WOWZERS! When did that happen?!

I have over 230 followers!! That’s insane :D Thank you so much! I really appreciate every single one of you!

I also need to highlight that some of you who have commented on the giveaway can’t actually qualify for an entry until you have posted about the giveaway either on your twitter page, or somewhere on your blog. Sorry about that, you may want to go back and edit your comment!

I was in the process of thanking you all for entering individually, but there’s just too many to keep up with now! So I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK to all of you here! :D

Thanks for viewing, I have more reviews coming up shortly, including Urban Decay and Revlon – so stay tuned!

oxo

Natural Instinct Review: Part 3

I know, I know. This should’ve been up ages ago but I’ve had such a full on week, this is the first day I’ve actually had any rest! :P
So on with the review!

 
First up is the Natural Instinct Aloe Vera Gel.
Our NEW improved Aloe Vera Gel is a versatile product and has many natural benefits. It can be used for the cooling of sunburn, may assist with the healing of scars and the soothing of dry skin problems.
Anyone that uses clear aloe vera gel would know that it has heaps more uses than this!
This is by far the best aloe vera gel my sister and I have ever used and I honestly don’t know what we’d do without it. We use it for everything from sunburn to insect bites and it’s the only thing that can calm down my skin when I have a reaction to something.
The thing I mainly use this for though, is a makeup primer. I put a very small amount of it on my face after moisturising, but before my foundation. It makes my foundation last all day and actually makes the foundation go on smoother. I love it as my daily primer!
Everyone should have clear aloe vera gel on hand, and this is the one I’d personally recommend! :D

The last thing in this review is the Natural Deodorant.
Natural Instinct Deodorant contains ingredients that won’t just mask body odours, it will help to assist in fighting bacteria that causes body odours.
This deodorant contains two ingredients: sea salts and purified water.
Together, we found that this only works provided that you’re not doing any strenuous physical activity! Which is no good for us, given that it’s Summer here and we’re always outside doing stuff :P
And that in itself is the reason why I probably wouldn’t repurchase this, I need a deodorant that can last the distance and so far I haven’t been able to find a natural one that can do that. :(

That brings us to the end of the review on Natural Instinct Products! You can find more information about these and all the rest of their products on their website.

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

Natural Instinct Review: Part 2

In Part 1 of this review we looked at the Natural Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash. Today we’re concentrating on face products!

First is the Natural Facial Scrub.
Whisk away those unwanted dead skin cells with Natural Instinct Facial Scrub. Ideal for sensitive skin, use it to remove clogged pores and impurities.
This comes in a 125ml bottle. Like any face scrub you use this once or twice a week to exfoliate. It’s quite harsh so I would recommend you be very gentle when using it!
Again I’ve asked my sister to give her opinions on this as well, and she really doesn’t like this. I have to say, I’m with her on this one. The smell for one, just isn’t pleasant and it’s too harsh! I won’t be repurchasing it, and wouldn’t recommend it. There are much better facial scrubs on the market, I wouldn’t bother with this one.

Next is the Natural Foaming Facial Cleanser.
Keep your face looking clean and fresh with the natural plant extracts of Natural Instinct Foaming Facial Cleanser.
This comes in a 125ml bottle and is suitable for all skin types, will assist in the removal of makeup and removes dirt and excess oil.
Camille, my sister, loves this product and uses it every single day. She, like a lot of teenagers, has very oily skin and has regular breakouts. She finds it hard to find a cleanser that really makes her face feel clean and that also helps control her blemishes – but this does a fantastic job. Her skin looks much clearer and her face really isn’t as oily as it usually is.
I also love this cleanser! I suffer from oily skin too which lately is also sensitive. Because of this, I’ve found it really hard to find a cleanser that doesn’t irritate my skin! This however, is great! My face feels really clean after using this and I would definitely recommend this to anyone, especially those with sensitive skin!

The Natural Hydating Toner is next.
Soothe and balance your skin with Natural Instinct Hydrating Toner. Suitable for sensitive skin, use it to refresh and hydrate your skin after cleansing.
This toner comes in a 125ml spray bottle which I find really handy! In normal bottles it can be quite easy to use too much toner, when in reality you only need a little bit to do the job. But with this, you only need a couple of sprays and you’re done! I thought I would add that I don’t spray this directly on my face, I spray it on a cotton pad then apply to my face. :)
We both really like this. It’s beautiful and refreshing and it’s a bit of a step up from the witch hazel that I usually use everyday, as it contains all the goodness of that with the added benefits of rosewater. Would recommend this to anyone who wants a nice refreshing toner!

