with my skin feeling super soft.

La Clinica Anti-Aging Rose Hip Oil $21.00

Next I applied La Clinica's Anti-Aging 100% Pure Organic Rose Hip Oil all over my face and gave myself a version of a lymphatic face massage, I have been trying to master some at home day spa techniques which are only going mildly ok. Usually Rose Hip Oils are too astringent and strong for my face and I start to feel really hot and suffocating, but this was really light and calming on the skin. I checked my other Rose Hip Oils (I have tried out MANY because of Miranda Kerr's confession that it gives her that glowy supermodel skin) and it they all have other added ingredients which might be what my skin doesn't agree with. In the morning my skin was very soft and I think in certain angles and lights I may have had a very slight supermodel glow too.

La Clinica Rebalancing Vitamin A Day Cream $37.00

The Rebalancing Day Vitamin A Cream was the last product I tried, this has a heavy health food shop smell which some people might not like but it reminds me of my mum so I don't mind it. The cream is quite thick which I was surprised about because it is a day cream, it soaked in quickly and left my face feeling quite matte and dewy rather than slippery or shiny a perfect makeup base. I love this it keeps my skin hydrated all day and doesn't let oily patches through, the only down side is that it does not contain SPF. I would defiantly buy this moisturizer again, I am actually obsessed with it and have been trying to make anyone who is over at my house before 9am (I have a lot of early visitors) to try it out. 

La Clinica is available from selected salons and also online www.laclinica.com