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*It’s official: I’M WORTH IT.* *What they claim:* "The NEW Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Serum introduces a new meaning to luxury serums, enhanced with our unique Antioxidant Recovery Complex designed to boost skin cell turnover at night for more radiant, younger-looking skin. This lightweight antioxidant face serum hydrates the skin with a non-greasy finish, making it suitable for all skin types and skin tones. In the USA, women prefer the Midnight Serum to USA’s #1 Luxury Night Serum*. *Based on USA Consumer Preference Study conducted on 350 women over 4 weeks. Preference based on which serum left skin feeling more: moisturised, smooth, silky, fresh, comfortable, radiant, plump." *First impressions:* An expensive paperweight?! My first impressions of the packaging: heavy, pretty and I hope it’s worth it. I wasn’t 100% sure, to be honest. An extreme amount of effort is put into the presentation and I question the value for money. This product is no exception. The packaging is sealed in plastic, prettily boxed, all for a very simplistic toned (heavy) glass bottle with a dropper. You get 30ml of product for the RRP $59.95. Yikes. *With use:* Instructions for this serum dictate suitability for AM and PM routines, thank goodness, and to be used on clean, dry skin. Straight off the bat, this serum is easy to use, easily absorbed, does not compete or conflict with my existing skincare, does not have a scent that annoys or cloys, and does not cause makeup to drag. In other words: it’s a dream to use. Suggested use is three to four drops for the face and neck. The serum consistency comes out rather thickly (it does not ‘drop’ out of the dropper) but it glides on so smoothly. The consistency really is dreamy, almost silky. It’s rather delicious how it goes on, and it improved the performance of my daytime moisturiser (which I’ve now decided to pass along to a friend). *Final impressions:* I was surprisingly impressed by the performance of this serum that I continued to use it past the two week trial period. I’ve been using this serum consistently every morning and evening, without irritation, and I am loving it. While I can’t say my wrinkles are improved (dare I say I’m looking fab for 43?) my skin texture is slowly improving without the added use of the extra few things I would normally reach for (which I opted to not use for the purposes of this trial). To give you an idea, this serum took out an extra three products every second day, from my standard routine. And it worked. Insert gasp. I would buy this serum again, but not at full price. I’d wait for a sale, like a proper bargain hunter.

Sunshine-y day! **What they claim:** For Normal/Combination Skin. Fruit stem cell complex, vitamin C, and skin-friendly probiotic microflora enzymatically support dermal vitality, targeting over-exposed surface cells for a lighter, tighter, brighter looking appearance and a luminous complexion. To Use: Daily. Apply to clean face and neck. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** A clear orange plastic jar with a silver twist-top lid. Comes with a plastic hygiene cap and packaged in a white box with the Brightening Skincare Collection orange branding (per Andalou). A 50g jar will set you back approximately $25 RRP unless purchased on sale. **Thoughts on application:** This renewal (day) cream is a part of the brightening skincare collection, which focusses on complexion defence and is infused with Vitamin C. I was the very lucky recipient of a prize pack from Andalou, where I won a number of their products from this collection. This is ideal for me, as I suffer from pigmentation and subsequent uneven skintone. I also am prone to scarring due to higher melanin content. Day creams can be really hit or miss for me due to my combination skin type, along with a tendency for my skin to change with the seasons. It also doesn’t help living in southeast Queensland, where we suffer from some pretty horrendous humidity come summer, so moisturiser can sometimes sweat right off, along with anything else we slap on our faces (like makeup). So, it was an absolute pleasure to not only win this moisturiser, but to discover it was a match to my skin type, that it absorbs well, caused no irritation, didn’t cause any conflict when applying makeup, and did everything it said it would. My skin really did brighten with continued use (I was also using this moisturiser in conjunction with a few other products but I was so in love with this moisturiser I repurchased it). With or without makeup, I felt this moisturiser gave my skin that little bit of a lift and luminosity. I was beyond words. In addition, I really loved the citrusy fragrance (smells like a Vitamin C chew from when I was a kid). Also very uplifting. This moisturiser was an absolute pleasure to use. I was devastated to reach the bottom of the jar. If you are scent-sensitive, you may not like the scent, otherwise the cream is lightweight and easily absorbed. I cannot get over how well it smoothed onto my skin. I didn’t find the scent to be overpowering (and I can be very particular about scents in products). I had no issues with regards to skin sensitivity either. If you use multiple steps in your skincare routine (i.e. toner / mist, serum, oil, moisturiser): ensure you have enough time between steps to allow for absorption. This moisturiser is deceptively high-powered. You will get quite a bit of punch from a small amount.