And the last product for this part of the review is Natural Moisturiser.
Natural Instinct Moisturiser is specifically designed for the sensitive, delicate skin on your face. It’s non greasy formula may assist in replenishing the moisture in your skin and compliments it with a blend of organic herbs.
This also comes in a 125ml bottle! It’s suitable for all skin types and is even great under makeup!
We love this! Cetaphil is pretty much my favourite moisturiser of all time, but this is a close second. It just feels so nice and doesn’t irritate my skin at all. Considering it’s so cheap, it feels like a high end moisturiser – without all the chemicals! Recommend to anyone :D

In the last Part of this review we’ll be looking at Natural Aloe Vera Gel and Natural Deodorant.
Thanks for viewing!
oxo

Natural Instinct Review: Part 1

 

Natural Instinct is an Australian brand that has been producing natural and organic skin care products since 2003. As well as that, they also produce a range of household cleaning products.

My sister and I have been using a wide range of their products for the past few months and are here to share our experiences with you! This is the first part in a three part series, so let’s get onto it!

First up is the Natural Shampoo.
Organic Instinct Shampoo has been carefully formulated with a unique combination that contains pure essential oils and organic herbs.
This shampoo is made for all hair types and is meant to leave your hair feeling soft, shiny and manageable. It is available in three sizes; 250ml, 500ml and 1 Litre.
My sister, Camille SWEARS by this. To give you an idea of her hair type, she is a natural blonde who has never dyed her hair and has naturally straight hair that has a slight wave. Her hair gets really oily, so she washes it everyday.
She finds it really difficult to find a shampoo that leaves her hair feeling clean, but this is great! We have both noticed that her hair looks a lot more healthy since she has been using this, and now she refuses to use anything else!
I, on the other hand, like this shampoo but can’t use it every time I wash my hair. I have naturally curly hair that is in really bad condition from a botched up chemical straightening that I had done by a student hairdresser (that was a BAD idea!). It’s oily at the roots, but completely dry and fried at the ends.
I agree that this shampoo leaves your hair feeling really clean, but it really feels too harsh for my hair, so I don’t often use it.

Next up is the Natural Conditioner.
Organic Instinct Conditioner uses the nourishing goodness of pure essential oils and organic herbs to nourish your hair.
This conditioner is enriched with Vitamin E, Avocado and Lavender Pure Essential Oils which helps make your hair feel soft and manageable. It is also available in the same three sizes as the shampoo.
This is another product that Camille uses everyday after using the shampoo. Now this works fabulously on her hair, leaves it feeling soft and beautiful – I swear her hair has never looked so good!
Unfortunately it doesn’t work as well for me. It just isn’t nourishing enough for my hair and it feels like it doesn’t really do anything for me at all.

The last product for Part 1 of this review is the Natural Body Wash.
Natural Instinct Body Wash cleanses and revitalises your body with natural conditioning ingredients.
Made with pure essential oils and organic herbs, it nourishes your skin leaving it looking smooth and fresh. Would you believe that this comes in those same three sizes as the shampoo and conditioner?!
Camille and I both love this! My skin in general has been extra sensitive lately and has been reacting to almost all soaps and body washes – except for this! It doesn’t really have much of a scent to it, but it actually leaves you feeling really clean and fresh. It also doesn’t seem to dry out your skin like a lot of body washes. So this gets two thumbs up from the both of us!

Part 2 will feature the Natural Facial Scrub, Natural Foaming Facial Cleanser, Natural Hydrating Toner and Natural Moisturiser – so stay tuned!

Thanks for viewing, don’t forget to enter my first giveaway here!
oxo!

Update – Over 100 Followers!!! Wowzers!

HI all!
I have to say a huuuge THANK YOU to all of my new followers (as well as all my old ones who have stayed by me all this time!)! This is so ridiculously exciting! I was away for the weekend, and when I returned yesterday, I realised I had gone from 95 to 111!! That is beyond awesome and I can’t thank you all enough. :D :D :D

The giveaway is going fabulously – thanks to all who have entered so far! Those of you who haven’t entered yet, but want to do so click here! Unfortunately I have had a bit of negativity surrounding it, which did upset and annoy me at first, but I’ve decided to ignore it and won’t let it ruin the excitement of my first giveaway. I owe it to all you amazing people!