Doesn’t pass muster **What they claim:** A cleansing and make-up removing water that respects the fragility of sensitive skin. Sensibio H2O is the 1st and only dermatological micellar water perfectly compatible with the skin: its fatty acid esters, the constituent elements of micelles, are similar to the phospholipids of the skin cell membranes and naturally help rebuild the skin's hydrolipidic film. Combines performance and very high tolerance. Cleanses and removes make-up from the face and eyes. Soothes and clears up irritated skin. Produces a feeling of instant freshness. Non-rinse. Positives: Even removes water-resistant make-up. One bottle of Sensibio H2O sold around the world every 5 seconds! **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** I was incredibly lucky some time ago. I won a bottle of this cult favourite! Not only did I win a bottle, but I won the 500ml limited edition pump pack, plus a mini travel bottle (100ml), in addition to a cute little zip pack of cotton rounds, perfect for travel! Gee did I feel spoiled. **Thoughts on application:** Micellar water is one of the most amazing things to have ever hit the market by way of makeup removal products. Particularly for people who have sensitive skin, sensitive eyes or if you wear contact lenses. This is no exception. This crystal clear micellar water is perfect for persons with any kind of sensitivity. This micellar is scent-free, colour-free and, as far as I am concerned, without any kind of irritation. Except, it doesn’t perform to my expectations. Bummer. This cult favourite just didn’t pass muster. For a micellar to not be able to remove my mascara was a real killer for me (and I don’t even wear waterproof). I don’t want to keep wiping away at my eyes over and over again to get my mascara off. That’s a redundant process. I will say that this micellar does well at removing some makeup but residue does remain. I absolutely must do a second cleanse (preferably with a foaming cleanser). If I was wearing a heavy makeup, then a lotion or oil-based cleanser and then a foaming cleanser is also required. This micellar is simply the first pass, or a toner alternative.

Eye spy a solid contender **What they claim:** For Normal/Combination Skin. Fruit stem cell complex, vitamin C, and goji glycopeptides enzymatically support dermal vitality for a lighter, tighter, brighter looking appearance as caffeine from green coffee uplifts circulation for youthful luminosity. To Use: AM & PM. Apply to clean skin. Gently squeeze tube to dispense serum, glide from under eye toward outer corner and across the brow bone. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** This is a rather sizeable tube of eye gel, coming in at 18ml of product in a squeezable tube. The tube is predominantly pearlescent white with a bright orange twist cap and an angled tip (when the cap is removed). The tube is also gravity-fed. Even though it’s a relatively small product, the tube can stand on the cap, allowing product to feed downwards. This was helpful as you were running towards the end of the product life. A tube of the eye gel goes for around $20 - $25 a pop (unless purchased on special). **Thoughts on application:** This eye gel is a part of the brightening skincare collection, which focusses on complexion defence and is infused with Vitamin C. I was the very lucky recipient of a prize pack from Andalou, where I won a number of their products from this collection. This is ideal for me, as I suffer from pigmentation and subsequent uneven skintone. I also am prone to scarring due to higher melanin content. I was really excited to use this eye gel during the summer months in particular. Eye products, namely creams, can be difficult to use in Brisbane / SEQ due to the humidity. The goal was to find the right gel alternative to give me the moisturisation I needed without melting off my face (or having my eye makeup melt with it). And this tube brings it. In spades. A small pea-sized amount evenly distributed was enough to give me light moisturisation. I found this product was ideal for mornings only (night I need more moisture recovery). By consciously choosing to use this serum for mornings only, one tube lasted me for easily five months. Five months! That’s some serious savings (and I got this for free)! I will say that, by the time I got to the end of the tube it was a right pain to extract the last skerrit of product out, but that’s minute in comparison to the lovely, light and bright effect I received from this gel. It’s a pale white pearlescent colour, did not irritate, conflict with sore eyes or contact lenses or compete with makeup. On days when I needed a stronger boost, I could use in conjunction with a light cream without issue. All in all, this is a solid product that also helps if you’ve had a bad night’s sleep (helps with puffy eyes).