My trip away was amazing.. It’s hard not to love this country when you go out and explore it, I tell ya. Although it does make Auckland less and less appealing. :P
I went to Taranaki with my family and spent the whole time on black sand beaches – swimming, kayaking, spending time with my family AND I even got to drive a tractor – twice! I’ve probably mentioned it before, but if not, I am obsessed with tractors! I’m not sure why.. I just am! I have wanted to drive one forever, so I was so excited that I finally got to do it! :)

On a blogging note, coming up this week will be a review on Natural Instinct products. It’ll be in two parts (possibly three?) because I’ve tried quite a few of their products. I’ll also be sharing my sister’s view on them – so you can see two different opinions!

Thanks again to everyone, you’ve really made my day! :)
oxo

Review: Graftobian HD Pro Powder Foundation

“Graftobian’s silky smooth pressed powder formulation is highly pigmented for exceptional coverage and blends easily for a natural finish. Ideal for creating a matte HD finish following the use of Graftobian’s High Definition Glamour Creme Foundation.”

 
Also known as Dual-finish foundation, this awesome little powder foundation can be used both wet or dry.
To achieve a more translucent coverage, you apply this dry with a brush. For more opacity, apply it dry with the included sponge. For the best coverage, apply it with a wet sponge.

Now I’m sure you know by now that I really LOVE HD makeup products. You really do get more bang for your buck. Intensely pigmented products where a little literally goes a long way! I’m also quite a fan of Graftobian ever since I purchased this palette.

I had originally wanted to purchase these powders after reading the Model Mayhem forums (that place is bad for my wallet!) and seeing that everyone actually uses the Graftobian 12 Dual Finish Foundation Palette from Camerareadycosmetics on makeup jobs. It looked really good so I was in the process of saving for it!
I then actually got an email from Makeupandglow advertising a sale on their Graftobian HD Powder compacts (as they’ve decided to no longer stock them) and at a reduced price of $5AUD, we all know I couldn’t resist them!! I ended up with 5 compacts that altogether cost less than purchasing just one at full price!! Bargain! :D

The colours I got are: Honey Glow, Milk ‘N Honey, Porcelain Doll, Alabaster Baby and Healthy Tan.

So far, I have only tried them out by applying them dry, with a brush and oh my goodness, these things are AMAZING! The coverage is just beautiful, it evens out the skin without looking like you’re wearing anything at all! If you’re one of those mineral foundation junkies, that likes them because of how good they feel, then trust me, you would love this!!
I have been wearing Alabaster Baby a lot lately, because my normal liquid foundation just seems to melt off in this heat, and I can honestly tell you that I am loving it. I also use Healthy Tan to contour my face – it’s great for that! :D

I honestly just love these powders. Not only will they be great on my female clients but they will be perfect for when my job requires ‘male grooming’ as most guys can’t stand the feel of any makeup on them! :P Definitely a great product that I would recommend to anyone.
Although I probably will get a palette to depot these babies into, who wants that many compacts taking up space in their kit?!

Thanks for viewing lovelies!
Don’t forget to enter my first ever giveaway!
oxo

My First Ever Giveaway!!

Yay!!! I’m so excited!! I really hope you all enter this, I love you all and can’t thank you enough for following my blog. Depending on how this one goes, I may have quite a few more coming up this year!! :D

Ok, let’s get onto it!

Included in the prize is:

• Neutrogena Rapid Clear Spot Gel 15ml (I love this stuff and find that it works really, really well!)
• MAC Lipmix in Clear ‘Gloss’ (I LOVE to make my own lipsticks/glosses by mixing this stuff with different pigments)
• Revlon Beyond Natural Cream to Powder eyeshadow quad in ‘520 Spice’
• 6 MAC Pigment Samples all in 1/2 teaspoon sizes – Kelly Green, Mauvement, Melon, Mutiny, Violet and Rose
• 2 Nivea DNAge Samples – eyecream and nightcream (just thought I’d chuck those in there, cause I love them! :P)

All products are of course brand new!

It’s easy to enter!

• First, you must be a follower of my blog! If you’re not one already then go ahead and follow me :D
• You must comment on this post
• You must EITHER post about this giveaway on your blog, OR write about it on twitter! Remember to include the link to this when you comment me!
• If you happen to post about this on both your blog AND twitter, then you will automatically have 2 entries into this giveaway. If you do this, then remember to include both links!

This is open to all international readers and this giveaway closes on the 25 March 2010. Winner will be announced on the 26 March 2010.

Thanks for viewing! Don’t forget to enter! oxo!