Packs no punch **What they claim:** NIVEA Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Age Spot Day Cream SPF30 effectively fights lines wrinkles and dark spots. Q10, a powerful antioxidant and natural ageing defence is combined with Creatine to leave the skin visibly firmer. SPF 30 and UVA/UVB protection help to protect the skin against sun-induced wrinkle formation and premature skin ageing. This anti-ageing day cream contains 10X more Creatine than the previous Q10 plus formula. Apply daily on cleansed face, avoiding direct eye contact. For optimal results complement your routine with NIVEA Q10 Power Night Cream. This cream will: [Provide] Intensive protection against premature skin ageing like, the formation of wrinkles and dark sports; visibly reduces wrinkles; [and is] for fresher and younger looking skin. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** This moisturiser comes packaged in a white matte box with the blue Nivea circle logo and yellow and blue writing. The box emphasises a new formula and ten times more creatine. The formula also boasts SPF 30. The box is dramatically larger than the jar contained within. The jar is plastic, twist-top, and on opening, is foil-sealed (hygiene points). The box also boasts internal folds, which in turn protects the jar from jostling in-transit (safety points). At the time of writing this review, a price was not available other than via the BH website. Therefore, pricing is estimated at RRP $20 – 22 for 50g of product. **Thoughts on application:** Now, for a little jar, this jar is crammed full of cream (emphasis on the word cream). I dared not pull back the foil all the way because the jar was so full. This translates to the foil also having quite a bit of product on it (so I had to ensure I used that cream first)! The consistency of the cream is very thick and I found it very difficult to apply. As it is a day cream, this is not necessarily my cup of tea. I like to have a product that goes on easily, absorbs well and does the job it says it will (while not messing with my makeup). This cream does not go on easily. I had to have a couple of goes into the foil and the tub to get product onto my mug (to my satisfaction). I don’t mind double-dipping into the salsa, but not my facial products. Hygiene, people. Hygiene. Another criticism is, even though I had to try a few times to get the cream on, the cream doesn’t feel like it’s actually hydrating my face. In particular, my forehead and nose felt tight and dry on a number of occasions. This is not a good sign for someone who has combination skin (and we are talking about the t-zone here). My skin was feeling tight on my forehead right down to my brows! My skin, while the cream absorbs well, starts to feel a bit coated after an hour or two (with or without makeup). After about half a days’ wear, I start getting a bit itchy and irritated. I will say this: the cream did not interfere with my makeup application at all, and worked well with a number of different primers (including mattifying types). This brings me to my next dilemma: it’s a bit difficult for me to wear a moisturiser that doesn’t moisturise. I simply can’t do it! I am in my early forties, suffer pigmentation spots and am highly conscious regarding the prevention of any ageing for as long as humanly possible. Hydration of my skin is critical to this, and this product is not helping. In turn, if this product doesn’t hydrate (and I have to put on additional products to assist), it leads me to the logical conclusion all other product claims will lead me to the same unfulfilling conclusion. Side notes: To assist the review of this product, I used this moisturiser after a full cleanse with my tried and true morning facial cleanser that I have been using every morning without fail for over a year (unless travelling), and a facial serum I have been using every morning for the past few months without fail. I also used an eye cream (matching brand to the facial serum, also been using successfully on and off for the past few months). All these other products are tried and true, with no issues and are personally trusted brands (two of the three are listed on BH and I have reviewed these products separately).

Big bang brightening **What they claim:** The beauty secret of the world's top makeup artists and models, and the single beauty essential nobody should be without. Touche Éclat is the original must-have for a radiant, flawless face with a natural, luminous finish. With a few strategic strokes erase dark circles, fine lines and signs of fatigue. This award-winning highlighted is powered by the radiance-boosting Luminocaptide Complex, so you look rested and refreshed—even if you’ve been up for hours. Sleek and sophisticated, it discretely slips into a makeup bag for quick touch-ups and buildable sheer to medium coverage, anytime. Now available in 12 radiant shades to conceal, highlight and contour all skin tones. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** YSL has some absolutely gorgeous products and the Touche Éclat is no different. The packaging is sleek and elegant, synonymous with the French house branding. The Touche Éclat is a full metallic gold pen with a gold cap and a black click base for depression to dispense the product. Under the cap is a white brush for application, which, on depression of the cap, will fill with product. This iconic product is not cheap, retailing at around $70 for 2.5ml product. I have the Touche Éclat in 5.5 Luminous Praline. **Thoughts on application:** There are two killers for me with this product: one is the price and two is trying to get product out when first using it. I feel like I had to click my life away to get the party started. When product started to finally dispense, it was thin in consistency and came out so quickly that I thought “oh crap, I’m wasting dollars here”! Moving on. Once I finally got going, I have to say I picked the perfect colour for myself. What a stunner. The consistency is absolute perfection as a highlighter. A little goes a long way and blends on top of foundation to bring that perfect amount of POW to my cheekbones, bridge of my nose, and wherever I wanted that hit of light. I have used the product applicator, my fingers, a dedicated makeup brush but ultimately found blending out with a makeup sponge to be the best bet. The finish is lightweight, non-cakey and bright. Very enjoyable!

Yves slays the day! **What they claim:** Try YSL Beauty's Fusion Ink foundation for flawless, matte coverage that lasts up to 24 hours. Discover it's weightless texture that feels light on the skin. A natural looking foundation suited to all skin types, particularly ideal for oily skin. Available in 14 shades. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** Je t’aime d’or! All that gold! Gold box, gold cap on the bottle, gold gold gold! Sexy shiny iridescent gold box with the embossed gold YSL front and centre, it doesn’t get more luxe than Yves Saint Laurent. The bottle is all class with its glass: squared off matte glass bottle, that is. In a matte clear and black finish, topped with more gold on the cap, it’s so elegant I gagged. Sigh. Pretty gold. All for RRP $89 for 25ml of foundation. Whip out those cards and punish your slavings accounts! **Thoughts on application:** First cab off the rank is the strong square-based bottle. There’s no rolling around. It’s stable and strong. Excellent. The lid is a bit deceiving. It’s actually a cap you must pull off first which reveals a screw-top. Recommendation: shake first before use and then unscrew. The lid will reveal the weirdest applicator which looks like a firm nail polish applicator. This is the most unattractive feature of the product. I tried to drip product onto my face: hopeless. Don’t even bother. Simply stroke some onto the back or palm of your non-working hand and then use your tool of choice. The applicator is terrible. Once you have the bottle open, there is an initial hit of foundation fragrance which is then quickly overtaken by a slight chemical smell. I am scent-sensitive and can be very put off by strong smells. For me, the scent is not so strong as to be a complete deterrent. Knowing I would be putting more makeup on (including setting spray) also helped later on in the mugging process. This very light-weight, light-feel foundation otherwise blends easily. The consistency is thin, and it takes a bit to get used to. As I’m used to a heavier foundation, I was initially thrown by what I thought was a lack of coverage. The consistency is really quite runny and a little goes a long way. That said, the coverage is light but the best part: it’s a buildable coverage, depending upon your needs. My skin tone / colour changes seasonally, so the shade selected for me (BD 40 Golden Beige) is better for cooler months or evenings when I can build the foundation, powder and bronzer). I have used this foundation with a sonic foundation brush, hand-held foundation brush, kabuki and sponge. I find a brush and sponge application method to be the best approach for me. The consistency of the foundation can be a bit streaky with a brush alone, so the sponge smooths out any brush marks, blends your makeup seamlessly and also allows for any additional layering in those trouble spots.

Nope. Move on. Next. **What they claim:** Lock in makeup for a long-lasting finish with our translucent wear-boosting setting spray. Prevents color fading and makeup from melting. Facestudio® Master Fix™ Setting Spray. Maybelline’s lightweight, translucent, and oil-free mist boosts the wear of makeup to prevent melting and color fading. Keep just-applied makeup looking fresh with this wear-boosting setting spray. Ideal for all skin types, this lightweight, translucent, and oil-free mist boosts the wear of makeup to prevent melting and color fading. How to use/apply: Step 1. Apply after makeup application. Step 2. Shake well. Hold 8-10” away from the face and close eyes. Step 3. Spray 4-6 times evenly around the face.  Step 4. Allow to air dry. Avoid spraying directly into eyes and lips. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** My initial reaction to seeing this spray come out was excitement, however the packaging left me with little to be desired. Plain, black and unrelenting plastic with a small pink strip at the bottom, a clear (ish) black plastic cap covering the pump spray top. You get a 100ml bottle for approximately $10 RRP, depending upon your selected retailer. You can of course buy this cheaper with the sales (including my all time half off favourites). **Thoughts on application:** Over the past few years, I’ve become quite the Maybelline fan (and I blame BH for that, 100%)! So it excited me greatly to see Maybelline come out with a makeup setting spray. I normally fork out a huge amount for a top-end spray, that I don’t always use (because it costs too darn much to use daily). I have to start by talking about the directions provided by Maybelline both on the bottle and on their website. I find it highly difficult to avoid spraying a makeup setting spray at or on the eyes or lips when they are, for all intents and purposes, a small surface area on your entire mug. For goodness sakes. If you have a setting spray for your face that has ingredients that are not appropriate for your eyes or lips (key word being ‘spray’) then there is something fundamentally and logically wrong with the concept and product, first and foremost. I know that’s a bit harsh, and for that I apologise, but it makes no sense to me from a consumer perspective (make it consumer-friendly). Next is the actual spray itself. I have no issue whatsoever with shaking before use. That’s fine. However, I would prefer it if the spray action was fine enough, and sprayed in an even enough action, for me to feel confident in the application. Am I confident in the spray action of this product? No. The spray action provides fat, wet drops that land on your face and can (if you use powder, bronzer and the like) detrimentally affect the finish of your makeup, rather than set it. Yes, I used a number of different spray application methods (refer to tips), to no avail. What a redundant process. I persisted to the very end of the bottle until there was a dribble left (and the bottle could spray no longer). I simply could not bear the potential wastage (along with the fact it was annoying the you-know-what out of me).

Rubbed me the wrong way **What they claim:** Our gentle Renewing Body Scrub contains Jojoba Beads, Green Tea Leaves and Ground Walnut Shells to delicately polish the surface of the skin. A blend of Aloe Vera, Coconut and Jojoba Oils replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, while Green Tea Extract, Rosehip Oil and Vitamin E impart a blend of antioxidants and essential fatty acids to promote a healthy, glowing complexion! TIP: This body exfoliator is perfect for normal to sensitive skin, is it gives a light exfoliation from gentle, natural granules. How to use: Massage into damp skin in the shower. Rinse well with warm water. Use once or twice a week. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** I received a 50ml sample of this body scrub in a gift bag from Chemist Warehouse, which I thought was pretty darn awesome. The tube I received was the matte minty green with the black flip top cap (at the base). The full sized product does not present the same way and is four times the size (if you’re not into multiplication then that equates to 200ml, tee hee) and retails at $14.95. So, to receive a sample tube that was a quarter the size of the full size product, I was pretty chuffed. **Thoughts on application:** The instructions for use are pretty simple (and are provided above). To ensure I was not going to (overly) irritate my skin with the first use, I ensured I had washed down (after all, I was first using this scrub in summer, all sweaty and gross). After a quick cleanse, I squeezed a small amount of the scrub into the palms of my hands and massaged onto my legs to see how things went. Bottom line: not well. The outcome was irritated legs and I was not happy with the scent. After reviewing the ingredient list, I think it might have been the sesame seed oil and perhaps even the green tea extract but it should be relatively gentle enough for my skin (so I tried it again until the tube was finished). Unfortunately my skin became more irritated and I became subsequently more annoyed. My legs suffered the most. The scrub itself is okay. I appreciate the natural ingredients, in particular the walnut shell powder, however I think that might be another issue for me. I think my skin is better suited to a sugar or salt-based scrub that gradually dissolves, rather than constantly grates against the skin. It’s either that, or an exfoliant that has a finer grain than walnut, like perhaps coffee. I am not in any way deterred from Sukin as a brand, as I have enjoyed so many of their products since they hit the shelves. As Sukin has a couple of other body scrubs in their range, this mini size has simply given me more to think about (and I thank them for it).

Ylang all about it! **What they claim:** Clinically tested to help calm and relax you. This soothing wash has a calming effect designed to help you relax in the shower while cleansing and moisturizing, so your skin feels soft and smooth all day long. Its unique formula combines Colloidal Oatmeal—long known for its skin-soothing benefits—with scents of lavender, essential chamomile and ylang-ylang oils, which are known for their calming benefits. It's soap free and dye free so it's gentle enough to use on sensitive skin. **Initial thoughts on viewing the product:** When I first write about a product, I usually talk about how a product looks. However with this body wash, I have to talk about how the bottle feels in my hand. The bottle is an odd size, coming in at 354ml (and no, the fluid ounces are not listed on the bottle, because that was my next logical conclusion to leap to because I obviously think too darn much). Back to my original point. The bottle is an interesting size, but more interesting is it’s oval shape. It sits perfectly in the palm of my hand when I take it from a store shelf or when I reach for it in my shower. And when I say perfectly, I really mean *PERFECTLY*. The bottle is a matte creamy beige with a matte light violet flip-top cap (on top), with three sheaves of lavender on the front left of the label. The back of the bottle has a complicated ingredient list, but the bottle emphasises the active colloidal oatmeal, in addition to lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang. Another interesting fact I have to point out with this bottle is that the instructions provided state the product is gentle enough for sensitive skin, daily use and even shaving. Wowzers. **Thoughts on application:** I bought this body wash / shower gel specifically for use of an evening to assist with sleep. For years, lavender has been used as a relaxation and sleep aid, and I’m a person who can and will use every appropriate tool at my disposal to get my z’s. No bones about it. After my initial wonder over the bottle’s fit in my hand (seriously, the things that amuse me boggle even my weird mind), I was keen to try this baby out. And try I surely did. This shower gel has been a mainstay in my bathroom for months and has been re-purchased on a number of occasions (so yes, she’s a staple). A little goes a long way, and the wash works well with any method (hands, cloth, loofah or exfoliation gloves). The scent is not strong but it is soothing and the fragrance does linger lightly on the skin. It is a gentle cleanser and is suitable for sensitive skins. I do suffer from skin sensitivities, however I will admit to the odd occasion where I might have to switch on days where I am particularly itchy (where I need to use a fragrance free product in lieu of this wash). Please note: I use this as an evening wash only. I don’t find it particularly moisturising. As such, I definitely moisturise post-shower with whatever I’ve got going on at the time (I’ve been switching up a little lately).